Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Grubers List
Gruber's Complete Guide 2015 GRE
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| aback | (preceded by taken) surprised; startled |
| abandon | to leave; to give up; to discontinue |
| abase | to humiliate; to humble; to lower |
| abash | ashamed; embarrassed |
| abate | to lessen; to decrease |
| abdicate | to yield; to give up |
| abduct | to take away; to kidnap |
| aberration | abnormality; deviation |
| abet | to aid; to encourage |
| abeyance | a temporary postponement |
| abhor | to hate; to detest |
| abide | (two meanings) to remain; to put up with |
| abject | miserable; wretched |
| abjure | to give up (rights) |
| ablution | a washing; cleansing |
| abnegate | to deny; to reject |
| abolition | doing away with; putting an end to |
| abominate | to detest; to dislike strongly |
| aborigine | original inhabitant |
| abortive | unsuccessful |
| abound | to be large in number |
| aboveboard | honest; frank; open |
| abrade | to wear away |
| abridge | to shorten |
| abrogate | to abolish; to repeal |
| abscond | to leave secretly; to flee |
| absolve | to free from responsibility |
| abstemious | moderate or sparing in eating or drinking |
| abstinence | self-denial; resistance to temptation |
| abstract | (two meanings) a summary (noun); to remove (verb) |
| abstruse | hard to understand |
| absurd | ridiculous; unreasonable |
| abut | to touch; to rest on or against |
| abysmal | wretched; extremely bad |
| abyss | a bottomless pit; anything infinite |
| academic | (two meanings) pertaining to school; theoretical or unrealistic |
| accede | to agree to |
| accelerate | to speed up; to move faster |
| accessible | easy to approach; open |
| access | approach; admittance |
| accessory | something additional |
| acclaim | to greet with approval |
| acclimate | to adapt; to get used to |
| acclivity | upward slope |
| accolade | honor; award; approval |
| accommodate | to make fit; to help |
| accomplice | a partner in crime |
| accord | agreement |
| accost | to approach and speak to |
| accoutrement | equipment; outfit |
| accredit | to approve; to certify |
| accretion | an increase; an addition |
| accrue | to gather; to accumulate |
| acerbic | (two meanings) sharp or bitter in smell or taste; sharpness of temper or words |
| Achilles’ heel | a weakness |
| acknowledge | to admit; to confess |
| acme | highest point; peak |
| acoustics | the branch of physics dealing with sound |
| acquiesce | to agree; to consent |
| acquit | to free of guilt; to clear |
| acrid | bitter to the taste or smell; sarcastic |
| acrimonious | harsh in speech or behavior |
| acronym | word formed from initials |
| acrophobia | fear of heights |
| actuate | to put into motion or action |
| acumen | mental keenness; shrewdness |
| acute | sharp; keen |
| ad infinitum | endlessly; forever |
| ad lib | to act or speak without preparation |
| adage | a familiar saying |
| adamant | stubborn; unyielding |
| adapt | to adjust; to change |
| addendum | something added as a supplement |
| addled | confused |
| adduce | to give an example in proving something |
| adept | highly skilled |
| adherent | (two meanings) sticking fast (adjective); a follower or a supporter (noun) |
| adipose | fatty |
| adjacent | near; close; adjoining |
| adjudicate | to judge |
| adjunct | a subordinate; an assistant |
| admonish | to warn |
| ado | fuss; trouble |
| Adonis | a very handsome man |
| adorn | to dress up; to decorate |
| adroit | skillful; clever |
| adulation | excessive praise or flattery |
| adulterate | to make impure |
| advent | an arrival; a coming |
| adventitious | accidental; nonessential |
| adversary | enemy; opponent |
| adversity | a misfortune; distress |
| advocate | to recommend; to defend |
| aegis | a shield; protection; sponsorship |
| aesthetic | pertaining to beauty |
| affable | friendly; agreeable |
| affectation | a phony attitude; insincerity |
| affiliate | to associate or to unite with |
| affinity | attraction to |
| affirmation | a statement that something is true |
| affix | to attach |
| affliction | great suffering; hardship |
| affluence | wealth |
| affront | an insult |
| aftermath | outcome; result |
| agape | open-mouthed; surprised |
| agenda | a list or program of things to be done |
| aggrandize | to enlarge or to expand |
| aggravate | to worsen an already bad situation; to intensify |
| aggregate | to collect; to gather together |
| aghast | shocked; terrified |
| agile | able to move quickly |
| agitate | to upset; to stir up |
| agnostic | one who doubts the existence of God |
| agoraphobia | fear of open places |
| agrarian | pertaining to farmers and agriculture |
| ague | a fever; plague |
| alacrity | liveliness; willingness |
| albatross | (two meanings) a seabird; a constant burden |
| albeit | although |
| alchemy | chemistry of the Middle Ages |
| alias | an assumed name |
| alien | strange; foreign |
| alienate | to make others unfriendly to you |
| alimentary | furnishing food or nourishment |
| allay | to relieve or to calm |
| alleged | so-called; supposed |
| allegory | a symbolic work of literature |
| allegro | rapid; quick |
| alleviate | to lessen; to relieve |
| allocate | to set aside for a specific purpose |
| allude | to hint at; to refer to indirectly |
| alluring | tempting; fascinating; charming |
| alluvial | pertaining to a deposit of sand formed by flowing water |
| aloft | up in the air; high |
| aloof | reserved; cool; indifferent |
| alter | to change |
| altercation | an argument; a disagreement |
| altruism | unselfishness; concern for others |
| amalgamate | to combine; to unite; to blend |
| amass | to accumulate; to collect |
| amazon | a big, strong, masculine woman |
| ambidextrous | equally skillful with either hand |
| ambient | surrounding; on all sides |
| ambiguous | unclear; open to more than one interpretation |
| ambivalence | conflicting feelings toward something or someone |
| ambrosial | pleasing to the taste or smell |
| ambulatory | moving about; capable of walking |
| ambuscade | hidden or secret attack |
| ameliorate | to improve; to make better |
| amenable | agreeable; responsive |
| amend | to change; to alter |
| amenities | courtesies; social graces; pleasantries |
| amiable | friendly; pleasant |
| amicable | friendly; agreeable |
| amiss | wrong; faulty; improper |
| amity | friendship |
| amnesty | official pardon for an offense |
| amoral | lacking a sense of right and wrong |
| amorous | loving |
| amorphous | shapeless |
| amphibious | able to live on both land and water |
| ample | roomy; abundant |
| amplify | to make larger or greater |
| amulet | a charm worn to keep evil away |
| anachronism | something out of place or time |
| analgesic | drug that relieves pain |
| analogy | similarity or comparison |
| anarchy | absence of government |
| anathema | a curse; a person or thing to be avoided |
| ancillary | helping; subordinate |
| anecdote | a short, entertaining story |
| anent | regarding; concerning |
| anguish | great suffering or grief |
| anhydrous | without water |
| animadversion | criticism; comment that opposes |
| animate | to give life to |
| animosity | hatred; hostility |
| animus | hostile feeling |
| annals | historical records |
| anneal | to heat and then cool; to toughen |
| annihilate | to totally destroy |
| annuity | specified income payable at stated intervals |
| annul | to cancel; to do away with |
| anomalous | abnormal; inconsistent |
| anon | soon |
| anoxia | lack of oxygen |
| antecedent | that which goes before something else |
| antediluvian | very old-fashioned; primitive |
| anterior | located in front or forward |
| anteroom | a lobby or waiting room |
| anthem | song of praise |
| anthology | collection of literary works |
| anthropoid | resembling man |
| anthropomorphic | attributing human form to objects, gods, etc. |
| antic | playful or silly act; prank |
| anticlimax | something unimportant coming after something important |
| antidote | a remedy; a counteractive |
| antipathy | intense dislike |
| antipodes | opposite sides (of the earth) |
| antiquated | ancient; extremely old |
| antithesis | an exact opposite |
| apathy | indifference; lack of feeling |
| ape | (two meanings) a monkey (noun); to imitate or to mimic (verb) |
| aperture | an opening; a gap |
| apex | the highest point; summit |
| aphasia | loss of the ability to speak |
| aphorism | brief saying; proverb |
| apiary | place where bees are kept |
| aplomb | self-confidence; poise |
| apocryphal | doubtful; not authentic |
| apogee | farthest point away from the earth |
| apoplexy | sudden loss of consciousness; paralysis |
| apostate | one who gives up his beliefs |
| apothecary | druggist |
| apothegm | brief instructive saying |
| apotheosis | glorification of a person to the rank of God |
| appall | to frighten; to cause loss of courage |
| apparel | clothing; attire |
| apparition | a ghost |
| appease | to soothe; to satisfy |
| appellation | a name |
| append | to attach; to add |
| apposite | appropriate |
| apprehend | (two meanings) to seize; to understand |
| apprehensive | fearful; anxious |
| apprise | to inform |
| approbation | approval |
| appropriate | to take possession of (verb); suitable (adjective) |
| appurtenance | something added to another more important thing |
| apropos | relevant; appropriate; fitting |
| aptitude | ability |
| aquatic | pertaining to water |
| aquiline | like an eagle; curved or hooked |
| arable | good for farming |
| arbiter | a judge; an umpire |
| arbitrary | partial; biased |
| arbor | a shaded area |
| arcane | mysterious |
| archaic | outdated; old-fashioned |
| archaeology | study of remains of past cultures |
| archetype | original; first of its kind |
| archipelago | group of islands |
| archives | public records and documents |
| ardent | intensely enthusiastic |
| arduous | difficult; strenuous |
| aria | a solo in an opera |
| arid | dry |
| armistice | a truce; suspension of hostilities |
| aromatic | pleasant-smelling |
| arraign | to accuse |
| arrant | notorious; downright |
| array | an orderly arrangement |
| arrears | (preceded by in) in debt |
| arrogant | proud; haughty |
| arroyo | a deep ditch caused by running water |
| arson | illegal burning of property |
| artful | cunning; tricky; crafty |
| articulate | to speak clearly |
| artifact | a handmade object |
| artifice | trick; deception |
| artisan | one skilled in arts and crafts |
| ascendant | rising |
| ascertain | to find out; to determine |
| ascetic | one who denies his body pleasure and comfort |
| ascribe | to attribute; to credit as to a cause or source |
| aseptic | without bacteria |
| asinine | stupid; silly |
| askance | (preceded by to look) sidewise; suspiciously |
| askew | crooked; out of position |
| asperity | harshness; roughness |
| aspersion | a damaging remark |
| aspire | to desire; to have an ambition |
| assail | to attack; to assault |
| assay | to test; to try |
| assent | to agree; to accept |
| assertive | confident; positive |
| assess | to estimate the value of |
| assiduity | diligence; care |
| assimilate | to absorb |
| assuage | to calm; to make less severe |
| asteroid | a very small planet |
| astral | pertaining to the stars |
| astray | in the wrong direction |
| astringent | substance that contracts blood vessels or shrinks tissues |
| astute | shrewd; very smart |
| asunder | into separate parts |
| asylum | a safe place; a refuge |
| atavistic | going back to behavior found in a remote ancestor |
| atheist | one who denies God’s existence |
| atlas | book of maps |
| atone | to make up for; to repent |
| atrocious | cruel; brutal |
| atrophy | to waste away; to become useless |
| attenuated | decreased; weakened |
| attest | to confirm; to declare to be correct |
| attribute | (two meanings) to credit or assign to (verb); a characteristic or trait (noun) |
| attrition | a wearing down or away; a decline |
| atypical | abnormal; not usual |
| au | courant up-to-date; fully informed |
| audacity | boldness; daring |
| audible | capable of being heard |
| audit | to examine accounts |
| augment | to increase; to make greater |
| augur | to predict |
| august | majestic; worthy of respect; impressive |
| aura | a radiance; a glow |
| aural | pertaining to the sense of hearing |
| auroral | rosy; pertaining to the dawn |
| auspices | approval; support |
| auspicious | favorable |
| austere | severe; stern; self-disciplined |
| authenticate | to confirm; to make acceptable |
| authoritative | dictatorial; having power |
| autocratic | despotic; unlimited in authority |
| automaton | self-operating machine; robot |
| autonomy | self-rule |
| autumnal | mature; declining |
| auxiliary | giving assistance; subordinate |
| avarice | greed |
| avenge | to get even; to take revenge |
| aver | to declare; to state firmly |
| averse | reluctant; not willing |
| aversion | intense dislike |
| avert | to prevent; to turn away |
| aviary | place where birds are kept |
| avid | enthusiastic |
| avocation | a hobby; not one’s regular work |
| avoirdupois | heaviness; weight |
| avow | to declare openly |
| avuncular | like an uncle |
| awe | (in awe of ) great admiration for or fear of |
| awry | twisted to one side; in the wrong direction |
| axiom | true statement; established principle |
| azure | blue |
| bacchanalian | wild with drunkenness |
| badger | to nag; to annoy |
| badinage | playful, teasing talk |
| baffle | to confuse; to bewilder |
| bagatelle | thing of little value; trifle |
| bait | (two meanings) to entrap or to seduce (verb); a decoy (noun) |
| baleful | harmful; menacing; pernicious |
| balk | to stop short |
| balm | something that calms or soothes |
| balmy | (two meanings) mild and refreshing; mentally unstable (slang) |
| banal | common; ordinary; trite |
| bandy | to exchange (as words) |
| bane | cause of ruin, harm, or distress |
| banter | teasing; good-natured joking |
| barb | a pointed part, as of an arrow or fishhook |
| barbarous | uncultured; crude |
| bard | a poet |
| bark | a boat or sailing vessel |
| baroque | overdecorated; showy |
| barrage | heavy attack |
| barrister | lawyer (British) |
| bask | to lie in or be exposed to warmth |
| bastion | a strong defense; a fort |
| bauble | showy but useless thing; trinket |
| bawdy | indecent; humorously obscene |
| bayou | marshy body of water |
| beacon | a light used for warning or guiding |
| beatitude | state of bliss |
| bedlam | (two meanings) a madhouse; a noisy uproar |
| befuddle | to confuse; to perplex |
| beget | to produce |
| begrudge | to resent another’s success or enjoyment |
| beguile | to deceive; to charm |
| behemoth | huge animal |
| beholden | obligated; indebted |
| belated | delayed or detained |
| beleaguer | to encircle (with an army); to annoy |
| belittle | to put down; to humiliate |
| belligerent | warlike; quarrelsome |
| bellow | to yell loudly |
| benediction | blessing |
| benefactor | one who helps or supports another |
| beneficiary | one who receives benefits or profits |
| benevolent | generous; kindly |
| benign | harmless; gentle |
| benignant | kindly; gentle |
| bequeath | to hand down; to pass on to |
| berate | to scold severely |
| bereave | to leave in a sad or lonely state; to deprive by force |
| berserk | frenzied; violently destructive |
| beseech | to beg; appeal to |
| beset | to attack |
| besiege | to overwhelm; to close in on |
| besmirch | to make dirty |
| bestial | savage; brutal |
| bestow | to give or present |
| bestride | to mount (a horse) |
| betrothed | engaged; pledged to marry |
| bevy | a large group |
| bewitch | to cast a spell on; to charm; to fascinate |
| bias | preference; prejudice |
| bibliophile | lover of books |
| bibulous | absorbent; fond of alcoholic beverages |
| bicker | to quarrel |
| bide | (one’s time) to wait for a favorable opportunity |
| biennial | occurring every two years |
| bigot | a narrow-minded, prejudiced person |
| bilious | bad-tempered; cross |
| bilk | to cheat; to swindle |
| binge | a spree; wild party |
| biped | two-legged animal |
| bivouac | temporary shelter |
| bizarre | weird; strange |
| blanch | to whiten; to make pale |
| bland | mild; tasteless; dull |
| blandishment | flattery |
| blasé | bored with life; unexcited; indifferent |
| blasphemy | disrespect for holy places, people, or things; irreverence |
| blatant | annoyingly conspicuous; offensively noisy and loud |
| blazon | to display; to proclaim |
| bleak | unsheltered; gloomy |
| bleary | blurred; dimmed |
| blight | destruction; withering; disease |
| bliss | extreme happiness |
| blithe | carefree; lighthearted |
| bludgeon | a short, heavy club (noun); to bully or coerce (verb) |
| blunt | (two meanings) abrupt in speech or manner; having a dull edge |
| blurt | (out) to utter suddenly or indiscreetly |
| bluster | to speak noisily; to boast |
| bode | to indicate in advance, as an omen does |
| bog | (two meanings) a swamp (noun); to sink or become stuck in (verb) |
| bogus | false; fake |
| bolster | to prop up; to support |
| bolt | to dash out suddenly; to discontinue support of |
| bombastic | using impressive but meaningless language |
| bon | mot witty remark |
| bona | fide genuine; in good faith |
| bondage | slavery |
| boon | a benefit; a blessing; a favor |
| boor | a rude or impolite person |
| booty | stolen money or goods |
| boreal | northern |
| borne | carried; put up with |
