List 1 Formidable - inspiring awe

Adulation - worship; great praise Futile - useless; waste of time and effort
Amiable - friendly, lovable Futility - uselessness
Arable - can be cultivated ("arable land") Holistic - whole; entire (Holistic viewpoint = seeing things as a whole)
Articulation - 1. joining, 2.speaking clearly Idiosyncratic - quirky; eccentric; unique to an individual
Autocrat - absolute ruler; dictator Ineffable - can't be expressed in words
Bountiful - generous Infelicity - unsuitability; inappropriateness
Callous - cruel; hard and unfeeling Integrity - honor; honesty
Cerebral - concerned with thinking Intermittent - on and off; not continuous
Compendious - containing a lot in a small space/few words Judicious - fair; wise
Conciliatory - bringing together; ending a dispute Legitimate - to make legal; give approval to
Connoisseurs - experts with good taste/judgment Mercenary - seeking money above all else
Convivial - sociable Meticulous - thorough; taking care of details
Corpulence - being fat or obese Petulant - sulky
Dearth - shortage Polarized - divided into two extremes
Debacle - disaster Pragmatism - practicality
Demonstrative - expressing emotion freely Presumptive - presumed
Depreciatory - devaluing; criticizing Propensity - tendency; leaning' predilection
Facile - over-simplified Prosaic - ordinary
Floridity - 1. ornate in language, 2. redness Quelled - suppressed
Haranguing - attacking verbally Regressive - moving backwards (literal or metaphoric)
Heterogeneity - variety; non-uniformity Remiss - neglectful
Histrionic - melodramatic; expressing exaggerated emotion Rhetoric - persuasive language
Imperious - in a commanding manner Sedulous - thorough; eager
Indulgent - kindly; pampering Sermonized - gave moral lecture
Inscrutable - not easy to comprehend Shroud - 1. a cover for dead body, 2. to cover
Insufferable - cannot be tolerated Steadfastness - loyalty; firmness of purpose
Insular - narrow-minded Temporize - put off; procrastinate
Intemperate - not moderate; excessive Treacly - too sweet; over sentimental
Intonation - tone of voice Vacillated - wavered; hesitated
Lavish - 1. (verb) to spend freely, 2. (adj.) opulent; costing a lot Vindication - proving right
Litigious - seeking legal remedies Vindictive - seeking revenge
Magnanimous - generous minded; big-hearted List 3
Mandatory - compulsory Abstruse - difficult to comprehend
Momentous - of great importance Acumen - sharpness of mind
Nemesis - fate, doom Adroit - skillful
Opacity - lack of transparency; being opaque Anachronistic - out of normal time range
Palliative - something that makes better but does not cure Arcane - obscure; known only to few people
Peer - an equal Autonomy - self-government
Profundity - great intellectual depth and understanding Belittlers - people who criticize/disparage
Radical - revolutionary Byzantine - devious; surreptitious and crafty
Redolent - smelling of (literal or metaphoric) Consecration - dedication
Reprehensible - very bad Corollary - consequence; inference
Robust - strong and sturdy Curtail - cut short or make less
Solicitous - expressing care and concern Debunkers - people who expose/throw out old ideas
Somber - gloomy Devious - cunning
Succulent - juicy Didactic - intending to preach or teach
Sycophants - toadies; flatterers Effacement - wiping out; (self-effacement = excessive modesty)
Therapeutic - medicinal Egotistical - selfish
Thwarted - prevented Embodiment - living example of
Toadies - sycophants; flatterers; boot-lickers Epitome - essence; typical example or symbol of
Undermined - weakened Esoteric - obscure
Vex - annoy Extrapolated - predicted because of existing data; extended
Viscous - thick and sticky Foster - encourage
Wistful - sad, yearning; longing in a thoughtful way Inane - silly; senseless; foolish
List 2 Incoherence - lack of clarity
Advocate - support Inconspicuous - not easily seen
Ambiguous - vague Indiscriminate - without thought; random; careless
Animosity - hostility; hatred Ingenuous - naive
Boorishness - rudeness; ill-mannered behavior Insolence - lack of respect; rudeness
Censure - blame; criticize Insurrectionists - rebels
Concord - agreement Intemperance - lack of moderation
Conflagration - big fire Irreverence - lack of respect
Consecrated - dedicated; made holy Jeopardize - put at risk
Consummate - supremely good Lackadaisical - lazy; careless; lax
Contagious - passed on through touch; infectious Lucid - clear
Cursory - superficial Magnanimity - generosity (of spirit)
Dalliance - non-serious involvement; toying or playing with something Multifarious - having many aspects
Deleterious - harmful Nefarious - infamous
Disparaging - critical Onerous - burdensome
Dubious - doubtful Opportunism - grabbing opportunities; seeking unprincipled advantage
Equitable - fair and equal Ornate - highly decorated
Eulogy - praise Precursor - forerunner
Fastidious - very fussy; excessively concerned (esp. about cleanliness) Proponents - supporters
Fidelity - faithfulness; loyalty Resolute - firm of purpose
Sanctity - holiness Benevolent - kindly
Seditious - causing division or rebellion Callous - cruel and unfeeling
Slipshod - careless; untidy Candid - truthful; honest
Solicitousness - expressing care/concern Coalition - a union of two parts
Sophistry - devious logic Concordance - agreement
Substantiate - give supporting evidence Conflagration - big fire
Subversive - intending to overthrow Copious - in large amounts
Sustain - support Dearth - shortage
Tenacious - holding firmly to idea or purpose Debacle - disaster
Volatile - 1. evaporates easily, 2. easily angered; emotional Disarming - charming; unthreatening
