Quiz Let GRE Word
Quiz Let GRE Word
Quiz Let GRE Word
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1. aberrant adjective: markedly different from an accepted 7. abstruse adjective: difficult to understand;
norm incomprehensible
When the financial director started screaming Physics textbooks can seem so abstruse to the
and throwing food at his co-workers, the police uninitiated that readers feel as though they are
had to come in to deal with his aberrant looking at hieroglyphics.
behavior.
8. abysmal adjective: extremely bad
2. aberration noun: a deviation from what is normal or
expected Synonyms : abyssal , unfathomable
Synonyms : aberrance , aberrancy , deviance Coach Ramsey took his newest player off the field
after watching a few painful minutes of her
Aberrations in climate have become the norm: abysmal performance.
rarely a week goes by without some
9. access noun: the ability to go into (when somebody or
meteorological phenomenon making headlines.
something must allow you to enter)
3. abjure verb: formally reject or give up (as a belief)
Synonyms : accession , admission , admittance ,
Synonyms : forswear , recant , resile , retract entree
While the church believed that Galileo abjured verb: to go into something when allowed to enter
the heliocentric theory under threat of torture,
he later wrote a book clearly supporting the Only students have access to the university library.
theory.
There is a large amount of oil under the ice, but
4. aboveboard adjective: open and honest
we have not be able to access it.
Synonyms : straightforward 10. accolade noun: an award or praise granted as a special
honor
The mayor, despite his avuncular face plastered
about the city, was hardly aboveboard - some Synonyms : award , honor , honour , laurels
concluded that it was his ingratiating smile that
allowed him to engage in corrupt behavior and Jean Paul-Sartre was not a fan of accolades, and
get away with it. as such, he refused to accept the Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1964.
5. abrogate verb: revoke formally
11. acerbic adjective: harsh in tone
As part of the agreement between the labor
union and the company, the workers abrogated Synonyms : acerb , acid , acrid , bitter , blistering ,
their right to strike for four years in exchange caustic , sulfurous , sulphurous , virulent , vitriolic
for better health insurance.
Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer
6. abstain verb: choose not to consume or take part in
blockbusters, often referring to them as garbage.
(particularly something enjoyable)
12. acme noun: the highest point of achievement
Synonyms : desist , refrain
Synonyms : elevation , height , meridian , peak ,
Considered a health nut, Jessica abstained from pinnacle , summit , superlative , tiptop , top
anything containing sugar-even chocolate.
The new Cessna airplanes will be the acme of
comfort, offering reclining seats and ample
legroom.
13. acrimony noun: bitterness and ill will 19. advocate verb: speak, plead, or argue in favor of
Synonyms : esthete
A very light jacket will be adequate for Los
Angeles's warm winter.
A true aesthete, Marty would spend hours at the
16. adjudicate verb: to serve as a judge in a competition; to Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same
arrive at a judgment or conclusion Picasso.
21. aesthetic adjective: concerned with the appreciation of
Synonyms : decide , resolve , settle,judge , try
beauty
Only those with the most refined palates were
Synonyms : aesthetical , esthetic , esthetical
able to adjudicate during the barbeque
competition.
The director, not known for his aesthetic
17. admonish verb: to warn strongly, even to the point of sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all,
reprimanding and put on the play in everyday clothing.
The center of the city had sadly become a pit of Synonyms : amend , better , improve ,
penury, while, only five miles away, multi-million meliorate
dollar homes spoke of affluence.
"Three Cups of Tea" tells the story of western
24. afford verb: provide with an opportunity
man who hopes to ameliorate poverty and the
lack of education in Afghanistan.
The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro affords a
panoramic view that encompasses both 31. amenable adjective: easily persuaded
Tanzania and Kenya.
Synonyms : conformable , tractable
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study Even though she did not like the outdoors,
Shirley was generally amenable and so her
25. alacrity noun: an eager willingness to do something
brother was able to persuade her to go
camping.
Synonyms : briskness , smartness
32. amiable adjective: friendly
The first three weeks at his new job, Mark
worked with such alacrity that upper Synonyms : affable , cordial , genial
management knew it would be giving him a
promotion. Amy's name was very apt: she was so amiable
that she was twice voted class president.
26. altruism noun: the quality of unselfish concern for the
welfare of others 33. amorphous adjective: shapeless
Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doing His study plan for the GRE was at best
missionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking amorphous; he would do questions from
no reward, apparently motivated only by random pages in any one of seven test prep
altruism. books.
27. amalgam noun: a mixture of multiple things 34. amply adverb: more than is adequate
Synonyms : anaemic The clown's antic act was too extreme for the
youngest children, who left the room in tears.
After three straight shows, the lead actress gave
an anemic performance the fourth night, barely This word has other definitions but this is the
speaking loudly enough for those in the back most important one to study
rows to hear.
46. antipathy noun: an intense feeling of dislike or aversion
40. animosity noun: intense hostility
Synonyms : aversion , distaste
The governor's animosity toward his rival was
only inflamed when the latter spread false lies Maria had an antipathy for tour groups, often
regarding the governor's first term. bolting to the other side of the museum as
soon as she saw a chaperone leading a group
41. anodyne noun: something that soothes or relieves pain
of wide-eyed tourists.
Synonyms : analgesic , pain pill , painkiller 47. antiquated adjective: old-fashioned; belonging to an
earlier period in time
Muzak, which is played in department stores, is
intended to be an anodyne, but is often so Synonyms : antediluvian , archaic
cheesy and over-the-top that customers
become irritated. Aunt Betty had antiquated notions about
marriage, believing that a man should court a
adjective: inoffensive woman for at least a year before receiving a
kiss.
Synonyms : analgesic , analgetic
48. antithetical adjective: sharply contrasted in character or
purpose
Wilbur enjoyed a spicy Mexican breakfast, but
Jill preferred a far more anodyne meal in the
Synonyms : antithetic
mornings.
42. anomalous adjective: not normal His deep emotional involvement with these
ideas is, in fact, antithetical to the disattachment
According to those who do not believe in Buddhism preaches.
climate change, the extreme weather over the
last five years is simply anomalous - daily
temperatures should return to their old
averages, they believe.
49. apathetic adjective: marked by a lack of interest 56. apogee noun: the highest point
Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching The apogee of the Viennese style of music,
math that even normally apathetic students Mozart's music continues to mesmerize
took interest. audiences well into the 21st century.
50. apathy noun: an absence of emotion or enthusiasm 57. apostate noun: a person who has abandoned a religious
faith or cause
Synonyms : indifference , numbness ,
spiritlessness Synonyms : deserter , ratter , recreant ,
renegade , turncoat
Widespread apathy among voters led to a very
small turnout on election day. An apostate of the Republican Party, Sheldon
has yet to become affiliated with any party and
51. apex noun: the highest point
dubs himself an independent.
Synonyms : acme , peak , vertex 58. apothegm noun: a short, pithy instructive saying
The Ivy League is considered the apex of the Synonyms : aphorism , apophthegm
secondary education system.
Winston Churchill is famous for many
52. aphorism noun: a short instructive saying about a general
apothegms, but this might be his most famous:
truth
"It has been said that democracy is the worst
form of government except all the others that
Synonyms : apophthegm , apothegm
have been tried."
Nietzsche was known for using aphorisms, 59. apotheosis noun: exaltation to divine status; the highest
sometimes encapsulating a complex point of development
philosophical thought in a mere sentence.
Synonyms : ideal , nonesuch , nonpareil ,
53. aphoristic adjective: something that is concise and
nonsuch , paragon , saint,deification ,
instructive of a general truth or principle
exaltation
Sometimes I can't stand Nathan because he
As difficult as it is to imagine, the apotheosis of
tries to impress everyone by being aphoristic,
Mark Zuckerberg's career, many believe, is yet
but he just states the obvious.
to come.
54. aplomb noun: great coolness and composure under
60. appease verb: pacify by acceding to the demands of
strain
Test day can be one of pure apprehension, The baroness was arch, making playful asides to
as many students worry about their test the townspeople; yet because they couldn't pick
scores. up on her dry humor, they thought her supercilious.
63. approbatory adjective: expressing praise or approval
This word has other definitions but this is the most
important one to study
Synonyms : affirmative , approbative ,
approving , plausive 69. archaic adjective: so old as to appear to belong to a
different period
Although it might not be her best work,
Hunter's new novel has received generally Synonyms : antediluvian , antiquated
approbatory reviews.
Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in archaic
64. appropriate verb: to give or take something by force
English that was right out of Jane Austen's Pride
and Prejudice--needless to say, she didn't have
Synonyms : allow , earmark , reserve , set
many friends.
aside,capture , conquer , seize
70. arduous adjective: demanding considerable mental effort
The government appropriated land that was and skill; testing powers of endurance
occupied by squatters, sending them
scurrying for another place to live. Synonyms : straining , strenuous
verb: to allocate
In order to deal with the arduous cross-country
The committe appropriated the funds to its journey, truck drivers often survive on a string of
various members. caffeinated drinks, staying awake for up to 30
This word has other definitions but these are hours at a time.
the most important ones to study
71. arrant adjective: complete and wholly (usually modifying
65. appurtenant adjective: supply added support a noun with negative connotation)
Synonyms : assume , seize , take over , usurp Synonyms : ascetical , austere , spartan
Arriving at the small town, the outlaw His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so
arrogated the privileges of a lord, asking the many followers, especially since he gave up
frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and wealth and power to live in poverty.
entertainment.
noun: one who practices great self-denial
74. artful adjective: exhibiting artistic skill
Synonyms : abstainer
Picasso is generally considered the most artful
member of the Cubist movement.
Historically, ascetics like Ghandi are often
considered wise men partially because of their
adjective: clever in a cunning way
restraint.
Bernie Madoff's artful Ponzi scheme stole 80. ascribe verb: attribute or credit to
billions of dollars from investors and is
considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. Synonyms : assign , attribute , impute
history.
History ascribes The Odyssey and The Iliad to
75. artifice noun: cunning tricks used to deceive others
Homer, but scholars now debate whether he
was a historical figure or a fictitious name.
Synonyms : ruse
81. askance adverb: with a look of suspicion or disapproval
The mayoral candidates both spent much of
the campaign accusing each other of artifices The old couple looked askance on the
designed to mislead the voting public. teenagers seated next to them, whispering to
each other, "They've got rings through their
76. artless adjective: without cunning or deceit
noses and purple hair!"
Synonyms : uncultivated , uncultured 82. asperity noun: harshness of manner
Ideally, the restaurant's augmented menu will Synonyms : bossy , dominating , high-and-
expand its clientele and increase its profits. mighty , magisterial , peremptory
Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or The students were willing to clean up the broken
lust--sins of excess-it was listed as one of the glass, but when the teacher asked them to mop
seven deadly sins by the Catholic church. the entire floor, they balked, citing reasons why
they needed to leave.
