admonish
(v.) to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty
breach
(n.) an opening, gap, rupture, rift; a violation or infraction; (v.) to create an opening, break through
brigand
(n.) a bandit, robber, outlaw, highwayman
circumspect
(adj.) careful, cautious
commandeer
(v.) to seize for military or official use
cumbersome
(adj.) clumsy, hard to handle; slow-moving
deadlock
(n.) a standstill resulting from the opposition of two equal forces or factions; (v.) to bring to such a standstill
debris
(n.) scattered fragments, wreckage
diffuse
(v.) to spread or scatter freely or widely; (adj.) wordy, long-winded, or unfocused; scattered or widely spread
dilemma
(n.) a difficult or perplexing situation or problem
efface
(v.) to wipe out; to keep oneself from being noticed
muddle
(v.) to make a mess of; muddle through: to get by; (n.) a hopeless mess
opinionated
(adj.) stubborn and often unreasonable in holding to one's own ideas, having a closed mind.
perennial
(adj.) lasting for a long time, persistent; (n.) a plant that lives for many years
predispose
(v.) to incline to beforehand
relinquish
(v.) to let go, give up
salvage
(v.) to save from fire or shipwreck; (n.) property thus saved
spasmodic
(adj.) sudden and violent but brief; fitful, intermittent
spurious
(adj.) not genuine, not true, not valid
unbridled
(adj.) uncontrolled, lacking in restraint
adjourn
(v.) to stop proceedings temporarily; move to another place
alien
(n.) a citizen of another country; (adj.) foreign, strange
comely
(adj.) having a pleasing appearance
compensate
(v.) to make up for; to repay for services
dissolute
(adj.) loose in one's morals or behavior
erratic
(adj.) not regular or consistent; different from what is ordinarily expected; undependable
expulsion
(n.) the process of driving or forcing out
feint
(n.) a deliberately deceptive movement; a pretense; (v.) to make a deceptive movement; to make a pretense of
fodder
(n.) food for horses or cattle; raw material for a designated purpose
fortify
(v.) to strengthen, build up
illegible
(adj.) difficult or impossible to read
jeer
(v.) to make fun of rudely or unkindly; (n.) a rude remark of derision
lucrative
(adj.) bringing in money; profitable
mediocre
(adj.) average, ordinary, undistinguished
proliferate
(v.) to reproduce, increase, or spread rapidly
subjugate
(v.) to conquer by force, bring under complete control
sully
(v.) to soil, stain, tarnish, defile, besmirch
tantalize
(v.) to tease, torment by teasing
terse
(adj.) brief and to the point
unflinching
(adj.) firm, showing no signs of fear, not drawing back
abridge
(v.) to make shorter
adherent
(n.) a follower, supporter; (adj.) attached, sticking to
altercation
(n.) an angry argument
cherubic
(adj.) resembling an angel portrayed as a little child with a beautiful, round, or chubby face; sweet and innocent
condone
(v.) to pardon or overlook
dissent
(v.) to disagree; (n.) disagreement
eminent
(adj.) famous, outstanding, distinguished; projecting
exorcise
(v.) to drive out by magic; to dispose of something troublesome, menacing, or oppressive
fabricate
(v.) to make, manufacture; to make up, invent
irate
(adj.) angry
marauder
(n.) a raider, plunderer
obesity
(n.) excessive fatness
pauper
(n.) an extremely poor person
pilfer
(v.) to steal in small quantities
rift
(n.) a split, break, breach
semblance
(n.) a likeness; an outward appearance; an apparition
surmount
(v.) to overcome, rise above
terminate
(v.) to bring to an end
trite
(adj.) commonplace; overused, stale
usurp
(v.) to seize and hold a position by force or without right
abscond
(v.) to run off and hide
access
(n.) approach or admittance to places, persons, things; an increase; (v.) to get at, obtain
anarchy
(n.) a lack of government and law; confusion
arduous
(adj.) hard to do, requiring much effort
auspicious
(adj.) favorable, fortunate
biased
(adj.) favoring one side unduly; prejudiced
daunt
(v.) to overcome with fear, intimidate; to dishearten, discourage
disentangle
(v.) to free from tangles or complications
fated
(adj.) determined in advance by destiny or fortune
hoodwink
(v.) to mislead by a trick, deceive
inanimate
(adj.) not having life; without energy or spirit
incinerate
(v.) to burn to ashes
intrepid
(adj.) very brave, fearless, unshakable
larceny
(n.) theft
pliant
(adj.) bending readily; easily influenced
pompous