List 4 Disillusioned - freed from wrong ideas
Adroit - skillful (Maladroit = clumsy) Disparaging - criticizing
Agnostic - unsure of the existence of god Embellished - decorated
Ameliorating - making better Empathetic - understanding in an insightful way
Arboreal - living in trees Encompassed - included; surrounded
Ascertain - find out make sure Endorsement - support; approval
Barrage - bombardment; stream (of abuse etc.) Entourage - group of followers; retinue
Belabor - over-emphasizing Equanimity - peace of mind; balance; calm
Brevity - briefness Eradicating - wiping out; destroying
Cacophony - noise; din Esoteric - obscure
Censured - blamed Exacerbated - made worse
Circumvent - avoid Excised - cut out
Coerced - forced Exotic - strange; foreign
Condoning - tolerating Faction - section; group with common interests
Congenial - friendly; sociable; suitable Finagle - wheedle; wangle; trick
Demagogues - mob leaders; agitators Grating - harsh; rasping
Disparaged - criticized Gratuitous - free; unwarranted
Docile - tame; subservient Hackneyed - commonplace; over-used
Eclectic - taking things from different sources Insightful - perceptive
Elitist - favoring top group; snob Insolence - rudeness
Elusive - difficult to pin down Intrigued - interested and curious
Empiric - found by experiment/practice/observation Intuition - six sense; 'gut feeling'
Endorsed - supported Languid - lacking energy; weak
Envisioning - imagining, predicting Lobby - 1. to try to persuade, 2. entrance hall
Extolled - praised Lucid - clear
Foster - support; encourage Marred - spoiled; ruined
Furtiveness - secretiveness Meager - small; scanty
Gluttonous - greedy Monotonous - dull; repetitive
Indictment - charge; legal accusation Motley - varied; miscellaneous
Indigenous - native to a local Opting - choosing
Irreproachable - cannot be criticized. (Reproach = criticize) Overhaul - renovate
Knack - trick; skill Preclude - prevent
Libelous - open to prosecution for libel (Libel = written slander) Precursors - forerunners
Naivete - innocence; lack of worldliness Purportedly - apparently claiming
Nihilism - belief in nothing; anarchy Ratify - give official approval to
Paucity - shortage Resilience - strength; ability to withstand
Penchant - tendency; leaning toward Retraction - removal; 'taking back'
Perquisites - 'perks'; benefits beyond a regular salary Sporadic - intermittent; on and off
Phobic - fearful Spurned - shunned; rejected
Pilfer - steal, usually in small amounts Substantiated - backed up; given supporting evidence
Pliant - flexible Supplant - replace
Predilection - liking for; penchant Truculence - stubbornness
Presumption - assuming too much Unequivocal - certain; cannot be disputed
Profundity - depth (of ideas) Voluminous - large; bulky; extensive
Quixotic - idealistic; impractical Winnow - sift; separate good from bad
Reclusive - avoiding other people; solitary List 6
Rehash - revamp hurriedly/carelessly Alacrity - speed and eagerness
Repertoire - range; set of skills Amiable - friendly; lovable
Repertory - story; stock; repertoire Apathetic - lacking energy or interest
Reprehensible - very bad Bypasses - avoids; finds a way around
Sarcasm - sneering, bitter remarks; ironic or taunting Capricious - whimsical; changeable
Supple - flexible; pliant; lithe Censures - blames
Temperamental - volatile; changeable Conciliatory - seeking compromise
Transitory - short-lived Convergence - coming together
List 5 Cumulative - building up
Aberration - deviation; abnormality Deferment - putting off
Abstruse - difficult to comprehend Deliberation - careful thought
Affability - friendliness; cordiality Delineates - outlines
Affluence - wealth and status Derelict - rundown; abandoned
Alleviation - making less severe Discrepancy - inconsistency
Amalgamation - mixture or joining of different components Embittered - full of bitter feelings
Amassed - accumulated Encroaching - trespassing
Arcane - esoteric Eradicate - wipe out
Augmenting - increasing in size or number Exacerbates - makes worse
Belied - contradicted Exasperation - frustration and annoyance
Exorbitant - excessive Labyrinthine - complicated; highly convoluted
Flabbergasted - shocked; speechless Nuzzle - cuddle; snuggle
Foil for - person that shows another to advantage Plaudit - statement giving strong praise
Frugal - economical Reprehensible - shameful; very bad
Glacial - icy; unfriendly Tardy - slow; late; overdue; delayed
Grimy - dirty Absolution - forgiveness; pardon; release
Inconsequential - unimportant Blatant - obvious
Indiscernible - not easy to see Credible - praiseworthy
Infusion - influx Ensconce - establish firmly in a position
Integrity - honesty Hasten - hurry; accelerate; rush
Jaded - tired; bored Laceration - a cut
Juxtaposition - placing two thing nests to each other Obdurate - stubborn
Lithe - flexible Plausible - can be believed; reasonable
Miffed - annoyed Reprieve - a respite; postponement of sentence
Modicum - tiny amount Tawdry - of little value; gaudy
Negate - wipe out List 8
Nondescript - having no special qualities; ordinary Abstain - desist; go without; withdraw
Penurious - miserly Blighted - damaged; destroyed; ruined
Phlegmatic - calm; imperturbable Credulous - gullible; ready to believe anything
Razing - cutting down Enshroud - cover
Recrimination - blame Haughtiness - arrogance; pride
Reprieve - let off (at least temporarily) Lachrymose - tearful; sad
Rousing - stirring Obfuscate - deliberately make something difficult to understand
Salvageable - can be saved Plethora - an excess
Scouring - cleaning thoroughly; thorough searching Repudiate - shun; eschew
