a. markedly different from an accepted norm syn:deviant,deviate
When the financial director started screaming and throwing food at his co-workers, the police had to come in to deal with his aberrant behavior.
aberration
n. a deviation from what is normal or expected syn:aberrance,aberrancy,deviance aberrations in climate have become the norm: rarely a week goes by without some meteorological phenomenon making headlines.
abjure
v. formally reject or give up syn:as a belief syn:forswear,recant,resile,retract
While the church believed that Galileo abjured the heliocentric theory under threat of torture, he later wrote a book clearly supporting the theory.
aboveboard
a. open and honest syn:straightforward
The mayor, despite his avuncular face plastered about the city, was hardly aboveboard - some concluded that it was his ingratiating smile that allowed him to engage in corrupt behavior and get away with it.
abrogate
v. revoke formally
As part of the agreement between the labor union and the company, the workers abrogated their right to strike for four years in exchange for better health insurance.
abstain
v. choose not to consume or take part in syn:particularly something enjoyable syn:desist,refrain
Considered a health nut, Jessica abstained from anything containing sugar-even chocolate.
abstruse
a. difficult to understand; incomprehensible syn:deep,recondite
Physics textbooks can seem so abstruse to the uninitiated that readers feel as though they are looking at hieroglyphics.
abysmal
a. extremely bad syn:abyssal,unfathomable
Coach Ramsey took his newest player off the field after watching a few painful minutes of her abysmal performance.
access
n. the ability to go into syn:when somebody or something must allow you to enter syn:accession,admission,admittance,entree
Only students have access to the university library.
access
v. to go into something when allowed to enter
There is a large amount of oil under the ice, but we have not be able to access it.
accolade
n. an award or praise granted as a special honor syn:award,honor,honour,laurels
Jean Paul-Sartre was not a fan of accolades, and as such, he refused to accept the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1964.
acerbic
a. harsh in tone syn:acerb,acid,acrid,bitter,blistering,caustic,sulfurous,sulphurous,virulent,vitriolic
Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer blockbusters, often referring to them as garbage.
acme
n. the highest point of achievement syn:elevation,height,meridian,peak,pinnacle,summit,superlative,tiptop,top
The new Cessna airplanes will be the acme of comfort, offering reclining seats and ample legroom.
acrimony
n. bitterness and ill will syn:acerbity,bitterness,jaundice,tartness,thorniness
The acrimonious dispute between the president and vice-president sent a clear signal to voters: the health of the current administration was imperiled.
adamant
a. refusing to change one's mind syn:adamantine,inexorable,intransigent
Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for adamantly refusing to give up her seat on a public bus--even after the bus driver insisted, she remained rooted in place.
adequate
a. good enough for what you need syn:decent,enough
A very light jacket will be adequate for Los Angeles's warm winter.
adjudicate
v. to serve as a judge in a competition; to arrive at a judgment or conclusion syn:decide,resolve,settle,judge,try
Only those with the most refined palates were able to adjudicate during the barbeque competition.
admonish
v. to warn strongly, even to the point of reprimanding syn:caution,monish
Before the concert began, security personel admonished the crowd not to come up on stage during the performance.
admonitory
a. serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective syn:cautionary,exemplary,monitory,warning
At the assembly, the high school vice-principal gave the students an admonitory speech, warning them of the many risks and dangers of prom night.
advocate
n. a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea syn:advocator,exponent,proponent
Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for the rights of African-Americans in the United States.
advocate
v. speak, plead, or argue in favor of syn:preach
While the senator privately approved of gay marriage, he was unwilling to advocate for the cause in a public venue.
aesthete
n. one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature syn:esthete
A true aesthete, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same Picasso.
aesthetic
a. concerned with the appreciation of beauty syn:aesthetical,esthetic,esthetical
The director, not known for his aesthetic sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all, and put on the play in everyday clothing.
aesthetic
n. a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.
The artist operated according to a peculiar aesthetic, not considering any photograph to be worth publishing unless it contained a marine mammal.
affable
a. likeable; easy to talk to syn:amiable,cordial,genial
For all his surface affability, Marco was remarkably glum when he wasn't around other people.
affluent
a. wealthy
The center of the city had sadly become a pit of penury, while, only five miles away, multi-million dollar homes spoke of affluence.
afford
v. provide with an opportunity
The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro affords a panoramic view that encompasses both Tanzania and Kenya.
alacrity
n. an eager willingness to do something syn:briskness,smartness
The first three weeks at his new job, Mark worked with such alacrity that upper management knew it would be giving him a promotion.
altruism
n. the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others syn:selflessness
Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doing missionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking no reward, apparently motivated only by altruism.
amalgam
n. a mixture of multiple things
The band's music was an amalgam of hip-hop, flamenco and jazz, blending the three styles with surprising results.
ambiguous
a. open to more than one interpretation syn:equivocal
The coach told his team, "Move towards that side of the field"; because he did not point, his directions were ambiguous, and the team had no idea to which side he was referring.
ambivalent
a. mixed or conflicting emotions about something
Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was able to improve his analytical skills.
ameliorate
v. make something bad better syn:amend,better,improve,meliorate
Three Cups of Tea tells the story of western man who hopes to ameliorate poverty and the lack of education in Afghanistan.
amenable
a. easily persuaded syn:conformable,tractable
Even though she did not like the outdoors, Shirley was generally amenable and so her brother was able to persuade her to go camping.
amiable
a. friendly syn:affable,cordial,genial
Amy's name was very apt: she was so amiable that she was twice voted class president.
amorphous
a. shapeless syn:formless,shapeless,unstructured
His study plan for the GRE was at best amorphous; he would do questions from random pages in any one of seven test prep books.
amply
adv. more than is adequate syn:fully
The boat was amply supplied for its year at sea - no man would go hungry or thirst.
amuck
adv. in a frenzied or uncontrolled state syn:amok,murderously
Wherever the bowl haircut teen-idol went, his legions of screaming fans ran through the streets amuck, hoping for a glance at his boyish face.
anachronism
n. something that is inappropriate for the given time period syn:usually something old. syn:misdating,mistiming
Dressed in 15th century clothing each day, Edward was a walking anachronism.
analogous
a. similar in some respects but otherwise different syn:correspondent
In many ways, the Internet's transformative effect on society has been analogous to that of the printing press.
anathema
n. a detested person; the source of somebody's hate syn:bete noire
Hundreds of years ago, Galileo was anathema to the church; today the church is anathema to some on the left side of the political spectrum.
anemic
a. lacking energy and vigor syn:anaemic
After three straight shows, the lead actress gave an anemic performance the fourth night, barely speaking loudly enough for those in the back rows to hear.
animosity
n. intense hostility
The governor's animosity toward his rival was only inflamed when the latter spread false lies regarding the governor's first term.
anodyne
a. inoffensive syn:analgesic,analgetic
Wilbur enjoyed a spicy Mexican breakfast, but Jill preferred a far more anodyne meal in the mornings.
anodyne
n. something that soothes or relieves pain syn:analgesic,pain pill,painkiller
Muzak, which is played in department stores, is intended to be an anodyne, but is often so cheesy and over-the-top that customers become irritated.
anomalous
a. not normal
According to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over the last five years is simply anomalous - daily temperatures should return to their old averages, they believe.
anomaly
n. something that is not normal, standard, or expected
After finding an anomaly in the data, she knew that she would have to conduct her experiment again.
antedate
v. precede in time syn:antecede,forego,forgo,precede,predate,foredate
Harry was so unknowledgable that he was unaware the Egyptian pharaohs antedated the American Revolution.
antic
a. ludicrously odd syn:fantastic,fantastical,grotesque
The clown's antic act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears.
antipathy
n. an intense feeling of dislike or aversion syn:aversion,distaste
Maria had an antipathy for tour groups, often bolting to the other side of the museum as soon as she saw a chaperone leading a group of wide-eyed tourists.
antiquated
a. old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier period in time syn:antediluvian,archaic
Aunt Betty had antiquated notions about marriage, believing that a man should court a woman for at least a year before receiving a kiss.
antithetical
a. sharply contrasted in character or purpose syn:antithetic
His deep emotional involvement with these ideas is, in fact, antithetical to the disattachment Buddhism preaches.
apathetic
a. marked by a lack of interest syn:indifferent
Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching math that even normally apathetic students took interest.
apathy
n. an absence of emotion or enthusiasm syn:indifference,numbness,spiritlessness
Widespread apathy among voters led to a very small turnout on election day.
apex
n. the highest point syn:acme,peak,vertex
The Ivy League is considered the apex of the secondary education system.
aphorism
n. a short instructive saying about a general truth syn:apophthegm,apothegm
Nietzsche was known for using aphorisms, sometimes encapsulating a complex philosophical thought in a mere sentence.
aphoristic
a. something that is concise and instructive of a general truth or principle
Sometimes I can't stand Nathan because he tries to impress everyone by being aphoristic, but he just states the obvious.
aplomb
n. great coolness and composure under strain syn:assuredness,cool,poise,sang-froid
Nancy acted with aplomb during dangerous situations--she once calmly climbed up an oak tree to save a cat.
apocryphal
a. being of questionable authenticity
The web is notorious for sandwiching apocryphal stories between actual news.
apogee
n. the highest point syn:culmination
The apogee of the Viennese style of music, Mozart's music continues to mesmerize audiences well into the 21st century.
apostate
n. a person who has abandoned a religious faith or cause syn:deserter,ratter,recreant,renegade,turncoat
An apostate of the Republican Party, Sheldon has yet to become affiliated with any party and dubs himself an independent.
apothegm
n. a short, pithy instructive saying syn:aphorism,apophthegm
Winston Churchill is famous for many apothegms, but this might be his most famous: "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."
apotheosis
n. exaltation to divine status; the highest point of development syn:ideal,nonesuch,nonpareil,nonsuch,paragon,saint,deification,exaltation
As difficult as it is to imagine, the apotheosis of Mark Zuckerberg's career, many believe, is yet to come.
appease
v. pacify by acceding to the demands of syn:assuage,conciliate,gentle,gruntle,lenify,mollify,pacify,placate
Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister during WWII, tried to appease Hitler and in doing so sent a clear message: you can walk all over us.
appreciable
a. large enough to be noticed syn:usu. refers to an amount
There is an appreciable difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done.
apprehension
n. fearful expectation syn:apprehensiveness,dread,misgiving
Test day can be one of pure apprehension, as many students worry about their test scores.
approbatory
a. expressing praise or approval syn:affirmative,approbative,approving,plausive
Although it might not be her best work, Hunter's new novel has received generally approbatory reviews.
appropriate
v. to give or take something by force syn:allow,earmark,reserve,set aside,capture,conquer,seize
The government appropriated land that was occupied by squatters, sending them scurrying for another place to live.
appropriate
v. to allocate
The committe appropriated the funds to its various members.
appurtenant
a. supply added support syn:accessory,adjunct,adjuvant,ancillary,auxiliary
In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are appurtenant, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.
arbitrary
a. based on a random, groundless decision
One of the arbitrary decrees in place during the emperor's rule is that all citizens pay him weekly homage at his palace.