(adj.) overly self-important in speech and manner; excessively stately or ceremonious
precipice
(n.) a very steep cliff; the brink or edge of disaster
rectify
(v.) to make right, correct
reprieve
(n.) a temporary relief or delay; (v.) to grant a postponement
revile
(v.) to attack with words, call bad names
accomplice
(n.) a person who takes part in a crime
annihilate
(v.) to destroy completely
arbitrary
(adj.) unreasonable; based on one's wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness
brazen
(adj.) shameless, impudent; made of brass
catalyst
(n.) a substance that causes or hastens a chemical reaction; any agent that causes change
exodus
(n.) a large-scale departure or flight
facilitate
(v.) to make easier; to assist
incorrigible
(adj.) not able to be corrected; beyond control
latent
(adj.) hidden, present but not realized
militant
(adj.) given to fighting; active and aggressive in support of a cause; (n.) an activist
morose
(adj.) having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable
opaque
(adj.) not letting light through; not clear or lucid; dense, stupid
paramount
(adj.) chief in importance, above all others
prattle
(v.) to talk in an aimless, foolish, or simple way; to babble; (n.) baby talk; babble
rebut
(v.) to offer arguments or evidence that contradicts an assertion; to refute
reprimand
(v.) to scold; find fault with; (n.) a rebuke
servitude
(n.) slavery, forced labor
slapdash
(adj.) careless and hasty
stagnant
(adj.) not running or flowing; foul from standing still; inactive, sluggish, dull
succumb
(v.) to give way to superior force, yield
atone
(v.) to make up for
bondage
(n.) slavery; any state of being bound or held down
credible
(adj.) believable
defray
(v.) to pay for
diligent
(adj.) hardworking, industrious, not lazy
doleful
(adj.) sad; dreary
ghastly
(adj.) frightful, horrible; deathly pale
hamper
(v.) to hold back
hew
(v.) to shape or cut down with an ax; to hold to
impoverished
(adj.) poor, in a state of poverty; depleted
incessant
(adj.) never stopping, going on all the time
intricate
(adj.) complicated; difficult to understand
lucid
(adj.) easy to understand, clear; rational, sane
posthumous
(adj.) occurring or published after death
prim
(adj.) overly neat, precise, proper, or formal; prudish
sardonic
(adj.) grimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic
superfluous
(adj.) exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess
supplant
(v.) to take the place of, supersede
taunt
(v.) to jeer at, mock; (n.) an insulting or mocking remark
tenacious
(adj.) holding fast; holding together firmly; persistent
adieu
(int.) "Farewell!"; (n.) a farewell
advent
(n.) an arrival; a coming into place or view
apex
(n.) the highest point, tip
assimilate
(v.) to absorb fully or make one's own; to adopt as one's own; to adapt fully
bogus
(adj.) false, counterfeit
exorbitant
(adj.) unreasonably high; excessive
interim
(n.) the time between; (adj.) temporary, coming between two points in time
inundate
(v.) to flood, overflow; to overwhelm by numbers or size
malign
(v.) to speak evil of, slander; (adj.) evil
meander
(v.) to wander about, wind about; (n.) a sharp turn or twist
metropolis
(n.) a large city; the chief city of an area
momentous
(adj.) very important
obstreperous
(adj.) noisy; unruly, disorderly
pensive
(adj.) thoughtful; melancholy
perilous
(adj.) dangerous
shoddy
(adj.) of poor quality; characterized by inferior workmanship
sprightly
(adj.) lively, full of life; spicy, flavorful
surly
(adj.) angry and bad-tempered; rude
tirade
(n.) a long, angry speech, usually very critical
vagrant
(n.) an idle wanderer, tramp; (adj.) wandering aimlessly
assurance
(n.) a pledge; freedom from doubt, self-confidence
asylum
(n.) an institution for the care of children, elderly people, etc.; a place of safety
console
(v.) to comfort; (n.) the keyboard of an organ; a control panel for an electrical or mechanical device
dilate
(v.) to make or become larger or wider; to expand upon
dross
(n.) refuse, waste products
dwindle
(v.) to lessen, diminish
flippant
(adj.) lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy
immunity
(n.) resistance to disease; freedom from some charge or obligation
institute
(v.) to establish, set up; (n.) an organization for the promotion of learning
liability
(n.) a debt; something disadvantageous
preposterous
(adj.) ridiculous, senseless