Secluded - lonely; isolated Tedium - boredom
Solace - comfort Abstemious - self-denying; refraining from indulging
Squelch - suppress; crush Blithe - free-spirited; carefree
Stifling - suppressing Crepuscular - active at dawn and dusk
Surfeit - excess Enunciation - clear pronunciation; accent; articulation
Tangential - off the point; irrelevant Headstrong - stubborn; willful
Temper - moderate Lackluster - dull; monotonous; bland
Tremulous - hesitant Objective - unbiased; not subjective
Unyielding - not giving up Pliable - flexible; not stubborn
Vigilant - wary; watchful Rescind - retract; repeal
Waning - declining Temper - to moderate; soften
Warped - twisted; distorted Abstruse - difficult to understand; obscure
Wary - cautious Cringe - recoil; flinch; shy away
Wrath – anger Envenom - to cause bitterness and bad feeling
List 7 Hedonism - self-indulgence; pleasure-seeking
Abhor - hate Laconic - using few words; brief; to the point
Bigot - narrow-minded, prejudiced person Oblique - indirect; slanting
Counterfeit - fake; false Plumage - feathers of a bird
Enfranchise - give voting right Resignation - acceptance of fate
Hamper - hinder; obstruct Tenacious - stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose
Kindle - to start a fire Accolade - tribute; honor; praise
Noxious - harmful; poisonous; lethal Bolster - support; prop up
Placid - calm; peaceful Cryptic - puzzling; enigmatic
Remuneration - payment for work done Ephemeral - short-lived
Talisman - lucky charm Hedonist - a pleasure seeker
Abrasive - rough; coarse; harsh Lamentation - expression of regret or sorrow
Bilk - cheat; defraud Obliterate - destroy; demolish; eradicate
Covert - hidden; undercover Plummet - fall suddenly and steeply
Engender - cause Resolution - determination
Hangar - storage area (like garage) for a plane Tentative - not certain
Knotty - complex; difficult to solve Acquiesce - to agree to; give in to
Nuance - something subtle; a fine shade of meaning Bombast - arrogant, pompous language
Plagiarism - taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas Curtail - cut short
Renown - fame Epicure - someone who appreciates good food and drink
Tangent - going off the main subject Heed - listen to
Abasement - humiliation; degradation Lampoon - ridicule; spoof
Billowing - swelling; fluttering; waving Oblivious - totally unaware
Cower - recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from Podium - raised platform
Enhance - improve; make better or cleaner Resonant - echoing
Harangue - noisy, attacking speech Tenuous - flimsy; not solid
Labyrinth - a maze List 9
Nullify - to counter; make unimportant Acrid - sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes)
Plaintiff - petitioner (in court of law) Boorish - ill-mannered
Replete - full Cynical - believing that people act only out of selfish motives
Tangible - can be touched Epistle - a letter (form of communication)
Abrogate - cancel; deny; repeal Heresy - against orthodox opinion
Blasphemy - speech which offends religious sentiments Lance - spear; spike; javelin
Credible - believable Obscure - difficult to understand; partially hidden
Enigma - puzzle; mystery Poignant - deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions
Harbingers - indicators; bringers of warning Respite - a break; intermission
Terse - concise; to the point Defunct - no longer in existence
Acrophobia - fear of heights Etymology - the study of word origins
Bourgeois - middle class Hyperbole - grossly exaggerated speech
Debility - weakness; incapacity Legend - 1. key to map; 2. myth or story
Epistolary - concerned with letters; through correspondence Odious - hateful
Hiatus - interruption; pause Posterity - future generations
Languid - tired; slow Rife - common
Obscured - hidden; covered; buried Torpor - dormancy; sluggishness; inactivity
Poised - calm; collected; self-possessed Affable - friendly; social; easygoing
Resplendent - shining; glowing Bureaucracy - officialdom
Therapeutic - medicinal; curative Degradation - deprivation; poverty; debasement
Acuity - sharpness (mental or visual) Eulogy - praise
Braggart - someone who boasts Hypochondriac - a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses
Debunking - exposing false claims or myths Legion - in large numbers
Epitomized - typified; characterized; personified Officious - domineering; intrusive; meddlesome
Hidebound - rigid in opinions Posthumous - after death
Languish - decay; fade away; get weaker Rigor - thoroughness
Obsequious - servile; submissive Totter - walk unsteadily
Polemical - causing debate or argument List 11
Restorative - a tonic annul - (transitive verb) 1. to make nonexistent or ineffective; cancel. 2. to
Thwart - prevent; frustrate remove the legal validity of.
Adamant - forceful; inflexible fervent - (adjective) 1. having or expressing warmth. depth. or intensity of
Brawny - muscular feeling. 2. hot; glowing.
Decathlon - an athletic competition with ten events opulent - (adjective) 1. having or displaying wealth or richness. 2. very
Equivocate - speak ambiguously; avoid telling the truth abundant; plentiful.
Hieroglyphics - 1. picture writing; 2. writing which is difficult to read or accord - (noun) 1. balanced interrelationship; proper proportion; harmony.
enigmatic 2. compromise of conflicting opinions; concurrence; agreement. 3. an
Larceny - theft; robbery; stealing agreement between or among nations.
Obsession - a dominating concern serendipity - (noun) 1. a gift or talent for accidentally finding the perfect
Ponderous - weighty; slow and heavy solution or making a happy discovery. 2. lucky coinciding of events.
