Abate
become less intense or widespread
Aberrant
departing from an accepted standard
Abettor
encourage or assist to do something wrong, aid, help, encourage
Abhorrent
inspiring disgust and loathing
Abjure
solemnly renounce
Abreast
side by side and facing the same way, level; abreast of = to stay current with
Abstruse
difficult to understand, obscure
Accolade
award or privilege granted as special honor or merit
Accord
give or grant someone
accrue
be received by someone in regular or increasing amounts over time
Acculturation
assimilate or cause to a different culture, typically the dominant one
Acerbic
sharp/sarcastic/cutting/searing/hurtful
Acquisitiveness
excessive interest in acquiring money or material things
Acrimony
bitterness or ill feeling, resentment, harsh, full of malice
Actuarial
relating to the work of compiling and analyzing stats to calculate insurance risk and premiums
Acumen
ability to make good judgments/quick decisions in a particular domain
Adherent
devoted follower or admirer
Adroit
clever or skillful in using the hands or mind
Adulator
praise someone excessively or obsequiously
Advent
arrival of a notable thing
Adverse
harmful as it prevents success
Affability
quality of being affable, geniality
Affectless
showing lack of emotion or sympathy
Agglomerate
collect or form into a mass or group (things not people)
Aggrieve
to make resentful
Aghast
horrified
Akimbo
in a hands on hips stance
Alacrity
brisk and cheerful readiness
Albatross
metaphor for ongoing problem
Allegorical
symbolic or metaphorical
Amalgam
mixture of multiple things
Amalgamate
to combine
Ambiguous
open to more than one interpretation
Ambivalent
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something
Ameliorate
make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
Amiable
having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner
Amicability
spirit of friendliness
Amorality
immoral
Amorphous
shapeless
Amortize
reducing a debt
An insurance against
to guarantee
Anachronistically
out of time
Anarchy
state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority
Anathema
something that is cursed or loathed
anemic
suffering from anemia, colorless, weak or lacking vitality
Annotate
add notes to, giving explanation or comment
Anodyne
not likely to provoke dissent or offence, neutral, painkiller
Anomalous
deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected
Antecedent
thing or event that existed before or precedes another, precursor
Antedate
precede in time, come before something in date
Antediluvian
outdated
Antipathy
pure hatred
Antiquate
to cause something to become out of date or old
Antithetical
directly opposed or contrasted, mutually incompatible
Anything but
opposite of the word, any description besides the word used after
Aphorism
short statement containing some general truth
Aplomb
self-confidence/assurance, when in a demanding situation
Apocryphal
of doubtful authenticity although widely circulated as being true
Apotheosis
highest point in the development of something, culmination, climax, conclusion
Appellation
name or title
Apportion
divide and allocate
Approbation
approval or praise
Appropriate
suitable or proper in the circumstances, take something for one's own use typically without permission
Aquiline
like an eagle, regal
Arbitrary
based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason, capricious
arcadian
positive view of rural life
Arcane
understood by few
Archaically
very old or old-fashioned, used to be
arduous
overly difficult or unpleasant
Arid
dry
Artful
deceptive
Artifice
clever or cunning devices used to trick or deceive others
Artisan
worker in a skilled trade
Artless
without guile or deception, without pretention
Ascertain
find (something) out for certain; make sure of
Ascetic
austere (severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance)
Asceticism
severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence
Askance
with a look of disapproval
Asperity
harshness of tone or manner, emotion or weatherwise
Assent
agreement
Assiduous
showing great care and perseverance, meticulous
Assuage
make less intense, relieve, ease, make unpleasant feeling less intense
asylum
protection granted by nation to someone who has left native country as refugee (place of refuge, good)
Aurora
lights in the sky
Auspicious
conducive to success, favorable, shrewd
Austerity measures
cost-saving measures
Authoritative
able to be trusted as being accurate or true, reliable, respected and obeyed
auxiliary
secondary, on the side
Avant-garde
developing new or experimental artistic concepts
Avarice
noun, extreme greed for wealth/material gain
Avaricious
having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Aver
state or assert to be the case
Bald
plain or blunt, not having extra detail or explanation
Balkanized
divide into smaller mutually hostile states or groups
Banal
lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
Baneful
a cause of great distress or annoyance, harmful
Baseless
without basis in fact, false
baying
bark or howl loudly
Bedazzle
greatly impress with brilliance or skill, awe
Beguile
charm or enchant someone, deceived
belies
fail to give a true notion or impression, disguise or contradict
Belletristic
pompous
Bemused
puzzle, confuse, or bewilder
Berserk
out of control with anger or excitement, wild or frenzied
Beseech
ask urgently and fervently to do something, implore, pleading
Besmirch
damage the reputation of in the opinion of others, tarnish
Besotted
strongly infatuated
Bipartisan
both sides agree
Blandishment
flattering/pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone to do something (dishonest/coaxing)
Blithe
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be improper, indifferent, untroubled
Bolster
- pillow
Bombastic
pompous and verbose
Bon mot
wisecrack, one-liner
Boon
thing that is helpful or beneficial
Boon
helpful/beneficial
Boondoggle
work or activity wasteful or pointless
Boorish
ill mannered
botched
carry out badly or carelessly, mishandle
Braggart
boaster
Brazen
bold and without shame, openly ignore or disobey
Brook
tolerate or allow
Brusque
abrupt or offhand in speech or manner, short
Bucolic
of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
Burgeon
begin to grow or increase rapidly
Buttress
metaphorical meaning of to support
Byzantine
complicated
Cajole
persuade
Calcify
harden by deposition
callous
uncaring
Callow
inexperienced and immature
Calumnies
making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someones reputation
Calumny
false statement meant to injure a persons reputation
Candor
honest and direct communication
Canny
having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or business matters
Canon
general law, rule, or principle by which something is judged
Cantankerous
bad-tempered, argumentative, uncooperative
Caprice
capricious, sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior
Castigated
reprimand severely
Catalyst
creates change
Catharsis
process of releasing and providing relief from strong or repressed emotions
Caustic
able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action, corrosive, abrasive, critical or sarcastic
Censure
to express strong disapproval
Cerebral
of the cerebrum of the brain
Chagrin
mental distress or unease
Chary
suspicious, slightly scared
Chide
scold or rebuke
Circumscribe
to enclose or encircle
Circumspect
wary and unwilling to take risks
Clangorous
loud banging or ringing sound
Cleave
stick
Coalescence
come together to form one mass or whole
Coda
concluding passage of a piece or movement, forming an addition to the basic structure
Cogent
of an argument/case, clear/logical/convincing
Collude
to cooperate for illegal or fraudulent purposes
Coltish
playful
Comestible
edible
Commensurate
corresponding in size or degree, in proportion, corresponding
Commiserate
express or feel sympathy or pity, sympathize
Co-morbidity
multiple diseases present simultaneously
Compatriot
fellow citizen or national of a country, fellow man
Complacence
self-satisfaction
Complementary
combines to enhance or emphasize qualities of each other or another
Complicit
involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing
Complimentary
admiring or free of charge
Compound
add on, make worse
Concede
admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it
Conceit
excessive pride in oneself
Concessionary
created or executed as a compromise of goodwill gesture esp in negotiating
Conciliatory
anti-war, intended to pacify
Concomitant
naturally accompanying or associated
Condone
accept and allow behavior that is considered wrong to continue
Confluence
the meeting, convergence, junction of rivers
Confounding
surprising
Congeal
solidify or coagulate, took shape or coalesce
congenial
pleasant because of personality, qualities, or interests similar to ones own, agreeable
Congruent
similar or in agreement
Conjectural
hypothetical, speculative
Consanguineous
of the same blood, related
Consecration
action of making or declaring something sacred
Considerable
notably large in size, amount, or extent. Of a person = having merit or distinction
Consigned
deliver to a persons custody, assign, allocate, place,
Conspicuous
standing out so as to be clearly visible
Conspire
make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act, plot, scheme
Contemporary
someone who lived at same time
Contention
heated disagreement
Contraband
illegal goods
Contraindication
specific situations in which a procedure should not be performed
Contravene
violate the prohibition or order of
Contrite
feeling or expressing remorse or penitence
Contrive
create or bring about by deliberate use of skill and artiface, unrealistic or artificially created
Conundrum
difficult question
Conversance
familiar with or knowledgeable about something
Convivial
warm and good humored
Convolute
of an argument/story/sentence, complex and difficult to follow
Cornerstone
what the whole society is built upon
Corroborate
confirm or give support to
Cosmopolitan
familiar with and at ease in many different countries and culture, wordly
Counterfactual
relating to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case
Counterpoint
an idea used to create a contrast with the main element, use of contrast in art
Coup
a successful move
Credence
belief in or acceptance of something as true
Credulity
too ready to believe that something is real/true
Culpable
deserving blame, guilty, at fault
culprit
person who is responsible for crime or misdeed
Cultivar
cultivated plants
Cumbersome
complicated, hard to handle
Curbed
restrain, keep in check
Cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
Curt
rudely brief
Curtail
reduce in extent or quantity, impose a restriction on, cut down, prevent
Dally
act or move slowly, delay
Dauntless
showing fearlessness and determination
Dear
regarded with deep affection, cherished, at a high cost, expensive
Dearth
scarcity
Debacle
sudden failure, a fiasco, disaster
Debased
lacking in morals
decamped
depart suddenly or secretly, relocate
Decry
publicly denounce
Defeasible
open in principle to revision, valid objection
Defer
put off to a later time, postpone
Deference
humble submission and respect
Deferential
showing respect
Deft
neatly skillful and quick in ones movements
Deification
worship, regard or treat something as a god
Dejected
sad and depressed, dispirited
Deleterious
causing harm or damage
deleterious
causing harm or damage
Delineate
describe or portray precisely
Demagogic
political leader who seeks support appealing to popular desires and prejudices, not rational arg, intended to arouse strong negative sentiments
Demarcate
set the boundaries of
Demean
belittle or disdainful
Demur
to object or show reluctance
Denigrate
criticize unfairly
Deplorable
surprisingly bad
Depose
remove from office suddenly and forcefully (for kings/dictators)
Depreciate
decrease in value
Deride = express contempt for, ridicule/mock
...