pugnacious
(adj.) quarrelsome, fond of fighting
rabid
(adj.) furious, violently intense, unreasonably extreme; mad; infected with rabies
realm
(n.) a kingdom; a region or field of study
rejuvenate
(v.) to make young again; to make like new
remunerate
(v.) to reward, pay, reimburse
sparse
(adj.) meager, scant; scattered
sterling
(adj.) genuine, excellent; made of silver of standard fineness
venture
(n.) a risky or daring undertaking; (v.) to expose to danger; to dare
warp
(v.) to twist out of shape; (n.) an abnormality
auxiliary
(adj.) giving assistance or support; (n.) a helper, aid
candid
(adj.) frank, sincere; impartial; unposed
cubicle
(n.) a small room or compartment
drudgery
(n.) work that is hard and tiresome
envoy
(n.) a representative or messenger (as of a government)
escalate
(v.) to elevate; to increase in intensity
expedient
(n.) a means to an end; (adj.) advantageous, useful
feign
(v.) to pretend
flair
(n.) a natural quality, talent, or skill; a distinctive style
grievous
(adj.) causing sorrow or pain; serious
heterogeneous
(adj.) composed of different kinds, diverse
horde
(n.) a vast number (as of people); a throng
impel
(n.) to force, drive forward
incredulous
(adj.) disbelieving, skeptical
inscribe
(v.) to write or engrave; to enter a name on a list
monologue
(n.) a speech by one actor; a long talk by one person
prognosis
(n.) a forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disease or situation
rasping
(adj.) with a harsh, grating sound; (n.) a harsh sound
repugnant
(adj.) offensive, disagreeable, distasteful
scuttle
(v.) to sink a ship by cutting holes in it; to get rid of something in a decisive way; to run hastily, scurry; (n.) a pail
adept
(adj.) thoroughly skilled; (n.) an expert
aspire
(v.) to have ambitious hopes or plans, strive toward a higher goal, desire earnestly; to ascend
bleak
(adj.) bare, dreary, dismal
chide
(v.) to blame; scold
despicable
(adj.) worthy of scorn, contemptible
diminutive
(adj.) small, smaller than most others of the same type
emancipate
(v.) to free from slavery; to release or liberate
erroneous
(adj.) incorrect, containing mistakes
exploit
(v.) to make use of, develop; to make improper use of for personal profit; (n.) a feat, deed
extemporaneous
(adj.) made or delivered on the spur of the moment
impair
(v.) to make imperfect, damage, harm
invincible
(adj.) not able to be defeated, unbeatable
languid
(adj.) drooping; without energy, sluggish
mire
(n.) mud; wet, swampy ground; a tough situation; (v.) to get stuck
obtrusive
(adj.) forward; undesirably prominent; thrust out
preamble
(n.) an introduction to a speech or piece of writing
render
(v.) to cause to become; to perform; to deliver officially; to process, extract
rugged
(adj.) rough, irregular; severe, stern; strong; stormy
skeptical
(adj.) inclined to doubt; slow to accept something as true
slipshod
(adj.) untidy in dress, personal habits, etc.; careless, sloppy
brevity
(n.) shortness
comport
(v.) to conduct or bear oneself, behave; to be in agreement
concise
(adj.) expressing much in a few words
demure
(adj.) sober or serious in manner, modest
depreciation
(n.) a lessening in value; a belittling
deteriorate
(v.) to lower in quality or value; to wear away
divulge
(v.) to tell, reveal; to make public
enlightened
(adj.) free from ignorance and false ideas; possessing sound understanding
forestall
(v.) to prevent by acting first
garble
(v.) to distort in such a way as to make unintelligible
proponent
(n.) one who puts forward a proposal; one who supports a cause or belief
quaver
(v.) to shake, tremble; to trill
recoil
(v.) to spring back, shrink; (n.) the act of springing back
recoup
(v.) to make up for, regain
reek
(n.) an unpleasant smell; (v.) to give off unpleasant smells; to give a strong impression
relentless
(adj.) unyielding, harsh, without pity
rivulet
(n.) a small stream
squander
(v.) to spend foolishly, waste
staccato
(adj.) detached or disconnected in sound or style
statute
(n.) a law
appreciable
(adj.) sufficient to be noticed or measured
autocratic
(adj.) absolute in power or authority
blanch
(v.) to remove the color from; to make or turn pale; to parboil
blasphemy
(n.) an act, utterance, or writing showing contempt for something sacred
brawny
(adj.) strong, muscular
concerted
(adj.) planned or performed in cooperation with others
contend