97. avert verb: turn away
102. banal adjective: repeated too often; overfamiliar through
Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, I overuse
averted my eyes as we drove by.
Synonyms : commonplace , hackneyed , old-hat ,
verb: ward off or prevent shopworn , stock , threadbare , timeworn , tired ,
trite , well-worn
Synonyms : avoid , debar , deflect , fend off ,
forefend , forfend , head off , obviate , stave off , The professor used such banal expression that
ward off many students in the class either fell asleep from
bordeom or stayed awake to complete his
The struggling videogame company put all of its sentences and humor friends.
finances into one final, desperate project to
103. banality noun: a trite or obvious remark
avert bankruptcy.
98. avid adjective: marked by active interest and Synonyms : bromide , cliche , commonplace ,
enthusiasm platitude
Badgered by his parents to find a job, the 30- The most difficult part of the fast was banishing
year-old loafer instead joined a gang of itinerant thoughts of food.
musicians. This word has other definitions but this is the most
important one to study
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
105. base adjective: the lowest, class were without any 110. begrudge verb: to envy someone for possessing or
moral principles enjoying something
This word has other definitions but this is the We never begrudge money spent on ourselves.
most important one to study
111. behooves verb: to be one's duty or obligation
106. bastardization noun: an act that debases or corrupts
The teacher looked down at the student and
Synonyms : bastardisation said, "It would behoove you to be in class on
time and complete your homework, so that you
The movie World War Z is a complete don't repeat freshman English for a third straight
bastardization of the book with little more in year."
common than zombies and a title.
112. belie verb: to give a false representation to;
107. beatific adjective: blissfully happy misrepresent
Synonyms : nighted,dark Even though her father did not approve, Juliet
became besotted with the young Romeo.
Far from being a period of utter benightedness,
The Medieval Ages produced some great works adjective: very drunk
of theological speculation.
Synonyms : blind drunk , blotto , cockeyed ,
118. benign adjective: kind
crocked , fuddled , loaded , pie-eyed , pissed ,
pixilated , plastered , slopped , sloshed , smashed
I remember my grandfather's face was wrinkled,
, soaked , soused , sozzled , squiffy , stiff , tight ,
benign, and calm.
wet
adjective: (medicine) not dangerous to health;
Never before have I seen my mom so besotted,
not recurrent or progressive
and honestly, I hope it's the last time she drinks so
much.
The tumor located in your ear lobe seems to be
benign and should not cause you any trouble. 123. betray verb: to reveal or make known something, usually
unintentionally
119. bereft adjective: unhappy in love; suffering from
unrequited love
Synonyms : bewray
Synonyms : lovelorn , unbeloved
With the gold medal at stake, the gymnast
awaited his turn, his quivering lip betraying his
After 64 years of marriage, William was bereft
intense emotions.
after the death of his wife.
124. bilious adjective: irritable; always angry
adjective: sorrowful through loss or deprivation
Synonyms : atrabilious , dyspeptic , liverish
Synonyms : bereaved , grief-stricken , grieving ,
mourning , sorrowing Rex was bilious all morning, and his face would
only take on a look of contentedness when he'd
"You are not bereft if you haven't played on your had his morning cup of coffee.
Xbox in the past week," his mother said.
125. blatant adjective: without any attempt at concealment;
120. besiege verb: harass, as with questions or requests; completely obvious
cause to feel distressed or worried
Synonyms : blazing , conspicuous
Synonyms : beleaguer , circumvent , hem in ,
surround Allen was often punished in school for blatantly
disrespecting teachers.
After discovering a priceless artifact in her
backyard, Jane was besieged by phone calls,
emails, and reporters all trying to buy, hold or
see the rare piece of history.
126. bleak adjective: having a depressing or gloomy 132. brazen adjective: unrestrained by convention or
outlook propriety
This word has other definitions but this is the Synonyms : abound , burst
most important one to study
As we discussed the painting, I noticed the
129. boon noun: a desirable state
artist's wife bristling at our criticisms, ready to
defend her husband's work.
Synonyms : blessing
135. broadside noun: a strong verbal attack
Modern technology has been a boon to the
travel industry. Synonyms : bill , broadsheet , circular , flier ,
adjective: very close and convivial flyer , handbill , throwaway
He was a boon companion to many, and will be Political broadsides are usually strongest in the
sadly missed. weeks leading up to a national election.
130. boorish adjective: ill-mannered and coarse or 136. bromide noun: a trite or obvious remark
contemptible in behavior or appearance
Synonyms : banality , cliche , commonplace ,
Synonyms : loutish , neandertal , neanderthal , platitude
oafish , swinish
Instead of sharing his umbrella, the cheeky
Bukowski was known for being a boorish drunk stranger offered Martha the following bromide:
and alienating close friends and family. "Looks like it's raining."
131. bowdlerize verb: edit by omitting or modifying parts
considered indelicate
Synonyms : bungling , butterfingered , ham- With the presidential primaries well under way,
fisted , ham-handed , handless , heavy-handed , the air is thick with calumny, and the mud
left-handed already waist-high.
149. canard noun: a deliberately misleading fabrication
Within a week of starting, the bumbling new
waiter was unceremoniously fired.
The public will always be fooled by the media's
canards.
150. candid adjective: a straightforward and honest look at 156. carping adjective: persistently petty and unjustified
something criticism
The hotel is full to maximum capacity; there are The introduction of smallpox was a cataclysm
no empty rooms. for Native Americans, killing off more than half
Few birds have the capacity to recognize of their population.
themselves when looking in a mirror; most act
159. catalyst noun: something that speeds up an event
as though there is a second bird behind the
glass.
Synonyms : accelerator
153. capitulate noun: to surrender (usually under agreed
conditions) Rosa Park's refusal to give up her bus seat acted
as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement,
Paul, losing 19-0 in a ping-pong match against setting into motion historic changes for African-
his nimble friend, basically capitulated when he Americans.
played the last two points with his eyes closed.
160. catholic adjective: of broad scope; universal
154. capricious adjective: determined by chance or impulse or
whim rather than by necessity or reason Jonah's friends said that Jonah's taste in music
was eclectic; Jonah was quick to point out that
Synonyms : impulsive , whimsical not only was his taste eclectic but it was also
catholic: he enjoyed music from countries as far-
Nearly every month our capricious CEO had a flung as Mali and Mongolia.
new plan to turn the company around, and
161. cavalier adjective: given to haughty disregard of others
none of them worked because we never gave
them the time they needed to succeed.
Synonyms : high-handed
155. cardinal adjective: of primary importance; fundamental
Percy dismissed the issue with a cavalier wave of
Synonyms : central , fundamental , key , primal his hand.
162. cede verb: relinquish possession or control ove
Most cultures consider gambling a cardinal sin
and thus have outlawed its practice.
Synonyms : deliver , give up , surrenderr
A cerebral analysis of most pop music finds it to Though chastised for eating the snacks for the
be simple and childish, but that ignores the point-- party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother's harsh
the music's effect on the listener. words, and continued to plow through jars of
cookies and boxes of donuts.
This word has other definitions but this is the most
172. chauvinism noun: fanatical patriotism; belief that one's
important one to study
group/cause is superior to all other
167. chagrin noun: strong feelings of embarrassment groups/causes
The chauvinist lives on both sides of the political While a brilliant lecturer, Mr. Dawson came
spectrum, outright shunning anybody whose across as choleric and unapproachable - very
ideas are not consistent with his own. rarely did students come to his office hours.
174. check verb: to limit (usually modifying the growth of 179. chortle verb: to chuckle, laugh merrily
something)
Synonyms : chuckle , laugh softly
Deserted for six months, the property began to
look more like a jungle and less like a residence Walking past the bar, I could hear happy,
- weeds grew unchecked in the front yard chortling people and the blast of horns from
a jazz band.
noun: the condition of being held back or
180. churlish adjective: lacking manners or refinement
limited
The manager was unnecessarily churlish to
When government abuses are not kept in check,
his subordinates, rarely deigning to say hello,
that government is likely to become autocratic.
but always quick with a sartorial jab if
someone happened to be wearing anything
This word has other definitions but these are the
even slightly mismatching.
most important ones to study
181. circumscribe verb: restrict or confine
175. checkered adjective: one that is marked by disreputable
happenings
Synonyms : confine , limit
Tyler was the consummate musician: he was Though he stole his little sister's licorice
able to play the guitar, harmonica, and the stick with malevolent glee, Chucky soon
drum at the same time. became contrite when his sister wouldn't
stop crying.
verb: to make perfect and complete in every
214. contrition noun: the feeling of remorse or guilt that
respect
comes from doing something bad
Though the man could have at least alerted the Synonyms : climax
police, he crouched cravenly in the corner as
the old woman was mugged. Beethoven's musical genius culminated in the
9th Symphony, which many consider his
229. credence noun: belief in something
greatest work.
He placed no credence in psychics, claiming 236. culpability noun: a state of guilt
that they offered no special powers beyond the
ability to make people part with their money. Synonyms : blameworthiness , culpableness
230. creditable adjective: deserving of praise but not that
Since John had left his banana peel at the
amazing
top of the stairwell, he accepted culpability
for Martha's broken leg.
Critics agreed the movie was creditable, but
few gave it more than three out of five stars. 237. cumbersome adjective: difficult to handle or use especially
because of size or weight
231. credulity noun: tendency to believe readily
Synonyms : cumbrous
Virginia's wide-eyed credulity as a five-year old
was replaced by suspicion after she learned
Only ten years ago, being an avid reader and
that Santa Claus didn't really exist.
a traveler meant carrying a cumbersome
232. crestfallen adjective: brought low in spirit backpack stuffed with books--these days we
need only an e-reader.
Synonyms : chapfallen , chopfallen , deflated
238. cupidity noun: greed for money
I asked Maria on a date and she refused
Synonyms : avarice , avariciousness ,
without a moment's thought; I was crestfallen.
covetousness
233. cryptic adjective: mysterious or vague, usually
intentionally Some believe people that amassing as much
wealth as possible is the meaning to life - yet
Synonyms : cabalistic , cryptical , kabbalistic , they often realize that cupidity brings
qabalistic , sibylline anything but happiness.
239. curmudgeon noun: a grouchy, surly person
Since Sarah did not want her husband to guess
the Christmas present she had bought him, she
Since Uncle Mike was the family
only answered cryptically when he would ask
curmudgeon, each Thanksgiving he was
her questions about it.
plied with copious amounts of wine, in the
hope that he would become less grouchy.
240. dearth noun: a lack or shortage 247. decry verb: express strong disapproval of
Sally's parties are decorous affairs, and instead Synonyms : assign , depute , designate
of the usual beer and music, there is tea and
intellectual conversation. Since the senior manager had to go on many
international business trips, she was forced to
246. decorum noun: propriety in manners and conduct
delegate many of her responsibilities to two
lower-level managers.