Derivative
imitative of the work of another person, based on another source
Desiccate
dried out
Desolate
deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness
Desultory
lacks a plan, unfocused
Detractor
person who disparages someone or something, critic
devolve- transfer or delegate power to a lower level
...
Dialectical
relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions
Diatribe
forceful and bitter verbal attack against something
Didactic
intended to teach, with moral instruction. Patronize by a teacher.
Diffidence
modesty/shyness from lack of confidence
Dilettante
person who cultivates an area of interest without real commitment or knowledge
dire
dreadful or grim
Disaffection
state or feeling of being dissatisfied with the people in authority and no longer willing to support them, discontent
Discern
perceive or recognize something, having good judgment
Discrepant
lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts, difference, variance
Disingenuous
not candid or sincere, pretending one knows less about something than one really does
Disinterest
the state of not being influenced by personal involvement in something, impartiality
Dismay
upsetting
Disparage
belittle
Disparate
essentially different in kind, not allowing comparison
Disparity
great difference
Dispassionate
unemotional/rational/impartial
Disquiet
feeling of anxiety or worry, disturb
Dissemble
conceal ones true motives, feelings, or beliefs, feign
Disseminate
spread or disperse widely
dissent
hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously or commonly expressed
Dissipation
debauchery, squandering of money energy or resources
Dissolute
lax in morals or licentious (promiscuous)
Dissolution
ending something
Dissonance
lack of harmony
Distention
swollen due to pressure from inside, bloated (only physical)
Distinguish
recognize or treat as different, differentiate, tell apart
Doctrinaire
beliefs held and taught by church, political party/group
Dogmatic
inclined to lay down principles as true
Domestic
when applied to places means regarding an entire country (within the country not international)
Draconian
excessively harsh and severe
Dulcet
sweet and soothing
Dynamism
the quality of being characterized by vigorous activity and progress
Earnest
resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction
Ebullient
cheerful and exuberent
Eccentric
unconventional/slightly strange/ abnormal
Eclectic
drawing from multiple sources
effete
weak or ineffectual
Efficacy
ability to produce a desired or intended result, effectiveness
Efflorescence
lose moisture and turn to a fine powder, reach optimum stage of development, blossom
Effusive
expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in a heartfelt manner
Egregious
outstandingly bad, shocking
Elegy
poem of serious reflection, lament for the dead
Elementary
of or relating to the most rudimentary aspects of a subject
Eloquent
fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing, articulative, expressive
Embolden
give courage or confidence
Eminence
fame/recognized superiority within a sphere/profession
Encumbrance
burden or impediment
Enervating
causing one to feel drained of energy or vitality
Engender
cause or give rise to, created or produced
Enigmatic
difficult to interpret or understand
Enrapture
give intense pleasure or joy to, delight, captivate
Entreaty
- request
Enumerate
mention one by one
ephemeral
lasting for a very short time
Epicurean
disciple or student of philosophy, related to fine food and wine
Epitomize
be the example of
Equanimity
calmness
Equitable
fair and impartial
Equivocal
open to more than one interpretation
Ergonomic
relating to or designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment
erode
gradually wear away
erratic
not even or regular in pattern or movement, unpredictable
Erroneously
in a mistaken way, incorrectly
Erstwhile
former, past
Erudition, erudite
the quality of having great knowledge or learning, learned, scholarly
Eschew
deliberately avoid using, abstain from
Euphony
pleasant sound, synonym of harmony
Evanescent
soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence, quickly fading
Evenhanded
fair and impartial in treatment or judgment
Exacting
demand and obtain from someone, on ones skill/resources
Excoriation
censure or criticize severely
Exculpate
show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing
Exegetic
explanatory or interpretive
Exorbitant
unreasonably high
Expatiation
speak or write at length or in detail
Explicate
analyze and develop in detail, explain
expurgate
remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable, censor
Extant
still in existence, surviving
Extemporaneous
spoken or done without preparation
Extirpate
root out and destroy completely
Extrapolate
extend the application of conclusion to unknown situation, extend by assuming that existing trends will continue
Facetious
treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor
Facile
appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue, superficial, simplistic
Facilitate
make easy or easier
Fallacious
based on a mistaken belief, false
Fallacy
mistaken belief
Fanciful
over imaginative or unrealistic
Farce
slapstick comedy, buffoonery, mockery
Farcical
laughable
Fascist
despotic (tyrannical)
Fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail
Fatuous
silly and pointless
Fealty
loyalty
Fecklessness
lacking initiative or strength of character, irresponsible
Fecund
fertile
fester
become septic, infect, not improve and likely get worse over time (can only be applied to negative things not positive like trust)
Fetid
foul smelling
Fetter
chain or manacle used to restrain
Fidelity
faithfulness to a person
Fiduciary
relating to trust esp with financial matter
Figurehead
nominal leader or head without real power
Flabbergast
surprise greatly
Flagging
mark for attention or treatment in a specified way, label, tired
Flagrancy
obviously offensive
Flailing
swinging widly
Fledgling
novice
Florid
red or flushed complexion, elaborately or excessively intricate/complicated
Flout
openly disregard a rule or law, defy
Flummox
perplex greatly
Foibles
minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character, flaw
For all
despite
Forebears
ancestors
Fortuitous
happening by accident/chance, lucky, fortunate
Forwent
omit or decline to take
Frank
direct and sincere in speech
Frugality
sparing or economical with regard to money/food, costing little, simple
Fulmination
strong criticism/protest
Furnish
provide or to be the source of
futile
incapable of producing any useful result, pointless
Gaffe
a mistake
Gainsay
deny or contradict
Galvanize
shock or excite into action
Gambit
an opening in which player makes a sacrifice for some compensating advantage in chess, or a tactic or calculated move
Garland
wreath of flowers and leaves hung as decoration, honorable prize or distinction
Garrulous
excessively talkative especially on trivial matters
Gauche
unsophisticated or socially awkward, showing off in a vulgar way
Genesis
beginning
Genial
friendly and cheerful
Genteel
polite, refined, or respectable
Genuflect
lower one's body by bending to one knee, as a sign of respect/worship
Germane
relevant to subject under consideration
Go between for
negotiator
Grandiloquent
pretentious
Grave
important or harmful
Gregarious
to be likely to socialize with others
Grief
deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone's death, harmful
Grizzled
having gray hair
Guileless
innocent
Hackneyed
lacking significance through having been overused, unoriginal and trite
halcyon
idyllically happy and peaceful
Hale
strong and healthy
Hallowed
to make holy or greatly revered
Hamstring/hobble
to cripple the legs of an animal, to prevent from being able to take off, to hinder
Harbinger
a person or thing that announces/signals the approach of another
Hardline
uncompromising adherence to a firm policy
Hardy
strong/resilient
Hector
talk to someone in a bullying way
Hedonism
pursuit of pleasure, sensual self-indulgence
Heed
follow
Hegemony
dominance of one group over the other
Helmsmanship
person who steers a ship
Herald
an official messenger bringing news, person or thing viewed as a sign something is about to happen
Hermetic
airtight
Heterodox
not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs
Heuristic
enabling a person to discover or learn for themselves
Hidebound
unable to change due to convention, unwilling to let go of the past
High-handed
overbearing
Hinging on
dependent on
hinterland
often uncharted area, backwater or undesirable place
Hirsute
hairy
Histrionic
overly theatrical, exaggerated
Homily
religious discourse that intended for spiritual edification, sermon, lecture
Hortatory
tending or aiming to exhort(strongly encourage or urge someone to do something), urge, encourage
Humble
lower in dignity or importance
Husband
conserve goods
Hyperbolic
exaggerated/unreasonable of a claim
Hysterical
deriving from or affected by uncontrolled extreme emotion
Iconoclasm
action of attacking or assertively rejecting cherished beliefs/established values and practices
Iconoclastic
characterized by attack on cherished beliefs or inst
Idiosyncratic
peculiar or individual, distinctive, characteristic
Ignominious
deserving or causing public disgrace or shame, embarrassing
Illiberal
restricting freedom of thought/behavior, not generous
Illicit
illegal
Imbue
inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality
Immaterial
unimportant
Immoderate
exceeding reasonable limits
Immolate
to burn as a sacrifice
Immutable
unchanging over time or unable to be changed, fixed
Impecunious
having little or no money, poor, impoverished
Imperious
domineering
Impertinent
being disrespectful, improperly forward or bold
Impervious
not allowing to pass through
Impetus
force or energy with which a body moves, momentum, propulsion
Impious
not showing respect or reverence, wicked
Implacability
unforgiving, unbending, not able to be appeased
Implicit
not plainly expressed, hinted at, suggested, unspoken
Importunate
persistent
Improvident
not providing for the future
Impudent
disrespectful
Impugn
dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of a statement, call into question
Inadvertent
not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning, unintentional, accidently
Incendiary
bomb or person who stirs up conflict
Incensed
very angry, enraged
Inchoate
not fully developed, partially in existence
Incipient
in an initial stage, beginning to happen
Incommensurate
out of proportion to, inappropriate
Incongruous
not in harmony or keeping with other aspects of something/ out of place/unsuitable
Incontrovertible
not able to be denied or disputed, issues totally accepted by both parties
Incorrigible
unable to be corrected
Incumbent
necessary for as a duty or responsibility, the holder of an office or post
Indemnify
compensate someone for harm or loss, free someone of responsibility for a wrongdoing
Indeterminable
not able to be ascertained or identified, undefined,
Indictment
charge of wrongdoing
Indolence
avoidance of activity or exertion, lazy
Industrious
diligent and hard-working
Inexorable
impossible to stop or prevent
Infinitesimal
very small
Infirmity
weakness, frailty
Ingenuous
innocent and unsuspecting, trusting, without pretention
Inhibit
hinder, restrain, or prevent
Inhospitable
harsh and difficult to live in
Inimical
harmful or hostile
Inkling
slight knowledge or suspicion, hint
Innocuous
harmless
Inscrutable
unable to understand
Insensibly
without ones mental faculties, unconscious, unaware or incapable of perception
Insidious
harmful effects in a gradual, subtle way
Insipid
lacking flavor, bland, uninteresting
Insolent
showing rude or arrogant lack of respect, openly ignore or disobey
Insolvent
unable to pay debts owed
Insouciance
carelessness or indifference
institutionalize
establish something as a convention or norm in an org or culture
Integrate
combine two things so they become whole
Intelligible
able to be understood, comprehensible
Inter
place in a grave or tomb
Interlocutors
go betweens
Interpolate
insert into something else of a different nature, estimate intermediate point between two known, insert new words into a text
Intransigence
refusal to change one's views or to agree about something
Intrepidity
fearless, adventurous
Inundate
to overwhelm
Inure
accustom to something, especially unpleasant
Inveigle
to flatter or charm someone into doing something
Investiture
act of conferring rank on a person
Irascible
easily angered
Ironclad
rigid or fixed
Irradiate
expose to radiation, illuminate