| botch | to mess up; to perform clumsily |
| bountiful | plentiful; abundant |
| bounty | reward; generosity |
| bourgeoisie | middle class |
| bovine | pertaining to cows or cattle |
| bowdlerize | to censor; to remove offensive passages of a play, novel, etc. |
| braggart | one who boasts |
| brandish | to shake or wave a weapon aggressively |
| brash | offensively bold; rude |
| bravado | a show of courage; false bravery |
| brawn | muscular strength |
| brazen | shameless or impudent |
| breach | a violation; a gap |
| breadth | width |
| brethren | brothers |
| brevity | briefness |
| brigand | a robber |
| brine | salt water |
| brisk | lively; quick |
| bristling | showing irritation |
| broach | to introduce (a subject) |
| brochure | a pamphlet |
| bronchial | pertaining to the windpipe |
| browbeat | to bully; to intimidate |
| bruit | to spread the news |
| brunt | shock, force, or impact, as of a blow |
| brusque | abrupt in manner, blunt; rough |
| buccaneer | a pirate |
| bucolic | pertaining to the countryside; rural |
| buffoon | clown or fool |
| bugbear | something causing fear |
| bulbous | swollen; shaped like a bulb |
| bulwark | a strong defense |
| bumptious | conceited; arrogant |
| bungle | to do things clumsily or badly |
| buoy | (two meanings) a floating object (noun); to encourage (verb) |
| buoyant | (two meanings) able to float; lighthearted and lively |
| bureaucracy | system of government through departments |
| burgeon | to flourish; to grow rapidly |
| burlesque | a speech or action that treats a serious subject with ridicule |
| burly | muscular; husky |
| burnish | to polish |
| buttress | any prop or support |
| cabal | a small, secret group |
| cache | a hiding place |
| cacophony | harsh or unpleasant sound |
| cadaverous | pale; ghastly; corpselike |
| cadence | rhythm; beat |
| caesura | pause |
| cajole | to coax; to persuade |
| calamitous | causing trouble or misery; disastrous |
| caliber | degree of worth |
| calligraphy | fancy handwriting |
| callous | unyielding; insensitive |
| callow | young and inexperienced |
| calumny | a false accusation; slander |
| camaraderie | loyalty; friendship |
| canard | a false story, report, or rumor |
| candor | honesty; openness; frankness |
| canine | pertaining to dogs |
| canny | shrewd |
| canon | rule; law; standard |
| cant | insincere statements usually made in a singsong tone |
| cantankerous | bad-tempered; quarrelsome |
| canter | smooth, easy pace; gallop |
| canvass | to make a survey |
| capacious | spacious; roomy |
| capitulate | to surrender |
| capricious | erratic; impulsive |
| captious | hard to please; faultfinding |
| captivate | to capture; to charm; to fascinate |
| carapace | shell; hard, protective covering |
| carcinogenic | causing cancer |
| cardinal | principal; chief |
| careen | to swerve; to dip to one side |
| caricature | an exaggerated portrayal |
| carnage | slaughter; massacre |
| carnal | sensual; sexual |
| carnivorous | flesh-eating |
| carouse | to engage in a noisy, drunken party |
| carp | (two meanings) a type of fish (noun); to complain (verb) |
| carrion | decaying flesh |
| carte | blanche freedom to use one’s own judgment |
| cartel | association of business firms |
| cartographer | mapmaker |
| cascade | a waterfall |
| caste | social class |
| castigate | to punish |
| casualty | (two meanings) an accident; one who is hurt in an accident |
| cataclysm | a violent change |
| catacomb | underground burial place |
| catalyst | person or thing that speeds up a result |
| cataract | (two meanings) large waterfall; abnormality of the eye |
| catastrophe | disaster; calamity |
| cathartic | cleansing |
| catholic | universal; wide-ranging |
| caucus | a private meeting |
| caustic | sarcastic; severely critical; corrosive |
| cauterize | to burn |
| cavalcade | a procession; a sequence of events |
| cavalier | a haughty and casually indifferent person |
| caveat | a warning |
| cavil | to quibble; to argue |
| cavort | to leap about; to frolic |
| celerity | speed; swiftness |
| celestial | heavenly |
| celibate | unmarried |
| censure | to criticize sharply |
| centrifugal | moving away from the center |
| cerebration | thinking; using one’s brain |
| certitude | sureness; certainty |
| cessation | a stopping; a discontinuance |
| chafe | to irritate; to annoy |
| chaff | worthless matter |
| chagrin | embarrassment; complete loss of courage |
| chameleon | (two meanings) a lizard able to change its skin color; a changeable or fickle person |
| champ | (verb) to bite impatiently; to show impatience (to champ at the bit) |
| chaos | complete disorder |
| charisma | great appeal or attraction |
| charlatan | a fake; a quack |
| charnel | cemetery; tomb |
| chary | (of ) careful; cautious |
| chasm | a wide gap |
| chaste | pure; virtuous |
| chastise | to punish; to purify |
| chattel | slave |
| chauvinism | fanatical devotion to one’s country, sex, religion, etc. |
| cherub | angel; an innocent person |
| chic | stylish; fashionable |
| chicanery | trickery; deception |
| chide | to scold |
| chimerical | imaginary; fantastic; unreal |
| chirography | the art of handwriting |
| chivalrous | courteous; courageous; loyal |
| choleric | easily angered |
| chronic | long-lasting |
| churlish | rude; ill-bred |
| cipher | person or thing of no value; zero |
| circuitous | roundabout; indirect |
| circumlocution | roundabout way of speaking |
| circumscribe | to encircle; to limit or confine |
| circumspect | cautious; careful |
| circumvent | to surround or entrap; to go around or bypass |
| citadel | a fortress |
| cite | to quote a passage, book, author, etc.; to refer to an example |
| civility | politeness |
| clairvoyant | having great insight; keenly perceptive |
| clamber | to climb with effort or difficulty |
| clamor | noise |
| clandestine | secretive; private |
| clangor | harsh ringing sound |
| clarify | to make clear |
| clarion | clear and shrill |
| claustrophobia | fear of enclosed spaces |
| cleave | (two meanings) to split something apart; to stick or cling to something |
| cleft | split; divided |
| clemency | mercy; leniency |
| cliché | a trite or worn-out expression |
| clientele | customers |
| climax | highest point |
| clime | climate; region |
| clique | a small, exclusive group |
| cloistered | secluded; confined |
| clout | (colloquial) power; influence |
| cloven | divided; split |
| coadjutor | assistant; helper |
| coalesce | to blend; to merge; to fuse |
| coddle | to treat tenderly |
| coerce | to force |
| coffer | a strongbox |
| cog | a gear tooth; a minor part |
| cogent | convincing |
| cogitate | to think; to consider carefully |
| cognate | related; relevant |
| cognizant | aware |
| cognomen | family name; last name |
| coherent | logically connected; consistent |
| cohesive | tending to stick |
| cohort | colleague; associate; partner |
| coincide | to occur simultaneously |
| collaborate | to work together; to cooperate |
| collage | collection of various bits and pieces (usually artistic) |
| collate | to put together in order |
| collateral | security for payment of a loan |
| colloquial | informal |
| colloquy | conversation |
| collusion | conspiracy; agreement to commit a wrongful act |
| colossal | huge; enormous |
| combative | eager to fight; argumentative |
| combustible | capable of catching fire easily |
| comely | attractive |
| commemorative | honoring; remembering |
| commence | to begin |
| commendation | praise |
| commensurate | proportionate |
| commiserate | to express pity for |
| commodious | roomy; spacious |
| communal | shared; pertaining to a group of people |
| compact | (two meanings) firmly packed (adjective); a treaty (noun) |
| compassion | pity; sympathy |
| compatible | agreeable; harmonious |
| compel | to force |
| compendium | brief summary |
| compensatory | paying back; making up for |
| complacent | self-satisfied |
| complement | (note spelling, as compliment means to praise) to make whole; to complete |
| compliant | yielding; submissive |
| complicity | partnership in a wrongful act |
| components | ingredients; elements |
| composure | calmness of mind or manner |
| compulsory | required |
| compunction | uneasiness; remorse |
| compute | to calculate; to estimate |
| concave | hollow; curved inward |
| concede | to admit; to grant |
| concentrate | (two meanings) to think deeply; to increase in strength or degree |
| concentric | having a common center |
| conception | (two meanings) a beginning; original idea or plan |
| concession | allowance; the act of yielding |
| conciliate | to soothe the anger of; to win over |
| concise | brief and to the point |
| conclave | secret meeting |
| concoct | to invent; to devise |
| concomitant | accompanying; attending |
| concord | agreement; harmony |
| concourse | a crowd; a wide street |
| concur | to agree |
| condescend | to lower oneself to an inferior’s level |
| condign | deserved; suitable |
| condiment | seasoning; spices |
| condolence | expression of sorrow |
| condone | to excuse; to overlook |
| conducive | tending to or leading to |
| conduit | pipe or tube through which fluid or electricity passes |
| confidant | a close, trusted friend |
| configuration | shape; arrangement |
| confiscate | to seize by way of penalty |
| conflagration | a large and destructive fire |
| confluent | merging; flowing together |
| conformity | agreement; doing the same as others |
| confounded | confused; amazed |
| congeal | to freeze solid; to thicken |
| congenial | friendly; agreeable |
| congenital | existing at birth |
| conglomerate | mass; cluster; corporation |
| congregate | to gather; to assemble |
| congruent | in agreement |
| coniferous | bearing cones (pertaining to trees) |
| conjecture | to guess |
| conjugal | pertaining to marriage |
| conjure | to call upon or to command a devil or spirit to practice magic; cast a spell on |
| connivance | pretended ignorance of another’s wrongdoing; conspiracy |
| connoisseur | an expert |
| connote | to suggest or imply |
| connubial | pertaining to marriage |
| consanguinity | close relationship, usually by blood |
| consecrate | to make holy |
| consensus | general agreement, especially of opinion |
| console | (two meanings) a musical panel or unit (noun); to comfort (verb) |
| consolidate | to combine; to make or become solid |
| consonant | in agreement or harmony |
| consort | (two meanings) a husband or wife (noun); to associate or join (verb) |
| consternation | sudden confusion; panic |
| constituents | voters; supporters |
| constraints | restrictions; limits |
| constrict | to shrink; to bind |
| construe | to analyze; to interpret |
| consummate | to complete (verb); perfect (adjective) |
| contagious | likely to spread; infectious |
| contaminant | substance that pollutes or infects |
| contemn | to regard with scorn or contempt |
| contemporary | happening in the same time period; current |
| contemptuous | scornful |
| contentious | ready to argue; quarrelsome |
| contest | (three meanings) a competitive game (noun); to dispute (verb); to compete (verb) |
| contiguous | nearby; neighboring |
| contingent | possible |
| contort | to twist; to distort |
| contraband | smuggled or stolen goods |
| contrary | opposite |
| contravene | to go against; to oppose |
| contretemps | an embarrassing occurrence |
| contrite | sorrowful; penitent |
| controversial | debatable; questionable |
| contumacious | disobedient; obstinate |
| contumely | rudeness |
| contusion | a bruise |
| conundrum | a riddle |
| convalesce | to recover from an illness |
| convene | to come together; to assemble |
| conventional | ordinary; usual |
| converge | to come together; to meet in a point or line |
| conversant | familiar with |
| converse | (two meanings) to talk to someone (verb); the opposite (noun) |
| convex | curving outward |
| conveyance | a vehicle |
| convivial | sociable; friendly |
| convoke | to call together |
| convoluted | twisted; coiled |
| cope | (with) to deal with; to contend with |
| copious | plentiful; abundant |
| coquetry | flirtation |
| cordial | friendly; courteous |
| cornucopia | horn of plenty; abundance |
| corollary | inference; deduction; consequence |
| corona | crown; bright circle |
| corporeal | pertaining to the body |
| corpulent | fat; fleshy |
| corroborate | to strengthen; to confirm |
| corrosive | eating away, as an acid |
| corrugated | wrinkled; ridged; furrowed |
| cortege | funereal procession; group of followers |
| cosmic | pertaining to the universe; vast |
| cosmopolitan | worldly-wise; universal |
| coterie | close circle of friends |
| countenance | (two meanings) the face (noun); to permit, tolerate, or approve (verb) |
| countermand | to cancel an order |
| counterpart | duplicate; copy |
| coup | a brilliant move; a successful and sudden attack |
| courier | messenger |
| covenant | an agreement; a contract |
| covert | hidden; secretive |
| covet | to desire |
| cower | to tremble in fear |
| coy | shy; modest |
| cozen | to trick |
| crafty | sly; tricky |
| crass | stupid; unrefined |
| crave | to desire strongly |
| craven | cowardly |
| credence | belief; trust |
| credible | believable |
| credulity | readiness to believe; gullibility |
| creed | a religious belief |
| crescendo | gradual increase in intensity or loudness |
| crestfallen | dejected; humbled |
| crevice | an opening; a crack |
| cringe | to shrink back, as in fear |
| criterion | measure of value; standard of judging |
| crone | hag; withered old woman |
| crony | close friend |
| crotchety | grouchy; eccentric |
| crucial | extremely important; decisive |
| crucible | a severe test or trial |
| crux | the essential part |
| cryptic | mysterious; secretive |
| crystallize | to settle; to take on a definite form |
| cubicle | small compartment |
| cudgel | club; thick stick |
| cue | a hint; a signal |
| cuisine | style of cooking |
| culinary | pertaining to cooking |
| cull | to select; to pick |
| culminate | to result in; to reach the highest point |
| culpable | blameworthy |
| cumbersome | heavy; hard to handle because of size or weight |
| cumulative | collected; accumulated |
| cupidity | greed |
| curb | to control; to check |
| curry | to try to win favor by flattery |
| cursive | running or flowing |
| cursory | superficial; hasty |
| curtail | to cut short |
| cynic | one who is critical; a fault-finder |
| cynosure | center of attention |
| dais | platform; speaker’s stand |
| dale | valley |
| dally | to waste time |
| dank | chilly and wet |
| dappled | spotted |
| dastardly | sneaking and cowardly; shameful |
| daub | to smear; to cover over with paint, etc. |
| daunt | to discourage |
| dawdle | to waste time; to idle |
| de | facto in fact; in reality |
| deadlock | a standstill; a tie |
| dearth | a scarcity or lack |
| debacle | a complete failure; total collapse |
| debase | to lower in rank; to humiliate |
| debauch | to corrupt |
| debilitate | to weaken |
| debonair | pleasant; courteous; charming |
| debris | fragments; litter; rubble |
| debut | first public appearance |
| decadence | moral deterioration |
| decant | to pour off (a liquid) |
| decapitate | to behead |
| decelerate | to slow down |
| deciduous | not permanent; passing |
| decipher | decode; figure out the meaning of |
| declaim | to speak dramatically |
| declivity | downward slope |
| decompose | to decay; to break up into parts |
| decorum | appropriate social behavior |
| decoy | a person or thing that entices or lures, as into danger |
| decrepit | broken down by age or disease |
| decry | to speak out against |
| deduce | to reason out; to infer |
| deem | to think; to believe; to judge |
| defalcate | to misuse funds; to embezzle |
| defamatory | damaging another’s reputation with false remarks |
| default | to fail to pay a debt or to perform a task |
| defection | desertion |
| defer | to postpone; to put off |
| deference | respect |
| defile | to pollute; to corrupt |
| definitive | comprehensive; complete |
| deflect | to turn aside; to bend |
| defoliate | to strip of leaves |
| defray | to pay the cost of |
| deft | skillful |
| defunct | no longer in existence; extinct |
| degrade | to lower in degree or quality |
| deify | to idolize; to make godlike |
| deign | to lower oneself before an inferior |
| delectable | delicious; very pleasing |
| delete | to leave out; to cross out |
| deleterious | harmful |
| delineate | to describe; to depict |
| delirium | condition of mental disturbance; wild excitement |
| delude | to deceive; to mislead |
| deluge | a flood; a rush |
| delve | to search; to investigate |
| demagogue | a popular leader who appeals to the emotions |
| demean | to degrade; to lower |
| demeanor | behavior |
| demented | deranged; insane |
| demigod | a person who is partly a god and partly human |
| demise | death; ending |
| demography | study of population trends |
| demolish | to tear down |
| demoralize | to discourage; to cause to lose spirit |
| demur | to object; to take exception to |
| demure | shy |
| denigrate | to ruin the reputation of; to blacken |
| denizen | occupant; inhabitant; resident |
| denomination | the name or designation for a class of persons, such as a religious group |
| denouement | outcome; result |
| denounce | to publicly condemn |
| depict | to portray; to represent |
| depilate | to remove hair from |
| deplete | to use up gradually (resources, strength, etc.) |
| deplore | to regret |
