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SAT Vocabulary
Learn these words to help you on your SAT
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| abase | to humble ,disgrace |
| abandon | total lack of inhibition |
| abate | decrease, reduce |
| abdicate | to give up a position, right, or power |
| aberration | something different from the usual |
| abet | to aid; act as accomplice |
| abhor | to loathe, detest |
| abject | miserable, pitiful |
| abolitionist | one who opposes the practice of slavery |
| abortive | interrupted while incomplete |
| abridge | to condense, shorten |
| abrogate | to put an end to, abolish by authority |
| abscond | to depart secretly |
| absolve | to forgive, free from blame |
| abstain | to choose not to do something |
| accolade | praise, distinction |
| accrue | to accumulate, grow by additions |
| acerbic | bitter, sharp in taste or temper |
| acme | highest point; summit |
| acquiesce | to agree; comply quietly |
| acrid | harsh, bitter |
| acrimony | bitterness, animosity |
| acuity | sharpness |
| acumen | sharpness of insight |
| adage | old saying or proverb |
| adamant | uncompromising, unyielding |
| adapt | to accommodate; adjust |
| adhere | to cling or follow without deviation |
| adjacent | next to |
| admonish | to caution or reprimand |
| adroit | skillful, accomplished, highly competent |
| adulation | high praise |
| adumbrate | to sketch, outline in a shadowy way |
| adversarial | antagonistic, competitive |
| aerie | nook or nest built high in the air |
| aesthetic | pertaining to beauty or art |
| affable | friendly, easy to approach |
| affected | pretentious, phony |
| affluent | rich, abundant |
| affront | personal offense, insult |
| agenda | plan, schedule |
| agile | well coordinated, nimble |
| agitation | commotion, excitement; uneasiness |
| agrarian | relating to farming or rural matters |
| alacrity | cheerful willingness, eagerness; speed |
| alias | assumed name |
| alienated | distanced, estranged |
| allegory | symbolic representation |
| alleviate | to relieve, improve partially |
| allure | to entice by charm; attract |
| allusion | indirect reference |
| aloof | detached, indifferent |
| altruism | unselfish concern for others' welfare |
| ambiguous | uncertain; subject to multiple interpretations |
| ambivalence | attitude of uncertainty; conflicting emotions |
| ameliorate | to make better, improve |
| amenable | agreeable, cooperative |
| amend | to improve or correct flaws in |
| amenity | pleasantness; something increasing comfort |
| amiable | friendly, pleasant, likable |
| amicable | friendly, agreeable |
| amoral | unprincipled, unethical |
| amorphous | having no definite form |
| amphibian | creature equally at home on land or in water |
| ample | abundant, plentiful |
| amulet | ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits |
| anachronistic | outdated |
| anarchy | absence of government or law; chaos |
| anathema | ban, curse; something shunned or disliked |
| animation | enthusiasm, excitement |
| animosity | hatred, hostility |
| annul | to cancel, nullify, declare void, or make legally invalid |
| anomaly | irregularity or deviation from the norm |
| anonymity | condition of having no name or an unknown name |
| antagonist | foe, opponent, adversary |
| antecedent | coming before in place or time |
| anthology | collection of literary works |
| antipathy | dislike, hostility; extreme opposition or aversion |
| antiquated | outdated, obsolete |
| antiquity | ancient times; the quality of being old |
| antithesis | exact opposite or direct contrast |
| apathy | lack of feeling or emotion |
| aphorism | old saying or short, pithy statement |
| apocryphal | not genuine; fictional |
| apostate | one who renounces a religious faith |
| appease | to satisfy, placate, calm, pacify |
| approbation | praise; official approval |
| appropriate | to take possesion of |
| arable | suitable for cultivation |
| arbitrary | depending solely on individual will; inconsistent |
| arboreal | relating to trees; living in trees |
| arcane | secret, obscure, known only to a few |
| archaic | antiquated, from an earlier time; outdated |
| archipelago | large group of islands |
| ardent | passionate, enthusiastic, fervent |
| arduous | extremely difficult, laborious |
| arid | extremely dry or deathly boring |
| arsenal | ammunition storehouse |
| articulate | well spoken, expressing oneself clearly |
| artisan | craftsperson; expert |
| ascend | to rise or climb |
| ascetic | self-denying, abstinent, austere |
| ashen | resembling ashes; deathly pale |
| askew | crooked, tilted |
| aspersion | false rumor, damaging report, slander |
| aspire | to have great hopes; to aim at a goal |
| assail | to attack, assault |
| assiduous | diligent, persistent, hard-working |
| assuage | to make less severe, ease, relieve |
| astringent | harsh, severe, stern |
| astute | having good judgment |
| atone | to make amends for a wrong |
| atrocious | monstrous, shockingly bad, wicked |
| attain | to accomplish, gain |
| attenuate | to make thin or slender; weaken |
| audacious | bold, daring, fearless |
| audible | capable of being heard |
| augment | to expand, extend |
| augury | prophecy, prediction of events |
| august | dignified, awe inspiring, venerable |
| auspicious | having favorable prospects, promising |
| austere | stern, strict, unadorned |
| authoritarian | extremely strict, bossy |
| autocrat | dictator |
| avarice | greed |
| avenge | to retaliate, take revenge for an injury or crime |
| aver | to declare to be true, affirm |
| aversion | intense dislike |
| avert | to turn (something) away; prevent, hinder |
| aviary | large enclosure housing birds |
| awry | crooked, askew, amiss |
| baleful | harmful, with evil intentions |
| ballad | folk song, narrative poem |
| balm | soothing, healing influence |
| banal | trite, overly common |
| bane | something causing death, destruction, or ruin |
| banter | playful conversation |
| bastion | fortification, stronghold |
| bay | to bark, especially in a deep prolonged way |
| beguile | to deceive, mislead; charm |
| behemoth | huge creature |
| belabor | to insist repeatedly or harp on |
| belie | to misrepresent; expose as false |
| bellicose | warlike, aggressive |
| belligerent | hostile, tending to fight |
| benefactor | someone giving aid or money |
| beneficent | kindly, charitable; doing good deeds; producing good effects |
| benighted | unenlightened |
| benign | kindly, gentle, or harmless |
| bequeath | to give or leave through a will; to hand down |
| berate | to scold harshly |
| beseech | to beg, plead, implore |
| bestial | beastly, animal-like |
| bias | prejudice, slant |
| bibliography | list of books |
| bisect | to cut into two (usually equal) parts |
| blanch | to pale; take the color out of |
| blandish | to coax with flattery |
| blasphemous | cursing, profane, irreverent |
| blatant | glaring, obvious, showy |
| blight | to afflict, destroy |
| boisterous | rowdy, loud, unrestrained |
| bombastic | using high-sounding but meaningless language |