Irreconcilable
incompatible or conflicting
Irredeemable
unable to be saved or helped
Irresolute
showing uncertainty
Isolationism
policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups especially of other countries
Jaundice
yellow in complexion, bitter or envious
Joviality
cheerful and friendly
Jurisprudent
theory or philosophy of law
Juxtaposition
the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
Keen
sharply discerning
Kindred
similar in kind, related
Labile
unstable or moody
Lachrymose
tearful or given to weeping
Lackadaisical-
lacking enthusiasm and determination, carelessly lazy
Lackey
doing something for someone else, submissive
Laconic
using very few words
Languid
displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort, slow and relaxed
Lascivious
feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire
Lassitude
state of physical or mental weariness, lack of energy, tired
Laudable
deserving praise and commendation
layperson
nonordained member of the church
Leery
cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions
licentious
promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters
Lionize
give a lot of public attention and approval to someone, treat as a celebrity
Lissome, lithe
thin, supple, and graceful
Listlessly
lacking energy or enthusiasm (opp of active)
Loath
reluctant, unwilling
Lobby
seek to influence on an issue, persuade
Loquacious
talkative
Lubricious
offensively displaying or intended to arouse sexual desire
Lucid
clarity of expression, intelligibility, clear understandable
Luminary
prominent or inspiring person
Lurk
be or remain hidden as to wait in ambush, loiter
Macabre
disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury, gruesome
Magnanimity
generosity
Maladroitness
ineffective or clumsy
Malevolent
malicious, wish to do evil
Malign
evil in nature or effect, malevolent; speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner
Maligned
speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner
Manumit
freeing a slave
marginal
of relating to or situated at the edge or margin of something
Marginalize
treat as insignificant or peripheral
Martial
of or appropriate to war
Masquerade
pretend to be someone or be disguised
Maudlin
self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness
Maxim
short statement containing some general truth
M�lange
mixture
Mellifluous
sweet sounding
Melodramatic
overly theatrical, exaggerated
Mendaciously
lying, dishonest
Mercenary
paid for efforts
Mercurial
subject to sudden changes of mood or mind
Messianic
fervent or passionate
Metastasize
spread to other sites in the body
Meticulous
great attention to detail, careful/precise
Milieu
persons social environment/background
Mimetic
copying
Mire
stretch of swampy or boggy ground, cause to become stuck in mud
Mirthful
full of joy
Misanthropy
dislike of humankind
Misnomer
wrong or inaccurate name or designation
Mitigated
make less severe/serious/painful
Modicum
small amount
Modishness
conforming to or following what is currently popular or fashionable
Mollify
to soothe or pacify
Monastic
of relating to monks or others living under religious vows
Monolithic
formed of a single large block of stone, intractably indivisible and uniform, large and indivisible
Monologic
giving long speech by one actor in a play
Moral turpitude
immoral
Mordant
having or showing sharp or critical quality, discerning
Mores
essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community
Moribund
at the point of death
Morose
sullen, ill-tempered
myopic
nearsighted, shortsighted
Myriad
countless or extremely great number
Nadir
lowest point in the fortunes of a person or org
Nascent
just coming into existence, showing signs of future potential
Nebulous
in the form of a cloud or haze
Nettle
irritate or annoy someone
Nonplussed
unperturbed (not concerned, untroubled) surprised/confused so much that they are unsure how to react
Notoriety
state of being famous/well known for a bad quality/deed
Notwithstanding
in spite of, despite
Novelty
quality of being new, original, or unusual
noxious
harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant
obduracy
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action
Objective
not influenced by personal feelings or opinions
Obloquies
strong public criticism or verbal abuse
Obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
obstinate
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action despite attempts at persuasion, stubborn, unyielding, inflexible
Obtrusive
noticeable or prominent in an unwelcome way
Obtuse
unintelligent or ignorant, slow witted
Obviate
remove a need or difficulty, avoid
Ominous
giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen
Onerous
overly difficult or unpleasant
Opprobrium
strong criticism/protest
Opulent
ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish
Outmode
old-fashioned, out of date
Pacific
peaceful in character or intent
Paean
song of praise or triumph
Painstaking
done with great care
Palliate
make less sever or unpleasant without removing the cause
Pallid
pale, typically of poor health
Panache
flamboyance or flair
pandered
gratify or indulge anothers desires
Panned
criticize severely
Pantheon
all of the gods in a particular religion
Parable
simple story used to illustrate a moral lesson
paradigm
typical example or pattern of something, model
Paragon
person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality
Parlous
full of danger or uncertainty, precarious
parochial
of or relating to church, somewhat negative view of rural life
Parsimonious
extremely frugal, miserly
Parsimoniousness
frugality to the point of stinginess
Parsimony
extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resurces
Part and parcel
an essential piece of something
Partisan
prejudiced in favor of a particular cause, or a strong supporter of a party
Patent
easily recognizable, obvious
Pathologize
to view something as unhealthy
Patrician
aristocrat or nobleman
Paucity
presence of something in small quantities
Pawn
an object left as security for money lent
Peccadilloes
small, relatively unimportant offense or sin
Pedantry
arrogant in relation to learning
Pedestrian
lacking inspiration or excitement, dull
Penchant
a strong habitual liking for something or tendency to do something
Penitential
remorseful or apologetic
Perennially
in a way that continues for a long or apparently infinite time, permanently
Perfunctory
carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection
peripheral
situated at the edge or periphery of something, outlying, surrounding
Perniciousness
having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
Perpetuated
make continue indefinitely, keep going, preserve
Perpetuity
thing that lasts forever or for an indefinite period
Perseverating
continuation of something to an exceptional degree
perspicacious
perceptive
Perspicacity
quality of having a ready insight into things/ shrewdness (sharp powers of judgment/sharp-witted/clever/perceptive)
Perturb
make someone anxious or unsettled
Pervade
spreads through
Pervasive
spreading widely throughout an area or group of people (of an unwelcome influence)
Petty
of second or little importance
Philander
readily enter into casual sexual relationships with women, affairs
Phlegmatic
having an unemotional and calm disposition
Piddling
trivial, trifling, of little importance
Piecemeal
characterized by unsystematic partial measures taken over a period of time
Pillory
attack or ridicule publicly
Pious
devoutly religious
Piques
stimulate, pride oneself, irritated or resentful
Pith
the essence of something, gist
Pithy
concise
Placid
calm or soothing
Plastic
easily shaped or molded
Plaudit
praise
Plebian
commoner
Pliant
pliable
Plodding
boring, put others to sleep
Plucky
having determined courage in the face of difficulties
Plum
highly desirable attainment
Poignant
touching in a sad way
Polemic
strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
Polemical
strongly critical, controversial, scathing writing/speech
Politic
sensible
Pontificate
officiate as a bishop, express one's opinion in a way considered annoyingly pompous, preach
Populist
member of pary claiming to represent interest of common people
Posit
claim, say
Posthumous
after death
Pragmatic
practical
Precarious
dependent on chance/uncertain/not securely held
Preclude
prevent from happening, make impossible, rule out
Precocious
having developed certain abilities at an earlier age than usual, advanced for one's age, mature
premonitory
strong feeling that something is about to happen esp unpleasant, apprehension, anxiety
Preordain
decide or determine an outcome in advance
Presage
be a sign or warning that something will happen bad typically, omen
Prescient
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place
Pretension
a claim or assertion of a claim to something,
Preternatural
what is beyond normal or natural. Mysterious/exceptional
Priggish
self-righteously moralistic and superior
Probity
integrity, honesty
Probity
the quality of having strong moral principles
Proclivity
tendency to choose or do something regularly, inclination toward
Procure
obtain with care or effort
Prodigal
extravagant, abundant
Prodigality
spending money without care
Profligate
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in resources
Profundity
deep insight, great depth of knowledge or thought
Profuse
exuberantly plentiful, abundant
Prognostication
action of foretelling future events
Prognosticator
someone who predicts the future
Prolific
producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring, abundant
Prolix
using or containing too many words, tediously lengthy
Prologue
separate introductory section of a literary or musical work, introduction
Promote
further the progress of, actively encourage, try to sell
Promulgate
spread, communicate, or publicize
Promulgate
promote or make widely known
Proportional
corresponding in size or amount to something else, comparable
propriety
proper behavior
Prosaic
lacking poetic beauty, ordinary, everyday, conventional
Proscribe
forbid esp by the law
Protean
tending or able to change frequently or easily
Providential
occurring at a favorable time, opportune
provincial
small-town, of or concerning a province of a country or empire
Prudent
acting with or showing care and thought for the future
Prurient
having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters
Puckish
playful in a mischievous way
Pulchritude
beauty
Punctiliousness
showing great attention to detail or correct behavior
Puritanical
practicing strict religious behavior
purport
appear or claim to be or do something especially false
Putative
generally thought to be
Qualify
to make less severe
quandary
state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation
Quixotic
impractical
Quotidian
of or occurring every day, daily
Rancorous
characterized by bitterness or resentment, malevolent
ratify
sign or give formal consent to, make valid
Raucous
loud or harsh
Reactionary
opposed to political or social reform
Recant
say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, renounce
Recapitulate
to summarize, recap
Reciprocal with
an equal exchange with
Reconcile
restore friendly relations between
Recrimination
accusation
Redact
edit for publication
redress
corrects or rights a wrong
refuge
condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble
Refute
discredit
Refute
contradiction, reverse = opposition
regressive
backwards, old-fashioned
Rejoinder
reply, especially sharp or witty
Relish
great enjoyment
Remedial
intended to fix or cure
Renege
go back on a promise
Repertory
performance of various plays by a company at short intervals (collection of info or exs)
Requisite
made necessary by particular circumstances or regulations
Requite
reciprocate
Resign
accept that something undesirable cannot be avoided,
Resolute
admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering
Resolve
firm determination or decision
Retrospective
looking back on or dealing with past events or situations
revered
feel deep respect or admiration for something
Rhapsody
an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling
Rhetoric
the art of effective/persuasive speaking or writing, use of figures of speech and other techniques
risqu�
slightly indecent or liable to shock, sexually suggestive
Robust
strong and healthy, vigorous
Roundly
so thoroughly as to leave no doubt
Rout
disorderly retreat of defeated troops
Rudder
part of a ship related to steering
rustic
relating to the countryside, rural
Ruthless- having or showing no pity or compassion for others
...