| deploy | to place troops in position |
| depose | to remove from office |
| depraved | sinful; immoral |
| deprecate | to disapprove of |
| depreciate | to lessen in value |
| deranged | insane |
| derelict | (three meanings) abandoned (adjective); negligent (adjective); a vagrant or bum (noun) |
| deride | to ridicule |
| derision | ridicule |
| dermatology | study of skin diseases |
| derogatory | belittling |
| descry | to discover |
| desecrate | to damage a holy place |
| desiccate | to dry up; to wither |
| desist | to cease or stop |
| desolate | lonely; deserted |
| despicable | contemptible; hateful |
| despise | to scorn; to regard with disgust |
| despoil | to rob; to plunder |
| despondent | depressed; dejected |
| despot | a dictator |
| destitute | poor; lacking |
| desuetude | condition of disuse; extinction |
| desultory | wandering from subject to subject; rambling |
| détente | a lessening of tension or hostility |
| deter | to discourage; to hinder |
| detergent | a cleansing agent |
| detonate | explode |
| detoxify | remove the poison from |
| detract | to take away; to diminish |
| detriment | harm; damage |
| devastate | to destroy; to overwhelm |
| deviate | to turn aside; to digress |
| devious | sly; underhand |
| devoid | completely without |
| devotee | an enthusiastic follower |
| devout | religious; pious; sincere |
| dexterity | skill; cleverness |
| diabolical | devilish; cruel |
| diadem | crown |
| dialectic | logical discussion |
| diaphanous | transparent; very sheer and light |
| diatribe | bitter criticism |
| dichotomy | division into two parts |
| dicker | to bargain; to argue over prices |
| diction | style of speaking |
| dictum | a positive statement |
| didactic | instructive; inclined to lecture others too much |
| diffident | shy; modest |
| diffuse | to spread; to scatter |
| digress | to wander off the subject |
| dilapidated | broken down; falling apart |
| dilate | to expand; to become wider |
| dilatory | slow or late in doing things |
| dilemma | a troubling situation |
| dilettante | a dabbler in the fine arts; one who is not an expert |
| diligent | hard-working; industrious |
| diminutive | small |
| dint | power; force |
| dipsomaniac | drunkard |
| dire | dreadful; causing disaster |
| dirge | a funeral song or hymn |
| disarray | disorder; confusion |
| disavow | to disown; to deny; to repudiate |
| disburse | to pay out |
| discern | to distinguish; to recognize; to perceive |
| disciple | a follower |
| disclaimer | denial; renunciation |
| disclose | to reveal; to make known |
| discomfiture | frustration; confusion |
| disconcert | to upset; to embarrass |
| disconsolate | without hope |
| discordant | disagreeing; harsh-sounding |
| discount | (two meanings) reduction (noun); to disregard (verb) |
| discountenance | to disapprove of |
| discourse | conversation; lecture |
| discredit | to disgrace; to cast doubt on |
| discreet | showing good judgment; cautious |
| discrepancy | inconsistency; difference |
| discrete | separate; not attached |
| discretion | good judgment |
| discrimination | (two meanings) prejudice; ability to distinguish |
| discursive | rambling; wandering |
| disdain | to scorn |
| disgruntled | unhappy; discontented |
| dishearten | to discourage; to depress |
| disheveled | untidy |
| disinter | to uncover; to dig up |
| disinterested | impartial; not prejudiced |
| dismal | gloomy; depressing |
| dismantle | to take apart |
| dismember | to cut or pull off limbs |
| disparage | to belittle; to put down |
| disparity | inequality; difference |
| dispassionate | calm; impartial |
| dispel | to drive away |
| disperse | to scatter |
| disputatious | fond of arguing |
| disreputable | having a bad reputation |
| dissection | cutting apart; analysis |
| dissemble | to conceal; to pretend |
| disseminate | to scatter; to spread |
| dissension | disagreement; opposition |
| dissertation | a written essay |
| dissident | disagreeing |
| dissimulate | to hide one’s feelings |
| dissipate | to waste; to scatter |
| dissociate | to break ties with; to part company |
| dissolute | immoral; unrestrained |
| dissonant | out of harmony |
| dissuade | to advise or urge against |
| distend | to expand; to swell; to stretch out |
| distort | to twist out of shape |
| distraught | troubled |
| dither | (preceded by in a) nervously excited or confused |
| diurnal | daily |
| divergent | varying; different |
| divers | several |
| diverse | different |
| divest | to deprive |
| divination | the act of foretelling the future |
| divulge | to reveal; to make known |
| docile | obedient; submissive |
| doddering | shaky; senile |
| doff | to throw off or away |
| doggedly | stubbornly |
| dogmatic | having a definite opinion; authoritative |
| doldrums | low spirits |
| dole | to distribute; to give out sparingly |
| doleful | sorrowful |
| dolorous | mournful; sad |
| dolt | a dull, stupid person |
| domicile | home; residence |
| donnybrook | rough, rowdy fight |
| dormant | asleep; inactive |
| dorsal | pertaining to the back |
| dossier | a complete group of documents containing detailed information |
| dotage | feeblemindedness of old age |
| doughty | courageous; worthy |
| dour | gloomy |
| douse | to put out (a fire); to extinguish |
| dowdy | shabby; untidy |
| downtrodden | trampled on; suppressed |
| doyen | senior or eldest member |
| Draconian | severe; cruel |
| dregs | leftovers |
| drivel | childish nonsense; stupid talk |
| droll | amusing in an odd way |
| drone | (three meanings) a male bee (noun); an idle person (noun); to talk on and on monotonously (verb) |
| dross | waste matter |
| drudgery | hard, tiresome work |
| dual | consisting of two people, items, or parts |
| dubious | doubtful; questionable |
| ductile | capable of being molded or shaped |
| dudgeon | anger, resentment |
| dulcet | pleasing to the ear |
| dulcimer | a type of zither |
| dupe | to trick; to deceive |
| duplicity | deceit; double-dealing; dishonesty |
| duress | force |
| dutiful | obedient |
| dwindle | to shrink; to become smaller |
| dynamo | a powerful person |
| dyspepsia | poor digestion |
| dysphasia | difficulty in speaking |
| earnest | sincere; serious |
| earthy | realistic; coarse |
| ebb | to slowly decrease |
| ebullient | enthusiastic |
| eccentric | odd; out of the ordinary |
| ecclesiastical | pertaining to the church |
| echelon | rank of authority; level of power |
| éclat | brilliance; fame |
| eclectic | selecting; choosing from various sources |
| eclipse | to overshadow; to outshine |
| ecology | study of the environment |
| ecstatic | extremely happy |
| edifice | structure; building |
| edify | to improve someone morally; to instruct |
| educe | to draw or bring out |
| eerie | weird; mysterious |
| efface | to erase; to wipe out |
| effectual | effective; adequate |
| effeminate | unmanly; womanly; soft and weak |
| effervescent | bubbly; spirited |
| effete | worn-out; barren |
| efficacy | power to produce an effect |
| effigy | a likeness; an image |
| efflorescent | blossoming; flowering |
| effluent | flowing out |
| effrontery | shameful boldness |
| effulgent | shining forth brilliantly; radiant |
| effusion | a pouring out; an uncontrolled display of emotion |
| egalitarian | pertaining to belief in the equality of all men |
| ego | a feeling of self-importance |
| egotism | selfishness; boasting about oneself |
| egregious | remarkably bad; outrageous |
| egress | exit (noun and verb) |
| ejaculation | an exclamation |
| eject | to throw out |
| elapse | to pass; to slip away |
| elated | overjoyed |
| electrify | to thrill |
| elegy | a sad or mournful poem |
| elicit | to draw forth; to cause to be revealed |
| elite | the choice or best of a group of persons |
| elixir | remedy |
| ellipsis | the omission in a sentence of a word or words |
| eloquent | convincing or forceful in speech |
| elucidate | to make clear |
| elude | to avoid; to escape notice |
| elusive | difficult to grasp |
| elysian | blissful; heavenly |
| emaciated | abnormally thin |
| emanate | to come forth; to send forth |
| emancipate | to set free |
| embark | (on) to begin a journey or an endeavor |
| embellish | to decorate |
| embezzle | to steal |
| embroil | to involve in trouble; to complicate |
| embryonic | undeveloped; in an early stage |
| emendation | correction |
| emetic | causing vomiting |
| eminent | famous; renowned |
| emissary | one sent on a special mission |
| emit | to send out; to give forth |
| emollient | something that soothes or softens |
| emolument | profit; gain |
| empathy | understanding another’s feelings |
| empirical | based on experience rather than theory |
| emulate | to imitate |
| emulous | jealous; envious |
| enamored | (of ) in love with |
| enclave | a country, or part of a country, surrounded by another country |
| encomium | an expression of high praise |
| encompass | to include; to surround |
| encore | a repeat performance |
| encroach | (upon) to trespass; to intrude |
| encumbrance | hindrance; obstruction |
| encyclopedic | filled with knowledge; comprehensive |
| endearment | an expression of affection |
| endemic | confined to a particular country or area |
| energize | to rouse into activity |
| enervate | to weaken |
| enfranchise | to give the right to vote |
| engender | to promote |
| engrossed | completely absorbed in |
| engulf | to overwhelm |
| enhance | to increase in value or beauty; to improve |
| enigma | a puzzling situation; dilemma |
| enigmatic | mysterious; puzzling |
| enlighten | to inform; to reveal truths |
| enmity | hostility; hatred |
| ennui | boredom |
| enormity | an outrageous and immoral act |
| enrapture | to delight beyond measure |
| ensconce | to hide; to conceal; to settle comfortably |
| ensue | to follow; to result from |
| enthrall | to charm; to captivate |
| entice | to attract; to tempt |
| entity | independent being |
| entomology | study of insects |
| entourage | a group of personal attendants |
| entranced | filled with delight or wonder |
| entreaty | a request; a plea |
| entrenched | firmly established; dug in |
| entrepreneur | successful businessman; promoter |
| enunciate | to pronounce words clearly |
| environs | surroundings |
| envisage | to imagine; to form a mental picture |
| envoy | messenger; agent |
| eon | extremely long period of time |
| ephemeral | temporary; short-lived |
| epic | a long poem about heroic occurrences |
| epicure | one who seeks pleasure in fine foods |
| epigram | witty saying |
| epilogue | closing part of a speech or literary work |
| epiphany | appearance of a deity (god); revelation |
| epistle | a letter |
| epitaph | inscription on a tomb |
| epithet | a descriptive word or phrase |
| epitome | a typical example; a summary or condensed account |
| epoch | particular period of history |
| equanimity | calmness; evenness of temperament |
| equestrian | a horseback rider |
| equilibrium | balance; stability |
| equine | pertaining to horses |
| equinox | the time when day and night are of equal length |
| equipoise | balance |
| equitable | fair; just |
| equity | fairness; justice; impartiality |
| equivocal | doubtful; ambiguous |
| equivocate | to confuse by speaking in ambiguous terms |
| eradicate | to erase; to wipe out |
| ergo | therefore |
| erode | to wear away |
| erotic | pertaining to sexual love |
| err | to make a mistake |
| errant | wandering (in search of adventure); straying from what is right |
| erratic | irregular; abnormal |
| erroneous | mistaken; wrong |
| ersatz | artificial; inferior substitute |
| erstwhile | formerly; in the past |
| erudite | scholarly; learned |
| escalate | to increase; to grow rapidly; to intensify |
| escapade | a reckless adventure |
| escarpment | steep cliff |
| eschew | to avoid; to keep away from |
| escrow | (preceded by in) money deposited with a third |
| person | pending fulfillment of a condition |
| esoteric | for a select few; not generally known |
| espionage | spying |
| espouse | to support (a cause) |
| essay | (verb) to try; to attempt; (noun) a short literary composition dealing with a single subject |
| estival | pertaining to summer |
| estranged | separated; alienated |
| ethereal | spiritual; airy |
| ethnic | pertaining to a particular race or culture |
| etymology | the origin and development of words |
| eugenics | science of improving the human race |
| eulogy | praise for a dead person |
| euphemism | substitution of a pleasant expression for an unpleasant one |
| euphonious | having a pleasant sound; harmonious |
| euphoria | a feeling of well-being |
| euthanasia | mercy killing |
| evanescent | temporary; fleeting |
| evasive | not straightforward; tricky |
| eventuate | to result; to happen finally |
| evict | to expel; to throw out |
| evince | to show clearly |
| evoke | to call forth; to produce |
| evolve | to develop gradually |
| exacerbate | to aggravate; to make more violent |
| exact | (two meanings) accurate (adjective); to demand or to require (verb) |
| exalt | to raise in position; to praise |
| exasperate | to irritate; to annoy extremely |
| excise | (two meanings) a tax on liquor, tobacco, etc. (noun); to cut out or off (verb) |
| excoriate | (two meanings) to scrape the skin off; to criticize sharply |
| excruciating | unbearably painful |
| exculpate | to free from blame; to vindicate |
| execrate | to curse |
| exemplary | worthy of imitation |
| exhilaration | liveliness; high spirits |
| exhort | to warn |
| exhume | to bring out of the earth; to reveal |
| exigent | urgent; critical |
| exiguous | scanty; small in quantity |
| exodus | a departure; a going out |
| exonerate | to free from guilt or blame |
| exorbitant | excessive; unreasonable |
| exorcise | to drive out an evil spirit |
| exotic | foreign; excitingly strange |
| expatiate | to enlarge upon; to speak or write at length |
| expatriate | a person who is banished from, or leaves, his native country |
| expectorate | to spit out |
| expedient | practical; advantageous |
| expedite | to speed up; to make easy |
| expendable | replaceable |
| expiate | to atone for |
| explicate | explain in detail; make clear |
| explicit | clear; unambiguous; direct |
| exploit | to use for one’s own advantage |
| expound | to explain; to interpret |
| expressly | especially; particularly |
| expunge | to erase |
| expurgate | to remove offensive passages; to cleanse |
| extant | still in existence |
| extemporaneous | offhand; done without preparation |
| extenuating | less serious |
| extinct | no longer in existence |
| extirpate | to destroy; to remove completely |
| extol | to praise |
| extort | to obtain by force |
| extradite | to give up a prisoner to another authority |
| extraneous | unrelated; not essential |
| extrapolate | to estimate; to infer |
| extricate | to set free; to disentangle |
| extrinsic | external; coming from outside |
| extrovert | an outgoing person |
| exuberant | full of enthusiasm |
| exude | to discharge; to ooze |
| exult | to rejoice |
| fabricate | (two meanings) to construct; to lie |
| fabulous | incredible; imaginative |
| facade | outward appearance |
| facet | aspect |
| facetious | joking; sarcastic |
| facile | easy; effortless |
| facilitate | to make easy |
| facsimile | an exact copy; a duplicate |
| faction | a minority within a larger group |
| factious | causing disagreement |
| factitious | artificial |
| factotum | an employee who can do all kinds of work |
| faculty | power; ability; skill |
| fallacious | misleading; deceptive |
| fallible | capable of error |
| fallow | inactive; unproductive |
| falter | to stumble; to hesitate |
| fanatic | a person with uncontrolled enthusiasm |
| fanciful | unreal; imaginative; unpredictable |
| fanfare | noisy or showy display |
| farcical | absurd; ridiculous |
| fastidious | hard to please |
| fatal | causing death |
| fatalistic | believing that all things in life are inevitable |
| fathom | (two meanings) nautical measure of 6 feet in depth (noun); to comprehend (verb) |
| fatuous | foolish |
| fauna | animals of a certain area |
| fawn | (two meanings) a young deer (noun); to act slavishly submissive (verb) |
| faze | to disturb; to discourage |
| fealty | loyalty; devotion |
| feasible | capable of being accomplished; suitable |
| feat | deed or accomplishment |
| febrile | feverish |
| fecund | fertile; productive |
| feign | to pretend |
| feint | a false show; a pretended blow |
| feisty | quick-tempered or quarrelsome |
| felicity | happiness |
| feline | pertaining to cats |
| fell | (two meanings) to knock down (verb); fierce or cruel (adjective) |
| felon | a criminal |
| felonious | treacherous; base; villainous |
| ferment | a state of agitation or excitement |
| ferret | (two meanings) a small animal of the weasel family (noun); to search or drive out (verb) |
| fervent | eager; earnest |
| fervid | very emotional |
| fester | to rot |
| festive | joyous; merry |
| fete | to honor; to entertain |
| fetid | foul-smelling |
| fetish | object with magical power; object that receives respect or devotion |
| fetter | to confine; to put into chains |
| fiasco | a total disaster |
| fiat | an official order |
| fickle | changeable in affections; unfaithful |
| fictitious | false; not genuine |
| fidelity | faithfulness |
| figment | something imagined |
| filch | to steal |
| filial | like a son or daughter |
| finale | the climax; end |
| finesse | diplomacy; tact |
| finicky | extremely particular; fussy |
| finite | limited; measurable |
