Magoosh GRE, Common & Advanced 1000+ Words

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Magoosh GRE, Common & Advanced 1000+ Words Magoosh GRE, Common & Advanced 1000+ Words Unnerve Verb: to make nervous or upset Synonyms: enervate, faze , unsettle At one time unnerved by math p... roblems, she began avidly "Magoosh-ing", and soon became adept at even combinations and permutations questions. Candid adjective: a straightforward and honest look at something Synonyms : blunt , forthright , frank , free-spoken , outspoken , plainspoken , point-blank , straight-from-the-shoulder Even with a perfect stranger, Charles was always candid and would rarely hold anything back. slapdash adjective: carelessly and hastily put together Synonyms : haphazard , slipshod , sloppy The office building had been constructed in a slapdash manner, so it did not surprise officials when, during a small earthquake, a large crack emerged on the façade of the building. telltale adjective: revealing The many telltale signs of chronic smoking include yellow teeth, and a persistent, hacking cough. insolvent adjective: unable to pay one's bills; bankrupt With credit card bills skyrocketing, a shockingly large number of Americans are truly insolvent. affluent adjective: wealthy The center of the city had sadly become a pit of penury, while, only five miles away, multi-million dollar homes spoke of affluence. indignant adjective: feeling anger over a perceived injustice Synonyms : incensed , outraged , umbrageous When the cyclist swerved into traffic, it forced the driver to brake and elicited an indignant shout of "Hey, punk, watch where you're going!" tirade noun: an angry speech Synonyms : broadside , philippic In terms of political change, a tirade oftentimes does little more than make the person speaking red in the face. thrifty adjective: spending money wisely Synonyms : careful He was economical, spending his money thriftily and on items considered essential. summit noun: the peak or highest point Synonyms : acme , elevation , height , meridian , peak , pinnacle , superlative , tiptop , top, crest , crown After hiking for two days, the climbers finally reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. noun: a meeting of high-level leaders Since climate change policy has been mired in congressional fighting, this summit should help set the goals for president's next term. spendthrift noun: one who spends money extravagantly Synonyms : scattergood , spend-all , spender Taking weekly trips to Vegas, Megan was a spendthrift whose excesses eventually caught up to her. screed noun: an abusive rant (often tedious) Joey had difficulty hanging out with his former best friend Perry, who, during his entire cup of coffee, enumerated all of the government's deficiencies--only to break ranks and launch into some screed against big business. remiss adjective: to be negligent in one's duty Synonyms : delinquent , derelict , neglectful Remiss in his duty to keep the school functioning efficiently, the principal was relieved of his position after only three months. embroiled adjective: involved in argument or contention Synonyms : entangled These days we are never short of a D.C. politician embroiled in scandal—a welcome phenomenon for those who, having barely finished feasting on the sordid details of one imbroglio, can sink their teeth into a fresh one. pine verb: to yearn for Synonyms : ache , languish , yearn , yen Standing forlornly by the window, she pined for her lost love. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study demean verb: to insult; to cause someone to lose dignity or respect Synonyms : degrade , disgrace , put down , take down At first the soccer players bantered back and forth, but as soon as one of the players became demeaning, calling the other's mother a water buffalo, the ref whipped out a red card. dog verb: to pursue relentlessly; to hound Synonyms : chase , chase after , give chase , go after , tag , tail , track , trail Throughout his life, he was dogged by insecurities that inhibited personal growth. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study amiable adjective: friendly Synonyms : affable , cordial , genial Amy's name was very apt: she was so amiable that she was twice voted class president. err verb: to make an error Synonyms : mistake , slip He erred in thinking that "indigent" and "indignant" were synonyms. tender verb: offer up something formally Synonyms : bid The government was loath to tender more money in the fear that it might set off inflation. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study underwrite verb: to support financially Synonyms : subvent , subvention The latest symphony broadcast was made possible with underwriting from the Carnegie Endowment. vindictive adjective: to have a very strong desire for revenge Though the other girl had only lightly poked fun of Vanessa's choice in attire, Vanessa was so vindictive that she waited for an entire semester to get the perfect revenge. indict verb: to formally charge or accuse of wrong-doing The bankrobber was indicted on several major charges, including possession of a firearm. inflammable adjective: extremely controversial, incendiary It only takes one person to leave an inflammable comment on an Internet thread for that thread to blow up into pages upon pages of reader indignation. miser noun: a person who doesn't like to spend money (because they are greedy) Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned. acme noun: the highest point of achievement Synonyms : elevation , height , meridian , peak , pinnacle , summit , superlative , tiptop , top The new Cessna airplanes will be the acme of comfort, offering reclining seats and ample legroom. stipend noun: a regular allowance (of money) He was hoping for a monthly allowance loan from the government, but after no such stipend was forthcoming he realized he would have to seek other means of paying for his college tuition. variance noun: the quality of being different The cynic quipped, "There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to lie". profuse adjective: plentiful; pouring out in abundance Synonyms : exuberant , lush , luxuriant , riotous During mile 20 of the Hawaii Marathon, Dwayne was sweating so profusely that he stopped to take off his shirt, and ran the remaining six miles wearing nothing more than skimpy shorts. pinnacle noun: the highest point Synonyms : acme , elevation , height , meridian , peak , summit , superlative , tiptop , top At its pinnacle, the Roman Empire extended across most of the landmass of Eurasia, a feat not paralleled to the rise of the British Empire in the 18th and 19th century. inundate verb: to flood or overwhelm Synonyms : deluge , submerge, flood , swamp The newsroom was inundated with false reports that only made it more difficult for the newscasters to provide an objective account of the bank robbery. peruse verb: to read very carefully Instead of perusing important documents, people all too often rush to the bottom of the page and plaster their signatures at the bottom. retiring adjective: to be shy, and to be inclined to retract from company Synonyms : reticent , self-effacing Nelson was always the first to leave soirees - rather than mill about with "fashionable" folk, he was retiring, and preferred the solitude of his garret. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study censor verb: to examine and remove objectionable material Synonyms : ban Every fall, high school English teachers are inundated by requests to censor their curriculum by removing The Catcher in the Rye and Scarlet Letter from their reading lists. noun: an official who censors material The censor insisted that every reference to drugs should be removed from the manuscript. dupe verb: to trick or swindle Synonyms : befool , cod , fool , gull , put on , put one across , put one over , slang , take in Once again a get-rich-fast Internet scheme had duped Harold into submitting a $5,000 check to a sham operation. noun: a person who is easily tricked or swindled Synonyms : victim The charlatan mistook the crowd for a bunch of dupes, but the crowd was quickly on to him and decried his bald-faced attempt to bilk them. macabre adjective: suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome Synonyms : ghastly , grim , grisly ,sick Edgar Allen Poe was considered the master of the macabre; his stories vividly describe the moment leading up to - and often those moments after - a grisly death. telling adjective: significant and revealing of another factor Her unbecoming dress was very telling when it came to her sense of fashion. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study indigenous adjective: originating in a certain area Synonyms : autochthonal , autochthonic , autochthonous , endemic The plants and animals indigenous to Australia are notably different from those indigenous to the U.S - one look at a duckbill platypus and you know you're not dealing with an opossum. hound verb: to pursue relentlessly Synonyms : hunt , trace An implacable foe of corruption, Eliot Ness hounded out graft in all forms - he even helped nab Al Capone. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study mesmerize verb: to spellbind or enthrall Synonyms : bewitch , magnetise , magnetize , mesmerise The plot and the characters were so well developed that many viewers were mesmerized, unable to move their eyes from the screen for even a single second. affable adjective: likeable; easy to talk to Synonyms : amiable , cordial , genial For all his surface affability, Marco was remarkably glum when he wasn't around other people. thoroughgoing adjective: very thorough; complete Synonyms : exhaustive , thorough As a thoroughgoing bibliophile, one who had turned his house into a veritable library, he shocked his friends when he bought a Kindle. erratic adjective: unpredictable; strange and unconventional Synonyms : fickle , mercurial , quicksilver It came as no surprise to pundits that the President's attempt at re-election floundered; even during his term, support for his policies was erratic, with an approval rating jumping anywhere from 30 to 60 percent. diabolical adjective: to be extremely wicked like the devil Synonyms : demonic , diabolic , fiendish , hellish , infernal , satanic , unholy,devilish , diabolic , mephistophelean , mephistophelian The conspirators, willing to dispatch anyone who stood in their way, hatched a diabolical plan to take over the city. serendipity noun: the instance in which an accidental, fortunate discovery is made By pure serendipity, Sarah discovered, at a flea market in Peoria, a matching earring to replace the one that fell down the storm drain back home. reprobate noun: a person who is disapproved of Synonyms : miscreant Those old reprobates drinking all day down by the river-they are not going to amount to much. demure adjective: to be modest and shy Synonyms : coy , overmodest The portrait of her in a simple white blouse was sweet and demure. bleak adjective: having a depressing or gloomy outlook Synonyms : bare , barren , desolate , stark Unremitting overcast skies tend to lead people to create bleak literature and lugubrious music - compare England's band Radiohead to any band from Southern California. zenith noun: the highest point; culmination At the zenith of his artistic career, Elvis was outselling any other artist on the charts. voracious adjective: very hungry; approaching an activity with gusto Synonyms : edacious , esurient , rapacious , ravening , ravenous , wolfish Steven was a voracious reader, sometimes finishing two novels in the same day. start verb: to suddenly move in a particular direction All alone in the mansion, Henrietta started when she heard a sound. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study sanctimonious adjective: making a show of being pious; holier-than-thou Synonyms : holier-than-thou , pharisaic , pharisaical , pietistic , pietistical , self-righteous Even during the quiet sanctity of evening prayer, she held her chin high, a sanctimonious sneer forming on her face as she eyed those who were attending church for the first time. avarice noun: greed (one of the seven deadly sins) Synonyms : avaritia , covetousness , greed , rapacity,avariciousness , covetousness , cupidity The Spanish conquistadors were known for their avarice, plundering Incan land and stealing Incan gold. catalyst noun: something that speeds up an event Synonyms : accelerator Rosa Park's refusal to give up her bus seat acted as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, setting into motion historic changes for African-Americans. unconscionable adjective: unreasonable; unscrupulous; excessive Synonyms : exorbitant , extortionate , outrageous , steep , usurious The lawyer's demands were so unconscionable that rather than pay an exorbitant sum or submit himself to any other inconveniences, the defendant decided to find a new lawyer. misanthrope noun: a hater of mankind Synonyms : misanthropist Kevin is such a misanthrope that he refused to attend the Christmas party, claiming that everyone's happiness was "fake" and "annoying." stem verb: to hold back or limit the flow or growth of something To stem the tide of applications, the prestigious Ivy requires that each applicant score at least 330 on the Revised GRE. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study aboveboard adjective: open and honest Synonyms : straightforward The mayor, despite his avuncular face plastered about the city, was hardly aboveboard - some concluded that it was his ingratiating smile that allowed him to engage in corrupt behavior and get away with it. heyday noun: the pinnacle or top of a time period or career Synonyms : bloom , blossom , efflorescence , flower , flush , peak , prime During the heyday of Prohibition, bootlegging had become such a lucrative business that many who had been opposed to the 18th Amendment began to fear it would be repealed. immaterial adjective: not relevant Synonyms : extraneous , impertinent , orthogonal, incorporeal The judge found the defendant's comments immaterial to the trial, and summarily dismissed him from the witness stand. scintillating adjective: describes someone who is brilliant and lively Synonyms : aglitter , coruscant , fulgid , glinting , glistering , glittering , glittery , scintillant , sparkly, bubbling , effervescent , frothy Richard Feynman was renowned for his scintillating lectures—the arcana of quantum physics was made lucid as he wrote animatedly on the chalkboard. badger verb: to pester Synonyms : beleaguer , bug , pester , tease Badgered by his parents to find a job, the 30-year-old loafer instead joined a gang of itinerant musicians. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study chauvinist noun: a person who believes in the superiority of their group Synonyms : flag-waver , hundred-percenter , jingo , jingoist , patrioteer The chauvinist lives on both sides of the political spectrum, outright shunning anybody whose ideas are not consistent with his own. apex noun: the highest point Synonyms : acme , peak , vertex The Ivy League is considered the apex of the secondary education system. corroborate verb: to confirm or lend support to (usually an idea or claim) Synonyms : affirm , confirm , substantiate , sustain,bear out , support , underpin Her claim that frog populations were falling precipitously in Central America was corroborated by locals, who reported that many species of frogs had seemingly vanished overnight. becoming adjective: appropriate, and matches nicely Synonyms : comely , comme il faut , decent , decorous , seemly Her dress was becoming and made her look even more beautiful. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study exhort verb: to strongly urge on; encourage Synonyms : barrack , cheer , inspire , pep up , root on , urge , urge on Nelson's parents exhorted him to study medicine, urging him to choose a respectable profession; intransigent, Nelson left home to become a graffiti artist. cardinal adjective: of primary importance; fundamental Synonyms : central , fundamental , key , primal Most cultures consider gambling a cardinal sin and thus have outlawed its practice. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study errant adjective: to be wandering; not sticking to a circumscribed path Unlike his peers, who spent their hours studying in the library, Matthew preferred errant walks through the university campus. imponderable adjective: impossible to estimate or figure out According to many lawmakers, the huge variety of factors affecting society make devising an efficient healthcare system an imponderable task. bellicose adjective: warlike; inclined to quarrel Synonyms : battleful , combative Known for their bellicose ways, the Spartans were once the most feared people from Peloponnesus to Persia. pugnacious adjective: eager to fight or argue; verbally combative The comedian told one flat joke after another, and when the audience started booing, he pugnaciously spat back at them, "Hey, you think this is easy - why don't you buffoons give it a shot?" junta noun: an aggressive takeover by a group (usually military) As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is, some analysts believe that were a junta suddenly to gain power, it could be even more unpredictable and bellicose than the current leadership pittance noun: a small amount (of money) Vinny's uncle beamed smugly about how he'd offered his nephew fifty dollars for his Harvard tuition; even twice the amount would have been a mere pittance. check verb: to limit (usually modifying the growth of something) Deserted for six months, the property began to look more like a jungle and less like a residence - weeds grew unchecked in the front yard noun: the condition of being held back or limited When government abuses are not kept in check, that government is likely to become autocratic. This word has other definitions but these are the most important ones to study desecrate verb: to willfully violate or destroy a sacred place Synonyms : outrage , profane , violate After desecrating the pharaoh's tomb, the archaeologist soon fell victim to a horrible illness. amuck adverb: in a frenzied or uncontrolled state Synonyms : amok , murderously Wherever the bowl haircut teen-idol went, his legions of screaming fans ran through the streets amuck, hoping for a glance at his boyish face. virago noun: an ill-tempered or violent woman Synonyms : amazon Poor Billy was the victim of the virago's invective - she railed at him for a good 30-minutes about how he is the scum of the earth for speaking loudly on his cellphone in public. melee noun: a wild, confusing fight or struggle Synonyms : battle royal , scrimmage After enduring daily taunts about my name, I became enraged and pummeled the schoolyard bully and his sycophantic friends in a brutal melee. hodgepodge noun: a confusing mixture or jumble Synonyms : farrago , gallimaufry , hotchpotch , melange , mingle-mangle , mishmash , oddments , odds and ends , omnium-gatherum , ragbag Those in attendance represented a hodgepodge of the city's denizens: chimney sweepers could be seen sitting elbow to elbow with stockbrokers. animosity noun: intense hostility The governor's animosity toward his rival was only inflamed when the latter spread false lies regarding the governor's first term. checkered adjective: one that is marked by disreputable happenings One by one, the presidential candidates dropped out of the race, their respective checkered pasts - from embezzlement to infidelity - sabotaging their campaigns. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study cogent adjective: clear and persuasive Synonyms : telling , weighty A cogent argument will change the minds of even the most skeptical audience. ferret verb: to search for something persistently Synonyms : ferret out Ever the resourceful lexicographer, Fenton was able to ferret out the word origin of highly obscure words. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study moment noun: significant and important value Synonyms : consequence , import Despite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of no great moment in Hampton's writing career, and within a few years the public quickly forgot his foray into theater arts. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study flush adjective: to be in abundance Synonyms : bloom , blossom , efflorescence , flower , heyday , peak , prime The exam's passage is flush with difficult words, words that you may have learned only yesterday. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study replete adjective: completely stocked or furnished with something Only weeks after the hurricane made landfall, the local supermarket shelves were replete with goods, so quick was the disaster relief response. vicarious adjective: felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another The advent of twitter is a celebrity stalker's dream, as he or she can - through hundreds of intimate "tweets" - vicariously live the life of a famous person. powwow noun: an informal meeting or discussion Before the team takes the field, the coach always calls for a powwow so that he can make sure all the players are mentally in the right place. contrite adjective: to be remorseful Synonyms : remorseful , rueful , ruthful Though he stole his little sister's licorice stick with malevolent glee, Chucky soon became contrite when his sister wouldn't stop crying. beatific adjective: blissfully happy Synonyms : angelic , angelical , sainted , saintlike , saintly Often we imagine all monks to wear the beatific smile of the Buddha, but, like any of us, a monk can have a bad day and not look very happy. preemptive adjective: done before someone else can do it Just as Martha was about to take the only cookie left on the table, Noah preemptively swiped it. sanguine adjective: cheerful; optimistic Synonyms : florid , rubicund , ruddy With the prospect of having to learn 3,000 words during the course of the summer, Paul was anything but sanguine. cadaverous adjective: emaciated; gaunt Synonyms : bony ,haggard , pinched , skeletal , wasted Some actors take challenging roles in which they have to lose so much weight that they appear cadaverous. disparate adjective: two things are fundamentally different With the advent of machines capable of looking inside the brain, fields as disparate as religion and biology have been brought together by scientists trying to understand what happens in the brain when people have a religious experience. raft noun: a large number of something Synonyms : batch , deal , flock , good deal , great deal , hatful , heap , lot , mass , mess , mickle , mint , mountain , muckle , passel , peck , pile , plenty , pot , quite a little , sight , slew , spate , stack , tidy sum , wad Despite a raft of city ordinances passed by an overzealous council, noise pollution continued unabated in the megalopolis. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study adequate adjective: good enough for what you need Synonyms : decent , enough A very light jacket will be adequate for Los Angeles's warm winter. extenuating adjective: making less guilty or more forgivable The jury was hardly moved by the man's plea that his loneliness was an extenuating factor in his crime of dognapping a prized pooch. fleece verb: to deceive Synonyms : gazump , hook , overcharge , pluck , plume , rob , soak , surcharge Many people have been fleeced by Internet scams and never received their money back. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study paucity noun: a lack of something Synonyms : dearth There is a paucity of jobs hiring today that require menial skills, since most jobs have either been automated or outsourced. wax verb: to gradually increase in size or intensity Synonyms : climb , mount , rise Her enthusiasm for the diva's new album only waxed with each song; by the end of the album, it was her favorite CD yet. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study raffish adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness Synonyms : devil-may-care , rakish The men found him raffish, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude. meander verb: to wander aimlessly Synonyms : thread , wander , weave , wind A casual observer might have thought that Peter was meandering through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited. ingenuity noun: the power of creative imagination Synonyms : cleverness , ingeniousness , inventiveness Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together. flounder verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties Synonyms : stagger Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has deal with taxes, she flounders. consummate adjective: having or revealing supreme mastery or skill Synonyms : masterful , masterly , virtuoso Tyler was the consummate musician: he was able to play the guitar, harmonica, and the drum at the same time. verb: to make perfect and complete in every respect The restoration of the ancient church was only consummated after a twenty years of labor. This word has other definitions but these are the most important ones to study disenfranchise verb: deprive of voting rights Synonyms : disfranchise The U.S. Constitution disenfranchised women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote. robust adjective: sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more robust flavor. degrade verb: reduce in worth or character, usually verbally Synonyms : demean , disgrace , put down , take down Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy's faults in front of their friends, publicly degrading the poor girl. appreciable adjective: large enough to be noticed (usu. refers to an amount) There is an appreciable difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done. muted adjective: softened, subdued Synonyms : hushed , quiet , subdued Helen preferred muted earth colors, such as green and brown, to the bright pinks and red her sister liked. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study elusive adjective: difficult to capture or difficult to remember Synonyms : baffling , knotty , problematic , problematical , tough Many first time skydivers say that describing the act of falling from the sky is elusive. discriminate verb: recognize or perceive the difference Synonyms : know apart,separate Sarah couldn't discriminate between a good wine and a bad wine, so she avoided wine tastings. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study snide adjective: expressive of contempt; derogatory or mocking in an indirect way Synonyms : sneering , supercilious The chairman interpreted Taylor's question about promotions as a snide remark, but in all innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the company's process. quandary noun: state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options Synonyms : dilemma Steve certainly is in a quandary: if he doesn't call Elaine, she will blame him for everything, but if he does call her, the evidence of where he currently is could cost him his job. respite noun: a pause from doing something (as work) Synonyms : break , recess , time out, relief , rest , rest period Every afternoon, the small company has a respite in which workers play foosball or board games. boon noun: a desirable state Synonyms : blessing Modern technology has been a boon to the travel industry. adjective: very close and convivial He was a boon companion to many, and will be sadly missed. impermeable adjective: does not allow fluids to pass through The sand bags placed on the river formed an impermeable barrier, protecting the town from flooding. proponent noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea Synonyms : advocate , advocator , exponent Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents. moot adjective: open to argument or debate; undecidable in a meaningless or irrelevant way Synonyms : arguable , debatable , disputable Since the Board just terminated Steve as the CEO, what the finance committe might have thought of his proposed marketing plan for next year is now a moot point. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study stolid adjective: having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited Synonyms : impassive Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives. thwart verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of Synonyms : baffle , bilk , cross , foil , frustrate , queer , scotch , spoil I wanted to spend a week in New York this autumn, but the high costs of travel and lodging thwarted my plans. avid adjective: marked by active interest and enthusiasm Synonyms : zealous Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking long hikes into remote mountains to see some rare eagle. guffaw verb: laugh boisterously Synonyms : laugh loudly Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth. transitory adjective: lasting a very short time Synonyms : ephemeral , fugacious , passing , short-lived , transient If we lived forever and life was not transitory, do you think we would appreciate life less or more? fete verb: to celebrate a person Synonyms : celebrate After World War II, war heroes were feted at first but quickly forgotten. disheartened adjective: made less hopeful or enthusiastic Synonyms : demoralised , demoralized , discouraged After the visiting team scored nine times, the home team's fans were disheartened, some leaving the game early. autonomously adverb: In an autonomous or self-governing manner. Many of the factory workers are worried about being replaced by machines and computers that will work completely autonomously. patronize verb: treat condescendingly Synonyms : condescend , patronise She says she genuinely wanted to help me, but instead she patronized me, constantly pointing out how I was inferior to her. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study morose adjective: ill-tempered and not inclined to talk; gloomy Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum , moody , saturnine , sour , sullen After Stanley found out he was no longer able to go on vacation with his friends, he sat in his room morosely. inclement adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy After a week of inclement weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun. adjective: used of persons or behavior; showing no mercy Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was inclement to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently. ornate adjective: marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details Synonyms : flowery The ornate Victorian and Edwardian homes spread throughout San Francisco are my favorite part of the city. renege verb: fail to fulfill a promise or obligation Synonyms : go back on , renege on , renegue on We will no longer work with that vendor since it has reneged on nearly every agreement. resolve verb: reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation Synonyms : conclude After much thought, Ted resolved not to travel abroad this summer because he didn't have much money in his bank account. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study ascendancy noun: the state that exists when one person or group has power over another Synonyms : ascendance , ascendence , ascendency , control , dominance The ascendancy of the Carlsbad water polo team is clear—they have a decade of championships behind them. incessant adjective: uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing Synonyms : ceaseless , constant , never-ending , perpetual , unceasing , unremitting I don't mind small children in brief doses, but I think the incessant exposure that their parents have to them would quickly wear me down. apprehension noun: fearful expectation Synonyms : apprehensiveness , dread,misgiving Test day can be one of pure apprehension, as many students worry about their test scores. dearth noun: a lack or shortage Synonyms : famine , shortage,paucity I am surprised by the dearth of fast food chains; this is America and I assumed they were on every street. malleable adjective: capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out Synonyms : ductile , pliable , pliant , tensile , tractile The clay became malleable and easy to work with after a little water was added. adjective: easily influenced Synonyms : ductile My little brother is so malleable that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me. plodding adjective: (of movement) slow and laborious Synonyms : leaden Charlie may seem to run at a plodding pace, but he is an ultramarathoner, meaning he runs distances of up to 100 miles, and can run for ten hours at a stretch. endemic adjective: native; originating where it is found Synonyms : autochthonal , autochthonic , autochthonous , indigenous Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but ironically, the potato is not endemic to Ireland. malady noun: a disease or sickness Synonyms : illness , sickness , unwellness The town was struck by a malady throughout the winter that left most people sick in bed for two weeks. impede verb: be a hindrance or obstacle to Synonyms : hinder,block , close up , jam , obstruct , obturate , occlude Since the police sergeant had to train the pair of new hires, progress in his own case was impeded. advocate verb: speak, plead, or argue in favor of Synonyms : preach While the senator privately approved of gay marriage, he was unwilling to advocate for the cause in a public venue. noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea Synonyms : advocator , exponent , proponent Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for the rights of African-Americans in the United States. This word has other definitions but these are the most important ones to study obdurate adjective: stubbornly persistent in changing an opinion or action Synonyms : cussed , obstinate , unrepentant No number of pleas and bribes would get him to change his obdurate attitude. deter verb: turn away from by persuasion Synonyms : dissuade His mother tried to deter him from joining the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen. verb: try to prevent; show opposition to Synonyms : discourage The government's primary job should involve deterring paths to war, not finding ways to start them. entice verb: get someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises Synonyms : lure , tempt Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on a vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets. jocular adjective: characterized by jokes and good humor Synonyms : jesting , jocose , joking My uncle was always in a jocular mood at family gatherings, messing up people's hair and telling knock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen. archaic adjective: so old as to appear to belong to a different period Synonyms : antediluvian , antiquated Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in archaic English that was right out of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice--needless to say, she didn't have many friends. pithy adjective: concise and full of meaning Synonyms : sententious I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy and insightful prose; it always gives me something to think about. fledgling adjective: young and inexperienced; describing any new participant in some activity Synonyms : callow , unfledged,entrant , fledgeling , freshman , neophyte , newbie , newcomer , starter, Murray has years of experience in family practice, but he is just a fledgling in surgery. euphoria noun: a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation Synonyms : euphory The euphoria of winning her first gold medal in the 100 meter dash overwhelmed Shelly-Ann Fraser and she wept tears of immense joy. cornucopia noun: an abundant supply of something good Synonyms : profuseness , profusion , richness The International Food Expo was a cornucopia of culinary delights: gourmet foods from every continent were under one roof. debase verb: reduce the quality or value of something Synonyms : adulterate , dilute , load , stretch The third-rate script so debased the film that not even the flawless acting could save it from being a flop. lucid adjective: (of language) transparently clear; easily understandable Synonyms : crystal clear , limpid , luculent , pellucid , perspicuous Though Walters writes about physics and time travel, his writing is always lucid, so readers with little scientific training can understand difficult concepts. commendable adjective: worthy of high praise Synonyms : applaudable , laudable , praiseworthy The efforts of the firefighters running into the burning building were commendable. tumult noun: a state of chaos, noise and confusion Synonyms : garboil , tumultuousness , uproar,commotion , din , ruckus , ruction , rumpus Riots broke out just in front of our apartment building, and the tumult continued late into the night. vacuous adjective: devoid of intelligence, matter, or significance Synonyms : asinine , fatuous , inane , mindless,empty , hollow To the journalist's pointed question, the senator gave a vacuous response, mixing a few of his overall campaign slogans with platitudes and completely avoiding the controversial subject of the question. facetious adjective: cleverly amusing in tone Synonyms : bantering , tongue-in-cheek Facetious behavior will not be tolerated during sex eduation class; it's time for all of you to treat these matters like mature adults. impeccable adjective: without fault or error Synonyms : faultless , immaculate He was impeccably dressed in the latest fashion without a single crease or stain. benign adjective: kind I remember my grandfather's face was wrinkled, benign, and calm. adjective: (medicine) not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive The tumor located in your ear lobe seems to be benign and should not cause you any trouble. martial adjective: suggesting war or military life Synonyms : warlike,soldierlike , soldierly , warriorlike Americans tend to remember Abraham Lincoln as kindly and wise, not at all martial, despite the fact that he was involved in the fiercest war America has even fought. credence noun: belief in something He placed no credence in psychics, claiming that they offered no special powers beyond the ability to make people part with their money. derisive adjective: abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule Synonyms : gibelike , jeering , mocking , taunting I was surprised by her derisive tone; usually, she is sweet, soft spoken, and congenial. banish verb: expel from a community, residence, or location; drive away Synonyms : ban , blackball , cast out , ostracise , ostracize , shun The most difficult part of the fast was banishing thoughts of food. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study precedent noun: an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time Synonyms : case in point The principal explained that even though one student had done modelling work outside of school, the outfits that student wore in those photographs in no way established a precedent for what could be worn at school dances. sentimental adjective: effusively or insincerely emotional, especially in art, music, and literature Synonyms : bathetic , drippy , hokey , kitschy , maudlin , mawkish , mushy , schmaltzy , schmalzy , slushy , soppy , soupy I don't like romanticism for the same reason I don't like melodramatic acting and soap operas - overly sentimental. perennial adjective: lasting an indefinitely long time; eternal; everlasting Even at the old-timers games, Stan Musial would get the loudest cheer: he was a perennial favorite of the fans there. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study empathetic adjective: showing understanding and ready comprehension of other peoples' states and emotions Synonyms : empathic Most discrimination and hatred is based on a lack of empathetic awareness of people that have the same aspirations and fears. uncompromising adjective: not making concessions Synonyms : inflexible , sturdy The relationship between Bart and Hilda ultimately failed because they were both so uncompromising, never wanting to change their opinions. illicit adjective: contrary to or forbidden by law Synonyms : illegitimate , outlaw , outlawed , unlawful Though Al Capone was engaged in many illicit activities, he was finally arrested for income tax evasion, a relatively minor offense. spurn verb: reject with contempt Synonyms : disdain , freeze off , pooh-pooh , reject , scorn , turn down She spurned all his flattery and proposals, and so he walked off embarrassed and sad. conducive adjective: making a situation or outcome more likely to happen Studying in a quiet room is conducive to learning; studying in a noisy environment makes learning more difficult. inadvertent adjective: happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally Synonyms : accidental Although Prohibition was rooted in noble ideals, the inadvertent and costly consequences of making alcohol illegal in the U.S. led its the repeal. detrimental adjective: (sometimes followed by "to") causing harm or injury Synonyms : damaging , prejudicial , prejudicious Many know that smoking is detrimental to your health, but processed sugar in large quantities is equally bad. smattering noun: a slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of something Synonyms : handful I know only a smattering of German, but Helen is able to read German newspapers and converse with natives. urbane adjective: showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience Synonyms : polished , refined , svelte Because of his service as an intelligence officer and his refined tastes, W. Somerset Maugham became the inspiration for the urbane and sophistcate spy James Bond. augment verb: enlarge or increase; improve Ideally, the restaurant's augmented menu will expand its clientele and increase its profits. buck verb: resist Synonyms : go against The profits at our firm bucked the general downturn that affected the real estate industry. genial adjective: agreeable, conducive to comfort Synonyms : kind Betty is a genial young woman: everyone she meets is put at ease by her elegance and grace. assuage verb: make something intense less severe Her fear that the new college would be filled with unknown faces was assuaged when she recognized her childhood friend standing in line. fickle adjective: liable to sudden unpredictable change, esp. in affections or attachments Synonyms : erratic , mercurial , quicksilver She was so fickle in her politics, it was hard to pinpoint her beliefs; one week she would embrace a side, and the next week she would denounce it. elaborate adjective: marked by complexity and richness of detail Synonyms : luxuriant Thomas, on returning from Morocco, replaced his dirty gray carpet with an elaborate one he'd brought back with him. verb: explain in more detail Synonyms : dilate , enlarge , expand , expatiate , exposit , expound , flesh out , lucubrate Most high school physics teachers find themselves elaborating the same point over and over again, since many concepts confuse students. jargon noun: a characteristic language of a particular group Synonyms : argot , cant , lingo , patois , slang , vernacular To those with little training in medicine, the jargon of doctors can be very difficult to understand. assail verb: attack in speech or writing Synonyms : assault , attack , lash out , round , snipe In the weekly paper, the editor assailed the governor for wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars in public projects that quickly failed. tawdry adjective: tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy Synonyms : brassy , cheap , flash , flashy , garish , gaudy , gimcrack , loud , meretricious , tacky , tatty , trashy,cheapjack , shoddy Carol expected to find New York City magical, the way so many movies had portrayed it, but she was surprised how often tawdry displays took the place of genuine elegance. pristine adjective: Unspoiled, untouched (usu. of nature) The glacial lake was pristine and we filled our canteens to drink deeply. adjective: Immaculately clean and unused Drill sergeants are known for demanding pristine cabinets, uniforms, and beds, and often make new recruits clean and clean and clean until they meet the expected high standards. genteel adjective: marked by refinement in taste and manners Synonyms : civilised , civilized , cultivated , cultured , polite A live string quartet would provide a more genteel air to the wedding than would a folk singer. irresolute adjective: uncertain how to act or proceed He stood irresolute at the split in the trail, not sure which route would lead back to the camp. contemptuous adjective: scornful, looking down at others with a sneering attitude Synonyms : disdainful , insulting , scornful Always on the forefront of fashion, Vanessa looked contemptuously at anyone wearing dated clothing. perpetuate verb: cause to continue If you do not let him do things for himself, you are merely perpetuating bad habits that will be even harder to break in the future. grovel verb: show submission or fear Synonyms : cower , crawl , creep , cringe , fawn Every time Susan comes to the office, Frank grovels as if she were about to fire. glib adjective: (of a person) speaking with ease but without sincerity Synonyms : pat , slick I have found that the more glib the salesman, the worse the product. altruism noun: the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others Synonyms : selflessness Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doing missionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking no reward, apparently motivated only by altruism. whimsical adjective: determined by impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason Synonyms : capricious , impulsive Adults look to kids and envy their whimsical nature at times, wishing that they could act without reason and play without limitation. hamstrung verb: made ineffective or powerless The FBI has made so many restrictions on the local police that they are absolutely hamstrung, unable to accomplish anything. unruly adjective: (of persons) noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline; unwilling to submit to authority Synonyms : boisterous , rambunctious , robustious , rumbustious,disobedient Walk in to any preschool and I am sure that you will find an unruly and chaotic scene - unless it's nap time. rankle verb: gnaw into; make resentful or angry Synonyms : eat into , fret , grate His constant whistling would rankle her, sometimes causing her to leave in a huff. surly adjective: inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace Synonyms : ugly Every morning, Bhavin was a surly unhappy person, but once he ate breakfast, he became loving, laughing, and a joy to be around. label noun: a name or phrase given to a group of things to identify them (often negative) verb: to give a label to something Synonyms : mark , tag The meaning of the label ""punk"" has changed greatly in the last 30 years. Children are often unkind and label others who look different as outsiders. egotist noun: a conceited and self-centered person Synonyms : egoist , swellhead An egotist, Natasha had few friends because of her inability to talk about anything except her dream of becoming the next American Idol. pertinent adjective: having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand Synonyms : apposite , apt While the salaries of the players might draw attention in the media, such monetary figures are not pertinent to the question of who plays the best on the field. travail noun: use of physical or mental energy; hard work; agony or anguish Synonyms : effort , elbow grease , exertion , sweat While they experienced nothing but travails in refinishing the kitchen, they completed the master bedroom in less than a weekend. rash adjective: marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences; imprudently incurring risk Synonyms : foolhardy , heady , reckless Although Bruce was able to make the delivery in time with a nightime motorcycle ride in the rain, Susan criticized his actions as rash. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study embellish verb: make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.; make more beautiful Synonyms : adorn , beautify , decorate , grace , ornament , fancify , prettify McCartney would write relatively straightforward lyrics, and Lennon would embellish them with puns and poetic images. savvy noun: a perceptive understanding Synonyms : apprehension , discernment , understanding Although a great CEO, he did not have the political savvy to win the election. verb: get the meaning of something Synonyms : apprehend , compass , comprehend , dig , get the picture , grasp , grok The student savvies the meaning of astrophysics with little effort. adjective: well-informed or perceptive With his savvy business partner, the company was able to turn a profit within a year. aphoristic adjective: something that is concise and instructive of a general truth or principle Sometimes I can't stand Nathan because he tries to impress everyone by being aphoristic, but he just states the obvious. exasperate verb: to irritate intensely Synonyms : aggravate , exacerbate , exacerbate , worsen, incense , infuriate As a child, I exasperated my mother with strings of never-ending questions. devolve verb: pass on or delegate to another Synonyms : degenerate , deteriorate , drop The company was full of managers known for devolving tasks to lower management, but never doing much work themselves. verb: grow worse (usually "devolve into") The dialogue between the two academics devolved into a downright bitter argument. perturb verb: disturb in mind or cause to be worried or alarmed Synonyms : cark , disorder , disquiet , distract , trouble , unhinge Now that Henry is recovering from a major illnesses, he no longer lets the little trivialities, such as late mail, perturb him. impregnable adjective: immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with Synonyms : inviolable , secure , strong , unassailable , unattackable As a child, Amy would build pillow castles and pretend they were impregnable fotresses. exemplify verb: be characteristic of Synonyms : represent Lincoln exemplified the best of not only America, but also the potential greatness that exists within each person. verb: clarify by giving an example of Synonyms : illustrate , instance Please present some case studies that exemplify the results that you claim in your paper. presumption noun: an assumption that is taken for granted Synonyms : given , precondition When Mr. Baker found out the family car was gone, he acted under the presumption that his rebellious son had taken the car, calling his son's phone and yelling at him; only later did Mr. Baker realize that Mrs. Baker had simply gone out to get her nails done. noun: audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to The new neighbor quickly gained a reputation for her presumption; she had invited herself to several neighbors' homes, often stopping over at inopportune times and asking for a drink. irk verb: irritate or vex Synonyms : gall My little sister has a way of irking and annoying me like no other person. tout verb: advertize in strongly positive terms; show off Synonyms : blow , bluster , boast , brag , gas , gasconade , shoot a line , swash , vaunt At the conference, the CEO touted the extraordinary success of his company's Research & Development division. elude verb: escape understanding Synonyms : bilk , evade Even a basic understanding of physics can elude most high schools students. placid adjective: not easily irritated Synonyms : equable , even-tempered , good-tempered Doug is normally placid, so we were all shocked to see him yelling at the television when the Mets lost the game. foible noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual Synonyms : idiosyncrasy , mannerism When their new roommate sat staring at an oak tree for an hour, Marcia thought it indicated a mental problem, but Jeff assured her it was a harmless foible. smug adjective: marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction Synonyms : self-satisfied When Phil was dating the model, he had a smug attitude that annoyed his buddies. convoluted adjective: highly complex or intricate Synonyms : byzantine , involved , knotty , tangled , tortuous Instead of solving the math problem in three simple steps, Kumar used a convoluted solution requiring fifteen steps. impending adjective: close in time; about to occur Synonyms : at hand , close at hand , imminent , impendent The impending doom of our world has been a discussed and debated for 2000 years - maybe even longer. enmity noun: a state of deep-seated ill-will Synonyms : antagonism , hostility Charles rude remark toward Sarah yesterday was due to his illness, not due to any real enmity toward Sarah. steadfast adjective: marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable Synonyms : firm , steady , stiff , unbendable , unfaltering , unshakable , unwavering A good captain needs to be steadfast, continuing to hold the wheel and stay the course even during the most violent storm. leery adjective: openly distrustful and unwilling to confide Synonyms : mistrustful , suspicious , untrusting , wary Without checking his references and talking to previous employers, I am leery of hiring the candidate. destitute adjective: poor enough to need help from others Synonyms : impoverished , indigent , necessitous , needy , poverty-stricken Jean Valjean, is at first destitute, but through the grace of a priest, he makes something of his life. adjective: completely wanting or lacking (usually "destitute of") Synonyms : barren , devoid , free , innocent Now that the mine is closed, the town is destitute of any economic activity. taxing adjective: use to the limit; exhaust Synonyms : burdensome , onerous The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so taxing that I could barely speak or stand up. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study serene adjective: calm and peaceful Synonyms : tranquil , unagitated I'd never seen him so serene; usually, he was a knot of stress and anxiety from hours of trading on the stock exchange. retract verb: pull inward or towards a center; formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure Synonyms : draw in,abjure , forswear , recant , resile Email is wonderfully efficient, but once something awkward or damaging has been sent, there is no way to retract it. reservation noun: an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly Synonyms : arriere pensee , mental reservation I was initially excited by the idea of a trip to Washington, D.C. but now that I have read about the high crime statistics there, I have some reservations. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study quip noun: a witty saying or remark Synonyms : epigram,crack , sally , wisecrack In one of the most famous quips about classical music, Mark Twain said: "Wagner's music is better than it sounds." verb: to make a witty remark, to say in jest Synonyms : gag When a old English teacher criticized Churchill for ending a sentence with a preposition, he quipped, "This is the kind of criticism up with which we will not put!" complacent adjective: contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions Synonyms : self-complacent , self-satisfied After the water polo team won their sixth championship, they became complacent and didn't even make it to the playoffs the next year. candidness noun: the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech Synonyms : candor , candour , directness , forthrightness , frankness Although I was unhappy that the relationship ended, I appreciated her candidness about why she was ready to move on from the relationship. peevish adjective: easily irritated or annoyed Synonyms : cranky , fractious , irritable , nettlesome , peckish , pettish , petulant , scratchy , techy , testy , tetchy Our office manager is peevish, so the rest of us tip-toe around him, hoping not to set off another one of his fits. unseemly adjective: not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society Synonyms : indecent , indecorous , unbecoming , uncomely , untoward He acted in an unseemly manner, insulting the hostess and then speaking ill of her deceased husband. collusion noun: agreement on a secret plot Synonyms : connivance Many have argued that Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK's assassin, was in collusion with other criminals; others maintain that Oswald was a lone gunman. maxim noun: a short saying expressing a general truth Synonyms : axiom Johnson initially suggests that the secret to business can be summarized in a single maxim but then requires a 300-page book to explain exactly what he means. eke verb: To live off meager resources, to scrape by Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was able to eke out an existence on canned food. obstinate adjective: resistant to guidance or discipline; stubbornly persistent Synonyms : cussed , obdurate , unrepentant, contrary , perverse , wayward The coach suggested improvements Sarah might make on the balance beam, but she remained obstinate, unwilling to modify any of the habits that made her successful in the past. conniving verb: taking part in immoral and unethical plots The queen was so conniving that, with the help of the prince, she tried to overthrow the king. discord noun: lack of agreement or harmony Synonyms : strife Despite all their talented players, the team was filled with discord--some players refused to talk to others--and lost most of their games. squander verb: spend thoughtlessly; waste time, money, or an opportunity Synonyms : blow , waste,consume , ware Fearing his money would be squandered by his family, he gave all of it to charity when he died. malevolent adjective: wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred Synonyms : evil , malefic , malign Villians are known for their malevolent nature, oftentimes inflicting cruetly on others just for enjoyment. unprecedented adjective: having never been done or known before; novel When America first created its national parks, the idea of setting aside the most beautiful land in a country was unprecedented in the history of mankind. derogative adjective: expressed as worthless or in negative terms Synonyms : derogatory , disparaging Never before have we seen a debate between two political candidates that was so derogative and filthy. diligent adjective: characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks Synonyms : persevering Michael was a diligent gardener, never leaving a leaf on the ground and regularly watering each plant. credulity noun: tendency to believe readily Virginia's wide-eyed credulity as a five-year old was replaced by suspicion after she learned that Santa Claus didn't really exist. tact noun: consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense Synonyms : tactfulness In a tremendous display of tact, Shelly was able to maintain a strong friendship with Marcia, even though Marcia's husband, Frank, confessed to finding Shelley more attractive than Marcia. pastoral adjective: relating to the countryside in a pleasant sense Synonyms : arcadian , bucolic Those who imagine America's countryside as a pastoral region are often disappointed to learn that much of rural U.S. is filled with cornfields extending as far as the eye can see. brusquely adverb: in a blunt, direct manner Synonyms : bluffly , bluntly , flat out , roundly Not one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staff would brusquely ask his subordinates anything he wanted, even coffee. goad verb: urge on with unpleasant comments Synonyms : prick,needle Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim, through a steady stream of taunts, goaded him into signing up for it. tarnish verb: make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically Synonyms : defile , maculate , stain , sully Pete Rose was one of the best baseball players of his generation, but his involvement with gambling on baseball games has tarnished his image in the eyes of many. ploy noun: a clever plan to turn a situation to one's advantage Synonyms : gambit,stratagem Dennis arranged an elaborate ploy, involving 14 different people lying for him in different situations, so that it could appear that he was meeting Mary completely by chance at the wedding reception. belittle verb: lessen the importance, dignity, or reputation of Synonyms : diminish,denigrate , derogate , minimize A good teacher will never belittle his students, but will instead empower them. tribulation noun: something, especially an event, that causes difficulty and suffering Synonyms : trial , visitation As of 2013, nearly 1.5 million Syrians have fled their country hoping to escape the tribulations of a civil war tearing their country to pieces. melancholy noun: a deep, long-lasting sadness Hamlet is a figure of tremendous melancholy: he doesn't have a truly cheerful scene throughout the entire play. behooves verb: to be one's duty or obligation The teacher looked down at the student and said, "It would behoove you to be in class on time and complete your homework, so that you don't repeat freshman English for a third straight year." cavalier adjective: given to haughty disregard of others Synonyms : high-handed Percy dismissed the issue with a cavalier wave of his hand. lethargic adjective: lacking energy Synonyms : unenrgetic Nothing can make a person more lethargic than a big turkey dinner. insipid adjective: dull and uninteresting Synonyms : bland , flat , flavorless , flavourless , savorless , savourless , vapid The movie director was known for hiring beautiful actors in order to deflect attention away from the insipid scripts he would typically use. cerebral adjective: involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct Synonyms : intellectual A cerebral analysis of most pop music finds it to be simple and childish, but that ignores the point--the music's effect on the listener. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study piquant adjective: having an agreeably pungent taste Synonyms : savory , savoury , spicy , zesty The chef, with a mere flick of the salt shaker, turned the bland tomato soup into a piquant meal. evenhanded adjective: without partiality Teachers often have trouble being evenhanded to all of their varied students. implicate verb: convey a meaning; imply Synonyms : entail By saying that some of the guests were uncomfortable, the manager implicated to the hotel staff that it needed to be more dilligent. verb: to indicate in wrongdoing, usually a crime The crime boss was implicated for a long list of crimes, ranging from murder to disturbing the peace. preempt verb: take the place of or have precedence over Synonyms : displace A governmental warning about an imminent terrorist attack would preempt ordinary network programming on television. uncanny adjective: suggesting the operation of supernatural influences; surpassing the ordinary or normal Synonyms : eldritch , unearthly , weird,preternatural Reggie has an uncanny ability to connect with animals: feral cats will readily approach him, and sometimes even wild birds will land on his finger. deride verb: treat or speak of with contempt The nun derided the students for trying to sneak insects and worms into the classroom. analogous adjective: similar in some respects but otherwise different Synonyms : correspondent In many ways, the Internet's transformative effect on society has been analogous to that of the printing press. forthright adjective: characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion Synonyms : blunt , candid , frank , free-spoken , outspoken , plainspoken , point-blank , straight-from-the-shoulder I did not expect the insurance agent to give us any straight answers, but I was pleasantly surprised by how forthright he was. finagle verb: achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods Synonyms : manage , wangle Steven was able to finagle one of the last seats on the train by convincing the conductor that his torn stub was actually a valid ticket. cohesive adjective: well integrated, forming a united whole A well-written, cohesive essay will keep on topic at all times, never losing sight of the main argument. profusion noun: the property of being extremely abundant Synonyms : cornucopia , profuseness , richness When Maria reported that she had been visited by Jesus Christ and had proof, a profusion of reporters and journalists descended on the town. clemency noun: leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice Synonyms : mercifulness , mercy In the final moments of the trial, during his closing speech, Phillips was nearly begging the judge for clemency. incense verb: make furious Synonyms : exasperate , infuriate When Herb bought football tickets for a game on the day of their wedding anniversary, Jill was incensed. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study intermittent adjective: stopping and starting at irregular intervals The intermittent thunder continued and the night was punctuated by cracks of lightning - a surreal sleepless night. delegate verb: give an assignment to (a person) Synonyms : assign , depute , designate Since the senior manager had to go on many international business trips, she was forced to delegate many of her responsibilities to two lower-level managers. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study besmirch verb: damage the good name and reputation of someone Synonyms : asperse , calumniate , defame , denigrate , slander , smear , smirch , sully The prince's distasteful choice of words besmirched not only his own name, but the reputation of the entire royal family. ascribe verb: attribute or credit to Synonyms : assign , attribute , impute History ascribes The Odyssey and The Iliad to Homer, but scholars now debate whether he was a historical figure or a fictitious name. conundrum noun: a difficult problem Synonyms : brain-teaser , enigma , riddle Computers have helped solve some of the mathematical conundrums which have puzzled man for many centuries. industrious adjective: characterized by hard work and perseverance Synonyms : hardworking , tireless , untiring Pete was an industrious student, completing every assignment thoroughly and on time. foolhardy adjective: marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences Synonyms : heady , rash , reckless The police regularly face dangerous situations, so for a police officer not to wear his bullet-proof vest is foolhardy. precarious adjective: fraught with danger Synonyms : parlous , perilous , touch-and-go People smoke to relax and forget their cares, but ironically, in terms of health risks, smoking is far more precarious than either mountain-climbing or skydiving. coalesce verb: fuse or cause to grow together Synonyms : blend , combine , commingle , conflate , flux , fuse , immix , meld , merge , mix Over time, the various tribes coalesced into a single common culture with one universal language. antedate verb: precede in time Synonyms : antecede , forego , forgo , precede , predate, foredate Harry was so unknowledgable that he was unaware the Egyptian pharaohs antedated the American Revolution. begrudge verb: to envy someone for possessing or enjoying something Synonyms : resent Sitting all alone in his room, Harvey begrudged the happiness of the other children playing outside his window. verb: to give reluctantly We never begrudge money spent on ourselves. eccentric adjective: highly unconventional or unusual (usually describes a person) Synonyms : eccentric person , flake , geek , oddball Mozart was well-known for his eccentricities, often speaking words backward to confuse those around him. rakish adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness Synonyms : devil-may-care , raffish As soon as he arrived in the city, the rakish young man bought some drugs and headed straight for the seedy parts of town. veneer noun: covering consisting of a thin superficial layer that hides the underlying substance Mark Twain referred to the Victorian Period in America as the "Gilded Age", implying the ample moral corruption that lay beneath a mere veneer of respectability consecrate verb: to make holy or set apart for a high purpose Synonyms : bless , hallow , sanctify At the church of Notre Dame in France, the new High Altar was consecrated in 1182. humdrum adjective: dull and lacking excitement Synonyms : commonplace , prosaic , unglamorous , unglamourous,monotonous Having grown up in a humdrum suburb, Jacob relished life in New York City after moving. emulate verb: strive to equal or match, especially by imitating; compete with successfully To really become fluent in a new language, emulate the speech patterns and intonation of people who speak the language. fawn verb: try to gain favor by extreme flattery Synonyms : bootlick , kotow , kowtow , suck up , toady , truckle The media fawned over the handsome new CEO, praising his impeccable sense of style instead of asking more pointed questions. glean verb: collect information bit by bit Synonyms : harvest , reap Herb has given us no formal statement about his background, but from various hints, I have gleaned that he grew up in difficult circumstances wanton adjective: without check or limitation; showing no moral restraints to one's anger, desire, or appetites Synonyms : easy , light , loose , promiscuous , sluttish Due to wanton behavior and crude language, the drunk man was thrown out of the bar and asked to never return. docile adjective: easily handled or managed; willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed Synonyms : gentle Barnyard animals are considerably more docile than the wild animals. buttress verb: make stronger or defensible China's economy has been buttressed by a global demand for the electronic parts the country manufactures. irascible adjective: quickly aroused to anger Synonyms : choleric , hot-tempered , hotheaded , quick-tempered , short-tempered If Arthur's dog is not fed adequately, he becames highly irascible, even growling at his own shadow. prevail verb: be widespread in a particular area at a particular time; be current: During the labor negotiations, an air of hostility prevailed in the office. verb: prove superior Before the cricket match, Australia was heavily favored, but India prevailed incumbent adjective: necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility Middle managers at times make important decisions, but real responsibility for the financial well-being of the corporation is ultimately incumbent on the CEO. avert verb: turn away Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, I averted my eyes as we drove by. verb: ward off or prevent Synonyms : avoid , debar , deflect , fend off , forefend , forfend , head off , obviate , stave off , ward off The struggling videogame company put all of its finances into one final, desperate project to avert bankruptcy. presumptuous adjective: excessively forward Synonyms : assuming , assumptive Many felt that Barney was presumptuous in moving into the large office before the management even made any official announcement of his promotion rile verb: cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations Synonyms : annoy , bother , chafe , devil , get at , get to , gravel , irritate , nark , nettle , rag , vex Dan is usually calm and balanced, but it takes only one intense glare from Sabrina to rile him. redress noun: an act of making something right Synonyms : remediation , remedy Barry forgot his wife's birthday two years in a row, and was only able to redress his oversight by surprising his wife with a trip to Tahiti. qualm noun: uneasiness about the fitness of an action Synonyms : misgiving , scruple While he could articulate no clear reason why Harkner's plan would fail, he neverless felt qualms about committing any resources to it. futile adjective: producing no result or effect; unproductive of success Synonyms : ineffectual , otiose , unavailing,bootless , fruitless , sleeveless , vain I thought I could repair the car myself, but after two days of work with no success, I have to admit that my efforts were futile. colossal adjective: so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe Synonyms : prodigious , stupendous Few appreciate the colossal scale of the sun: if hollow, it could contain a million Earths. compound verb: make more intense, stronger, or more marked Synonyms : deepen , heighten , intensify Her headache was compounded by the construction crew outside, which had six jackhammers going at the same time. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study aphorism noun: a short instructive saying about a general truth Synonyms : apophthegm , apothegm Nietzsche was known for using aphorisms, sometimes encapsulating a complex philosophical thought in a mere sentence. balk verb: refuse to comply Synonyms : baulk , jib , resist The students were willing to clean up the broken glass, but when the teacher asked them to mop the entire floor, they balked, citing reasons why they needed to leave. malodorous adjective: having an unpleasant smell Synonyms : ill-smelling , malodourous , stinky , unpleasant-smelling Some thermally active fountains spew sulfur fumes--the air around them is sometimes so malodorous that many have to plug their noses. paradoxical adjective: seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true Synonyms : self-contradictory That light could be both a particle and a wave seems paradoxical, but nonetheless, it is true. chivalrous adjective: being attentive to women like an ideal knight Synonyms : gallant , knightly Marco's chivalrous ways, like opening doors and pulling out chairs, was much appreciated by his date. discreet adjective: careful to protect one's speech or actions in order to avoid offense or gain an advantage The professor thought that he was discreet, subtly wiping the stain off of his shirt, but as soon as he stepped off the podium a member of the audience pointed out the large ketchup stain. excruciating adjective: extremely painful Synonyms : agonising , agonizing , harrowing , torturesome , torturing , torturous After the boulder rolled a couple of feet, pinning my friend's arm, he experienced excruciating pain. differentiate verb: be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait (sometimes in positive sense) Synonyms : distinguish , mark Mozart's long melodic lines differentiate his compositions from other works of late 18th century music. verb: evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment Synonyms : specialise , specialize , speciate Animals on Madagascar differentiated from other similar animal species due to many years of isolation on the island. besiege verb: harass, as with questions or requests; cause to feel distressed or worried Synonyms : beleaguer , circumvent , hem in , surround After discovering a priceless artifact in her backyard, Jane was besieged by phone calls, emails, and reporters all trying to buy, hold or see the rare piece of history. decimation noun: destroying or killing a large part of the population The decimation after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is incomprehensible. constraint noun: something that limits or restricts Synonyms : restraint We don't have many resources, so we'll have to work with some very tight constraints. provisional adjective: under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon Synonyms : probationary , provisionary , tentative Until the corporate office hands down a definitive decision on use of the extra offices, we will share their use in a provisional arrangement. abysmal adjective: extremely bad Synonyms : abyssal , unfathomable Coach Ramsey took his newest player off the field after watching a few painful minutes of her abysmal performance. antiquated adjective: old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier period in time Synonyms : antediluvian , archaic Aunt Betty had antiquated notions about marriage, believing that a man should court a woman for at least a year before receiving a kiss. perquisite noun: a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right) Synonyms : exclusive right , prerogative , privilege Even as the dishwasher at the French restaurant, Josh quickly learned that he had the perquisite of being able to eat terrific food for half the price diners would pay. snub verb: refuse to acknowledge; reject outright and bluntly Synonyms :cut , disregard , ignore, rebuff , repel Wheeler was completely qualified for the committee, but the board snubbed him, choosing an obviously lesser qualified candidate instead. cumbersome adjective: difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight Synonyms : cumbrous Only ten years ago, being an avid reader and a traveler meant carrying a cumbersome backpack stuffed with books--these days we need only an e-reader. stymie verb: hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of Synonyms : block , blockade , embarrass , hinder , obstruct , stymy The engineers found their plans stymied at every turn and were ultimately able to make almost no progress on the project. dilapidated adjective: in terrible condition Synonyms : bedraggled , broken-down , derelict , ramshackle , tatterdemalion , tumble-down The main house has been restored but the gazebo is still dilapidated and unuseable. champion verb: to fight for a cause Synonyms : defend Martin Luther King Jr. championed civil rights fiercely throughout his short life. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study enumerate verb: determine the number or amount of Synonyms : count , number , numerate The survey enumerates the number of happy workers and the number of unhappy workers. verb: specify individually, one by one Synonyms : itemise , itemize , recite I sat and listened as she enumerated all of the things she did not like about the past three months. staid adjective: characterized by dignity and propriety Synonyms : sedate Frank came from a staid environment, so he was shocked that his college roommate sold narcotics. inarticulate adjective: without or deprived of the use of speech or words Synonyms : unarticulate Although a brilliant economist, Professor Black was completely inarticulate, a terrible lecturer. vanquish verb: come out better in a competition, race, or conflict Synonyms : beat , beat out , crush , shell , trounce For years, Argentina would dominate in World Cup qualifying matches, only to be vanquished by one of the European countries during the late stages of the tournament. evasive adjective: avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger or commitment His responses were clearly evasive; he obviously did not want to take on any responsibility or any new work. adjective: deliberately vague or ambiguous Every time I call the bank, I receive the same evasive answers about our mortgage and never get a clear response. inkling noun: a slight suggestion or vague understanding Synonyms : glimmer , glimmering , intimation Lynne speaks four Romance languages, but she doesn't have an inkling about how East Asian languages are structured. carping adjective: persistently petty and unjustified criticism Synonyms : faultfinding What seemed like incessant nagging and carping about my behavior from my mother turned out to be wise and useful advice that has served me well. vie verb: compete for something Synonyms : compete , contend While the other teams in the division actively vie for the championship, this team seems content simply to go through the motions of playing. morph verb: To undergo dramatic change in a seamless and barely noticeable fashion. The earnestness of the daytime talk shows of the 1970's has morphed into something far more sensational and vulgar: today guests actually standup and threaten to take swings at one another. deliberate verb: think about carefully; weigh the pros and cons of an issue Synonyms : consider , debate , moot , turn over Emergency situations such as this call for immediate action and leave no room to deliberate over options. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study laborious adjective: characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort Synonyms : arduous , backbreaking , grueling , gruelling , hard , heavy , operose , punishing , toilsome The most laborious job I've had was working 20 hours a day as a fisherman in King Salmon, Alaska. convivial adjective: describing a lively atmosphere The wedding reception was convivial; friends who hadn't seen each other for ages drank and ate together before heading to the dance floor. complementary adjective: enhancing each other's qualities (for two things or more). Synonyms : complemental , completing The head waiter was careful to tell the amateur diners that red wine was complementary with beef, each bringing out subtle taste notes in the other. dispatch noun: the property of being prompt and efficient Synonyms : despatch , expedition , expeditiousness She finished her thesis with dispatch, amazing her advisors who couldn't believe she hadn't written 60 scholarly pages so quickly. verb: dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently As soon as the angry peasants stormed the castle, they caught the king and swiftly dispatched him. This word has other definitions but these are the most important ones to study boorish adjective: ill-mannered and coarse or contemptible in behavior or appearance Synonyms : loutish , neandertal , neanderthal , oafish , swinish Bukowski was known for being a boorish drunk and alienating close friends and family. sordid adjective: involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul and run-down and repulsive Synonyms : seamy , seedy , sleazy , squalid,flyblown The nightly news simply announced that the senator had had an affair, but the tabloid published all the sordid details of the interaction. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study amply adverb: more than is adequate Synonyms : fully The boat was amply supplied for its year at sea - no man would go hungry or thirst. debunk verb: expose as false ideas and claims, especially while ridiculing Synonyms : expose Richard Dawkins tries to debunk religious belief, but his ridicule tends to push people away from his points rather than convince them. cosmopolitan adjective: comprising many cultures; global in reach and outlook Synonyms : ecumenical , general , oecumenical , universal , world-wide , worldwide There are few cities in the world as diverse and cosmopolitan as New York. miscreant noun: a person who breaks the law Synonyms : reprobate "Come back you miscreant!" yelled the woman who just had her purse stolen. creditable adjective: deserving of praise but not that amazing Critics agreed the movie was creditable, but few gave it more than three out of five stars. hamper verb: prevent the progress or free movement of Synonyms : cramp , halter , strangle As the rain water began to collect in pools on the highway, it began to hamper the flow of traffic. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study misogynist noun: a person who dislikes women in particular Synonyms : woman hater Many have accused Hemingway of being a quiet misogynist, but recently unearthed letters argue against this belief. obliging adjective: showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others Synonyms : complaisant Even after all his success, I found him to be accommodating and obliging, sharing with me his "secret tips" on how to gain wealth and make friends. resignation noun: the acceptance of something unpleasant that can't be avoided Synonyms : surrender Since Jack could not think of a convincing reason why he had to miss the seminar, he attended it with a sense of resignation. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study relegate verb: assign to a lower position Synonyms : break , bump , demote , kick downstairs When Dexter was unable to fulfill his basic duties, instead of firing him, the boss relegated him to kitchen cleanup. egregious adjective: standing out in negative way; shockingly bad Synonyms : crying , flagrant , glaring , gross , rank The dictator's abuse of human rights was so egregious that many world leaders demanded that he be tried in an international court for genocide. restive adjective: restless Synonyms : edgy , high-strung , highly strung , jittery , jumpy , nervy , overstrung , uptight The crowd grew restive as the comedian's opening jokes fell flat. calumny noun: making of a false statement meant to injure a person's reputation Synonyms : calumniation , defamation , hatchet job , obloquy , aspersion , slander , denigration , traducement With the presidential primaries well under way, the air is thick with calumny, and the mud already waist-high. parochial adjective: narrowly restricted in scope or outlook Synonyms : insular Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling relationship with Jacob did not work out because his culinary tastes were simply too parochial; "After all," she quipped on her blog, "he considered Chef Boyardee ethnic food." harangue noun: a long pompous speech; a tirade Synonyms : rant , ranting Dinner at Billy's was more a punishment than a reward, since anyone who sat at the dinner table would have to listen to Billy's father's interminable harangues against the government. verb: to deliver a long pompous speech or tirade Tired of his parents haranguing him about his laziness and lack of initiative, Tyler finally moved out of home at the age of thirty-five. qualify verb: to be eligible for a role, status, or benefit by meeting specific requirements Synonyms : measure up If James had made more than $50,000 last year, then he wouldn't have qualified for the low-income scholarship. verb: to make less severe; to limit (a statement) Synonyms : restrict Chris qualified his love for San Francisco, adding that he didn't like the weather as much as the weather in Los Angeles. venerate verb: to respect deeply Synonyms : fear , revere , reverence The professor, despite his sleep-inducing lectures, was venerated amongst his colleagues, publishing more papers yearly than all of his peers combined. maintain verb: to assert Synonyms : defend The scientist maintained that the extinction of dinosaurs was most likely brought about by a drastic change in climate. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study amenable adjective: easily persuaded Synonyms : conformable , tractable Even though she did not like the outdoors, Shirley was generally amenable and so her brother was able to persuade her to go camping. belie verb: to give a false representation to; misrepresent Synonyms : contradict , negate The smile on her face belies the pain she must feel after the death of her husband. relevant adjective: closely connected to the topic and therefore important I think Professor McGarry can give you some relevant books to help you write that essay. iconoclast noun: somebody who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions Lady Gaga, in challenging what it means to be clothed, is an iconoclast for wearing a "meat dress" to a prominent awards show. undermine adjective: to weaken (usually paired with an abstract term) The student undermined the teacher's authority by questioning the teacher's judgment on numerous occasions. disinterested adjective: unbiased; neutral The potential juror knew the defendant, and therefore could not serve on the jury, which must consist only of disinterested members. involved adjective: complicated, and difficult to comprehend Synonyms : byzantine , convoluted , knotty , tangled , tortuous The physics lecture became so involved that the undergraduate's eyes glazed over. wanting adjective: lacking Synonyms : deficient , lacking She did not think her vocabulary was wanting, yet there were so many words that inevitably she found a few she didn't know. galvanize verb: to excite or inspire (someone) to action Synonyms : galvanise , startle At mile 23 of his first marathon, Kyle had all but given up, until he noticed his friends and family holding a banner that read, "Go Kyle"; galvanized, he broke into a gallop, finishing the last three miles in less than 20 minutes. equivocal adjective: confusing or ambiguous The findings of the study were equivocal - the two researchers had different opinions on what the results signified. acrimony noun: bitterness and ill will Synonyms : acerbity , bitterness , jaundice , tartness , thorniness The acrimonious dispute between the president and vice-president sent a clear signal to voters: the health of the current administration was imperiled. impertinent adjective: being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold Synonyms : fresh , impudent , overbold , sassy , saucy , smart , wise Dexter, distraught over losing his pet dachshund, Madeline, found the police officer's questions impertinent - after all, he thought, did she have to pry into such details as to what Madeline's favorite snack was? (adj) not pertinent to the matter under consideration Synonyms : extraneous , immaterial , orthogonal anomalous adjective: not normal According to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over the last five years is simply anomalous - daily temperatures should return to their old averages, they believe. frugal adjective: not spending much money (but spending wisely) Synonyms : economical , scotch , sparing , stinting Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned. intimate verb: to suggest something subtly Synonyms : adumbrate , insinuate At first Manfred's teachers intimated to his parents that he was not suited to skip a grade; when his parents protested, teachers explicitly told them that, notwithstanding the boy's precocity, he was simply too immature to jump to the 6th grade. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study vindicate verb: to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof Synonyms : justify Even seven Tour de France wins cannot vindicate Lance Armstrong in the eyes of the public--that the athlete used performance enhancing drugs invalidates all those wins. aberration noun: a deviation from what is normal or expected Synonyms : aberrance , aberrancy , deviance Aberrations in climate have become the norm: rarely a week goes by without some meteorological phenomenon making headlines. enervate verb: to sap energy from Synonyms : faze , unnerve , unsettle John preferred to avoid equatorial countries; the intense sun would always leave him enervated after he'd spent the day sightseeing. censure verb: to express strong disapproval Synonyms : animadversion After being caught in bed with a mistress, the mayor was quickly censured by the city council. auspicious adjective: favorable, the opposite of sinister Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike's road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded and penniless, leaning against his wrecked automobile. amorphous adjective: shapeless Synonyms : formless , shapeless , unstructured His study plan for the GRE was at best amorphous; he would do questions from random pages in any one of seven test prep books. ambiguous adjective: open to more than one interpretation Synonyms : equivocal The coach told his team, "Move towards that side of the field"; because he did not point, his directions were ambiguous, and the team had no idea to which side he was referring. profligate adjective: spending resources recklessly or wastefully Synonyms : extravagant , prodigal , spendthrift The composer Wagner, while living on a limited salary, was so profligate as to line all the walls of his apartment with pure silk. noun: someone who spends resources recklessly or wastefully Most lottery winners go from being conservative, frugal types to outright profligates who blow millions on fast cars, lavish homes, and giant yachts. chastise verb: to reprimand harshly Synonyms : castigate , chasten , correct , objurgate Though chastised for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother's harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts. ingenuous adjective: to be naïve and innocent Synonyms : innocent Two-years in Manhattan had changed Jenna from an ingenuous girl from the suburbs to a jaded urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse, regardless of how elaborate. gregarious adjective: to be likely to socialize with others Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious, always in the middle of a large group of people; yet, as Mahatma Gandhi and many others have shown us, leaders can also be introverted. betray verb: to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally Synonyms : bewray With the gold medal at stake, the gymnast awaited his turn, his quivering lip betraying his intense emotions. parsimonious adjective: extremely frugal; miserly Synonyms : penurious Katie is so parsimonious that she only buys a pair of socks if all of her other socks have holes in them. mercurial adjective: (of a person) prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood Synonyms : erratic , fickle , quicksilver The fact that Ella's moods were as mercurial as the weather was problematic for her relationships - it didn't help that she lived in Chicago. upbraid verb: to reproach; to scold Bob took a risk walking into the "Students Barbershop" - in the end he had to upbraid the apparently drunk barber for giving him an uneven bowl cut. innocuous adjective: harmless and doesn't produce any ill effects Synonyms : innocent Everyone found Nancy's banter innocuous - except for Mike, who felt like she was intentionally picking on him. amalgam noun: a mixture of multiple things The band's music was an amalgam of hip-hop, flamenco and jazz, blending the three styles with surprising results. demur verb: to object or show reluctance Wallace disliked the cold, so he demurred when his friends suggested they going skiing in the Alps. prodigal adjective: rashly or wastefully extravagant Synonyms : extravagant , profligate , spendthrift Successful professional athletes who do not fall prey to prodigality seem to be the exception - most live decadent lives. laconic adjective: one who says very few words Synonyms : crisp , curt , terse While Martha always swooned over the hunky, laconic types in romantic comedies, her boyfriends inevitably were very talkative - and not very hunky. commensurate adjective: to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount The convicted felon's life sentence was commensurate to the heinousness of his crime. venality noun: the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption Even some of the most sacred sporting events are not immune to venality, as many of the officials have received substantial bribes to make biased calls. ambivalent adjective: mixed or conflicting emotions about something Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was able to improve his analytical skills. extant adjective: still in existence (usually refers to documents). Despite many bookstores closing, experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant generations from now. veracious adjective: truthful Synonyms : right While we elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be veracious, history has shown that such a hope is naive. artful adjective: exhibiting artistic skill Picasso is generally considered the most artful member of the Cubist movement. adjective: clever in a cunning way Bernie Madoff's artful Ponzi scheme stole billions of dollars from investors and is considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history. prevaricate verb: to speak in an evasive way Synonyms : beat around the bush , equivocate , palter , tergiversate The cynic quipped, "There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to prevaricate". castigate verb: to reprimand harshly Synonyms : chasten , chastise , correct , objurgate Drill sergeants are known to castigate new recruits so mercilessly that the latter often break down during their first week in training. imperil transitive verb. to put at risk; endanger; synonyms: endanger, hazard, jeopardize frivolous adjective: not serious in content or attitude or behavior Compared to Juliet's passionate concern for human rights, Jake's non-stop concern about football seems somewhat frivolous. conspicuous adjective: without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious Synonyms : blatant , blazing American basketball players are always conspicuous when they go abroad-not only are they American, but some are over seven feet tall. dogmatic adjective: highly opinionated, not accepting that your belief may not be correct Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earth is flat, claiming that all pictures of a spherical earth are computer generated. cryptic adjective: mysterious or vague, usually intentionally Synonyms : cabalistic , cryptical , kabbalistic , qabalistic , sibylline Since Sarah did not want her husband to guess the Christmas present she had bought him, she only answered cryptically when he would ask her questions about it. meticulous adjective: marked by extreme care in treatment of details The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in making his noodles and would never let another person take over the task. banal adjective: repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse Synonyms : commonplace , hackneyed , old-hat , shopworn , stock , threadbare , timeworn , tired , trite , well-worn The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class either fell asleep from bordeom or stayed awake to complete his sentences and humor friends. predilection noun: a strong liking Synonyms : penchant , preference , taste Monte had a predilection for the fine things in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine, and trips to the French Riviera. volubility noun: the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously Synonyms : articulateness , fluency The professor's volubility knows no bounds; he could talk through a hurricane and elaborate a point from one St. Patrick's Day to the next. gossamer adjective: characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy Synonyms : ethereal The gossamer wings of a butterfly, which allow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are often damaged. preclude verb: keep from happening or arising; make impossible Synonyms : forbid , foreclose , forestall , prevent The manager specified that all other gates be locked, to preclude the possibility of persons without tickets entering the arena undetected. mitigate verb: make less severe or harsh Synonyms : extenuate , palliate I can only spend so much time mitigating your disagreements with your wife, and at certain point, you need to do it on your own. verb: lessen the severity of an offense If it weren't for the mitigating circumstances, he would have certainly lost his job. resource noun: some saved material that can be used for a purpose (especially money, anything used to make energy such as oil, or information sources such as books) Many of the richest countries have surprisingly few natural resources and must buy oil or gas from other countries. Never forget to make use of the library during your studies; it's full of great resources. concede verb: acknowledge defeat I concede. You win! verb: admit (to a wrongdoing) Synonyms : confess , profess After a long, stern lecture from her father, Olivia conceded to having broken the window. verb: give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another Synonyms : cede , grant , yield The Spanish were forced to concede much of the territory they had previously conquered. lambast verb: criticize severely or angrily Synonyms : bawl out , berate , call down , call on the carpet , chew out , chew up , chide , dress down , have words , jaw , lambaste , lecture , rag , rebuke , remonstrate , reprimand , reproof , scold , take to task , trounce Showing no patience, the manager utterly lambasted the sales team that lost the big account. platitude noun: a trite or obvious remark Synonyms : banality , bromide , cliche , commonplace The professor argued that many statements regarded as wise in previous times, such as the Golden Rule, are now regarded as mere platitudes. incisive adjective: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions Synonyms : acute , discriminating , keen , knifelike , penetrating , penetrative , piercing , sharp The lawyer had an incisive mind, able in a flash to dissect a hopelessly tangled issue and isolate the essential laws at play. apathetic adjective: marked by a lack of interest Synonyms : indifferent Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching math that even normally apathetic students took interest. dictatorial adjective: expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler Synonyms : authoritarian , overbearing,authoritarian , autocratic , despotic , tyrannic , tyrannical The coach was dictatorial in his approach: no players could ever argue or question his approach. fortuitous adjective: occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause Synonyms : causeless, uncaused, تصادفي While the real objects are vastly different sizes in space, the sun and the moon seem to have the same fortuitous size in the sky. didactic adjective: instructive (especially excessively) Synonyms : didactical Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illyich is a didactic novel, instructing the reader on how to live a good life. exacerbate verb: make worse Synonyms : aggravate , exasperate , worsen Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold--when she woke up the next day, her sinuses were completely blocked. prescience noun: the power to foresee the future Synonyms : prevision, علم الغيب Baxter's warnings about investing in technology stocks seemed like an act of prescience after the whole market declined significantly. superfluous adjective: serving no useful purpose Synonyms : otiose , pointless , purposeless , senseless , wasted How can we hope to stay open if we don't eliminate all superfluous spending, like catered meetings and free acupucture Tuesday? adjective: more than is needed, desired, or required Synonyms : excess , extra , redundant , spare , supererogatory , supernumerary , surplus The third paragraph in your essay is superfluous and can be deleted. perfidy noun: an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust Synonyms : betrayal , treachery , treason,perfidiousness , treachery The lowest circles in Dante's Inferno were for those who had practiced perfidy, and among these, the very lowest was for those, such as Judas, who had been treacherous to one of their benefactors. gall noun: the trait of being rude and impertinent Synonyms : cheekiness , crust , freshness , impertinence , impudence , insolence Even though Carly was only recently hired, she had the gall to question her boss's judgment in front of the office. noun: feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will Synonyms : bitterness , rancor , rancour , resentment In an act of gall, Leah sent compromising photos of her ex-boyfriend to all his co-workers and professional contacts. inexorable adjective: impossible to stop or prevent Synonyms : adamant , adamantine , intransigent The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology and culture. decorous adjective: characterized by good taste in manners and conduct Sally's parties are decorous affairs, and instead of the usual beer and music, there is tea and intellectual conversation. vociferous adjective: conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry Synonyms : blatant , clamant , clamorous , strident In giving Marcia a particular vociferous response, Paul caused people at every other table in the restaurant to turn around an look at them angrily. torpor noun: inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy Synonyms : listlessness , torpidity , torpidness After work, I was expecting my colleagues to be enthusiastic about the outing, but I found them in a state of complete torpor. culminate verb: reach the highest or most decisive point Synonyms : climax Beethoven's musical genius culminated in the 9th Symphony, which many consider his greatest work. culpability noun: a state of guilt Synonyms : blameworthiness , culpableness Since John had left his banana peel at the top of the stairwell, he accepted culpability for Martha's broken leg. bucolic adjective: relating to the pleasant aspects of the country Synonyms : peasant , provincial The noble families of England once owned vast expanses of beautiful, bucolic land. reticent adjective: reluctant to draw attention to yourself; temperamentally disinclined to talk Synonyms : untalkative, retiring , self-effacing When asked about her father, Helen lost her outward enthusiasm and became rather reticent. impudent adjective: improperly forward or bold Synonyms : fresh , impertinent , overbold , sassy , saucy , smart , wise In an impudent move, the defendant spoke out of order to say terribly insulting things to the judge. aesthete noun: one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature Synonyms : esthete A true aesthete, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same Picasso. obscure verb: make unclear Synonyms : becloud , befog , cloud , fog , haze over , mist , obnubilate On the Smith's drive through the Grand Canyon, Mr. Smith's big head obscured much of Mrs. Robinson's view, so that she only saw momentary patches of red rock. adjective: known by only a few Synonyms : unknown , unsung Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscure actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films. This word has other definitions but these are the most important ones to study diffident adjective: showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence Synonyms : shy , timid , unsure As a young girl she was diffident and reserved, but now as an adult, she is confident and assertive. germane adjective: relevant and appropriate The professor wanted to tell the jury in detail about his new book, but the lawyer said it wasn't germane to the charges in the cases. gainsay verb: deny or contradict; speak against or oppose Synonyms : challenge , dispute I can't gainsay a single piece of evidence James has presented, but I still don't trust his conclusion. mawkish adjective: overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting Synonyms : bathetic , drippy , hokey , kitschy , maudlin , mushy , schmaltzy , schmalzy , sentimental , slushy , soppy , soupy The film was incredibly mawkish, introducing highly likeable characters only to have them succumb to a devastating illnesses by the end of the movie. glut noun: an excessive supply Synonyms : oversupply , surfeit The Internet offers such a glut of news related stories that many find it difficult to know which story to read first. verb: supply with an excess of Synonyms : flood , oversupply In the middle of economic crises, hiring managers find their inboxes glutted with resumes. eschew verb: avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of Synonyms : shun Politicians are the masters of eschewing morals; academics are the masters of eschewing clarity. querulous adjective: habitually complaining Synonyms : fretful , whiney , whiny The querulous old woman was begining to wear down even the happier members of the staff with her ceaseless complaining. rustic adjective: characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial Synonyms : countrified , countryfied,bumpkinly , hick , unsophisticated The vacation cabin had no electricity and no indoor plumbing, but despite these inconveniences, Nigel adored its rustic charm. engender verb: give rise to Synonyms : beget , bring forth , father , generate , get , mother , sire The restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were so severe that they engendered deep hatred and resentment in the German people. entrenched adjective: fixed firmly or securely By the time we reach 60-years old, most of our habits are so entrenched that it is difficult for us to change. recondite adjective: difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge Synonyms : abstruse , deep I found Ulysses recondite and never finished the book, waiting instead to read it with someone else so we could penetrate its meaning together. chortle verb: to chuckle, laugh merrily Synonyms : chuckle , laugh softly Walking past the bar, I could hear happy, chortling people and the blast of horns from a jazz band. audacious adjective: willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks Synonyms : brave , dauntless , fearless , hardy , intrepid , unfearing As all of the other campers cowered in their tents, Bill, armed only with a flashlight, audaciously tracked down the bear that had raided their food. aesthetic adjective: concerned with the appreciation of beauty Synonyms : aesthetical , esthetic , esthetical The director, not known for his aesthetic sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all, and put on the play in everyday clothing. noun: a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement. The artist operated according to a peculiar aesthetic, not considering any photograph to be worth publishing unless it contained a marine mammal. deferential adjective: showing respect Synonyms : deferent , regardful If you ever have the chance to meet the president, stand up straight and be deferential. eclectic adjective: comprised of a variety of styles Joey was known for his eclectic tastes in music, one moment dancing to disco the next "air conducting" along to Beethoven's 9th symphony. precocious adjective: characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude) Though only seven years old, she was a precocious chess prodigy, able to beat players twice her age. denote verb: be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning Synonyms : refer Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon denotes "stop" to all motorists in America. jingoism noun: fanatical patriotism Synonyms : chauvinism , superpatriotism , ultranationalism North Korea maintains intense control over its population through a combination of jingoism and cult of personality. insidious adjective: working in a subtle but destructive way Synonyms : pernicious , subtle Plaque is insidious: we cannot see it, but each day it eats away at our enamel, causing cavities and other dental problems. jubilant adjective: full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success Synonyms : exultant , exulting , prideful , rejoicing , triumphal , triumphant,elated , gleeful , joyful My hardwork paid off, and I was jubilant to receive a perfect score on the GRE. immutable adjective: not able to be changed Synonyms : changeless Taxes are one of the immutable laws of the land, so there is no use arguing about paying them. avaricious adjective: excessively greedy Synonyms : covetous , grabby , grasping , greedy , prehensile Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or lust--sins of excess-it was listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the Catholic church. languid adjective: not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed Synonyms : dreamy , lackadaisical , languorous As the sun beat down and the temperature climbed higher, we spent a languid week lying around the house. perceive verb: to be aware of, to sense or feel Synonyms : comprehend If hunters are skilled, the animals will not perceive their presence. refractory adjective: stubbornly resistant to authority or control Synonyms : fractious , recalcitrant Used to studious high school students, Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindgergarteners who neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study ephemeral adjective: lasting a very short time Synonyms : fugacious , passing , short-lived , transient , transitory The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral, lasting from a few hours to a couple of days. treacherous adjective: tending to betray Synonyms : perfidious , punic Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his treacherous actions than for eliminating a criminal and murder. adjective: dangerously unstable and unpredictable Synonyms : unreliable The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across, and so I think I will stay put right here. mollify verb: to make someone angry less angry; placate Synonyms : season , temper In the morning, Harriat was unable to mollify Harry, if he happened to become angry, unless he had his cup of coffee. ameliorate verb: make something bad better Synonyms : amend , better , improve , meliorate "Three Cups of Tea" tells the story of western man who hopes to ameliorate poverty and the lack of education in Afghanistan. fallacious adjective: of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning Synonyms : unsound,Synonyms, deceitful , fraudulent The widespread belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is fallacious, based on one false report. subsume verb: contain or include The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and boardwalk, destroying everything in its path. verb: consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle Synonyms : colligate Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes all other modern novels, demonstrating modern literary devices and predating even the idea of a postmodern, metanarrative. incongruous adjective: lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness The vast economic inequality of modern society is incongruous with America's ideals. rudimentary adjective: being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles Synonyms : fundamental , underlying I would love to be able to present a fully polished proposal to the board, but right now, our plans for the product are still in the most rudimentary stages. tantamount adjective: being essentially equal to something Synonyms : equivalent In many situations, remaining silent is tantamount to admitting guilt, so speak to prove your innocence. frustrate verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of Synonyms : baffle , bilk , cross , foil , queer , scotch , spoil , thwart, I thought I would finish writing the paper by lunchtime, but a number of urgent interruptions served to frustrate my plan. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study derive verb: come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example Synonyms : come , descend Many words in the English language are derived from Latin, including the word "derive." verb: reason by deduction; establish by deduction Synonyms : deduce , deduct , infer From the multiple set of footprints in the living room, the investigator derived an important clue: Sheila was not alone in the room at the time of the murder. disaffected adjective: discontented as toward authority Synonyms : ill-affected , malcontent , rebellious After watching his superior take rations from the soliders, he quickly became disaffected and rebeled. spurious adjective: plausible but false Synonyms : specious When listening to a politician speak, it is hard to distinguish the spurious claims from the authentic ones. quotidian adjective: found in the ordinary course of events Synonyms : everyday , mundane , routine , unremarkable , workaday Phil gets so involved thinking about Aristotle's arguments that he totally forgets quotidian concerns, such as exercising and eating regularly. unequivocal adjective: admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion Synonyms : unambiguous , univocal The President's first statement on the subject was vague and open to competing interpretations, so when he spoke to Congress about the same subject later, he was cafeful to make his position completely unequivocal. guileless adjective: free of deceit Synonyms : transparent At first I thought my niece was guileless, but I then found myself buying her ice cream every time we passed a shop. travesty noun: an absurd presentation of something; a mockery Synonyms : farce , farce comedy,burlesque , charade , lampoon , mockery , parody , pasquinade , put-on , sendup , spoof , takeoff What I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced travesty of the form. register verb: to put your name or other information in a list for something verb: to identify and show on a tool for measuring Synonyms : read , record , show If you'd like to buy a meal plan, you can register at the student affairs office. The bomb was so strong that far away weather balloons registered the heat. elucidate verb: make clearer and easier to understand Synonyms : clear , clear up , crystalise , crystalize , crystallise , crystallize , enlighten , illuminate , shed light on , sort out , straighten out Youtube is great place to learn just about anything-an expert elucidates finer points so that even a complete novice can learn. forlorn adjective: marked by or showing hopelessness After her third pet dog died, Marcia was simply forlorn: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog no longer held any joy. derivative adjective: (or a creative product, e.g. music, writing, etc.) not original but drawing on the work of another person Because the movies were utterly derivative of other popular movies, they did well at the box office. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study apathy noun: an absence of emotion or enthusiasm Synonyms : indifference , numbness , spiritlessness Widespread apathy among voters led to a very small turnout on election day. circumvent verb: cleverly find a way out of one's duties or obligations Synonyms : dodge , duck , elude , evade , fudge , hedge , parry , put off , sidestep , skirt One way of circumventing the GRE is to apply to a grad school that does not require GRE scores. juxtapose verb: place side by side The appeal of her paintings comes from a classical style which is juxtaposed with modern themes. panache noun: distinctive and stylish elegance Synonyms : dash , elan , flair , style Jim, with his typical panache, came to the wedding reception with a top hat, a cane, and a long cape covered in sequins. contrive verb: to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery Synonyms : devise , excogitate , forge , formulate , invent Despite a low GPA, he contrived to get into college, going so far as to write his own glowing letters of recommendation. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study access noun: the ability to go into (when somebody or something must allow you to enter) Synonyms : accession , admission , admittance , entree verb: to go into something when allowed to enter Only students have access to the university library. There is a large amount of oil under the ice, but we have not be able to access it. abstain verb: choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable) Synonyms : desist , refrain Considered a health nut, Jessica abstained from anything containing sugar-even chocolate. delineate verb: describe in detail After a brief summary of proper swimming technique, the coach delineated the specifics of each stroke, spending 30 minutes alone on the backstroke. vehement adjective: marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions Synonyms : fierce , tearing , trigger-happy , violent While the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way, Andrew responded in a vehement manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs. supplant verb: take the place or move into the position of Synonyms : replace , supercede , supersede , supervene upon For many, a cell phone has supplanted a traditional phone; in fact, most 20-somethings don't even have a traditional phone anymore. vilify verb: spread negative information about Synonyms : rail , revile , vituperate Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to say only complimentary things about Barbara, but Barbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd. itinerant adjective: traveling from place to place to work Synonyms : gipsy , gypsy Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling between patients' homes. eminent adjective: standing above others in quality or position Synonyms : lofty , soaring , towering Shakespeare is an eminent author in the English language, but I find his writing uninteresting and melodramatic. heretic noun: a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion) Synonyms : misbeliever , religious outcast Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to do cardio before weights, Mikey was a heretic and always did the reverse. tenacious adjective: stubbornly unyielding Synonyms : dogged , dour , persistent , pertinacious , unyielding Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit some of the dangers that firearms present. negligible adjective: so small as to be meaningless; insignificant Synonyms : paltry , trifling The GRE tests cumulative knowledge, so if you cram the night before it is, at best, likely to only have a negligible impact on your score. belligerent adjective: characteristic of one eager to fight Synonyms : aggressive Tom said that he was arguing the matter purely for philosophical reasons, but his belligerent tone indicated an underlying anger about the issue. magnanimous adjective: noble and generous in spirit, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful, رحب الصدر Synonyms : greathearted He was a great sportsman: in defeat he was complementary and in victory he was magnanimous. haughty adjective: having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy Synonyms : disdainful , imperious , lordly , overbearing , prideful , sniffy , supercilious , swaggering The haughty manager didn't believe that any of his subordinates could ever have an insight as brilliant his own. staunch adjective: firm and dependable especially in loyalty Synonyms : steadfast , unswerving No longer a staunch supporter of the movement, Todd now will openly question whether its goals are worthwhile. ascetic adjective: practicing self-denial Synonyms : ascetical , austere , spartan His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth and power to live in poverty. noun: one who practices great self-denial Synonyms : abstainer Historically, ascetics like Ghandi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint. ignoble adjective: dishonorable Synonyms : ungentle , untitled In the 1920s, the World Series was rigged--an ignoble act which baseball took decades to recover from. adamant adjective: refusing to change one's mind Synonyms : adamantine , inexorable , intransigent Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for adamantly refusing to give up her seat on a public bus--even after the bus driver insisted, she remained rooted in place. underscore verb: give extra weight to (a communication) Synonyms : emphasise , emphasize , underline While the hiking instructor agreed that carrying a first aid kit could be a good idea under certain circumstances, he underscored the importance of carrying enough water. indifference noun: the trait of seeming not to care Synonyms : apathy , numbness , spiritlessness, emotionlessness , impassiveness , impassivity , phlegm , stolidity , unemotionality In an effort to fight indifference, the president of the college introduced a new, stricter grading system. eradicate verb: to completely destroy Synonyms : exterminate , extirpate , root out , uproot, annihilate , carry off , decimate , eliminate , extinguish , wipe out I tried eradicating the mosquitos in my apartment with a rolled up newspaper, but there were too many of them. unscrupulous adjective: without scruples or principles In the courtroom, the lawyer was unscrupulous, using every manner of deceit and manipulation to secure a victory for himself. construe verb: interpreted in a particular way Synonyms : interpret , see The author's inability to take a side on the issue was construed by both his opponents and supporters as a sign of weakness. pundit noun: someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field Synonyms : initiate , learned person , savant Steven Pinker's credentials are unquestioned as a pundit; he has taught at MIT and Stanford, teaches at Harvard, and has published a number of influential books on cognition, language, and psychology. temperance noun: the trait of avoiding excesses Synonyms : moderation,sobriety Welles wasn't known for his temperance--he usually ate enough for two and drank enough for three. refute verb: prove to be false or incorrect Synonyms : controvert , rebut No one could refute his theories or propositions, and that is why he was esteemed by all his colleagues in the philosophy department. ingratiate verb: gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts Even though Tom didn't like his new boss, he decided to ingratiate himself to her in order to advance his career. reconcile verb: make (one thing) compatible with (another), وفق بين Synonyms : accommodate , conciliate Peggy was unable to reconcile her kind friend Jane with the cruel and merciless character Jane played on television. idiosyncrasy noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual Synonyms : foible , mannerism Peggy's numerous idiosyncrasies include wearing mismatched shoes, laughing loudly to herself, and owning a pet aardvark. petulant adjective: easily irritated or annoyed Synonyms : cranky , fractious , irritable , nettlesome , peckish , peevish , pettish , scratchy , techy , testy , tetchy When Ed first met Ruth, he didn't realize she was so petulant, but now that they are three months into their relationship, Ed feels a day doesn't go by in which she isn't whining about some minor issue. aberrant adjective: markedly different from an accepted norm Synonyms : deviant , deviate When the financial director started screaming and throwing food at his co-workers, the police had to come in to deal with his aberrant behavior. tortuous adjective: marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward Synonyms : twisting , twisty , voluminous , winding Because the logic behind McMahon's side of the debate was so tortuous, his audience came out either completely confused or, worse, feeling they'd been tricked. bumbling adjective: lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands Synonyms : bungling , butterfingered , ham-fisted , ham-handed , handless , heavy-handed , left-handed Within a week of starting, the bumbling new waiter was unceremoniously fired. copious adjective: in abundant supply Synonyms : ample , plenteous , plentiful , rich, voluminous In midsummer, there are copious popiscle stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none. largess noun: extreme generosity and giving Synonyms : largesse , magnanimity , munificence , openhandedness Uncle Frank was known for his largess, so his nephew was sad when he did not receive a present for his birthday. myopic adjective: lacking foresight or imagination Synonyms : short , shortsighted , unforesightful The company ultimately went out of business because the myopic managers couldn't predict the changes in their industry. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study confound verb: be confusing or perplexing to Synonyms : bedevil , befuddle , confuse , discombobulate , fox , fuddle , throw Though Harry loved numbers, he found calculus confounding. verb: mistake one thing for another Synonyms : confuse Americans often confound sweet potatoes with yams, and refer to both vegetables by the same name. implacable adjective: incapable of making less angry or hostile Win or lose, the coach was always implacable, never giving the athletes an easy practice or a break. laudable adjective: worthy of high praise Synonyms : applaudable , commendable , praiseworthy To say that Gandhi's actions were laudable is the greatest understatement; he overthrew an empire without violence. blatant adjective: without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious Synonyms : blazing , conspicuous Allen was often punished in school for blatantly disrespecting teachers. denigrate verb: charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone Synonyms : asperse , besmirch , calumniate , defame , slander , smear , smirch , sully Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate to explain the observations. apocryphal adjective: being of questionable authenticity The web is notorious for sandwiching apocryphal stories between actual news. pragmatic adjective: guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory Synonyms : hard-nosed , hardheaded , practical Rather than make a philosophical appeal to the Congressmen, the Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach, making small side-deals that would add votes to his bill. forthcoming adjective: available when required or as promised Synonyms : approaching , coming , upcoming The President announced that the senators were about to reach a compromise, and that he was eager to read the forthcoming details of the bill. adjective: at ease in talking to others Synonyms : extroverted , outgoing As a husband, Larry was not forthcoming: if Jill didn't demand to know details, Larry would never share them with her. soporific adjective: inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing Synonyms : hypnagogic , hypnogogic , somniferous , somnific , soporiferous,narcotic Although the professor is brilliant, his bland monotone gives his lectures a soporific effect. provincial adjective: characteristic of the a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated Maggie's enthusiasm about her high school teams seemed provincial to her college classmates, all of whom were following a nationally ranked college team. intransigent adjective: unwilling to change one's beliefs or course of action Synonyms : adamant , adamantine , inexorable Despite many calls for mercy, the judge remained intransigent, citing strict legal precedence. pedantic adjective: marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects Synonyms : academic , donnish Professor Thompson was regarded as an expert in his field, but his lectures were utterly pedantic, focused on rigorous details of the most trivial conventions in the field. exacting adjective: requiring and demanding accuracy Synonyms : exigent,stern , strict Though his childhood piano teacher was so exacting, Max is thankful now, as a professional pianist. abstruse adjective: difficult to understand; incomprehensible Synonyms : deep , recondite Physics textbooks can seem so abstruse to the uninitiated that readers feel as though they are looking at hieroglyphics. expound verb: add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth Synonyms : dilate , elaborate , enlarge , expand , expatiate , exposit , flesh out , lucubrate The CEO refused to expound on the decision to merge our department with another one, and so I quit. discrete adjective: constituting a separate entity or part Synonyms : distinct What was once known as Czechoslovakia has since split into two discrete, independent nations. exalt verb: praise or glorify Synonyms : extol , glorify , laud , proclaim The teenagers exalted the rock star, covering their bedrooms with posters of him. incorrigible adjective: impervious to correction by punishment Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youth until Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyer can't match his fierce individual spirit. hackneyed adjective: lacking significance through having been overused Synonyms : banal , commonplace , old-hat , shopworn , stock , threadbare , timeworn , tired , trite , well-worn Cheryl rolled her eyes when she heard the lecturer's hackneyed advice to "be true to yourself." iconoclastic adjective: defying tradition or convention Jackson Pollack was an iconoclastic artist, totally breaking with tradition by splashing paint on a blank canvas. opaque adjective: not clearly understood or expressed Synonyms : unintelligible The meaning of the professor's new research was opaque to most people, so no one asked any questions. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study burgeon verb: grow and flourish China's housing market is burgeoning, but some predict that the growth is merely a bubble and will burst much like the U.S. real estate bubble of 2008. admonitory adjective: serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective Synonyms : cautionary , exemplary , monitory , warning At the assembly, the high school vice-principal gave the students an admonitory speech, warning them of the many risks and dangers of prom night. contingent noun: a gathering of persons representative of some larger group A small contingent of those loyal to the king have gathered around the castle to defend it. adjective: possible but not certain to occur Whether the former world champions can win again this year is contingent upon none of its star players getting injured. acerbic adjective: harsh in tone Synonyms : acerb , acid , acrid , bitter , blistering , caustic , sulfurous , sulphurous , virulent , vitriolic Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer blockbusters, often referring to them as garbage. implausible adjective: describing a statement that is not believable Synonyms : farfetched The teacher found it implausible that the student was late to school because he had been kidnapped by outlaws on horseback. espouse verb: to adopt or support an idea or cause Synonyms : adopt , embrace , sweep up As a college student, Charlie espoused Marxism, growing his beard out and railing against the evils of the free-market. exonerate verb: pronounce not guilty of criminal charges Synonyms : acquit , assoil , clear , discharge , exculpate The document clearly indicated that Nick was out of the state at the time of the crime, and so served to exonerate him of any charges. decorum noun: propriety in manners and conduct Synonyms : decorousness "You will obey the rules of decorum for this courtroom or spend the night in a jail cell," said the judge to the prosecutor. capacity noun noun: the amount or volume something can hold ability (especially mental) The hotel is full to maximum capacity; there are no empty rooms. Few birds have the capacity to recognize themselves when looking in a mirror; most act as though there is a second bird behind the glass. ostentatious adjective: intended to attract notice and impress others; tawdry or vulgar Synonyms : pretentious, متباه Matt wanted to buy stone lions for front of the house, but Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ostentatious for a modest house in an unassuming neighborhood. gauche adjective: lacking social polish Synonyms : graceless , unpolished Sylvester says the most gauche things, such as telling a girl he liked that she was much prettier when she wore makeup. austere adjective: practicing self-denial Synonyms : ascetic , ascetical , spartan His lifestyle of revelry and luxurious excess could hardly be called austere. adjective: unadorned in style or appearance Late Soviet architecture, although remaining largely austere, moved into experimental territory that employed previously unused shapes and structures. adjective: harsh in manner of temperament The principal of my elementary school was a cold, austere woman; I could never understand why she chose to work with children. sycophant noun: a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage Synonyms : ass-kisser , crawler , lackey , toady The CEO was unaware of the damaging consequences of his choices, largely because he surrounded himself with sycophants who would never dare criticize him. accolade noun: an award or praise granted as a special honor Synonyms : award , honor , honour , laurels Jean Paul-Sartre was not a fan of accolades, and as such, he refused to accept the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1964. taciturn adjective: habitually reserved and uncommunicative While the CEO enthusiastically shares his plans and agenda with all who will listen, the CFO is far more taciturn, rarely revealing his perspective. insolent adjective: rude and arrogant Lilian could not help herself from being insolent, commenting that the Queen's shoes were showing too much toe. obsequious adjective: attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery Synonyms : bootlicking , fawning , sycophantic , toadyish The obsequious waiter did not give the couple a moment's peace all through the meal, constantly returning to their table to refill their water glasses and to tell them what a handsome pair they made. inveterate adjective: habitual Synonyms : chronic He is an inveterate smoker and has told his family and friends that there is no way he will ever quit. dilettante noun: an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge Synonyms : dabbler , sciolist,dilettanteish , dilettantish , sciolistic Fred has no formal medical training; while he likes to claim authority on medical issues, he is little more than a dilettante arcane adjective: requiring secret or mysterious knowledge Most college fraternities are known for arcane rituals that those hoping to the join the fraterntiy must learn. inimical adjective: hostile (usually describes conditions or environments) Synonyms : unfriendly Venus, with a surface temperature that would turn rubber to liquid, is inimical to any form of life. ravenous adjective: extremely hungry; devouring or craving food in great quantities Synonyms : esurient , famished , sharp-set , starved,edacious , esurient , rapacious , ravening , voracious , wolfish John didn't eat much at all during the week he had the flu, so now that he is regaining his health, it's not surprising that he has a ravenous appetite. reverent adjective: feeling or showing profound respect or veneration Synonyms : godly , worshipful The professor could speak objectively about the other composers, but he always lectured about Brahms with a particularly reverent air, unable to offer a single criticism of his compositions. foment verb: try to stir up public opinion Synonyms : agitate , stir up After having his pay cut, Phil spread vicious rumors about his boss, hoping to foment a general feeling of discontent. tempered adjective: moderated in effect Synonyms : hardened , toughened , treated The wide-eyed optimism of her youth was now tempered after she had worked many years in the criminal justice system. scrupulous adjective: characterized by extreme care and great effort Synonyms : conscientious , painstaking Because of his scrupulous nature, Mary put him in charge of numbering and cataloging the entire collection of rare stamps. adjective: having a sense of right and wrong; principled Everyone trusted what he said and followed his example because he was scrupulous and honest. hegemony adjective: dominance over a certain area Until the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1587, Spain had hegemony over the seas, controlling waters stretching as far as the Americas. munificent adjective: very generous Synonyms : lavish , overgenerous , too-generous , unsparing , unstinted , unstinting Uncle Charley was known for his munificence, giving all seven of his nephews lavish Christmas presents each year. lionize verb: assign great social importance to Synonyms : celebrate , lionise Students in the U.S. learn to lionize Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington because they are the founding fathers of the nation. prolific adjective: intellectually productive Synonyms : fecund , fertile Schubert was the most prolific composer, producing hundreds of hours of music before he died at the age of 31. antithetical adjective: sharply contrasted in character or purpose Synonyms : antithetic His deep emotional involvement with these ideas is, in fact, antithetical to the disattachment Buddhism preaches. myriad noun: a large indefinite number Synonyms : countless , infinite , innumerable , innumerous , multitudinous , numberless , uncounted , unnumberable , unnumbered , unnumerable There are a myriad of internet sites hawking pills that claim to boost energy for hours on end. intrepid adjective: fearless Synonyms : audacious , brave , dauntless , fearless , hardy , unfearing Captain Ahab was an intrepid captain whose reckless and fearless style ultimate leads to his downfall. winsome adjective: charming in a childlike or naive way She was winsome by nature, and many people were drawn to this free and playful spirit. audacity noun: aggressive boldness in social situations Synonyms : audaciousness , temerity She surprised her colleagues by having the audacity to publically criticize the findings of an distinguished scientist. trite adjective: repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse Synonyms : banal , commonplace , hackneyed , old-hat , shopworn , stock , threadbare , timeworn , tired , well-worn Many style guides recommend not using idioms in writing because these trite expressions are uninteresting and show a lack of imagination on the part of the writer. circumscribe verb: restrict or confine Synonyms : confine , limit Their tour of South America was circumscribed so that they saw only popular destinations and avoided the dangerous parts of cities. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study vacillate verb: be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action Synonyms : hover , oscillate , vibrate,fluctuate , waver Some students vacillate between schools when deciding which to attend, while others focus only on one school. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study inscrutable adjective: not easily understood; unfathomable Synonyms : cryptic , cryptical , deep , mysterious , mystifying His speech was so dense and confusing that many in the audience found it inscrutable. rescind verb: cancel officially Synonyms : annul , countermand , lift , overturn , repeal , reverse , revoke , vacate The man's driver's license was rescinded after his tenth car accident, which meant he would never be allowed to legally drive again. propitious adjective: presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success The child's heartbeat is still weak, but I am seeing many propitious signs and I think that she may be healing. constituent noun: a citizen who is represented in a government by officials for whom he or she votes The mayor's constituents are no longer happy with her performance and plan to vote for another candidate in the upcoming election. noun: an abstract part of something Synonyms : component , element , factor , ingredient The constituents of the metal alloy are nickel, copper, and tin. ostracize verb: exclude from a community or group Synonyms : ban , banish , blackball , cast out , ostracise , shun Later in his life, Leo Tolstoy was ostracized from the Russian Orthodox Church for his writings that contradicted church doctrine. brazen adjective: unrestrained by convention or propriety Synonyms : audacious , bald-faced , barefaced , bodacious , brassy , brazen-faced , insolent Their large "donations" to the local police department gave the drug cartel the brazen confidence to do their business out in the open. admonish verb: to warn strongly, even to the point of reprimanding Synonyms : caution , monish Before the concert began, security personel admonished the crowd not to come up on stage during the performance. sporadic adjective: recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances The signals were at first sporadic, but now we detect a clear, consistent pattern of electromagnetic radiation eminating from deep space. pedestrian adjective: lacking imagination Synonyms : earthbound , prosaic , prosy While Nan was always engaged in philosophical speculation, her brother was occupied with far more pedestrian concerns: how to earn a salary and run a household. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study subversive adjective: in opposition to a civil authority or government Synonyms : insurgent , seditious The ruling political party has begun a campaign to shut down subversive websites that it deems as a threat to "national safety." pernicious adjective: exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden and injurious way Synonyms : baneful , deadly , pestilent,insidious , subtle The most successful viruses are pernicious: an infected person may feel perfectly healthy for several months while incubating and spreading the virus. prodigious adjective: so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe Synonyms : colossal , stupendous After the relatively small homerun totals in the "dead ball" era, Babe Ruth's homerun totals were truly prodigious: every year, he set a new all-time record. repudiate verb: reject as untrue or unfounded Many in the public believed the rumors of a UFO crash outside town, so the chief of police did everything he could to repudiate the rumors. arbitrary adjective: based on a random, groundless decision One of the arbitrary decrees in place during the emperor's rule is that all citizens pay him weekly homage at his palace. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study garrulous adjective: full of trivial conversation Synonyms : chatty , gabby , loquacious , talkative , talky Lynne was garrulous: once, she had a fifteen minute conversation with a stranger before she realized the woman didn't speak English. precipitous adjective: done with very great haste and without due deliberation Synonyms : hasty , overhasty , precipitant , precipitate He was expecting a precipitous rise in the value of a "hot" tech stock, so he was disappointed when it only inched up a dollar or two each day. irrevocable adjective: incapable of being retracted or revoked Synonyms : irrevokable Once you enter your plea to the court, it is irrevocable so think carefully about what you will say. resurgent adjective: rising again as to new life and vigor Synonyms : renascent The team sank to fourth place in June, but is now resurgent and about to win the division. haphazard adjective: marked by great carelessness; dependent upon or characterized by chance Synonyms : slapdash , slipshod , sloppy, hit-or-miss Many golf courses are designed with great care, but the greens on the county golf course seem entirely haphazard. sanction verb: give authority or permission to Synonyms :approve , o.k. , okay The authorities have sanctioned the use of the wilderness reserve for public use; many expect to see hikers an campers enjoying the park in the coming months. noun: a legal penalty for a forbidden action International sanctions have been placed on certain shipping lanes that were thought to be involved in human trafficking. despite preposition: even with (when an event is surprising because of some difficulty) We enjoyed our vacation despite the rain. tractable adjective: readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed (controlled or taught or molded) Synonyms : amenable,manipulable Compared to middle school students, who have an untamed wildness about them, high school students are somewhat more tractable. poignant adjective: emotionally touching Synonyms : affecting , touching After the Montagues and Capulets discover the dead bodies of Romeo and Juliet, in the play's most poignant moment, the two griefstricken familes agree to end their feud once and for all. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study deleterious adjective: harmful to living things Synonyms : hurtful , injurious The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was deleterious to the fishing industry in the southern states. economical adjective: avoiding waste, efficient Synonyms : frugal , scotch , sparing , stinting Journalists favor an economical style of writing, in which no unnecessary words are used and every sentence is as short as possible. harried adjective: troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances Synonyms : annoyed , harassed , pestered , vexed With a team of new hires to train, Martha was constantly harried with little questions and could not focus on her projects. antipathy noun: an intense feeling of dislike or aversion Synonyms : aversion , distaste Maria had an antipathy for tour groups, often bolting to the other side of the museum as soon as she saw a chaperone leading a group of wide-eyed tourists. mendacity noun: the tendency to be untruthful. I can forgive her for her mendacity but only because she is a child and is seeing what she can get away with. dilatory adjective: wasting time Synonyms : laggard , pokey , poky Lawyers use dilatory tactics so that it takes years before the case is actually decided. appease verb: pacify by acceding to the demands of Synonyms : assuage , conciliate , gentle , gruntle , lenify , mollify , pacify , placate Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister during WWII, tried to appease Hitler and in doing so sent a clear message: you can walk all over us. erudite adjective: having or showing profound knowledge Synonyms : learned Before the Internet, the library was typically were you would find erudite readers. specious adjective: based on pretense; deceptively pleasing, حسن المظهر Synonyms : gilded , meretricious Almost every image on TV is specious and not to be trusted. adjective: plausible but false, مزيف Synonyms : spurious He made a career out of specious arguments and fictional lab results, but lost his job and reputation when his lies were exposed by an article in The New York Times. duress noun: compulsory force or threat The witness said he signed the contract under duress and argued that the court should cancel the agreement. craven adjective: pathetically cowardly Synonyms : recreant Though the man could have at least alerted the police, he crouched cravenly in the corner as the old woman was mugged. flux noun: a state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event) Ever since Elvira resigned as the head of marketing, everything about our sales strategy has been in a state of flux. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study stringent adjective: demanding strict attention to rules and procedures Synonyms : rigorous , tight Most of the students disliked the teacher because of his stringent homework policy, but many students would later thank him for demanding so much from them. misconstrue verb: interpret in the wrong way Synonyms : be amiss , misapprehend , misconceive , misinterpret , misunderstand The politician never trusted journalists because he though that they misconstrue his words and misrepresent his positions. maladroit adjective: clumsy Syn: bumbling, gauche, unskillful As a child she was quite maladroit, but as an adult, she has become an adept dancer. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study rebuke verb: criticize severely or angrily; censure Synonyms : bawl out , berate , call down , call on the carpet , chew out , chew up , chide , dress down , have words , jaw , lambast , lambaste , lecture , rag , remonstrate , reprimand , reproof , scold , take to task , trounce The police chief rebuked the two officers whose irresponsible decisions almost led to the deaths of seven innocent by-standers. contrition noun: the feeling of remorse or guilt that comes from doing something bad Synonyms : attrition , contriteness Those who show contrition during their prison terms--especially when under review by a parole board--often get shortened sentences. nonplussed verb: unsure how to act or respond Shirley was totally nonplussed when the angry motorist cut her off and then stuck his finger out the window. transient adjective: lasting a very short time Synonyms : ephemeral , fugacious , passing , short-lived , transitory The unpredictable and transient nature of deja vu makes it a very difficult phenomenon to study properly. truncate verb: reduce the length of something Synonym: abridge The soccer game was truncated when the monsoon rain began to fall. sullen adjective: showing a brooding ill humor Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum , moody , morose , saturnine , sour Herbert took board games too seriously, often appearing sullen after losing. imprudent adjective: not wise Hitler, like Napoleon, made the imprudent move of invading Russia in winter, suffering even more casualties than Napoleon had. ignominious adjective: (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame Synonyms : black , disgraceful , inglorious , opprobrious , shameful Since the politician preached ethics and morality, his texting of revealing photographs was ignominious, bringing shame on both himself and his party. capricious adjective: determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason Synonyms : impulsive , whimsical Nearly every month our capricious CEO had a new plan to turn the company around, and none of them worked because we never gave them the time they needed to succeed. anomaly noun: something that is not normal, standard, or expected After finding an anomaly in the data, she knew that she would have to conduct her experiment again. arduous adjective: demanding considerable mental effort and skill; testing powers of endurance Synonyms : straining , strenuous In order to deal with the arduous cross-country journey, truck drivers often survive on a string of caffeinated drinks, staying awake for up to 30 hours at a time. edifying adjective: enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement Synonyms : enlightening I recently read an article in the Times about whether good literature is edifying or not; specifically, does reading more make a person more moral. disseminate verb: cause to become widely known Synonyms : broadcast , circularise , circularize , circulate , diffuse , disperse , distribute , pass around , propagate , spread Before the effects of anaethesia were disseminated, patients had to experience the full pain of a surgery. esoteric adjective: confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle Map collecting is an esoteric hobby to most, but to geography geeks it is a highly enjoyable pasttime. dispassionate adjective: unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice Synonyms : cold-eyed A good scientist should be dispassionate, focusing purely on what the evidence says, without personal attachment. posit verb: assume as fact Synonyms : postulate Initially, Einstein posited a repulsive force to balance Gravity, but then rejected that idea as a blunder. indecorous adjective: not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society Synonyms : indecent , unbecoming , uncomely , unseemly , untoward Eating with elbows on the table is considered indecorous in refined circles. bolster verb: support and strengthen The case for the suspect's innocence was bolstered considerably by the fact that neither fingerprints nor DNA were found at the scene. Synonyms : bolster up This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study polemic noun: a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something. The professor launched into a polemic, claiming that Freudian theory was a pack of lies that absolutely destroyed European literary theory. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study opulence noun: wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living Synonyms : luxuriousness , luxury , sumptuousness Russian oligarchs are famous for their opulence, living in fancy homes and dining on expensive cavier. mundane adjective: repetitive and boring; not spiritual Nancy found doing dishes a thorougly mundane task, although Peter found a kind of Zen pleasure in the chore. adjective: relating to the ordinary world Synonyms : terrene Though we think of the pope as someone always dealing in holy matters, he is also concerned with mundane events, such as deciding when to set his alarm each morning. elicit verb: call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses) Synonyms : arouse , enkindle , evoke , fire , kindle , provoke , raise Just smiling-even if you are depressed--can elicit feelings of pleasure and happiness. timorous adjective: timid by nature or revealing fear and nervousness Synonyms : fearful , trepid Since this was her first time debating on stage and before an audience, Di's voice was timorous and quiet for the first 10 minutes. impartial adjective: free from undue bias or preconceived opinions Synonyms : unprejudiced The judge was not impartial since he had been bribed by the witness's family. reproach verb: to express criticism towards Synonyms : upbraid At first, Sarah was going to yell at the boy, but she didn't want to reproach him for telling the truth about the situation. nuance noun: a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude Synonyms : nicety , refinement , shade , subtlety Because of the nuances involved in this case, I hired an outside consultant to advice us and help. pejorative adjective: expressing disapproval (usu. refers to a term) Synonyms : dislogistic , dyslogistic Most psychologists object to the pejorative term "shrink", believing that they expand the human mind, not limit it. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study askance adverb: with a look of suspicion or disapproval The old couple looked askance on the teenagers seated next to them, whispering to each other, "They've got rings through their noses and purple hair!" efficacious adjective: producing the intended result Synonyms : effective , effectual Since Maggie's cough syrup, which had expired five years back, was no longer efficacious, she coughed through the night. placate verb: cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of Synonyms : appease , assuage , conciliate , gentle , gruntle , lenify , mollify , pacify I was able to placate the angry mob of students by promising to bring cookies on Monday. banality noun: a trite or obvious remark Synonyms : bromide , cliche , commonplace , platitude Herbert regarded the minister's remark as a mere banality until Sharon pointed out profound implications to the seemingly obvious words. maverick noun: someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action Synonyms : rebel Officer Kelly was a maverick, rarely following police protocols or adopting the conventions for speech common among his fellow officers. furtive adjective: marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed Synonyms : sneak , sneaky , stealthy , surreptitious While at work, George and his boss Regina felt the need to be as furtive as possible about their romantic relationship. jovial adjective: full of or showing high-spirited merriment, i.e. happiness Synonyms : gay , jocund , jolly , merry , mirthful The political candidate and his supporters were jovial once it was clear that she had won. fastidious adjective: overly concerned with details; fussy Synonyms : exacting Whitney is fastidious about her shoes, arranging them on a shelf in a specific order, each pair evenly spaced. base adjective: the lowest, class were without any moral principles Synonyms : foot , foundation , fundament , groundwork , substructure , understructure She was not so base as to begrudge the beggar the unwanted crumbs from her dinner plate. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study sedulous adjective: done diligently and carefully Synonyms : assiduous An avid numismatist, Harold sedulously amassed a collection of coins from over 100 countries - an endeavor that took over fifteen years, and to five continents. fractious adjective: irritable and is likely to cause disruption Synonyms : cranky , irritable , nettlesome , peckish , peevish , pettish , petulant , scratchy , techy , testy , tetchy We rarely invite my fractious Uncle over for dinner; he always complains about the food, and usually launches into a tirade on some touchy subject. contentious adjective: likely to argue Synonyms : combative , disputatious , disputative , litigious Since old grandpa Harry became very contentious during the summer when only reruns were on T.V., the grandkids learned to hide from him at every opportunity. choleric adjective: prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered Synonyms : hot-tempered , hotheaded , irascible , quick-tempered , short-tempered While a brilliant lecturer, Mr. Dawson came across as choleric and unapproachable - very rarely did students come to his office hours. beg verb: to evade or dodge (a question) By assuming that Charlie was headed to college - which he was not - Maggie begged the question when she asked him to which school he was headed in the Fall. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study malfeasance adjective: misconduct or wrongdoing (especially by a public official) Not even the mayor's trademark pearly-toothed grin could save him from charges of malfeasance: while in power, he'd been running an illegal gambling rink in the room behind his office. overweening adjective: arrogant; presumptuous Synonyms : excessive , extravagant , exuberant,uppity Mark was so convinced of his basketball skills that in his overweening pride he could not fathom that his name was not on the varsity list; he walked up to the basketball coach and told her she had forgotten to add his name. lascivious adjective: lecherous; sexually perverted Synonyms : lewd , libidinous , lustful Lolita is a challenging novel for many, not necessarily because of the elevated prose style but because of the depravity of the main character, Humbert Humbert, who, as an old, lascivious man, falls in love with a girl. jingoist noun: a person who thinks that their country should be at war Synonyms : chauvinist , flag-waver , hundred-percenter , jingo , patrioteer In the days leading up to war, a nation typically breaks up into the two opposing camps: doves, who do their best to avoid war, and jingoists, who are only too eager to wave national flags from their vehicles and vehemently denounce those who do not do the same. factious adjective: produced by, or characterized by internal dissension Synonyms : dissentious , divisive The controversial bill proved factious, as dissension even within parties resulted kowtow verb: to bow or act in a subservient manner Synonyms : bootlick , fawn , kotow , suck up , toady , truckle Paul kowtowed to his boss so often the boss herself became nauseated by his sycophancy. chary adjective: cautious, suspiciously reluctant to do something Synonyms : cagey , cagy Having received three speeding tickets in the last two months, Jack was chary of driving at all above the speed limit, even on a straight stretch of highway that looked empty for miles ahead. expansive adjective: communicative, and prone to talking in a sociable manner Synonyms : talkative After a few sips of cognac, the octogenarian shed his irascible demeanor and became expansive, speaking fondly of the "good old days". This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study insufferable adjective: intolerable, difficult to endure Synonyms : impossible , unacceptable , unsufferable Chester always tried to find some area in which he excelled above others; unsurprisingly, his co-workers found him insufferable and chose to exclude him from daily luncheons out. arrant adjective: complete and wholly (usually modifying a noun with negative connotation) Synonyms : complete , consummate , double-dyed , everlasting , gross , perfect , pure , sodding , staring , stark , thoroughgoing , unadulterated , utter An arrant fool, Lawrence surprised nobody when he lost all his money in a pyramid scheme that was every bit as transparent as it was corrupt. feckless adjective: lazy and irresponsible Synonyms : inept Two years after graduation, Charlie still lived with his parents and had no job, becoming more feckless with each passing day. perfunctory adjective: done routinely and with little interest or care Synonyms : casual , cursory , passing The short film examines modern perfunctory cleaning rituals such as washing dishes, doing laundry and tooth-brushing. byzantine adjective: intricate and complex Synonyms : convoluted , involved , knotty , tangled , tortuous Getting a driver's license is not simply a matter of taking a test; the regulations and procedures are so byzantine that many have found themselves at the mercy of the Department of Motor Vehicles. indigent adjective: poor; having very little Synonyms : destitute , impoverished , necessitous , needy , poverty-stricken In the so-called Third World, many are indigent and only a privileged few have the resources to enjoy material luxuries. noun: a poor or needy person The indigents, huddled under the overpass, tried to start a small bonfire in the hope of staying warm. attenuate verb: to weaken (in terms of intensity); to taper off/become thinner. Synonyms : rarefy Her animosity towards Bob attenuated over the years, and she even went so far as to invite him to her party. apostate noun: a person who has abandoned a religious faith or cause Synonyms : deserter , ratter , recreant , renegade , turncoat An apostate of the Republican Party, Sheldon has yet to become affiliated with any party and dubs himself an independent. precipitate adjective: hasty or rash Synonyms : hasty , overhasty , precipitant , precipitous Instead of conducting a thorough investigation after the city hall break-in, the governor acted precipitately, accusing his staff of aiding and abetting the criminals. verb: to cause to happen The government's mishandling the hurricane's aftermath precipitated a widespread outbreak of looting and other criminal activity. This word has other definitions but these are the most important ones to study turpitude noun: depravity; a depraved act During his reign, Caligula indulged in unspeakable sexual practices, so it not surprising that he will forever be remembered for his turpitude. expunge verb: to eliminate completely Synonyms : excise , scratch , strike When I turned 18, all of the shoplifting and jaywalking charges were expunged from my criminal record. defray verb: to help pay the cost of, either in part of full In order for Sean to attend the prestigious college, his generous uncle helped defray the excessive tuition with a monthly donation. penurious adjective: lacking money; poor Synonyms : hard up , impecunious , in straitened circumstances , penniless , pinched Truly penurious, Mary had nothing more than a jar full of pennies. adjective: miserly Synonyms : parsimonious Warren Buffett, famous multi-billionaire, still drives a cheap sedan, not because he is penurious, but because luxury cars are gaudy and impractical. truculent adjective: having a fierce, savage nature Standing in line for six hours, she became progressively truculent, yelling at DMV employees and elbowing other people waiting in line. artless adjective: without cunning or deceit Synonyms : uncultivated , uncultured Despite the president's seemingly artless speeches, he was a skilled and ruthless negotiator. alacrity noun: an eager willingness to do something Synonyms : briskness , smartness The first three weeks at his new job, Mark worked with such alacrity that upper management knew it would be giving him a promotion. diatribe noun: a strong verbal attack against a person or institution Synonyms : fulmination Steve's mom launched into a diatribe during the PTA meeting, contending that the school was little more than a daycare in which students stare at the wall and teachers stare at the chalkboard. cow verb: to intimidate Synonyms : overawe Do not be cowed by a 3,000-word vocabulary list: turn that list into a deck of flashcards! This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study untoward adjective: unfavorable; inconvenient Synonyms : indecent , indecorous , unbecoming , uncomely , unseemly,adverse , inauspicious Some professors find teaching untoward as having to prepare for lectures and conduct office hours prevents them from focusing on their research. pariah noun: an outcast Synonyms : castaway , ishmael The once eminent scientist, upon being found guilty of faking his data, has become a pariah in the research community. exegesis noun: critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text The Bible is fertile ground for exegesis - over the past five centuries there have been as many interpretations as there are pages in the Old Testament. conciliate verb: to make peace with Synonyms : appease , assuage , gentle , gruntle , lenify , mollify , pacify , placate His opponents believed his gesture to be conciliatory, yet as soon as they put down their weapons, he unsheathed a hidden sword. churlish adjective: lacking manners or refinement The manager was unnecessarily churlish to his subordinates, rarely deigning to say hello, but always quick with a sartorial jab if someone happened to be wearing anything even slightly mismatching. imbibe verb: to drink or absorb as if drinking Synonyms : absorb , draw , soak up , sop up , suck , suck up , take in , take up Plato imbibed Socrates' teachings to such an extent that he was able to write volumes of work that he directly attributed, sometimes word for word, to Socrates. vicissitude noun: change in one's circumstances, usually for the worse Even great rulers have their vicissitudes - massive kingdoms have diminished overnight, and once beloved kings have faced the scorn of angry masses. equivocate verb: to speak vaguely, usually with the intention to mislead or deceive Synonyms : beat around the bush , palter , prevaricate , tergiversate After Sharon brought the car home an hour after her curfew, she equivocated when her parents pointedly asked her where she had been. zeitgeist noun: spirit of the times Each decade has its own zeitgeist - the 1990's was a prosperous time in which the promise of the American Dream never seemed more palpable. prosaic adjective: dull and lacking imagination Synonyms : earthbound , pedestrian , prosy,commonplace , humdrum , unglamorous , unglamourous Unlike the talented artists in his workshop, Paul had no such bent for the visual medium, so when it was time for him to make a stained glass painting, he ended up with a prosaic mosaic. ponderous adjective: weighed-down; moving slowly Synonyms : heavy , lumbering Laden with 20 kilograms of college text books, the freshman moved ponderously across the campus. apogee noun: the highest point Synonyms : culmination The apogee of the Viennese style of music, Mozart's music continues to mesmerize audiences well into the 21st century. nadir noun: the lowest point Synonyms : low-water mark For many pop music fans, the rap and alternative-rock dominated 90s were the nadir of musical expression. anathema noun: a detested person; the source of somebody's hate Synonyms : bete noire Hundreds of years ago, Galileo was anathema to the church; today the church is anathema to some on the left side of the political spectrum. saturnine adjective: morose or gloomy Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum , moody , morose , sour , sullen Deprived of sunlight, humans become saturnine; that's why in very northerly territories people are encouraged to sit under an extremely powerful lamp, lest they become morose. supercilious adjective: haughty and disdainful; looking down on others Synonyms : disdainful , haughty , imperious , lordly , overbearing , prideful , sniffy , swaggering Nelly felt the Quiz Bowl director acted superciliously towards the underclassmen; really, she fumed, must he act so preternaturally omniscient each time he intones some obscure fact - as though everybody knows that Mt. Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America. catholic adjective: of broad scope; universal Jonah's friends said that Jonah's taste in music was eclectic; Jonah was quick to point out that not only was his taste eclectic but it was also catholic: he enjoyed music from countries as far-flung as Mali and Mongolia. hector verb: to bully or intimidate Synonyms : ballyrag , boss around , browbeat , bully , bullyrag , push around , strong-arm The boss's hectoring manner put off many employees, some of whom quit as soon as they found new jobs. quisling noun: a traitor Synonyms : collaborationist , collaborator History looks unfavorably upon quislings; indeed they are accorded about the same fondness as Nero—he who watched his city burn down while playing the violin. bilious adjective: irritable; always angry Synonyms : atrabilious , dyspeptic , liverish Rex was bilious all morning, and his face would only take on a look of contentedness when he'd had his morning cup of coffee. excoriate verb: to criticize very harshly Synonyms : condemn , decry , objurgate , reprobate Entrusted with the prototype to his company's latest smartphone, Larry, during a late night karaoke bout, let the prototype slip into the hands of a rival company - the next day Larry was excoriated, and then fired. venial adjective: easily excused or forgiven; pardonable Synonyms : excusable , forgivable His traffic violations ran the gamut from the venial to the egregious - on one occasion he simply did not come to a complete stop; another time he tried to escape across state lines at speeds in excess of 140 mph. mettlesome adjective: filled with courage or valor Synonyms : game , gamey , gamy , gritty , spirited , spunky For its raid on the Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Seal Team Six has become, for many Americans, the embodiment of mettle. arch adjective: to be deliberately teasing Synonyms : condescending , patronising , patronizing The baroness was arch, making playful asides to the townspeople; yet because they couldn't pick up on her dry humor, they thought her supercilious. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study parvenu noun: a person who has suddenly become wealthy, but not socially accepted as part of a higher class Synonyms : arriviste , nouveau-riche , upstart The theater was full of parvenus who each thought that they were surrounded by true aristocrats. limpid adjective: clarity in terms of expression Synonyms : crystal clear , crystalline , lucid , pellucid , transparent,perspicuous Her limpid prose made even the most recondite subjects accessible to all. curmudgeon noun: a grouchy, surly person Since Uncle Mike was the family curmudgeon, each Thanksgiving he was plied with copious amounts of wine, in the hope that he would become less grouchy. jaundice adjective: to be biased against due to envy or prejudice Shelly was jaundiced towards Olivia; though the two had once been best friends, Olivia had become class president, prom queen, and, to make matters worse, the girlfriend of the one boy Shelly liked. apotheosis noun: exaltation to divine status; the highest point of development Synonyms : ideal , nonesuch , nonpareil , nonsuch , paragon , saint,deification , exaltation As difficult as it is to imagine, the apotheosis of Mark Zuckerberg's career, many believe, is yet to come. tendentious adjective: likely to lean towards a controversial view Synonyms : tendencious Because political mudslinging has become a staple of the 24-hour media cycle, most of us, despite protestations to the contrary, are tendentious on many of today's pressing issues. sartorial adjective: related to fashion or clothes Monte was astute at navigating the world of finance; sartorially, however, he was found wanting - he typically would attempt to complement his beige tie with a gray suit and white pants. maudlin adjective: overly emotional and sad Synonyms : bathetic , drippy , hokey , kitschy , mawkish , mushy , schmaltzy , schmalzy , sentimental , slushy , soppy , soupy Just as those who were alive during the 70's are mortified that they once cavorted about in bellbottoms, many who lived during the 80's are now aghast at the maudlin pop songs they used to enjoy - really, just what exactly is a total eclipse of the heart? peremptory adjective: bossy and domineering Synonyms : autocratic , bossy , dominating , high-and-mighty , magisterial My sister used to peremptorily tell me to do the dishes, a chore I would either do perfunctorily or avoid doing altogether. remonstrate verb: to make objections while pleading Synonyms : bawl out , berate , call down , call on the carpet , chew out , chew up , chide , dress down , have words , jaw , lambast , lambaste , lecture , rag , rebuke , reprimand , reproof , scold , take to task , trounce The mothers of the kidnapped victims remonstrated to the rogue government to release their children, claiming that the detention violated human rights. mellifluous adjective: smooth and sweet-sounding Synonyms : dulcet , honeyed , mellisonant , sweet Chelsea's grandmother thought Franz Schubert's music to be the most mellifluous ever written; Chelsea demurred, and to her grandmother's chagrin, would blast Rihanna on the home stereo speakers. fell adjective: terribly evil Synonyms : barbarous , brutal , cruel , roughshod , savage , vicious For fans of the Harry Potter series, the fell Lord Voldemort, who terrorized poor Harry for seven lengthy installments, has finally been vanquished by the forces of good - unless, that is, JK Rowling decides to come out of retirement. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study histrionic adjective: to be overly theatrical Synonyms : melodramatic Though she received a B- on the test, she had such a histrionic outburst that one would have thought that she'd been handed a death sentence. picayune adjective: trifling or petty (a person) Synonyms : fiddling , footling , lilliputian , little , niggling , petty , piddling , piffling , trivial English teachers are notorious for being picayune; however, the English language is so nuanced and sophisticated that often such teachers are not being contrary but are only adhering to the rules. quixotic adjective: wildly idealistic; impractical Synonyms : romantic , wild-eyed For every thousand startups with quixotic plans to be the next big name in e-commerce, only a handful ever become profitable. hedge verb: to limit or qualify a statement; to avoid making a direct statement Synonyms : circumvent , dodge , duck , elude , evade , fudge , parry , put off , sidestep , skirt When asked why he had decided to buy millions of shares at the very moment the tech companies stock soared, the CEO hedged, mentioning something vague about gut instinct. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study factitious adjective: artificial; not natural The defendant's story was largely factitious and did not accord with eyewitness testimonies sententious adjective: to be moralizing, usually in a pompous sense The old man, casting his nose up in the air at the group of adolescents, intoned sententiously, "Youth is wasted on the young." pyrrhic adjective: describing a victory that comes at such a great cost that the victory is not worthwhile George W. Bush's win in the 2000 election was in many ways a pyrrhic victory: the circumstances of his win alienated half of the U.S. population. martinet noun: a strict disciplinarian Synonyms : disciplinarian , moralist The job seemed perfect to Rebecca, until she found out that her boss was a total martinet; after each project the boss would come by to scrutinize - and inevitably criticize - every little detail of the work Rebecca had done. execrate verb: to curse and hiss at Synonyms : accurse , anathematise , anathematize , anathemise , anathemize , comminate Though the new sitcom did decently in the ratings, Nelson railed against the show, saying that it was nothing more than an execrable pastiche of tired cliché's and canned laughter. palimpsest noun: something that has been changed numerous times but on which traces of former iterations can still be seen The downtown was a palimpsest of the city's checkered past: a new Starbucks had opened up next to an abandoned, shuttered building, and a freshly asphalted road was inches away from a pothole large enough to swallow a small dog. gerrymander verb: to manipulate voting districts in order to favor a particular political party Years ago, savvy politicians had gerrymandered the city center to ensure their re-election. jejune adjective: dull; lacking flavor Synonyms : insubstantial,insipid Although many top chefs have secured culinary foam's popularity in haute cuisine, Waters criticizes it for being jejune and unfilling. adjective: immature; childish Synonyms : adolescent , juvenile , puerile Her boss further cemented his reuptation for being jejune after throwing a fit when the water cooler wasn't refilled. invective noun: abusive or denunciatory language Synonyms : vitriol , vituperation The Internet has unleashed the invectives in many of us; many people post stinging criticism on the comments section underneath newspaper articles or YouTube videos. imbroglio noun: a confusing and potentially embarrassing situation Synonyms : embroilment The chef cook-off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the wrong broths, creating an imbroglio that diners would not soon forget. sangfroid noun: calmness or poise in difficult situations The hostage negotiator exhibited a sangfroid that oftentimes was more menacing than the sword at his throat, or the gun at his head. cupidity noun: greed for money Synonyms : avarice , avariciousness , covetousness Some believe people that amassing as much wealth as possible is the meaning to life - yet they often realize that cupidity brings anything but happiness. sybarite noun: a person who indulges in luxury Synonyms : voluptuary Despite the fact that he'd maxed out fifteen credit cards, Max was still a sybarite at heart: when the police found him, he was at a $1,000 an hour spa in Manhattan, getting a facial treatment. arriviste noun: a person who has recently reached a position of power; a social climber Synonyms : nouveau-riche , parvenu , upstart The city center was aflutter with arrivistes who each tried to outdo one another with their ostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress. disabuse verb: to persuade somebody that his/her belief is not valid As a child, I was quickly disabused of the notion that Santa Claus was a rotund benefactor of infinite largess - one night I saw my mother diligently wrapping presents and storing them under our Christmas tree. mulct verb: to defraud or swindle Synonyms : bunco , con , defraud , diddle , gip , goldbrick , gyp , hornswoggle , nobble , rook , scam , short-change , swindle , victimize The so-called magical diet cure simply ended up mulcting Maria out of hundreds of dollars, but did nothing for her weight. Pollyannaish adjective: extremely optimistic Synonyms : cheerful , upbeat Even in the midst of a lousy sales quarter, Debbie remained Pollyannaish, never losing her shrill voice and wide smile, even when prospective customers hung up on her. blinkered adjective: to have a limited outlook or understanding In gambling, the addict is easily blinkered by past successes and/or past failures, forgetting that the outcome of any one game is independent of the games that preceded it. impecunious adjective: lacking money; poor Synonyms : hard up , in straitened circumstances , penniless , penurious , pinched In extremely trying times, even the moderately wealthy, after a few turns of ill-fortune, can become impecunious. propitiate verb: to placate or appease The two sons, plying their angry father with cheesy neckties for Christmas, were hardly able to propitiate him - the father already had a drawer full of ones he had never worn before or ever planned to. schadenfreude noun: joy from watching the suffering of others From his warm apartment window, Stanley reveled in schadenfreude as he laughed at the figures below, huddled together in the arctic chill. protean adjective: readily taking on different roles; versatile Peter Sellers was truly a protean actor - in Doctor Strangelove he played three very different roles: a jingoist general, a sedate President and a deranged scientist. benighted adjective: fallen into a state of ignorance Synonyms : nighted,dark Far from being a period of utter benightedness, The Medieval Ages produced some great works of theological speculation. malapropism noun: the confusion of a word with another word that sounds similar Synonyms : malaprop Whenever I looked glum, my mother would offer to share "an amusing antidote" with me - an endearing malapropism of "anecdote" that never failed to cheer me up. vituperate adjective: to criticize harshly; to berate Synonyms : rail , revile , vilify Jason had dealt with disciplinarians before, but nothing prepared him for the first week of boot camp, as drill sergeants vituperated him for petty oversights such as forgetting to double knot the laces on his boots. phantasmagorical adjective: illusive; unreal Synonyms : phantasmagoric , surreal , surrealistic Those suffering from malaria fall into a feverish sleep, their world a whirligig of phantasmagoria; if they recover, they are unsure of what actually took place and what was simply a product of their febrile imaginations. juggernaut noun: a force that cannot be stopped Synonyms : steamroller Napoleon was considered a juggernaut until he decided to invade Russia in winter; after which, his once indomitable army was decimated by cold and famine. expurgate verb: to remove objectionable material Synonyms : bowdlerise , bowdlerize , castrate , shorten The censor expurgated every reference to sex and drugs, converting the rapper's raunchy flow into a series of bleeps. insouciance noun: lack of concern Synonyms : carefreeness , lightheartedness , lightsomeness Surprisingly, Hank had become a high-powered CEO; his high school friends remembered him as "Hanky Panky", who shrugged off each failed class with insouciance. derelict adjective: (of a person) not doing one's duties Synonyms : delinquent , neglectful , remiss The teacher was derelict in her duties because she hadn't graded a single student paper in three weeks. noun: (of a building) abandoned At one time the waterfront factories were busy and productive, but now they stand derelict and will be torn down. prognostication noun: a statement made about the future Synonyms : forecasting , foretelling , prediction When the Senator was asked about where the negotiations would lead, he said that any guess he could make would be an unreliable prognostication. prolixity noun: boring verbosity Synonyms : long-windedness , prolixness , windiness , wordiness I loved my grandfather dearly, but his prolixity would put me to sleep, regardless of the topic. enthrall verb: hold spellbound Synonyms : delight , enchant , enrapture , enthral , ravish , transport She was so enthralled by the movie that she never heard people screaming, "Fire! Fire!" in the neighboring theater. raconteur noun: a person skilled in telling anecdotes Synonyms : anecdotist Jude is entertaining, but he is no raconteur: beyond the handful of amusing stories he has memorized, he has absolutely no spontaneous story-telling ability. hail verb: enthusiastically acclaim or celebrate something Synonyms : herald Many college superstar athletes are hailed as the next big thing, but then flop at the professional level. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study mordant adjective: biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style Synonyms : caustic , corrosive , erosive , vitriolic,black , grim While Phil frequently made mordant remarks about company policy overall, he always was considerably gentler in discussing any person in particular. recapitulation noun: a summary (think of recap) Synonyms : recap , review Every point of the professors lesson was so clear that the students felt his concluding recapitulation was not necessary. gaffe noun: a socially awkward or tactless act Synonyms : faux pas , gaucherie , slip , solecism In a famous gaffe, Vice President Quayle attempted to correct the spelling of a grade school student, only to find that the child was correct. umbrage noun: a feeling of anger caused by being offended Synonyms : offence , offense Since he was so in love with her, he took umbrage at her comments, even though she had only meant to gently tease him. temerity noun: fearless daring Synonyms : audaciousness , audacity No child has the temerity to go in the rundown house at the end of the street and see if it is haunted. cede verb: relinquish possession or control ove Synonyms : deliver , give up , surrenderr Eventually, all parents must cede control of their growing childrens' educations and allow their offspring some autonomy. duplicity noun: deceitfulness, pretending to want one thing but interested in something else Synonyms : fraudulence A life of espionage is one of duplicity: an agent must pretend to be a totally different person than who she or he actually is. flummox verb: be a mystery or bewildering to Synonyms : amaze , baffle , beat , bewilder , dumbfound , get , gravel , mystify , nonplus , perplex , pose , puzzle , stick , stupefy , vex Mary's behavior completely flummoxes me: I never have any idea what her motivations might be. plucky adjective: marked by courage and determination Synonyms : gutsy,feisty , spunky Some scouts initially doubted Pedroia because of his short stature, but he is a plucky player, surprising everyone with his boundless energy and fierce determination. anemic adjective: lacking energy and vigor Synonyms : anaemic After three straight shows, the lead actress gave an anemic performance the fourth night, barely speaking loudly enough for those in the back rows to hear. provident adjective: careful in regard to your own interests; providing carefully for the future In a move that hardly could be described as provident, Bert spend his entire savings on a luxurious cruise, knowing that other bills would come due a couple months later. anodyne noun: something that soothes or relieves pain Synonyms : analgesic , pain pill , painkiller Muzak, which is played in department stores, is intended to be an anodyne, but is often so cheesy and over-the-top that customers become irritated. adjective: inoffensive Synonyms : analgesic , analgetic Wilbur enjoyed a spicy Mexican breakfast, but Jill preferred a far more anodyne meal in the mornings. lugubrious adjective: excessively mournful At the funeral, lugubrious songs filled the small church. epiphany noun: a sudden revelation or moment of insight Gary one day had an epiphany that he was a people person; he prompty quit his factory job and began working as a salesman. portentous adjective: ominously prophetic Synonyms : fateful , foreboding When the captain and more than half the officers were sick on the very first night of the voyage, many of the passengers felt this was portentous, but the rest of the voyage continued without any problems. grandiloquent adjective: puffed up with vanity Synonyms : overblown , pompous , pontifical , portentous The dictator was known for his grandiloquent speeches, puffing his chest out and using big, important-sounding words. redoubtable adjective: inspiring fear or awe Synonyms : formidable , unnerving On television basketball players don't look that tall, but when you stand in front of a seven-foot tall NBA player, he is truly redoubtable. semblance noun: an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading Synonyms : color , colour , gloss While the banker maintained a semblance of respectability in public, those who knew him well were familiar with his many crimes. litany noun: any long and tedious account of something Mr. Rogers spoke to a Senate committee and did not give a litany of reasons to keep funding the program, but instead, appealed to the basic human decency of all present. enjoin verb: give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority Synonyms : order , say , tell The government agency enjoined the chemical company to clean up the hazardous dump it had created over the years. moribund adjective: being on the point of death; declining rapidly losing all momentum in progress Synonyms : stagnant Whether you like it or not, jazz as a genre is moribund at best, possibly already dead. lampoon verb: ridicule with satire Synonyms : satirise , satirize Mark Twain understood that lampooning a bad idea with humor was the most effective criticism. effrontery noun: audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to Synonyms : assumption , presumption , presumptuousness The skateboarders acted with effrontery, skating through the church grounds and spray-painting signs warning trespassers. quail verb: draw back, as with fear or pain Synonyms : cringe , flinch , funk , recoil , shrink , squinch , wince Craig always claimed to be a fearless outdoorsman, but when the thunderstorm engulfed the valley, he quailed at the thought of leaving the safety of his cabin. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study approbatory adjective: expressing praise or approval Synonyms : affirmative , approbative , approving , plausive Although it might not be her best work, Hunter's new novel has received generally approbatory reviews. perspicacious adjective: acutely insightful and wise Synonyms : sagacious , sapient Many modern observers regard Eisenhower as perspicacious, particularly in his accurate prediction of the growth of the military. charlatan noun: a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes Synonyms : mountebank You may call him a "motivational speaker," but I call him a charlatan--he doesn't have any idea what he's really talking about. probity noun: integrity, strong moral principles The ideal politician would have the probity to lead, but reality gravely falls short of the ideal of morally upright leaders. bowdlerize verb: edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate Synonyms : bowdlerise , castrate , expurgate , shorten To receive an R rating, the entire movie was bowdlerized because it contained so much violence and grotesque subject matter. sagacious adjective: having good judgement and acute insight Synonyms : perspicacious , sapient Steve Jobs is surely one of the most sagacious CEOs, making Apple the most recognizable and valuable companies in the world. unforthcoming adjective: uncooperative, not willing to give up information The teacher demanded to know who broke the window while he was out of the room, but the students understandably were unforthcoming. artlessness noun: the quality of innocence Synonyms : ingenuousness , innocence , naturalness I, personally, found the artlessness of her speech charming. solecism noun: a socially awkward or tactless act Synonyms : faux pas , gaffe , gaucherie , slip Mother Anna was always on guard against any solecism from her children and scolded them immediately if any of them talked out of place in public. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study illustrious adjective: widely known and esteemed; having or conferring glory Synonyms : celebrated , famed , famous , far-famed , notable , noted , renowned Einstein was possibly the most illustrious scientist in recent history. vitriolic adjective: harsh or corrosive in tone Synonyms : acerb , acerbic , acid , acrid , bitter , blistering , caustic , sulfurous , sulphurous , virulent While the teacher was more moderate in her criticism of the other student's papers, she was vitriolic toward Peter's paper, casting every flaw in the harshest light. maunder verb: wander aimlessly Max liked to maunder down by the seaside and pick up whatever sea shells he would stumble upon. verb: speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly Synonyms : blab , blabber , chatter , clack , gabble , gibber , palaver , piffle , prate , prattle , tattle , tittle-tattle , twaddle After drinking two espressos each, the animated couple would maunder loudly, annoying the other patrons in the coffee shop. sinecure noun: an office that involves minimal duties The position of Research Director is a sinecure: the job entails almost no responsibilities, nor does the person in that position have to answer to anyone. pecuniary adjective: relating to or involving money Synonyms : monetary The defendent was found guilty and had to serve a period of community service as well as pay pecuniary damages to the client. punctilious adjective: marked by precise accordance with details Synonyms : meticulous The colonel was so punctilious about enforcing regulations that men feel compelled to polish even the soles of their shoes. hagiographic adjective: excessively flattering toward someone's life or work Most accounts of Tiger Woods life were hagiographic, until, that is, his affairs made headlines. primacy noun: the state of being first in importance The primacy of Apple Computers is not guaranteed, as seen in the recent lawsuits and weak growth. impute verb: attribute (responsibility or fault) to something Synonyms : ascribe , assign , attribute He imputed his subpar performance on the test to a combination of stress and poor sleep. importuned verb: beg persistently and urgently After weeks of importuning the star to meet for a five-minute interview, the journalist finally got what she wanted. hobble verb: to hold back the progress of something Synonyms : gimp , hitch , limp Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts, making it difficult for crews to find bodies in the wreckage. dovetail verb: fit together tightly, as if by means of a interlocking joint Synonyms : dovetail joint Although Darwin's evolution and Mendel's genetics were developed in isolation from one another, they dovetail very well. asperity noun: harshness of manner Synonyms : sharpness The editor was known for his asperity, often sending severe letters of rejection to amateur writers. lacerate verb: deeply hurt the feelings of; distress The teacher was fired for lacerating a student who wrote a poor essay. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study inviolate adjective: must be kept sacred Synonyms : inviolable , sacrosanct While the literary critic subjected most of the classics to the harshest reviews, he regarded Cervantes as inviolate, and had nothing but praise for him. crestfallen adjective: brought low in spirit Synonyms : chapfallen , chopfallen , deflated I asked Maria on a date and she refused without a moment's thought; I was crestfallen. firebrand noun: someone who deliberately creates trouble Synonyms : inciter , instigant , instigator , provoker Freddie is a firebrand: every time he walks into the office, he winds up at the center of heated argument. magisterial adjective: offensively self-assured or given to exercising unwarranted power Synonyms : autocratic , bossy , dominating , high-and-mighty , peremptory Though she was only a third grade teacher, Ms. Martinet was magisterial in dealing with her class, lording over them like a queen. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study patent adjective: glaringly obvious Synonyms : apparent , evident , manifest , plain , unmistakable Since the book had been through no fewer than six proof runs, the staff was shocked to see such a patent spelling mistake remaining, right in the middle of the front cover! This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study corollary noun: a practical consequence that follows naturally A corollary of Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the east coast of the U.S., is a push to build higher sea walls to protect against future hurricanes. intimation noun: an indirect suggestion Synonyms : breath , hint At first the hostess tried intimation, praising the benefits of cutlery; when Cecil continued eating with his hands, the hostess told him to use a fork at dinner. decry verb: express strong disapproval of Synonyms : condemn , excoriate , objurgate , reprobate The entire audience erupted in shouts and curses, decrying the penalty card issued by the referee. flippant adjective: showing inappropriate levity Synonyms : light-minded Although Sam was trying to honor Mark's sense of humor, many found it quite flippant that he wore a comic nose and glasses mask to Mark's funeral. imperious adjective: having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy Synonyms : disdainful , haughty , lordly , overbearing , prideful , sniffy , supercilious , swaggering Children are imperious with each other before they learn that earning someone's respect is better than demanding. incontrovertible adjective: necessarily or demonstrably true; impossible to deny or disprove Synonyms : demonstrable,irrefutable , positive Unless you can provide incontrovertible evidence, I will remain skeptical. hubris noun: overbearing pride or presumption Bill Clinton was criticized for his hubris, since he believed he could get away with anything once in the White House. ossify verb: make rigid and set into a conventional pattern Synonyms : petrify , rigidify Even as a young man, Bob had some bias against poor people, but during his years in social services, his bad opinions ossified into unshiftable views. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study celerity noun: speed, rapidity Synonyms : quickness , rapidity , rapidness , speediness We aim to respond to customers' questions with celerity and accuracy, with no longer than a 24 hour wait time. ribald adjective: humorously vulgar Synonyms : bawdy , off-color The speaker was famous for his ribald humor, but the high school principal asked him to keep the talk G-rated when he spoke to the student body. irrefutable adjective: impossible to deny or disprove Synonyms : incontrovertible , positive The existence of life on earth is irrefutable; the existence of intelligent life on earth is still hotly debated. inure verb: to make accustomed to something unpleasant Synonyms : harden , indurate Three years of Manhattan living has inured her to the sound of wailing sirens; she could probably sleep through the apocalypse. rarefied verb: make more subtle or refined Jack's vulgar jokes were not so successful in the rarefied environment of college professors. recrimination noun: mutual accusations The two brothers sat and cried, pointing fingers and making elaborate recriminations of the other's guilt invidious adjective: likely to cause resentment At a time when many others in the office were about to be laid off, many considered Cheryl's fine clothes that day an invidious display. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study presentiment noun: a feeling of evil to come Synonyms : boding , foreboding , premonition On the night that Lincoln would be fatally shot, his wife had a presentiment about going to Ford's Theater, but Lincoln persuaded her that everything would be fine. crystallize verb: cause to take on a definite and clear shape Synonyms : crystalise , crystalize , crystallise Only after fifteen minutes of brainstorming did Samantha's ideas for the essay crystallize. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study dispensation noun: an exemption from a rule or obligation Since her father is a billionaire, she is given dispensation from many of the school's policies. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study tempestuous adjective: as if driven by turbulent or conflicting emotions; highly energetic and wildly changing or fluctuating Synonyms : angry , furious , raging , wild Chuck and Kathy had always been stable and agreeable people on their own, but when they got involved, it was a tempestuous relationship. encumber verb: hold back Synonyms : constrain , cumber , restrain The costume encumbered all my movements and caused me to sweat profusely. equitable adjective: fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience Synonyms : just The equitable distribution of ice cream to a group of 5 year olds will ensure little to no fighting - at least until the ice cream is gone. subterfuge noun: something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity Synonyms : blind Finally deciding to abandon all subterfuge, Arthur revealed to Cindy everything about his secret affair over the past two years. spartan adjective: unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment; practicing great self-denial Synonyms : severe After losing everything in a fire, Tim decided to live in spartan conditions, sleeping on the floor and owning as little furniture as a possible. inimitable adjective: defying imitation; matchless Mozart's music follows a clear pattern that, anyone could imitate, but his music gives an overall sense of effortlessness that is inimitable. unpropitious adjective: (of a circumstance) with little chance of success With only a bottle of water and a sandwich, the hikers faced an unpropitious task: ascending a huge mountain that took most two days to climb. denouement noun: the final resolution of the many strands of a literary or dramatic work; the outcome of a complex sequence of events At the denouement of the movie, all questions were answered, and the true identity of the robber was revealed. puissant adjective: powerful Over the years of service, and quite to his surprise, he became a puissant advisor to the community. surreptitious adjective: stealthy, taking pains not to be caught or detected Synonyms : furtive , sneak , sneaky , stealthy Since his mom was a light sleeper, Timmy had to tiptoe surreptitiously through the entire house, careful to not make the floors creak, until he at last was able to enjoy his plunder: a box of chocolate chip cookies. immure verb: to enclose, usually in walls Synonyms : gaol , imprison , incarcerate , jail , jug , lag , put away , put behind bars , remand The modern supermarket experience makes many feel claustrophobic, as they are immured in walls upon walls of products. untenable adjective: (of theories etc) incapable of being defended or justified Synonyms : indefensible With the combination of Kepler's brilliant theories and Galileo's telescopic observations, the old geocentric theory became untenable to most of the educated people in Europe. machinate verb: engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together Synonyms : cabal , complot , conjure , conspire The rebels met at night in an abandoned barn to machinate. stalwart adjective: dependable; inured to fatigue or hardships Synonyms : stout,hardy ,sturdy Despite all the criticism directed at the President during this scandal, Lisa has remained his stalwart supporter. obstreperous adjective: noisily and stubbornly defiant; willfully difficult to control Synonyms : casual , insouciant When the teacher asked the obstreperous student simply to bus his tray, the student threw the entire tray on the floor, shouted an epithet, and walked out. nonchalant adjective: coming across as uninterested or unconcerned; overly casual Synonyms : casual , insouciant The twenty-somethings at the coffee shop always irked Sheldon, especially the way in which they acted nonchalantly towards everything, not even caring when Sheldon once spilled his mocha on them. puerile adjective: of or characteristic of a child; displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity Synonyms : adolescent , jejune , juvenile Helen enjoyed blowing soap bubbles, but Jim regarded this as puerile, totally unworthy of a woman with a Ph.D. unflappable adjective: not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure Synonyms : imperturbable The house shook and the ground quaked, but my dad was unflappable and comforted the family. improvident adjective: not given careful consideration Synonyms : ill-considered , ill-judged , shortsighted Marty was improvident, never putting money aside for the future but spending it on decorating the interior of his home. impetuous adjective: characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation Synonyms : brainish , hotheaded , impulsive , madcap , tearaway Herbert is rarely impetuous, but on the spur of the moment, he spent thousands of dollars on a motorcycle today. peripatetic adjective: traveling by foot Synonyms : wayfaring Jim always preferred a peripatetic approach to discovering a city: he felt that he could see so many more details while walking. cosseted verb: treat with excessive indulgence The king and queen cosseted the young prince, giving him a prized miniature pony for his fifth birthday. unviable adjective: not able to work, survive, or succeed (also spelled inviable). The plan was obviously unviable considering that it lead to complete environmental destruction in the river valley. atavism noun: a reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwback Synonyms : reversion , throwback Much of the modern art movement was an atavism to a style of art found only in small villages through Africa and South America. apothegm noun: a short, pithy instructive saying Synonyms : aphorism , apophthegm Winston Churchill is famous for many apothegms, but this might be his most famous: "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried." objurgate verb: express strong disapproval of Synonyms : condemn , decry , excoriate , reprobate The manager spent an hour objurgating the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again. pith noun: the most essential part of something Synonyms : center , centre , core , essence , gist , heart , heart and soul , inwardness , kernel , marrow , meat , nitty-gritty , nub , substance , sum When Cynthia hears a speaker presenting a complex argument, she is always able to discard the irrelevant details and extract the pith of what the speaker is trying to convey. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study percipient adjective: highly perceptive Synonyms : clear Even the most percipient editor will make an occasional error when proofreading. recrudesce verb: to break out or happen again Synonyms : break , develop, erupt After years of gamblers anonymous, Tony thought he'd broken his compulsive slot machine playing, but it took only one trip to the Atlantic City for a full recrudescence--he lost $5k on the one armed bandit. rapprochement noun: the reestablishing of cordial relations Synonyms : reconciliation Although Ann hoped that her mother and her aunt would have a rapprochement, each one's bitter accusations against the other made any reconciliation unlikely. debonair adjective: having a sophisticated charm Synonyms : debonaire , debonnaire , suave James Bond is known for his good looks, high tech gadgets, and debonair manner. philistine adjective: smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural values Synonyms : anti-intellectual Jane considered Al completely philistine, because he talked almost exclusive about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study deign verb: do something that one considers to be below one's dignity Synonyms : condescend , descend The master of the house never deigned to answer questions from the servants. chagrin noun: strong feelings of embarrassment Synonyms : humiliation , mortification Much to the timid writer's chagrin, the audience chanted his name until he came back on the stage. verb: cause to feel shame; hurt the pride o Synonyms : abase , humble , humiliate , mortifyf She never cared what others said about her appearance but was chagrined by the smallest comment from her mother. broadside noun: a strong verbal attack Synonyms : bill , broadsheet , circular , flier , flyer , handbill , throwaway Political broadsides are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election. brook verb: put up with something or somebody unpleasant Synonyms : abide , bear , digest , endure , put up , stand , stick out , stomach , suffer , support , tolerate While she was at the chalkboard, the teacher did not brook any form of talking--even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study nettlesome adjective: causing irritation or annoyance Synonyms : annoying , bothersome , galling , irritating , pesky , pestering , pestiferous , plaguey , plaguy , teasing , vexatious , vexing Maria found her coworker's cell phone nettlesome, because every few minutes it would buzz to life with another text message. phlegmatic adjective: showing little emotion Synonyms : phlegmatical Arnold is truly noble, remaining reserved until an issue of significance arises, but Walter is simply phlegmatic: he doesn't have the energy or inclination to care about anything. solicitude noun: a feeling of excessive concern Synonyms : solicitousness I walked to his house in the rain to make sure he had enough to eat while he was sick, but he seemed not to appreciate my solicitude. disingenuous adjective: not straightforward; giving a false appearance of frankness Synonyms : artful Many adults think that they can lie to children, but kids are smart and know when people are disingenuous. unstinting adjective: very generous Synonyms : lavish , munificent , overgenerous , too-generous , unsparing , unstinted Helen is unstinting with her time, often spending hours at the house of a sick friend. truculence noun: defiant aggressiveness Synonyms : truculency When the boss confronted Aaron about his earlier remarks, Aaron responded with utter truculence, simply throwing a glass of water in the boss' face and walking away. anachronism noun: something that is inappropriate for the given time period (usually something old). Synonyms : misdating , mistiming Dressed in 15th century clothing each day, Edward was a walking anachronism. unprepossessing adjective: creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression Synonyms : unpresentable World leaders coming to meet Gandhi would expect a towering sage, and often would be surprised by the unprepossessing little man dressed only in a loincloth and shawl. chimera noun: something desired or wished for but is only an illusion and impossible to achieve Many believe that a world free of war is a chimera—a dream that ignores humanity's violent tendencies. bristle verb: react in an offended or angry manner Synonyms : abound , burst As we discussed the painting, I noticed the artist's wife bristling at our criticisms, ready to defend her husband's work. embryonic adjective: in an early stage of development Synonyms : embryotic, embryologic , embryonal The Board of Directors is hoping to launch a new product soon, but planning for the Z7 is in an embryonic stages. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study vitriol noun: abusive or venomous language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will Synonyms : invective , vituperation His vitriol spewed forth from a deep-seated racism that consumed his whole life. artifice noun: cunning tricks used to deceive others Synonyms : ruse The mayoral candidates both spent much of the campaign accusing each other of artifices designed to mislead the voting public. browbeat verb: be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner Synonyms : ballyrag , boss around , bully , bullyrag , hector , push around , strong-arm During the interrogation, the suspect was browbeaten into signing a false confession. doleful adjective: filled with or evoking sadness Synonyms : mournful No event is more doleful than the passing of my mother; she was a shining star in my life, and it brings me great sadness to think that she is now gone. besotted adjective: strongly affectionate towards Even though her father did not approve, Juliet became besotted with the young Romeo. adjective: very drunk Synonyms : blind drunk , blotto , cockeyed , crocked , fuddled , loaded , pie-eyed , pissed , pixilated , plastered , slopped , sloshed , smashed , soaked , soused , sozzled , squiffy , stiff , tight , wet Never before have I seen my mom so besotted, and honestly, I hope it's the last time she drinks so much. chastise verb: to reprimand harshly Synonyms : castigate , chasten , correct , objurgate Though chastised for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother's harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts. epigram noun: a witty saying Synonyms : quip My favorite epigram from Mark Twain is "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way." arrogate verb: seize and control without authority Synonyms : assume , seize , take over , usurp Arriving at the small town, the outlaw arrogated the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment. baleful adjective: threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments Synonyms : forbidding , menacing , minacious , minatory , ominous , sinister , threatening Movies often use storms or rain clouds as a baleful omen of evil events that will soon befall the main character. ersatz adjective: not real or genuine; phony Synonyms : substitute The car dealer's ersatz laughter was immediately followed by a price quote, one that Shelley found highly inflated. languish verb: become feeble Synonyms : fade Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the hiker languished, eating protein bars and nuts. reprisal noun: a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime The Old Testament doctrine of an eye for an eye is not the kind of retaliation practiced in war; rather, an arm, a leg, and both ears are the reprisal for the smallest scratch. effervescent adjective: marked by high spirits or excitement Synonyms : bubbling , frothy , scintillating , sparkly After the sales result, the manager was in an effervescent mood, letting several employees leave work early that day. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study exemplar noun: something to be imitated Synonyms : example , good example , model Lena's homework is on the wall because it is an exemplar of clean, neat, and thoughtful work. ineffable adjective: too sacred to be uttered; defying expression or description Synonyms : unnameable , unspeakable , unutterable,indefinable , indescribable , unspeakable , untellable While art critics can occasionally pinpoint a work's greatness, much of why a piece captures our imaginations is completely ineffable. paragon noun: model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal Synonyms : apotheosis , ideal , nonesuch , nonpareil , nonsuch , saint Even with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many still believe that Michael Jordon is the paragon for basketball players. noun: an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept Synonyms : beau ideal , idol , perfection Some say that Athens was the paragon of democracy, but these people often forget that slaves and women were still not allowed to vote. meteoric adjective: like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience The early spectacular successes propelled the pitcher to meteoric stardom, but a terribly injury tragically cut short his career. appurtenant adjective: supply added support Synonyms : accessory , adjunct , adjuvant , ancillary , auxiliary In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are appurtenant, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths. inchoate adjective: only partly in existence; imperfectly formed Synonyms : incipient Inchoate ideas about the relation of humans to other animals had been discussed since the Middle Ages but the modern theory really began with Darwin. inanity noun: total lack of meaning or ideas Synonyms : mindlessness , pointlessness , senselessness , vacuity Bill's poem was nothing more than a list of impressive sounding words, so there was no point in trying to take meaning from the inanity. hoary adjective: ancient Synonyms : rusty Most workout gurus are young, fit people, whereas most yoga gurus are hoary men with long white beards. bemoan verb: express discontent or a strong regret Synonyms : bewail , deplore , lament While the CFO carefully explained all the reasons for the cuts in benefits, after the meeting employees bemoaned the cuts as further evidence that management was against them. antic adjective: ludicrously odd Synonyms : fantastic , fantastical , grotesque The clown's antic act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study untrammeled adjective: not confined or limited Synonyms : untrammelled The whole notion of living untrammeled inspired the American Revolution and was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. gambit noun: a maneuver or risk in a game or conversation, designed to secure an advantage Synonyms : ploy , stratagem Randy played a gambit, telling his boss that he would leave at the end of the week if he didn't get a raise. empiricism noun: any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge Synonyms : empiricist philosophy , sensationalism Empiricism does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers. squelch verb: suppress or crush completely Synonyms : quell , quench After the dictator consolidated his power, he took steps to squelch all criticism, often arresting any journalist who said anything that could be interpreted as negative about his regime. obtuse adjective: slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; lacking in insight or discernment Synonyms : dense , dim , dull , dumb , slow Jackson was the most obtuse member of the team: the manager's subtle ironies were always lost on him. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study mendicant noun: a pauper who lives by begging Synonyms : beggar Tolstoy was an aristocrat, but he strove to understand the Christianity of the Russian peasants by wandering among them as a mendicant. autocratic adjective: characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty Synonyms : authoritarian , despotic , dictatorial , tyrannic , tyrannical The last true autocratic country is certainly North Korea; nowhere does a leader exercise the absolute control over all aspects of a people the way that Kim Jong-un does. adjective: offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power Synonyms : bossy , dominating , high-and-mighty , magisterial , peremptory The manager was finally fired for his autocratic leadership, which often bordered on rude and offensive. callow adjective: young and inexperienced Synonyms : fledgling , unfledged Both Los Angeles and New York are known for callow out-of-towners hoping to make it big. stultify verb: cause one, through routine, to lose energy and enthusiasm Synonyms : cripple As an undergraduate Mark felt stultified by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school, in which he could focus solely on literary analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge. doughty adjective: brave; bold; courageous I enjoy films in which a doughty group comes together to battle a force of evil. abjure verb: formally reject or give up (as a belief) Synonyms : forswear , recant , resile , retract While the church believed that Galileo abjured the heliocentric theory under threat of torture, he later wrote a book clearly supporting the theory. inviolable adjective: never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored Synonyms : impregnable , secure , strong , unassailable , unattackable To many the grass at Wimbledon is inviolable and only greater tennis players are able to enjoy a game there. self-effacing adjective: reluctant to draw attention to yourself Synonyms : reticent , retiring The most admirable teachers and respected leaders are those who are self-effacing, directing attention and praise to their students and workers. vaunted adjective: highly or widely praised or boasted about For years, they had heard of New York City's vaunted skyline, and when they finally saw it, the spectacular cityscape did not disappoint them in the least. panegyric noun: a formal expression of praise Synonyms : encomium , eulogy , paean , pean Dave asked Andrew to do just a simple toast, but Andrew launched into a full panegyric, enumerating a complete list of Dave's achievements and admirable qualities. gumption noun: resourcefulness and determination Synonyms : backbone , grit , guts , moxie , sand Wallace Stegner lamented the lack of gumption in the U.S. during the sixties, claiming that no young person knew the value of work. complicit adjective: Associated with or participating in an activity, especially one of a questionable nature. While the grand jury cleared the senator of all criminal charges, in the public mind he was still complicit in the corruption. bridle verb: the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess Synonyms : check , curb New curfew laws have bridled people's tendency to go out at night. verb: anger or take offense The hostess bridled at the tactless dinner guests who insisted on eating before everybody had gotten their food. coterminous adjective: being of equal extent or scope or duration Synonyms : coextensive , conterminous The border of the state is coterminous with geographic limits on travel; the east and north are surrounded by a nearly uncrossable river and the south by a desert. dolorous adjective: showing sorrow Synonyms : dolourous , lachrymose , tearful , weeping Chopin's ballades are filled with sharp changes in moods--a dolorous melody can give way to a lighthearted tempo. transmute verb: change or alter in form, appearance, or nature Synonyms : metamorphose , transform,transubstantiate One of the goals of alchemy was to find the substance or process that would transmute lead into gold. desiccated adjective: uninteresting, lacking vitality Synonyms : arid , desiccate Few novelists over 80 are able to produce anything more than desiccated works-boring shadows of former books. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study impugn verb: attack as false or wrong Though many initially tried to impugn Darwin's theory, in scientific circles today, the is idea taken as truth. pellucid adjective: transparently clear; easily understandable Synonyms : crystal clear , limpid , lucid , luculent , perspicuous The professor had a remarkable ability make even the most difficult concepts seem pellucid. impervious adjective: not admitting of passage or capable of being affected Synonyms : imperviable I am not impervious to your insults; they cause me great pain. unimpeachable adjective: free of guilt; not subject to blame; beyond doubt or reproach Synonyms : blameless , inculpable , irreproachable After his long and unimpeachable service to the company, Sharat felt that a gold watch was a slap in the face rather than an honor. pontificate verb: talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner The vice-president would often pontificate about economic theory, as if no one else in the room were qualified to speak on the topic. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study bromide noun: a trite or obvious remark Synonyms : banality , cliche , commonplace , platitude Instead of sharing his umbrella, the cheeky stranger offered Martha the following bromide: "Looks like it's raining." conflagration noun: a very intense and uncontrolled fire Synonyms : inferno In the summer months, conflagrations are not uncommon in the southwest, do to the heat and lack of rain. solicitous adjective: showing hovering attentiveness Our neighbors are constantly knocking on our door to make sure we are ok, and I don't know how to ask them to stop being so solicitous about our health. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study internecine adjective: (of conflict) within a group or organization The guerilla group, which had become so powerful as to own the state police, was finally destroyed by an internecine conflict. malingerer noun: someone shirking their duty by pretending to be sick or incapacitated Synonyms : shammer , skulker At one time, our country was full of hardworking respectful people, but now it seems that everyone is a malingerer with little inclination to work. desideratum noun: something desired as a necessity The desideratum of the environmental group is that motorists should rely on carpooling. facile adjective: arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth Many news shows provide facile explanations to complex politics, so I prefer to read the in-depth reporting of The New York Times. unassailable adjective: immune to attack; without flaws Synonyms : impregnable , inviolable , secure , strong , unattackable,bulletproof , unshakable , watertight Professor Williams is so self-assured as to seem arrogant, presenting each and every opinion as an unassailable fact. ethereal adjective: characterized by lightness and insubstantiality Synonyms : aerial , aeriform , aery , airy Because she dances with an ethereal style, ballet critics have called her Madame Butterfly. afford verb: provide with an opportunity The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro affords a panoramic view that encompasses both Tanzania and Kenya. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study hauteur noun: overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors Synonyms : arrogance , haughtiness , high-handedness , lordliness As soon as she won the lottery, Alice begin displaying a hauteur to her friends, calling them dirty-clothed peasants behind their backs. discursive adjective: (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point Synonyms : digressive , excursive , rambling Many readers find it tough to read Moby Dick since the author is discursive, often cutting the action short to spend 20 pages on the history of a whale. aplomb noun: great coolness and composure under strain Synonyms : assuredness , cool , poise , sang-froid Nancy acted with aplomb during dangerous situations--she once calmly climbed up an oak tree to save a cat. appropriate verb: to give or take something by force Synonyms : allow , earmark , reserve , set aside,capture , conquer , seize The government appropriated land that was occupied by squatters, sending them scurrying for another place to live. verb: to allocate The committe appropriated the funds to its various members. This word has other definitions but these are the most important ones to study palatable adjective: acceptable to the taste or mind Synonyms : toothsome MIkey didn't partake much in his friends' conversations, but found their presence palatable. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study fecund adjective: intellectually productive Synonyms : fertile , prolific The artist had entered a fecund period, producing three masterpieces in the span of two months. turgid adjective: (of language) pompous and tedious Synonyms : bombastic , declamatory , large , orotund , tumid The amount of GRE vocabulary he used increased with his years--by the time he was 60, his novels were so turgid that even his diehard fans refused to read them. conflate verb: mix together different elements or concepts Synonyms : blend , coalesce , combine , commingle , flux , fuse , immix , meld , merge , mix In her recent book, the author conflates several genres--the detective story, the teen thriller, and the vampire romance--to create a memorable read. inequity noun: injustice by virtue of not conforming with rules or standards Synonyms : unfairness After decades of racial inequity, the "separate but equal" doctrine was successfully overturned. enormity noun: an act of extreme wickedness Synonyms : outrageousness The enormity of Pol Pot's regime is hard to capture in words--within months hundreds of thousands of Cambodians lost their lives. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study assiduously adverb: with care and persistence The top college football program recruits new talent assiduously, only choosing those who were the top in their county. proselytize verb: convert to another religion, philosophy, or perspective Synonyms : proselytise Lisa loves her Mac but says little about it; by contrast, Jake will proselytize, interrogating anyone with an Android about why she didn't purchase an iPhone. elegiac adjective: expressing sorrow Few can listen to the elegiac opening bars of the Moonlight sonata without feeling the urge to cry. tyro noun: someone new to a field or activity Synonyms : beginner , initiate , novice , tiro All great writers, athletes, and artists were tyros at one time—unknown, clumsy, and unskilled with much to learn. complaisant adjective: showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others Synonyms : obliging On her first day at the job, Annie was complaisant, fulfilling every request of her new employee and anticipating future requests. proscribe verb: command against Synonyms : disallow , forbid , interdict , nix , prohibit , veto My doctor proscribes that I not eat donuts with chocolate sauce and hamburger patties for breakfast. noisome adjective: having an extremely bad smell Synonyms : fetid , foetid , foul , foul-smelling , funky , ill-scented , smelly , stinking Each August, when the winds moved in a south easterly direction, the garbage dump would spread noisome vapors through the small town. concomitant adjective: describing an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another Synonyms : accompaniment , attendant , co-occurrence Concomitant with his desire for nature was a desire for the culture and energy of a big city. demonstrative adjective: given to or marked by the open expression of emotion When Sally told James that she wanted to break up with him, she expected he would react demonstratively, but he quietly nodded his head and left without saying a word. dissipate verb: squander or spend money frivolously Synonyms : fool , fool away , fritter , fritter away , frivol away , shoot The recent graduates dissipated their earnings on trips to Las Vegas and cruises in Mexico. verb: to disperse or scatter Synonyms : break up , dispel , disperse , scatter,spread out Kathleen's perfume was overwhelming in the cramped apartment, but once we stepped outside the smell dissipated and we could breathe once again. raillery noun: light teasing Synonyms : backchat , banter , give-and-take The new recruit was not bothered by the raillery, finding most of it light-hearted and good-natured. diminutive noun: to indicate smallness He prefers to be called a diminutive of his name: "Bill" instead of "John William." adjective: very small Synonyms : bantam , flyspeck , lilliputian , midget , petite , tiny When he put on his father's suit and shoes, his appearance was that of a diminutive youth. surfeit noun: an excessive amount of something Synonyms : excess , overabundance There was no such thing as a surfeit of shopping for Nancy--she could stay at the outlet stores from opening to closing time. cataclysm noun: an event resulting in great loss and misfortune Synonyms : calamity , catastrophe , disaster , tragedy The introduction of smallpox was a cataclysm for Native Americans, killing off more than half of their population. capitulate noun: to surrender (usually under agreed conditions) Paul, losing 19-0 in a ping-pong match against his nimble friend, basically capitulated when he played the last two points with his eyes closed. trenchant adjective: characterized by or full of force and vigor; having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought, expression, or intellect Synonyms : hard-hitting,searching Jill presented a rather superficial treatment of sales in Asia, but her trenchant analysis of sales in Europe inspired a number of insights into how to proceed in that market. infelicitous adjective: inappropriate Synonyms:defective During the executive meeting, the marketing director continued to make infelicitous comments about the CEO's gambling habit. bastardization noun: an act that debases or corrupts Synonyms : bastardisation The movie World War Z is a complete bastardization of the book with little more in common than zombies and a title. countermand verb: a contrary command cancelling or reversing a previous command By the time the colonel countermanded his soldiers not to land in enemy territory, a few helicopters had already touched down amid heavy gunfire. halcyon adjective: idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquillity; marked by peace and prosperity Synonyms : golden , prosperous The first decade after WWI was a halcyon period in America with new-found wealth and rapidly improving technology. panacea noun: hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; a universal solution Synonyms : catholicon , cure-all , nostrum While the company credit card has made most large purchases easier, it is no panacea: some smaller basic transactions still must be conducted in cash. adjudicate verb: to serve as a judge in a competition; to arrive at a judgment or conclusion Synonyms : decide , resolve , settle,judge , try Only those with the most refined palates were able to adjudicate during the barbeque competition. graft noun: corruption, usually through bribery In countries with rampant graft, getting a driver's license can require no more than paying an official. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study chauvinism noun: fanatical patriotism; belief that one's group/cause is superior to all other groups/causes Synonyms : jingoism , superpatriotism , ultranationalism Vegetarians argue that man is chauvinistic in his belief that animals do not consciously feel the pain we humans do. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study pillory verb: ridicule or expose to public scorn Synonyms : gibbet After the candidate confessed, the press of the opposing party took the opportunity to pillory him, printing editorials with the most blatantly exaggerated accusations. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study promulgate verb: state or announce Synonyms : exclaim , proclaim The President wanted to promulgate the success of the treaty negotiations, but he had to wait until Congress formally approved the agreement. abrogate verb: revoke formally As part of the agreement between the labor union and the company, the workers abrogated their right to strike for four years in exchange for better health insurance. veritable adjective: truthfully, without a doubt Synonyms : authentic , bona fide , unquestionable Frank is a veritable life-saver - last year, on two different occasions, he revived people using CPR. despot noun: a cruel and oppressive dictator Synonyms : autocrat , tyrant The Emperor Claudius was regarded as a fair-minded leader; his successor, Nero, was an absolute despot. misattribute verb: To erroneously attribute; to falsely ascribe; used especially of authorship. I made a mistake; I misattributed "Crime and Punishment" to Leo Tolstoy when it was actually written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. ebullient adjective: joyously unrestrained Synonyms : exuberant , high-spirited Can you blame him for his ebullient mood? He just graduated from medical school. obtain adjective: be valid, applicable, or true Synonyms : hold , prevail The custom of waiting your turn in line does not obtain in some countries, in which many people try to rush to front of the line at the same time. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study verisimilitude noun: the appearance of truth All bad novels are bad for numerous reasons; all good novels are good for their verisimilitude of reality, placing the readers in a world that resembles the one they know. evanescent adjective: tending to vanish like vapor The storm flashed into existence above us and lasted only a short time - an evanescent turbulence of wind and cloud. officious adjective: intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner Synonyms : busy , busybodied , interfering , meddlesome , meddling The professor had trouble concentrating on her new theorem, because her officious secretary would barge in frequently reminding her of some trivial detail involving departmental paperwork. estimable adjective: deserving of esteem and respect Synonyms : good , honorable , respectable After serving thirty years, in which he selflessly served the community, Judge Harper was one of the more estimable people in town. bereft adjective: unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love Synonyms : lovelorn , unbeloved After 64 years of marriage, William was bereft after the death of his wife. adjective: sorrowful through loss or deprivation Synonyms : bereaved , grief-stricken , grieving , mourning , sorrowing "You are not bereft if you haven't played on your Xbox in the past week," his mother said. lachrymose adjective: showing sorrow Synonyms : dolorous , dolourous , tearful , weeping Lachrymose and depressed, Alexei Alexandrovich walked two miles home in the rain after learning that his wife was having an affair. flag verb: droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness; become less intense Synonyms : droop , sag , swag After the three crushing defeats in the last three games, the team's enthusiasm began to flag. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study dissemble verb: conceal one's true motives, usually through deceit Synonyms : affect , feign , pretend , sham To get close to the senator, the assassin dissembled his intentions, convincing many people that he was a reporter for a well-known newspaper. extrapolate verb: draw from specific cases for more general cases Synonyms : generalise , generalize , infer By extrapolating from the data on the past three months, we can predict a 5% increase in traffic to our website. oblique adjective: not straightforward; indirect Synonyms : devious Herbert never explicitly revealed anything negative about Tom's past, but at times he would obliquely suggest that Tom was not as innocent as he seemed. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study palaver verb: speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly Synonyms : blab , blabber , chatter , clack , gabble , gibber , maunder , piffle , prate , prattle , tattle , tittle-tattle , twaddle During the rain delay, many who had come to see the game palavered, probably hoping that idle chatter would make the time go by faster. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study row noun: an angry dispute Synonyms : dustup , quarrel , run-in , words , wrangle The Prime Minister looked very foolish after his row with the foreign dignitary was caught on video and posted on youtube. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study canard noun: a deliberately misleading fabrication The public will always be fooled by the media's canards. exiguity noun: the quality of being meager Synonyms : leanness , meagerness , meagreness , poorness , scantiness , scantness After two months at sea, the exiguity of the ship's supplies forced them to search for fresh water and food. loath adjective: unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom (usually followed by 'to') Synonyms : loth , reluctant, antipathetic , antipathetical , averse , indisposed I was loath to leave the concert before my favorite band finished playing. enamor verb: attraction or feeling of love Synonyms : becharm , beguile , bewitch , captivate , capture , catch , charm , enamour , enchant , entrance , fascinate , trance She is completely enamored with Justin Bieber, and goes to all his concerts on the East coast. eponym noun: the name derived from a person (real or imaginary); the person for whom something is named Alexandria, Egypt is an eponym because it is named after Alexander the Great. modicum noun: a small or moderate or token amount If my sister had even a modicum of sense, she wouldn't be engaged to that barbarian. dissolution noun: a living full of debauchery and indulgence in sensual pleasure Synonyms : dissipation , licentiousness , looseness , profligacy Many Roman emperors were known for their dissolution, indulging in unspeakable desires of the flesh. ineluctable adjective: impossible to avoid or evade: Synonyms : inescapable , unavoidable For those who smoke cigarettes for years, a major health crisis brought on by smoking is ineluctable. sardonic adjective: disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking A stand-up comedian walks a fine line when making jokes about members of the audience; such fun and joking can quickly become sardonic and cutting. splenetic adjective: very irritable Synonyms : bristly , prickly , waspish Ever since the car accident, Frank has been unable to walk without a cane, and so he has become splenetic and unpleasant to be around. exorbitant adjective: greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation Synonyms : extortionate , outrageous , steep , unconscionable , usurious Shelley made one exorbitant purchase after another, buying new clothes and taking vacations even though she earned a limited salary. simulacrum noun: a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture) Synonyms : effigy , image The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center showcases a simulacrum of all the present and approved buildings in the city of Shanghai. noun: a bad imitation The early days of computer graphics made real people into a simulacrum that now seems comical. hoodwink verb: to deceive or trick someone Synonyms : bamboozle , lead by the nose , play false , pull the wool over someone's eyes , snow [Show More]

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