arcane
a. requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
Most college fraternities are known for arcane rituals that those hoping to the join the fraterntiy must learn.
arch
a. to be deliberately teasing syn:condescending,patronising,patronizing
The baroness was arch, making playful asides to the townspeople; yet because they couldn't pick up on her dry humor, they thought her supercilious.
archaic
a. so old as to appear to belong to a different period syn:antediluvian,antiquated
Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in archaic English that was right out of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice--needless to say, she didn't have many friends.
arduous
a. demanding considerable mental effort and skill; testing powers of endurance syn:straining,strenuous
In order to deal with the arduous cross-country journey, truck drivers often survive on a string of caffeinated drinks, staying awake for up to 30 hours at a time.
arrant
a. complete and wholly syn:usually modifying a noun with negative connotation syn:complete,consummate,double-dyed,everlasting,gross,perfect,pure,sodding,staring,stark,thoroughgoing,unadulterated,utter
An arrant fool, Lawrence surprised nobody when he lost all his money in a pyramid scheme that was every bit as transparent as it was corrupt.
arriviste
n. a person who has recently reached a position of power; a social climber syn:nouveau-riche,parvenu,upstart
The city center was aflutter with arrivistes who each tried to outdo one another with their ostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress.
arrogate
v. seize and control without authority syn:assume,seize,take over,usurp
Arriving at the small town, the outlaw arrogated the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.
artful
a. clever in a cunning way
Bernie Madoff's artful Ponzi scheme stole billions of dollars from investors and is considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history.
artful
a. exhibiting artistic skill
Picasso is generally considered the most artful member of the Cubist movement.
artifice
n. cunning tricks used to deceive others syn:ruse
The mayoral candidates both spent much of the campaign accusing each other of artifices designed to mislead the voting public.
artless
a. without cunning or deceit syn:uncultivated,uncultured
Despite the president's seemingly artless speeches, he was a skilled and ruthless negotiator.
artlessness
n. the quality of innocence syn:ingenuousness,innocence,naturalness
I, personally, found the artlessness of her speech charming.
ascendancy
n. the state that exists when one person or group has power over another syn:ascendance,ascendence,ascendency,control,dominance
The ascendancy of the Carlsbad water polo team is
clear?봳hey have a decade of championships behind them.
ascetic
n. one who practices great self-denial syn:abstainer
Historically, ascetics like Ghandi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint.
ascetic
a. practicing self-denial syn:ascetical,austere,spartan
His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth and power to live in poverty.
ascribe
v. attribute or credit to syn:assign,attribute,impute
History ascribes The Odyssey and The Iliad to Homer, but scholars now debate whether he was a historical figure or a fictitious name.
askance
adv. with a look of suspicion or disapproval
The old couple looked askance on the teenagers seated next to them, whispering to each other, "They've got rings through their noses and purple hair!"
asperity
n. harshness of manner syn:sharpness
The editor was known for his asperity, often sending severe letters of rejection to amateur writers.
assail
v. attack in speech or writing syn:assault,attack,lash out,round,snipe
In the weekly paper, the editor assailed the governor for wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars in public projects that quickly failed.
assiduously
adv. with care and persistence
The top college football program recruits new talent assiduously, only choosing those who were the top in their county.
assuage
v. make something intense less severe
Her fear that the new college would be filled with unknown faces was assuaged when she recognized her childhood friend standing in line.
atavism
n. a reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwback syn:reversion,throwback
Much of the modern art movement was an atavism to a style of art found only in small villages through Africa and South America.
attenuate
v. to weaken syn:in terms of intensity; to taper off/become thinner. syn:rarefy
Her animosity towards Bob attenuated over the years, and she even went so far as to invite him to her party.
audacious
a. willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks syn:brave,dauntless,fearless,hardy,intrepid,unfearing
As all of the other campers cowered in their tents, Bill, armed only with a flashlight, audaciously tracked down the bear that had raided their food.
audacity
n. aggressive boldness in social situations syn:audaciousness,temerity
She surprised her colleagues by having the audacity to publically criticize the findings of an distinguished scientist.
augment
v. enlarge or increase; improve
Ideally, the restaurant's augmented menu will expand its clientele and increase its profits.
auspicious
a. favorable, the opposite of sinister
Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike's road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded and penniless, leaning against his wrecked automobile.
austere
a. practicing self-denial syn:ascetic,ascetical,spartan
His lifestyle of revelry and luxurious excess could hardly be called austere.
austere
a. harsh in manner of temperament
The principal of my elementary school was a cold, austere woman; I could never understand why she chose to work with children.
austere
a. unadorned in style or appearance
Late Soviet architecture, although remaining largely austere, moved into experimental territory that employed previously unused shapes and structures.
autocratic
a. characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty syn:authoritarian,despotic,dictatorial,tyrannic,tyrannical
The last true autocratic country is certainly North Korea; nowhere does a leader exercise the absolute control over all aspects of a people the way that Kim Jong-un does.
autocratic
a. offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power syn:bossy,dominating,high-and-mighty,magisterial,peremptory
The manager was finally fired for his autocratic leadership, which often bordered on rude and offensive.
autonomously
adv. In an autonomous or self-governing manner.
Many of the factory workers are worried about being replaced by machines and computers that will work completely autonomously.
avarice
n. greed syn:one of the seven deadly sins syn:avaritia,covetousness,greed,rapacity,avariciousness,covetousness,cupidity
The Spanish conquistadors were known for their avarice, plundering Incan land and stealing Incan gold.
avaricious
a. excessively greedy syn:covetous,grabby,grasping,greedy,prehensile
Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or lust--sins of excess-it was listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the Catholic church.
avert
v. turn away syn:avoid,debar,deflect,fend off,forefend,forfend,head off,obviate,stave off,ward off
The struggling videogame company put all of its finances into one final, desperate project to avert bankruptcy.
avert
v. turn away
Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, I averted my eyes as we drove by.
avid
a. marked by active interest and enthusiasm syn:zealous
Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking long hikes into remote mountains to see some rare eagle.
badger
v. to pester syn:beleaguer,bug,pester,tease badgered by his parents to find a job, the 30-year-old loafer instead joined a gang of itinerant musicians.
baleful
a. threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments syn:forbidding,menacing,minacious,minatory,ominous,sinister,threatening
Movies often use storms or rain clouds as a baleful omen of evil events that will soon befall the main character.
balk
v. refuse to comply syn:baulk,jib,resist
The students were willing to clean up the broken glass, but when the teacher asked them to mop the entire floor, they balked, citing reasons why they needed to leave.
banal
a. repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse syn:commonplace,hackneyed,old-hat,shopworn,stock,threadbare,timeworn,tired,trite,well-worn
The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class either fell asleep from bordeom or stayed awake to complete his sentences and humor friends.
banality
n. a trite or obvious remark syn:bromide,cliche,commonplace,platitude
Herbert regarded the minister's remark as a mere banality until Sharon pointed out profound implications to the seemingly obvious words.
banish
v. expel from a community, residence, or location; drive away syn:ban,blackball,cast out,ostracise,ostracize,shun
The most difficult part of the fast was banishing thoughts of food.
base
a. the lowest, class were without any moral principles syn:foot,foundation,fundament,groundwork,substructure,understructure
She was not so base as to begrudge the beggar the unwanted crumbs from her dinner plate.
bastardization
n. an act that debases or corrupts syn:bastardisation
The movie World War Z is a complete bastardization of the book with little more in common than zombies and a title.
beatific
a. blissfully happy syn:angelic,angelical,sainted,saintlike,saintly
Often we imagine all monks to wear the beatific smile of the Buddha, but, like any of us, a monk can have a bad day and not look very happy.
becoming
a. appropriate, and matches nicely syn:comely,comme il faut,decent,decorous,seemly
Her dress was becoming and made her look even more beautiful.
beg
v. to evade or dodge syn:a question
By assuming that Charlie was headed to college - which he was not - Maggie begged the question when she asked him to which school he was headed in the Fall.
begrudge
v. to envy someone for possessing or enjoying something syn:resent
Sitting all alone in his room, Harvey begrudged the happiness of the other children playing outside his window.
begrudge
v. to give reluctantly
We never begrudge money spent on ourselves.
behooves
v. to be one's duty or obligation
The teacher looked down at the student and said, "It would behoove you to be in class on time and complete your homework, so that you don't repeat freshman English for a third straight year."
belie
v. to give a false representation to; misrepresent syn:contradict,negate
The smile on her face belies the pain she must feel after the death of her husband.
belittle
v. lessen the importance, dignity, or reputation of syn:diminish,denigrate,derogate,minimize
A good teacher will never belittle his students, but will instead empower them.
bellicose
a. warlike; inclined to quarrel syn:battleful,combative
Known for their bellicose ways, the Spartans were once the most feared people from Peloponnesus to Persia.
belligerent
a. characteristic of one eager to fight syn:aggressive
Tom said that he was arguing the matter purely for philosophical reasons, but his belligerent tone indicated an underlying anger about the issue.
bemoan
v. express discontent or a strong regret syn:bewail,deplore,lament
While the CFO carefully explained all the reasons for the cuts in benefits, after the meeting employees bemoaned the cuts as further evidence that management was against them.
benighted
a. fallen into a state of ignorance syn:nighted,dark
Far from being a period of utter benightedness, The Medieval Ages produced some great works of theological speculation.
benign
a. kind
I remember my grandfather's face was wrinkled, benign, and calm.
benign
a. syn:medicine not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive
The tumor located in your ear lobe seems to be benign and should not cause you any trouble.
bereft
a. sorrowful through loss or deprivation syn:bereaved,grief-stricken,grieving,mourning,sorrowing
You are not bereft if you haven't played on your Xbox in the past week, his mother said.
bereft
a. unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love syn:lovelorn,unbeloved
After 64 years of marriage, William was bereft after the death of his wife.
besiege
v. harass, as with questions or requests; cause to feel distressed or worried syn:beleaguer,circumvent,hem in,surround
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.
besmirch
v. damage the good name and reputation of someone syn:asperse,calumniate,defame,denigrate,slander,smear,smirch,sully
The prince's distasteful choice of words besmirched not only his own name, but the reputation of the entire royal family.
besotted
a. very drunk syn:blind drunk,blotto,cockeyed,crocked,fuddled,loaded,pie-eyed,pissed,pixilated,plastered,slopped,sloshed,smashed,soaked,soused,sozzled,squiffy,stiff,tight,wet
Never before have I seen my mom so besotted, and honestly, I hope it's the last time she drinks so much.
besotted
a. strongly affectionate towards
Even though her father did not approve, Juliet became besotted with the young Romeo.
betray
v. to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally syn:bewray
With the gold medal at stake, the gymnast awaited his turn, his quivering lip betraying his intense emotions.
bilious
a. irritable; always angry syn:atrabilious,dyspeptic,liverish
Rex was bilious all morning, and his face would only take on a look of contentedness when he'd had his morning cup of coffee.
blatant
a. without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious syn:blazing,conspicuous
Allen was often punished in school for blatantly disrespecting teachers.