| firebrand | one who stirs up a revolution |
| firmament | sky; heavens |
| fiscal | pertaining to finances |
| fissure | opening; groove; split |
| fitful | irregular; occurring in spurts |
| flabbergasted | astonished; made speechless |
| flaccid | flabby |
| flag | (two meanings) a banner (noun); to droop or to slow down (verb) |
| flagellate | to whip |
| flagrant | scandalous; shocking |
| flail | to strike freely and wildly |
| flair | a knack; a natural talent |
| flamboyant | showy; conspicuous |
| flaunt | to boast; to show off |
| flay | (two meanings) to strip the skin off; to criticize sharply |
| fledgling | a young, inexperienced person |
| fleece | (two meanings) wool of a lamb (noun); to swindle (verb) |
| flexible | bendable |
| flinch | to draw back; to cringe |
| flippant | treating serious matters lightly |
| flora | plant life of a certain area |
| florid | flowery; ornate |
| flotilla | small fleet of ships |
| flotsam | floating cargo or wreckage |
| flout | to mock; to ridicule |
| fluctuate | to move back and forth; to vary |
| fluent | flowing; able to speak and/or write easily and clearly |
| fluster | to upset; to confuse |
| fluvial | pertaining to a river |
| flux | state of continual change |
| foible | a weakness; minor fault |
| foil | (two meanings) to prevent the success of a plan (verb); a person who, by contrast, makes another |
| person | seem better (noun) |
| foist | (on) to pass off merchandise that is inferior |
| folderol | nonsense |
| folly | a foolish action |
| foment | to stir up; to instigate |
| foolhardy | foolish; reckless |
| fop | an excessively vain man |
| foray | a sudden attack |
| forbearance | patience; restraint |
| forebear | ancestor |
| foreboding | a warning; an omen |
| foregone | (note spelling, as forgone means going or to abstain from something) long past |
| forensic | pertaining to a formal discussion or debate |
| forerunner | ancestor; predecessor |
| foreshadow | to hint |
| forestall | to prevent by action in advance; to anticipate |
| forfeit | to give up |
| forgo | to do without; to give up |
| formidable | dreadful; discouraging |
| forte | strong point |
| forthright | direct; frank |
| fortitude | strength; courage |
| fortnight | two weeks; fourteen days |
| fortuitous | lucky; by chance |
| foster | to nourish; to encourage |
| fracas | a loud quarrel |
| fractious | irritable; quarrelsome; stubborn |
| fracture | to break or to crack |
| frailty | a weakness; a defect |
| franchise | special right or privilege |
| fraternal | brotherly |
| fraudulent | dishonest; cheating |
| fraught | (with) filled |
| fray | (two meanings) a noisy quarrel (noun); to unravel or to come apart (verb) |
| frenetic | frantic; wild |
| frenzy | madness; fury |
| freshet | a fresh water stream |
| fretful | worried; irritated |
| friction | (two meanings) a rubbing together (noun); conflict or disagreement (noun) |
| frigid | extremely cold |
| frivolous | trivial; silly |
| frowzy | dirty; unkempt |
| frugal | economical; thrifty |
| fruition | fulfillment; realization |
| fruitless | barren; yielding no results |
| frustrate | to prevent; to discourage |
| fugacious | pertaining to the passing of time |
| fulminate | to explode; to denounce |
| fulsome | disgusting; sickening; repulsive |
| furor | rage; frenzy; fury |
| furtive | stealthy; secretive |
| fusion | a union; merging |
| futile | useless |
| gadfly | a person who annoys others |
| gaff | a hook |
| gainsay | to deny; to contradict |
| gait | manner of walking |
| gala | festive |
| galaxy | a group of stars; any large and brilliant assemblage of persons |
| gall | bitterness |
| gallant | polite; noble |
| galvanize | to stimulate; to startle into sudden activity |
| gambit | strategy; an opening one uses to advantage |
| gambol | to frolic; to romp about |
| gamut | the whole range or extent |
| gape | to stare with open mouth |
| garble | to distort |
| gargantuan | gigantic; huge |
| garish | tastelessly gaudy |
| garland | a wreath of flowers |
| garner | to gather; to acquire |
| garnish | to decorate; to trim |
| gadfly | a person who annoys others |
| gaff | a hook |
| gainsay | to deny; to contradict |
| gait | manner of walking |
| gala | festive |
| galaxy | a group of stars; any large and brilliant |
| assemblage | of persons |
| gall | bitterness |
| gallant | polite; noble |
| galvanize | to stimulate; to startle into sudden activity |
| gambit | strategy; an opening one uses to advantage |
| gambol | to frolic; to romp about |
| gamut | the whole range or extent |
| gape | to stare with open mouth |
| garble | to distort |
| gargantuan | gigantic; huge |
| garish | tastelessly gaudy |
| garland | a wreath of flowers |
| garner | to gather; to acquire |
| garnish | to decorate; to trim |
| garrulous | talkative |
| gauche | awkward; tactless |
| gaudy | flashy; showy |
| gaunt | thin and bony; bleak and barren |
| gazebo | an open structure with an enjoyable view |
| gazette | newspaper |
| gelid | very cold; frozen |
| genealogy | family history |
| generate | to produce; to originate |
| generic | general; not specific; pertaining to a class |
| genesis | origin; beginning |
| genial | warm; friendly |
| genocide | killing of a race of people |
| genre | an art form or class |
| genteel | polite; refined |
| gentry | upper-class people |
| genuflect | to kneel; to bend the knee |
| germane | relevant; fitting |
| gerontology | the study of older people and their problems |
| gesticulation | lively or excited gesture |
| ghastly | horrible; dreadful |
| ghoul | grave robber; ogre |
| gibberish | silly, unintelligible talk |
| gibbet | gallows from which criminals are hanged |
| gibe | to scoff; to ridicule |
| giddy | dizzy; flighty; whirling |
| gild | to cover with gold |
| gingerly | carefully; cautiously |
| gird | to encircle |
| gist | main point; essence |
| glazed | glassy; smooth; shiny |
| glean | to gather patiently and with great effort |
| glee | joy |
| glib | fluent; smooth |
| glissade | a skillful glide over snow or ice in descending a mountain |
| glitch | a malfunction; an error |
| gloaming | twilight; dusk |
| gloat | to look at or think about with great satisfaction |
| glower | to frown; to stare angrily at |
| glum | sad; gloomy |
| glutinous | gluey; sticky |
| glutton | one who eats or drinks too much |
| gnarled | knotty; twisted; roughened |
| gnome | a legendary dwarflike creature |
| goad | to encourage; to spur on |
| gorge | (two meanings) a deep valley with steep sides (noun); to eat or to swallow greedily (verb) |
| gory | bloody |
| gossamer | light; flimsy; fine |
| Gothic | medieval; mysterious |
| gouge | (two meanings) to dig out; to swindle or overcharge |
| gourmand | a glutton; a person who eats excessively |
| gourmet | an expert of fine food and drink |
| gradient | a slope; a ramp |
| granary | a storehouse for grain |
| grandiloquent | pretentious; speaking in a pompous style |
| grandiose | impressive; showy |
| graphic | giving a clear and effective picture |
| grapple | to grip and hold; to struggle |
| grate | (two meanings) to grind to shreds; to irritate |
| gratify | to please; to satisfy |
| gratis | without payment; free |
| gratuitous | (two meanings) free of cost; unnecessary |
| grave | serious; somber |
| gregarious | sociable; friendly |
| grievous | causing grief or sorrow; distressing |
| grim | fierce; stern |
| grimace | a distorted face; an expression of disapproval |
| grime | dirt |
| gripe | complaint |
| grisly | horrible; gruesome; ghastly |
| grit | stubborn courage |
| gross | extreme; vulgar |
| grotesque | absurd; distorted |
| grotto | a cave |
| grovel | to lower oneself to please another |
| grudging | resentful; reluctant |
| grueling | exhausting |
| gruff | rough or harsh in manner |
| guile | deceit; trickery |
| guileless | sincere |
| guise | a false appearance |
| gull | to trick; to deceive |
| gullible | easily deceived; too trusting |
| gumption | courage and initiative |
| gustatory | pertaining to the sense of taste |
| gusto | hearty enjoyment |
| gusty | windy; stormy |
| guttural | pertaining to the throat |
| gyrate | to rotate; to spin |
| habitat | dwelling |
| hackneyed | trite; commonplace; overused |
| haggard | worn out from sleeplessness, grief, etc. |
| haggle | to bargain over a price |
| halcyon | calm |
| hale | healthy |
| hallmark | a symbol of high quality |
| hallow | to make holy; to bless |
| hallucination | illusion; a false notion |
| hamper | to hinder; to keep someone from acting freely |
| haphazard | dependent upon mere chance |
| hapless | unlucky |
| harangue | long speech |
| harass | to annoy; to bother |
| harbinger | an omen or sign |
| harbor | (two meanings) a body of water providing ships with protection from winds, waves, etc. (noun); to |
| conceal | or hide (verb) |
| hardy | courageous; sturdy |
| harlequin | a clown |
| harpy | a greedy, grasping person; a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman |
| harrowing | upsetting; distressing |
| harry | to worry; to torment |
| hart | a male deer |
| haughty | snobbish; arrogant |
| haunt | (three meanings) to appear as a spirit or ghost; to visit frequently; to disturb or distress |
| haven | a safe place |
| havoc | great destruction |
| hazard | risk; danger |
| headlong | recklessly; impulsively |
| headstrong | stubborn; willful |
| hearsay | rumor; gossip |
| hearth | fireplace |
| hector | to bully |
| hedonist | a pleasure-seeker |
| heedless | careless; unmindful |
| hefty | large and powerful; heavy |
| hegemony | leadership or strong influence |
| hegira | flight; escape |
| heinous | hateful; abominable |
| hemophilia | a blood defect in which the blood does not clot to close a wound |
| herald | to announce; to usher in |
| herbivorous | feeding on vegetation |
| herculean | tremendous in size, strength, or difficulty |
| heresy | rejection of a religious belief |
| hermetic | airtight; tightly sealed |
| heterodox | departing from acceptable beliefs |
| heterogeneous | different; unlike; dissimilar |
| heyday | period of success |
| hiatus | pause or gap |
| hibernate | to be inactive, especially during the winter |
| hierarchy | a ranking, one above the other |
| hilarity | gaiety; joy |
| hircine | goat-like |
| hirsute | hairy; bearded |
| histrionic | theatrical; overly dramatic |
| hoard | to store away; to accumulate |
| hoary | white with age or frost |
| hoax | a practical joke |
| hobgoblin | a frightening apparition; something that causes fear |
| hodgepodge | mixture |
| hogwash | meaningless or insincere talk |
| hoi | polloi common people; the masses |
| holocaust | complete destruction |
| homage | respect; honor |
| homily | a sermon |
| homogeneous | composed of parts all of the same kind |
| homophonic | sounding alike |
| hone | to sharpen |
| hoodwink | to deceive |
| hoot | to shout in disapproval |
| horde | a crowd of people |
| horticulture | the science of gardening |
| hospice | shelter |
| hovel | a dirty, wretched living place |
| hover | to keep lingering about; to wait near at hand |
| hubris | excessive pride or self-confidence |
| hue | a color; a shade |
| humane | kind; compassionate |
| humbug | trick; hoax |
| humdrum | monotonous; routine |
| humid | moist |
| humility | lowliness; meekness |
| humus | black soil for fertilizing |
| hurtle | to dash; speed; run |
| husbandry | the science of raising crops; careful management |
| hybrid | mixed; assorted |
| hydrophobia | fear of water; rabies |
| hymeneal | pertaining to marriage |
| hyperbole | extreme exaggeration |
| hypercritical | overcritical; faultfinding |
| hypochondriac | a person with imaginary ailments |
| hypocrite | one who pretends to be someone or something he is not |
| hypothesis | an assumption; an unproven theory |
| ichthyology | study of fish |
| icon | a statue or idol |
| iconoclast | a rebel; one who breaks with tradition |
| idealist | one with very high standards |
| idiosyncrasy | a peculiar personality trait |
| idolatry | excessive or blind adoration; worship of idols |
| idyllic | charmingly simple or poetic |
| igneous | pertaining to fire |
| ignoble | dishonorable |
| ignominious | shameful; disgraceful |
| ignoramus | a stupid person |
| ilk | type; sort; kind |
| illicit | unlawful; illegal |
| illiterate | uneducated |
| illumine | to brighten; to inspire |
| illusion | fake impression |
| illustrious | distinguished; bright |
| imbibe | to drink; to absorb |
| imbroglio | a difficult or confusing situation |
| imbue | to fill completely; to penetrate |
| immaculate | spotless; pure |
| imminent | likely to happen; threatening |
| immolate | to kill someone as a sacrificial victim, usually by fire |
| immortal | not subject to death |
| immunity | freedom from disease |
| immutable | unchangeable |
| impair | to weaken; to cause to become worse |
| impale | to pierce with a sharp stake through the body |
| impalpable | vague; not understandable |
| impartial | without prejudice |
| impasse | a dead end; a problem without a solution |
| impeach | to accuse |
| impeccable | flawless; without fault |
| impecunious | without money; penniless |
| impede | to hinder; to obstruct |
| impediment | a barrier; an obstruction |
| impel | push into motion; urge |
| impending | likely to happen soon |
| imperative | extremely necessary |
| imperious | domineering; haughty |
| impermeable | not permitting passage |
| impertinent | rude; disrespectful |
| imperturbable | steady; calm |
| impervious | not capable of being affected; hardened |
| impetuous | acting without thought; impulsive |
| impetus | a stimulus; a moving force |
| impinge | to strike; to collide; to encroach |
| impious | disrespectful toward God |
| implacable | unbending; inflexible; merciless |
| implausible | unbelievable |
| implement | (two meanings) a tool (noun); to carry out or put into practice (verb) |
| implication | an indirect indication; a statement that suggests something |
| implicit | suggested, but not plainly expressed |
| imply | to suggest |
| import | (two meanings) significance; meaning (noun); to bring in from a foreign country (verb) |
| importune | to persistently ask; to beg |
| impostor | a person who goes about under an assumed name or character |
| impotent | powerless; lacking strength |
| imprecation | a curse |
| impregnable | unconquerable |
| impromptu | without preparation; offhand |
| impropriety | pertaining to something that is not proper or suitable |
| improvident | wasteful |
| improvise | to do without preparation |
| impudent | disrespectful; shameless |
| impugn | to attack a person with words; to challenge a person in regard to motives |
| impunity | freedom from punishment |
| impute | to accuse a person of some wrongdoing; to |
| attribute | a fault or a crime to a person |
| inadvertent | unintentional |
| inalienable | not able to be transferred to another |
| inane | silly; meaningless |
| inanimate | lifeless; dull; dead |
| inarticulate | pertaining to speech that is not clear or understandable |
| incandescent | very bright; shining |
| incapacitated | disabled; unable to function |
| incarcerate | to imprison |
| incarnadine | blood-red; flesh-colored |
| incarnate | in human form |
| incendiary | causing fire; stirring up trouble |
| incense | to inflame; to enrage |
| incentive | something that incites to action |
| inception | beginning; start |
| incessant | continuous; without pause |
| inchoate | at an early stage; just beginning |
| incipient | beginning to exist or appear |
| incisive | sharp; keen |
| incite | to urge to action; to stir up |
| inclement | (usually refers to weather) harsh; unfavorable; severe |
| incognito | disguised |
| incoherent | rambling; not logically connected |
| incongruous | unsuited; inappropriate |
| inconsequential | unimportant |
| incontrovertible | certain; undeniable |
| incorrigible | bad beyond correction or reform |
| incredulous | skeptical; disbelieving |
| increment | an increase; a gain |
| incriminate | to charge with a crime; to connect or relate to a wrongdoing |
| incubus | nightmare |
| inculcate | (in or upon) to teach earnestly; to influence someone to accept an idea |
| incumbent | (two meanings) resting or lying down (adjective); one who holds a political office (noun) |
| incur | to bring upon oneself; to run into some undesirable consequence |
| incursion | a raid; an invasion |
| indefatigable | incapable of being tired out |
| indelible | incapable of being erased |
| indemnify | to insure; to repay |
| indicative | signifying; implying |
| indict | to charge with a crime; to accuse of a wrongdoing |
| indigenous | native to a particular area; inborn |
| indigent | extremely poor |
| indignant | angry as a result of unjust treatment |
| indisputable | unquestionable; without doubt |
| indissoluble | permanent |
| indoctrinate | to teach someone principles or beliefs |
| indolent | lazy |
| indomitable | unconquerable; unyielding |
| indubitable | unquestionable; certain |
| induce | to cause; to bring about |
| indulgence | gentle treatment; tolerance |
| inebriated | drunk |
| ineffable | not able to be described; unspeakable |
| ineluctable | inevitable; inescapable |
| inept | unfit; bungling; inefficient |
| inert | without power to move; inactive |
| inevitable | unavoidable; sure to happen |
| inexorable | unyielding |
| infallible | certain; without mistakes |
| infamous | having an extremely bad reputation; detestable |