| boor | crude person, one lacking manners or taste |
| botanist | scientist who studies plants |
| bovine | cowlike; relating to cows |
| brazen | bold, shameless, impudent; of or like brass |
| broach | to mention or suggest for the first time |
| burgeon | to sprout or flourish |
| burnish | to polish, make smooth and bright |
| buttress | to reinforce or support |
| cacophony | jarring, unpleasant noise |
| cajole | to flatter, coax, persuade |
| callous | thick-skinned, insensitive |
| callow | immature, lacking sophistication |
| candor | honesty of expression |
| canny | smart; founded on common sense |
| capitulate | to submit completely, surrender |
| capricious | impulsive, whimsical, without much thought |
| caricature | exaggerated portrait, cartoon |
| cartography | science or art of making maps |
| castigate | to punish, chastise, criticize severely |
| catalyst | something causing change without being changed |
| catholic | universal; broad and comprehensive |
| caucus | smaller group within an organization; a meeting of such a group |
| caustic | biting, sarcastic; able to burn |
| cede | to surrender possession of something |
| censorious | severely critical |
| cessation | temporary or complete halt |
| chagrin | shame, embarrassment, humiliation |
| champion | to defend or support |
| chaotic | extremely disorderly |
| charlatan | quack, fake |
| chary | watchful, cautious, extremely shy |
| chastise | to punish, discipline, scold |
| chide | to scold, express disapproval |
| chromatic | relating to color |
| circuitous | roundabout |
| circumference | boundary or distance around a circle or sphere |
| circumscribe | to encircle; set limits on, confine |
| circumspect | cautious, wary |
| citadel | fortress or stronghold |
| civil | polite; relating to citizens |
| clairvoyant | having ESP, psychic |
| clamor | to make a noisy outcry; a noisy outcry |
| clandestine | secretive, concealed for a darker purpose |
| clemency | merciful leniency |
| cloister | to confine, seclude |
| coalesce | to grow together or cause to unite as one |
| coddle | to baby, treat indulgently |
| coerce | to compel by force or intimidation |
| cogent | logically forceful, compelling, convincing |
| coherent | intelligible, lucid, understandable |
| collateral | accompanying |
| colloquial | characteristic of informal speech |
| collusion | collaboration, complicity, conspiracy |
| commensurate | proportional |
| commodious | roomy, spacious |
| communicable | transmittable |
| commute | to change a penalty to a less severe one |
| compensate | to repay or reimburse |
| complacent | self-satisfied, smug |
| complement | to complete, perfect |
| compliant | submissive and yielding |
| complicity | knowing partnership in wrongdoing |
| compunction | feeling of uneasiness caused by guilt or regret |
| concave | curving inward |
| concede | to yield, admit |
| conciliatory | overcoming distrust or hostility |
| concur | to agree |
| condone | to pardon or forgive; overlook, justify, or excuse a fault |
| conduit | tube, pipe, or similar passage |
| conflagration | big, destructive fire |
| confound | to battle, perplex |
| congeal | to become thick or solid, as a liquid freezing |
| congenial | similar in tastes and habits |
| conglomerate | collected group of varied things |
| conjecture | speculation, prediction |
| conscientious | governed by conscience; careful and thorough |
| consecrate | to declare sacred; dedicate to a goal |
| consensus | unanimity, agreement of opinion or attitude |
| consolation | something providing comfort or solace for a loss or hardship |
| consolidate | to combine, incorporate |
| constrained | forced, compelled; confined, restrained |
| construe | to explain or interpret |
| contentious | quarrelsome, disagreeable, belligerent |
| continence | self-control, self-restraint |
| contravene | to contradict, deny, act contrary to |
| contrite | deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong |
| conundrum | riddle, puzzle or problem with no solution |
| convalescence | gradual recovery after an illness |
| convene | to meet, come together, assemble |
| conventional | typical, customary, commonplace |
| convex | curved outward |
| convoluted | twisted, complicated, involved |
| copious | abundant, plentiful |
| corpulence | obesity, fatness, bulkiness |
| corroborate | to confirm, verify |
| cosmetic | relating to beauty; affecting the surface of something |
| cosmopolitan | sophisticated, free from local prejudices |
| coterie | small group of persons with a similar purpose |
| coven | group of witches |
| covert | hidden; secret |
| covet | to desire strongly something possessed by another |
| crass | crude, unrefined |
| craven | cowardly |
| credence | acceptance of something as true or real |
| credulous | gullible, trusting |
| creed | statement of belief or principle |
| cryptic | puzzling |
| cuisine | characteristic style of cooking |
| culmination | climax, final stage |
| culpable | guilty, responsible for wrong |
| cupidity | greed |
| curmudgeon | cranky person |
| cursory | hastily done, superficial |
| curt | abrupt, blunt |
| curtail | to shorten |
| cynic | person who distrusts the motives of others |
| daunt | to discourage, intimidate |
| dearth | lack, scarcity, insufficiency |
| debase | to degrade or lower in quality or stature |
| debauch | to corrupt, seduce from virtue or duty; indulge |
| debilitate | to weaken, enfeeble |
| debunk | to discredit, disprove |
| deciduous | losing leaves in the fall; short-lived, temporary |
| decorum | proper behavior, etiquette |
| decry | to belittle, openly condemn |
| deface | to mar the appearances of, vandalize |
| defamatory | slanderous, injurious to the reputation |
| deferential | respectful and polite in a submissive way |
| deflation | decrease, depreciation |
| defunct | no longer existing, dead, extinct |
| delectable | appetizing, delicious |
| delegate | to give powers to another |
| deleterious | harmful, destructive, detrimental |
| deluge | flood |
| demagogue | leader, rabble-rouser, usually using appeals to emotion or prejudice |
| demean | to degrade, humiliate, humble |
| demographics | data relating to study of human population |
| demote | to reduce to a lower grade or rank |
| demur | to express doubts or objections |
| denigrate | to slur or blacken someone's reputation |
| deplete | to use up, exhaust |
| deplore | to express or feel disapproval of; regret strongly |
| deploy | to spread out strategically over an area |
| depravity | sinfulness, moral corruption |
| deprecate | to belittle, disparage |
| depreciate | to lose value gradually |
| deride | to mock, ridicule, make fun of |
| derivative | copied or adapted; not original |
| desiccate | to dry completely, dehydrate |
| desist | to stop doing something |
| despondent | feeling discouraged and dejected |
| despot | tyrannical ruler |
| destitute | very poor, poverty-stricken |
| desultory | at random, rambling, unmethodical |
| deter | to discourage; prevent from happening |
| deviate | to stray, wander |