Synonyms : decorousness
Synonyms : degrade , disgrace , put down , At the denouement of the movie, all
take down questions were answered, and the true
identity of the robber was revealed.
At first the soccer players bantered back
263. derelict adjective: (of a person) not doing one's duties
and forth, but as soon as one of the players
became demeaning, calling the other's
Synonyms : delinquent , neglectful , remiss
mother a water buffalo, the ref whipped out
a red card.
The teacher was derelict in her duties
257. demonstrative adjective: given to or marked by the open because she hadn't graded a single student
expression of emotion paper in three weeks.
When Sally told James that she wanted to noun: (of a building) abandoned
break up with him, she expected he would
react demonstratively, but he quietly At one time the waterfront factories were
nodded his head and left without saying a busy and productive, but now they stand
word. derelict and will be torn down.
258. demur verb: to object or show reluctance 264. deride verb: treat or speak of with contempt
Wallace disliked the cold, so he demurred The nun derided the students for trying to
when his friends suggested they going sneak insects and worms into the classroom.
skiing in the Alps.
265. derisive adjective: abusing vocally; expressing
259. demure adjective: to be modest and shy contempt or ridicule
Synonyms : bantam , flyspeck , lilliputian , This word has other definitions but this is
midget , petite , tiny the most important one to study
295. discursive adjective: (of e.g. speech and writing)
When he put on his father's suit and shoes, his
tending to depart from the main point
appearance was that of a diminutive youth.
289. disabuse verb: to persuade somebody that his/her Synonyms : digressive , excursive , rambling
belief is not valid
Many readers find it tough to read Moby
As a child, I was quickly disabused of the Dick since the author is discursive, often
notion that Santa Claus was a rotund cutting the action short to spend 20 pages
benefactor of infinite largess - one night I saw on the history of a whale.
my mother diligently wrapping presents and
296. disenfranchise verb: deprive of voting rights
storing them under our Christmas tree.
290. disaffected adjective: discontented as toward authority Synonyms : disfranchise
Barnyard animals are considerably more docile Once again a get-rich-fast Internet scheme had
than the wild animals. duped Harold into submitting a $5,000 check to
a sham operation.
309. dog verb: to pursue relentlessly; to hound
After the sales result, the manager was in an verb: explain in more detail
effervescent mood, letting several employees
leave work early that day. Synonyms : dilate , enlarge , expand , expatiate ,
This word has other definitions but this is the exposit , expound , flesh out , lucubrate
most important one to study
Most high school physics teachers find
324. efficacious adjective: producing the intended result
themselves elaborating the same point over and
over again, since many concepts confuse
Synonyms : effective , effectual
students.
Since Maggie's cough syrup, which had 330. elegiac adjective: expressing sorrow
expired five years back, was no longer
efficacious, she coughed through the night. Few can listen to the elegiac opening bars of
the Moonlight sonata without feeling the urge
325. effrontery noun: audacious (even arrogant) behavior
to cry.
that you have no right to
331. elicit verb: call forth (emotions, feelings, and
Synonyms : assumption , presumption , responses)
presumptuousness
Synonyms : arouse , enkindle , evoke , fire ,
The skateboarders acted with effrontery, kindle , provoke , raise
skating through the church grounds and
spray-painting signs warning trespassers. Just smiling-even if you are depressed--can
elicit feelings of pleasure and happiness.
326. egotist noun: a conceited and self-centered person
Even a basic understanding of physics can Most discrimination and hatred is based on a
elude most high schools students. lack of empathetic awareness of people that
have the same aspirations and fears.
334. elusive adjective: difficult to capture or difficult to
remember 340. empiricism noun: any method that derives knowledge
from experience, used in experimental science
Synonyms : baffling , knotty , problematic , as a way to gain insight and knowledge
problematical , tough
Synonyms : empiricist philosophy ,
Many first time skydivers say that describing the sensationalism
act of falling from the sky is elusive.
Empiricism does not always lead to
335. embellish verb: make more attractive by adding
knowledge; an experience or experiment may
ornament, colour, etc.; make more beautiful
raise more questions than it answers.
Synonyms : adorn , beautify , decorate , grace , 341. emulate verb: strive to equal or match, especially by
ornament , fancify , prettify imitating; compete with successfully
Synonyms : order , say , tell The survey enumerates the number of happy
workers and the number of unhappy workers.
The government agency enjoined the chemical
company to clean up the hazardous dump it had verb: specify individually, one by one
created over the years.
Synonyms : itemise , itemize , recite
348. enmity noun: a state of deep-seated ill-will
She was so enthralled by the movie that she Gary one day had an epiphany that he was a
never heard people screaming, "Fire! Fire!" in the people person; he prompty quit his factory job
neighboring theater. and began working as a salesman.
357. eponym noun: the name derived from a person (real or
imaginary); the person for whom something is
named
After Sharon brought the car home an hour Politicians are the masters of eschewing morals;
after her curfew, she equivocated when her academics are the masters of eschewing clarity.
parents pointedly asked her where she had
368. esoteric adjective: confined to and understandable by
been.
only an enlightened inner circle
361. eradicate verb: to completely destroy
Map collecting is an esoteric hobby to most, but
Synonyms : exterminate , extirpate , root out , to geography geeks it is a highly enjoyable
uproot, annihilate , carry off , decimate , pasttime.
eliminate , extinguish , wipe out
369. espouse verb: to adopt or support an idea or cause
The euphoria of winning her first gold medal As a child, I exasperated my mother with
in the 100 meter dash overwhelmed Shelly- strings of never-ending questions.
Ann Fraser and she wept tears of immense
380. excoriate verb: to criticize very harshly
joy.
373. evanescent adjective: tending to vanish like vapor Synonyms : condemn , decry , objurgate ,
reprobate
The storm flashed into existence above us
and lasted only a short time - an evanescent Entrusted with the prototype to his company's
turbulence of wind and cloud. latest smartphone, Larry, during a late night
karaoke bout, let the prototype slip into the
374. evasive adjective: avoiding or escaping from difficulty
hands of a rival company - the next day Larry
or danger or commitment
was excoriated, and then fired.
His responses were clearly evasive; he 381. excruciating adjective: extremely painful
obviously did not want to take on any
responsibility or any new work. Synonyms : agonising , agonizing , harrowing ,
torturesome , torturing , torturous
adjective: deliberately vague or ambiguous
After the boulder rolled a couple of feet,
Every time I call the bank, I receive the same pinning my friend's arm, he experienced
evasive answers about our mortgage and excruciating pain.
never get a clear response.
382. execrate verb: to curse and hiss at
375. evenhanded adjective: without partiality
Synonyms : accurse , anathematise ,
Teachers often have trouble being anathematize , anathemise , anathemize ,
evenhanded to all of their varied students. comminate
376. exacerbate verb: make worse
Though the new sitcom did decently in the
ratings, Nelson railed against the show, saying
Synonyms : aggravate , exasperate , worsen
that it was nothing more than an execrable
pastiche of tired clich's and canned laughter.
Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold--
when she woke up the next day, her sinuses 383. exegesis noun: critical explanation or analysis,
were completely blocked. especially of a text
377. exacting adjective: requiring and demanding accuracy
The Bible is fertile ground for exegesis - over
the past five centuries there have been as
Synonyms : exigent,stern , strict
many interpretations as there are pages in the
Old Testament.
Though his childhood piano teacher was so
exacting, Max is thankful now, as a 384. exemplar noun: something to be imitated
professional pianist.
Synonyms : example , good example , model
378. exalt verb: praise or glorify
Synonyms : illustrate , instance This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
Please present some case studies that
391. expound verb: add details or explanation; clarify the
exemplify the results that you claim in your
meaning; state in depth
paper.
386. exhort verb: to strongly urge on; encourage Synonyms : dilate , elaborate , enlarge ,
expand , expatiate , exposit , flesh out ,
Synonyms : barrack , cheer , inspire , pep up , lucubrate
root on , urge , urge on
The CEO refused to expound on the decision
Nelson's parents exhorted him to study to merge our department with another one,
medicine, urging him to choose a respectable and so I quit.
profession; intransigent, Nelson left home to
392. expunge verb: to eliminate completely
become a graffiti artist.
387. exiguity noun: the quality of being meager Synonyms : excise , scratch , strike
Synonyms : leanness , meagerness , meagreness When I turned 18, all of the shoplifting and
, poorness , scantiness , scantness jaywalking charges were expunged from my
criminal record.
After two months at sea, the exiguity of the
393. expurgate verb: to remove objectionable material
ship's supplies forced them to search for fresh
water and food.
Synonyms : bowdlerise , bowdlerize , castrate ,
388. exonerate verb: pronounce not guilty of criminal charges shorten
Synonyms : acquit , assoil , clear , discharge , The censor expurgated every reference to sex
exculpate and drugs, converting the rapper's raunchy
flow into a series of bleeps.
The document clearly indicated that Nick was
394. extant adjective: still in existence (usually refers to
out of the state at the time of the crime, and so
documents).
served to exonerate him of any charges.
389. exorbitant adjective: greatly exceeding bounds of reason Despite many bookstores closing, experts
or moderation predict that some form of book dealing will
still be extant generations from now.
Synonyms : extortionate , outrageous , steep ,
395. extenuating adjective: making less guilty or more
unconscionable , usurious
forgivable
By extrapolating from the data on the past The media fawned over the handsome new CEO,
three months, we can predict a 5% increase in praising his impeccable sense of style instead of
traffic to our website. asking more pointed questions.
397. facetious adjective: cleverly amusing in tone 404. feckless adjective: lazy and irresponsible
Facetious behavior will not be tolerated during Two years after graduation, Charlie still lived with
sex eduation class; it's time for all of you to his parents and had no job, becoming more
treat these matters like mature adults. feckless with each passing day.
398. facile adjective: arrived at without due care or effort; 405. fecund adjective: intellectually productive
lacking depth
Synonyms : fertile , prolific
Many news shows provide facile explanations
to complex politics, so I prefer to read the in- The artist had entered a fecund period, producing
depth reporting of The New York Times. three masterpieces in the span of two months.
399. factious adjective: produced by, or characterized by 406. fell adjective: terribly evil
internal dissension
Synonyms : barbarous , brutal , cruel , roughshod ,
Synonyms : dissentious , divisive savage , vicious
The controversial bill proved factious, as For fans of the Harry Potter series, the fell Lord
dissension even within parties resulted Voldemort, who terrorized poor Harry for seven
lengthy installments, has finally been vanquished
400. factitious adjective: artificial; not natural
by the forces of good - unless, that is, JK Rowling
decides to come out of retirement.