Saccharine
excessively sweet or sentimental
Sagacious
having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment, wise, astute
Salubrious
healthy
Salutary
producing good effects, beneficial (with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant)
Sanction
officially approved of
Sangfroid
composure or coolness, sometimes excessive
Sanguine
optimistic or positive in a bad situation
Sartorial
of or relating to tailoring clothes or style of dress
Satirical
making fun of a previous work of art, situation, etc
Saturate
soaked, drenched
Scandalous
causing general public outrage by a perceived offense against morality or law
Scanty
small or insufficient in quantity or amount
Scintillate
emit flashes of light, sparkle, clever or amusing
Scrupulous
diligent, thorough, attentive to details, honest
Scrutinize
closely observe
Scuffle- a short confused fight or struggle in close quarters
...
Sea change
profound transformation
Seditious
inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority
Sedulous
showing dedication and diligence
seethe
bubble up as a result of being boiled, very angry
Self-abasement
belittling or humiliation of oneself
Selfless
concerned more with the needs of others than with ones own
Semiotic
related to signs or symbols
Serendipitous
occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way, lucky, fortuitous
Serendipity
happy occurrence
Shrewd
having or showing sharp powers of judgment, sharp-witted, intelligent, canny
Similes
figure of speech involving comparison
Simpatico
likable and easy to get along with
Simulacrum
image or representation of someone or something, imitation
Sinecure
position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit
Singular
exceptionally good or great, remarkable
Sinuous
having many curves and turns
Skittish
excitable or easily scared
Skulk
keep out of sight with a cowardly motive
Smitten with
be strongly attracted to something
Snub
rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully
Sobriquet
persons nickname
Solace
comfort in sorrow
Solicitous
concerned or attentive
Solicitousness
hovering attentiveness
Solvent
having assets in excess of liabilities, able to pay ones debts, financially sound, profitable
somber
dark or dull in color or tone, gloomy
Sophistry
use of fallacious arguments esp with the intention of deceiving
spartan
showing the indifference to comfort of luxury, grim
Specious
superficially plausible but actually wrong
Specter
ghost, presence, something widely feared as a dangerous occurrence
Spurious
not being what it purports to be, false or fake
squalid
extremely dirty and unpleasant
Stanched- stop or restrict
...
Stanchion
upright bar or post
Staunch
loyal and committed in attitude, devoted
Steadfast
resolute or not wavering
Steward
supervise arrangement or keep order at, conserve
Stipulate
demand or specify typically as a part of a bargain or agreement
Stolid
calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation
Stopgap
temporary way of dealing with a problem or satisfying a need
Stout
somewhat fat or of heavy build, wide
Stridency
loud and harsh, grating
Subsequent
coming after something in time, following
Subservient
prepared to obey others unquestioningly, submissive
Subterfuge
clever deception
Subvert
undermine
Superfluous
unnecessary
Supplicate
ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly
Surly
bad-tempered and unfriendly
Surplus
excess
Sycophant
person who acts obsequiously (obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree) toward someone important in order to gain advantage, brown-noser
Syncopate
shorten a word or displacement of beats in music
Synoptic
of or forming a general summary or synopsis
Synthesize
make something, synthesis (combination or composition)
Tacit
understood or implied without being stated
Taciturnity
reserved or uncommunicative in speech
Tantamount
equivalent in seriousness to, virtually the same as
Tarry
stay longer than intended, delay leaving a place
Teeming with
full of
Tempered
serve as a neutralizing or counterbalancing force to, moderate, reduce
Tendentious
intended to promote a particular viewpoint
Tendentious
opinionated
Tenuous
weak/slight, slender/fine/insubstantial
Tepid
lukewarm
Terse
brief
Theatrical
relating to theater or overly dramatic in a negative way
Thwarted
prevent someone from accomplishing something
Timely
done or occurring at a favorable or useful time, opportune
Tirade
long angry speech of criticism
Titillation
stimulate or excite especially in a sexual way, arouse
tony
fashionable among wealthy people, stylish
Torpor, torpid
lethargy, sluggish
Torrid
very hot and dry, full of difficulty or tribulation
Tortuousness
twisting or crooked
Touchstone
something used to make judgments about other things, a single important event place or work of art
tout
attempt to sell typically by pestering in an aggressive or bold manner
Transgression
an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct/ an offense, wrongdoing
Transgressor
violator of rules
Transient
lasting for a short time
transitory
lasting for a very short time, short-lived, fleeting
Transmute
change in form, nature, or substance
Treacherous
guilty of or involving betrayal or deception
Tremulous
shaking or quivering slightly
Trenchant
vigorous or incisive in expression or style, cutting, sharp, discerning
Trepidation
feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen
Trifle
of little value or importance
Trifling
unimportant/trivial
Truculent
eager or quick to argue or fight
Truism
statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting
Tumultuous
making loud/uproar/excited/confused/disorderly/unruly/intense
Typify
be characteristic or representative of, example of
Ubiquity
present, appearing or found everywhere
Unabashed
brazen, shameless, bold
Unaffected
feeling or showing no effects or changes, uninfluenced by, sincere
Unamenable
not responsive to suggestion or persuasion
Uncouth
lacking good manners, refinement, or grace, showing off in a vulgar way
Undergird
secure or fasten from the underside, found throughout, permeates
Underpins
found throughout, permeates
Underscore
emphasis, underline something
Unduly
unwarranted or inappropriate because excessive or disproportionate
Unflappable
having or showing calmness in a crisis
Unilateral
performed by or affecting only one person
Unprincipled
not acting in accordance with moral principles/unethical
Unseemly
not proper or appropriate/ improper
Unsound
not safe or robust, in poor condition, unreliable or incompetent regarding a person
Upbraid
to reproach, to scold
Upend
set or turn something on its end or upside down
Urbanity
polite, confident, polished
Utilitarian
practical
Vacillate
alternate or waver between different opinions or actions, indecisive
Vacuity
empty headed
Vacuous
showing lack of thought or intelligence, mindless
Vague
uncertain or indefinite
Vainglorious
boastful
Variegate
exhibiting different colors, esp as irregular patches or streaks, having a lot of variety
Venal
capable of being bought or bribed
Venerate
regard with great respect, revere
Veracious
speaking or representing the truth, true, accurate, reliable
Verdant
green with grass or other rich vegetation, new
Vestigial
forming a small remnant of something once much larger or more noticeable, residual, leftover
Vex
make some annoyed
Vicissitude
unhappy occurrence
Vindicate
clear someone of blame or suspicion
Vindictive
meanness
Virtual
almost or nearly as described but not completely or according to strict definition
Virulence
extremely severe or harmful in its effects, harsh, full of malice
Vitreous
made of glass
Vituperations
verbally abusive
Vivacious
lively
Volatile
liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, esp for the worse
Voluble
speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently, talkative
Vulgar
coarse or unrefined
Wag
joker
Walloped
strike or hit hard
Wallow
roll about or lie relaxed in mud or water, loll about, indulge in an unrestrained way in something that creates a pleasurable sensation, bask
Waning
growing smaller
Waxed
polish, grown
well-heeled
wealthy
Wheat from the chaff
saying to separate the useful from the non-useful
whet
sharpen the blade of, thing that stimulates
Whitewash
cover up some unpleasant facts
Wizened
old and withered
Wry
ironic
Zealousness
passionate, enthusiastic, eager
Munificent
generous
Indignant
annoyed or angry
Mendacious
lying
Nugatory
without value
Ersatz
fake
Clandestine
hidden
Ingenuity
innovation
Iteration
version
Solipsistic
theory that only the self exists, selfish
Sophomoric
juvenile
Undue
excessive or unwarranted
Ran the gauntlet
withstood an attack from all sides
Ran the gamut
to be ranged, differing of opinions, spans, a spectrum
Held the line
imposed a limit
Ponderous
awkward or dull
Shabby
mediocre or of poor quality
Cabal
secret political faction
Literati
well-educated people in lit
Hoi-polloi
common people
Parochial
having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.