| devout | deeply religious |
| dexterous | skilled physically or mentally |
| dialect | regional style of speaking |
| diaphanous | allowing light to show through; delicate |
| diatribe | bitter verbal attack |
| dictum | authoritative statement; popular saying |
| didactic | excessively instructive |
| diffidence | shyness, lack of confidence |
| diffuse | widely spread out |
| digress | to turn aside; to stray from the main point |
| dilapidated | in disrepair, run down, neglected |
| dilate | to enlarge, swell, extend |
| dilatory | slow, tending to delay |
| diplomacy | discretion, tact |
| dirge | funeral hymn |
| disarray | clutter, disorder |
| disburse | to pay out |
| discern | to perceive something obscure |
| disconcerting | bewildering, perplexing, slightly disturbing |
| discordant | harsh-sounding, badly out of tune |
| discredit | to dishonor or disgrace |
| discrepancy | difference between |
| disdain | to regard with scorn and contempt |
| disgorge | to vomit, discharge violently |
| disheveled | untidy, disarranged, unkempt |
| disparage | to belittle, speak disrespectfully about |
| disparate | dissimilar, different in kind |
| dispassionate | free from emotion; impartial, unbiased |
| dispel | to drive out or scatter |
| dispense | to distribute, administer |
| disperse | to break up, scatter |
| dispirit | to dishearten, make dejected |
| disrepute | disgrace, dishonor |
| dissemble | to pretend, disguise one's motives |
| disseminate | to spread far and wide |
| dissipate | to scatter; to pursue pleasure to excess |
| dissuade | to persuade someone to alter original intentions |
| distraught | very worried and distressed |
| dither | to move or act confusedly or without clear purpose |
| diurnal | daily |
| divine | to foretell or know by inspiration |
| divisive | creating disunity or conflict |
| docile | tame, willing to be taught |
| doctrinaire | rigidly devoted to theories |
| dogmatic | rigidly fixed in opinion, opinionated |
| doleful | sad, mournful |
| dormant | at rest, inactive, in suspended animation |
| doting | excessively fond, loving to excess |
| dour | sullen and gloomy; stern and severe |
| drivel | stupid talk; slobber |
| droll | amusing in a wry, subtle way |
| dulcet | pleasant sounding, soothing to the ear |
| dupe | to deceive, trick; a fool or pawn |
| duplicity | deception, dishonesty, double-dealing |
| dyspeptic | suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable |
| ebb | to fade away, recede |
| ebullient | exhilarated, full of enthusiasm and high spirits |
| eclectic | selecting from various sources |
| ecstatic | joyful |
| edict | law, command, official public order |
| edifice | building |
| edify | to instruct morally and spiritually |
| efface | to erase or make illegible |
| effervescent | bubbly, lively |
| effigy | stuffed doll; likeness of a person |
| effrontery | impudent boldness; audacity |
| effulgent | brilliantly shining |
| effusive | expressing emotion without restraint |
| egocentric | acting as if things are centered around oneself |
| egregious | conspicuously bad |
| elation | exhilaration, joy |
| elegy | mournful poem, usually about the dead |
| elicit | to draw out, provoke |
| eloquence | fluent and effective speech |
| emaciated | skinny, scrawny, gaunt, especially from hunger |
| emancipate | to set free, liberate |
| embellish | to ornament; make attractive with decoration or details; add details to a statement |
| embezzle | to steal money in violation of a trust |
| eminent | celebrated, distinguished; outstanding, towering |
| emollient | having soothing qualities, especially for skin |
| empathy | identification with another's feelings |
| emulate | to copy, imitate |
| endemic | belonging to a particular area, inherent |
| enervate | to weaken, sap strength from |
| engender | to produce, cause, bring about |
| enigmatic | puzzling, inexplicable |
| enjoin | to urge, order, command; forbid or prohibit, as by judicial order |
| enmity | hostility, antagonism, ill-will |
| ennui | boredom, lack of interest and energy |
| enormity | state of being gigantic or terrible |
| ensconce | to settle comfortably into a place |
| enthrall | to captivate, enchant, enslave |
| entreat | to plead, beg |
| enunciate | to pronounce clearly |
| ephemeral | momentary, transient, fleeting |
| epicure | person with refined taste in food and wine |
| epigram | short, witty saying or poem |
| epilogue | concluding section of a literary work |
| epitome | representative of an entire group; summary |
| equanimity | calmness, composure |
| equine | relating to horses |
| equivocal | ambiguous, open to more than one interpretation |
| equivocate | to use vague or ambiguous language intentionally |
| eradicate | to erase or wipe out |
| errant | straying, mistaken, roving |
| erudite | learned, scholarly |
| eschew | to abstain from, avoid |
| esoteric | understood by only a learned few |
| espouse | to support or advocate; to marry |
| estrange | to alienate, keep at a distance |
| ethereal | not earthly, spiritual, delicate |
| eulogy | high praise, often in a public speech |
| euphemism | use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one |
| euphony | pleasant, harmonious sound |
| euphoria | feeling of well-being or happiness |
| evade | to avoid, dodge |
| evanescent | momentary, transitory, short-lived |
| evict | to put out or force out |
| exacerbate | to aggravate, intensify the bad qualities of |
| exasperation | irritation |
| excerpt | selection from a book or play |
| excruciating | agonizing, intensely painful |
| exculpate | to clear of blame or fault, vindicate |
| execrable | utterly detestable, abhorrent |
| exhilaration | state of being energetic or filled with happiness |
| exhort | to urge or incite by strong appeals |
| exonerate | to clear of blame, absolve |
| exorbitant | extravagant, greater than reasonable |
| expedient | convenient, efficient, practical |
| expiate | to atone for, make amends for |
| explicit | clearly defined, specific; forthright in expression |
| exponent | one who champions or advocates |
| expound | to elaborate; to expand or increase |
| expunge | to erase, eliminate completely |
| expurgate | to censor |
| extemporaneous | unrehearsed, on the spur of the moment |
| extenuate | to lessen the seriousness |
| extol | to praise |
| extricate | to free from, disentangle |
| extrinsic | not inherent or essential, coming from without |
| exuberant | lively, happy, and full of good spirits |
| exude | to give off, ooze |
| exult | to rejoice |
| fabricate | to make or devise; construct |
| facade | face, front; mask, superficial appearance |
| facile | very easy |
| fallacious | wrong, unsound, illogical |
| fallow | uncultivated, unused |
| fanaticism | extreme devotion to a cause |
| farcical | absurd, ludricrous |
| fastidious | careful with details |
| fathom | to measure the depth of, gauge |
| fatuous | stupid; foolishly self-satisfied |
| fawn | to flatter excessively, seek the favor of |
| faze | to bother, upset, or disconcert |