bleak
a. having a depressing or gloomy outlook syn:bare,barren,desolate,stark
Unremitting overcast skies tend to lead people to create bleak literature and lugubrious music - compare England's band Radiohead to any band from Southern California.
blinkered
a. to have a limited outlook or understanding
In gambling, the addict is easily blinkered by past successes and/or past failures, forgetting that the outcome of any one game is independent of the games that preceded it.
bolster
Synonyms : bolster up
In gambling, the addict is easily blinkered by past successes and/or past failures, forgetting that the outcome of any one game is independent of the games that preceded it.
bolster
v. support and strengthen
The case for the suspect's innocence was bolstered considerably by the fact that neither fingerprints nor DNA were found at the scene.
boon
n. a desirable state syn:blessing
Modern technology has been a boon to the travel industry.
boon
a. very close and convivial
He was a boon companion to many, and will be sadly missed.
boorish
a. ill-mannered and coarse or contemptible in behavior or appearance syn:loutish,neandertal,neanderthal,oafish,swinish
Bukowski was known for being a boorish drunk and alienating close friends and family.
bowdlerize
v. edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate syn:bowdlerise,castrate,expurgate,shorten
To receive an R rating, the entire movie was bowdlerized because it contained so much violence and grotesque subject matter.
brazen
a. unrestrained by convention or propriety syn:audacious,bald-faced,barefaced,bodacious,brassy,brazen-faced,insolent
Their large "donations" to the local police department gave the drug cartel the brazen confidence to do their business out in the open.
bridle
v. the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess syn:check,curb
New curfew laws have bridled people's tendency to go out at night.
bridle
v. anger or take offense
The hostess bridled at the tactless dinner guests who insisted on eating before everybody had gotten their food.
bristle
v. react in an offended or angry manner syn:abound,burst
As we discussed the painting, I noticed the artist's wife bristling at our criticisms, ready to defend her husband's work.
broadside
n. a strong verbal attack syn:bill,broadsheet,circular,flier,flyer,handbill,throwaway
Political broadsides are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election.
bromide
n. a trite or obvious remark syn:banality,cliche,commonplace,platitude
Instead of sharing his umbrella, the cheeky stranger offered Martha the following bromide: "Looks like it's raining."
brook
v. put up with something or somebody unpleasant syn:abide,bear,digest,endure,put up,stand,stick out,stomach,suffer,support,tolerate
While she was at the chalkboard, the teacher did not brook any form of talking--even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention.
browbeat
v. be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner syn:ballyrag,boss around,bully,bullyrag,hector,push around,strong-arm
During the interrogation, the suspect was browbeaten into signing a false confession.
brusquely
adv. in a blunt, direct manner syn:bluffly,bluntly,flat out,roundly
Not one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staff would brusquely ask his subordinates anything he wanted, even coffee.
buck
v. resist syn:go against
The profits at our firm bucked the general downturn that affected the real estate industry.
bucolic
a. relating to the pleasant aspects of the country syn:peasant,provincial
The noble families of England once owned vast expanses of beautiful, bucolic land.
bumbling
a. lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands syn:bungling,butterfingered,ham-fisted,ham-handed,handless,heavy-handed,left-handed
Within a week of starting, the bumbling new waiter was unceremoniously fired.
burgeon
v. grow and flourish
China's housing market is burgeoning, but some predict that the growth is merely a bubble and will burst much like the U.S. real estate bubble of 2008.
buttress
v. make stronger or defensible
China's economy has been buttressed by a global demand for the electronic parts the country manufactures.
byzantine
a. intricate and complex syn:convoluted,involved,knotty,tangled,tortuous
Getting a driver's license is not simply a matter of taking a test; the regulations and procedures are so byzantine that many have found themselves at the mercy of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
cadaverous
a. emaciated; gaunt syn:bony,haggard,pinched,skeletal,wasted
Some actors take challenging roles in which they have to lose so much weight that they appear cadaverous.
callow
a. young and inexperienced syn:fledgling,unfledged
Both Los Angeles and New York are known for callow out-of-towners hoping to make it big.
calumny
n. making of a false statement meant to injure a person's reputation syn:calumniation,defamation,hatchet job,obloquy,aspersion,slander,denigration,traducement
With the presidential primaries well under way, the air is thick with calumny, and the mud already waist-high.
canard
n. a deliberately misleading fabrication
The public will always be fooled by the media's canards.
candid
a. a straightforward and honest look at something syn:blunt,forthright,frank,free-spoken,outspoken,plainspoken,point-blank,straight-from-the-shoulder
Even with a perfect stranger, Charles was always candid and would rarely hold anything back.
candidness
n. the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech syn:candor,candour,directness,forthrightness,frankness
Although I was unhappy that the relationship ended, I appreciated her candidness about why she was ready to move on from the relationship.
capacity
Few birds have the capacity to recognize themselves when looking in a mirror; most act as though there is a second bird behind the glass.
Although I was unhappy that the relationship ended, I appreciated her candidness about why she was ready to move on from the relationship.
capacity
noun n. the amount or volume something can hold ability syn:especially mental
The hotel is full to maximum capacity; there are no empty rooms.
capitulate
n. to surrender syn:usually under agreed conditions
Paul, losing 19-0 in a ping-pong match against his nimble friend, basically capitulated when he played the last two points with his eyes closed.
capricious
a. determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason syn:impulsive,whimsical
Nearly every month our capricious CEO had a new plan to turn the company around, and none of them worked because we never gave them the time they needed to succeed.
cardinal
a. of primary importance; fundamental syn:central,fundamental,key,primal
Most cultures consider gambling a cardinal sin and thus have outlawed its practice.
carping
a. persistently petty and unjustified criticism syn:faultfinding
What seemed like incessant nagging and carping about my behavior from my mother turned out to be wise and useful advice that has served me well.
castigate
v. to reprimand harshly syn:chasten,chastise,correct,objurgate
Drill sergeants are known to castigate new recruits so mercilessly that the latter often break down during their first week in training.
cataclysm
n. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune syn:calamity,catastrophe,disaster,tragedy
The introduction of smallpox was a cataclysm for Native Americans, killing off more than half of their population.
catalyst
n. something that speeds up an event syn:accelerator
Rosa Park's refusal to give up her bus seat acted as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, setting into motion historic changes for African-Americans.
catholic
a. of broad scope; universal
Jonah's friends said that Jonah's taste in music was eclectic; Jonah was quick to point out that not only was his taste eclectic but it was also catholic: he enjoyed music from countries as far-flung as Mali and Mongolia.
cavalier
a. given to haughty disregard of others syn:high-handed
Percy dismissed the issue with a cavalier wave of his hand.
cede
v. relinquish possession or control ove syn:deliver,give up,surrenderr
Eventually, all parents must cede control of their growing childrens' educations and allow their offspring some autonomy.
celerity
n. speed, rapidity syn:quickness,rapidity,rapidness,speediness
We aim to respond to customers' questions with celerity and accuracy, with no longer than a 24 hour wait time.
censor
v. to examine and remove objectionable material syn:ban
Every fall, high school English teachers are inundated by requests to censor their curriculum by removing The Catcher in the Rye and Scarlet Letter from their reading lists.
censor
n. an official who censors material
The censor insisted that every reference to drugs should be removed from the manuscript.
censure
v. to express strong disapproval syn:animadversion
After being caught in bed with a mistress, the mayor was quickly censured by the city council.
cerebral
a. involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct syn:intellectual
A cerebral analysis of most pop music finds it to be simple and childish, but that ignores the point--the music's effect on the listener.
chagrin
v. cause to feel shame; hurt the pride o syn:abase,humble,humiliate,mortify
She never cared what others said about her appearance but was chagrined by the smallest comment from her mother.
chagrin
n. strong feelings of embarrassment syn:humiliation,mortification
Much to the timid writer's chagrin, the audience chanted his name until he came back on the stage.
champion
v. to fight for a cause syn:defend
Martin Luther King Jr. championed civil rights fiercely throughout his short life.
charlatan
n. a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes syn:mountebank
You may call him a "motivational speaker," but I call him a charlatan--he doesn't have any idea what he's really talking about.
chary
a. cautious, suspiciously reluctant to do something syn:cagey,cagy
Having received three speeding tickets in the last two months, Jack was chary of driving at all above the speed limit, even on a straight stretch of highway that looked empty for miles ahead.
chastise
v. to reprimand harshly syn:castigate,chasten,correct,objurgate
Though chastised for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother's harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts.
chastise
v. to reprimand harshly syn:castigate,chasten,correct,objurgate
Though chastised for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother's harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts.
chauvinism
n. fanatical patriotism; belief that one's group/cause is superior to all other groups/causes syn:jingoism,superpatriotism,ultranationalism
Vegetarians argue that man is chauvinistic in his belief that animals do not consciously feel the pain we humans do.
chauvinist
n. a person who believes in the superiority of their group syn:flag-waver,hundred-percenter,jingo,jingoist,patrioteer
The chauvinist lives on both sides of the political spectrum, outright shunning anybody whose ideas are not consistent with his own.
check
v. to limit syn:usually modifying the growth of something
Deserted for six months, the property began to look more like a jungle and less like a residence - weeds grew unchecked in the front yard
check
n. the condition of being held back or limited
When government abuses are not kept in check, that government is likely to become autocratic.
checkered
a. one that is marked by disreputable happenings
One by one, the presidential candidates dropped out of the race, their respective checkered pasts - from embezzlement to infidelity - sabotaging their campaigns.
chimera
n. something desired or wished for but is only an illusion and impossible to achieve
Many believe that a world free of war is a chimera?봞
dream that ignores humanity's violent tendencies.
chivalrous
a. being attentive to women like an ideal knight syn:gallant,knightly
Marco's chivalrous ways, like opening doors and pulling out chairs, was much appreciated by his date.
choleric
a. prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered syn:hot-tempered,hotheaded,irascible,quick-tempered,short-tempered
While a brilliant lecturer, Mr. Dawson came across as choleric and unapproachable - very rarely did students come to his office hours.
chortle
v. to chuckle, laugh merrily syn:chuckle,laugh softly
Walking past the bar, I could hear happy, chortling people and the blast of horns from a jazz band.
churlish
a. lacking manners or refinement
The manager was unnecessarily churlish to his subordinates, rarely deigning to say hello, but always quick with a sartorial jab if someone happened to be wearing anything even slightly mismatching.
circumscribe
v. restrict or confine syn:confine,limit
Their tour of South America was circumscribed so that they saw only popular destinations and avoided the dangerous parts of cities.
circumvent
v. cleverly find a way out of one's duties or obligations syn:dodge,duck,elude,evade,fudge,hedge,parry,put off,sidestep,skirt
One way of circumventing the GRE is to apply to a grad school that does not require GRE scores.
clemency
n. leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice syn:mercifulness,mercy
In the final moments of the trial, during his closing speech, Phillips was nearly begging the judge for clemency.
coalesce
v. fuse or cause to grow together syn:blend,combine,commingle,conflate,flux,fuse,immix,meld,merge,mix
Over time, the various tribes coalesced into a single common culture with one universal language.
cogent
a. clear and persuasive syn:telling,weighty
A cogent argument will change the minds of even the most skeptical audience.
cohesive
a. well integrated, forming a united whole
A well-written, cohesive essay will keep on topic at all times, never losing sight of the main argument.
collusion
n. agreement on a secret plot syn:connivance
Many have argued that Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK's assassin, was in collusion with other criminals; others maintain that Oswald was a lone gunman.
colossal
a. so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe syn:prodigious,stupendous
Few appreciate the colossal scale of the sun: if hollow, it could contain a million Earths.
commendable
a. worthy of high praise syn:applaudable,laudable,praiseworthy
The efforts of the firefighters running into the burning building were commendable.
commensurate
a. to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount
The convicted felon's life sentence was commensurate to the heinousness of his crime.
complacent
a. contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions syn:self-complacent,self-satisfied
After the water polo team won their sixth championship, they became complacent and didn't even make it to the playoffs the next year.
complaisant
a. showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others syn:obliging
On her first day at the job, Annie was complaisant, fulfilling every request of her new employee and anticipating future requests.
complementary
a. enhancing each other's qualities syn:for two things or more. syn:complemental,completing
The head waiter was careful to tell the amateur diners that red wine was complementary with beef, each bringing out subtle taste notes in the other.
complicit
a. Associated with or participating in an activity, especially one of a questionable nature.