Retention - preservation; withholding veneer - (noun) 1. a very thin layer of fine wood or the like that is bonded to
Timorous - cowardly; fearful a cheaper material to form a more attractive surface. 2. any of the thin
Adroit - skillful layers of wood that are glued and pressed together to make plywood. 3.
Brevity - being brief any superficially attractive outward appearance or show.
Decorum - dignified, correct behavior [decorous (a)] camaraderie - (noun) 1. friendship, good humor, and closeness among a
Err - make a mistake group; comradeship.
Hinder - obstruct foil - (noun) 1. someone or something that, by contrast, makes the
Largess - generosity distinctive characteristics of another more noticeable.
Obsolete - no longer valid guile - (noun) 1. deceitfulness, treachery, or cunning; wiliness.
Pontificate - speak pompously or dogmatically notorious - (adjective) 1. widely known or spoken of, esp. for something
Reticent - restrained; holding something back; uncommunicative unfavorable or bad.
Tirade - stream of verbal abuse caustic - (adjective) 1. capable of burning away, corroding, or destroying
List 10 tissue by chemical action. 2. bitingly critical. (noun) a caustic substance.
Adulation - strong admiration; worship licentious - (adjective) 1. not within the bounds of morality or propriety, esp.
Bristle - to show irritation about sexual conduct; immoral; lewd.
Decoy - lure; trap; trick superfluous - (adjective) 1. being beyond a sufficient amount; excessive. 2.
Erratic - wandering; irregular not required; unnecessary.
Histrionic - theatrical; exaggerated trepidation - (noun) 1. a condition of anxiety or dread; alarm. 2. a quiver or
Laud - praise vibration.
Obstreperous - noisy and boisterous abnegate - (transitive verb) 1. to deny oneself (a right or privilege);
Portend - foretell renounce. 2. to give up; relinquish.
Retraction - withdrawal; cancellation of a statement vigilant - (adjective) 1. keenly alert and attentive; watchful, esp. for danger.
Titter - giggle quietly esoteric - (adjective) 1. understood or known only by a few persons who
Adversity - hardship have special training, access, or interests. 2. intended for a select few;
Broach - start to discuss; approach secret; private.
Deference - respect appropriate - (adjective) 1. fitting the requirements of the situation; seemly;
Esoteric - obscure and difficult to understand suitable. (transitive verb) 1. to identify or set aside for a purpose. 2. to take
Hoary - old for one's own, often without permission.
Lavish - on a grand scale; wasteful salutation - (noun) 1. a gesture or expression of greeting or courtesy, such
Obtuse - mentally dull as a handshake. 2. the introductory word or phrase used as a greeting in a
Portent - a warning sign; omen letter.
Revere - worship effervescent - (adjective) 1. emitting tiny gas bubbles; foaming; bubbly. 2. in
Tome - large book high, cheerful spirits; lively; animated.
Advocate - support panacea - (noun) 1. a remedy or solution for all diseases, ills, or difficulties;
Brusque - blunt; abrupt cure-all.
Defoliate - cause leaves to fall off toady - (noun) 1. someone who fawns over or flatters others for personal
Espouse - promote; take up; support advantage or profit; sycophant. (intransitive verb) 1. to fawn or flatter
Hone - sharpen; increase; whet others, or abase oneself, in order to gain favor or advancement. (transitive
Lax - careless; not strict verb) 1. to fawn or flatter others, or abase one...
Obviate - avoid; make unnecessary pernicious - (adjective) 1. having a very harmful or fatal effect; injurious,
Poseur - someone who puts on an act deadly, or destructive.
Riddled - full of (usually full of holes) contentious - (adjective) 1. inclined to argue; quarrelsome; belligerent. 2.
Torpid - inactive; lazy; stagnant marked by or involving contention.
Aesthetic - concerning art or beauty demean - (transitive verb) 1. to lower in esteem, stature, or dignity;
Bulwark - fortification; barricade; wall degrade.
demagogue - (noun) 1. a leader, esp. a speaker or politician, who attempts
to persuade and to gain a following by appealing to the emotions and
prejudices of the public, rather than by rational argument. (intransitive
verb) 1. to speak or act in the manner of a demagogue.
oration - (noun) 1. a formal, usu. long speech, esp. one given on an
important occasion. 2. an unnecessarily formal or pompous speech.
solvent - (adjective) 1. having enough funds to meet obligations. 2. able to
dissolve another substance. (noun) 1. a substance that is able to dissolve
certain other substances.
cavort - (intransitive verb) 1. to prance about; romp; caper.
defamatory - (adjective) 1. causing or tending to cause injury to another's
reputation; libelous or slanderous.
implacable - (adjective) 1. not to be placated or diverted; unappeasable or
inexorable.
inchoate - (adjective) 1. in an early stage of existence. 2. partially or
imperfectly developed.
allocate - (transitive verb) 1. to set aside (money or other resources) for
some specific use. 2. to give out according to a plan; distribute by lot.
frugal - (adjective) 1. tending to economize; thrifty. 2. scanty in expense or
quantity; meager.
legerdemain - (noun) 1. skill in performing magic tricks; sleight of hand. 2.
trickery or deception.
mutable - (adjective) 1. able or likely to change. 2. tending to change often;
inconstant.
nebulous - (adjective) 1. hazy, confused, or indistinct. 2. cloudlike or
indefinite in outline.
renunciation - (noun) 1. the act or an instance of giving up or rejecting
something, usu. as a sacrifice; renouncing.