| feckless | ineffective, careless, irresponsible |
| fecund | fertile, fruitful, productive |
| feign | to pretend, give a false impression; to invent falsely |
| felicitous | suitable, appropriate; well-spoken |
| fell | to chop, cut down |
| fervid | passionate, intense, zealous |
| fetid | foul-smelling, putrid |
| fiasco | disaster, utter failure |
| fidelity | loyalty |
| finicky | fussy, difficult to please |
| flaccid | limp, flabby, weak |
| flagrant | outrageous, shameless |
| flamboyant | flashy, garish; exciting, dazzling |
| flaunt | to show off |
| flora | plants |
| florid | gaudy, extremely ornate; ruddy, flushed |
| flounder | to falter, waver; to muddle, struggle |
| flout | to treat contemptuously, scorn |
| fluctuate | to alternate, waver |
| foible | minor weakness or character flaw |
| foil | to defeat, frustrate |
| foment | to arouse or incite |
| ford | to cross a body of water at a shallow place |
| foreboding | dark sense of evil to come |
| forestall | to prevent, delay; anticipate |
| forethought | anticipation, foresight |
| forgo | to go without, refrain from |
| forlorn | dreary, deserted; unhappy; hopeless, despairing |
| foreswear | to repudiate, renounce, disclaim, reject |
| forte | strong point, something a person does well |
| fortuitous | happening by luck, fortunate |
| foster | to nourish, cultivate, promote |
| founder | to fall helplessly; sink |
| fracas | noisy dispute |
| fractious | unruly, rebellious |
| fraudulent | deceitful, dishonest, unethical |
| fraught | full of, accompanied by |
| frenetic | wildly frantic, frenzied, hectic |
| fulsome | sickeningly excessive; repulsive |
| funereal | mournful, appropriate to a funeral |
| furtive | secret, stealthy |
| gargantuan | giant, tremendous |
| garner | to gather and store |
| garrulous | very talkative |
| gaunt | thin and bony |
| genre | type, class, category |
| germinate | to begin to grow (as with a seed or idea) |
| gestation | growth process from conception to birth |
| gibe | to make heckling, taunting remarks |
| girth | distance around something |
| glib | fluent in an insincere manner; offhand, casual |
| gluttony | eating and drinking to excess |
| goad | to prod or urge |
| grandiloquence | pompous talk, fancy but meaningless language |
| grandiose | magnificent and imposing; exaggerated and pretentious |
| gratis | free, costing nothing |
| gratuitous | free, voluntary; unnecessary and unjustified |
| gregarious | outgoing, sociable |
| grievous | causing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing |
| grimace | facial expression showing pain or disgust |
| grovel | to humble oneself in a demeaning way |
| guile | trickery, deception |
| gullible | easily deceived |
| gustatory | relating to sense of taste |
| habitat | dwelling place |
| hackneyed | worn out by overuse |
| hapless | unfortunate, having bad luck |
| harbinger | precursor, sign of something to come |
| hardy | robust, vigorous |
| haughty | arrogant and condescending |
| hedonism | pursuit of pleasure as a goal |
| hegemony | leadership, domination, usually by a country |
| heinous | shocking, wicked, terrible |
| hemorrhage | heavy bleeding; to bleed heavily |
| heretical | opposed to an established religious orthodoxy |
| heterogeneous | composed of unlike parts, different, diverse |
| hew | to cut with an ax |
| hiatus | break, interruption, vacation |
| hoary | very old; whitish or gray from age |
| homage | public honor and respect |
| homogeneous | composed of identical parts |
| hone | to sharpen |
| husband | to farm; manage carefully and thriftily |
| hutch | pen or coop for animals; shack, shanty |
| hygienic | clean, sanitary |
| hyperbole | purposeful exaggeration for effect |
| hypochondria | unfounded belief that one is often ill |
| hypocrite | person claiming beliefs or virtues he or she doesn't really possess |
| hypothesis | assumption subject to proof |
| iconoclast | one who attacks traditional beliefs |
| idealism | pursuit of noble goals |
| idiosyncrasy | peculiarity of temperament, eccentricity |
| ignominous | disgraceful and dishonorable |
| illicit | illegal, improper |
| illusory | unreal, deceptive |
| illustrious | famous, renowned |
| immaculate | spotless; free from error |
| immerse | to bathe, dip; to engross, preoccupy |
| immune | exempt; protected from harm or disease; unresponsive to |
| immutable | unchangeable, invariable |
| impair | to damage, injure |
| impasse | blocked path, dilemma with no solution |
| impassive | showing no emotion |
| impeach | to charge with misdeeds in public office; accuse |
| impeccable | flawless, without fault |
| impecunious | poor, having no money |
| impediment | barrier, obstacle; speech disorder |
| imperious | arrogantly self-assured, domineering, overbearing |
| impertinent | rude |
| impervious | impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected |
| impetuous | quick to act without thinking |
| impious | not devout in religion |
| implacable | inflexible, incapable of being pleased |
| implicate | to involve in a crime, incriminate |
| implicit | implied, not directly expressed |
| importune | to ask repeatedly, beg |
| impotent | powerless, ineffective, lacking strength |
| impoverish | to make poor or bankrupt |
| imprecation | curse |
| impregnable | totally safe from attack, able to resist defeat |
| impudent | arrogant, audacious |
| impugn | to call into question, attack verbally |
| inane | foolish, silly, lacking significance |
| inaugurate | to begin or start officially; to induct into office |
| incandescent | shining brightly |
| incarcerate | to put in jail; to confine |
| incendiary | combustible, flammable, burning easily |
| incense | to infuriate, enrage |
| inception | beginning |
| incessant | continuous, never ceasing |
| inchoate | imperfectly formed or formulated |
| incipient | beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage |
| incisive | perceptive, penetrating |
| incognito | in disguise, concealing one's identity |
| incontrovertible | unquestionable, beyond dispute |
| incorrigible | incapable of being corrected |
| incredulous | skeptical, doubtful |
| inculcate | to teach, impress in the mind |
| indefatigable | never tired |
| indelible | permanent, not erasable |
| indigenous | native, occurring naturally in an area |
| indigent | very poor |
| indignant | angry, incensed, offended |
| indolent | habitually lazy, idle |
| indomitable | fearless, unconquerable |
| indubitable | unquestionable |
| induce | to pursuade; bring about |
| inept | clumsy, awkward |
| inert | unable to move, tending to inactivity |
| inevitable | certain, unavoidable |
| inexorable | inflexible, unyielding |
| infamy | reputation for bad deeds |
| infer | to conclude, deduce |
| infinitesimal | extremely tiny |
| infirmity | disease, ailment |
| ingenious | original, clever, inventive |
| ingenuous | straightforward, open; naive and unsophisticated |
| ingrate | ungrateful person |
| ingratiate | to bring oneself purposely into another'a good graces |
| inhibit | to hold back, prevent, restrain |