(v.) to fight, struggle; to compete; to argue
humane
(adj.) kind, merciful
illustrious
(adj.) very famous, distinguished
intolerable
(adj.) unbearable
irreverent
(adj.) disrespectful
laborious
(adj.) not easy, requiring hard work; hardworking
lithe
(adj.) bending easily, limber
maltreat
(v.) to abuse, use roughly or crudely
ponder
(v.) to consider carefully, reflect on
subversive
(adj.) intended to undermine or overthrow; (n.) one who advocates or attempts to undermine a political system
synthetic
(adj.) made or put together by people; (n.) something artificial
temperate
(adj.) mild, moderate
venomous
(adj.) poisonous; spiteful, mean
wily
(adj.) sly, shrewd, cunning
ad infinitum
(adv.) endlessly
apportion
(v.) to divide and give out in shares
bona fide
(adj.) genuine; sincere
buoyant
(adj.) able to float easily; able to hold things up; cheerful, hopeful
clique
(n.) a small, exclusive group of people
concede
(v.) to admit as true; to yield, submit
congenial
(adj.) getting on well with others; agreeable, pleasant
lofty
(adj.) very high; noble
migration
(n.) a movement from one country or region to another
perceive
(v.) to be aware of through the senses, observe; to grasp mentally
perverse
(adj.) inclined to go against what is expected; stubborn; turned away from what is good and proper
prelude
(n.) an introduction; that which comes before or leads off
rancid
(adj.) stale, spoiled
rustic
(adj.) country-like; simple, plain; awkward; (n.) one who lives in the country
sever
(v.) to separate, divide into parts
sordid
(adj.) wretchedly poor; run-down; mean or selfish
untenable
(adj.) not capable of being held or defended; impossible to maintain
versatile
(adj.) able to do many things well; capable of many uses
vindicate
(v.) to clear from hint or charge of wrongdoing; to defend successfully against opposition; to justify
wane
(v.) to lose size, strength, or power
annex
(v.) to add to, attach; to incorporate; (n.) an attachment or addition
cleave
(v.) To cut or split open; to cling to
cordial
(adj.) in a friendly manner, hearty; cheery; (n.) a liqueur
cornerstone
(n.) the starting point of a building; a fundamental principle or element
debacle
(n.) an overwhelming defeat, rout; a complete collapse or failure
devitalize
(v.) to make weak or lifeless
embroil
(v.) to involve in a conflict or difficulty; to throw into confusion
exonerate
(v.) to clear from a charge or accusation
glib
(adj.) ready and fluent in speech; thoughtless, insincere
haphazard
(adj.) by chance, not planned; lacking order
improvise
(v.) to compose or perform without preparation; to construct from available materials
incite
(v.) to rouse, stir up, urge on
influx
(n.) a coming in, inflow
pallor
(n.) an extreme or unnatural paleness
pedigree
(n.) a list of ancestors, family tree; the history or origins of something
precipitous
(adj.) very steep
profuse
(adj.) very abundant; given or flowing freely
reconcile
(v.) to restore to friendship; to settle; to resign (oneself)
shackle
(v.) to put into chains; (n., usually pl.) a chain, fetter
threadbare
(adj.) shabby, old and worn
abase
(v.) to lower in esteem, degrade; to humble
actuate
(v.) to move to action; to impel
avert
(v.) to turn aside, turn away; to prevent, avoid
boorish
(adj.) rude, unrefined; clumsy
brunt
(n.) the main impact, force, or burden
combatant
(n.) a fighter; (adj.) engaged in fighting
dormant
(adj.) inactive; in a state of suspension; sleeping
dubious
(adj.) causing uncertainty or suspicion; in a doubtful or uncertain state of mind, hesitant
harangue
(v.) to deliver a loud, ranting speech; (n.) a loud speech
harry
(v.) to make a destructive raid on; to torment, harass
impenitent
(adj.) not feeling remorse or sorrow for errors or offenses
knave
(n.) a tricky, unprincipled, or deceitful fellow
legion
(n.) a large military force; any large group or number; (adj.) many, numerous
liberality
(n.) generosity, generous act; breadth of mind or outlook
plaintiff
(n.) one who begins a lawsuit
probe
(v.) to examine, investigate thoroughly; (n.) an investigation; a device used to explore or examine
protract
(v.) to draw out or lengthen in space or time
quarry
(v.) to cut or take from (or as if from) a quarry; (n.) a place from which stone is taken; something that is hunted or pursued
spurn
(v.) to refuse with scorn, disdain
subterfuge
(n.) an excuse or trick for escaping or hiding something