The defendant's story was largely factitious
and did not accord with eyewitness
This word has other definitions but this is the most
testimonies
important one to study
401. fallacious adjective: of a belief that is based on faulty
407. ferret verb: to search for something persistently
reasoning
Synonyms : celebrate
Whitney is fastidious about her shoes,
arranging them on a shelf in a specific order,
After World War II, war heroes were feted at first
each pair evenly spaced.
but quickly forgotten.
409. fickle adjective: liable to sudden unpredictable change, 415. flippant adjective: showing inappropriate levity
esp. in affections or attachments
Synonyms : light-minded
Synonyms : erratic , mercurial , quicksilver
Although Sam was trying to honor Mark's sense
She was so fickle in her politics, it was hard to of humor, many found it quite flippant that he
pinpoint her beliefs; one week she would wore a comic nose and glasses mask to Mark's
embrace a side, and the next week she would funeral.
denounce it.
416. flounder verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties
410. finagle verb: achieve something by means of trickery or
devious methods Synonyms : stagger
After having his pay cut, Phil spread vicious While the real objects are vastly different sizes
rumors about his boss, hoping to foment a in space, the sun and the moon seem to have
general feeling of discontent. the same fortuitous size in the sky.
422. foolhardy adjective: marked by defiant disregard for 427. fractious adjective: irritable and is likely to cause
danger or consequences disruption
I thought I could repair the car myself, but after Randy played a gambit, telling his boss that
two days of work with no success, I have to he would leave at the end of the week if he
admit that my efforts were futile. didn't get a raise.
433. gaffe noun: a socially awkward or tactless act 438. garrulous adjective: full of trivial conversation
Synonyms : faux pas , gaucherie , slip , solecism Synonyms : chatty , gabby , loquacious ,
talkative , talky
In a famous gaffe, Vice President Quayle
attempted to correct the spelling of a grade Lynne was garrulous: once, she had a fifteen
school student, only to find that the child was minute conversation with a stranger before
correct. she realized the woman didn't speak English.
434. gainsay verb: deny or contradict; speak against or 439. gauche adjective: lacking social polish
oppose
Synonyms : graceless , unpolished
Synonyms : challenge , dispute
Sylvester says the most gauche things, such
I can't gainsay a single piece of evidence James as telling a girl he liked that she was much
has presented, but I still don't trust his prettier when she wore makeup.
conclusion.
440. genial adjective: agreeable, conducive to comfort
435. gall noun: the trait of being rude and impertinent
Synonyms : kind
Synonyms : cheekiness , crust , freshness ,
impertinence , impudence , insolence Betty is a genial young woman: everyone she
meets is put at ease by her elegance and
Even though Carly was only recently hired, she grace.
had the gall to question her boss's judgment in
441. genteel adjective: marked by refinement in taste and
front of the office.
manners
The Internet offers such a glut of news related Synonyms : cower , crawl , creep , cringe ,
stories that many find it difficult to know which fawn
story to read first.
Every time Susan comes to the office, Frank
verb: supply with an excess of grovels as if she were about to fire.
453. guffaw verb: laugh boisterously
Synonyms : flood , oversupply
Synonyms : laugh loudly
In the middle of economic crises, hiring
managers find their inboxes glutted with
Whenever the jester fell to the ground in
resumes.
mock pain, the king guffawed, exposing his
447. goad verb: urge on with unpleasant comments yellow, fang-like teeth.
454. guileless adjective: free of deceit
Synonyms : prick,needle
Synonyms : transparent
Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim,
through a steady stream of taunts, goaded him
At first I thought my niece was guileless, but
into signing up for it.
I then found myself buying her ice cream
448. gossamer adjective: characterized by unusual lightness every time we passed a shop.
and delicacy
455. gumption noun: resourcefulness and determination
Synonyms : ethereal
Synonyms : backbone , grit , guts , moxie ,
sand
The gossamer wings of a butterfly, which allow it
to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are
Wallace Stegner lamented the lack of
often damaged.
gumption in the U.S. during the sixties,
449. graft noun: corruption, usually through bribery claiming that no young person knew the
value of work.
In countries with rampant graft, getting a driver's
license can require no more than paying an
official.
Most accounts of Tiger Woods life were Dinner at Billy's was more a punishment than a
hagiographic, until, that is, his affairs made reward, since anyone who sat at the dinner
headlines. table would have to listen to Billy's father's
interminable harangues against the
458. hail verb: enthusiastically acclaim or celebrate
government.
something
Synonyms : circumvent , dodge , duck , elude , Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts,
evade , fudge , parry , put off , sidestep , skirt making it difficult for crews to find bodies in
the wreckage.
When asked why he had decided to buy
475. hodgepodge noun: a confusing mixture or jumble
millions of shares at the very moment the tech
companies stock soared, the CEO hedged,
Synonyms : farrago , gallimaufry , hotchpotch
mentioning something vague about gut instinct.
, melange , mingle-mangle , mishmash ,
This word has other definitions but this is the
oddments , odds and ends , omnium-
most important one to study
gatherum , ragbag
469. hegemony adjective: dominance over a certain area
Those in attendance represented a
Until the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1587, hodgepodge of the city's denizens: chimney
Spain had hegemony over the seas, controlling sweepers could be seen sitting elbow to
waters stretching as far as the Americas. elbow with stockbrokers.
470. heretic noun: a person who holds unorthodox opinions 476. hoodwink verb: to deceive or trick someone
in any field (not merely religion)
Synonyms : bamboozle , lead by the nose ,
Synonyms : misbeliever , religious outcast play false , pull the wool over someone's
eyes , snow
Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to do
cardio before weights, Mikey was a heretic and Someone tried to hoodwink Marty with an
always did the reverse. email telling him that his uncle had just
passed away, and to collect the inheritance
471. heyday noun: the pinnacle or top of a time period or
he should send his credit card information.
career
477. hound verb: to pursue relentlessly
Synonyms : bloom , blossom , efflorescence ,
flower , flush , peak , prime Synonyms : hunt , trace
During the heyday of Prohibition, bootlegging An implacable foe of corruption, Eliot Ness
had become such a lucrative business that hounded out graft in all forms - he even
many who had been opposed to the 18th helped nab Al Capone.
Amendment began to fear it would be
repealed. This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
472. histrionic adjective: to be overly theatrical
478. hubris noun: overbearing pride or presumption
Synonyms : melodramatic
Bill Clinton was criticized for his hubris, since
Though she received a B- on the test, she had he believed he could get away with anything
such a histrionic outburst that one would have once in the White House.
thought that she'd been handed a death
sentence.
479. humdrum adjective: dull and lacking excitement 486. illustrious adjective: widely known and esteemed; having
or conferring glory
Synonyms : commonplace , prosaic ,
unglamorous , unglamourous,monotonous Synonyms : celebrated , famed , famous , far-
famed , notable , noted , renowned
Having grown up in a humdrum suburb, Jacob
relished life in New York City after moving. Einstein was possibly the most illustrious
scientist in recent history.
480. iconoclast noun: somebody who attacks cherished
beliefs or institutions 487. imbibe verb: to drink or absorb as if drinking
Lady Gaga, in challenging what it means to Synonyms : absorb , draw , soak up , sop up ,
be clothed, is an iconoclast for wearing a suck , suck up , take in , take up
"meat dress" to a prominent awards show.
Plato imbibed Socrates' teachings to such an
481. iconoclastic adjective: defying tradition or convention
extent that he was able to write volumes of
work that he directly attributed, sometimes
Jackson Pollack was an iconoclastic artist,
word for word, to Socrates.
totally breaking with tradition by splashing
paint on a blank canvas. 488. imbroglio noun: a confusing and potentially embarrassing
situation
482. idiosyncrasy noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive
and peculiar to an individual
Synonyms : embroilment
Synonyms : foible , mannerism
The chef cook-off featured one gourmand who
had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the
Peggy's numerous idiosyncrasies include
wrong broths, creating an imbroglio that diners
wearing mismatched shoes, laughing loudly
would not soon forget.
to herself, and owning a pet aardvark.
489. immaterial adjective: not relevant
483. ignoble adjective: dishonorable
Synonyms : farfetched
Children are imperious with each other
before they learn that earning someone's
The teacher found it implausible that the
respect is better than demanding.
student was late to school because he had
been kidnapped by outlaws on horseback.
505. implicate verb: convey a meaning; imply 511. impudent adjective: improperly forward or bold
I don't mind small children in brief doses, but I Unless you can provide incontrovertible
think the incessant exposure that their parents evidence, I will remain skeptical.
have to them would quickly wear me down.
524. incorrigible adjective: impervious to correction by
519. inchoate adjective: only partly in existence; imperfectly punishment
formed
Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible
Synonyms : incipient youth until Huck Finn enters the novel;
even Sawyer can't match his fierce
Inchoate ideas about the relation of humans individual spirit.
to other animals had been discussed since
525. incumbent adjective: necessary (for someone) as a
the Middle Ages but the modern theory really
duty or responsibility
began with Darwin.
520. incisive adjective: having or demonstrating ability to Middle managers at times make important
recognize or draw fine distinctions decisions, but real responsibility for the
financial well-being of the corporation is
Synonyms : acute , discriminating , keen , ultimately incumbent on the CEO.
knifelike , penetrating , penetrative , piercing ,
526. indecorous adjective: not in keeping with accepted
sharp
standards of what is right or proper in
polite society
The lawyer had an incisive mind, able in a
flash to dissect a hopelessly tangled issue
Synonyms : indecent , unbecoming ,
and isolate the essential laws at play.
uncomely , unseemly , untoward
521. inclement adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy
Eating with elbows on the table is
After a week of inclement weather, we finally considered indecorous in refined circles.
are able to go outside and enjoy the sun.
527. indict verb: to formally charge or accuse of
wrong-doing
adjective: used of persons or behavior;
showing no mercy
The bankrobber was indicted on several
major charges, including possession of a
Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was
firearm.
inclement to Christians during his reign,
persecuting them violently. 528. indifference noun: the trait of seeming not to care
Venus, with a surface temperature that would Lilian could not help herself from being
turn rubber to liquid, is inimical to any form of insolent, commenting that the Queen's shoes
life. were showing too much toe.
543. inimitable adjective: defying imitation; matchless 550. insolvent adjective: unable to pay one's bills; bankrupt
Mozart's music follows a clear pattern that, With credit card bills skyrocketing, a
anyone could imitate, but his music gives an shockingly large number of Americans are
overall sense of effortlessness that is truly insolvent.
inimitable.
551. insouciance noun: lack of concern
544. inkling noun: a slight suggestion or vague
understanding Synonyms : carefreeness , lightheartedness ,
lightsomeness
Synonyms : glimmer , glimmering , intimation
Surprisingly, Hank had become a high-
Lynne speaks four Romance languages, but powered CEO; his high school friends
she doesn't have an inkling about how East remembered him as "Hanky Panky", who
Asian languages are structured. shrugged off each failed class with
insouciance.