| inimical | hostile, unfriendly |
| iniquity | sin, evil act |
| injunction | command, order |
| innate | natural, inborn |
| innocuous | harmless; inoffensive |
| innovate | to invent, modernize, revolutionize |
| innuendo | indirect and subtle criticism, insinuation |
| insatiable | never satisfied |
| inscrutable | impossible to understand fully |
| insidious | sly, treacherous, devious |
| insinuate | to suggest, say indirectly, imply |
| insipid | bland, lacking flavor; lacking excitement |
| insolent | insulting and arrogant |
| instigate | to incite, urge, agitate |
| insular | isolated, detached |
| insurgent | rebellious, insubordinate |
| insurrection | rebellion |
| integral | central, indispensable |
| integrity | decency, honesty; wholeness |
| intemperate | not moderate |
| inter | to bury |
| interloper | trespasser; meddler in others' affairs |
| intermittent | starting and stopping |
| interrogate | to question formally |
| intimation | clue, suggestion |
| intractable | not easily managed |
| intransigent | uncompromising, refusing to be reconciled |
| intrepid | fearless |
| intrinsic | inherent, internal |
| introspective | contemplating one's own thoughts and feelings |
| introvert | someone given to self-analysis |
| inundate | to cover with water; overwhelm |
| inure | to harden; accustom; beceom used to |
| invective | verbal abuse |
| inveterate | confirmed, long-standing, deeply rooted |
| invidious | envious; obnoxious |
| invincible | invulnerable, unbeatable |
| iota | very tiny amount |
| irascible | easily angered |
| iridescent | showing many colors |
| itinerant | wandering from place to place, unsettled |
| itinerary | route of a traveler's journey |
| jaded | tired by excess or overuse; slightly cynical |
| jargon | nonsensical talk; specialized language |
| jettison | to cast off, throw cargo overboard |
| jingoism | belligerent support of one's country |
| jocular | jovial, playful, humorous |
| juncture | point where two things are joined |
| kernel | innermost, essential part; seed grain, often in a shell |
| kinetic | relating to motion; characterized by movement |
| knell | sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure |
| kudos | fame, glory, honor |
| labyrinth | maze |
| lachrymose | tearful |
| lackadaisical | idle, lazy; apathetic, indifferent |
| laconic | using few words |
| laggard | dawdler, loafer, lazy person |
| lament | to deplore, grieve |
| lampoon | to attack with satire, mock harshly |
| languid | lacking energy,indifferent, slow |
| larder | place where fod is stored |
| largess | generosity; gift |
| lassitude | lethargy, sluggishness |
| latent | present but hidden; potential |
| laudable | deserving of praise |
| laxity | carelessness |
| legerdemain | trickery |
| legible | readable |
| lenient | easygoing, permissive |
| lethargy | indifferent inactivity |
| levitate | to rise in the air or cause to rise |
| levity | humor, frivolity, gaiety |
| lexicon | dictionary, list of words |
| liberal | tolerant, broad-minded; generous, lavish |
| libertine | one without moral restraint |
| licentious | immoral; unrestrained by society |
| limpid | clear, transparent |
| lionize | to treat as a celebrity |
| lissome | easily flexed, limber, agile |
| listless | lacking energy and enthusiasm |
| literate | able to read and write; well-read and educated |
| lithe | moving and bending with ease; graceful |
| livid | discolored from a bruise; reddened with anger |
| loiter | to stand around idly |
| loquacious | talkative |
| lucid | clear and easily understood |
| ludicrous | laughable, ridiculous |
| lugubrious | sorrowful, mournful; dismal |
| lumber | to move slowly and awkwardly |
| luminous | bright, brilliant, glowing |
| lurid | harshly shocking, sensational; glowing |
| luxuriance | elegance, lavishness |
| lyrical | suitable for poetry and song; expressing feeling |
| maelstrom | whirlpool; turmoil; agitated state of mind |
| magnanimous | generous, noble in spirit |
| magnate | powerful or influential person |
| malady | illness |
| malapropism | humorous misuse of a word |
| malcontent | discontented person, one who holds a grudge |
| malefactor | evil-doer; culprit |
| malevolent | ill-willed; causing evil or harm to others |
| malice | animosity, spite, hatred |
| malinger | to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill |
| mandatory | necessary, required |
| mannered | artificial or stilted in character |
| mar | to damage, deface; spoil |
| maritime | relating to the sea or sailing |
| martial | warlike, pertaining to the military |
| martinet | strict disciplinarian, one who rigidly follows rules |
| martyr | person dying for his or her beliefs |
| masochist | one who enjoys pain or humiliation |
| maudlin | overly sentimental |
| mawkish | sickeningly sentimental |
| medieval | relating to the Middle Ages (about a |
| melancholy | sadness, depression |
| menagerie | various animals kept together for exhibition |
| mendacious | dishonest |
| mendicant | beggar |
| mentor | experienced teacher and wise adviser |
| mercenary | soldier for hire in foreign countries; motivated by greed |
| mercurial | quick, shrewd, and unpredictable |
| meretricious | gaudy, falsely attractive |
| meritorious | deserving reward or praise |
| metamorphosis | change, transformation |
| metaphor | figure of speech comparing two different things |
| meticulous | extremely careful, fastidious, painstaking |
| mettle | courageousness; endurance |
| militate | to operate against, work against |
| misanthrope | person who hates human beings |
| misconstrue | to misunderstand, fail to discover |
| miserliness | extreme stinginess |
| misnomer | an incorrect name or designation |
| missive | note or letter |
| mitigate | to soften, or make milder |
| mnemonic | relating to memory; designed to assist memory |
| mollify | to calm or make less severe |
| molt | to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically |
| monastic | extremely plain or secluded, as in a monastery |
| monologue | dramatic speech performed by one actor |
| montage | composite picture |
| moot | debatable; purely academic, deprived of practical significance |
| morbid | gruesome; relating to disease; abnormally gloomy |
| moribund | dying, decaying |
| morose | gloomy, sullen, or surly |
| morsel | small bit of food |
| mote | small particle, speck |
| motley | many colored; composed of diverse parts |
| mottle | to mark with spots |
| mundane | worldly; commonplace |
| munificent | generous |
| mutability | changeability |
| myriad | immense number; multitude |
| nadir | lowest point |
| nascent | starting to develop, coming into existence |
| nebulous | vague, cloudy |
| nefarious | vicious, evil |
| neophyte | novice, beginner |
| nettle | to irritate |
| niche | recess in a wall; best position for something |
| nihilism | belief that existence and all traditional values are meaningless |
| nocturnal | pertaining to night; active at night |
| noisome | stinking, putrid |
| nomadic | moving from place to place |
| nominal | existing in name only; negligible |