| infantile | childish; immature |
| infectious | passing on a disease with germs; likely to spread; contagious |
| infer | to conclude; to derive by reasoning |
| infernal | hellish; fiendish; diabolical |
| infidel | unbeliever |
| infinitesimal | exceedingly small; minute (pronounced my-newt) |
| infirmity | weakness; feebleness |
| inflated | puffed up; swollen |
| influx | a flowing in |
| infraction | the breaking of a law or rule |
| infringe | (on or upon) to break a law; to violate; to trespass |
| ingenious | clever |
| ingenuous | simple; innocent; naïve |
| ingrate | ungrateful person |
| ingratiate | (oneself ) to work one’s way into another’s favor |
| inherent | inborn |
| inhibition | restraint; reserve |
| inimical | harmful; unfriendly |
| inimitable | not able to be imitated or equaled |
| iniquity | wickedness |
| initiate | to begin |
| injunction | a command; an order |
| inkling | a hint |
| innate | inborn; existing from birth |
| innocuous | harmless |
| innovate | to introduce a new idea |
| innuendo | indirect remark; hint |
| inordinate | unusual; excessive |
| insatiable | unable to be satisfied |
| inscrutable | mysterious; difficult to understand |
| insidious | treacherous |
| insightful | having a penetrating understanding of things; mentally alert and sharp |
| insinuate | to hint; to suggest |
| insipid | tasteless; dull |
| insolent | boldly disrespectful |
| insolvent | bankrupt; unable to pay creditors |
| insomnia | sleeplessness |
| insouciant | carefree; happy-go-lucky |
| instigate | to provoke; to stir up |
| insubordinate | disobedient |
| insular | pertaining to an island; detached; isolated |
| insuperable | unconquerable |
| insurgence | rebellion; action against authority |
| insurrection | uprising; rebellion |
| intact | entire; left whole; sound |
| integral | essential; whole |
| integrate | to unify; to bring together into a whole |
| integrity | honesty; sincerity |
| intellectual | intelligent; having mental capacity to a high degree |
| intelligentsia | highly educated, cultured people |
| inter | to bury |
| interdict | to prohibit; to ban |
| interim | meantime; period of time between |
| interlocutor | one who takes part in a conversion |
| interloper | an intruder |
| interlude | a period of time between two events |
| interminable | endless |
| intermittent | starting and stopping; periodic |
| interpolate | to insert between; to estimate |
| interpose | to place between |
| interregnum | pause; interval; any period during which a nation is without a permanent ruler |
| interrogate | to question |
| interstellar | between or among stars |
| intervene | to come between |
| intimate | (two meanings) private or personal (adjective); to imply (verb) |
| intimidate | to make afraid; threaten |
| intolerant | bigoted; narrow-minded |
| intractable | hard to manage |
| intransigent | stubborn; refusing to give in |
| intrepid | fearless; courageous |
| intricate | complex; hard to understand |
| intrinsic | essential; pertaining to a necessary part of something |
| introspective | looking into oneself |
| introvert | a person who is concerned with his own |
| thoughts | or feelings |
| intuitive | insightful; knowing by a hidden sense |
| inundate | to fill to overflowing; to flood |
| inured | (to) accustomed to |
| invalidate | to deprive of legal value; to make null and void |
| invariably | constantly; uniformly; without changing |
| invective | strong verbal abuse |
| inveigh | (against) to make a bitter verbal attack |
| inveigle | to trick; lure; deceive |
| invert | to turn inside out or upside down |
| inveterate | firmly established; deep-rooted |
| invidious | causing resentment; offensive |
| invigorate | to fill with energy |
| invincible | not able to be defeated; unconquerable |
| invoke | to call upon |
| invulnerable | not able to be hurt; immune to attack |
| iota | a small quantity |
| irascible | easily angered |
| ire | anger; wrath |
| iridescent | displaying a wide range of colors like those of the rainbow |
| irksome | annoying; bothersome |
| ironic | contrary to what was expected |
| irrational | senseless; unreasonable |
| irreconcilable | unable to agree |
| irredeemable | hopeless; unable to be brought back |
| irremediable | unable to be corrected or cured |
| irreparable | beyond repair |
| irrepressible | unable to be controlled or restrained |
| irresolute | indecisive; doubtful; undecided |
| irreverent | disrespectful |
| irrevocable | final; unchangeable |
| itinerant | traveling from place to place |
| jaded | tired; worn out; dulled |
| jargon | vocabulary peculiar to a particular trade or group of people; meaningless talk; gibberish |
| jaundiced | (two meanings) pertaining to a yellowed skin; prejudiced |
| jaunt | short trip; excursion |
| jaunty | carefree; confident |
| jeer | to sneer; to mock |
| jeopardy | danger |
| jest | to joke; to make light of |
| jetsam | goods cast overboard to lighten a ship |
| jettison | to throw goods overboard |
| jilt | to reject; to cast off |
| jingoism | extreme patriotism |
| jinx | to bring bad luck to |
| jocose | joking; humorous |
| jocular | humorous |
| jostle | to bump; to push |
| jovial | jolly; good-natured |
| jubilation | celebration; rejoicing |
| judicious | wise; showing sound judgment |
| juggernaut | a terrible destructive force |
| jugular | pertaining to the throat or neck |
| juncture | a point of time; a crisis |
| junket | a pleasure trip; an excursion |
| junta | a small group ruling a country |
| jurisprudence | science of law |
| jut | to stick out; to project |
| juxtapose | to place side by side |
| kaleidoscopic | constantly changing |
| ken | range of knowledge |
| kindle | to set on fire; to excite |
| kindred | relative; family, tribe, or race |
| kinetic | pertaining to motion |
| kismet | destiny; fate |
| kleptomania | a compulsion to steal |
| knave | a tricky, deceitful person |
| knead | to work dough, clay, etc., into a uniform mixture |
| knell | the sound made by a bell rung slowly for a death or funeral |
| knoll | a small rounded hill |
| knuckle | (under) to yield; (down) to apply oneself vigorously |
| labyrinthine | complicated; intricate |
| lacerate | to tear ( flesh) roughly; to mangle |
| lachrymose | tearful |
| lackadaisical | uninterested; listless |
| lackey | slavish follower |
| lackluster | lacking brilliance or liveliness; dull or vapid |
| laconic | using few words; concise |
| lactic | pertaining to milk |
| laden | burdened; loaded |
| laggard | a slow person; one who falls behind |
| laity | religious worshipers who are not clergy |
| lambent | softly bright or radiant; running or moving lightly over a surface |
| lament | to mourn |
| laminated | covered with thin sheets, often plastic |
| lampoon | a sharp, often harmful satire |
| languid | sluggish; drooping from weakness |
| languish | to become weak or feeble |
| lank | long and slender |
| lapidary | a dealer in precious stones |
| larceny | theft |
| largess | gifts that have been given generously |
| lascivious | lustful or lewd; inciting sexual desire |
| lassitude | a feeling of weakness and weariness |
| latent | present, but hidden |
| lateral | to the side; sideways |
| latitude | freedom; margin |
| laudable | praiseworthy |
| laureate | (adjective) worthy of praise or honor; (noun) an honored person |
| lave | to wash or bathe |
| lavish | very generous; extravagant |
| lax | careless or negligent |
| leeway | room for freedom of action; margin |
| legerdemain | sleight of hand; deception |
| lenient | mild; lax; permissive |
| leonine | lionlike; fierce; authoritative |
| lesion | an injury; a wound |
| lethal | deadly; fatal |
| lethargic | dull; slow-moving; sluggish |
| leviathan | anything vast or huge; a sea monster |
| levity | lightness of body or spirit; lack of seriousness |
| levy | to impose and collect taxes |
| lewd | pertaining to lust or sexual desire |
| lexicon | dictionary |
| liaison | a bond; a connection; an illicit relationship between a man and a woman |
| libation | a drink; a beverage |
| libel | a false statement in written form |
| liberal | giving freely; not strict |
| libertine | one who leads an immoral life |
| libretto | the words of an opera |
| licentious | lawless; immoral; lewd |
| liege | lord; master |
| lieu | (in lieu of ) in place of; instead of |
| lilliputian | tiny; narrow-minded |
| limber | easily bent; flexible |
| limpid | clear, transparent |
| lineage | ancestry; descent |
| lineaments | facial features |
| linguistic | pertaining to language |
| lionize | to treat as a celebrity |
| liquidate | (two meanings) to get rid of by killing; to wind up the affairs of a business |
| lissome | moving gracefully; agile or active |
| listless | feeling no interest in anything; indifferent |
| literal | exact; precise; word for word |
| lithe | graceful; flexible |
| litigation | lawsuit |
| livid | darkened or discolored; pale from anger or embarrassment |
| loath | reluctant; unwilling |
| loathe | to hate; to feel disgust for |
| locus | place |
| lode | a rich source of supply such as a mineral deposit |
| lofty | very high; formal; proud |
| logistics | military operations dealing with the supply and maintenance of equipment |
| loiter | to linger; to hang around |
| loll | to lean or lounge about; to droop |
| longevity | a long life |
| lope | to move along with a swinging walk |
| loquacious | talkative |
| lot | fate |
| lout | an awkward, stupid person |
| lowly | humble; ordinary |
| lucent | giving off light; shining |
| lucid | clear; easy to understand; rational or sane |
| lucrative | profitable; producing wealth or riches |
| ludicrous | ridiculous |
| lugubrious | sad; mournful |
| lull | to soothe or calm |
| luminous | bright |
| lunacy | insanity; madness |
| lunar | pertaining to the moon |
| lupine | wolflike; fierce |
| lurch | to move suddenly forward |
| lurid | shocking; glowing; sensational |
| lurk | to lie concealed in waiting; to stay hidden |
| lush | abundant; rich |
| lustrous | shining; bright |
| luxuriant | rich; extravagant |
| macabre | horrible; gruesome |
| Machiavellian | deceitful; tricky |
| machination | evil design |
| macroscopic | visible to the naked eye |
| maelstrom | whirlpool |
| magnanimous | generous |
| magnate | important person in any field |
| magnitude | size; extent |
| maim | to cripple; to deprive of the use of some part of the body |
| maladroit | clumsy; unskillful; awkward |
| malady | disease; illness |
| malaise | discomfort; uneasiness |
| malapropism | word humorously misused |
| malcontent | one who is dissatisfied |
| malediction | curse |
| malefactor | wrongdoer; villain |
| malevolent | showing ill will or hatred; very dangerous, harmful |
| malfeasance | wrongdoing |
| malicious | spiteful; vengeful |
| malign | to speak badly of |
| malignant | evil; deadly |
| malingerer | one who pretends to be sick to avoid work |
| malleable | capable of being changed; adaptable |
| malodorous | bad-smelling; stinking |
| mammoth | huge; enormous |
| manacle | handcuff; restraint |
| mandarin | influential person |
| mandate | an order; a command |
| mandatory | required; obligatory |
| mangle | to cut, slash, or crush so as to disfigure |
| mangy | shabby; filthy |
| manifest | evident; obvious |
| manifold | many; varied |
| manipulate | (two meanings) to handle or manage with skill; to influence a person in a bad way |
| manumit | to set free |
| maraud | to raid; to plunder |
| marital | pertaining to marriage |
| maritime | pertaining to the sea |
| marquee | a rooflike shelter, such as glass, projecting above an outer door |
| martial | warlike |
| martinet | a strict disciplinarian |
| martyr | one who suffers for a cause |
| marvel | to be amazed; to wonder |
| masochist | one who enjoys his own pain and suffering |
| massive | huge; bulky |
| masticate | to chew |
| maternal | motherly |
| matriarchy | a social organization in which the mother is the head of the family |
| matrix | a place of origin |
| maudlin | excessively sentimental |
| maul | to injure; to handle roughly |
| mausoleum | large tomb for many bodies |
| maverick | a rebel; a nonconformist |
| mawkish | sickeningly sweet; overly sentimental |
| maxim | a proverb or saying |
| meager | inadequate; of poor quality |
| mean | (three meanings) nasty or offensive (adjective); inferior or low (adjective); an average (noun) |
| meander | to wander aimlessly |
| meddlesome | interfering; curious |
| mediate | to settle a dispute; to act as a go-between |
| mediocre | ordinary; average; neither good nor bad |
| meditate | to think deeply; to ponder |
| medley | a mixture; a musical selection combining parts from various sources |
| megalomania | false impression of one’s own greatness; tendency to exaggerate |
| melancholy | sad; depressed |
| melee | noisy fight |
| mellifluous | smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding |
| melodramatic | overly emotional |
| memento | remembrance; a souvenir |
| menace | a threat; a danger |
| ménage | household; domestic establishment |
| menagerie | collection of wild or strange animals |
| mendacious | lying; false |
| mendicant | a beggar |
| menial | low; degrading |
| mentor | adviser |
| mercantile | pertaining to merchants; commercial |
| mercenary | motivated only by a desire for money |
| mercurial | changeable; fickle; erratic |
| meretricious | gaudy; showy; attractive in a cheap, flashy way |
| mesa | a flat-topped elevation of land with steep rock walls |
| mesmerize | to hypnotize |
| metamorphosis | a change; a transformation |
| metaphor | comparison (without like or as) |
| metaphysics | pertaining to beyond what is natural |
| mete | (out) to distribute in portions |
| meteoric | momentarily dazzling; swift |
| meteorology | study of weather and climate |
| meticulous | excessively careful; finicky |
| metropolis | large city |
| mettle | courage; spirit |
| miasma | pollution; poisonous environment |
| microcosm | a miniature world |
| mien | manner; bearing |
| migratory | wandering; moving from place to place |
| milieu | environment; setting |
| militant | ready and willing to fight |
| millennium | a thousand years |
| mimic | to imitate |
| minion | a devoted follower; a highly regarded person |
| minuscule | very small |
| minute | (two meanings) sixtieth part of an hour; very small and insignificant |
| minutiae | insignificant details; trivia |
| mirage | an apparition or illusion |
| mire | (two meanings) wet, swampy ground (noun); to involve in difficulties (verb) |
| mirth | joy; amusement; laughter |
| misanthrope | hater of mankind |
| misapprehension | a misunderstanding |
| miscegenation | mixture of races, especially through marriage |
| mischance | unlucky accident; bad luck |
| misconstrue | misinterpret; misjudge |
| miscreant | a vicious person; a villain |
| misdemeanor | a criminal offense less serious than a felony |
| misgiving | doubt; suspicion |
| misnomer | an error in listing the name of a person |
| misogamy | hatred of marriage |
| misogynist | woman-hater |
| missive | letter |
| mitigate | to make less severe; to become milder |
| mnemonic | pertaining to memory |
| mobile | movable; flexible |
| mock | to ridicule; to insult; to lower in esteem |
| modicum | a small amount |
| modish | fashionable; stylish |
| modulate | to soften; to tone down |
| mogul | powerful person |
| molest | to disturb; to bother |
| mollify | to pacify; to calm; to appease |
| molt | to shed, such as feathers and skin |
| molten | melted |
| momentous | very important |
| monarchy | government by one ruler |
| monastic | pertaining to a monk; self-denying |
| monetary | pertaining to money |
| monitor | one who watches or warns |
| monograph | a paper, book, etc., written about a single subject |
| monolithic | unyielding; unified |
| monologue | long speech by one person |
| monotheism | belief in one god |
| monumental | great; important |
| moot | doubtful; debatable |
| moratorium | delay; postponement |
| morbid | depressing; gruesome |
| mordant | sarcastic; biting |
| mores | customs; traditions; morals |
| moribund | dying |
| morose | gloomy; ill-humored |
| mortal | destined to die; causing death |
| mortify | to embarrass; to humiliate |
| motif | theme; central idea |
| motley | diverse; assorted; having different colors |
| mottled | spotted; blotched; streaked |
| mountebank | a phony; a fraud; a charlatan |
| muddle | to confuse; to mix up |
| mulct | to punish with a fine; to obtain money by extortion |
| mull | (over) to study or think about |
| multifarious | varied; having many parts |
| mundane | worldly |
| munificent | generous |
| murky | dark; unclear; gloomy |
| muse | to think deeply |
| muster | to gather together |
| musty | stale; moldy |
| mute | silent |
| mutilate | to disfigure; to cripple |
| mutinous | rebellious |
| muzzle | to restrain; to gag |
| myopic | nearsighted; having a limited point of view |
| myriad | infinitely vast in number |
| myrmidon | an unquestioning follower |
| mythical | imaginary; fictitious |
| nabob | a very wealthy or powerful person |
| nadir | lowest point |
| naïve | simple; unsophisticated |
| narcissistic | conceited; vain |
| nascent | coming into being; being born |
| natation | the act or art of swimming |
| nativity | birth |
| naught | nothing |
| nautical | pertaining to ships, sailors, navigation |
| nebulous | hazy; vague; uncertain |
| necromancy | magic, especially that practiced by a witch |