Stolid
unemotional
Urbane
suave and sophisticated
Whimsical
fanciful or playful
Officious
domineering or intrusive
Supersede
replace
Outstrip
passing
Poultices
soft, moist masses of material applied to the body to heal
Faculties
inherent mental or physical powers
Abate
become less intense or widespread
Aberrant
departing from an accepted standard
Abettor
encourage or assist to do something wrong, aid, help, encourage
Abhorrent
inspiring disgust and loathing
Abjure
solemnly renounce
Abreast
side by side and facing the same way, level; abreast of = to stay current with
Abstruse
difficult to understand, obscure
Accolade
award or privilege granted as special honor or merit
Accord
give or grant someone
accrue
be received by someone in regular or increasing amounts over time
Acculturation
assimilate or cause to a different culture, typically the dominant one
Acerbic
sharp/sarcastic/cutting/searing/hurtful
Acquisitiveness
excessive interest in acquiring money or material things
Acrimony
bitterness or ill feeling, resentment, harsh, full of malice
Actuarial
relating to the work of compiling and analyzing stats to calculate insurance risk and premiums
Acumen
ability to make good judgments/quick decisions in a particular domain
Adherent
devoted follower or admirer
Adroit
clever or skillful in using the hands or mind
Adulator
praise someone excessively or obsequiously
Advent
arrival of a notable thing
Adverse
harmful as it prevents success
Affability
quality of being affable, geniality
Affectless
showing lack of emotion or sympathy
Agglomerate
collect or form into a mass or group (things not people)
Aggrieve
to make resentful
Aghast
horrified
Akimbo
in a hands on hips stance
Alacrity
brisk and cheerful readiness
Albatross
metaphor for ongoing problem
Allegorical
symbolic or metaphorical
Amalgam
mixture of multiple things
Amalgamate
to combine
Ambiguous
open to more than one interpretation
Ambivalent
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something
Ameliorate
make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
Amiable
having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner
Amicability
spirit of friendliness
Amorality
immoral
Amorphous
shapeless
Amortize
reducing a debt
An insurance against
to guarantee
Anachronistically
out of time
Anarchy
state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority
Anathema
something that is cursed or loathed
anemic
suffering from anemia, colorless, weak or lacking vitality
Annotate
add notes to, giving explanation or comment
Anodyne
not likely to provoke dissent or offence, neutral, painkiller
Anomalous
deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected
Antecedent
thing or event that existed before or precedes another, precursor
Antedate
precede in time, come before something in date
Antediluvian
outdated
Antipathy
pure hatred
Antiquate
to cause something to become out of date or old
Antithetical
directly opposed or contrasted, mutually incompatible
Anything but
opposite of the word, any description besides the word used after
Aphorism
short statement containing some general truth
Aplomb
self-confidence/assurance, when in a demanding situation
Apocryphal
of doubtful authenticity although widely circulated as being true
Apotheosis
highest point in the development of something, culmination, climax, conclusion
Appellation
name or title
Apportion
divide and allocate
Approbation
approval or praise
Appropriate
suitable or proper in the circumstances, take something for one's own use typically without permission
Aquiline
like an eagle, regal
Arbitrary
based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason, capricious
arcadian
positive view of rural life
Arcane
understood by few
Archaically
very old or old-fashioned, used to be
arduous
overly difficult or unpleasant
Arid
dry
Artful
deceptive
Artifice
clever or cunning devices used to trick or deceive others
Artisan
worker in a skilled trade
Artless
without guile or deception, without pretention
Ascertain
find (something) out for certain; make sure of
Ascetic
austere (severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance)
Asceticism
severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence
Askance
with a look of disapproval
Asperity
harshness of tone or manner, emotion or weatherwise
Assent
agreement
Assiduous
showing great care and perseverance, meticulous
Assuage
make less intense, relieve, ease, make unpleasant feeling less intense
asylum
protection granted by nation to someone who has left native country as refugee (place of refuge, good)
Aurora
lights in the sky
Auspicious
conducive to success, favorable, shrewd
Austerity measures
cost-saving measures
Authoritative
able to be trusted as being accurate or true, reliable, respected and obeyed
auxiliary
secondary, on the side
Avant-garde
developing new or experimental artistic concepts
Avarice
noun, extreme greed for wealth/material gain
Avaricious
having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Aver
state or assert to be the case
Bald
plain or blunt, not having extra detail or explanation
Balkanized
divide into smaller mutually hostile states or groups
Banal
lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
Baneful
a cause of great distress or annoyance, harmful
Baseless
without basis in fact, false
baying
bark or howl loudly
Bedazzle
greatly impress with brilliance or skill, awe
Beguile
charm or enchant someone, deceived
belies
fail to give a true notion or impression, disguise or contradict
Belletristic
pompous
Bemused
puzzle, confuse, or bewilder
Berserk
out of control with anger or excitement, wild or frenzied
Beseech
ask urgently and fervently to do something, implore, pleading
Besmirch
damage the reputation of in the opinion of others, tarnish
Besotted
strongly infatuated
Bipartisan
both sides agree
Blandishment
flattering/pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone to do something (dishonest/coaxing)
Blithe
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be improper, indifferent, untroubled
Bolster
- pillow
Bombastic
pompous and verbose
Bon mot
wisecrack, one-liner
Boon
thing that is helpful or beneficial
Boon
helpful/beneficial
Boondoggle
work or activity wasteful or pointless
Boorish
ill mannered
botched
carry out badly or carelessly, mishandle
Braggart
boaster
Brazen
bold and without shame, openly ignore or disobey
Brook
tolerate or allow
Brusque
abrupt or offhand in speech or manner, short
Bucolic
of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
Burgeon
begin to grow or increase rapidly
Buttress
metaphorical meaning of to support
Byzantine
complicated
Cajole
persuade
Calcify
harden by deposition
callous
uncaring
Callow
inexperienced and immature
Calumnies
making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someones reputation
Calumny
false statement meant to injure a persons reputation
Candor
honest and direct communication
Canny
having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or business matters
Canon
general law, rule, or principle by which something is judged
Cantankerous
bad-tempered, argumentative, uncooperative
Caprice
capricious, sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior
Castigated
reprimand severely
Catalyst
creates change
Catharsis
process of releasing and providing relief from strong or repressed emotions
Caustic
able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action, corrosive, abrasive, critical or sarcastic
Censure
to express strong disapproval
Cerebral
of the cerebrum of the brain
Chagrin
mental distress or unease
Chary
suspicious, slightly scared
Chide
scold or rebuke
Circumscribe
to enclose or encircle
Circumspect
wary and unwilling to take risks
Clangorous
loud banging or ringing sound
Cleave
stick
Coalescence
come together to form one mass or whole
Coda
concluding passage of a piece or movement, forming an addition to the basic structure
Cogent
of an argument/case, clear/logical/convincing
Collude
to cooperate for illegal or fraudulent purposes
Coltish
playful
Comestible
edible
Commensurate
corresponding in size or degree, in proportion, corresponding
Commiserate
express or feel sympathy or pity, sympathize
Co-morbidity
multiple diseases present simultaneously
Compatriot
fellow citizen or national of a country, fellow man
Complacence
self-satisfaction
Complementary
combines to enhance or emphasize qualities of each other or another
Complicit
involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing
Complimentary
admiring or free of charge
Compound
add on, make worse
Concede
admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it
Conceit
excessive pride in oneself
Concessionary
created or executed as a compromise of goodwill gesture esp in negotiating
Conciliatory
anti-war, intended to pacify
Concomitant
naturally accompanying or associated
Condone
accept and allow behavior that is considered wrong to continue
Confluence
the meeting, convergence, junction of rivers
Confounding
surprising
Congeal
solidify or coagulate, took shape or coalesce
congenial
pleasant because of personality, qualities, or interests similar to ones own, agreeable
Congruent
similar or in agreement
Conjectural
hypothetical, speculative
Consanguineous
of the same blood, related
Consecration
action of making or declaring something sacred
Considerable
notably large in size, amount, or extent. Of a person = having merit or distinction
Consigned
deliver to a persons custody, assign, allocate, place,
Conspicuous
standing out so as to be clearly visible
Conspire
make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act, plot, scheme
Contemporary
someone who lived at same time
Contention
heated disagreement
Contraband
illegal goods
Contraindication
specific situations in which a procedure should not be performed
Contravene
violate the prohibition or order of
Contrite
feeling or expressing remorse or penitence
Contrive
create or bring about by deliberate use of skill and artiface, unrealistic or artificially created
Conundrum
difficult question
Conversance
familiar with or knowledgeable about something
Convivial
warm and good humored
Convolute
of an argument/story/sentence, complex and difficult to follow
Cornerstone
what the whole society is built upon
Corroborate
confirm or give support to
Cosmopolitan
familiar with and at ease in many different countries and culture, wordly
Counterfactual
relating to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case
Counterpoint
an idea used to create a contrast with the main element, use of contrast in art
Coup
a successful move
Credence
belief in or acceptance of something as true
Credulity
too ready to believe that something is real/true
Culpable
deserving blame, guilty, at fault
culprit
person who is responsible for crime or misdeed
Cultivar
cultivated plants
Cumbersome
complicated, hard to handle
Curbed
restrain, keep in check
Cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
Curt
rudely brief
Curtail
reduce in extent or quantity, impose a restriction on, cut down, prevent
Dally
act or move slowly, delay
Dauntless
showing fearlessness and determination
Dear
regarded with deep affection, cherished, at a high cost, expensive
Dearth
scarcity
Debacle
sudden failure, a fiasco, disaster
Debased
lacking in morals
decamped
depart suddenly or secretly, relocate
Decry
publicly denounce
Defeasible
open in principle to revision, valid objection
Defer
put off to a later time, postpone
Deference
humble submission and respect
Deferential
showing respect
Deft
neatly skillful and quick in ones movements
Deification
worship, regard or treat something as a god
Dejected
sad and depressed, dispirited
Deleterious
causing harm or damage
deleterious
causing harm or damage
Delineate
describe or portray precisely
Demagogic
political leader who seeks support appealing to popular desires and prejudices, not rational arg, intended to arouse strong negative sentiments
Demarcate
set the boundaries of
Demean
belittle or disdainful
Demur
to object or show reluctance
Denigrate
criticize unfairly
Deplorable
surprisingly bad
Depose
remove from office suddenly and forcefully (for kings/dictators)
Depreciate
decrease in value
Deride = express contempt for, ridicule/mock
...