While the grand jury cleared the senator of all criminal charges, in the public mind he was still complicit in the corruption.
compound
v. make more intense, stronger, or more marked syn:deepen,heighten,intensify
Her headache was compounded by the construction crew outside, which had six jackhammers going at the same time.
concede
v. give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another syn:cede,grant,yield
The Spanish were forced to concede much of the territory they had previously conquered.
concede
v. admit syn:to a wrongdoing syn:confess,profess
After a long, stern lecture from her father, Olivia conceded to having broken the window.
concede
v. acknowledge defeat
I concede. You win!
conciliate
v. to make peace with syn:appease,assuage,gentle,gruntle,lenify,mollify,pacify,placate
His opponents believed his gesture to be conciliatory, yet as soon as they put down their weapons, he unsheathed a hidden sword.
concomitant
a. describing an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another syn:accompaniment,attendant,co-occurrence concomitant with his desire for nature was a desire for the culture and energy of a big city.
conducive
a. making a situation or outcome more likely to happen
Studying in a quiet room is conducive to learning; studying in a noisy environment makes learning more difficult.
conflagration
n. a very intense and uncontrolled fire syn:inferno
In the summer months, conflagrations are not uncommon in the southwest, do to the heat and lack of rain.
conflate
v. mix together different elements or concepts syn:blend,coalesce,combine,commingle,flux,fuse,immix,meld,merge,mix
In her recent book, the author conflates several genres--the detective story, the teen thriller, and the vampire romance--to create a memorable read.
confound
v. be confusing or perplexing to syn:bedevil,befuddle,confuse,discombobulate,fox,fuddle,throw
Though Harry loved numbers, he found calculus confounding.
confound
v. mistake one thing for another syn:confuse
Americans often confound sweet potatoes with yams, and refer to both vegetables by the same name.
conniving
v. taking part in immoral and unethical plots
The queen was so conniving that, with the help of the prince, she tried to overthrow the king.
consecrate
v. to make holy or set apart for a high purpose syn:bless,hallow,sanctify
At the church of Notre Dame in France, the new High Altar was consecrated in 1182.
conspicuous
a. without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious syn:blatant,blazing
American basketball players are always conspicuous when they go abroad-not only are they American, but some are over seven feet tall.
constituent
n. an abstract part of something syn:component,element,factor,ingredient
The constituents of the metal alloy are nickel, copper, and tin.
constituent
n. a citizen who is represented in a government by officials for whom he or she votes
The mayor's constituents are no longer happy with her performance and plan to vote for another candidate in the upcoming election.
constraint
n. something that limits or restricts syn:restraint
We don't have many resources, so we'll have to work with some very tight constraints.
construe
v. interpreted in a particular way syn:interpret,see
The author's inability to take a side on the issue was construed by both his opponents and supporters as a sign of weakness.
consummate
a. having or revealing supreme mastery or skill syn:masterful,masterly,virtuoso
Tyler was the consummate musician: he was able to play the guitar, harmonica, and the drum at the same time.
consummate
v. to make perfect and complete in every respect
The restoration of the ancient church was only consummated after a twenty years of labor.
contemptuous
a. scornful, looking down at others with a sneering attitude syn:disdainful,insulting,scornful
Always on the forefront of fashion, Vanessa looked contemptuously at anyone wearing dated clothing.
contentious
a. likely to argue syn:combative,disputatious,disputative,litigious
Since old grandpa Harry became very contentious during the summer when only reruns were on T.V., the grandkids learned to hide from him at every opportunity.
contingent
a. possible but not certain to occur
Whether the former world champions can win again this year is contingent upon none of its star players getting injured.
contingent
n. a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
A small contingent of those loyal to the king have gathered around the castle to defend it.
contrite
a. to be remorseful syn:remorseful,rueful,ruthful
Though he stole his little sister's licorice stick with malevolent glee, Chucky soon became contrite when his sister wouldn't stop crying.
contrition
n. the feeling of remorse or guilt that comes from doing something bad syn:attrition,contriteness
Those who show contrition during their prison terms--especially when under review by a parole board--often get shortened sentences.
contrive
v. to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery syn:devise,excogitate,forge,formulate,invent
Despite a low GPA, he contrived to get into college, going so far as to write his own glowing letters of recommendation.
conundrum
n. a difficult problem syn:brain-teaser,enigma,riddle
Computers have helped solve some of the mathematical conundrums which have puzzled man for many centuries.
convivial
a. describing a lively atmosphere
The wedding reception was convivial; friends who hadn't seen each other for ages drank and ate together before heading to the dance floor.
convoluted
a. highly complex or intricate syn:byzantine,involved,knotty,tangled,tortuous
Instead of solving the math problem in three simple steps, Kumar used a convoluted solution requiring fifteen steps.
copious
a. in abundant supply syn:ample,plenteous,plentiful,rich,voluminous
In midsummer, there are copious popiscle stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none.
cornucopia
n. an abundant supply of something good syn:profuseness,profusion,richness
The International Food Expo was a cornucopia of culinary delights: gourmet foods from every continent were under one roof.
corollary
n. a practical consequence that follows naturally
A corollary of Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the east coast of the U.S., is a push to build higher sea walls to protect against future hurricanes.
corroborate
v. to confirm or lend support to syn:usually an idea or claim syn:affirm,confirm,substantiate,sustain,bear out,support,underpin
Her claim that frog populations were falling precipitously in Central America was corroborated by locals, who reported that many species of frogs had seemingly vanished overnight.
cosmopolitan
a. comprising many cultures; global in reach and outlook syn:ecumenical,general,oecumenical,universal,world-wide,worldwide
There are few cities in the world as diverse and cosmopolitan as New York.
cosseted
v. treat with excessive indulgence
The king and queen cosseted the young prince, giving him a prized miniature pony for his fifth birthday.
coterminous
a. being of equal extent or scope or duration syn:coextensive,conterminous
The border of the state is coterminous with geographic limits on travel; the east and north are surrounded by a nearly uncrossable river and the south by a desert.
countermand
v. a contrary command cancelling or reversing a previous command
By the time the colonel countermanded his soldiers not to land in enemy territory, a few helicopters had already touched down amid heavy gunfire.
cow
v. to intimidate syn:overawe
Do not be cowed by a 3,000-word vocabulary list: turn that list into a deck of flashcards!
craven
a. pathetically cowardly syn:recreant
Though the man could have at least alerted the police, he crouched cravenly in the corner as the old woman was mugged.
credence
n. belief in something
He placed no credence in psychics, claiming that they offered no special powers beyond the ability to make people part with their money.
creditable
a. deserving of praise but not that amazing
Critics agreed the movie was creditable, but few gave it more than three out of five stars.
credulity
n. tendency to believe readily
Virginia's wide-eyed credulity as a five-year old was replaced by suspicion after she learned that Santa Claus didn't really exist.
crestfallen
a. brought low in spirit syn:chapfallen,chopfallen,deflated
I asked Maria on a date and she refused without a moment's thought; I was crestfallen.
cryptic
a. mysterious or vague, usually intentionally syn:cabalistic,cryptical,kabbalistic,qabalistic,sibylline
Since Sarah did not want her husband to guess the Christmas present she had bought him, she only answered cryptically when he would ask her questions about it.
crystallize
v. cause to take on a definite and clear shape syn:crystalise,crystalize,crystallise
Only after fifteen minutes of brainstorming did Samantha's ideas for the essay crystallize.
culminate
v. reach the highest or most decisive point syn:climax
Beethoven's musical genius culminated in the 9th Symphony, which many consider his greatest work.
culpability
n. a state of guilt syn:blameworthiness,culpableness
Since John had left his banana peel at the top of the stairwell, he accepted culpability for Martha's broken leg.
cumbersome
a. difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight syn:cumbrous
Only ten years ago, being an avid reader and a traveler meant carrying a cumbersome backpack stuffed with books--these days we need only an e-reader.
cupidity
n. greed for money syn:avarice,avariciousness,covetousness
Some believe people that amassing as much wealth as possible is the meaning to life - yet they often realize that cupidity brings anything but happiness.
curmudgeon
n. a grouchy, surly person
Since Uncle Mike was the family curmudgeon, each Thanksgiving he was plied with copious amounts of wine, in the hope that he would become less grouchy.
dearth
n. a lack or shortage syn:famine,shortage,paucity
I am surprised by the dearth of fast food chains; this is America and I assumed they were on every street.
debase
v. reduce the quality or value of something syn:adulterate,dilute,load,stretch
The third-rate script so debased the film that not even the flawless acting could save it from being a flop.
debonair
a. having a sophisticated charm syn:debonaire,debonnaire,suave
James Bond is known for his good looks, high tech gadgets, and debonair manner.
debunk
v. expose as false ideas and claims, especially while ridiculing syn:expose
Richard Dawkins tries to debunk religious belief, but his ridicule tends to push people away from his points rather than convince them.
decimation
n. destroying or killing a large part of the population
The decimation after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is incomprehensible.
decorous
a. characterized by good taste in manners and conduct
Sally's parties are decorous affairs, and instead of the usual beer and music, there is tea and intellectual conversation.
decorum
n. propriety in manners and conduct syn:decorousness
You will obey the rules of decorum for this courtroom or spend the night in a jail cell, said the judge to the prosecutor.
decry
v. express strong disapproval of syn:condemn,excoriate,objurgate,reprobate
The entire audience erupted in shouts and curses, decrying the penalty card issued by the referee.
deferential
a. showing respect syn:deferent,regardful
If you ever have the chance to meet the president, stand up straight and be deferential.
defray
v. to help pay the cost of, either in part of full
In order for Sean to attend the prestigious college, his generous uncle helped defray the excessive tuition with a monthly donation.