wily - (adjective) 1. cleverly deceitful; tricky; cunning.
insurgent - (noun) 1. one who uses armed force to rebel against one's own
government. 2. a member of a group, esp. a political party, who rebels
against its policies. (adjective) 1. participating in a revolt; rebellious. 2.
rapidly surging in.
garrulous - (adjective) 1. given to talking excessively. 2. exceptionally wordy;
verbose.
coherent - (adjective) 1. lumping, holding, or sticking together. 2. logically
ordered or connected; consistent.
virtuoso - (noun) 1. a person who demonstrates exceptional ability, style, or
skill, esp. in music. (adjective) 1. of or relating to a virtuoso.
dearth - (noun) 1. a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. 2. a shortage or
scarcity of food.
sanguine - (adjective) 1. having an optimistic temperament or outlook. 2.
ruddy in complexion. 3. blood red.
eclectic - (adjective) 1. composed or created by selecting the best from
various styles, disciplines, systems, or the like. 2. arising from a breadth of
choice. (noun) 1. a person who uses an eclectic method or takes an eclectic
approach.
ardor - (noun) 1. very strong feelings; passion; fervor.
archetype - (noun) 1. an original model or pattern from which others are
made or copied; prototype.
obstinate - (adjective) 1. holding stubbornly to one's own ideas or purposes;
unwilling to change. 2. difficult to overcome, control, or cure; persistent or
refractory.
harangue - (noun) 1. a long, vehement, and often pompous speech or piece
of writing, esp. such a speech delivered in public; tirade. 2. a strong spoken
or written attack or scolding.
List 12
strident - (adjective) 1. harsh-sounding and loud; raucous; grating. 2.
unpleasantly aggressive in tone or other manner.
resolute - (adjective) 1. having or showing firmness, determination, or
resolve
antipathy - (noun) 1. a deep, continuing dislike; aversion; hatred. 2. the
object of such a feeling.
execrable - (adjective) 1. of very poor quality; extremely inferior. 2. worthy
of hatred or disgust; loathsome; detestable.
seminal - (adjective) 1. of seed or of semen. 2. containing the potential for
creative development; original. 3. of critical importance; essential.
tenable - (adjective) 1. able to be upheld, affirmed, supported, or defended;
logical. 2. able to be defended from armed attack.
prosaic - (adjective) 1. straightforward and plain; unimaginative; dull. 2. of
or like prose.
punctilious - (adjective) 1. strictly adhering to etiquette or formalities. 2.
greatly concerned with every detail; precise.
prowess - (noun) 1. great skill or talent; superior ability. 2. exceptional
strength, courage, or ability in battle.
largess (largesse) - (noun) 1. liberality in giving, esp. money, and often with
an implication of the giver's superiority. 2. a generous gift or donation.
semaphore - (noun) 1. a device for or method of signaling, as on a railroad,
by means of lights and symbolic signs or flags. 2. a system of spelling out
messages by varying the positions of two hand-held flags. (intransitive verb)
1. to signal through use of a semaphore. (transitive verb) 1. to signal
through use of a semaphore.
cajole - (intransitive verb) 1. to coax or persuade insistently, as by flattery or
false promises.
dishearten - (transitive verb) 1. to depress or destroy the hope or confidence
of; discourage; dispirit.
florid - (adjective) 1. of the skin, red or ruddy in color. 2. overly ornamented;
flowery; elaborate.
exhort - (transitive verb) 1. to advise, urge, or incite with great seriousness.
(intransitive verb) 1. to give advice or admonition in an urgent but
encouraging manner.
debacle - (noun) 1. sudden collapse into disaster; downfall. 2. a complete
failure, often deserving ridicule; fiasco. 3. a torrent of rushing water or
broken-up ice, as on a river; flood.
repose - (transitive verb) 1. to put or place (confidence, hope, or the like) in
someone or something.
rail - (noun) 1. a horizontal bar that extends between two posts and serves
as a barrier, fence, or the like. 2. a steel bar, usu. one of a pair, upon which
railway cars travel. 3. the railroad as a mode of transportation. (transitive
verb) 1. to provide or enclose with rail or rails.
extant - (adjective) 1. still in existence; current; not extinct, destroyed, or
lost.
stagnate - (intransitive verb) 1. to become motionless, fouled, or lacking in
energy, originality, or development; be or become stagnant.
expunge - (intransitive verb) 1. to cross out or erase. 2. to destroy all trace
of; obliterate.
reputable - (adjective) 1. having a good reputation. 2. considered proper
usage, esp. of words.
servile - (adjective) 1. very submissive to another's authority; slavish. 2. of or
customary for a slave or servant.
aberration - (noun) 1. deviation from what is considered normal and right;
irregularity. 2. a slight deviation in normal mental functioning. 3. an
imperfection in an optical lens, or the blurring caused by such an
imperfection.
wistful - (adjective) 1. displaying or characterized by yearning or wishful
sadness.
decry - (transitive verb) 1. to express strong disapproval of ; disparage;
condemn.
implement - (noun) 1. means to accomplish something, esp. a tool, device,
or instrument to perform a task. 2. a piece of equipment or furnishing.
