factious
adj- causing disagreement
syn: belligerent; contentious
ant: cooperative; united
ignoble
adj- dishonorable; shameful
syn: despicable; base
ant: noble; glorious
boor
n- a rude or impolite person
syn: buffoon; clown
ant: sophisticate
aegis
n- a shield; protection
syn: backing
perspicacity
n- keeness of judgement
syn: perceptiveness
ant: stupidity; ignorance
fervent
adj- eager; earnest
syn: burning; passionate
ant: apathetic
rectify
v- to correct; to make right
syn: remedy; resolve
enervate
v- to weaken
syn: devitalize; exhaust
ant: energize; strengthen
besiege
v- to overwhelm; to surround and attack
ephemeral
adj- lasting only a brief time; short-lived
syn: transient; fleeting
ant: permanent
altruism
n- a concern for others; generosity
syn: unselfishness; magnanimity
ant: selfishness; egoism
carrion
n- decaying flesh
erotic
adj- pertaining to sexual love
amorphous
adj- shapeless, formless, vague
opulent
adj- rich, luxurious, wealthy
impotent
adj- powerless; lacking strength
syn: ineffective; helpless
ant: potent; powerful
antithesis
n- an exact opposite; an opposite extreme
syn: converse
ant: same
maelstrom
n- whirlpool; turbulence; agitates state of mind
emendation
n- a correction
syn: improvement; amendment
chagrin
n- embarrassment; a complete loss of courage
bauble
n- a showy but useless thing
syn: trinket
diaphanous
adj- very sheer and light
syn: transparent; gossamer
ant: opaque
labyrinth
n- a complicated network of winding passages; a maze
gloat
v- to look at or think about with great satisfaction
syn: revel; crow
impediment
n- a barrier; obstruction
syn: obstacle; hindrance
ant: aid
bestial
adj- savage; brutal
syn: brutish; vile; cruel
ant: humane; kind
effete
adj- worn out; barren
syn: exhausted; spent and sterile
ant: vital; vigorous
shard
n- a fragment
bland
adj- mild; tasteless; dull
syn: smooth; agreeable
ant: exciting; thrilling
nihilism
n- a total rejection of established laws
pedestrian
adj- ordinary or dull
syn: commonplace; mediocre
ant: imaginative; compelling
bona fide
adj- in good faith
syn: legitimate; genuine
ant: fraudulent; phony
adventitious
adj- accidental; nonessential
syn: incidental
fecund
adj- fertile; productive
syn: prolific
ant: sterile
deviate
v- to turn aside from a course; to stray
syn: digress
obfuscate
v- to confuse; to bewilder
syn: muddle; obscure
ant: clarify; elucidate
impale
v- to pierce with a sharp stake through the body
extenuate
v- to lessen seriousness by providing partial excuses
parochial
adj- local; narrow; limited
syn: provincial; narrow-minded
ant: universal; catholic
glower
v- to stare angrily
syn: frown; scowl
ant: grin
edify
v- to improve someone morally
ambiguous
adj- open to more than one interpretation
syn: unclear; uncertain; vague
ant: explicit; definite
cataclysm
n- a violent change
syn: disaster; catastrophe
ant: triumph; boon
optimum
adj- best; most favorable; ideal
importune
v- to ask persistently; to beg
syn: appeal; badger
celibate
adj- abstaining from intercourse; unmarried
fortuitous
adj- happening by chance or accident
syn: accidental; unexpected
ant: premeditated; intentional
recapitulate
v- to summarize; to repeat briefly
perfunctory
adj- done without care; in a routine fashion
syn: indifferent; offhand
ant: diligent; attentive
baroque
adj- overly decorated
syn: ornate
ant: simple
hedonism
n- pursuit of pleasure, especially of the senses
obloquy
n- strong disapproval; a bad reputation resulting from public criticism
syn: censure; rebuke
ant: acclaim; praise
debacle
n- a complete failure; a total collapse
syn: calamity; catastrophe
ant: success; triumph
quasi-
adj- resembling; seeming; half
besmirch
v- to make dirty; to stain
syn: soil; sully; smear
ant: cleanse
imperative
adj- extremely necessary; vitally important
sacrosanct
adj- extremely holy
syn: divine; angelic
sadistic
adj- deriving pleasure from inflicting pain on others
syn: barbarous; perverse
ant: civilized; humane
demeanor
n- behavior; manner of conducting oneself
syn: deportment
facetious
adj- comical; jocular; flippant
syn: joking; witty; jocose
ant: solemn; serious
fop
n- an excessively fashion-concious man
syn: dandy
imprecation
n- a curse
syn: condemnation; anathema
ant: blessing
non sequitur
n- something that does not logically follow
syn: fallacy; misconception
sanguine
adj- cheerful; optimistic
bowdlerize
v- to remove offensive passages of a play, novel, etc.