degrade
v. reduce in worth or character, usually verbally syn:demean,disgrace,put down,take down
Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy's faults in front of their friends, publicly degrading the poor girl.
deign
v. do something that one considers to be below one's dignity syn:condescend,descend
The master of the house never deigned to answer questions from the servants.
delegate
v. give an assignment to syn:a person syn:assign,depute,designate
Since the senior manager had to go on many international business trips, she was forced to delegate many of her responsibilities to two lower-level managers.
deleterious
a. harmful to living things syn:hurtful,injurious
The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was deleterious to the fishing industry in the southern states.
deliberate
v. think about carefully; weigh the pros and cons of an issue syn:consider,debate,moot,turn over
Emergency situations such as this call for immediate action and leave no room to deliberate over options.
delineate
v. describe in detail
After a brief summary of proper swimming technique, the coach delineated the specifics of each stroke, spending 30 minutes alone on the backstroke.
demean
v. to insult; to cause someone to lose dignity or respect syn:degrade,disgrace,put down,take down
At first the soccer players bantered back and forth, but as soon as one of the players became demeaning, calling the other's mother a water buffalo, the ref whipped out a red card.
demonstrative
a. given to or marked by the open expression of emotion
When Sally told James that she wanted to break up with him, she expected he would react demonstratively, but he quietly nodded his head and left without saying a word.
demur
v. to object or show reluctance
Wallace disliked the cold, so he demurred when his friends suggested they going skiing in the Alps.
demure
a. to be modest and shy syn:coy,overmodest
The portrait of her in a simple white blouse was sweet and demure.
denigrate
v. charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone syn:asperse,besmirch,calumniate,defame,slander,smear,smirch,sully
Count Rumford denigrated the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate to explain the observations.
denote
v. be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning syn:refer
Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon denotes "stop" to all motorists in America.
denouement
n. the final resolution of the many strands of a literary or dramatic work; the outcome of a complex sequence of events
At the denouement of the movie, all questions were answered, and the true identity of the robber was revealed.
derelict
a. syn:of a person not doing one's duties syn:delinquent,neglectful,remiss
The teacher was derelict in her duties because she hadn't graded a single student paper in three weeks.
derelict
n. syn:of a building abandoned
At one time the waterfront factories were busy and productive, but now they stand derelict and will be torn down.
deride
v. treat or speak of with contempt
The nun derided the students for trying to sneak insects and worms into the classroom.
derisive
a. abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule syn:gibelike,jeering,mocking,taunting
I was surprised by her derisive tone; usually, she is sweet, soft spoken, and congenial.
derivative
a. syn:or a creative product, e.g. music, writing, etc. not original but drawing on the work of another person
Because the movies were utterly derivative of other popular movies, they did well at the box office.
derive
v. come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example syn:come,descend
Many words in the English language are derived from Latin, including the word "derive."
derive
v. reason by deduction; establish by deduction syn:deduce,deduct,infer
From the multiple set of footprints in the living room, the investigator derived an important clue: Sheila was not alone in the room at the time of the murder.
derogative
a. expressed as worthless or in negative terms syn:derogatory,disparaging
Never before have we seen a debate between two political candidates that was so derogative and filthy.
desecrate
v. to willfully violate or destroy a sacred place syn:outrage,profane,violate
After desecrating the pharaoh's tomb, the archaeologist soon fell victim to a horrible illness.
desiccated
a. uninteresting, lacking vitality syn:arid,desiccate
Few novelists over 80 are able to produce anything more than desiccated works-boring shadows of former books.
desideratum
n. something desired as a necessity
The desideratum of the environmental group is that motorists should rely on carpooling.
despite
preposition: even with syn:when an event is surprising because of some difficulty
We enjoyed our vacation despite the rain.
despot
n. a cruel and oppressive dictator syn:autocrat,tyrant
The Emperor Claudius was regarded as a fair-minded leader; his successor, Nero, was an absolute despot.
destitute
a. completely wanting or lacking syn:usually "destitute of" syn:barren,devoid,free,innocent
Now that the mine is closed, the town is destitute of any economic activity.
destitute
a. poor enough to need help from others syn:impoverished,indigent,necessitous,needy,poverty-stricken
Jean Valjean, is at first destitute, but through the grace of a priest, he makes something of his life.
deter
v. try to prevent; show opposition to syn:discourage
The government's primary job should involve deterring paths to war, not finding ways to start them.
deter
v. turn away from by persuasion syn:dissuade
His mother tried to deter him from joining the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen.
detrimental
a. syn:sometimes followed by "to" causing harm or injury syn:damaging,prejudicial,prejudicious
Many know that smoking is detrimental to your health, but processed sugar in large quantities is equally bad.
devolve
v. pass on or delegate to another syn:degenerate,deteriorate,drop
The company was full of managers known for devolving tasks to lower management, but never doing much work themselves.
devolve
v. grow worse syn:usually "devolve into"
The dialogue between the two academics devolved into a downright bitter argument.
diabolical
a. to be extremely wicked like the devil syn:demonic,diabolic,fiendish,hellish,infernal,satanic,unholy,devilish,diabolic,mephistophelean,mephistophelian
The conspirators, willing to dispatch anyone who stood in their way, hatched a diabolical plan to take over the city.
diatribe
n. a strong verbal attack against a person or institution syn:fulmination
Steve's mom launched into a diatribe during the PTA meeting, contending that the school was little more than a daycare in which students stare at the wall and teachers stare at the chalkboard.
dictatorial
a. expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler syn:authoritarian,overbearing,authoritarian,autocratic,despotic,tyrannic,tyrannical
The coach was dictatorial in his approach: no players could ever argue or question his approach.
didactic
a. instructive syn:especially excessively syn:didactical
Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illyich is a didactic novel, instructing the reader on how to live a good life.
differentiate
v. be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait syn:sometimes in positive sense syn:distinguish,mark
Mozart's long melodic lines differentiate his compositions from other works of late 18th century music.
differentiate
v. evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment syn:specialise,specialize,speciate
Animals on Madagascar differentiated from other similar animal species due to many years of isolation on the island.
diffident
a. showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence syn:shy,timid,unsure
As a young girl she was diffident and reserved, but now as an adult, she is confident and assertive.
dilapidated
a. in terrible condition syn:bedraggled,broken-down,derelict,ramshackle,tatterdemalion,tumble-down
The main house has been restored but the gazebo is still dilapidated and unuseable.
dilatory
a. wasting time syn:laggard,pokey,poky
Lawyers use dilatory tactics so that it takes years before the case is actually decided.
dilettante
n. an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge syn:dabbler,sciolist,dilettanteish,dilettantish,sciolistic
Fred has no formal medical training; while he likes to claim authority on medical issues, he is little more than a dilettante
diligent
a. characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks syn:persevering
Michael was a diligent gardener, never leaving a leaf on the ground and regularly watering each plant.
diminutive
a. very small syn:bantam,flyspeck,lilliputian,midget,petite,tiny
When he put on his father's suit and shoes, his appearance was that of a diminutive youth.
diminutive
n. to indicate smallness
He prefers to be called a diminutive of his name: "Bill" instead of "John William."
disabuse
v. to persuade somebody that his/her belief is not valid
As a child, I was quickly disabused of the notion that Santa Claus was a rotund benefactor of infinite largess - one night I saw my mother diligently wrapping presents and storing them under our Christmas tree.
disaffected
a. discontented as toward authority syn:ill-affected,malcontent,rebellious
After watching his superior take rations from the soliders, he quickly became disaffected and rebeled.
discord
n. lack of agreement or harmony syn:strife
Despite all their talented players, the team was filled with discord--some players refused to talk to others--and lost most of their games.
discreet
a. careful to protect one's speech or actions in order to avoid offense or gain an advantage
The professor thought that he was discreet, subtly wiping the stain off of his shirt, but as soon as he stepped off the podium a member of the audience pointed out the large ketchup stain.
discrete
a. constituting a separate entity or part syn:distinct
What was once known as Czechoslovakia has since split into two discrete, independent nations.
discriminate
v. recognize or perceive the difference syn:know apart,separate
Sarah couldn't discriminate between a good wine and a bad wine, so she avoided wine tastings.
discursive
a. syn:of e.g. speech and writing tending to depart from the main point syn:digressive,excursive,rambling
Many readers find it tough to read Moby Dick since the author is discursive, often cutting the action short to spend 20 pages on the history of a whale.
disenfranchise
v. deprive of voting rights syn:disfranchise
The U.S. Constitution disenfranchised women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote.
disheartened
a. made less hopeful or enthusiastic syn:demoralised,demoralized,discouraged
After the visiting team scored nine times, the home team's fans were disheartened, some leaving the game early.
disingenuous
a. not straightforward; giving a false appearance of frankness syn:artful
Many adults think that they can lie to children, but kids are smart and know when people are disingenuous.
disinterested
a. unbiased; neutral
The potential juror knew the defendant, and therefore could not serve on the jury, which must consist only of disinterested members.
disparate
a. two things are fundamentally different
With the advent of machines capable of looking inside the brain, fields as disparate as religion and biology have been brought together by scientists trying to understand what happens in the brain when people have a religious experience.
dispassionate
a. unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice syn:cold-eyed
A good scientist should be dispassionate, focusing purely on what the evidence says, without personal attachment.
dispatch
n. the property of being prompt and efficient syn:despatch,expedition,expeditiousness
She finished her thesis with dispatch, amazing her advisors who couldn't believe she hadn't written 60 scholarly pages so quickly.
dispatch
v. dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently
As soon as the angry peasants stormed the castle, they caught the king and swiftly dispatched him.
dispensation
n. an exemption from a rule or obligation
Since her father is a billionaire, she is given dispensation from many of the school's policies.
dissemble
v. conceal one's true motives, usually through deceit syn:affect,feign,pretend,sham
To get close to the senator, the assassin dissembled his intentions, convincing many people that he was a reporter for a well-known newspaper.
disseminate
v. cause to become widely known syn:broadcast,circularise,circularize,circulate,diffuse,disperse,distribute,pass around,propagate,spread
Before the effects of anaethesia were disseminated, patients had to experience the full pain of a surgery.
dissipate
v. to disperse or scatter syn:break up,dispel,disperse,scatter,spread out
Kathleen's perfume was overwhelming in the cramped apartment, but once we stepped outside the smell dissipated and we could breathe once again.
dissipate
v. squander or spend money frivolously syn:fool,fool away,fritter,fritter away,frivol away,shoot
The recent graduates dissipated their earnings on trips to Las Vegas and cruises in Mexico.
dissolution
n. a living full of debauchery and indulgence in sensual pleasure syn:dissipation,licentiousness,looseness,profligacy
Many Roman emperors were known for their dissolution, indulging in unspeakable desires of the flesh.
docile
a. easily handled or managed; willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed syn:gentle
Barnyard animals are considerably more docile than the wild animals.
dog
v. to pursue relentlessly; to hound syn:chase,chase after,give chase,go after,tag,tail,track,trail
Throughout his life, he was dogged by insecurities that inhibited personal growth.