Derivative
imitative of the work of another person, based on another source
Desiccate
dried out
Desolate
deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness
Desultory
lacks a plan, unfocused
Detractor
person who disparages someone or something, critic
devolve- transfer or delegate power to a lower level
...
Dialectical
relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions
Diatribe
forceful and bitter verbal attack against something
Didactic
intended to teach, with moral instruction. Patronize by a teacher.
Diffidence
modesty/shyness from lack of confidence
Dilettante
person who cultivates an area of interest without real commitment or knowledge
dire
dreadful or grim
Disaffection
state or feeling of being dissatisfied with the people in authority and no longer willing to support them, discontent
Discern
perceive or recognize something, having good judgment
Discrepant
lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts, difference, variance
Disingenuous
not candid or sincere, pretending one knows less about something than one really does
Disinterest
the state of not being influenced by personal involvement in something, impartiality
Dismay
upsetting
Disparage
belittle
Disparate
essentially different in kind, not allowing comparison
Disparity
great difference
Dispassionate
unemotional/rational/impartial
Disquiet
feeling of anxiety or worry, disturb
Dissemble
conceal ones true motives, feelings, or beliefs, feign
Disseminate
spread or disperse widely
dissent
hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously or commonly expressed
Dissipation
debauchery, squandering of money energy or resources
Dissolute
lax in morals or licentious (promiscuous)
Dissolution
ending something
Dissonance
lack of harmony
Distention
swollen due to pressure from inside, bloated (only physical)
Distinguish
recognize or treat as different, differentiate, tell apart
Doctrinaire
beliefs held and taught by church, political party/group
Dogmatic
inclined to lay down principles as true
Domestic
when applied to places means regarding an entire country (within the country not international)
Draconian
excessively harsh and severe
Dulcet
sweet and soothing
Dynamism
the quality of being characterized by vigorous activity and progress
Earnest
resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction
Ebullient
cheerful and exuberent
Eccentric
unconventional/slightly strange/ abnormal
Eclectic
drawing from multiple sources
effete
weak or ineffectual
Efficacy
ability to produce a desired or intended result, effectiveness
Efflorescence
lose moisture and turn to a fine powder, reach optimum stage of development, blossom
Effusive
expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in a heartfelt manner
Egregious
outstandingly bad, shocking
Elegy
poem of serious reflection, lament for the dead
Elementary
of or relating to the most rudimentary aspects of a subject
Eloquent
fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing, articulative, expressive
Embolden
give courage or confidence
Eminence
fame/recognized superiority within a sphere/profession
Encumbrance
burden or impediment
Enervating
causing one to feel drained of energy or vitality
Engender
cause or give rise to, created or produced
Enigmatic
difficult to interpret or understand
Enrapture
give intense pleasure or joy to, delight, captivate
Entreaty
- request
Enumerate
mention one by one
ephemeral
lasting for a very short time
Epicurean
disciple or student of philosophy, related to fine food and wine
Epitomize
be the example of
Equanimity
calmness
Equitable
fair and impartial
Equivocal
open to more than one interpretation
Ergonomic
relating to or designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment
erode
gradually wear away
erratic
not even or regular in pattern or movement, unpredictable
Erroneously
in a mistaken way, incorrectly
Erstwhile
former, past
Erudition, erudite
the quality of having great knowledge or learning, learned, scholarly
Eschew
deliberately avoid using, abstain from
Euphony
pleasant sound, synonym of harmony
Evanescent
soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence, quickly fading
Evenhanded
fair and impartial in treatment or judgment
Exacting
demand and obtain from someone, on ones skill/resources
Excoriation
censure or criticize severely
Exculpate
show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing
Exegetic
explanatory or interpretive
Exorbitant
unreasonably high
Expatiation
speak or write at length or in detail
Explicate
analyze and develop in detail, explain
expurgate
remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable, censor
Extant
still in existence, surviving
Extemporaneous
spoken or done without preparation
Extirpate
root out and destroy completely
Extrapolate
extend the application of conclusion to unknown situation, extend by assuming that existing trends will continue
Facetious
treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor
Facile
appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue, superficial, simplistic
Facilitate
make easy or easier
Fallacious
based on a mistaken belief, false
Fallacy
mistaken belief
Fanciful
over imaginative or unrealistic
Farce
slapstick comedy, buffoonery, mockery
Farcical
laughable
Fascist
despotic (tyrannical)
Fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail
Fatuous
silly and pointless
Fealty
loyalty
Fecklessness
lacking initiative or strength of character, irresponsible
Fecund
fertile
fester
become septic, infect, not improve and likely get worse over time (can only be applied to negative things not positive like trust)
Fetid
foul smelling
Fetter
chain or manacle used to restrain
Fidelity
faithfulness to a person
Fiduciary
relating to trust esp with financial matter
Figurehead
nominal leader or head without real power
Flabbergast
surprise greatly
Flagging
mark for attention or treatment in a specified way, label, tired
Flagrancy
obviously offensive
Flailing
swinging widly
Fledgling
novice
Florid
red or flushed complexion, elaborately or excessively intricate/complicated
Flout
openly disregard a rule or law, defy
Flummox
perplex greatly
Foibles
minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character, flaw
For all
despite
Forebears
ancestors
Fortuitous
happening by accident/chance, lucky, fortunate
Forwent
omit or decline to take
Frank
direct and sincere in speech
Frugality
sparing or economical with regard to money/food, costing little, simple
Fulmination
strong criticism/protest
Furnish
provide or to be the source of
futile
incapable of producing any useful result, pointless
Gaffe
a mistake
Gainsay
deny or contradict
Galvanize
shock or excite into action
Gambit
an opening in which player makes a sacrifice for some compensating advantage in chess, or a tactic or calculated move
Garland
wreath of flowers and leaves hung as decoration, honorable prize or distinction
Garrulous
excessively talkative especially on trivial matters
Gauche
unsophisticated or socially awkward, showing off in a vulgar way
Genesis
beginning
Genial
friendly and cheerful
Genteel
polite, refined, or respectable
Genuflect
lower one's body by bending to one knee, as a sign of respect/worship
Germane
relevant to subject under consideration
Go between for
negotiator
Grandiloquent
pretentious
Grave
important or harmful
Gregarious
to be likely to socialize with others
Grief
deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone's death, harmful
Grizzled
having gray hair
Guileless
innocent
Hackneyed
lacking significance through having been overused, unoriginal and trite
halcyon
idyllically happy and peaceful
Hale
strong and healthy
Hallowed
to make holy or greatly revered
Hamstring/hobble
to cripple the legs of an animal, to prevent from being able to take off, to hinder
Harbinger
a person or thing that announces/signals the approach of another
Hardline
uncompromising adherence to a firm policy
Hardy
strong/resilient
Hector
talk to someone in a bullying way
Hedonism
pursuit of pleasure, sensual self-indulgence
Heed
follow
Hegemony
dominance of one group over the other
Helmsmanship
person who steers a ship
Herald
an official messenger bringing news, person or thing viewed as a sign something is about to happen
Hermetic
airtight
Heterodox
not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs
Heuristic
enabling a person to discover or learn for themselves
Hidebound
unable to change due to convention, unwilling to let go of the past
High-handed
overbearing
Hinging on
dependent on
hinterland
often uncharted area, backwater or undesirable place
Hirsute
hairy
Histrionic
overly theatrical, exaggerated
Homily
religious discourse that intended for spiritual edification, sermon, lecture
Hortatory
tending or aiming to exhort(strongly encourage or urge someone to do something), urge, encourage
Humble
lower in dignity or importance
Husband
conserve goods
Hyperbolic
exaggerated/unreasonable of a claim
Hysterical
deriving from or affected by uncontrolled extreme emotion
Iconoclasm
action of attacking or assertively rejecting cherished beliefs/established values and practices
Iconoclastic
characterized by attack on cherished beliefs or inst
Idiosyncratic
peculiar or individual, distinctive, characteristic
Ignominious
deserving or causing public disgrace or shame, embarrassing
Illiberal
restricting freedom of thought/behavior, not generous
Illicit
illegal
Imbue
inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality
Immaterial
unimportant
Immoderate
exceeding reasonable limits
Immolate
to burn as a sacrifice
Immutable
unchanging over time or unable to be changed, fixed
Impecunious
having little or no money, poor, impoverished
Imperious
domineering
Impertinent
being disrespectful, improperly forward or bold
Impervious
not allowing to pass through
Impetus
force or energy with which a body moves, momentum, propulsion
Impious
not showing respect or reverence, wicked
Implacability
unforgiving, unbending, not able to be appeased
Implicit
not plainly expressed, hinted at, suggested, unspoken
Importunate
persistent
Improvident
not providing for the future
Impudent
disrespectful
Impugn
dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of a statement, call into question
Inadvertent
not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning, unintentional, accidently
Incendiary
bomb or person who stirs up conflict
Incensed
very angry, enraged
Inchoate
not fully developed, partially in existence
Incipient
in an initial stage, beginning to happen
Incommensurate
out of proportion to, inappropriate
Incongruous
not in harmony or keeping with other aspects of something/ out of place/unsuitable
Incontrovertible
not able to be denied or disputed, issues totally accepted by both parties
Incorrigible
unable to be corrected
Incumbent
necessary for as a duty or responsibility, the holder of an office or post
Indemnify
compensate someone for harm or loss, free someone of responsibility for a wrongdoing
Indeterminable
not able to be ascertained or identified, undefined,
Indictment
charge of wrongdoing
Indolence
avoidance of activity or exertion, lazy
Industrious
diligent and hard-working
Inexorable
impossible to stop or prevent
Infinitesimal
very small
Infirmity
weakness, frailty
Ingenuous
innocent and unsuspecting, trusting, without pretention
Inhibit
hinder, restrain, or prevent
Inhospitable
harsh and difficult to live in
Inimical
harmful or hostile
Inkling
slight knowledge or suspicion, hint
Innocuous
harmless
Inscrutable
unable to understand
Insensibly
without ones mental faculties, unconscious, unaware or incapable of perception
Insidious
harmful effects in a gradual, subtle way
Insipid
lacking flavor, bland, uninteresting
Insolent
showing rude or arrogant lack of respect, openly ignore or disobey
Insolvent
unable to pay debts owed
Insouciance
carelessness or indifference
institutionalize
establish something as a convention or norm in an org or culture
Integrate
combine two things so they become whole
Intelligible
able to be understood, comprehensible
Inter
place in a grave or tomb
Interlocutors
go betweens
Interpolate
insert into something else of a different nature, estimate intermediate point between two known, insert new words into a text
Intransigence
refusal to change one's views or to agree about something
Intrepidity
fearless, adventurous
Inundate
to overwhelm
Inure
accustom to something, especially unpleasant
Inveigle
to flatter or charm someone into doing something
Investiture
act of conferring rank on a person
Irascible
easily angered
Ironclad
rigid or fixed
Irradiate
expose to radiation, illuminate