(transitive verb) 1. to carry out or put into effect. 2. to provide with tools.
revoke - (transitive verb) 1. withdraw, rescind, annul, or cancel. (intransitive
verb) 1. in card games, to fail to follow suit when it is possible and required
to do so; renege. (noun) 1. in card games, the act of revoking.
neophyte - (noun) 1. a beginner or novice at any activity. 2. a new convert
to a religion, esp. among early Christians. 3. a novice or newly ordained
priest in the Roman Catholic Church.
animated - (adjective) 1. full of activity, spirit, or excitement. 2. able to
move as though alive. 3. containing figures or objects that appear to move.
accommodating - (adjective) 1. willing to help or please; obliging.
bombastic - (adjective) 1. overblown or pretentious, as speech, writing, or a
person speaking or writing in this way.
incessant - (adjective) 1. never ceasing; continual.
agriculture - (noun) 1. the science and art of raising crops and livestock;
farming.
incisive - (adjective) 1. cutting 2. marked by clear, penetrating thought;
sharp. 3. of or relating to the incisors.
convene - (intransitive verb) 1. to gather or assemble, esp. for a formal
meeting. (transitive verb) 1. to cause to gather or assemble; summon;
convoke. 2. to oblige to appear, as in front of a court of law; subpoena.
acclaim - (transitive verb) 1. to approve enthusiastically as with loud
applause or shouts. (intransitive verb) 1. to applaud enthusiastically. (noun)
1. enthusiastic approval as by loud applause. 2. vote by voice or applause,
showing virtually unanimous approval; acclamation.
vindictive - (adjective) 1. tending to be desirous of revenge; vengeful. 2. said
or done in a spiteful or retaliatory spirit.
primeval - (adjective) 1. of or suggestive of the first age or ages.
appraise - (transitive verb) 1. to estimate the quality or nature of. 2. to
determine the monetary value of (something) according to size, quality, and
other features.
yoke - (noun) 1. a device used to join together a pair of draft animals, usu. Castigate - scold strongly
comprising a crossbar with two U-shaped loops, each fitted around the Destitution - hardship; poverty; misery
head of an animal. 2. a harnessed pair of draft animals 3. a frame or Expedient - convenient; practical
crosspiece designed to fit a person's shoulders for carrying equal loads at Incantation - chant; invocation; prayer
either end. Lynch - assassinate; kill; illegal hanging
tantamount - (adjective) 1. equal to or the same as; equivalent. Overt - obvious; not hidden
adroit - (adjective) 1. skillful with the hands; dexterous. 2. skillful in difficult Predicament - dilemma; difficult situation
or complicated circumstances; clever; resourceful. Sanguine - optimistic; cheerful
attain - (transitive verb) 1. to achieve through effort. 2. to arrive at or reach Ubiquitous - found everywhere; omnipresent
successfully. (intransitive verb) 1. to achieve or reach something (usu. fol. by Amorphous - lacking in shape
to). Catharsis - purging of pent-up emotions
abase - (transitive verb) 1. to bring down the rank, status, or reputation of; Deter - put off; prevent
degrade. Expedite - make faster
tangential - (adjective) 1. of, like, or positioned or moving in the direction of Incarceration - putting in prison
a tangent. 2. barely connected to or touching a subject. 3. moving away Machinations - plots and plans
from a subject when speaking, writing, or the like; digressing; diverging. Overwrought - worked up; in an emotional state
elude - (transitive verb) 1. to avoid or evade by speed, skill, or trickery. 2. to Preeminent - famous; outstanding
slip from the grasp of. Sardonic - mocking
placid - (adjective) 1. calm, smooth, or tranquil. Unalloyed - undiluted; total
ecstatic - (adjective) 1. in a condition of extreme delight, overpowering Analgesic - medicine to combat pain
emotion, or religious trance; enraptured. 2. of, concerning, characterized by, Caucus - type of private political meeting
or caused by ecstasy. Deteriorate - worsen; decline
List 13 Exposition - clear explanation
Ambivalence - lack of clarity; wavering; being undecided Incessant - without stopping
Cantankerous - bad-tempered; quarrelsome Maelstrom - whirlpool; storm in ocean
Derogatory - uncomplimentary Palatable - good to eat; agreeable
Exemplify - to serve as a good example Prerogative - right or privilege
Impecunious - having no money Savant - person with knowledge
Lucid - clear Unctuous - oily; using excessive flattery
Ornate - highly decorated Analogous - comparable
Precipice - steep slope Caustic - burning
Salubrious - health-giving Detrimental - harmful
Truant - shirker; someone absent without permission Extol - praise
Ambulatory - able to walk around (used of hospital patients) Incipient - just beginning
Capacious - spacious Magnanimous - generous; big-hearted
Desecrate - to damage or pollute a holy place Palisade - fence made of posts
Exhaustive - complete and thorough Prescient - having fore-knowledge
Impious - wicked; profane Scale - to climb
Ludicrous - ridiculous; silly Undermined - damaged; attacked
Orthodox - Conventional Anarchy - chaos; lack of government
Precipitous - done in a hurry Cavalcade - procession of vehicles
Salutary - something which teaches you a lesson; beneficial Devoured - greedily eaten/consumed
Truncate - cut short Extradite - deport from one country back to the home country
Ameliorate - make better Inclination - tendency; a leaning toward
Capitulate - surrender; give in to Magnate - powerful businessman
Desecration - spoiling something holy Palliative - a remedy that improves but doesn't cure
Exonerates - acquits; absolves; removes blame Presentiment - a feeling that something might happen
Impoverished - destitute; poor Scapegoat - person on whom blame is placed for faults of others