dogmatic
a. highly opinionated, not accepting that your belief may not be correct
Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earth is flat, claiming that all pictures of a spherical earth are computer generated.
doleful
a. filled with or evoking sadness syn:mournful
No event is more doleful than the passing of my mother; she was a shining star in my life, and it brings me great sadness to think that she is now gone.
dolorous
a. showing sorrow syn:dolourous,lachrymose,tearful,weeping
Chopin's ballades are filled with sharp changes in moods--a dolorous melody can give way to a lighthearted tempo.
doughty
a. brave; bold; courageous
I enjoy films in which a doughty group comes together to battle a force of evil.
dovetail
v. fit together tightly, as if by means of a interlocking joint syn:dovetail joint
Although Darwin's evolution and Mendel's genetics were developed in isolation from one another, they dovetail very well.
dupe
v. to trick or swindle syn:befool,cod,fool,gull,put on,put one across,put one over,slang,take in
Once again a get-rich-fast Internet scheme had duped Harold into submitting a $5,000 check to a sham operation.
dupe
n. a person who is easily tricked or swindled syn:victim
The charlatan mistook the crowd for a bunch of dupes, but the crowd was quickly on to him and decried his bald-faced attempt to bilk them.
duplicity
n. deceitfulness, pretending to want one thing but interested in something else syn:fraudulence
A life of espionage is one of duplicity: an agent must pretend to be a totally different person than who she or he actually is.
duress
n. compulsory force or threat
The witness said he signed the contract under duress and argued that the court should cancel the agreement.
ebullient
a. joyously unrestrained syn:exuberant,high-spirited
Can you blame him for his ebullient mood? He just graduated from medical school.
eccentric
a. highly unconventional or unusual syn:usually describes a person syn:eccentric person,flake,geek,oddball
Mozart was well-known for his eccentricities, often speaking words backward to confuse those around him.
eclectic
a. comprised of a variety of styles
Joey was known for his eclectic tastes in music, one moment dancing to disco the next "air conducting" along to Beethoven's 9th symphony.
economical
a. avoiding waste, efficient syn:frugal,scotch,sparing,stinting
Journalists favor an economical style of writing, in which no unnecessary words are used and every sentence is as short as possible.
edifying
a. enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement syn:enlightening
I recently read an article in the Times about whether good literature is edifying or not; specifically, does reading more make a person more moral.
effervescent
a. marked by high spirits or excitement syn:bubbling,frothy,scintillating,sparkly
After the sales result, the manager was in an effervescent mood, letting several employees leave work early that day.
efficacious
a. producing the intended result syn:effective,effectual
Since Maggie's cough syrup, which had expired five years back, was no longer efficacious, she coughed through the night.
effrontery
n. audacious syn:even arrogant behavior that you have no right to syn:assumption,presumption,presumptuousness
The skateboarders acted with effrontery, skating through the church grounds and spray-painting signs warning trespassers.
egotist
n. a conceited and self-centered person syn:egoist,swellhead
An egotist, Natasha had few friends because of her inability to talk about anything except her dream of becoming the next American Idol.
egregious
a. standing out in negative way; shockingly bad syn:crying,flagrant,glaring,gross,rank
The dictator's abuse of human rights was so egregious that many world leaders demanded that he be tried in an international court for genocide.
eke
v. To live off meager resources, to scrape by
Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was able to eke out an existence on canned food.
elaborate
v. explain in more detail syn:dilate,enlarge,expand,expatiate,exposit,expound,flesh out,lucubrate
Most high school physics teachers find themselves elaborating the same point over and over again, since many concepts confuse students.
elaborate
a. marked by complexity and richness of detail syn:luxuriant
Thomas, on returning from Morocco, replaced his dirty gray carpet with an elaborate one he'd brought back with him.
elegiac
a. expressing sorrow
Few can listen to the elegiac opening bars of the Moonlight sonata without feeling the urge to cry.
elicit
v. call forth syn:emotions, feelings, and responses syn:arouse,enkindle,evoke,fire,kindle,provoke,raise
Just smiling-even if you are depressed--can elicit feelings of pleasure and happiness.
elucidate
v. make clearer and easier to understand syn:clear,clear up,crystalise,crystalize,crystallise,crystallize,enlighten,illuminate,shed light on,sort out,straighten out
Youtube is great place to learn just about anything-an expert elucidates finer points so that even a complete novice can learn.
elude
v. escape understanding syn:bilk,evade
Even a basic understanding of physics can elude most high schools students.
elusive
a. difficult to capture or difficult to remember syn:baffling,knotty,problematic,problematical,tough
Many first time skydivers say that describing the act of falling from the sky is elusive.
embellish
v. make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.; make more beautiful syn:adorn,beautify,decorate,grace,ornament,fancify,prettify
McCartney would write relatively straightforward lyrics, and Lennon would embellish them with puns and poetic images.
embroiled
a. involved in argument or contention syn:entangled
These days we are never short of a D.C. politician embroiled in
scandal?봞 welcome phenomenon for those who, having barely finished feasting on the sordid details of one imbroglio, can sink their teeth into a fresh one.
embryonic
a. in an early stage of development syn:embryotic,embryologic,embryonal
The Board of Directors is hoping to launch a new product soon, but planning for the Z7 is in an embryonic stages.
eminent
a. standing above others in quality or position syn:lofty,soaring,towering
Shakespeare is an eminent author in the English language, but I find his writing uninteresting and melodramatic.
empathetic
a. showing understanding and ready comprehension of other peoples' states and emotions syn:empathic
Most discrimination and hatred is based on a lack of empathetic awareness of people that have the same aspirations and fears.
empiricism
n. any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge syn:empiricist philosophy,sensationalism empiricism does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers.
emulate
v. strive to equal or match, especially by imitating; compete with successfully
To really become fluent in a new language, emulate the speech patterns and intonation of people who speak the language.
enamor
v. attraction or feeling of love syn:becharm,beguile,bewitch,captivate,capture,catch,charm,enamour,enchant,entrance,fascinate,trance
She is completely enamored with Justin Bieber, and goes to all his concerts on the East coast.
encumber
v. hold back syn:constrain,cumber,restrain
The costume encumbered all my movements and caused me to sweat profusely.
endemic
a. native; originating where it is found syn:autochthonal,autochthonic,autochthonous,indigenous
Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but ironically, the potato is not endemic to Ireland.
enervate
v. to sap energy from syn:faze,unnerve,unsettle
John preferred to avoid equatorial countries; the intense sun would always leave him enervated after he'd spent the day sightseeing.
engender
v. give rise to syn:beget,bring forth,father,generate,get,mother,sire
The restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were so severe that they engendered deep hatred and resentment in the German people.
enjoin
v. give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority syn:order,say,tell
The government agency enjoined the chemical company to clean up the hazardous dump it had created over the years.
enmity
n. a state of deep-seated ill-will syn:antagonism,hostility
Charles rude remark toward Sarah yesterday was due to his illness, not due to any real enmity toward Sarah.
enormity
n. an act of extreme wickedness syn:outrageousness
The enormity of Pol Pot's regime is hard to capture in words--within months hundreds of thousands of Cambodians lost their lives.
enthrall
v. hold spellbound syn:delight,enchant,enrapture,enthral,ravish,transport
She was so enthralled by the movie that she never heard people screaming, "Fire! Fire!" in the neighboring theater.
entice
v. get someone to do something through syn:often false or exaggerated promises syn:lure,tempt
Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on a vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.
entrenched
a. fixed firmly or securely
By the time we reach 60-years old, most of our habits are so entrenched that it is difficult for us to change.
enumerate
v. determine the number or amount of syn:count,number,numerate
The survey enumerates the number of happy workers and the number of unhappy workers.
enumerate
v. specify individually, one by one syn:itemise,itemize,recite
I sat and listened as she enumerated all of the things she did not like about the past three months.
ephemeral
a. lasting a very short time syn:fugacious,passing,short-lived,transient,transitory
The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral, lasting from a few hours to a couple of days.
epigram
n. a witty saying syn:quip
My favorite epigram from Mark Twain is "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way."
epiphany
n. a sudden revelation or moment of insight
Gary one day had an epiphany that he was a people person; he prompty quit his factory job and began working as a salesman.
eponym
n. the name derived from a person syn:real or imaginary; the person for whom something is named
Alexandria, Egypt is an eponym because it is named after Alexander the Great.
equitable
a. fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience syn:just
The equitable distribution of ice cream to a group of 5 year olds will ensure little to no fighting - at least until the ice cream is gone.
equivocal
a. confusing or ambiguous
The findings of the study were equivocal - the two researchers had different opinions on what the results signified.
equivocate
v. to speak vaguely, usually with the intention to mislead or deceive syn:beat around the bush,palter,prevaricate,tergiversate
After Sharon brought the car home an hour after her curfew, she equivocated when her parents pointedly asked her where she had been.
eradicate
v. to completely destroy syn:exterminate,extirpate,root out,uproot,annihilate,carry off,decimate,eliminate,extinguish,wipe out
I tried eradicating the mosquitos in my apartment with a rolled up newspaper, but there were too many of them.
err
v. to make an error syn:mistake,slip
He erred in thinking that "indigent" and "indignant" were synonyms.
errant
a. to be wandering; not sticking to a circumscribed path
Unlike his peers, who spent their hours studying in the library, Matthew preferred errant walks through the university campus.
erratic
a. unpredictable; strange and unconventional syn:fickle,mercurial,quicksilver
It came as no surprise to pundits that the President's attempt at re-election floundered; even during his term, support for his policies was erratic, with an approval rating jumping anywhere from 30 to 60 percent.
ersatz
a. not real or genuine; phony syn:substitute
The car dealer's ersatz laughter was immediately followed by a price quote, one that Shelley found highly inflated.
erudite
a. having or showing profound knowledge syn:learned
Before the Internet, the library was typically were you would find erudite readers.
eschew
v. avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of syn:shun
Politicians are the masters of eschewing morals; academics are the masters of eschewing clarity.
esoteric
a. confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
Map collecting is an esoteric hobby to most, but to geography geeks it is a highly enjoyable pasttime.
espouse
v. to adopt or support an idea or cause syn:adopt,embrace,sweep up
As a college student, Charlie espoused Marxism, growing his beard out and railing against the evils of the free-market.
estimable
a. deserving of esteem and respect syn:good,honorable,respectable
After serving thirty years, in which he selflessly served the community, Judge Harper was one of the more estimable people in town.
ethereal
a. characterized by lightness and insubstantiality syn:aerial,aeriform,aery,airy
Because she dances with an ethereal style, ballet critics have called her Madame Butterfly.
euphoria
n. a feeling of great syn:usually exaggerated elation syn:euphory
The euphoria of winning her first gold medal in the 100 meter dash overwhelmed Shelly-Ann Fraser and she wept tears of immense joy.
evanescent
a. tending to vanish like vapor
The storm flashed into existence above us and lasted only a short time - an evanescent turbulence of wind and cloud.
evasive
a. avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger or commitment
His responses were clearly evasive; he obviously did not want to take on any responsibility or any new work.