syn: censor
impair
v- to weaken; to cause to become worse
syn: damage; deteriorate
ant: enhance
panegyric
n- an expression of praise
syn: tribute; extolment
ant: denunciation
quandary
n- a puzzling situation; a dilemma
syn: predicament
ebullient
adj- enthusiastic
syn: exuberant; lively
ant: dejected; dispirited
deference
n- respect; consideration
carnal
adj- relating to physical appetite, especially sexual
syn: erotic
ant: chaste; modest
nebulous
adj- hazy; vague; uncertain
syn: cloudy; indistinct; obscure
ant: distinct; precise
rakish
adj- dashingly stylish and confident
syn: dapper; jaunty
ant: slovenly; disheveled
elegy
n- a sad or mournful poem
syn: dirge; lament
pedantic
adj- tending to show off one's learning
syn: bookish
antipathy
n- an intense dislike
syn: aversion
ant: affinity
elucidate
v- to make clear
syn: explain; clarify
ant: obscure
imminent
adj- likely to happen; threatening
syn: impending; approaching
ant: distant; delayed
banal
adj- common, ordinary
syn: trivial; insipid
ant: original; fresh
obdurate
adj- stubborn; hardhearted
syn: inflexible; obstinate
ant: compliant; amenable
peruse
v- to read carefully; scrutinize
bedlam
n- a noisy uproar; a scene of wild confusion
syn: mayhem; chaos
affluence
n- wealth; richness
syn: fortune
scurrilous
adj- coarsely abusive; vulgar
syn: indecent
ant: respectable
parody
n- a work which imitates another in a ridiculous manner
syn: caricature; burlesque; lampoon
sedulous
adj- hard working; diligent
syn: studious; assiduous
ant: lazy; lax
onerous
adj- burdensome; heavy; hard to endure
syn: crushing; distressing
amoral
adj- lacking a sense of right and wrong
syn: corrupt; evil
ant: innocent; virtuous
eschew
v- to keep away from; to avoid; to shun
ant: embrace; welcome
denouement
n- an outcome; result
syn: conclusion
adroit
adj- skillful; clever
syn: dexterous; apt
ant: clumsy; awkward
macroscopic
adj- visible to the naked eye
ant: microscopic
fatuous
adj- foolish; inane
syn: silly
ant: sensible; wise
bovine
adj- pertaining to cows or cattle
ferret
v- to search or drive out
affectation
n- a phony attitude; pose
syn: insincerity; sham
ant: sincerity; genuineness
knell
n- a sound made by a bell, often rung slowly for a death or funeral
dichotomy
n- a division into two parts
callow
adj- young and inexperienced
syn: immature
ant: mature; sophisticated
laconic
adj- using few words; short; concise
syn: pithy; taciturn
ant: verbose; loquacious
quiddity
n- an essential quality
syn: essence
patent
adj- evident or obvious
syn: indisputable; apparent
peccadillo
n- a minor offense; a misdeed
sagacious
adj- wise; having keen perception and sound judgement
syn: shrewd; intelligent
ant: obtuse; fatuous
rationalize
v- to make an excuse for
syn: justify
deride
v- to ridicule; to mock
syn: scorn
ant: praise
censure
v- to criticize sharply
syn: condemn; reproach
ant: praise; applaud
gambol
v- to frolic; to romp about playfully
syn: play; caper; rollick
immolate
v- to kill someone as a sacrificial victim, usually by fire
recondite
adj- difficult to understand; profound
martinet
n- a strict disciplinarian; taskmaster
quagmire
n- a swamp; a difficult or inextricable situation
gibe
v- to scoff; to ridicule
syn: jeer; taunt; sneer
ant: compliment; praise
agape
adj- open-mouthed; surprised; agog
syn: astonished
carcinogen
n- causing cancer
olfactory
adj- pertaining to smell
imperious
adj- domineering; haughty
syn: overbearing; arrogant; masterful
ant: servile; submissive
grotesque
adj- absurd; distorted
neologism
n- a new word or expression
syn: coinage
hackneyed
adj- commonplace; overused
syn: trite; banal
ant: fresh; imaginative
machination
n- an evil design or plan
syn: scheme; plot
pejorative
adj- having a negative effect; insulting
syn: disparaging; derogatory
ant: complimentary
harbinger
n- an omen or sign
syn: warning; portent
nubile
adj- suitable for marriage in age and physical developement, referring to a female
sapient
adj- wise; full of knowledge
syn: sagacious
ant: fatuous; inane
chimerical
adj- imaginary; fantastic
syn: absurd; illusionary
ant: practical
masochist
n- one who enjoys his or her own pain and suffering
finesse
n- diplomacy; tact; artful management
syn: skill; cunning
ant: tactlessness
heterogeneous
adj- different; dissimilar
syn: diverse; varied
ant: homogenous; similar
eclectic
adj- choosing from various sources
syn: selective
ant: narrow
grandiose
adj- impressive; showy; magnificent
syn: stately; imposing
ant: humble
raiment
n- clothing; garments
blanch
v- to whiten; to make pale
hybrid
n- anything of mixed origin
idiosyncrasy
n- a peculiar personality trait
syn: eccentricity; quirk
idolatry
n- excessive or blind adoration; worship of an object
adulterate