Lukewarm - 1. unenthusiastic; 2. neither hot nor cold Underscore – emphasize
Ossify - 1. turn to bone; 2. become fixed and rigid List 15
Preclude - prevent or make impossible Anecdote - a brief amusing story
Sanctimonious - hypocritically holy Celerity - speed
Tumult - uproar; noise Dexterous - skillful with hands
Amelioration - improvement Extraneous - irrelevant
Carping - constant criticism Incoherent - not clear
Desist - stop; discontinue; cease Maladroit - clumsy; unskillful
Exorcism - getting free/rid of; eliminating (especially demons) Pallid - pale
Impromptu - unrehearsed; spontaneous Presumptuous - assuming too much; arrogant
Lummox - clumsy person Scrupulous - careful; diligent; painstaking
Ostentatious - showy Unequivocal - clear; obvious
Precocious - developing early Animosity - hatred; antagonism
Sanction - give approval to Censorious - disapproving; critical
Turpitude - depravity Dichotomy - a division into two parts
Amiable - friendly Extrapolate - extend; predict on the basis of known data
Cartographer - person who makes maps Incongruous - not fitting in; out of place
Despondent - having no hope; miserable Malady - illness
Expatriate - refugee; emigrant; someone living away from his own country Palpable - easily felt; easily perceived
Inadvertent - not intentional Pretentious - pompous; self-important
Luscious - juicy; moist; succulent Scrutinize - examine carefully
Oust - push out of a position Unfetter - set free
Predecessor - one who came before Annex (n) - a building which is an addition to an existing building
Sanguinary - bloodthirsty; bloody Censure - blame
Tyro - novice; beginner Didactic - intended to teach; instructive
List 14 Extrinsic - irrelevant; on the outside
Amity - friendship Inconsequential - unimportant; insignificant; negligible
Malediction - a curse Urbane - sophisticated; suave
Panacea - remedy for all ills List 17
Prevaricate - speak misleadingly and evasively Antiquated - outdated; old fashioned
Scuttle - sink Choleric - easily angered
Unfrock - to remove a priest from his position Diorama - model of a scene
Annex (v) - take possession of; seize; capture Fecund - fertile
Cerebral - intellectual Inebriation - drunkenness; intoxication
Diffident - lacking confidence Marshal - to gather together
Fallacious - false Parity - equality
Inconspicuous - not easily seen; subtle; not noticeable Profound - having deep meaning
Malefactor - a wrong-doer Servile - overly submissive; groveling
Paradigm - 1. example; 2. model; 3. way of looking at things Usurp - take someone's position (usually by force)
Pristine - unspoiled Apathetic - indifferent; uninterested; lethargic
Seminary - an institution in which priests are trained Chronicler - person who records historical information
Unprecedented - never having happened before Dirge - mournful song
Anomaly - something which does not fit in a pattern; irregularity Felicitous - apt
Certitude - certainty Ineffable - cannot be expressed in words
Digress - wander off the subject Marsupial - pounced mammal (like a kangaroo)
Falter - hesitate; waver Parochial - narrow-minded; concerned only with local matters
Indelible - cannot be wiped out Profundity - depth
Malinger - deliberately avoid work; shirk Skeptical - doubting; not gullible
Paradox - apparently contradictory statement Utilitarian - useful
Proclivity - tendency towards Apathy - lack of interest or emotion
Sensuous - appealing to senses Circuitous - indirect
Unscathed - unharmed; intact; without a scratch Disapprobation - disapproval
List 16 Fervor - passion; enthusiasm
Antagonism - hostility; strong opposition Inept - incompetent; unskilled; useless
Charlatan - trickster who claims knowledge he doesn't have Martinet - person who believes in strict discipline
Dike - dam; embankment Parody - a mockery; imitation for ridicule; spoof
Fanatical - obsessive; fixated Proletarian - member of the working class
Indifferent - 1. neutral; 2. not outstanding Skirmish - minor battle
Malingerer - person who deliberately tries to avoid work Utopian - a believer in an ideal world
Paragon - a perfect example Apocryphal - of doubtful origin
Procrastinate - delay; put off Circumlocution - using too many words; long-windedness
Sentinel - guard; sentry Discern - to distinguish one thing from another
Unwitting - not deliberate; unconscious Fickle - unpredictable; whimsical; easily swayed
Antagonistic - opposed; hostile; aggresive Inertia - inactivity; lethargy
Chary - wary of; cautious about; reluctant to give Masochist - person who intentionally inflicts pain on himself
Dilatory - slow; falling behind with one's work Parry - ward off; avoid
Fanaticism - passion; excessive devotion Prolific - producing a lot
Indigenous - native to a particular area Sluggard - slow-moving; lethargic person
Malleable - flexible; can be shaped Vacillate - waver; hesitate
Paramount - of supreme importance Appease - pacify; soothe; calm down; make peace with
Prodigal - wasteful; extravagant Circumscribe - limit
Sequester - isolate Discord - disagreement
Upbraid - scold; tell off; reprimand Finesse - skill
Antediluvian - outdated; prehistoric; very old-fashioned Inevitable - cannot be avoided
Chastises - punishes Matriarchy - society governed by women
Dilemma - puzzling situation Parsimonious - economical; frugal; thrifty
Fastidious - overly particular; finicky Proponents - promoters; supporters
Indolence - laziness Smelt - refine an ore
Mallet - 1. wooden hammer; 2. stick used for polo Vacuous - empty; silly; meaningless
Parasite - 1. scrounger; 2. animal which takes digested food from another List 18
Prodigious - very large Apprehensive - worried; fearful
Serendipity - fortunate coincidence; unsought discovery Circumspect - cautious; considering all sides