| nefarious | wicked |
| negate | to deny; to make ineffective |
| negligent | careless |
| nemesis | something that a person cannot conquer or achieve |
| neologism | new use of a word or a new coinage of a word |
| neophyte | a beginner; a novice |
| nepotism | favoritism shown toward relatives |
| nether | lower; under |
| nettle | to irritate; to annoy |
| neutralize | to make ineffective; to counteract |
| nexus | connection, tie, or link among the units of a group |
| nicety | delicacy; subtlety |
| niche | recess or hollow in a wall |
| niggardly | stingy; miserly |
| niggle | to spend excessive time on unimportant details |
| nihilism | total rejection of established laws |
| nimble | quick and light in motion |
| nirvana | place of great peace or happiness |
| nocturnal | pertaining to night |
| nodule | a small, rounded mass or lump |
| noisome | foul-smelling; harmful or injurious |
| nomadic | wandering; homeless |
| nomenclature | a set of names or terms |
| nominal | in name only; not in fact |
| non | sequitur something that does not logically follow |
| nonage | a period of immaturity |
| nonchalant | unconcerned; casual |
| noncommittal | having no definite point of view |
| nonentity | person or thing of little importance |
| nonpareil | unequaled; unrivaled |
| nonplus | to confuse; to perplex |
| nostalgia | homesickness; longing for the past |
| nostrum | quack medicine; supposed cure-all |
| notorious | having a bad reputation; infamous |
| novice | a beginner |
| noxious | harmful |
| nuance | delicate variation in meaning, tone, color, etc. |
| nub | a lump or small piece |
| nubile | suitable for marriage, in regard to age and physical development |
| nugatory | worthless; invalid |
| nullify | to make useless or ineffective |
| numismatist | coin collector |
| nuptial | pertaining to marriage |
| nurture | to feed; to sustain |
| nutriment | food; nourishment |
| oaf | a dunce or blockhead |
| oasis | a place that offers a pleasant relief |
| obdurate | stubborn; hard-hearted |
| obeisance | a bow or similar gesture expressing deep respect |
| obese | very fat |
| obfuscate | to confuse; to bewilder; to perplex |
| oblation | an offering for religious or charitable purposes |
| obligatory | required; mandatory |
| oblique | slanted; indirect |
| obliterate | to erase; to do away with |
| oblivious | forgetful; unmindful |
| obloquy | strong disapproval; bad reputation resulting from public criticism |
| obnoxious | objectionable; offensive |
| obscurant | a person who tries to prevent the spread of knowledge |
| obscure | dim; not clear; not easily understood |
| obsequious | excessively submissive; overly attentive |
| obsequy | a funeral rite or ceremony |
| obsess | to control the thoughts or feelings of a person |
| obsolescent | going out of use; becoming extinct |
| obstinate | stubborn |
| obstreperous | boisterous; unruly |
| obtrude | to push something toward or upon a person |
| obtuse | slow to comprehend |
| obviate | to prevent |
| occidental | western; opposite of oriental |
| occlude | to close; to shut; to block out |
| occult | hidden; secret; mysterious |
| ocular | pertaining to sight |
| odious | disgusting; hateful |
| odoriferous | giving off a displeasing or strong smell |
| odyssey | a long journey |
| offal | garbage; waste parts |
| officious | meddling; interfering |
| ogle | to look at with desire |
| ogre | monster; hideous being |
| olfactory | pertaining to smell |
| oligarchy | government in which power is in the hands of only a few individuals |
| Olympian | majestic |
| omen | an event that indicates the future |
| ominous | threatening; indicating evil or harm |
| omnifarious | of all kinds |
| omnipotent | all-powerful |
| omniscient | all-knowing |
| omnivorous | eating any kind of food; absorbing everything |
| onerous | burdensome; heavy |
| onslaught | a furious attack |
| onus | a burden; a responsibility |
| opaque | not transparent; not letting light pass through |
| opiate | narcotic; causing sleep or relief |
| opportunist | one who takes advantage of a situation |
| oppress | to rule harshly; tyrannize |
| opprobrious | shameful; disgraceful |
| opt | ( for) to choose |
| optimist | one who sees the good side of things |
| optimum | the best; most favorable |
| opulent | rich; luxurious |
| oracular | mysterious; predicting |
| oration | a speech delivered on a special occasion |
| orbit | a curved path, such as a planet takes around the sun |
| ordain | to order; to establish; to arrange |
| ordeal | difficult or painful experience; a primitive form of trial |
| ordinance | law; regulation |
| organic | fundamental; essential; natural, not artificial; carbon-based |
| Orient, | orient (two meanings) an area of the Far East, such as Asia (noun, capitalized); to adjust or adapt to (verb, lowercase) |
| orifice | mouth; opening |
| ornate | showy; highly decorated |
| ornithology | study of birds |
| orthodox | accepting the usual or traditional beliefs |
| orthography | correct spelling |
| oscillate | to swing or move back and forth, like a pendulum |
| ossify | to change into bone; to become rigid |
| ostensible | apparent; conspicuous |
| ostentatious | showing off; boastful |
| ostracize | to banish; to exclude |
| oust | to drive out; to expel |
| outwit | to trick; to get the better of |
| overt | open; aboveboard; not hidden |
| ovine | of or like a sheep |
| ovoid | egg-shaped |
| pacify | to calm down |
| pact | an agreement |
| paean | song of praise or joy |
| palatable | pleasant to the taste |
| palatial | magnificent |
| paleontology | study of prehistoric life |
| pall | (two meanings) something that covers or conceals (noun); to become wearisome or unpleasant (verb) |
| palliate | to ease; to lessen |
| pallid | pale; dull |
| palpable | obvious; capable of being touched or felt |
| palpitate | to beat rapidly; to tremble |
| palsy | muscle paralysis |
| paltry | trivial; worthless |
| panacea | a cure-all; an answer for all problems |
| panache | self-confidence; a showy manner |
| pandemic | general; widespread |
| pandemonium | wild disorder; confusion |
| panegyric | an expression of praise |
| pang | a sharp pain |
| panoply | suit of armor; any protective covering |
| panorama | unlimited view; comprehensive survey |
| parable | a simple story giving a moral or religious lesson |
| paradigm | a model; an example |
| paradox | a statement that seems contradictory, but is probably true |
| paragon | a model of excellence or perfection |
| parameter | boundary; limits |
| paramount | chief; supreme |
| paranoia | mental disorder characterized by a feeling of being persecuted |
| paraphernalia | personal belongings; equipment |
| paraphrase | to reword; to restate |
| parched | dried up; extremely thirsty |
| pariah | an outcast |
| parity | equality; similarity |
| parley | discussion; conference |
| parlous | dangerous |
| parochial | local; narrow; limited |
| parody | a work that imitates another in a ridiculous manner |
| paroxysm | a sudden outburst; a fit |
| parrot | to repeat or imitate without understanding |
| parry | to avoid something such as a thrust or blow |
| parsimonious | stingy; miserly |
| partisan | a strong supporter of a cause |
| passé | old fashioned; out-of-date |
| passive | submissive; unresisting |
| pastoral | pertaining to the country; rural |
| patent | (two meanings) a government protection for an inventor (noun); evident or obvious (adjective) |
| paternal | fatherly |
| pathogenic | causing disease |
| pathos | pity; deep feeling |
| patriarch | an early biblical person regarded as one of the fathers of the human race |
| patrician | aristocratic |
| patrimony | inherited right; heritage |
| patronage | the control of power to make appointments to government jobs |
| patronize | (two meanings) to be a customer; to talk down to |
| paucity | scarcity; lack |
| peccadillo | a minor offense |
| pectoral | pertaining to the chest |
| peculate | to steal; to embezzle |
| pecuniary | pertaining to money |
| pedagogue | a schoolteacher |
| pedantic | tending to show off one’s learning |
| pedestrian | (two meanings) one who walks (noun); ordinary or dull (adjective) |
| pedigree | a record of ancestors; a line of descent |
| peer | (two meanings) an equal (noun); to look closely (verb) |
| peerless | without equal; unmatched |
| peevish | hard to please; irritable |
| pejorative | having a negative effect; insulting |
| pellucid | transparent; clear |
| pelt | (two meanings) skin of a fur-bearing animal (noun); to throw things at (verb) |
| penal | pertaining to punishment |
| penchant | a strong liking for; an inclination |
| pendant | anything that hangs or is suspended |
| penitent | expressing sorrow for sin or wrongdoing |
| pensive | dreamily thoughtful |
| penury | extreme poverty |
| peon | common worker |
| perceive | to observe |
| perceptible | observable; recognizable |
| perdition | damnation; ruin; hell |
| peregrinate | to travel from place to place |
| peremptory | decisive; final; not open to debate |
| perennial | lasting for a long time; perpetual |
| perfidious | deceitful; treacherous; unfaithful |
| perforce | of necessity |
| perfunctory | done without care; routine |
| perigee | point in an orbit nearest to the earth |
| perilous | dangerous; risky |
| periphery | outside boundary; unimportant aspects of a subject |
| periphrastic | said in a roundabout way |
| perjury | making a false statement while under oath |
| permeate | to spread throughout |
| pernicious | deadly; destructive |
| peroration | the concluding part of a speech |
| perpetrate | to do something evil; to be guilty of |
| perpetuate | to cause to continue |
| perplexity | confusion |
| perquisite | something additional to regular pay |
| persevere | to endure; to continue |
| personification | giving human qualities to a nonhuman being |
| perspicacity | keenness of judgment |
| perspicuity | clearness, as of a statement |
| pert | bold; saucy |
| pertinent | relevant; to the point |
| perturb | to unsettle; to disturb |
| peruse | to read carefully |
| pervade | to spread throughout; to pass through |
| perverse | contrary; cranky |
| pervert | to lead astray; to corrupt |
| pessimist | one who sees the worst in everything |
| petrify | to turn to rock; to paralyze with fear |
| petrology | study of rocks |
| petty | unimportant; minor |
| petulant | irritable; rude |
| phalanx | closely massed body of persons |
| phenomenon | extraordinary person, thing, or event |
| philander | to engage in various love affairs |
| philanthropy | a desire to help mankind; generosity |
| philately | stamp collecting |
| philippic | a bitter verbal attack |
| philistine | (adjective) uncultured; common; (noun) one who is uncultured or common |
| phlegmatic | unemotional; cool; not easily excited |
| phobia | intense fear |
| phoenix | a bird that symbolizes immortality |
| picaresque | pertaining to an adventurous wanderer |
| piddling | trifling; petty |
| piecemeal | bit by bit; gradually |
| pied | many-colored; variegated |
| piety | reverence; devotion |
| pigment | dye; coloring matter |
| pilgrimage | a journey to a holy place |
| pillage | to rob by violence |
| pillory | to expose to public ridicule or abuse |
| pinnacle | peak; highest point |
| pious | religious |
| piquant | stimulating to the taste; exciting interest |
| pique | to irritate or annoy |
| piscine | of or like a fish |
| pitfall | unexpected difficulty; a trap |
| pithy | concise; to the point |
| pittance | small share or amount |
| pivotal | central; crucial |
| placard | small poster |
| placate | to soothe; to calm |
| placebo | harmless, phony medicine; something said or done to soothe |
| placid | calm |
| plagiarism | the claiming of another’s work as one’s own |
| plague | (two meanings) a contagious disease (noun); to |
| torment; | to trouble (verb) |
| plaintive | sorrowful; sad |
| platitude | a dull or trite remark |
| platonic | spiritual; free from sensual desire |
| plaudit | applause; (in the plural) any expression of approval |
| plausible | apparently true, fair, or reasonable |
| plebeian | pertaining to a member of the lower classes |
| plenary | full; complete; absolute |
| plethora | abundance |
| pliant | easily bent; adaptable |
| plight | a sad or dangerous situation |
| ploy | a gimmick; a trick |
| pluck | (two meanings) to pull at (verb); courage (noun) |
| plumb | to test; to measure |
| plunder | to rob; to take by force |
| plutocracy | rule by the wealthy class |
| poach | to trespass or steal |
| podium | a platform |
| poignant | keenly distressing; affecting the emotions |
| polarize | to separate into opposing groups |
| polemic | a controversy or argument |
| politic | diplomatic; shrewd |
| poltroon | a coward |
| polychromatic | many-colored |
| polyglot | speaking or writing several languages |
| polymorphic | having many forms |
| polytheism | belief in many gods |
| pomp | brilliant show or display |
| ponder | to think deeply; to consider carefully |
| ponderous | heavy; burdensome |
| porcine | of or like a pig |
| portable | capable of being carried |
| portal | door; gate; entrance |
| portentous | warning; foreshadowing |
| portly | stout; large |
| posterity | future generations |
| posthumous | occurring after death |
| postulate | to assume without proof; to take for granted |
| potable | drinkable |
| potent | powerful; strong |
| potentate | ruler; monarch |
| potential | capacity for being or becoming something |
| potion | a drink |
| potpourri | a mixture |
| pragmatic | practical |
| prate | to talk extensively and pointlessly; to babble |
| precarious | uncertain; dangerous; risky |
| precede | to be, come, or go before |
| precedent | an act that may be used as an example in the future |
| precept | a rule of conduct |
| precipice | cliff |
| precipitate | to bring about an action suddenly |
| precipitous | extremely steep |
| précis | brief summary |
| preclude | to prevent; to shut out |
| precocious | prematurely developed |
| precursor | a forerunner; predecessor |
| predatory | living by plunder, exploitation, etc. |
| predicate | to declare; to assert |
| predilection | a liking; preference; inclination |
| predispose | to make susceptible |
| preeminent | standing out above all others |
| preen | to dress oneself carefully or smartly |
| prehensile | adapted for seizing or grasping something |
| prelude | an introduction |
| premeditate | to plan beforehand |
| premier | first in importance or time |
| premise | statement from which a conclusion is drawn |
| premonition | forewarning; hunch |
| preponderance | superiority in quantity or power; dominance |
| preposterous | absurd; ridiculous |
| prerogative | privilege or right |
| presage | to indicate or warn in advance |
| prescience | knowledge of things before they happen |
| presentiment | anticipation, especially of something evil |
| prestige | influence; importance |
| presumptuous | boldly assuming |
| pretentious | showy; putting on airs |
| preternatural | abnormal; beyond what is natural |
| pretext | a false reason or motive; an excuse |
| prevail | to succeed; to gain the advantage |
| prevaricate | to lie |
| prim | formal; proper |
| primary | first; chief |
| primeval | of the earliest times or ages |
| primogeniture | state of being the firstborn |
| primordial | first; original |
| primp | to dress up in a fussy way |
| prismatic | many-colored |
| pristine | uncorrupted; in its original state |
| privation | loss or lack of something essential |
| privy | (to) having knowledge of something private or secret |
| probe | to investigate; to examine |
| probity | honesty; integrity |
| proclivity | inclination; tendency |
| procrastinate | to postpone; to delay |
| procreate | to beget or produce |
| procrustean | designed to get conformity at any cost |
| procure | to obtain; to secure |
| prod | to urge; to poke or jab |
| prodigal | wasteful |
| prodigious | enormous; vast |
| profane | showing disrespect for sacred things |
| profess | to acknowledge; to admit frankly |
| proffer | to offer |
| proficiency | skill; competency |
| profligate | shamelessly immoral; extremely wasteful |
| profound | very deep |
| profuse | abundant |
| progeny | descendants |
| prognosticate | to predict; to foretell |
| projectile | a bullet, shell, grenade, etc., for firing from a gun |
| proletarian | one who belongs to the working class |
| proliferate | to expand; to increase |
| prolific | productive; fertile |
| prolix | tediously long and wordy |
| prologue | introduction |
| promenade | a stroll or a walk; an area used for walking |
| promiscuous | sexually loose |
| promontory | piece of land that juts out |
| promulgate | to announce; to advocate |
| prone | reclining; lying flat; inclined |
| propagate | to spread; to multiply |
| propensity | inclination; tendency |
| prophetic | predicting |
| propinquity | nearness; closeness |
| propitious | favorable |
| proponent | a person who supports a cause or doctrine |
| propriety | conformity; appropriateness |
| prosaic | dull; commonplace; unimaginative |
| proscribe | to denounce; exile |
| proselyte | a person who has changed from one religion to another; a convert |
| prospectus | a report describing a forthcoming project |
| prostrate | lying flat; thrown or fallen to the ground |
| protagonist | main character |
| protean | changeable; variable |
| protégé | one who has been guided or instructed by another |