Irreconcilable
incompatible or conflicting
Irredeemable
unable to be saved or helped
Irresolute
showing uncertainty
Isolationism
policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups especially of other countries
Jaundice
yellow in complexion, bitter or envious
Joviality
cheerful and friendly
Jurisprudent
theory or philosophy of law
Juxtaposition
the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
Keen
sharply discerning
Kindred
similar in kind, related
Labile
unstable or moody
Lachrymose
tearful or given to weeping
Lackadaisical-
lacking enthusiasm and determination, carelessly lazy
Lackey
doing something for someone else, submissive
Laconic
using very few words
Languid
displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort, slow and relaxed
Lascivious
feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire
Lassitude
state of physical or mental weariness, lack of energy, tired
Laudable
deserving praise and commendation
layperson
nonordained member of the church
Leery
cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions
licentious
promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters
Lionize
give a lot of public attention and approval to someone, treat as a celebrity
Lissome, lithe
thin, supple, and graceful
Listlessly
lacking energy or enthusiasm (opp of active)
Loath
reluctant, unwilling
Lobby
seek to influence on an issue, persuade
Loquacious
talkative
Lubricious
offensively displaying or intended to arouse sexual desire
Lucid
clarity of expression, intelligibility, clear understandable
Luminary
prominent or inspiring person
Lurk
be or remain hidden as to wait in ambush, loiter
Macabre
disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury, gruesome
Magnanimity
generosity
Maladroitness
ineffective or clumsy
Malevolent
malicious, wish to do evil
Malign
evil in nature or effect, malevolent; speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner
Maligned
speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner
Manumit
freeing a slave
marginal
of relating to or situated at the edge or margin of something
Marginalize
treat as insignificant or peripheral
Martial
of or appropriate to war
Masquerade
pretend to be someone or be disguised
Maudlin
self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness
Maxim
short statement containing some general truth
M�lange
mixture
Mellifluous
sweet sounding
Melodramatic
overly theatrical, exaggerated
Mendaciously
lying, dishonest
Mercenary
paid for efforts
Mercurial
subject to sudden changes of mood or mind
Messianic
fervent or passionate
Metastasize
spread to other sites in the body
Meticulous
great attention to detail, careful/precise
Milieu
persons social environment/background
Mimetic
copying
Mire
stretch of swampy or boggy ground, cause to become stuck in mud
Mirthful
full of joy
Misanthropy
dislike of humankind
Misnomer
wrong or inaccurate name or designation
Mitigated
make less severe/serious/painful
Modicum
small amount
Modishness
conforming to or following what is currently popular or fashionable
Mollify
to soothe or pacify
Monastic
of relating to monks or others living under religious vows
Monolithic
formed of a single large block of stone, intractably indivisible and uniform, large and indivisible
Monologic
giving long speech by one actor in a play
Moral turpitude
immoral
Mordant
having or showing sharp or critical quality, discerning
Mores
essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community
Moribund
at the point of death
Morose
sullen, ill-tempered
myopic
nearsighted, shortsighted
Myriad
countless or extremely great number
Nadir
lowest point in the fortunes of a person or org
Nascent
just coming into existence, showing signs of future potential
Nebulous
in the form of a cloud or haze
Nettle
irritate or annoy someone
Nonplussed
unperturbed (not concerned, untroubled) surprised/confused so much that they are unsure how to react
Notoriety
state of being famous/well known for a bad quality/deed
Notwithstanding
in spite of, despite
Novelty
quality of being new, original, or unusual
noxious
harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant
obduracy
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action
Objective
not influenced by personal feelings or opinions
Obloquies
strong public criticism or verbal abuse
Obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
obstinate
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action despite attempts at persuasion, stubborn, unyielding, inflexible
Obtrusive
noticeable or prominent in an unwelcome way
Obtuse
unintelligent or ignorant, slow witted
Obviate
remove a need or difficulty, avoid
Ominous
giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen
Onerous
overly difficult or unpleasant
Opprobrium
strong criticism/protest
Opulent
ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish
Outmode
old-fashioned, out of date
Pacific
peaceful in character or intent
Paean
song of praise or triumph
Painstaking
done with great care
Palliate
make less sever or unpleasant without removing the cause
Pallid
pale, typically of poor health
Panache
flamboyance or flair
pandered
gratify or indulge anothers desires
Panned
criticize severely
Pantheon
all of the gods in a particular religion
Parable
simple story used to illustrate a moral lesson
paradigm
typical example or pattern of something, model
Paragon
person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality
Parlous
full of danger or uncertainty, precarious
parochial
of or relating to church, somewhat negative view of rural life
Parsimonious
extremely frugal, miserly
Parsimoniousness
frugality to the point of stinginess
Parsimony
extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resurces
Part and parcel
an essential piece of something
Partisan
prejudiced in favor of a particular cause, or a strong supporter of a party
Patent
easily recognizable, obvious
Pathologize
to view something as unhealthy
Patrician
aristocrat or nobleman
Paucity
presence of something in small quantities
Pawn
an object left as security for money lent
Peccadilloes
small, relatively unimportant offense or sin
Pedantry
arrogant in relation to learning
Pedestrian
lacking inspiration or excitement, dull
Penchant
a strong habitual liking for something or tendency to do something
Penitential
remorseful or apologetic
Perennially
in a way that continues for a long or apparently infinite time, permanently
Perfunctory
carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection
peripheral
situated at the edge or periphery of something, outlying, surrounding
Perniciousness
having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
Perpetuated
make continue indefinitely, keep going, preserve
Perpetuity
thing that lasts forever or for an indefinite period
Perseverating
continuation of something to an exceptional degree
perspicacious
perceptive
Perspicacity
quality of having a ready insight into things/ shrewdness (sharp powers of judgment/sharp-witted/clever/perceptive)
Perturb
make someone anxious or unsettled
Pervade
spreads through
Pervasive
spreading widely throughout an area or group of people (of an unwelcome influence)
Petty
of second or little importance
Philander
readily enter into casual sexual relationships with women, affairs
Phlegmatic
having an unemotional and calm disposition
Piddling
trivial, trifling, of little importance
Piecemeal
characterized by unsystematic partial measures taken over a period of time
Pillory
attack or ridicule publicly
Pious
devoutly religious
Piques
stimulate, pride oneself, irritated or resentful
Pith
the essence of something, gist
Pithy
concise
Placid
calm or soothing
Plastic
easily shaped or molded
Plaudit
praise
Plebian
commoner
Pliant
pliable
Plodding
boring, put others to sleep
Plucky
having determined courage in the face of difficulties
Plum
highly desirable attainment
Poignant
touching in a sad way
Polemic
strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
Polemical
strongly critical, controversial, scathing writing/speech
Politic
sensible
Pontificate
officiate as a bishop, express one's opinion in a way considered annoyingly pompous, preach
Populist
member of pary claiming to represent interest of common people
Posit
claim, say
Posthumous
after death
Pragmatic
practical
Precarious
dependent on chance/uncertain/not securely held
Preclude
prevent from happening, make impossible, rule out
Precocious
having developed certain abilities at an earlier age than usual, advanced for one's age, mature
premonitory
strong feeling that something is about to happen esp unpleasant, apprehension, anxiety
Preordain
decide or determine an outcome in advance
Presage
be a sign or warning that something will happen bad typically, omen
Prescient
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place
Pretension
a claim or assertion of a claim to something,
Preternatural
what is beyond normal or natural. Mysterious/exceptional
Priggish
self-righteously moralistic and superior
Probity
integrity, honesty
Probity
the quality of having strong moral principles
Proclivity
tendency to choose or do something regularly, inclination toward
Procure
obtain with care or effort
Prodigal
extravagant, abundant
Prodigality
spending money without care
Profligate
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in resources
Profundity
deep insight, great depth of knowledge or thought
Profuse
exuberantly plentiful, abundant
Prognostication
action of foretelling future events
Prognosticator
someone who predicts the future
Prolific
producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring, abundant
Prolix
using or containing too many words, tediously lengthy
Prologue
separate introductory section of a literary or musical work, introduction
Promote
further the progress of, actively encourage, try to sell
Promulgate
spread, communicate, or publicize
Promulgate
promote or make widely known
Proportional
corresponding in size or amount to something else, comparable
propriety
proper behavior
Prosaic
lacking poetic beauty, ordinary, everyday, conventional
Proscribe
forbid esp by the law
Protean
tending or able to change frequently or easily
Providential
occurring at a favorable time, opportune
provincial
small-town, of or concerning a province of a country or empire
Prudent
acting with or showing care and thought for the future
Prurient
having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters
Puckish
playful in a mischievous way
Pulchritude
beauty
Punctiliousness
showing great attention to detail or correct behavior
Puritanical
practicing strict religious behavior
purport
appear or claim to be or do something especially false
Putative
generally thought to be
Qualify
to make less severe
quandary
state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation
Quixotic
impractical
Quotidian
of or occurring every day, daily
Rancorous
characterized by bitterness or resentment, malevolent
ratify
sign or give formal consent to, make valid
Raucous
loud or harsh
Reactionary
opposed to political or social reform
Recant
say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, renounce
Recapitulate
to summarize, recap
Reciprocal with
an equal exchange with
Reconcile
restore friendly relations between
Recrimination
accusation
Redact
edit for publication
redress
corrects or rights a wrong
refuge
condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble
Refute
discredit
Refute
contradiction, reverse = opposition
regressive
backwards, old-fashioned
Rejoinder
reply, especially sharp or witty
Relish
great enjoyment
Remedial
intended to fix or cure
Renege
go back on a promise
Repertory
performance of various plays by a company at short intervals (collection of info or exs)
Requisite
made necessary by particular circumstances or regulations
Requite
reciprocate
Resign
accept that something undesirable cannot be avoided,
Resolute
admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering
Resolve
firm determination or decision
Retrospective
looking back on or dealing with past events or situations
revered
feel deep respect or admiration for something
Rhapsody
an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling
Rhetoric
the art of effective/persuasive speaking or writing, use of figures of speech and other techniques
risqu�
slightly indecent or liable to shock, sexually suggestive
Robust
strong and healthy, vigorous
Roundly
so thoroughly as to leave no doubt
Rout
disorderly retreat of defeated troops
Rudder
part of a ship related to steering
rustic
relating to the countryside, rural
Ruthless- having or showing no pity or compassion for others
...