545. innocuous adjective: harmless and doesn't produce any ill
effects 552. insufferable adjective: intolerable, difficult to endure
Plaque is insidious: we cannot see it, but each The guerilla group, which had become so
day it eats away at our enamel, causing cavities powerful as to own the state police, was
and other dental problems. finally destroyed by an internecine conflict.
555. intimate verb: to suggest something subtly 561. invective noun: abusive or denunciatory language
At first Manfred's teachers intimated to his The Internet has unleashed the invectives in
parents that he was not suited to skip a grade; many of us; many people post stinging criticism
when his parents protested, teachers explicitly on the comments section underneath
told them that, notwithstanding the boy's newspaper articles or YouTube videos.
precocity, he was simply too immature to jump
562. inveterate adjective: habitual
to the 6th grade.
Synonyms : chronic
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
He is an inveterate smoker and has told his
556. intimation noun: an indirect suggestion family and friends that there is no way he will
ever quit.
Synonyms : breath , hint
563. invidious adjective: likely to cause resentment
My little sister has a way of irking and Although many top chefs have secured culinary
annoying me like no other person. foam's popularity in haute cuisine, Waters
criticizes it for being jejune and unfilling.
569. irrefutable adjective: impossible to deny or disprove
My hardwork paid off, and I was jubilant to The teacher was fired for lacerating a student
receive a perfect score on the GRE. who wrote a poor essay.
581. juggernaut noun: a force that cannot be stopped
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
Synonyms : steamroller
588. lachrymose adjective: showing sorrow
Napoleon was considered a juggernaut until
he decided to invade Russia in winter; after Synonyms : dolorous , dolourous , tearful ,
which, his once indomitable army was weeping
decimated by cold and famine.
Lachrymose and depressed, Alexei
582. junta noun: an aggressive takeover by a group
Alexandrovich walked two miles home in the
(usually military)
rain after learning that his wife was having an
affair.
As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is,
some analysts believe that were a junta 589. laconic adjective: one who says very few words
suddenly to gain power, it could be even more
unpredictable and bellicose than the current Synonyms : crisp , curt , terse
leadership
While Martha always swooned over the hunky,
583. juxtapose verb: place side by side
laconic types in romantic comedies, her
boyfriends inevitably were very talkative - and
The appeal of her paintings comes from a
not very hunky.
classical style which is juxtaposed with modern
themes. 590. lambast verb: criticize severely or angrily
584. kowtow verb: to bow or act in a subservient manner
Synonyms : bawl out , berate , call down , call
on the carpet , chew out , chew up , chide ,
Synonyms : bootlick , fawn , kotow , suck up ,
dress down , have words , jaw , lambaste ,
toady , truckle
lecture , rag , rebuke , remonstrate , reprimand
, reproof , scold , take to task , trounce
Paul kowtowed to his boss so often the boss
herself became nauseated by his sycophancy.
Showing no patience, the manager utterly
585. label noun: a name or phrase given to a group of lambasted the sales team that lost the big
things to identify them (often negative) account.
591. lampoon verb: ridicule with satire
verb: to give a label to something
As the sun beat down and the temperature Her limpid prose made even the most
climbed higher, we spent a languid week lying recondite subjects accessible to all.
around the house.
600. lionize verb: assign great social importance to
593. languish verb: become feeble
Synonyms : celebrate , lionise
Synonyms : fade
Students in the U.S. learn to lionize Jefferson,
Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the Franklin, and Washington because they are the
hiker languished, eating protein bars and nuts. founding fathers of the nation.
594. largess noun: extreme generosity and giving 601. litany noun: any long and tedious account of
something
Synonyms : largesse , magnanimity , munificence
, openhandedness Mr. Rogers spoke to a Senate committee and
did not give a litany of reasons to keep funding
Uncle Frank was known for his largess, so his the program, but instead, appealed to the basic
nephew was sad when he did not receive a human decency of all present.
present for his birthday.
602. loath adjective: unwillingness to do something
595. lascivious adjective: lecherous; sexually perverted contrary to your custom (usually followed by
'to')
Synonyms : lewd , libidinous , lustful
Synonyms : loth , reluctant, antipathetic ,
Lolita is a challenging novel for many, not antipathetical , averse , indisposed
necessarily because of the elevated prose style
but because of the depravity of the main I was loath to leave the concert before my
character, Humbert Humbert, who, as an old, favorite band finished playing.
lascivious man, falls in love with a girl.
603. lucid adjective: (of language) transparently clear;
596. laudable adjective: worthy of high praise easily understandable
To say that Gandhi's actions were laudable is the Though Walters writes about physics and time
greatest understatement; he overthrew an travel, his writing is always lucid, so readers
empire without violence. with little scientific training can understand
difficult concepts.
597. leery adjective: openly distrustful and unwilling to
confide 604. lugubrious adjective: excessively mournful
Synonyms : mistrustful , suspicious , untrusting , At the funeral, lugubrious songs filled the small
wary church.
605. macabre adjective: suggesting the horror of death and
Without checking his references and talking to
decay; gruesome
previous employers, I am leery of hiring the
candidate.
Synonyms : ghastly , grim , grisly ,sick
598. lethargic adjective: lacking energy
Edgar Allen Poe was considered the master of
Synonyms : unenrgetic the macabre; his stories vividly describe the
moment leading up to - and often those
Nothing can make a person more lethargic than moments after - a grisly death.
a big turkey dinner.
606. machinate verb: engage in plotting or enter into a 612. malapropism noun: the confusion of a word with another
conspiracy, swear together word that sounds similar
The scientist maintained that the extinction At one time, our country was full of
of dinosaurs was most likely brought about hardworking respectful people, but now it
by a drastic change in climate. seems that everyone is a malingerer with little
inclination to work.
This word has other definitions but this is the
616. malleable adjective: capable of being shaped or bent
most important one to study
or drawn out
610. maladroit adjective: clumsy
Syn: bumbling, gauche, unskillful Synonyms : ductile , pliable , pliant , tensile ,
As a child she was quite maladroit, but as an tractile
adult, she has become an adept dancer.
This word has other definitions but this is the The clay became malleable and easy to work
most important one to study with after a little water was added.
611. malady noun: a disease or sickness
adjective: easily influenced
Synonyms : illness , sickness , unwellness
Synonyms : ductile
The town was struck by a malady
My little brother is so malleable that I can
throughout the winter that left most people
convince him to sneak cookies from the
sick in bed for two weeks.
cupboard for me.
617. malodorous adjective: having an unpleasant smell 622. maverick noun: someone who exhibits great
independence in thought and action
Synonyms : ill-smelling , malodourous , stinky ,
unpleasant-smelling Synonyms : rebel
Some thermally active fountains spew sulfur Officer Kelly was a maverick, rarely following
fumes--the air around them is sometimes so police protocols or adopting the conventions
malodorous that many have to plug their for speech common among his fellow officers.
noses.
623. mawkish adjective: overly sentimental to the point that
618. martial adjective: suggesting war or military life it is disgusting
Chelsea's grandmother thought Franz For its raid on the Bin Laden's compound in
Schubert's music to be the most mellifluous Abbottabad, Seal Team Six has become, for
ever written; Chelsea demurred, and to her many Americans, the embodiment of mettle.
grandmother's chagrin, would blast Rihanna on
636. misanthrope noun: a hater of mankind
the home stereo speakers.
629. mendacity noun: the tendency to be untruthful. Synonyms : misanthropist
I can forgive her for her mendacity but only
because she is a child and is seeing what she Kevin is such a misanthrope that he refused to
can get away with. attend the Christmas party, claiming that
everyone's happiness was "fake" and
630. mendicant noun: a pauper who lives by begging
"annoying."
Synonyms : beggar 637. misattribute verb: To erroneously attribute; to falsely
ascribe; used especially of authorship.
Tolstoy was an aristocrat, but he strove to
understand the Christianity of the Russian I made a mistake; I misattributed "Crime and
peasants by wandering among them as a Punishment" to Leo Tolstoy when it was
mendicant. actually written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
631. mercurial adjective: (of a person) prone to unexpected 638. misconstrue verb: interpret in the wrong way
and unpredictable changes in mood
Synonyms : be amiss , misapprehend ,
Synonyms : erratic , fickle , quicksilver misconceive , misinterpret , misunderstand
The fact that Ella's moods were as mercurial as The politician never trusted journalists
the weather was problematic for her because he though that they misconstrue his
relationships - it didn't help that she lived in words and misrepresent his positions.
Chicago.
639. miscreant noun: a person who breaks the law
632. mesmerize verb: to spellbind or enthrall
Synonyms : reprobate
Synonyms : bewitch , magnetise , magnetize ,
mesmerise "Come back you miscreant!" yelled the
woman who just had her purse stolen.
The plot and the characters were so well
640. miser noun: a person who doesn't like to spend
developed that many viewers were
money (because they are greedy)
mesmerized, unable to move their eyes from
the screen for even a single second.
Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal,
633. meteoric adjective: like a meteor in speed or brilliance wisely spending the little that he earned.
or transience
641. misogynist noun: a person who dislikes women in
particular
The early spectacular successes propelled the
pitcher to meteoric stardom, but a terribly
Synonyms : woman hater
injury tragically cut short his career.
634. meticulous adjective: marked by extreme care in treatment Many have accused Hemingway of being a
of details quiet misogynist, but recently unearthed
letters argue against this belief.
The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in
making his noodles and would never let
another person take over the task.
642. mitigate verb: make less severe or harsh 647. mordant adjective: biting and caustic in thought, manner,
or style
Synonyms : extenuate , palliate
Synonyms : caustic , corrosive , erosive ,
I can only spend so much time mitigating your vitriolic,black , grim
disagreements with your wife, and at certain
point, you need to do it on your own. While Phil frequently made mordant remarks
verb: lessen the severity of an offense about company policy overall, he always was
considerably gentler in discussing any person in
If it weren't for the mitigating circumstances, he particular.
would have certainly lost his job.
648. moribund adjective: being on the point of death; declining
643. modicum noun: a small or moderate or token amount rapidly losing all momentum in progress
In the morning, Harriat was unable to mollify Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum ,
Harry, if he happened to become angry, unless moody , saturnine , sour , sullen
he had his cup of coffee.
After Stanley found out he was no longer able
645. moment noun: significant and important value
to go on vacation with his friends, he sat in his
room morosely.
Synonyms : consequence , import
650. morph verb: To undergo dramatic change in a seamless
Despite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of no and barely noticeable fashion.
great moment in Hampton's writing career, and
within a few years the public quickly forgot his The earnestness of the daytime talk shows of the
foray into theater arts. 1970's has morphed into something far more
sensational and vulgar: today guests actually
This word has other definitions but this is the standup and threaten to take swings at one
most important one to study another.
