aberration
Deviation from what is correct or right.
abeyance
Suspension of an activity; postponement.
abstemious
Sparing in use of food or drink; moderate.
abstruse
Concealed; difficult to comprehend; obscure.
accolade
Embrace; award; commendation.
acerbic
Bitter; harsh; caustic.
acrimonious
Sarcastic; caustic; angry; mordant.
acuity
Sharpness; acuteness; keenness.
acute
1. Perceptive. 2. Excruciating.
adept
Proficient; masterful; expert.
adherent
Believer; supporter; devotee.
adjunct
1. Attachment; appendage. 2. Subordinate or auxiliary capacity.
admonish
Caution; reprove mildly; reprimand.
adroit
Dexterous; proficient; skillful.
adulation
Excessive flattery; adoration; idolization.
adulterate
Make impure or inferior by adding improper ingredients; contaminate; pollute.
advocate
1. Argue for a cause; defend. 2. Support; uphold.
aesthete
Person who cultivates beauty or art; connoisseur.
aggrandize
Make more powerful; amplify; increase.
alacrity
Eagerness; zeal; speed.
altruistic
Concerned about the general welfare of others; charitable; generous.
ambivalence
Uncertainty; doubt; indecisiveness.
ambulatory
Able to walk; not stationary.
ameliorate
Make better; improve.
amiable
Cordial; of pleasant disposition; friendly.
amorphous
Without structure; shapeless; nebulous.
animate
Energize; enliven.
anomaly
Abnormality; deviation from the general rule; irregularity.
antediluvian
Ancient; antiquated; obsolete.
antipathy
Feeling of opposition or repugnance; aversion; dislike.
apathy
Lack of concern; emotion or interest; indifference.
aperture
Gap; opening; orifice.
apocryphal
False; unauthenticated; disputed.
apotheosis
1. Essence; epitome. 2. Canonization.
appease
Satisfy; make peace; placate.
approbatory
Expressing approval.
arable
Suitable for cultivation or plowing.
arrogant
Feeling superior to other people; egotistical.
ascetic
Strict; austere.
assuage
Ease; make less burdensome; mitigate.
atrophy
Waste away from lack of use; degenerate.
audacity
Boldness or adventurousness; gall.
authoritarian
1. Person who acts like a dictator; tyrant. 2. Disciplinarian.
avarice
Extreme desire for wealth; greed; acquisitiveness.
aviary
Large enclosure confining birds.
avouch
Guarantee; take responsibility for; affirm.
avow
Affirm; assert; declare; acknowledge.
baleful
Sorrowful; sinister; evil.
balm
Soothing ointment for pain or healing; salve.
banal
Trite; insipid; ordinary.
bane
Deadly affliction; curse; plague.
barbarity
Cruel action; inhuman act; harsh conduct.
barren
1. Infertile; impotent. 2. Arid; unproductive.
befuddle
Stupefy or confuse; misconstrue.
belated
Tardy; overdue.
beleaguer
Besiege; surround.
belittle
Humiliate; tease; diminish in importance.
bemoan
1. Experience pain or distress. 2. Express pity for; mourn.
bemused
Preoccupied by thought; bewildered; perplexed.
bilk
Defraud; deceive; hoodwink.
blandishment
Cajolery; enticement.
bliss
Gaiety; happiness; enjoyment.
blithe
Happy; pleased; delighted.
boisterous
Noisy; loud; violent; rowdy.
boorish
Ill-mannered; rude; gauche.
brevity
Briefness; succinctness; terseness.
broach
Introduce; bring up; mention.
browbeat
Intimidate; harass; dominate.
bungle
Botch; mismanage; spoil.
buttress
Truss; foundation; support.
cacophonous
Discordant; dissident; harsh.
callow
Inexperienced; immature; naive.
candid
Frank; blunt; open.
carouse
Drink to excess; live it up.
cease
Stop; end; halt.