evasive
a. deliberately vague or ambiguous
Every time I call the bank, I receive the same evasive answers about our mortgage and never get a clear response.
evenhanded
a. without partiality
Teachers often have trouble being evenhanded to all of their varied students.
exacerbate
v. make worse syn:aggravate,exasperate,worsen
Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold--when she woke up the next day, her sinuses were completely blocked.
exacting
a. requiring and demanding accuracy syn:exigent,stern,strict
Though his childhood piano teacher was so exacting, Max is thankful now, as a professional pianist.
exalt
v. praise or glorify syn:extol,glorify,laud,proclaim
The teenagers exalted the rock star, covering their bedrooms with posters of him.
exasperate
v. to irritate intensely syn:aggravate,exacerbate,exacerbate,worsen,incense,infuriate
As a child, I exasperated my mother with strings of never-ending questions.
excoriate
v. to criticize very harshly syn:condemn,decry,objurgate,reprobate
Entrusted with the prototype to his company's latest smartphone, Larry, during a late night karaoke bout, let the prototype slip into the hands of a rival company - the next day Larry was excoriated, and then fired.
excruciating
a. extremely painful syn:agonising,agonizing,harrowing,torturesome,torturing,torturous
After the boulder rolled a couple of feet, pinning my friend's arm, he experienced excruciating pain.
execrate
v. to curse and hiss at syn:accurse,anathematise,anathematize,anathemise,anathemize,comminate
Though the new sitcom did decently in the ratings, Nelson railed against the show, saying that it was nothing more than an execrable pastiche of tired
clich챕's and canned laughter.
exegesis
n. critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text
The Bible is fertile ground for exegesis - over the past five centuries there have been as many interpretations as there are pages in the Old Testament.
exemplar
n. something to be imitated syn:example,good example,model
Lena's homework is on the wall because it is an exemplar of clean, neat, and thoughtful work.
exemplify
v. clarify by giving an example of syn:illustrate,instance
Please present some case studies that exemplify the results that you claim in your paper.
exemplify
v. be characteristic of syn:represent
Lincoln exemplified the best of not only America, but also the potential greatness that exists within each person.
exhort
v. to strongly urge on; encourage syn:barrack,cheer,inspire,pep up,root on,urge,urge on
Nelson's parents exhorted him to study medicine, urging him to choose a respectable profession; intransigent, Nelson left home to become a graffiti artist.
exiguity
n. the quality of being meager syn:leanness,meagerness,meagreness,poorness,scantiness,scantness
After two months at sea, the exiguity of the ship's supplies forced them to search for fresh water and food.
exonerate
v. pronounce not guilty of criminal charges syn:acquit,assoil,clear,discharge,exculpate
The document clearly indicated that Nick was out of the state at the time of the crime, and so served to exonerate him of any charges.
exorbitant
a. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation syn:extortionate,outrageous,steep,unconscionable,usurious
Shelley made one exorbitant purchase after another, buying new clothes and taking vacations even though she earned a limited salary.
expansive
a. communicative, and prone to talking in a sociable manner syn:talkative
After a few sips of cognac, the octogenarian shed his irascible demeanor and became expansive, speaking fondly of the "good old days".
expound
v. add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depth syn:dilate,elaborate,enlarge,expand,expatiate,exposit,flesh out,lucubrate
The CEO refused to expound on the decision to merge our department with another one, and so I quit.
expunge
v. to eliminate completely syn:excise,scratch,strike
When I turned 18, all of the shoplifting and jaywalking charges were expunged from my criminal record.
expurgate
v. to remove objectionable material syn:bowdlerise,bowdlerize,castrate,shorten
The censor expurgated every reference to sex and drugs, converting the rapper's raunchy flow into a series of bleeps.
extant
a. still in existence syn:usually refers to documents.
Despite many bookstores closing, experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant generations from now.
extenuating
a. making less guilty or more forgivable
The jury was hardly moved by the man's plea that his loneliness was an extenuating factor in his crime of dognapping a prized pooch.
extrapolate
v. draw from specific cases for more general cases syn:generalise,generalize,infer
By extrapolating from the data on the past three months, we can predict a 5% increase in traffic to our website.
facetious
a. cleverly amusing in tone syn:bantering,tongue-in-cheek facetious behavior will not be tolerated during sex eduation class; it's time for all of you to treat these matters like mature adults.
facile
a. arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth
Many news shows provide facile explanations to complex politics, so I prefer to read the in-depth reporting of The New York Times.
factious
a. produced by, or characterized by internal dissension syn:dissentious,divisive
The controversial bill proved factious, as dissension even within parties resulted
factitious
a. artificial; not natural
The defendant's story was largely factitious and did not accord with eyewitness testimonies
fallacious
a. of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning syn:unsound,Synonyms,
deceitful , fraudulent
fallacious
The widespread belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is fallacious, based on one false report.
deceitful , fraudulent
fastidious
a. overly concerned with details; fussy syn:exacting
Whitney is fastidious about her shoes, arranging them on a shelf in a specific order, each pair evenly spaced.
fawn
v. try to gain favor by extreme flattery syn:bootlick,kotow,kowtow,suck up,toady,truckle
The media fawned over the handsome new CEO, praising his impeccable sense of style instead of asking more pointed questions.
feckless
a. lazy and irresponsible syn:inept
Two years after graduation, Charlie still lived with his parents and had no job, becoming more feckless with each passing day.
fecund
a. intellectually productive syn:fertile,prolific
The artist had entered a fecund period, producing three masterpieces in the span of two months.
fell
a. terribly evil syn:barbarous,brutal,cruel,roughshod,savage,vicious
For fans of the Harry Potter series, the fell Lord Voldemort, who terrorized poor Harry for seven lengthy installments, has finally been vanquished by the forces of good - unless, that is, JK Rowling decides to come out of retirement.
ferret
v. to search for something persistently syn:ferret out
Ever the resourceful lexicographer, Fenton was able to ferret out the word origin of highly obscure words.
fete
v. to celebrate a person syn:celebrate
After World War II, war heroes were feted at first but quickly forgotten.
fickle
a. liable to sudden unpredictable change, esp. in affections or attachments syn:erratic,mercurial,quicksilver
She was so fickle in her politics, it was hard to pinpoint her beliefs; one week she would embrace a side, and the next week she would denounce it.
finagle
v. achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods syn:manage,wangle
Steven was able to finagle one of the last seats on the train by convincing the conductor that his torn stub was actually a valid ticket.
firebrand
n. someone who deliberately creates trouble syn:inciter,instigant,instigator,provoker
Freddie is a firebrand: every time he walks into the office, he winds up at the center of heated argument.
flag
v. droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness; become less intense syn:droop,sag,swag
After the three crushing defeats in the last three games, the team's enthusiasm began to flag.
fledgling
a. young and inexperienced; describing any new participant in some activity syn:callow,unfledged,entrant,fledgeling,freshman,neophyte,newbie,newcomer,starter,
Murray has years of experience in family practice, but he is just a fledgling in surgery.
fleece
v. to deceive syn:gazump,hook,overcharge,pluck,plume,rob,soak,surcharge
Many people have been fleeced by Internet scams and never received their money back.
flippant
a. showing inappropriate levity syn:light-minded
Although Sam was trying to honor Mark's sense of humor, many found it quite flippant that he wore a comic nose and glasses mask to Mark's funeral.
flounder
v. behave awkwardly; have difficulties syn:stagger
Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has deal with taxes, she flounders.
flummox
v. be a mystery or bewildering to syn:amaze,baffle,beat,bewilder,dumbfound,get,gravel,mystify,nonplus,perplex,pose,puzzle,stick,stupefy,vex
Mary's behavior completely flummoxes me: I never have any idea what her motivations might be.
flush
a. to be in abundance syn:bloom,blossom,efflorescence,flower,heyday,peak,prime
The exam's passage is flush with difficult words, words that you may have learned only yesterday.
flux
n. a state of uncertainty about what should be done syn:usually following some important event
Ever since Elvira resigned as the head of marketing, everything about our sales strategy has been in a state of flux.
foible
n. a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual syn:idiosyncrasy,mannerism
When their new roommate sat staring at an oak tree for an hour, Marcia thought it indicated a mental problem, but Jeff assured her it was a harmless foible.
foment
v. try to stir up public opinion syn:agitate,stir up
After having his pay cut, Phil spread vicious rumors about his boss, hoping to foment a general feeling of discontent.
foolhardy
a. marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences syn:heady,rash,reckless
The police regularly face dangerous situations, so for a police officer not to wear his bullet-proof vest is foolhardy.
forlorn
a. marked by or showing hopelessness
After her third pet dog died, Marcia was simply forlorn: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog no longer held any joy.
forthcoming
a. available when required or as promised syn:approaching,coming,upcoming
The President announced that the senators were about to reach a compromise, and that he was eager to read the forthcoming details of the bill.
forthcoming
a. at ease in talking to others
Synonyms : extroverted , outgoing
forthright
a. characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion syn:blunt,candid,frank,free-spoken,outspoken,plainspoken,point-blank,straight-from-the-shoulder
I did not expect the insurance agent to give us any straight answers, but I was pleasantly surprised by how forthright he was.
fortuitous
a. occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause syn:causeless,uncaused,魔巒碼膜??
While the real objects are vastly different sizes in space, the sun and the moon seem to have the same fortuitous size in the sky.
fractious
a. irritable and is likely to cause disruption syn:cranky,irritable,nettlesome,peckish,peevish,pettish,petulant,scratchy,techy,testy,tetchy
We rarely invite my fractious Uncle over for dinner; he always complains about the food, and usually launches into a tirade on some touchy subject.
frivolous
a. not serious in content or attitude or behavior
Compared to Juliet's passionate concern for human rights, Jake's non-stop concern about football seems somewhat frivolous.
frugal
a. not spending much money syn:but spending wisely syn:economical,scotch,sparing,stinting
Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned.
frustrate
v. hinder or prevent syn:the efforts, plans, or desires of syn:baffle,bilk,cross,foil,queer,scotch,spoil,thwart,
I thought I would finish writing the paper by lunchtime, but a number of urgent interruptions served to frustrate my plan.
furtive
a. marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed syn:sneak,sneaky,stealthy,surreptitious
While at work, George and his boss Regina felt the need to be as furtive as possible about their romantic relationship.
futile
a. producing no result or effect; unproductive of success syn:ineffectual,otiose,unavailing,bootless,fruitless,sleeveless,vain
I thought I could repair the car myself, but after two days of work with no success, I have to admit that my efforts were futile.
gaffe
n. a socially awkward or tactless act syn:faux pas,gaucherie,slip,solecism
In a famous gaffe, Vice President Quayle attempted to correct the spelling of a grade school student, only to find that the child was correct.
gainsay
v. deny or contradict; speak against or oppose syn:challenge,dispute
I can't gainsay a single piece of evidence James has presented, but I still don't trust his conclusion.