646. moot adjective: open to argument or debate; 651. mulct verb: to defraud or swindle
undecidable in a meaningless or irrelevant way
Synonyms : bunco , con , defraud , diddle , gip ,
Synonyms : arguable , debatable , disputable goldbrick , gyp , hornswoggle , nobble , rook ,
scam , short-change , swindle , victimize
Since the Board just terminated Steve as the
CEO, what the finance committe might have The so-called magical diet cure simply ended
thought of his proposed marketing plan for next up mulcting Maria out of hundreds of dollars,
year is now a moot point. but did nothing for her weight.
Because of the nuances involved in this case, I On the Smith's drive through the Grand
hired an outside consultant to advice us and Canyon, Mr. Smith's big head obscured much
help. of Mrs. Robinson's view, so that she only saw
momentary patches of red rock.
664. obdurate adjective: stubbornly persistent in changing an
opinion or action
adjective: known by only a few
Synonyms : cussed , obstinate , unrepentant
Synonyms : unknown , unsung
No number of pleas and bribes would get him
Many of the biggest movie stars were once
to change his obdurate attitude.
obscure actors who got only bit roles in
665. objurgate verb: express strong disapproval of long forgotten films.
Synonyms : condemn , decry , excoriate , This word has other definitions but these are
reprobate the most important ones to study
669. obsequious adjective: attentive in an ingratiating or
The manager spent an hour objurgating the
servile manner; attempting to win favor from
employee in the hopes that he would not make
influential people by flattery
these mistakes again.
666. obliging adjective: showing a cheerful willingness to do Synonyms : bootlicking , fawning ,
favors for others sycophantic , toadyish
MIkey didn't partake much in his friends' Dave asked Andrew to do just a simple toast,
conversations, but found their presence but Andrew launched into a full panegyric,
palatable. enumerating a complete list of Dave's
achievements and admirable qualities.
This word has other definitions but this is the
688. paradoxical adjective: seemingly contradictory but
most important one to study
nonetheless possibly true
683. palaver verb: speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly
and incessantly Synonyms : self-contradictory
Synonyms : blab , blabber , chatter , clack , That light could be both a particle and a wave
gabble , gibber , maunder , piffle , prate , seems paradoxical, but nonetheless, it is true.
prattle , tattle , tittle-tattle , twaddle
689. paragon noun: model of excellence or perfection of a
kind; one having no equal
During the rain delay, many who had come to
see the game palavered, probably hoping that
Synonyms : apotheosis , ideal , nonesuch ,
idle chatter would make the time go by faster.
nonpareil , nonsuch , saint
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
Even with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many still
684. palimpsest noun: something that has been changed believe that Michael Jordon is the paragon for
numerous times but on which traces of former basketball players.
iterations can still be seen
noun: an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment
The downtown was a palimpsest of the city's of a concept
checkered past: a new Starbucks had opened
up next to an abandoned, shuttered building, Synonyms : beau ideal , idol , perfection
and a freshly asphalted road was inches away
from a pothole large enough to swallow a Some say that Athens was the paragon of
small dog. democracy, but these people often forget that
slaves and women were still not allowed to
685. panacea noun: hypothetical remedy for all ills or
vote.
diseases; a universal solution
690. pariah noun: an outcast
Synonyms : catholicon , cure-all , nostrum
Synonyms : castaway , ishmael
While the company credit card has made most
large purchases easier, it is no panacea: some The once eminent scientist, upon being found
smaller basic transactions still must be guilty of faking his data, has become a pariah
conducted in cash. in the research community.
686. panache noun: distinctive and stylish elegance 691. parochial adjective: narrowly restricted in scope or
outlook
Synonyms : dash , elan , flair , style
Synonyms : insular
Jim, with his typical panache, came to the
wedding reception with a top hat, a cane, and Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling
a long cape covered in sequins. relationship with Jacob did not work out
because his culinary tastes were simply too
parochial; "After all," she quipped on her blog,
"he considered Chef Boyardee ethnic food."
692. parsimonious adjective: extremely frugal; miserly 698. pecuniary adjective: relating to or involving money
Katie is so parsimonious that she only buys a The defendent was found guilty and had to
pair of socks if all of her other socks have serve a period of community service as well as
holes in them. pay pecuniary damages to the client.
693. parvenu noun: a person who has suddenly become 699. pedantic adjective: marked by a narrow focus on or
wealthy, but not socially accepted as part of display of learning especially its trivial aspects
a higher class
Synonyms : academic , donnish
Synonyms : arriviste , nouveau-riche , upstart
Professor Thompson was regarded as an
The theater was full of parvenus who each expert in his field, but his lectures were utterly
thought that they were surrounded by true pedantic, focused on rigorous details of the
aristocrats. most trivial conventions in the field.
694. pastoral adjective: relating to the countryside in a 700. pedestrian adjective: lacking imagination
pleasant sense
Synonyms : earthbound , prosaic , prosy
Synonyms : arcadian , bucolic
While Nan was always engaged in
Those who imagine America's countryside as philosophical speculation, her brother was
a pastoral region are often disappointed to occupied with far more pedestrian concerns:
learn that much of rural U.S. is filled with how to earn a salary and run a household.
cornfields extending as far as the eye can
see. This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
695. patent adjective: glaringly obvious
701. peevish adjective: easily irritated or annoyed
Synonyms : apparent , evident , manifest ,
plain , unmistakable Synonyms : cranky , fractious , irritable ,
nettlesome , peckish , pettish , petulant ,
Since the book had been through no fewer scratchy , techy , testy , tetchy
than six proof runs, the staff was shocked to
see such a patent spelling mistake remaining, Our office manager is peevish, so the rest of us
right in the middle of the front cover! tip-toe around him, hoping not to set off
another one of his fits.
This word has other definitions but this is the
702. pejorative adjective: expressing disapproval (usu. refers to
most important one to study
a term)
696. patronize verb: treat condescendingly
Synonyms : dislogistic , dyslogistic
Synonyms : condescend , patronise
Most psychologists object to the pejorative
She says she genuinely wanted to help me, term "shrink", believing that they expand the
but instead she patronized me, constantly human mind, not limit it.
pointing out how I was inferior to her. This word has other definitions but this is the
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
most important one to study
703. pellucid adjective: transparently clear; easily
697. paucity noun: a lack of something understandable
After the candidate confessed, the press of the I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy and
opposing party took the opportunity to pillory insightful prose; it always gives me something to
him, printing editorials with the most blatantly think about.
exaggerated accusations.
730. pittance noun: a small amount (of money)
Synonyms : gutsy,feisty , spunky This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
Some scouts initially doubted Pedroia
742. portentous adjective: ominously prophetic
because of his short stature, but he is a
plucky player, surprising everyone with his
Synonyms : fateful , foreboding
boundless energy and fierce determination.
737. poignant adjective: emotionally touching When the captain and more than half the
officers were sick on the very first night of the
Synonyms : affecting , touching voyage, many of the passengers felt this was
portentous, but the rest of the voyage
After the Montagues and Capulets discover continued without any problems.
the dead bodies of Romeo and Juliet, in the
743. posit verb: assume as fact
play's most poignant moment, the two
griefstricken familes agree to end their feud
Synonyms : postulate
once and for all.
This word has other definitions but this is the
Initially, Einstein posited a repulsive force to
most important one to study
balance Gravity, but then rejected that idea as
738. polemic noun: a strong verbal or written attack on a blunder.
someone or something.
744. powwow noun: an informal meeting or discussion
This word has other definitions but this is the 745. pragmatic adjective: guided by practical experience and
most important one to study observation rather than theory
Synonyms : hasty , overhasty , precipitant , Monte had a predilection for the fine things
precipitous in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of
wine, and trips to the French Riviera.
Instead of conducting a thorough investigation
753. preempt verb: take the place of or have precedence
after the city hall break-in, the governor acted
over
precipitately, accusing his staff of aiding and
abetting the criminals.
Synonyms : displace
When Mr. Baker found out the family car adjective: Immaculately clean and unused
was gone, he acted under the presumption
that his rebellious son had taken the car, Drill sergeants are known for demanding
calling his son's phone and yelling at him; pristine cabinets, uniforms, and beds, and often
only later did Mr. Baker realize that Mrs. make new recruits clean and clean and clean
Baker had simply gone out to get her nails until they meet the expected high standards.
done.
763. probity noun: integrity, strong moral principles
The President wanted to promulgate the Lisa loves her Mac but says little about it; by
success of the treaty negotiations, but he contrast, Jake will proselytize, interrogating
had to wait until Congress formally anyone with an Android about why she didn't
approved the agreement. purchase an iPhone.
773. propitiate verb: to placate or appease 779. protean adjective: readily taking on different roles;
versatile
The two sons, plying their angry father
with cheesy neckties for Christmas, were Peter Sellers was truly a protean actor - in
hardly able to propitiate him - the father Doctor Strangelove he played three very
already had a drawer full of ones he had different roles: a jingoist general, a sedate
never worn before or ever planned to. President and a deranged scientist.
780. provident adjective: careful in regard to your own 787. pundit noun: someone who has been admitted to
interests; providing carefully for the future membership in a scholarly field
In a move that hardly could be described as Synonyms : initiate , learned person , savant
provident, Bert spend his entire savings on a
luxurious cruise, knowing that other bills Steven Pinker's credentials are unquestioned as a
would come due a couple months later. pundit; he has taught at MIT and Stanford, teaches
at Harvard, and has published a number of
781. provincial adjective: characteristic of the a limited
influential books on cognition, language, and
perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
psychology.
Maggie's enthusiasm about her high school 788. pyrrhic adjective: describing a victory that comes at such a
teams seemed provincial to her college great cost that the victory is not worthwhile
classmates, all of whom were following a
nationally ranked college team. George W. Bush's win in the 2000 election was in
many ways a pyrrhic victory: the circumstances of
782. provisional adjective: under terms not final or fully
his win alienated half of the U.S. population.
worked out or agreed upon
789. quail verb: draw back, as with fear or pain
Synonyms : probationary , provisionary ,
tentative Synonyms : cringe , flinch , funk , recoil , shrink ,
squinch , wince
Until the corporate office hands down a
definitive decision on use of the extra offices, Craig always claimed to be a fearless
we will share their use in a provisional outdoorsman, but when the thunderstorm engulfed
arrangement. the valley, he quailed at the thought of leaving the
safety of his cabin.