celerity
Swift motion; speed; alacrity.
censorious
Critical; attacking; denouncing.
charlatan
Fraud; person claiming knowledge he/she does not have; humbug; fake; hustler.
chary
Careful; cautious.
chasten
Castigate; punish; reprove.
cherubic
Sweet; kind; innocent.
chimerical
Fanciful; whimsical; playful.
chronic
Compulsive; typical; habitual; inveterate.
churlish
Selfish; rancorous; surly.
circuitous
Indirect; roundabout; rambling.
clamor
Loud noise or complaint; commotion; din.
clandestine
Furtive; surreptitious; secret.
clemency
Lenience; mercy; compassion.
cloister
Convent; monastery; religious place.
coagulate
Congeal; curdle; clot.
coalesce
Combine; incorporate; merge.
coddle
Pamper; overindulge; baby; spoil.
coercion
Intimidation; duress; force; compulsion.
cognate
Related by blood; having the same origin.
commensurate
Equal in measure; of the same duration or size.
compile
Collect data; accumulate; amass.
concomitant
Concurrent; attendant; occurring with something else.
concordance
Agreement; treaty; accord.
confluence
Nexus; union; meeting; conflux.
confound
Perplex; baffle; confuse.
conglomerate
Corporation; partnership; firm.
conjugal
Matrimonial; nuptial; marital.
constrict
Squeeze; pinch; obstruct; block.
contentious
Argumentative; pugnacious; quarrelsome.
contrite
Penitent; apologetic; remorseful.
conundrum
Mystery; puzzle.
convoke
Convene; assemble.
copious
Plentiful; ample; profuse.
corpulence
Stoutness; obesity.
coterie
Small group of people who share interests and meet frequently.
crass
Vulgar; grossly ignorant; indelicate.
credulous
Gullible; unsuspecting; naive.
cryptic
Enigmatic; obscure; secret; puzzling.
ctenoid
Comblike; having narrow segments.
cuboid
Having the shape of a cube.
cucullate
Hood-shaped.
daub
Blur; smear; spread.
dawdle
Procrastinate; loiter; idle; dally.
dearth
Paucity; shortage; deficiency.
debased
Lowered in status or character; degenerate.
decipher
Solve or figure out a puzzle; translate; untangle.
declivity
Downward slope.
decorum
Appropriate conduct; polite or proper behavior; protocol.
delectable
Delicious; delightful; savory.
deleterious
Destructive; poisonous; unhealthy.
delineate
Describe; outline; depict.
delusion
Untrue belief; hallucination; fallacy; misconception.
demagogue
Incendiary; agitator; opportunist.
denounce
Reprove; accuse; condemn.
depravity
Perverted disposition; wickedness; vileness; corruption.
deprecatory
Disapproving; belittling;
desecrate
Contaminate; profane; defile.
desist
Discontinue or stop; cease; renounce.
desolate
Alone; without hope or comfort; forsaken.
despoil
Ravage; rob; loot.
despot
Dictator; tyrant; totalitarian.
diatribe
Extreme, bitter, and abusive speech; vituperation; tirade.
didactic
Pedantic; academic; for teaching.
diffidence
Self-doubt; timidity; shyness.
dilatory
Lackadaisical; lazy; remiss.
diligent
Assiduous; studious; hard-working.
diminution
Decrease; reduction.
disaffected
Disillusioned; dissatisfied; discontented.
disapprobation
Dislike; reservation; denunciation.
disband
Disperse; dissipate; scatter; dispel.
discontent
Unhappy; displeased; miserable.
discursive
Circuitous; digressive; rambling.
dishearten
Dismay; daunt; depress.
disinterment
Exhumation; removal of a body from a grave.
disoblige
Slight or offend.
disparage
Deprecate; belittle or abuse.
dispassionate
Imperturbable; unemotional; calm; composed.
disputatious
Quarrelsome; contentious; argumentative.