v- to make impure; to contaminate
syn: taint; corrupt
ant: refine; refined
emanate
v- to come forth; to send forth
syn: rise; emerge
garish
adj- tastelessly gaudy
syn: showy; glaring; flashy
ant: sedate; conservative
immutable
adj- unchangeable; fixed
syn: enduring
ant: flexible; changeable
diadem
n- a crown
bucolic
adj- pertaining to the countryside; rural; rustic
syn: pastoral
ant: urban
redolent
adj- having a pleasant odor; suggestive or evocative
syn: aromatic
ant: acrid
impecunious
adj- without money; penniless
syn: destitute; indigent
ant: affluent; prosperous
sedition
n- rebellion or resistance against the government
syn: treachery; disloyalty
defile
v- to pollute; to corrupt
gratuitous
adj- unnecessary or uncalled for
onus
n- a burden; a responsibility
syn: obligation
impious
adj- disrespectful toward God
syn: irreligious; profane
ant: devout; pious
caveat
n- a warning
syn: admonition; caution
elixir
n- a supposed remedy for all ailments
syn: medicine; panacea
desiccated
adj- dried up
cessation
n- a stopping; a discontinuance
syn: ceasing; end
ant: beginning; commencement
juxtapose
v- to place side by side for comparison
syn: measure; examine
kinetic
adj- pertaining to motion
garrulous
adj- talkative
syn: loquacious; verbose
ant: taciturn
fetish
n- an object that recieves respect or devotion
syn: charm; talisman
scintillate
v- to sparkle; to twinkle; to sparkle intellectually
lachrymose
adj- tearful; weepy
fissure
n- an opening; a groove; a split
epitome
n- a typical example
syn: embodiment; archetype
languid
adj- sluggish; drooping from weakness
syn: listless; feeble; drooping
ant: robust; vigorous
delineate
v- to describe, to depict
legerdemain
n- sleight of hand; deception
libertine
n- one who leads an immoral life
syn: hedonist; glutton; epicurean
halcyon
adj- calm; pleasant
syn: tranquil; unruffled
ant: troubled; tumultuous
fastidious
adj- hard to please; fussy
syn: meticulous; exacting
ant: casual; lax
badinage
n- playful, teasing talk
syn: chaff; joshing
malapropism
n- a word humorously misused
garner
v- to gather; to acquire
syn: harvest
kismet
n- a destiny; fate; fortune (one's lot in life)
hegira
n- flight; escape
paradigm
n- a model; an example
debauchery
n- corruption; self-indulgence
syn: excess; dissipation
milieu
n- enviroment; setting
regress
v- to move backward
bilious
adj- bad tempered; cross
syn: grouchy; cantankerous
ant: pleasant
necromancy
n- magic, especially that practiced by a witch
syn: black magic; conjuring
gumption
n- courage and initiative; common sense
syn: enterprise; aggressiveness; drive
blandishment
n- flattery
syn: overpraise; bootlicking
nirvana
n- a condition of great peace or happiness
salutary
adj- healthful; wholesome
syn: beneficial
ant: pernicious
despicable
adj- contemptible; hateful
syn: vile; base
ant: laudable; worthy
harlequin
n- a clown
empathy
n- an understanding of another's feelings
syn: appreciation; compassion
brevity
n- briefness; short duration
syn: terseness; conciseness
ant: lengthiness
savant
n- a person of extensive learning; an imminent scholar
obsequious
adj- excessively submissive or overly attentive
syn: servile; fawning
ant: domineering; haughty
redundant
adj- repetitious; using more words than needed
syn: wordy; excessive; unnecessary
ant: essential
offal
n- garbage; waste parts
hoi polloi
n- the common people; the masses
sentient
adj- conscious; capable of feeling or perceiving
syn: allert; alive; cognizant
impinge
v- to encroach; to trespass
syn: infringe; intrude
cataract
n- a large waterfall
animosity
n- hatred
syn: ill-will; hostility
ant: friendliness; congeniality
bombast
n- impressive but meaningless language
orthography
n- correct spelling
paleontology
n- a science dealing with prehistoric life through the study of fossils
recoil
v- to retreat; to draw back
panache
n- self-confidence; a showy manner
syn: charisma; spirit
saturnine
adj- gloomy; sluggish
syn: sullen; morose
ant: genial
endemic
adj- confined to a particular country or area
syn: native; indigenous
ant: alien; foreign
mendacious
adj- lying; false; deceitful
syn: duplicitous
ant: truthful
obviate
v- to prevent; to get around
syn: circumvent
paroxysm
n- a sudden outburst; a fit
syn: outburst; commotion
aggrandize
v- 1. to increase the range of; to expand 2. to make appear larger
(1) syn: englarge; augment; enrich
(1) ant: decrease; diminish
(2) syn: exaggerate; embellish
(2) ant: belittle; devalue
deign
v- to lower oneself before an inferior
syn: stoop; condescend
flaunt
v- to show off
syn: boast; exhibit
ant: conceal
shibboleth
n- a word pronunciation that distinguishes someone as of a particular group
elicit
v- to draw forth; to call forth
syn: evoke; extract
ant: cover; suppress