| notoriety | unfavorable fame |
| novice | apprentice, beginner |
| novitiate | state of being a beginner or novice |
| noxious | harmful, unwholesome |
| nuance | shade of meaning |
| nullify | to make legally invalid; to counteract the effect of |
| obdurate | stubborn |
| obfuscate | to confuse, obscure |
| oblique | indirect, evasive; misleading, devious |
| oblivious | unaware, inattentive |
| obsequious | overly submissive, brownnosing |
| obsolete | no longer in use |
| obstinate | stubborn |
| obstreperous | troublesome, boisterous, unruly |
| obviate | to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent |
| occlude | to shut, block |
| odious | hateful, contemptible |
| officious | too helpful, meddlesome |
| ominous | menacing, threatening, indicating misfortune |
| omniscient | having infinite knowledge, all-seeing |
| onerous | burdensome |
| opaque | impervious to light; difficult to understand |
| opine | to express an opinion |
| opportune | appropriate, fitting |
| opprobrious | disgraceful, contemptuous |
| opulence | wealth |
| oration | lecture, formal speech |
| oscillate | to move back and forth |
| ossify | to turn to bone; to become rigid |
| ostentatious | showy |
| ostracism | exclusion, temporary banishment |
| ouster | expulsion, ejection |
| overwrought | agitated, overdone |
| pacify | to restore calm, bring peace |
| palatial | like a palace, magnificent |
| palaver | idle talk |
| pall | covering that darkens or obscures; coffin |
| pall | to lose strength or interest |
| palliate | to make less serious, ease |
| pallid | lacking color or liveliness |
| palpable | obvious, real, tangible |
| paltry | pitifully small or worthless |
| panacea | cure-all |
| panache | flamboyance, verve |
| pandemic | spread over a whole area or country |
| panegyric | elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise |
| panorama | broad view; comprehensive picture |
| paradigm | ideal example, model |
| paradox | contradiction, incongruity; dilemma, puzzle |
| paragon | model of excellence or perfection |
| paramount | supreme, dominant, primary |
| paraphrase | to reword, usually in simpler terms |
| parasite | person or animal that lives at another's expense |
| parch | to dry or shrivel |
| pariah | outcast |
| parity | equality |
| parochial | of limited scope or outlook, provincial |
| parody | humorous imitation |
| parry | to ward off or deflect |
| parsimony | stinginess |
| partisan | strong supporter; biased in favor of |
| pastiche | piece of literature or music imitating other works |
| pathos | pity, compassion |
| patrician | aristocrat |
| patronize | to condescend to, disparage; to buy from |
| paucity | scarcity, lack |
| pauper | very poor person |
| peccadillo | minor sin or offense |
| pedagogue | teacher |
| pedant | uninspired, boring academic |
| pedestrian | commonplace |
| peer | contemporary, equal, match |
| peerless | unequaled |
| penchant | inclination |
| penitent | expressing sorrow for sins or offenses, repentant |
| pensive | thoughtful |
| penury | extreme poverty |
| perennial | present throughout the years; persistent |
| perfidious | faithless, disloyal, untrustworthy |
| perfunctory | done in a routine way; indifferent |
| peripatetic | moving from place to place |
| perjure | to tell a lie under oath |
| permeable | penetrable |
| pernicious | very harmful |
| perpetual | endless, lasting |
| pertinent | applicable, appropriate |
| perusal | close examination |
| pervert | to cause to change in immoral way; to misuse |
| pestilence | epidemic, plague |
| petulance | rudeness, peevishness |
| phalanx | massed group of soldiers, people, or things |
| philanderer | pursuer of casual love affairs |
| philanthropy | love of humanity; generosity to worthy causes |
| philistine | narrow-minded person, someone lacking appreciation for art or culture |
| phlegmatic | calm in temperament; sluggish |
| phobia | exaggerated, illogical fear |
| piety | devoutness |
| pilfer | to steal |
| pinnacle | peak, highest point of development |
| pious | dedicated, devout, extremely religious |
| pique | fleeting feeling of hurt pride |
| pithy | profound, substantial; concise, succinct, to the point |
| placate | to soothe or pacify |
| placid | calm |
| plagiarist | one who steals words or ideas |
| plaintiff | injured person in a lawsuit |
| platitude | stale, overused expression |
| plentitude | abundance, plenty |
| plethora | excess, overabundance |
| pliant | pliable, yielding |
| plucky | courageous, spunky |
| plummet | to fall, plunge |
| ply | to use diligently; to engage; to join together |
| poignant | emotionally moving |
| polemic | controversy, argument; verbal attack |
| polyglot | speaker of many languages |
| pontificate | to speak in a pretentious manner |
| pore | to study closely or meditatively |
| porous | full of holes, permeable to liquids |
| portent | omen |
| posterity | future generations; all of a person's descendants |
| potable | drinkable |
| pragmatic | practical; moved by facts rather than abstract ideals |
| prattle | meaningless, foolish talk |
| precarious | uncertain |
| precipice | edge, steep overhang |
| precipitous | hasty, quickly, with too little caution |
| preclude | to rule out |
| precocious | unusually advanced at an early age |
| precursor | forerunner, predecessor |
| predilection | preference, liking |
| preface | introduction to a book; introductory remarks to a speech |
| premeditate | to consider, plan beforehand |
| prepossessing | attractive, engaging, appealing |
| preposterous | absurd, illogical |
| presage | to foretell, indicate in advance |
| prescient | having foresight |
| presumptuous | rude, improperly bold |
| pretext | excuse, pretended reason |
| prevalent | widespread |
| prevaricate | to lie, evade the truth |
| pristine | untouched, uncorrupted |
| privation | lack of usual necessities or comforts |
| probity | honesty, high-mindedness |
| proclivity | tendency, inclination |
| procrastinator | one who continually and unjustifiably postpones |
| prodigal | wasteful, extravagant, lavish |
| prodigious | vast, enormous, extraordinary |
| proficient | expert, skilled in a certain subject |
| profligate | corrupt, degenerate |
| profuse | lavish, extravagant |
| progenitor | originator, forefather, ancestor in a direct line |
| progeny | offspring, children |
| prognosis | prediction of disease outcome; any prediction |
| prolific | productive, fertile |
| prologue | introductory section of a literary work or play |
| promontory | piece of land or rock higher than its surroundings |
| promulgate | to make known publicly |
| propensity | inclination, tendency |
| propitious | favorable, advantageous |
| proponent | advocate, defender, supporter |
| prosaic | relating to prose; dull, commonplace |
| proscribe | to condemn; to forbid, outlaw |
| proselytize | to convert to a particular belief or religion |
| prostrate | lying face downward, lying flat on ground |
| protagonist | main character in a play or story, hero |
| protean | readily assuming different forms or characters |