dissemble
Disguise; conceal; mask; camouflage.
dissension
Conflict; disagreement; strife.
dissonant
Cacophonous; inharmonious; discordant; strident.
dissuade
Obstruct; hinder; deter.
distend
Bloat, bulge; swell; stretch.
dither
Commotion; turmoil.
divination
Prediction; prophecy; forecast.
dolt
Cretin; fool; dimwit; idiot.
dotard
Senile person.
dubious
Irresolute; uncertain; moot.
duplicity
Cunning; fraud; trickery; deception.
edify
Instruct; enlighten; educate.
efface
Cancel; delete; obliterate.
effervescent
Lively; volatile.
effigy
Mannequin; likeness; image.
effrontery
Impudence; nerve; gall.
egregious
Flagrant; glaring; outrageous.
elegiac
Mournful; sorrowful; sad.
elucidate
Interpret; define; clarify; explain.
emanate
Radiate; flow from; emit.
emasculate
Deprive of strength.
embroil
Implicate; enmesh; involve.
emcee
Master of ceremonies.
empathize
Identify with; understand.
emulate
Model; pattern.
enervate
Exhaust or weaken; debilitate.
engender
Generate; produce; cause.
enigmatic
Cryptic; baffling; mysterious.
enmesh
Tangle or involve.
ennui
Dullness; boredom; monotony.
enthrall
Mesmerize; captivate; thrill.
entrench
Fortify; reinforce; secure.
ephemeral
Transitory; fleeting; passing; temporary.
epicure
Person devoted to luxurious living; person with refined tastes.
epithet
Word used to describe or characterize a person or thing.
equilibrium
Balance; stability; poise.
equivocate
Prevaricate; dodge; evade; hedge.
erudition
Learning; knowledge; enlightenment.
escapade
Adventurous conduct; unusual behavior.
esoteric
Confidential; personal; private; privileged.
espouse
Embrace; defend; support.
ethereal
Incorporeal; intangible; airy.
eulogy
Commendation; speech giving great tribute.
euphonic
Agreeable to the ear.
evanescent
Ephemeral; fading; brief.
exigent
Pressing; insistent; urgent.
exonerate
Acquit; vindicate; free from responsibility.
exorcise
Cast out evil spirits; expel demons.
expatriate
Send into exile; renounce one's own country.
expedite
Speed up matters; accelerate; quicken.
expunge
Obliterate; remove; erase; exterminate.
expurgate
Remove erroneous or objectionable material; delete; edit.
extemporaneous
Spontaneous; impromptu.
extol
Praise; laud; hail; glorify.
extradite
Transfer a person to another jurisdiction for possible prosecution for an alleged offense.
extricate
Remove; loosen; untie.
fallible
Faulty; imperfect.
fallow
Idle; dormant.
fastidious
Meticulous; exacting.
fathom
Measure; discover; perceive.
fatuous
Ludicrous; inane; idiotic; silly.
fecund
Prolific; productive; fruitful.
felicity
Great happiness; bliss.
fetid
Possessing an offensive smell; malodorous; foul; gamey.
fetter
Restrain; restrict; curb.
fickle
Capricious; erratic; spasmodic.
fledgling
Young or inexperienced person; young bird.
flippant
Nonchalant; frivolous; superficial; light.
florid
Ornate; flushed with rosy color; ruddy.
flout
Ridicule; scoff; mock; scorn.
foible
Frailty; imperfection; weakness.
forswear
Repudiate; forsake; eschew.
fulsome
Loathsome; excessive.
fume
Gas; vapor; harmful or irritating smoke.
furtive
Clandestine; secretive; surreptitious; covert.
gambol
Play; frolic; romp.
garble
Confuse; scramble; distort.
garish
Gaudy; ostentatious; excessive.
garner
Collect; receive; attain; acquire.
giddy
Scatterbrained; silly; frivolous.
goad
Incite; pressure; irk; arouse; awaken.