Saccharine
excessively sweet or sentimental
Sagacious
having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment, wise, astute
Salubrious
healthy
Salutary
producing good effects, beneficial (with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant)
Sanction
officially approved of
Sangfroid
composure or coolness, sometimes excessive
Sanguine
optimistic or positive in a bad situation
Sartorial
of or relating to tailoring clothes or style of dress
Satirical
making fun of a previous work of art, situation, etc
Saturate
soaked, drenched
Scandalous
causing general public outrage by a perceived offense against morality or law
Scanty
small or insufficient in quantity or amount
Scintillate
emit flashes of light, sparkle, clever or amusing
Scrupulous
diligent, thorough, attentive to details, honest
Scrutinize
closely observe
Scuffle- a short confused fight or struggle in close quarters
...
Sea change
profound transformation
Seditious
inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority
Sedulous
showing dedication and diligence
seethe
bubble up as a result of being boiled, very angry
Self-abasement
belittling or humiliation of oneself
Selfless
concerned more with the needs of others than with ones own
Semiotic
related to signs or symbols
Serendipitous
occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way, lucky, fortuitous
Serendipity
happy occurrence
Shrewd
having or showing sharp powers of judgment, sharp-witted, intelligent, canny
Similes
figure of speech involving comparison
Simpatico
likable and easy to get along with
Simulacrum
image or representation of someone or something, imitation
Sinecure
position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit
Singular
exceptionally good or great, remarkable
Sinuous
having many curves and turns
Skittish
excitable or easily scared
Skulk
keep out of sight with a cowardly motive
Smitten with
be strongly attracted to something
Snub
rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully
Sobriquet
persons nickname
Solace
comfort in sorrow
Solicitous
concerned or attentive
Solicitousness
hovering attentiveness
Solvent
having assets in excess of liabilities, able to pay ones debts, financially sound, profitable
somber
dark or dull in color or tone, gloomy
Sophistry
use of fallacious arguments esp with the intention of deceiving
spartan
showing the indifference to comfort of luxury, grim
Specious
superficially plausible but actually wrong
Specter
ghost, presence, something widely feared as a dangerous occurrence
Spurious
not being what it purports to be, false or fake
squalid
extremely dirty and unpleasant
Stanched- stop or restrict
...
Stanchion
upright bar or post
Staunch
loyal and committed in attitude, devoted
Steadfast
resolute or not wavering
Steward
supervise arrangement or keep order at, conserve
Stipulate
demand or specify typically as a part of a bargain or agreement
Stolid
calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation
Stopgap
temporary way of dealing with a problem or satisfying a need
Stout
somewhat fat or of heavy build, wide
Stridency
loud and harsh, grating
Subsequent
coming after something in time, following
Subservient
prepared to obey others unquestioningly, submissive
Subterfuge
clever deception
Subvert
undermine
Superfluous
unnecessary
Supplicate
ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly
Surly
bad-tempered and unfriendly
Surplus
excess
Sycophant
person who acts obsequiously (obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree) toward someone important in order to gain advantage, brown-noser
Syncopate
shorten a word or displacement of beats in music
Synoptic
of or forming a general summary or synopsis
Synthesize
make something, synthesis (combination or composition)
Tacit
understood or implied without being stated
Taciturnity
reserved or uncommunicative in speech
Tantamount
equivalent in seriousness to, virtually the same as
Tarry
stay longer than intended, delay leaving a place
Teeming with
full of
Tempered
serve as a neutralizing or counterbalancing force to, moderate, reduce
Tendentious
intended to promote a particular viewpoint
Tendentious
opinionated
Tenuous
weak/slight, slender/fine/insubstantial
Tepid
lukewarm
Terse
brief
Theatrical
relating to theater or overly dramatic in a negative way
Thwarted
prevent someone from accomplishing something
Timely
done or occurring at a favorable or useful time, opportune
Tirade
long angry speech of criticism
Titillation
stimulate or excite especially in a sexual way, arouse
tony
fashionable among wealthy people, stylish
Torpor, torpid
lethargy, sluggish
Torrid
very hot and dry, full of difficulty or tribulation
Tortuousness
twisting or crooked
Touchstone
something used to make judgments about other things, a single important event place or work of art
tout
attempt to sell typically by pestering in an aggressive or bold manner
Transgression
an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct/ an offense, wrongdoing
Transgressor
violator of rules
Transient
lasting for a short time
transitory
lasting for a very short time, short-lived, fleeting
Transmute
change in form, nature, or substance
Treacherous
guilty of or involving betrayal or deception
Tremulous
shaking or quivering slightly
Trenchant
vigorous or incisive in expression or style, cutting, sharp, discerning
Trepidation
feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen
Trifle
of little value or importance
Trifling
unimportant/trivial
Truculent
eager or quick to argue or fight
Truism
statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting
Tumultuous
making loud/uproar/excited/confused/disorderly/unruly/intense
Typify
be characteristic or representative of, example of
Ubiquity
present, appearing or found everywhere
Unabashed
brazen, shameless, bold
Unaffected
feeling or showing no effects or changes, uninfluenced by, sincere
Unamenable
not responsive to suggestion or persuasion
Uncouth
lacking good manners, refinement, or grace, showing off in a vulgar way
Undergird
secure or fasten from the underside, found throughout, permeates
Underpins
found throughout, permeates
Underscore
emphasis, underline something
Unduly
unwarranted or inappropriate because excessive or disproportionate
Unflappable
having or showing calmness in a crisis
Unilateral
performed by or affecting only one person
Unprincipled
not acting in accordance with moral principles/unethical
Unseemly
not proper or appropriate/ improper
Unsound
not safe or robust, in poor condition, unreliable or incompetent regarding a person
Upbraid
to reproach, to scold
Upend
set or turn something on its end or upside down
Urbanity
polite, confident, polished
Utilitarian
practical
Vacillate
alternate or waver between different opinions or actions, indecisive
Vacuity
empty headed
Vacuous
showing lack of thought or intelligence, mindless
Vague
uncertain or indefinite
Vainglorious
boastful
Variegate
exhibiting different colors, esp as irregular patches or streaks, having a lot of variety
Venal
capable of being bought or bribed
Venerate
regard with great respect, revere
Veracious
speaking or representing the truth, true, accurate, reliable
Verdant
green with grass or other rich vegetation, new
Vestigial
forming a small remnant of something once much larger or more noticeable, residual, leftover
Vex
make some annoyed
Vicissitude
unhappy occurrence
Vindicate
clear someone of blame or suspicion
Vindictive
meanness
Virtual
almost or nearly as described but not completely or according to strict definition
Virulence
extremely severe or harmful in its effects, harsh, full of malice
Vitreous
made of glass
Vituperations
verbally abusive
Vivacious
lively
Volatile
liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, esp for the worse
Voluble
speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently, talkative
Vulgar
coarse or unrefined
Wag
joker
Walloped
strike or hit hard
Wallow
roll about or lie relaxed in mud or water, loll about, indulge in an unrestrained way in something that creates a pleasurable sensation, bask
Waning
growing smaller
Waxed
polish, grown
well-heeled
wealthy
Wheat from the chaff
saying to separate the useful from the non-useful
whet
sharpen the blade of, thing that stimulates
Whitewash
cover up some unpleasant facts
Wizened
old and withered
Wry
ironic
Zealousness
passionate, enthusiastic, eager
Munificent
generous
Indignant
annoyed or angry
Mendacious
lying
Nugatory
without value
Ersatz
fake
Clandestine
hidden
Ingenuity
innovation
Iteration
version
Solipsistic
theory that only the self exists, selfish
Sophomoric
juvenile
Undue
excessive or unwarranted
Ran the gauntlet
withstood an attack from all sides
Ran the gamut
to be ranged, differing of opinions, spans, a spectrum
Held the line
imposed a limit
Ponderous
awkward or dull
Shabby
mediocre or of poor quality
Cabal
secret political faction
Literati
well-educated people in lit
Hoi-polloi
common people
Parochial
having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.
Stolid
unemotional
Urbane
suave and sophisticated
Whimsical
fanciful or playful
Officious
domineering or intrusive
Supersede
replace
Outstrip
passing
Poultices
soft, moist masses of material applied to the body to heal
Faculties
inherent mental or physical powers