Uproarious - hilarious; hysterical; very funny Discordance - cacophony; harshness; jarring
Antology - a book which is a collection of poems or stories Fitful - not continuous; stopping and starting
Chicanery - trickery Inexorable - relentless
Dilettante - person who dabbles in a subject without serious study Maverick - a loner
Fatuous - silly; foolish Parsimony - stinginess; frugality; cost-cutting
Inductee - novice; beginner Prosaic - dull; boring; ordinary
Manipulatable - influencable; controllable Smorgasbord - a Swedish buffet of cold dishes
Parched - dried up Vagrant - person wandering without a home
Profane - unholy Arable - can be cultivated
Serene - calm; peaceful Circumvent - avoid
Upshot - outcome Discrepancy - something which does not match up; inconsistency
Anthropocentrism - putting man at the center of one's philosophy Flagrant - clearly wrong
Chimerical - changeable; unstable Inexpedient - not advisable
Diligent - hard-working Meager - in short supply
Feasible - possible and practicable Partisan - biased; one-sided; committed to one group
Indulgent - pampering; satisfying desires Proscribe - forbid
Marred - damaged; spoiled Solace - comfort for grief
Pariah - an outcast from society Vapid - dull; uninspiring
Profanity - swearing; cursing Arbitrary - random; for no definite reason
Serrated - jagged; saw-like Clairvoyant - psychic; mystic
Discriminate - to make a clear distinction; see the difference Modicum - small amount
Flamboyant - showy; ornate Perfunctory - superficial; cursory
Infallible - perfect; flawless; cannot make mistake Quarantine - isolation to prevent the spread of disease
Meander - wander from side to side Vital - essential; alive; important
Pathos - evoking sadness or pity List 20
Prosody - study of versification Austere - severely plain
Solicit - to ask for; seek Dubious - doubtful
Variegated - multicolored; speckled Garble - distort; confuse; muddle
Arcane - obscure; known only to a few people Intransigent - stubborn; unyielding
Clamor - shout; scream Momentous - very important
Discursiveness - long winded ness; indirectness Peripatetic - nomadic; moving from place to place
Flaunt - show off; display in a showy manner Quarry - 1. something that is hunted; 2. mine for stone
Infamous - famous for something bad Stoke - add fuel to; strengthen
Mellow - soft; melodious; ripe Vitriolic - corrosive; strongly attacking
Patron - one who give support (usually financial) Aversion - a dislike of
Prostration - 1. lying face down; 2. be overcome with extreme weakness Concatenation - linking into chains
Somnambulist - sleepwalker Dupe - to fool someone
Vehemence - violence; fervor; forcefulness Garish - gaudy
Archaic - ancient; outdated; old fashioned Intrepid - brave
Clandestine - secret; covert; stealthy Monotonous - dull; unvarying
Disdain - contempt; strong dislike Peripheral - on the edge; not important
Flippant - making jokes about serious matters Querulous - always complaining
Infer - deduce; conclude Stolid - impassive; dull; indifferent
Menagerie - collection of animals Vivacity - liveliness; animation
Patronize - condescend to; behave in an arrogant manner towards Balk - hinder and prevent; hesitate over
Protagonist - main character in film, book, play etc. Conciliate - to bring together; end a dispute
Soothsayer - fortuneteller Dynamic - lively; vibrant; energetic
Vehement – forceful Garner - gather; collect
List 19 Inveterate - habitual
Atheist - person who does not believe in God Moratorium - temporary prohibition or halt to activity
Colloquial - local and informal (used of language) Perjury - telling lies under oath
Dotard - foolish old man Quirk - oddity
Furrow - groove Stratagem - plot; plan; trick
Instigator - troublemaker; person who entices others to do something Vivify - enliven
Misnomer - wrong name Banal - common; dull
Percipient - perceptive; insightful Concise - stated in few words
Quaff - drink down quickly Ebullient - very lively; cheerful; jovial; happy
Staunch - loyal; faithful; dependable Garrulous - talkative
Vilification - blackening someone's name Invidious - arousing envy
Atrophy - waste away from lack of use Moribund - on the point of death
Collusion - plotting and planning Pernicious - destructive; harmful
Drawl - speak slowly with words running together Ramble - wander aimlessly
Furtive - hidden and secret Strident - loud and harsh
Insurgent - a rebel Vociferous - noisy; loud in speech
Misogynist - hater of women Banality - ordinariness; dullness
Perdition - damnation Condescend - talk down to
Quagmire - marsh; bog Eccentric - unusual; quirky; odd
Stereotype - fixed image Gaunt - emaciated; bony and angular
Vindicate - prove right; remove blame Inviolable - cannot be invaded
Attenuate - weaken Morose - gloomy; bad tempered
Commandeer - take position of Persnickety - fastidious; fussy
Drivel - nonsense Ramifications - branches; subdivisions of a complex system; outcomes
Futile - useless; hopeless Stringent - strict or severe
Interminable - never-ending Volatile - dangerously unstable; evaporates easily
Misrepresentation - deliberately deceiving
Peremptory - inn a commanding manner
Quaint - picturesque
Stevedore - dockworker
Virtuoso - an accomplished musician
Augment - increase; make bigger
Complacent - self-satisfied; smug
Droll - dryly amusing
Galleon - ancient type of sailing
Intermittent - sporadic; irregular
Mitigate - lessen; make less severe
Perfidy - treachery
Quandary - dilemma; puzzle
Stifle - suppress
Virulent - dangerous; harmful
Auspicious - favorable; promising to turn out well
Compliant - easy to control; submissive
Drone - 1. monotonous noise (n); 2. to speak with no emotion (v); 3. male
bee
Gambol - frolic; leap; bound
Intransigence - stubbornness