grandiloquence
Pompous or bombastic speech; lofty, welling language.
grisly
Frightening; ghastly; gory; hideous.
grovel
Act in a servile way; cringe; kneel.
guile
Wiliness; deceit; cunning.
guzzle
Gulp; swill; consume to excess.
hackneyed
Trite; common; overdone; banal.
haggle
Dicker; barter; make a deal.
hallow
Make holy; consecrate; sanctify.
hamper
Hinder; frustrate; impede.
harbor
Preserve; conceal; secure; shelter.
hardy
Stalwart; robust; sturdy.
haughty
Arrogant; disdainful; blatantly proud; contemptuous.
hearten
Encourage; give strength.
hedge
Enclose; surround; fence.
hedonism
Intemperance; self-indulgence; excess.
herald
Announce; broadcast; report.
heretic
Nihilist; infidel; radical; dissenter.
hiatus
Interruption; pause; gap.
hilarity
Boisterous merriment; enjoyment.
histrionic
Pertaining to actors; melodramatic.
hoary
Frosted; grey; grizzled.
hyperbole
Exaggeration; fanciful statement; enhancement.
iconoclasm
Attack on religious values or symbols.
ignoramus
Moron; fool; dimwit.
immutable
Incorruptible; enduring; unchanging.
impecunious
Poor; destitute; penniless.
imperturbable
Even-tempered; level-headed; calm.
impervious
Airtight; sealed; impenetrable.
impetuous
Hasty; rash; impulsive.
impregnable
Invincible; invulnerable; unable to be captured or entered.
impromptu
Makeshift; spontaneous.
improvident
Reckless; rash.
impugn
Denounce; censor; attack.
inauspicious
Unfavorable.
inaudible
Faint; soft; hard to hear.
incipient
Embryonic; developing; in the beginning stages.
incisive
Perceptive; astute.
inclusive
All-encompassing; broad in scope; comprehensive.
incoherent
Illogical; inconsistent.
incongruous
Inconsistent; unsuitable; contradictory.
incorrigible
Unruly; delinquent; incapable of reform.
indecorous
Inappropriate; indelicate; unseemly.
indefatigable
Diligent; persistent; inexhaustible.
indenture
Contract binding a person to work for another.
indolence
Lethargy; idleness; sloth.
inebriation
Drunkenness; intoxication.
ingenuous
Genuine; open; candid; frank.
inimical
Antagonistic; hurtful; harmful; adverse.
innocuous
Dull; harmless; innocent.
inscrutable
Mysterious; perplexing.
insipid
Dull; banal; tasteless.
insolvent
Bankrupt; unable to pay debts.
intercede
Intervene; negotiate.
intonate
Speak or utter with a particular tone.
intractable
Unruly; disobedient.
intrinsic
Inherent; natural; innate.
inveigh
Abuse; criticize; rebuke.
inveterate
Habitual; chronic.
irascible
Testy; touchy; irritable.
issue
Discharge; emerge; emanate.
jettison
Eliminate; discharge.
jollity
Gaiety; merriment.
judicious
Logical; reasonable; clever.
juncture
Joint; seam; intersection; joining.
juxtapose
Place side by side.
kinetic
Caused by motion; dynamic.
kitsch
Art or writing of a pretentious but shallow nature.
kiosk
A small structure used as a newsstand, bandstand, etc.
knave
A dishonest, deceitful person; a rogue.
knotty
Snarled; tangled.
knoll
Hillock; mound.
kudos
Credit or praise for an achievement; glory.
labyrinth
Maze; network; puzzle.
lachrymose
Weepy; tearful.
laconic
Concise; terse; curt.
lamentation
Complaint; moan.
lampoon
Mock; ridicule.
languish
Decline; diminish; weaken.
largess
Charity; philanthropy; gift.
lassitude
Fatigue; weariness; debility.
laudable
Commendable; admirable; exemplary.