| protocol | the etiquette observed by diplomats |
| prototype | the original; first of its kind; a model |
| protract | to draw out; to prolong |
| protrude | to stick out; to project |
| proverbial | well-known |
| provident | having foresight |
| provincial | countrified; narrow; limited |
| provisional | temporary |
| proviso | a condition; a stipulation |
| provoke | to anger; to irritate; to annoy |
| prowess | skill; strength; daring |
| proximity | nearness in place or time |
| proxy | one who acts in place of another |
| prude | an overly proper person |
| prudence | caution; good judgment |
| prune | to cut off or lop off, such as twigs, branches, or roots |
| prurient | lustful; obscene; lewd |
| pseudo | false; counterfeit |
| pseudonym | a fake or assumed name |
| psyche | the human soul or spirit |
| puerile | childish; immature |
| pugilist | a boxer |
| pugnacious | eager to fight; quarrelsome |
| puissant | powerful; strong |
| pulchritude | beauty |
| pulmonary | pertaining to the lungs |
| pulverize | to crush or grind into powder; totally destroy |
| pummel | to beat or thrash with the fists |
| pun | the humorous use of a word, or of different words sounding alike, so as to play on their various meanings |
| punctilious | very exact; precise |
| pundit | a learned man; an expert or authority |
| pungent | having a sharp taste or smell; severely critical or sarcastic |
| punitive | pertaining to punishment |
| puny | weak; inferior |
| purge | to cleanse; to purify |
| puritanical | strict; rigid; harsh |
| purloin | to steal |
| purport | to claim to be |
| purvey | to furnish; to supply |
| pusillanimous | cowardly; fearful |
| putative | supposed; believed |
| putrefy | to rot; to decay |
| pyre | a funeral fire in which the corpse is burned |
| pyretic | pertaining to fever |
| pyromaniac | one who likes to start fires; arsonist |
| Pyrrhic victory | success gained at too high a cost |
| quack | an untrained doctor; a pretender to any skill |
| quadruped | a four-footed animal |
| quaff | to gulp; to drink in large quantities |
| quagmire | a swamp; a difficult situation |
| quail | to lose courage; to shrink with fear |
| quaint | strange or unusual in a pleasing or amusing way |
| qualm | a feeling of uneasiness |
| quandary | a puzzling situation; a dilemma |
| quarry | an animal that is being hunted down |
| quash | to cancel; to set aside (as an indictment) |
| quasi | resembling; seeming |
| quaver | to tremble; to shake |
| quay | a wharf |
| queasy | uneasy; nauseated |
| quell | to subdue; to calm down |
| querulous | complaining |
| query | a question |
| quest | a search |
| queue | a line of people waiting their turn |
| quibble | petty objection or argument |
| quiddity | essential quality |
| quidnunc | a gossip or busybody |
| quiescent | at rest; motionless |
| quietus | finishing stroke; anything that ends an activity |
| quintessence | the pure and concentrated essence of something |
| quip | a witty or sarcastic remark |
| quirk | a peculiar characteristic of a person; a sudden twist or turn |
| quiver | to tremble; to shake |
| quixotic | extremely idealistic; romantic; not practical |
| quizzical | odd; questioning; puzzled |
| quotidian | daily |
| rabble | mob; disorderly crowd |
| rabid | intense; furious or raging; mad |
| rack | to torment; to torture |
| raconteur | storyteller |
| radical | extreme; complete; violent |
| rail | (at or against) to complain bitterly |
| raillery | good-humored ridicule |
| raiment | clothing; garments |
| rakish | carefree; lively |
| rambunctious | restless; hard to control |
| ramification | a result; a consequence; a branch |
| rampant | widespread; raging |
| ramshackle | shaky; ready to fall apart |
| rancid | having a bad taste or smell; stale; repulsive |
| rancor | bitter resentment; hatred |
| rankle | to cause irritation; to fester |
| rant | to speak in a loud or violent manner |
| rapacious | taking by force; greedy |
| rapport | a close relationship; harmony |
| rapt | completely absorbed in; overcome with joy, love, etc. |
| rarefy | to make less dense; to refine |
| rash | (two meanings) a skin irritation (noun); reckless or daring (adjective) |
| raspy | harsh; grating |
| ratify | to officially approve of |
| ratiocinate | to reason |
| ration | a fixed portion; a share |
| rational | sensible; reasonable |
| rationalize | to make an excuse for |
| raucous | irritating or harsh in sound |
| ravage | to damage; ruin |
| ravenous | extremely hungry; greedy |
| raze | to destroy; to level to the ground |
| realm | kingdom; region |
| rebuff | to refuse; to snub |
| rebuke | to scold; to blame |
| rebuttal | contradiction; opposing argument |
| recalcitrant | disobedient; hard to manage |
| recant | to withdraw or disavow a statement or opinion |
| recapitulate | to summarize; repeat briefly |
| recede | to go or move back; to withdraw |
| recess | (two meanings) a cut or notch in something; a pause or rest |
| recidivist | a person who goes back to crime |
| recipient | one who receives |
| reciprocal | interchangeable; mutual |
| reciprocate | to give in return |
| recluse | hermit; one who shuts himself off from the world |
| recoil | to retreat; to draw back |
| reconcile | to bring into agreement or harmony |
| recondite | difficult to understand; profound |
| reconnoiter | to survey; to check out in advance |
| recount | to tell or relate, as a story |
| recreant | coward; traitor |
| recrimination | countercharge |
| rectify | to correct; to make right |
| rectitude | honesty; moral uprightness |
| recumbent | lying down; reclining |
| recuperate | to get well |
| recur | to happen again |
| redemption | deliverance from sin; a rescue |
| redolent | having a pleasant odor |
| redoubtable | formidable; commanding respect |
| redress | to set right; to remedy |
| redundant | repetitious; unnecessary |
| reek | to give off; emit |
| refractory | stubborn; hard to manage |
| refulgent | shining; glowing |
| refurbish | to make new; to freshen up |
| refute | to prove wrong, such as an opinion |
| regal | pertaining to a king; splendid |
| regale | to entertain |
| regenerate | to re-create; to reform morally; to replace a lost part of the body |
| regent | one who governs |
| regicide | the killing of a king |
| regime | a system of government |
| regimen | a regular system (of exercise, diet, etc.) |
| regressive | moving in a backward direction |
| regurgitate | to rush or surge back, as undigested food |
| rehabilitate | to restore to useful life |
| reimburse | to pay back |
| reiterate | to repeat |
| rejuvenate | to make young again |
| relegate | to banish; to assign to an inferior position |
| relentless | unyielding |
| relevant | significant; pertaining to the subject |
| relinquish | to give up; to let go |
| relish | to enjoy; to take delight in |
| remediable | capable of being corrected |
| remedial | intended to correct |
| reminisce | to remember |
| remiss | negligent |
| remission | a lessening; a forgiveness as of sins or offenses |
| remonstrate | to protest; to complain |
| remorse | regret for wrongdoing |
| remuneration | payment for a service |
| renaissance | rebirth; renewal; revival |
| renal | pertaining to the kidneys |
| rend | to split; to tear apart |
| rendezvous | a meeting; appointment |
| renegade | a deserter; a traitor |
| renege | to go back on one’s word |
| renounce | to give up (a belief ) |
| renovate | to make new; to repair |
| reparation | compensation; something done to make up for a wrong or injury done |
| repartee | a quick, witty reply |
| repast | a meal |
| repellent | something that drives away or wards off (insects, etc.) |
| repercussion | reaction; aftereffect |
| repertoire | special skills or talents one possesses; collection |
| repine | to complain; to fret |
| replenish | to fill up again |
| replete | well-filled |
| repose | (verb) to rest; to sleep; (noun) rest |
| reprehensible | deserving criticism or blame; shameful |
| repress | to control; to subdue |
| reprimand | to scold |
| reprisal | retaliation; revenge |
| reproach | to blame; to scold |
| reprobate | a wicked person |
| reproof | a rebuke |
| repudiate | to reject; to disown |
| repugnant | distasteful; disgusting |
| repulse | to drive back; to repel |
| reputed | supposed to be |
| requiem | funeral hymn; mass for the dead |
| requisite | required or necessary; indispensable |
| requite | to make a return or repayment |
| rescind | to cancel; to repeal |
| residue | that which remains |
| resilient | recovering quickly; elastic |
| resolute | very determined |
| resonance | fullness of sound |
| resourceful | able to deal effectively with problems |
| respite | a delay; rest |
| resplendent | shining brightly; dazzling |
| restitution | repayment; a giving back |
| restive | restless; uneasy; impatient |
| restrain | to hold back; to control |
| résumé | a summary |
| resurge | to rise again |
| resurrection | revival; rebirth |
| resuscitate | to revive from apparent death or from unconsciousness |
| retaliation | revenge; repayment for an evil act |
| retentive | having a good memory; remembering |
| reticent | silent or reserved in manner |
| retinue | body of attendants or followers |
| retort | a short, witty reply |
| retract | to take back (a statement); to withdraw |
| retrench | to cut down or reduce expenses |
| retribution | deserved punishment |
| retrieve | to get or bring back |
| retroactive | applying to a period before a certain law was passed |
| retrogressive | going backward; becoming worse |
| retrospect | (preceded by in) looking back on past events |
| revelation | something made known; a disclosure |
| revelry | noisy merrymaking |
| reverberate | to echo; to resound |
| revere | to honor; to respect |
| reverie | a daydream |
| revile | to abuse; to slander |
| rhetorical | concerned with mere style or effect |
| ribald | vulgar; indecent |
| rife | frequently occurring; widespread |
| rift | a break or split |
| righteous | behaving justly or morally |
| rigorous | strict |
| risible | laughable; funny |
| risqué | daring or indecent; not proper |
| rite | a religious ceremony; a solemn act |
| robust | strong; hearty |
| rogue | a dishonest person; a scoundrel |
| rollicking | jolly; carefree |
| roster | a list |
| rote | (preceded with by) from memory, without thought for meaning |
| rotund | round; fat |
| rout | overwhelming defeat |
| rudimentary | elementary; basic |
| rue | to regret; to be sorrowful |
| ruffian | hoodlum; lawless person |
| ruffle | (two meanings) a wrinkle or a ripple (noun); to irritate or to annoy (verb) |
| ruminate | to consider carefully; to meditate on |
| rupture | to break apart; to burst |
| ruse | a skillful trick or deception |
| rustic | pertaining to the country |
| rustle | (two meanings) to steal; to make a swishing sound |
| ruthless | cruel; merciless |
| saccharine | overly sweet |
| sacrilege | the violation of anything sacred |
| sacrosanct | extremely holy |
| sadistic | deriving pleasure from inflicting pain on others |
| saga | a long story of adventure |
| sagacious | wise |
| sage | a wise person |
| salacious | obscene; lusty |
| salient | significant; conspicuous |
| saline | salty |
| sallow | sickly pale |
| salubrious | healthful |
| salutary | healthful; wholesome |
| salutatory | a welcoming address, as at a graduation |
| salvage | to rescue; to save from destruction |
| sanctimonious | hypocritical in regard to religious belief |
| sanction | to authorize; to give permission |
| sangfroid | calmness; composure |
| sanguinary | bloody |
| sanguine | cheerful; optimistic |
| sapient | wise |
| sardonic | mocking; scornful |
| sartorial | pertaining to clothes or tailoring |
| satiated | satisfied; filled up |
| satirical | sarcastic; ironic |
| saturate | to soak; to fill up |
| saturnine | gloomy; sluggish |
| saunter | to stroll; to walk leisurely |
| savant | a person of extensive learning |
| savoir faire | tact; knowledge of just what to do in any situation |
| savor | to enjoy, as by taste or smell |
| scant | inadequate in size or amount |
| scapegoat | one who takes the blame for others |
| scathing | extremely severe or harsh, such as a remark |
| schism | a split or break |
| scintilla | a tiny amount; a speck |
| scintillate | to sparkle; to twinkle |
| scion | an offspring; a descendant |
| scoff | to ridicule |
| scope | range; extent |
| scourge | a whip or a lash; a person or thing that punishes or destroys |
| scrupulous | honest; ethical; precise |
| scrutinize | to examine closely |
| scurrilous | coarsely abusive; vulgar |
| scurry | run about; to hurry |
| scuttle | to sink (a ship); to abandon |
| sear | to burn; to scorch |
| sebaceous | fatty |
| seclude | to keep apart; to isolate |
| secrete | to hide or conceal |
| secular | worldly; nonreligious |
| sedate | quiet; calm; serious |
| sedentary | sitting most of the time |
| sediment | material that settles on the bottom; residue |
| sedition | rebellion |
| sedulous | hard-working; industrious; diligent |
| seedy | run-down; shabby |
| seethe | to boil; to be violently agitated |
| seismic | pertaining to earthquakes |
| semblance | outward appearance |
| senile | pertaining to mental weakness due to old age |
| sensate | pertaining to feeling |
| sensual | pertaining to enjoyment of food and sex |
| sensuous | pertaining to enjoyment of art, music, etc. |
| sententious | concise; including proverbs and brief remarks |
| sentient | conscious; capable of feeling |
| sentinel | a guard |
| sepulcher | tomb; burial vault |
| sequel | an event or literary work that follows a previous one |
| sequester | to separate; to set aside |
| seraphic | angelic; pure |
| serendipity | a talent for making desirable discoveries by accident |
| serene | calm; peaceful |
| serpentine | winding |
| serrated | having toothlike edges |
| servile | like a slave |
| servitude | slavery; bondage |
| sever | to cut in two; to separate |
| shackle | to keep prisoner; to restrain |
| sham | a pretense |
| shambles | a slaughterhouse; great disorder |
| shard | a fragment |
| sheepish | embarrassed; bashful |
| shibboleth | a slogan; a password |
| shiftless | lazy; inefficient |
| shoal | a shallow place in the water; a reef |
| shortcomings | defects; deficiencies |
| shrew | a nagging, bad-tempered woman |
| shroud | a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial |
| sibilant | hissing |
| sibling | a brother or sister |
| simian | pertaining to an ape or monkey |
| simile | a comparison using like or as |
| simony | the sin of buying or selling church benefits |
| simper | to smile in a silly way |
| simulacrum | an image; a likeness |
| simulate | to pretend; to imitate |
| simultaneous | occurring at the same time |
| sinecure | job with no responsibility |
| sinewy | tough; firm; strong |
| singular | extraordinary; remarkable; exceptional |
| sinister | threatening evil; ominous |
| sinuous | curving; winding |
| siren | an attractive but dangerous woman |
| skeptic | one who doubts |
| skinflint | stingy person; miser |
| skittish | restless; excitable; nervous |
| skulduggery | trickery; deception |
| skulk | to sneak around; to lie in hiding |
| slacken | become loose; to relax |
| slake | to lessen (thirst, desire, anger, etc.) by satisfying; to quench |
| slander | to make a false statement against someone |
| slattern | an untidy woman |
| sleazy | cheap; flimsy |
| sleek | smooth and shiny |
| slither | to slide or glide |
| slothful | lazy |
| slough | (off ) to discard; to shed |
| slovenly | untidy; dirty; careless |
| smirk | to smile in an affected or offensive way |
| smite | to strike forcefully |
| smolder | to burn without flame; to keep feelings concealed |
| smug | self-satisfied |
| snare | to trap |
| sneer | to look at with contempt; to scorn; to deride |
| snicker | to laugh in a half-suppressed way |
| snippet | a small fragment |
| snivel | to whine; to complain |
| sober | not drunk; serious |
| sobriquet | nickname; assumed name |
| sodden | soaked; damp |
| sojourn | a brief stay or visit |
| solace | comfort |
| solar | pertaining to the sun |
| solecism | ungrammatical usage; an error or inconsistency in speech |
| solicit | to ask; to seek; to try to get an order in business |
| solicitude | concern; anxiety |
| soliloquy | act of talking to oneself |
| solipsistic | pertaining to the theory that only oneself exists or can be proved to exist |
| solitude | loneliness |
| solon | a wise man |
| solvent | (two meanings) having the ability to pay a debt (adjective); a substance that dissolves another (noun) |
| somber | dark; gloomy |
| somnambulate | walk in one’s sleep |
| somniferous | causing sleep |
| somnolent | drowsy; sleepy |
| sonorous | producing a deep, rich sound |
| sophistry | a deceptive, tricky argument |
| sophomoric | immature; pretentious |
| soporific | causing sleep |
| sordid | dirty; filthy |
| sot | a drunkard |
| sovereign | a monarch or other supreme ruler |
| spacious | roomy; convenient |
| Spartan | warlike; brave; disciplined |
| spasm | a sudden burst of energy |
| specious | not genuine; pleasing to the eye but deceptive |
| specter | a ghost; a phantom |
| speculate | (two meanings) to meditate; to participate in a risky business transaction |
| sphinx | person who is difficult to understand |
| splenetic | bad-tempered; irritable |
| sporadic | infrequent; irregular |
| spry | full of life; active |
| spume | foam |
| spurious | deceitful; counterfeit |
