Abase
To humble; to disgrace
EX: My intention was not to ABASE the comedian
Synonym: demean, humiliate
Abate
To reduce in amount, degree, or severity
Ex: As the hurricane's force ABATED, the winds dropped and the sea became calm.
Synonyms: ebb, lapse, let up, moderate, relent, slacken, subside, wane
Abdicate
To give up a position, right, or power
Ex: With the angry mob clamoring outside the palace, the king ABDICATED his throne and fled.
Synonyms: cede, quit, relinquish, resign, yield
Aberrant
Deviating from what is normal or expected
Ex: Since he had been a steady, cheerful worker for many years, his fellow postal workers did not expect his ABERRANT burst of rage.
Synonyms: abnormal, anomalous, deviant, divergent, errant, irregular
Abeyance
Temporary suppression or suspension
Ex: The baseball game was held in ABEYANCE while it continued to rain.
Synonyms: deferral, delay, dormancy, postponement, remission
Abjure
To reject; to abandon formally
Ex: The spy ABJURED his allegiance to the United States when he defected to Russia
Synonyms: forswear, recall, recant, retract, take back
Abscond
To leave secretly
Ex: The patron ABSCONDED from the restaurant without paying his bills by sneaking out the back door.
Synonyms: decamp, escape, flee
Abstain
To choose not to do something
Ex: Before the medical procedure, you must ABSTAIN from eating.
Synonyms: forbear, refrain, withhold
Abstemious
Moderate in appetite
Ex: Because Alyce is a vegetarian, she was able to eat only an ABSTEMIOUS meal at the Texas Steakhouse.
Synonyms: abstinent, continent, self-restraining, sober, temperate
Abyss
An extremely deep hole
Ex: The submarine dove into the ABYSS to chart the previously unseen depths.
Synonyms: chasms, void
Accretion
A gradual growth in size; an increase in amount
Ex: The committee's strong fund-raising efforts resulted in an ACCRETION in scholarship money.
Synonyms: accumulation, buildup
Acidulous
sour in taste or manner
Ex: The ACIDULOUS taste of the spoiled milk made the young boy's lips pucker.
Synonyms: acerbic, acetous, biting, piquant, pungent, tart
Acme
The highest point; the summit the highest level or degree attainable
Ex: Just when he reached the ACME of his power, the dictator was overthrown.
Synonyms: apex, peak, summit
Adulterate
to make impure
Ex: The restaurateur made his ketchup last longer by ADULTERATING it with water.
Synonyms: debase, doctor, load
Advocate
to speak in favor of
Ex: The vegetarian ADVOCATED a diet containing no meat.
Synonyms: back, champion, support