laxity
Carelessness; indifference.
lethargy
Idleness; listlessness; passivity.
levity
Lightness; frivolity.
linger
Loiter; remain; hesitate.
lithe
Flexible; agile; mobile; bendable.
loutish
Clumsy; idiotic; buffoonlike.
ludicrous
Outlandish; silly; ridiculous.
lurid
Shockingly vivid; horrifying; sensational.
maladroit
Clumsy; unskilled.
malapropism
Inappropriate or ludicrous use of a word.
malevolent
Venomous; spiteful; malignant.
malinger
Feign illness to escape work; shirk.
marred
Having blemishes; damaged; defaced.
maudlin
Overemotional; mushy.
meander
Twist; bend; zigzag.
mendicant
Almsman; beggar; leech; parasite.
meticulous
Precise; scrupulous; particular.
mettle
Stamina; bravery; courage.
mince
Chop; mitigate.
mire
Mud; slime; muck.
moribund
Failing; waning; ailing.
motley
Multicolored; spotted; mixed.
multifarious
Diverse; many-sided; multiple.
mundane
Boring; ordinary; typical; tedious.
munificent
Generous; extravagant; philanthropic.
nadir
Lowest point.
naive
Foolishly simple; childlike.
nascent
Beginning; embryonic; incipient.
nebulous
Unclear; vague; indefinite.
needle
Provoke.
nefarious
Evil; vile; sinister; wicked.
nemesis
Just punishment; retribution.
neologism
Newly coined phrase or expression.
noisome
Noxious to health.
noxious
Harmful; malignant.
obdurate
Stubborn; intractable.
obsequious
Servile; groveling.
obviate
Make unnecessary.
odious
Detestable; loathsome; revolting; sickening.
officious
Meddlesome.
opaque
Impenetrable by light; dull; dark; obscure.
optimum
Peak or prime; ideal.
opulent
Affluent; well-to-do; plentiful.
ostentatious
Conspicuous; showy.
ostracize
Exclude; isolate; bar; shun.
palpable
Noticeable; obvious; apparent.
paltry
Minor; petty; insignificant.
panegyric
Elaborate praise, public compliment.
paragon
Model or standard of excellence.
pariah
Outcast; misfit; refugee.
parochial
Religious; restricted.
parsimony
Miserliness; unusually excessive frugality.
partisan
Fan or supporter; enthusiast supporting a particular cause or issue.
pastiche
Hodgepodge; literary or musical piece imitating other works.
paucity
Scarcity; shortage; dearth.
peccadillo
Small sin or fault.
pedantic
Stuffy or dogmatic; meticulous; academic.
peevish
Irritable; grouchy; ill-tempered.
pejorative
Degrading; derogatory; negative.
percipient
Able to perceive or see things as they actually are.
perfidy
Deliberate breach of faith or trust; treachery.
peripheral
Marginal; outer; surrounding.
perspicacious
Astute; keen; perceptive.
philistine
Barbarian; person lacking artistic judgment.
pique
Irritate; miff; offend.
pithy
1. Substantial; profound. 2. Brief; concise.
placid
Sincere; tranquil; composed; sedate.
plaintive
Sad; mournful; pathetic.
platitude
1. Triteness. 2. Cliche; trivial remark.
plaudit
Enthusiastic expression.
pliable
Limber; malleable; flexible.
poignant
Intense; powerful; biting; piercing.
polemical
Controversial; argumentative; debatable.
polyphony
Music with two or more melodies blended together.
porous
Permeable; absorbent; having holes.
posthumous
Arising or continuing after someone's death.
potable
Drinkable.
prattle
Gab; babble.
precocious
Showing premature development.
precursor
Forerunner.
prescient
Showing foresight; predicting events before they occur.
primeval
Belonging to a primitive age.
primordial
Belonging to a primitive age; first in time.
proclivity
Tendency; inclination; propensity.