| spurn | to reject |
| squalid | filthy; dirty |
| staccato | made up of short, abrupt sounds |
| stagnant | not flowing; stale; sluggish |
| staid | sedate; settled |
| stalemate | a deadlock; a draw |
| stalwart | strong; sturdy |
| stamina | endurance; resistance to fatigue |
| stance | attitude; posture |
| stark | complete; harsh; severe |
| static | inactive; motionless |
| stationary | standing still; not moving |
| statute | law; rule |
| steadfast | firm in purpose; dependable; constant |
| stench | a foul smell |
| stentorian | very loud |
| stereotyped | not original; commonplace |
| sterling | of high quality; excellent |
| stigma | mark of disgrace |
| stilted | artificially formal |
| stint | to be sparing; to conserve |
| stipend | salary |
| stipulate | to specify; to arrange definitely |
| stoic | showing no emotion; indifferent to pleasure or pain |
| stolid | impassive; having little emotion |
| strait | a position of difficulty; a narrow passage of water |
| stratagem | a plan, scheme, or trick |
| strew | to spread about; to scatter |
| striated | striped; marked with lines |
| stricture | negative criticism; a restriction |
| strident | harsh-sounding; loud and shrill |
| stringent | strict; tight |
| strut | to walk in a proud manner; to show off |
| stultify | to make absurd or ridiculous; to render worthless |
| stupefy | to stun; to amaze |
| stygian | dark; gloomy |
| stymie | to hinder; to block |
| suave | polished; sophisticated |
| sub | rosa secretly; confidentially |
| subaqueous | underwater |
| subjective | not objective; personal |
| subjugate | to conquer |
| sublimate | to make a person act noble or moral |
| sublime | majestic; elevated or lofty in thought |
| subliminal | subconscious; unaware |
| submissive | yielding; humbly obedient |
| subordinate | of lower rank |
| suborn | to hire for an unlawful act |
| subsequent | following; occurring later |
| subser | vient submissive; helpful, in an inferior capacity |
| subside | to become quiet; to settle down |
| subsidiary | auxiliary; supplementary; serving to assist |
| substantiate | to prove; to confirm; to support |
| subterfuge | trickery; deceit |
| subterranean | underground |
| subversive | tending to overthrow or undermine |
| succinct | concise; brief and to the point |
| succor | assistance; help; relief |
| succulent | juicy |
| succumb | to yield; to give in |
| suffrage | the right to vote |
| sullen | gloomy; showing irritation |
| sully | to soil, stain, or tarnish |
| sultry | hot and moist |
| sumptuous | luxurious; lavish; extravagant |
| sundry | various; assorted |
| superannuated | retired because of old age |
| supercilious | proud; haughty |
| superficial | on the surface; shallow |
| superfluous | excessive; unnecessary |
| supernal | heavenly |
| supernumerary | extra; more than necessary |
| supersede | to take the place of |
| supervene | to take place or occur unexpectedly |
| supine | lying on the back |
| supplant | to replace |
| supple | flexible |
| suppliant | begging; asking humbly |
| supplicate | to pray humbly; to beg |
| surfeit | an excessive amount |
| surly | rude; bad-tempered |
| surmise | to guess |
| surmount | to go beyond; to overcome |
| surreptitious | acting in a sneaky way |
| surrogate | substitute |
| surveillance | supervision; close watch |
| sustenance | nourishment |
| susurration | whispering; murmuring |
| suture | to join together, as with stitches |
| svelte | slender; graceful |
| swarthy | dark-complexioned |
| swathe | to wrap closely or fully |
| sybarite | one who is fond of luxuries and pleasure |
| sycophant | a flatterer; a parasite |
| sylvan | wooded; pertaining to the forest |
| symbiosis | mutual dependence between two different organisms |
| symmetrical | balanced; well-proportioned |
| synchronize | to happen at the same time |
| synthesis | a combination; a fusion |
| synthetic | not genuine; artificial |
| tableau | dramatic scene or picture |
| taboo | forbidden; unacceptable |
| tabulation | a systematic listing by columns or rows |
| tacit | silent; not expressed |
| taciturn | speaking very little |
| tactics | plan; method; strategy |
| tactile | pertaining to sense of touch |
| taint | to infect; to harm a person’s reputation |
| talisman | a good-luck charm |
| tally | to count; to make a record of |
| tangent | touching |
| tangible | real; capable of being touched |
| tantalize | to tease or torment |
| tantamount | (followed by to) equivalent to |
| tarn | a small lake or pool |
| tarnish | to soil; to discolor; to stain |
| tarry | to linger; to delay |
| taunt | to ridicule; to tease |
| taurine | like a bull |
| taut | tight; tense |
| tawdry | cheap; showy; flashy |
| tawny | yellowish-brown |
| tedious | boring; monotonous |
| teeming | overfilled; pouring out |
| temerity | reckless boldness; rashness |
| temper | (verb) to moderate; to soften or tone down |
| temperate | not extreme; moderate |
| temporal | pertaining to time |
| temporize | to be indecisive; to be evasive; to delay an action |
| tenacious | holding on; persistent; stubborn |
| tendentious | biased; favoring a cause |
| tenet | a doctrine; a belief |
| tensile | capable of being stretched; elastic |
| tentative | for the time being; experimental |
| tenuous | slender; flimsy; without substance |
| tenure | the holding or possessing of anything |
| tepid | lukewarm |
| terminate | to put an end to; to conclude |
| terminus | a boundary; a limit |
| terpsichorean | pertaining to dancing |
| terrestrial | earthly; living on land |
| terse | brief; to the point |
| testy | irritable |
| thanatology | the study of death and dying |
| theocracy | government by religious leaders |
| therapeutic | pertaining to the treatment and curing of disease |
| thermal | pertaining to heat |
| thesaurus | a book of synonyms and antonyms; a dictionary |
| thespian | an actor |
| thrall | a slave |
| threnody | a funeral song |
| throes | a violent struggle; pains (of childbirth); agony (of death) |
| throng | a crowd |
| thwart | to prevent or hinder |
| timorous | fearful; cowardly |
| tinge | a faint color; a trace |
| tirade | a long angry speech; an outburst of bitter denunciation |
| titanic | huge |
| titillate | to tickle; to excite agreeably |
| titter | to laugh in a self-conscious or nervous way |
| token | (two meanings) sign or symbol (noun); slight or unimportant (adjective) |
| tome | large, heavy book |
| toothsome | tasty |
| topple | to overturn; to fall over |
| torpid | inactive; sluggish |
| torsion | twisting; bending |
| torso | the human body excluding the head and limbs |
| tortuous | twisting; winding |
| torturous | causing extreme pain |
| touchstone | standard; a test or criterion for quality |
| toxic | poisonous; harmful |
| tractable | easy to manage |
| traduce | to speak badly of; to slander |
| trait | a characteristic; a quality |
| tranquil | calm; peaceful |
| transcend | to go beyond; to overcome |
| transcendental | supernatural; going beyond ordinary experience or belief |
| transgression | violation of a rule or law |
| transient | temporary; passing |
| transitory | lasting a short time; brief |
| translucent | letting light pass through |
| transmute | to change from one form to another; to transform |
| transparent | easily seen through; clear |
| transpire | to be revealed or become known; to occur |
| trappings | articles of dress; equipment |
| trauma | a shock; an aftereffect |
| travail | very hard work; intense pain |
| travesty | an absurd or inadequate imitation |
| treacherous | dangerous; deceptive; disloyal |
| treatise | a book or writing about some particular subject |
| treble | three times as much |
| tremulous | trembling; quivering |
| trenchant | keen or incisive; vigorous; effective |
| trepidation | fear; alarm |
| trespass | to invade; to enter wrongfully |
| tribulation | trouble |
| tributary | a stream flowing into a river |
| tribute | a gift; an acknowledgment to show admiration |
| trinity | group of three |
| trite | worn out; stale; commonplace |
| trivia | matters or things that are very unimportant; trivialities |
| truckle | (to) to submit; to yield |
| truculent | savage; brutal; cruel |
| truism | a self-evident, obvious truth |
| truncate | to shorten; to cut off |
| truncheon | a club |
| tryst | a secret meeting |
| tumid | swollen; bulging |
| tumult | great noise and confusion |
| turbid | muddy; unclear |
| turbulence | wild disorder; violent motion |
| turgid | swollen |
| turmoil | confusion |
| turpitude | baseness; shameful behavior |
| tussle | a struggle; a fight |
| tutelage | instruction |
| twain | two |
| tycoon | a wealthy businessman |
| tyro | a beginner |
| ubiquitous | present everywhere |
| ulcerous | infected |
| ulterior | lying beyond; hidden |
| ultimatum | a final demand or proposal |
| umbrage | a feeling of resentment |
| unanimity | agreement; oneness |
| unassailable | unable to be attacked |
| uncanny | weird; strange |
| unconscionable | unreasonable; excessive |
| uncouth | crude; clumsy |
| unctuous | oily; excessively polite |
| undue | inappropriate; unreasonable |
| undulate | to move or sway in wavelike motion |
| unequivocal | clear; definite |
| unerring | accurate; not going astray or missing the mark |
| unfledged | not feathered; immature |
| unilateral | one-sided |
| unimpeachable | above suspicion; unquestionable |
| uninhibited | free; not restricted |
| unique | being the only one of its kind |
| unison | harmony; agreement |
| universal | broad; general; effective everywhere or in all cases |
| unkempt | untidy; sloppy |
| unmindful | unaware |
| unmitigated | absolute; not lessened |
| unobtrusive | inconspicuous; not noticeable |
| unruly | not manageable; disorderly |
| unsavory | unpleasant to taste or smell |
| unscathed | unharmed; uninjured |
| unseemly | not in good taste |
| untenable | unable to be defended or upheld |
| unwieldy | hard to manage because of size or weight |
| unwitting | unintentional; unaware |
| upbraid | to scold; to find fault with |
| uproarious | loud; outrageously funny |
| urbane | refined; suave; citified |
| urchin | a mischievous child |
| ursine | like a bear |
| usurp | to seize illegally |
| usury | excessive amount of money charged as interest |
| utilitarian | useful; practical |
| utopian | perfect; ideal |
| uxorious | overly fond of one’s wife |
| ubiquitous | present everywhere |
| ulcerous | infected |
| ulterior | lying beyond; hidden |
| ultimatum | a final demand or proposal |
| umbrage | a feeling of resentment |
| unanimity | agreement; oneness |
| unassailable | unable to be attacked |
| uncanny | weird; strange |
| unconscionable | unreasonable; excessive |
| uncouth | crude; clumsy |
| unctuous | oily; excessively polite |
| undue | inappropriate; unreasonable |
| undulate | to move or sway in wavelike motion |
| unequivocal | clear; definite |
| unerring | accurate; not going astray or missing the mark |
| unfledged | not feathered; immature |
| unilateral | one-sided |
| unimpeachable | above suspicion; unquestionable |
| uninhibited | free; not restricted |
| unique | being the only one of its kind |
| unison | harmony; agreement |
| universal | broad; general; effective everywhere or in all cases |
| unkempt | untidy; sloppy |
| unmindful | unaware |
| unmitigated | absolute; not lessened |
| unobtrusive | inconspicuous; not noticeable |
| unruly | not manageable; disorderly |
| unsavory | unpleasant to taste or smell |
| unscathed | unharmed; uninjured |
| unseemly | not in good taste |
| untenable | unable to be defended or upheld |
| unwieldy | hard to manage because of size or weight |
| unwitting | unintentional; unaware |
| upbraid | to scold; to find fault with |
| uproarious | loud; outrageously funny |
| urbane | refined; suave; citified |
| urchin | a mischievous child |
| ursine | like a bear |
| usurp | to seize illegally |
| usury | excessive amount of money charged as interest |
| utilitarian | useful; practical |
| utopian | perfect; ideal |
| uxorious | overly fond of one’s wife |
| vacillate | to sway back and forth; to hesitate in making a decision |
| vagabond | a wanderer |
| vagary | an odd notion; an unpredictable action |
| vagrant | a homeless person; a wanderer |
| vain | conceited; excessively proud about one’s appearance |
| vainglorious | boastfully proud |
| valedictory | saying farewell |
| valiant | courageous; brave |
| valid | true; logical; sound |
| validate | to approve; to confirm |
| valor | courage; bravery |
| vanguard | the front part |
| vanity | excessive pride; conceit |
| vanquish | to defeat |
| vapid | uninteresting; tasteless; tedious |
| variegated | having different colors; diversified |
| vaunt | to brag or boast |
| veer | to change direction |
| vegetate | to lead a dull, inactive life |
| vehement | forceful; furious |
| velocity | speed |
| venal | corrupt; able to be bribed |
| vendetta | bitter quarrel or feud |
| veneer | an outward show that misrepresents |
| venerable | worthy of respect |
| venerate | to regard with respect |
| venial | excusable; minor |
| venomous | poisonous; spiteful; malicious |
| vent | to give release to; to be relieved of a feeling |
| venturesome | daring; adventurous; risky |
| veracious | truthful; honest |
| verbatim | word for word |
| verbiage | overabundance of words |
| verbose | wordy |
| verdant | green; flourishing |
| verisimilitude | the appearance of truth |
| veritable | true; actual; genuine |
| verity | truth |
| vernacular | native language; informal speech |
| vernal | pertaining to spring |
| versatile | good at many things; serving many purposes |
| vertex | top; highest point |
| vertiginous | whirling; dizzy; unstable |
| verve | energy; enthusiasm |
| vestige | a trace; visible evidence of something that is no longer present |
| veteran | an experienced person |
| vex | to irritate; to annoy |
| viable | capable of living; workable; practicable |
| viaduct | a bridge |
| viands | various foods |
| vicarious | taking the place of another person or thing; substituted |
| viceroy | a representative; a deputy appointed by a |
| sovereign | to rule a province |
| vicissitudes | unpredictable changes; ups and downs |
| victimize | to make a victim of; to swindle or cheat |
| victuals | food |
| vie | to compete |
| vigilant | watchful |
| vignette | a short literary sketch; a decorative design |
| vilify | to speak evil of; to defame |
| vindicate | to clear of guilt or blame |
| vindictive | spiteful; seeking revenge |
| vintage | representative of the best (especially of wines) |
| viper | (two meanings) a poisonous snake; a malignant or spiteful person |
| virago | a loud, bad-tempered woman; a shrew |
| virile | masculine; manly |
| virtuoso | an expert; a skilled person |
| virulent | deadly; poisonous; harmful |
| visage | the face; appearance |
| visceral | pertaining to instinctive rather than intellectual motivation |
| viscous | sticky |
| vista | a distant view |
| vitiate | to weaken; to impair |
| vitreous | of or like glass |
| vitriolic | biting; sharp; bitter |
| vituperate | to scold; to criticize |
| vivify | to give life to; to enliven |
| vixen | female fox; ill-tempered woman |
| vociferous | loud; shouting |
| vogue | fashion; style |
| volant | capable of flying |
| volatile | unstable; explosive |
| volition | free will |
| voluble | talkative; fluent |
| voluminous | large; copious |
| voluptuous | sensual; shapely |
| voracious | extremely hungry; greedy |
| votary | loyal follower |
| vouchsafe | to grant; to allow or permit |
| vulgar | showing poor taste or manners |
| vulnerable | defenseless; open to attack |
| vulpine | like a fox; clever |
| waif | a homeless person |
| waive | to give up (a right) |
| wallow | to indulge oneself; to roll around in |
| wan | pale; weak; tired |
| wane | to gradually decrease in size or intensity |
| wangle | to manipulate; to obtain by scheming or by underhand methods |
| wanton | reckless; immoral |
| warble | to sing melodiously |
| warp | to bend out of shape; to pervert |
| wary | cautious; watchful |
| wastrel | a spendthrift; one who wastes |
| waver | to sway; to be uncertain |
| wax | to grow in size or intensity |
| weighty | of utmost importance |
| wend | to direct one’s way |
| wheedle | to coax or to persuade |
| whet | to stimulate; to make sharp |
| whimsical | unpredictable; changeable |
| wield | to handle (a tool); to exercise control (over others) |
| willful | contrary; stubborn |
| wily | tricky; sly |
| wince | to shrink, as in pain, fear, etc.; to flinch |
| windfall | unexpected good fortune |
| winsome | pleasing; charming |
| withal | in spite of all; nevertheless |
| wizened | withered; shriveled |
| woe | sorrow; grief |
| wolfish | ferocious |
| wont | (to) accustomed (adjective) |
| workaday | everyday; ordinary |
| wraith | a ghost; an apparition |
| wrangle | to quarrel |
| wrath | anger; rage |
| wrench | to twist; to pull |
| wrest | to take away by force |
| wroth | angry |
| wrought | produced or shaped |
| wry | produced by distorting the face (a wry grin); ironic (wry humor) |
| xenophobia | fear of foreigners or strangers |
| xyloid | pertaining to wood |
| yen | an intense desire; a longing |
| yoke | to join together; to link |
| zany | comical; clownishly crazy |
| zeal | great enthusiasm |
| zealot | a fanatic |
| zenith | the highest point |
| zephyr | a gentle, mild breeze |
| zest | hearty enjoyment |
Created by:
Sathras
Popular GRE sets