783. puerile adjective: of or characteristic of a child;
displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
This word has other definitions but this is the most
important one to study
Synonyms : adolescent , jejune , juvenile
790. qualify verb: to be eligible for a role, status, or benefit by
Helen enjoyed blowing soap bubbles, but Jim meeting specific requirements
regarded this as puerile, totally unworthy of a
woman with a Ph.D. Synonyms : measure up
784. pugnacious adjective: eager to fight or argue; verbally
If James had made more than $50,000 last year,
combative
then he wouldn't have qualified for the low-income
scholarship.
The comedian told one flat joke after another,
and when the audience started booing, he
verb: to make less severe; to limit (a statement)
pugnaciously spat back at them, "Hey, you
think this is easy - why don't you buffoons give
Synonyms : restrict
it a shot?"
785. puissant adjective: powerful Chris qualified his love for San Francisco, adding
that he didn't like the weather as much as the
Over the years of service, and quite to his weather in Los Angeles.
surprise, he became a puissant advisor to the
791. qualm noun: uneasiness about the fitness of an action
community.
786. punctilious adjective: marked by precise accordance with Synonyms : misgiving , scruple
details
While he could articulate no clear reason why
Synonyms : meticulous Harkner's plan would fail, he neverless felt qualms
about committing any resources to it.
The colonel was so punctilious about
enforcing regulations that men feel compelled
to polish even the soles of their shoes.
792. quandary noun: state of uncertainty or perplexity 797. quotidian adjective: found in the ordinary course of events
especially as requiring a choice between
equally unfavorable options Synonyms : everyday , mundane , routine ,
unremarkable , workaday
Synonyms : dilemma
Phil gets so involved thinking about Aristotle's
Steve certainly is in a quandary: if he doesn't call arguments that he totally forgets quotidian
Elaine, she will blame him for everything, but if concerns, such as exercising and eating
he does call her, the evidence of where he regularly.
currently is could cost him his job.
798. raconteur noun: a person skilled in telling anecdotes
793. querulous adjective: habitually complaining
Synonyms : anecdotist
Synonyms : fretful , whiney , whiny
Jude is entertaining, but he is no raconteur:
The querulous old woman was begining to wear beyond the handful of amusing stories he has
down even the happier members of the staff memorized, he has absolutely no spontaneous
with her ceaseless complaining. story-telling ability.
794. quip noun: a witty saying or remark 799. raffish adjective: marked by a carefree
unconventionality or disreputableness
Synonyms : epigram,crack , sally , wisecrack
Synonyms : devil-may-care , rakish
In one of the most famous quips about classical
music, Mark Twain said: "Wagner's music is better The men found him raffish, but the women
than it sounds." adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.
800. raft noun: a large number of something
verb: to make a witty remark, to say in jest
Synonyms : batch , deal , flock , good deal ,
Synonyms : gag
great deal , hatful , heap , lot , mass , mess ,
mickle , mint , mountain , muckle , passel , peck ,
When a old English teacher criticized Churchill
pile , plenty , pot , quite a little , sight , slew ,
for ending a sentence with a preposition, he
spate , stack , tidy sum , wad
quipped, "This is the kind of criticism up with
which we will not put!"
Despite a raft of city ordinances passed by an
795. quisling noun: a traitor overzealous council, noise pollution continued
unabated in the megalopolis.
Synonyms : collaborationist , collaborator This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
History looks unfavorably upon quislings;
801. raillery noun: light teasing
indeed they are accorded about the same
fondness as Nerohe who watched his city burn
Synonyms : backchat , banter , give-and-take
down while playing the violin.
796. quixotic adjective: wildly idealistic; impractical The new recruit was not bothered by the raillery,
finding most of it light-hearted and good-
Synonyms : romantic , wild-eyed natured.
802. rakish adjective: marked by a carefree
For every thousand startups with quixotic plans
unconventionality or disreputableness
to be the next big name in e-commerce, only a
handful ever become profitable.
Synonyms : devil-may-care , raffish
Synonyms : eat into , fret , grate Synonyms : bawl out , berate , call down ,
call on the carpet , chew out , chew up ,
His constant whistling would rankle her, chide , dress down , have words , jaw ,
sometimes causing her to leave in a huff. lambast , lambaste , lecture , rag ,
remonstrate , reprimand , reproof , scold ,
804. rapprochement noun: the reestablishing of cordial
take to task , trounce
relations
This word has other definitions but this is I found Ulysses recondite and never finished
the most important one to study the book, waiting instead to read it with
someone else so we could penetrate its
807. ravenous adjective: extremely hungry; devouring or
meaning together.
craving food in great quantities
812. recrimination noun: mutual accusations
Synonyms : esurient , famished , sharp-set ,
starved,edacious , esurient , rapacious , The two brothers sat and cried, pointing
ravening , voracious , wolfish fingers and making elaborate recriminations
of the other's guilt
John didn't eat much at all during the week
813. recrudesce verb: to break out or happen again
he had the flu, so now that he is regaining
his health, it's not surprising that he has a
Synonyms : break , develop, erupt
ravenous appetite.
After years of gamblers anonymous, Tony
thought he'd broken his compulsive slot
machine playing, but it took only one trip to
the Atlantic City for a full recrudescence--
he lost $5k on the one armed bandit.
814. redoubtable adjective: inspiring fear or awe 819. relegate verb: assign to a lower position
Nelson was always the first to leave soirees - The Prime Minister looked very foolish after
rather than mill about with "fashionable" folk, he his row with the foreign dignitary was
was retiring, and preferred the solitude of his caught on video and posted on youtube.
garret.
This word has other definitions but this is
This word has other definitions but this is the most the most important one to study
important one to study
845. rudimentary adjective: being in the earliest stages of
839. retract verb: pull inward or towards a center; formally development; being or involving basic facts
reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually or principles
under pressure
Synonyms : fundamental , underlying
Synonyms : draw in,abjure , forswear , recant ,
resile I would love to be able to present a fully
polished proposal to the board, but right
Email is wonderfully efficient, but once something now, our plans for the product are still in
awkward or damaging has been sent, there is no the most rudimentary stages.
way to retract it.
846. rustic adjective: characteristic of rural life;
840. reverent adjective: feeling or showing profound respect or awkwardly simple and provincial
veneration
Synonyms : countrified ,
Synonyms : godly , worshipful countryfied,bumpkinly , hick ,
unsophisticated
The professor could speak objectively about the
other composers, but he always lectured about The vacation cabin had no electricity and
Brahms with a particularly reverent air, unable to no indoor plumbing, but despite these
offer a single criticism of his compositions. inconveniences, Nigel adored its rustic
charm.
841. ribald adjective: humorously vulgar
847. sagacious adjective: having good judgement and
Synonyms : bawdy , off-color acute insight
The speaker was famous for his ribald humor, but Synonyms : perspicacious , sapient
the high school principal asked him to keep the
talk G-rated when he spoke to the student body. Steve Jobs is surely one of the most
sagacious CEOs, making Apple the most
842. rile verb: cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by
recognizable and valuable companies in
minor irritations
the world.
Synonyms : annoy , bother , chafe , devil , get at , 848. sanctimonious adjective: making a show of being pious;
get to , gravel , irritate , nark , nettle , rag , vex holier-than-thou
Dan is usually calm and balanced, but it takes Synonyms : holier-than-thou , pharisaic ,
only one intense glare from Sabrina to rile him. pharisaical , pietistic , pietistical , self-
righteous
843. robust adjective: sturdy and strong in form, constitution,
or construction
Even during the quiet sanctity of evening
prayer, she held her chin high, a
Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin
sanctimonious sneer forming on her face as
preferred a beer with more robust flavor.
she eyed those who were attending church
for the first time.
849. sanction verb: give authority or permission to 855. savvy noun: a perceptive understanding
Monte was astute at navigating the world of Richard Feynman was renowned for his
finance; sartorially, however, he was found scintillating lecturesthe arcana of
wanting - he typically would attempt to quantum physics was made lucid as he
complement his beige tie with a gray suit and wrote animatedly on the chalkboard.
white pants.
858. screed noun: an abusive rant (often tedious)
854. saturnine adjective: morose or gloomy
Joey had difficulty hanging out with his
Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum , former best friend Perry, who, during his
moody , morose , sour , sullen entire cup of coffee, enumerated all of the
government's deficiencies--only to break
Deprived of sunlight, humans become saturnine; ranks and launch into some screed against
that's why in very northerly territories people big business.
are encouraged to sit under an extremely
powerful lamp, lest they become morose.
859. scrupulous adjective: characterized by extreme care and 865. serendipity noun: the instance in which an accidental,
great effort fortunate discovery is made
The most admirable teachers and respected The early days of computer graphics made
leaders are those who are self-effacing, real people into a simulacrum that now seems
directing attention and praise to their students comical.
and workers.
868. sinecure noun: an office that involves minimal duties
862. semblance noun: an outward or token appearance or
form that is deliberately misleading The position of Research Director is a sinecure:
the job entails almost no responsibilities, nor
Synonyms : color , colour , gloss does the person in that position have to
answer to anyone.
While the banker maintained a semblance of
869. slapdash adjective: carelessly and hastily put together
respectability in public, those who knew him
well were familiar with his many crimes.
Synonyms : haphazard , slipshod , sloppy
863. sententious adjective: to be moralizing, usually in a
pompous sense The office building had been constructed in a
slapdash manner, so it did not surprise officials
The old man, casting his nose up in the air at when, during a small earthquake, a large crack
the group of adolescents, intoned emerged on the faade of the building.
sententiously, "Youth is wasted on the young."
870. smattering noun: a slight or superficial understanding of a
864. sentimental adjective: effusively or insincerely emotional, subject; a small amount of something
especially in art, music, and literature
Synonyms : handful
Synonyms : bathetic , drippy , hokey , kitschy ,
maudlin , mawkish , mushy , schmaltzy , I know only a smattering of German, but Helen
schmalzy , slushy , soppy , soupy is able to read German newspapers and
converse with natives.
I don't like romanticism for the same reason I
don't like melodramatic acting and soap
operas - overly sentimental.
871. smug adjective: marked by excessive complacency or 877. soporific adjective: inducing mental lethargy; sleep
self-satisfaction inducing
The signals were at first sporadic, but now we All alone in the mansion, Henrietta started when
detect a clear, consistent pattern of she heard a sound.
electromagnetic radiation eminating from deep
space. This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
884. spurious adjective: plausible but false
891. staunch adjective: firm and dependable especially in
Synonyms : specious loyalty
She spurned all his flattery and proposals, and Synonyms : firm , steady , stiff , unbendable ,
so he walked off embarrassed and sad. unfaltering , unshakable , unwavering
886. squander verb: spend thoughtlessly; waste time, money, or
A good captain needs to be steadfast,
an opportunity
continuing to hold the wheel and stay the course
even during the most violent storm.
Synonyms : blow , waste,consume , ware
893. stem verb: to hold back or limit the flow or growth of
Fearing his money would be squandered by his something
family, he gave all of it to charity when he died.