procrastinate
Postpone; stall; defer.
prodigious
Exceptional; impressive; of huge quantity; immense.
proficient
Skillful; masterful; expert.
progeny
Heir; descendant; offspring.
prolific
Fruitful; abundant; fertile.
rescind
Cancel; repeal; veto.
resilient
Elastic; stretchy; rebounding.
resonant
Reverberant; ringing.
resplendent
Dazzling; glorious; intense.
restive
Nervous; restless; uneasy.
retrospection
Contemplation of past things.
reverent
Devout; solemn; worshipful.
ribald
Lewd; obscene; irreverent.
rudiment
Beginning; foundation or source.
ruffian
Brutal person; cruel and sadistic person.
ruminate
Contemplate; think about.
saccharine
Sugary; syrupy.
savant
Intellectual; scholar; philosopher.
scanty
Meager; scarce.
scoff
Mock; ridicule.
sequester
Separate; isolate; segregate.
soporific
Hypnotic; lethargic; causing sleep.
spurious
Bogus; false.
spurn
Defy; reject.
squalor
1. Severe poverty. 2. Filthiness.
stratagem
Plot; tactic; deception.
strident
Discordant; harsh; piercing.
strife
Conflict; turmoil; struggle.
stultify
Inhibit; make ineffective; cripple.
supercilious
Egotistic; proud; arrogant.
surfeit
Overabundance; excess; surplus.
surly
Choleric; rude; sullen.
surreptitious
Covert; furtive; acquired by stealthy means.
svelte
Graceful; slim.
sybarite
Someone devoted to luxury; pleasure-seeker.
sycophant
Flatterer.
taciturn
Reserved; shy; uncommunicative.
tantamount
Indistinguishable; equivalent.
taper
Diminish; thin; narrow.
tawdry
Gaudy; showy; loud.
temerity
Rashness; audacity; recklessness.
tensile
Pertaining to tension; stretchable; ductile.
tenuous
Attenuated; flimsy; thin.
tirade
Diatribe; angry speech.
torpor
Lethargy; apathy; dormancy.
trepidation
Anxiety; alarm; apprehension.
truant
Indolent; absent; idle.
turgid
Swollen; bombastic; distended.
turpitude
Depravity; baseness; shamefulness.
undulate
Move in a wavy manner.
unfathomable
Baffling; puzzling; incomprehensible.
unkempt
Uncombed; messy; untidy.
unscathed
Unhurt; uninjured.
unwieldy
Clumsy; awkward; unmanageable.
upbraid
Rebuke; scold; criticize.
upshot
Final result; conclusion; end.
vacillate
Hedge; waver; fluctuate.
variegated
Multicolored; polychromic; varied.
vehement
Fierce; emphatic; intense.
venerate
Admire; show respect.
veracity
Truth; sincerity; honesty; candor.
verbose
Wordy; talkative; profuse.
verdant
Lush; thick with vegetation; leafy.
viable
Living; alive; feasible.
vigilance
Attentiveness; prudence; care.
vilify
Defame; denigrate.
virulent
Fatal; lethal; toxic.
vitriolic
Scathing; caustic.
vociferous
Clamorous; outspoken; noisy; vocal.
voluble
Verbose; wordy; garrulous.
voluminous
Huge; immense; bulky.
voracious
1. Enthusiastic; overly eager. 2. Starving.
vouchsafe
Confer; grant; permit.
wan
Anemic; colorless; pale.
waver
Totter; fluctuate.
whet
Stimulate; sharpen; intensify.
wistful
Yearning; pensive; sad.
woe
Anguish; grief; affliction.
writhe
Squirm; twist.
xenophobe
One who dislikes strangers or foreigners.
yeoman
Peasant; ordinary person.
yore
Time long past.
yowl
Long, mournful cry or howl.
zealot
Fanatic; radical; enthusiast.
zenith
Apex; summit; peak.
curmudgeon
Cantankerous person.