| protocol | ceremony and manners observed by diplomats |
| provincial | rustic, unsophisticated, limited in scope |
| prowess | bravery, skill |
| proximity | nearness |
| prude | one who is excessively proper or modest |
| prudent | careful, cautious |
| pry | to intrude into; force open |
| pseudonym | pen name; fictitious or borrowed name |
| puerile | childish, immature, silly |
| pugnacious | quarrelsome, eager and ready to fight |
| pulchritude | beauty |
| punctilious | careful in observing rules of behavior or ceremony |
| pungent | strong or sharp in smell or taste |
| punitive | having to do with punishment |
| purge | to cleanse or free from impurities |
| quagmire | marsh; difficult situation |
| quandary | dilemma, difficulty |
| quarantine | isolation period, originally 40 days, to prevent spread of disease |
| quell | to crush or subdue |
| querulous | inclined to complain, irritable |
| quibble | to argue about insignificant and irrelevant details |
| quiescence | inactivity, stillness |
| quintessence | most typical example; concentrated essence |
| quixotic | overly idealistic, impractical |
| quotidian | occurring daily; commonplace |
| raconteur | witty, skillful storyteller |
| rail | to scold with bitter or abusive language |
| ramble | to roam, wander; to babble, digress |
| ramification | an implication, outgrowth, or consequence |
| rancor | bitter hatred |
| rant | to harangue, rave, forcefully scold |
| rapport | relationship of trust and respect |
| rapt | deeply absorbed |
| rarefy | to make thinner, purer, or more refined |
| rash | careless, hasty, reckless |
| raucous | harsh sounding; boisterous |
| ravage | to destroy, devastate |
| ravenous | extremely hungry |
| raze | to tear down, demolish |
| reactionary | marked by extreme conservatism, especially in politics |
| rebuff | blunt rejection |
| rebuke | to reprimand, scold |
| rebut | to refute by evidence or argument |
| recalcitrant | resisting authority or control |
| recant | to retract a statement, opinion, etcetera |
| reclusive | shut off from the world |
| recondite | relating to obscure learning; known to only a few |
| recount | to describe facts or events |
| redress | relief from wrong or injury |
| redundancy | unnecessary repetition |
| refract | to deflect sound or light |
| refuge | escape, shelter |
| regimen | government rule; systematic plan |
| rejoinder | response |
| relinquish | to renounce or surrender something |
| relish | to enjoy greatly |
| remuneration | pay or reward for work, trouble, etcetera |
| renascent | reborn, coming into being again |
| renegade | traitor, person abandoning a cause |
| renege | to go back on one's word |
| renown | fame, widespread acclaim |
| repast | meal or mealtime |
| repeal | to revoke or formally withdraw (often a law) |
| repentant | apologetic, guilty, remorseful |
| replete | abundantly supplied |
| repose | relaxation, leisure |
| reprehensible | blameworthy, disreputable |
| reproach | to find fault with; blame |
| reprobate | morally unprincipled person |
| reprove | to criticize or correct |
| requite | to return or repay |
| rescind | to repeal, cancel |
| residue | remainder, leftover, remnant |
| resilient | able to recover quickly after illness or bad luck; able to bounce back to shape |
| resolute | determined; with a clear purpose |
| respite | interval of relief |
| resplendent | splendid, brilliant |
| restive | impatient, uneasy, restless |
| reticent | not speaking freely; reserved |
| retort | cutting response |
| retrospective | review of the past |
| revelry | boisterous festivity |
| revere | to worship, regard with awe |
| revert | to backslide, regress |
| revile | to criticize with harsh language, verbally abuse |
| rhetoric | persuasive use of language |
| ribald | humorous in vulgar way |
| riddle | to make many holes in; permeate |
| rife | widespread, prevalent; abundant |
| risque | bordering on being inappropriate or indecent |
| robust | strong and healthy; hardy |
| rostrum | stage for public speaking |
| rotund | round in shape; fat |
| rue | to regret |
| ruminate | to contemplate, reflect upon |
| rustic | rural |
| saccharine | excessively sweet or sentimental |
| sagacious | shrewd |
| salient | prominent or conspicuous |
| sallow | sickly yellow in color |
| salubrious | healthful |
| salutation | greeting |
| sanction | permission, support; law; penalty |
| sanctuary | haven, retreat |
| sanguine | ruddy; cheerfully optimistic |
| sardonic | cynical, scornfully mocking |
| satiate | to satisfy |
| saunter | to amble; walk in a leisurely manner |
| savant | learned person |
| savory | agreeable in taste or smell |
| scale | to climb to the top of |
| scintilla | trace amount |
| scintillate | to sparkle, flash |
| scoff | to deride, ridicule |
| score | notation for a musical composition |
| score | to make a notch or scratch |
| scrupulous | restrained; honest; careful and precise |
| scrutiny | careful observation |
| scurrilous | vulgar, low, indecent |
| secular | not specifically pertaining to religion |
| sedentary | inactive, stationary; sluggish |
| seminal | relating to the beginning or seeds of something |
| senescent | aging, growing old |
| sentient | aware, conscious, able to perceive |
| sequester | to remove or set apart; put into seclusion |
| seraphic | angelic, pure, sublime |
| serpentine | serpentlike; twisting, winding |
| servile | submissive, obedient |
| shard | piece of broken glass or pottery |
| shirk | to avoid a task due to laziness or fear |
| simper | to smirk, smile foolishly |
| sinecure | well-paying job or office that requires little or no work |
| singe | to burn slightly, scorch |
| sinuous | winding; intricate, complex |
| skeptical | doubtful, questioning |
| skulk | to move in a stealthy or cautious manner; sneak |
| slight | to treat as unimportant; insult |
| sloth | sluggishness, laziness |
| slough | to discard or shed |
| slovenly | untidy, messy |
| sobriety | seriousness |
| sodden | thoroughly soaked; saturated |
| sojourn | visit, stay |
| solace | comfort in distress; consolation |
| solicitous | concerned, attentive; eager |
| soliloquy | literary or dramatic speech by one character, not addressed to others |
| soluble | capable of being solved or dissolved |
| somber | dark and gloomy; melancholy, dismal |
| somnolent | drowsy, sleepy; inducing sleep |
| sonorous | producing a full, rich sound |
| sophistry | deceptive reasoning or argumentation |
| sophomoric | immature and overconfident |
| soporific | sleepy or tending to cause sleep |
| sordid | filthy; contemptible and corrupt |
| sovereign | having supreme power |
| spartan | austere, severe, grave; simple, bare |
| spontaneous | on the spur of the moment, impulsive |
| sporadic | infrequent, irregular |
| spurious | lacking authenticity; counterfeit, false |
| spurn | to reject or refuse contemptuously; scorn |
| squalid | filthy; morally repulsive |
| squander | to waste |
| staccato | marked by abrupt, clear-cut sounds |
| staid | self-restrained to the point of dullness |