To stem the tide of applications, the prestigious
887. squelch verb: suppress or crush completely
Ivy requires that each applicant score at least
330 on the Revised GRE.
Synonyms : quell , quench
Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, Finally deciding to abandon all subterfuge,
but they actually have passionate emotional lives. Arthur revealed to Cindy everything about his
secret affair over the past two years.
896. stringent adjective: demanding strict attention to rules and
procedures 901. subversive adjective: in opposition to a civil authority or
government
Synonyms : rigorous , tight
Synonyms : insurgent , seditious
Most of the students disliked the teacher
because of his stringent homework policy, but The ruling political party has begun a
many students would later thank him for campaign to shut down subversive websites
demanding so much from them. that it deems as a threat to "national safety."
897. stultify verb: cause one, through routine, to lose energy 902. sullen adjective: showing a brooding ill humor
and enthusiasm
Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum ,
Synonyms : cripple moody , morose , saturnine , sour
As an undergraduate Mark felt stultified by Herbert took board games too seriously,
classes outside his area of study; only in grad often appearing sullen after losing.
school, in which he could focus solely on literary
903. summit noun: the peak or highest point
analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge.
898. stymie verb: hinder or prevent the progress or Synonyms : acme , elevation , height ,
accomplishment of meridian , peak , pinnacle , superlative , tiptop
, top, crest , crown
Synonyms : block , blockade , embarrass , hinder ,
obstruct , stymy After hiking for two days, the climbers finally
reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The engineers found their plans stymied at every
turn and were ultimately able to make almost no noun: a meeting of high-level leaders
progress on the project.
Since climate change policy has been mired in
899. subsume verb: contain or include
congressional fighting, this summit should
help set the goals for president's next term.
The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and
boardwalk, destroying everything in its path. 904. supercilious adjective: haughty and disdainful; looking
down on others
verb: consider (an instance of something) as part
of a general rule or principle Synonyms : disdainful , haughty , imperious ,
lordly , overbearing , prideful , sniffy ,
Synonyms : colligate swaggering
Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes all other Nelly felt the Quiz Bowl director acted
modern novels, demonstrating modern literary superciliously towards the underclassmen;
devices and predating even the idea of a really, she fumed, must he act so
postmodern, metanarrative. preternaturally omniscient each time he
intones some obscure fact - as though
everybody knows that Mt. Aconcagua is the
highest peak in South America.
905. superfluous adjective: serving no useful purpose 910. sybarite noun: a person who indulges in luxury
Synonyms : ugly
Synonyms : equivalent
Since this was her first time debating on stage Synonyms : ephemeral , fugacious , passing ,
and before an audience, Di's voice was timorous short-lived , transitory
and quiet for the first 10 minutes.
The unpredictable and transient nature of deja
931. tirade noun: an angry speech
vu makes it a very difficult phenomenon to
study properly.
Synonyms : broadside , philippic
937. transitory adjective: lasting a very short time
In terms of political change, a tirade oftentimes
does little more than make the person speaking Synonyms : ephemeral , fugacious , passing ,
red in the face. short-lived , transient
932. torpor noun: inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack
If we lived forever and life was not transitory, do
of vigor or energy
you think we would appreciate life less or more?
Synonyms : listlessness , torpidity , torpidness 938. transmute verb: change or alter in form, appearance, or
nature
After work, I was expecting my colleagues to be
enthusiastic about the outing, but I found them in Synonyms : metamorphose ,
a state of complete torpor. transform,transubstantiate
933. tortuous adjective: marked by repeated turns and bends;
One of the goals of alchemy was to find the
not straightforward
substance or process that would transmute lead
into gold.
Synonyms : twisting , twisty , voluminous , winding
939. travail noun: use of physical or mental energy; hard
Because the logic behind McMahon's side of the work; agony or anguish
debate was so tortuous, his audience came out
either completely confused or, worse, feeling Synonyms : effort , elbow grease , exertion ,
they'd been tricked. sweat
What I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced Many style guides recommend not using idioms
historical documentary turned out to be a in writing because these trite expressions are
poorly-produced travesty of the form. uninteresting and show a lack of imagination on
the part of the writer.
941. treacherous adjective: tending to betray
945. truculence noun: defiant aggressiveness
Synonyms : perfidious , punic
Synonyms : truculency
Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his
killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for When the boss confronted Aaron about his
his treacherous actions than for eliminating a earlier remarks, Aaron responded with utter
criminal and murder. truculence, simply throwing a glass of water in
the boss' face and walking away.
adjective: dangerously unstable and
946. truculent adjective: having a fierce, savage nature
unpredictable
Standing in line for six hours, she became
Synonyms : unreliable
progressively truculent, yelling at DMV
employees and elbowing other people waiting
The bridge built from twine and vine is
in line.
treacherous to walk across, and so I think I will
stay put right here. 947. truncate verb: reduce the length of something
Synonym: abridge
942. trenchant adjective: characterized by or full of force
The soccer game was truncated when the
and vigor; having keenness and forcefulness
monsoon rain began to fall.
and penetration in thought, expression, or
intellect 948. tumult noun: a state of chaos, noise and confusion
Reggie has an uncanny ability to connect The latest symphony broadcast was made
with animals: feral cats will readily possible with underwriting from the
approach him, and sometimes even wild Carnegie Endowment.
birds will land on his finger.
960. unequivocal adjective: admitting of no doubt or
955. uncompromising adjective: not making concessions misunderstanding; having only one
meaning or interpretation and leading to
Synonyms : inflexible , sturdy only one conclusion
When America first created its national Helen is unstinting with her time, often
parks, the idea of setting aside the most spending hours at the house of a sick friend.
beautiful land in a country was
972. untenable adjective: (of theories etc) incapable of
unprecedented in the history of mankind.
being defended or justified
966. unprepossessing adjective: creating an unfavorable or
neutral first impression Synonyms : indefensible
Some professors find teaching untoward as To the journalist's pointed question, the senator
having to prepare for lectures and conduct gave a vacuous response, mixing a few of his
office hours prevents them from focusing on overall campaign slogans with platitudes and
their research. completely avoiding the controversial subject of
the question.
974. untrammeled adjective: not confined or limited
980. vanquish verb: come out better in a competition, race, or
Synonyms : untrammelled conflict
The whole notion of living untrammeled Synonyms : beat , beat out , crush , shell ,
inspired the American Revolution and was trounce
enshrined in the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution. For years, Argentina would dominate in World
Cup qualifying matches, only to be vanquished
975. unviable adjective: not able to work, survive, or
by one of the European countries during the
succeed (also spelled inviable).
late stages of the tournament.
The plan was obviously unviable considering 981. variance noun: the quality of being different
that it lead to complete environmental
destruction in the river valley. The cynic quipped, "There is not much variance
in politicians; they all seem to lie".
976. upbraid verb: to reproach; to scold
982. vaunted adjective: highly or widely praised or boasted
Bob took a risk walking into the "Students about
Barbershop" - in the end he had to upbraid
the apparently drunk barber for giving him For years, they had heard of New York City's
an uneven bowl cut. vaunted skyline, and when they finally saw it, the
spectacular cityscape did not disappoint them
977. urbane adjective: showing a high degree of
in the least.
refinement and the assurance that comes
from wide social experience 983. vehement adjective: marked by extreme intensity of
emotions or convictions
Synonyms : polished , refined , svelte
Synonyms : fierce , tearing , trigger-happy ,
Because of his service as an intelligence violent
officer and his refined tastes, W. Somerset
Maugham became the inspiration for the While the other employees responded to the
urbane and sophistcate spy James Bond. bad news in a measured way, Andrew
responded in a vehement manner, tipping over
978. vacillate verb: be undecided about something; waver
his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.
between conflicting positions or courses of
action 984. venality noun: the condition of being susceptible to
bribes or corruption
Synonyms : hover , oscillate ,
vibrate,fluctuate , waver Even some of the most sacred sporting events
are not immune to venality, as many of the
Some students vacillate between schools officials have received substantial bribes to
when deciding which to attend, while others make biased calls.
focus only on one school.
Mark Twain referred to the Victorian Period The advent of twitter is a celebrity stalker's
in America as the "Gilded Age", implying the dream, as he or she can - through hundreds of
ample moral corruption that lay beneath a intimate "tweets" - vicariously live the life of a
mere veneer of respectability famous person.
986. venerate verb: to respect deeply 992. vicissitude noun: change in one's circumstances, usually for
the worse
Synonyms : fear , revere , reverence
Even great rulers have their vicissitudes -
The professor, despite his sleep-inducing massive kingdoms have diminished overnight,
lectures, was venerated amongst his and once beloved kings have faced the scorn
colleagues, publishing more papers yearly of angry masses.
than all of his peers combined.
993. vie verb: compete for something
987. venial adjective: easily excused or forgiven;
pardonable Synonyms : compete , contend
Synonyms : excusable , forgivable While the other teams in the division actively
vie for the championship, this team seems
His traffic violations ran the gamut from the content simply to go through the motions of
venial to the egregious - on one occasion he playing.
simply did not come to a complete stop;
994. vilify verb: spread negative information about
another time he tried to escape across state
lines at speeds in excess of 140 mph.
Synonyms : rail , revile , vituperate
988. veracious adjective: truthful
Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to
Synonyms : right say only complimentary things about Barbara,
but Barbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd.
While we elect our leaders in the hope that
995. vindicate verb: to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion,
every word they speak will be veracious,
or doubt with supporting arguments or proof
history has shown that such a hope is naive.
989. verisimilitude noun: the appearance of truth Synonyms : justify
All bad novels are bad for numerous Even seven Tour de France wins cannot
reasons; all good novels are good for their vindicate Lance Armstrong in the eyes of the
verisimilitude of reality, placing the readers public--that the athlete used performance
in a world that resembles the one they know. enhancing drugs invalidates all those wins.
990. veritable adjective: truthfully, without a doubt 996. vindictive adjective: to have a very strong desire for
revenge
Synonyms : authentic , bona fide ,
unquestionable Though the other girl had only lightly poked
fun of Vanessa's choice in attire, Vanessa was so
Frank is a veritable life-saver - last year, on vindictive that she waited for an entire semester
two different occasions, he revived people to get the perfect revenge.
using CPR.
997. virago noun: an ill-tempered or violent woman
Synonyms : amazon
Jason had dealt with disciplinarians before, but Her enthusiasm for the diva's new album only
nothing prepared him for the first week of boot waxed with each song; by the end of the album,
camp, as drill sergeants vituperated him for it was her favorite CD yet.
petty oversights such as forgetting to double This word has other definitions but this is the
knot the laces on his boots. most important one to study
1001. vociferous adjective: conspicuously and offensively loud; 1007. whimsical adjective: determined by impulse or whim
given to vehement outcry rather than by necessity or reason