| stand | group of trees |
| stark | bare, empty, vacant |
| stifle | to smother or suffocate; suppress |
| stipend | allowance; fixed amount of money paid regularly |
| stockade | enclosed area forming defensive wall |
| stoic | indifferent to or unaffected by emotions |
| stolid | having or showing little emotion |
| strident | loud, harsh, unpleasantly noisy |
| stringent | imposing severe, rigorous standards |
| stupefy | to dull the senses of; stun, astonish |
| stymie | to block or thwart |
| suave | smoothly gracious or polite; blandly ingratiating |
| subjugate | to conquer, subdue; enslave |
| sublime | awe-inspiring; of high spiritual or moral value |
| subliminal | subconscious; imperceptible |
| subterfuge | trick or tactic used to avoid something |
| subterranean | hidden, secret; underground |
| subtle | hard to detect or describe; perceptive |
| subvert | to undermine or corrupt |
| succinct | terse, brief, concise |
| succulent | juicy; full of vitality or freshness |
| suffragist | one who advocates extended voting rights |
| sullen | brooding, gloomy |
| sully | to soil, stain, tarnish, taint |
| supercilious | arrogant, haughty, overbearing, condescending |
| superficial | hasty; shallow and phony |
| superfluous | extra, more than necessary |
| supersede | to take the place of; replace |
| supplicant | one who asks humbly and earnestly |
| surfeit | excessive amount |
| surly | rude and bad-tempered |
| surmise | to make an educated guess |
| surmount | to conquer, overcome |
| surreptitious | characterized by secrecy |
| susceptible | vulnerable, unprotected |
| sybarite | person devoted to pleasure and luxury |
| sycophant | self-serving flatterer, yes-man |
| syllabus | outline of a course |
| symbiosis | cooperation, mutual helpfulness |
| synopsis | plot summary |
| synthesis | blend, combination |
| tacid | silently understood or implied |
| taciturn | uncommunicative, not inclined to speak much |
| tactile | relating to the sense of touch |
| taint | to spoil or infect; to stain honor |
| talon | claw of an animal, especially a bird of prey |
| tang | sharp flavor or odor |
| tangential | digressing, diverting |
| tangible | able to be sensed, perceptible, measurable |
| tawdry | gaudy, cheat, showy |
| temperance | restraint, self-control, moderation |
| tempered | moderated, restrained |
| tempestuous | stormy, raging, furious |
| tenable | defensible, reasonable |
| tenacious | stubborn, holding firm |
| tenet | belief, doctrine |
| tenuous | weak, insubstantial |
| tepid | lukewarm; showing little enthusiasm |
| terse | concise, brief, free of extra words |
| testament | statement of belief; will |
| tether | to bind, tie |
| theocracy | government by priests representing a god |
| thesaurus | book of synonyms and antonyms |
| timorous | timid, shy, full of apprehension |
| tirade | long, violent speech; verbal assault |
| toady | flatterer, hanger-on, yesman |
| tome | book, usually large and academic |
| torpid | lethargic; unable to move; dormant |
| torrid | burning hot; passionate |
| tortuous | having many twists and turns; highly complex |
| toxin | poison |
| tractable | obedient, yielding |
| transcend | to rise above, go beyond |
| transient | temporary, short-lived, fleeting |
| transitory | short-lived, existing only briefly |
| translucent | partially transparent |
| travesty | parody, exaggerated imitation, caricature |
| tremulous | trembling, quivering; fearful, timid |
| trenchant | acute, sharp, incisive; forceful, effective |
| trepidation | fear and anxiety |
| trifling | of slight worth, trivial, insignificant |
| trite | shallow, superficial |
| troupe | group of actors |
| truncate | to cut off, shorten by cutting |
| tryst | agreement between lovers to meet; rendezvous |
| tundra | treeless plain found in arctic or subarctic regions |
| turgid | swollen, bloated |
| turpitude | inherent vileness, foulness, depravity |
| tyro | beginner, novice |
| ubiquitous | being everywhere simultaneously |
| umbrage | offense, resentment |
| unadulterated | absolutely pure |
| unanimity | state of total agreement or unity |
| unconscionable | unscrupulous; shockingly unfair or unjust |
| unctuous | greasy, oily; smug and falsely earnest |
| undulating | moving in waves |
| unequivocal | absolute, certain |
| uniform | consistent and unchanging; identical |
| unimpeachable | beyond question |
| unscrupulous | dishonest |
| upbraid | to scold sharply |
| uproarious | loud and forceful |
| urbane | courteous, refined, suave |
| usurp | to seize by force |
| usury | practice of lending money at exorbitant rates |
| utopia | perfect place |
| vacillate | to waver, show indecision |
| vagrant | poor person with no home |
| vanquish | to conquer, defeat |
| vapid | tasteless, dull |
| variegated | varied; marked with different colors |
| vaunted | boasted about, bragged about |
| vehement | strong, urgent |
| vendetta | prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility |
| venerable | respected because of age |
| vent | to express, say out loud |
| veracity | accuracy, truth |
| verbatim | word for word |
| verbose | wordy |
| verity | truthfulness; belief viewed as true and enduring |
| vermin | small creatures offensive to humans |
| vernacular | everyday language used by ordinary peoples; specialized language of a profession |
| vernal | related to spring |
| versatile | adaptable, all-purpose |
| vestige | trace, remnant |
| vex | to irritate, annoy; confuse, puzzle |
| viable | workable, able to succeed or grow |
| vicarious | substitute, surrogate; enjoyed through imagined participation in another's experience |
| vie | to compete, contend |
| vigilant | attentive, watchful |
| vilify | to slander, defame |
| vim | energy, enthusiasm |
| vindicate | to clear of blame; support a claim |
| vindictive | spiteful, vengeful, unforgiving |
| virile | manly, having qualities of an adult male |
| virtuoso | someone with masterly skill; expert musician |
| virulent | extremely poisonous; malignant; hateful |
| viscous | thick, syrupy, and sticky |
| vitriolic | burning, caustic; sharp, bitter |
| vituperate | to abuse verbally |
| vivacious | lively, spirited |
| vociferous | loud, vocal, and noisy |
| volition | free choice, free will; act of choosing |
| voluble | speaking much and easily, talkative; glib |
| voracious | having a great appetite |
| vulnerable | defenseless, unprotected; innocent, naive |
| waive | to refrain from enforcing a rule; to give up a legal right |
| wan | sickly pale |
| wanton | undisciplined, unrestrained, reckless |
| wary | careful, cautious |
| whet | to sharpen, stimulate |
| whimsical | playful or fanciful idea |
| writ | written document, usually in law |
| wry | amusing, ironic |
| xenophobia | fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers |
| yoke | to join together |
| zealot | someone passionately devoted to a cause |
| zenith | highest point, summit |
| zephyr | gentle breeze |
| zoologist | scientist who studies animals |
Created by:
ksilfven
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