gall
n. feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will syn:bitterness,rancor,rancour,resentment
In an act of gall, Leah sent compromising photos of her ex-boyfriend to all his co-workers and professional contacts.
gall
n. the trait of being rude and impertinent syn:cheekiness,crust,freshness,impertinence,impudence,insolence
Even though Carly was only recently hired, she had the gall to question her boss's judgment in front of the office.
galvanize
v. to excite or inspire syn:someone to action syn:galvanise,startle
At mile 23 of his first marathon, Kyle had all but given up, until he noticed his friends and family holding a banner that read, "Go Kyle"; galvanized, he broke into a gallop, finishing the last three miles in less than 20 minutes.
gambit
n. a maneuver or risk in a game or conversation, designed to secure an advantage syn:ploy,stratagem
Randy played a gambit, telling his boss that he would leave at the end of the week if he didn't get a raise.
garrulous
a. full of trivial conversation syn:chatty,gabby,loquacious,talkative,talky
Lynne was garrulous: once, she had a fifteen minute conversation with a stranger before she realized the woman didn't speak English.
gauche
a. lacking social polish syn:graceless,unpolished
Sylvester says the most gauche things, such as telling a girl he liked that she was much prettier when she wore makeup.
genial
a. agreeable, conducive to comfort syn:kind
Betty is a genial young woman: everyone she meets is put at ease by her elegance and grace.
genteel
a. marked by refinement in taste and manners syn:civilised,civilized,cultivated,cultured,polite
A live string quartet would provide a more genteel air to the wedding than would a folk singer.
germane
a. relevant and appropriate
The professor wanted to tell the jury in detail about his new book, but the lawyer said it wasn't germane to the charges in the cases.
gerrymander
v. to manipulate voting districts in order to favor a particular political party
Years ago, savvy politicians had gerrymandered the city center to ensure their re-election.
glean
v. collect information bit by bit syn:harvest,reap
Herb has given us no formal statement about his background, but from various hints, I have gleaned that he grew up in difficult circumstances
glib
a. syn:of a person speaking with ease but without sincerity syn:pat,slick
I have found that the more glib the salesman, the worse the product.
glut
v. supply with an excess of syn:flood,oversupply
In the middle of economic crises, hiring managers find their inboxes glutted with resumes.
glut
n. an excessive supply syn:oversupply,surfeit
The Internet offers such a glut of news related stories that many find it difficult to know which story to read first.
goad
v. urge on with unpleasant comments syn:prick,needle
Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim, through a steady stream of taunts, goaded him into signing up for it.
gossamer
a. characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy syn:ethereal
The gossamer wings of a butterfly, which allow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are often damaged.
graft
n. corruption, usually through bribery
In countries with rampant graft, getting a driver's license can require no more than paying an official.
grandiloquent
a. puffed up with vanity syn:overblown,pompous,pontifical,portentous
The dictator was known for his grandiloquent speeches, puffing his chest out and using big, important-sounding words.
gregarious
a. to be likely to socialize with others
Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious, always in the middle of a large group of people; yet, as Mahatma Gandhi and many others have shown us, leaders can also be introverted.
grovel
v. show submission or fear syn:cower,crawl,creep,cringe,fawn
Every time Susan comes to the office, Frank grovels as if she were about to fire.
guffaw
v. laugh boisterously syn:laugh loudly
Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth.
guileless
a. free of deceit syn:transparent
At first I thought my niece was guileless, but I then found myself buying her ice cream every time we passed a shop.
gumption
n. resourcefulness and determination syn:backbone,grit,guts,moxie,sand
Wallace Stegner lamented the lack of gumption in the U.S. during the sixties, claiming that no young person knew the value of work.
hackneyed
a. lacking significance through having been overused syn:banal,commonplace,old-hat,shopworn,stock,threadbare,timeworn,tired,trite,well-worn
Cheryl rolled her eyes when she heard the lecturer's hackneyed advice to "be true to yourself."
hagiographic
a. excessively flattering toward someone's life or work
Most accounts of Tiger Woods life were hagiographic, until, that is, his affairs made headlines.
hail
v. enthusiastically acclaim or celebrate something syn:herald
Many college superstar athletes are hailed as the next big thing, but then flop at the professional level.
halcyon
a. idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquillity; marked by peace and prosperity syn:golden,prosperous
The first decade after WWI was a halcyon period in America with new-found wealth and rapidly improving technology.
hamper
v. prevent the progress or free movement of syn:cramp,halter,strangle
As the rain water began to collect in pools on the highway, it began to hamper the flow of traffic.
hamstrung
v. made ineffective or powerless
The FBI has made so many restrictions on the local police that they are absolutely hamstrung, unable to accomplish anything.
haphazard
a. marked by great carelessness; dependent upon or characterized by chance syn:slapdash,slipshod,sloppy,hit-or-miss
Many golf courses are designed with great care, but the greens on the county golf course seem entirely haphazard.
harangue
n. a long pompous speech; a tirade syn:rant,ranting
Dinner at Billy's was more a punishment than a reward, since anyone who sat at the dinner table would have to listen to Billy's father's interminable harangues against the government.
harangue
v. to deliver a long pompous speech or tirade
Tired of his parents haranguing him about his laziness and lack of initiative, Tyler finally moved out of home at the age of thirty-five.
harried
a. troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances syn:annoyed,harassed,pestered,vexed
With a team of new hires to train, Martha was constantly harried with little questions and could not focus on her projects.
haughty
a. having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy syn:disdainful,imperious,lordly,overbearing,prideful,sniffy,supercilious,swaggering
The haughty manager didn't believe that any of his subordinates could ever have an insight as brilliant his own.
hauteur
n. overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors syn:arrogance,haughtiness,high-handedness,lordliness
As soon as she won the lottery, Alice begin displaying a hauteur to her friends, calling them dirty-clothed peasants behind their backs.
hector
v. to bully or intimidate syn:ballyrag,boss around,browbeat,bully,bullyrag,push around,strong-arm
The boss's hectoring manner put off many employees, some of whom quit as soon as they found new jobs.
hedge
v. to limit or qualify a statement; to avoid making a direct statement syn:circumvent,dodge,duck,elude,evade,fudge,parry,put off,sidestep,skirt
When asked why he had decided to buy millions of shares at the very moment the tech companies stock soared, the CEO hedged, mentioning something vague about gut instinct.
hegemony
a. dominance over a certain area
Until the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1587, Spain had hegemony over the seas, controlling waters stretching as far as the Americas.
heretic
n. a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field syn:not merely religion syn:misbeliever,religious outcast
Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to do cardio before weights, Mikey was a heretic and always did the reverse.
heyday
n. the pinnacle or top of a time period or career syn:bloom,blossom,efflorescence,flower,flush,peak,prime
During the heyday of Prohibition, bootlegging had become such a lucrative business that many who had been opposed to the 18th Amendment began to fear it would be repealed.
histrionic
a. to be overly theatrical syn:melodramatic
Though she received a B- on the test, she had such a histrionic outburst that one would have thought that she'd been handed a death sentence.
hoary
a. ancient syn:rusty
Most workout gurus are young, fit people, whereas most yoga gurus are hoary men with long white beards.
hobble
v. to hold back the progress of something syn:gimp,hitch,limp
Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts, making it difficult for crews to find bodies in the wreckage.
hodgepodge
n. a confusing mixture or jumble syn:farrago,gallimaufry,hotchpotch,melange,mingle-mangle,mishmash,oddments,odds and ends,omnium-gatherum,ragbag
Those in attendance represented a hodgepodge of the city's denizens: chimney sweepers could be seen sitting elbow to elbow with stockbrokers.
hoodwink
v. to deceive or trick someone syn:bamboozle,lead by the nose,play false,pull the wool over someone's eyes,snow
Someone tried to hoodwink Marty with an email telling him that his uncle had just passed away, and to collect the inheritance he should send his credit card information.
hound
v. to pursue relentlessly syn:hunt,trace
An implacable foe of corruption, Eliot Ness hounded out graft in all forms - he even helped nab Al Capone.
hubris
n. overbearing pride or presumption
Bill Clinton was criticized for his hubris, since he believed he could get away with anything once in the White House.
humdrum
a. dull and lacking excitement syn:commonplace,prosaic,unglamorous,unglamourous,monotonous
Having grown up in a humdrum suburb, Jacob relished life in New York City after moving.
iconoclast
n. somebody who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
Lady Gaga, in challenging what it means to be clothed, is an iconoclast for wearing a "meat dress" to a prominent awards show.
iconoclastic
a. defying tradition or convention
Jackson Pollack was an iconoclastic artist, totally breaking with tradition by splashing paint on a blank canvas.
idiosyncrasy
n. a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual syn:foible,mannerism
Peggy's numerous idiosyncrasies include wearing mismatched shoes, laughing loudly to herself, and owning a pet aardvark.
ignoble
a. dishonorable syn:ungentle,untitled
In the 1920s, the World Series was rigged--an ignoble act which baseball took decades to recover from.
ignominious
a. syn:used of conduct or character deserving or bringing disgrace or shame syn:black,disgraceful,inglorious,opprobrious,shameful
Since the politician preached ethics and morality, his texting of revealing photographs was ignominious, bringing shame on both himself and his party.
illicit
a. contrary to or forbidden by law syn:illegitimate,outlaw,outlawed,unlawful
Though Al Capone was engaged in many illicit activities, he was finally arrested for income tax evasion, a relatively minor offense.
illustrious
a. widely known and esteemed; having or conferring glory syn:celebrated,famed,famous,far-famed,notable,noted,renowned
Einstein was possibly the most illustrious scientist in recent history.
imbibe
v. to drink or absorb as if drinking syn:absorb,draw,soak up,sop up,suck,suck up,take in,take up
Plato imbibed Socrates' teachings to such an extent that he was able to write volumes of work that he directly attributed, sometimes word for word, to Socrates.
imbroglio
n. a confusing and potentially embarrassing situation syn:embroilment
The chef cook-off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the wrong broths, creating an imbroglio that diners would not soon forget.
immaterial
a. not relevant syn:extraneous,impertinent,orthogonal,incorporeal
The judge found the defendant's comments immaterial to the trial, and summarily dismissed him from the witness stand.
immure
v. to enclose, usually in walls syn:gaol,imprison,incarcerate,jail,jug,lag,put away,put behind bars,remand
The modern supermarket experience makes many feel claustrophobic, as they are immured in walls upon walls of products.
immutable
a. not able to be changed syn:changeless
Taxes are one of the immutable laws of the land, so there is no use arguing about paying them.
impartial
a. free from undue bias or preconceived opinions syn:unprejudiced
The judge was not impartial since he had been bribed by the witness's family.
impeccable
a. without fault or error syn:faultless,immaculate
He was impeccably dressed in the latest fashion without a single crease or stain.
impecunious
a. lacking money; poor syn:hard up,in straitened circumstances,penniless,penurious,pinched
In extremely trying times, even the moderately wealthy, after a few turns of ill-fortune, can become impecunious.
impede
v. be a hindrance or obstacle to syn:hinder,block,close up,jam,obstruct,obturate,occlude
Since the police sergeant had to train the pair of new hires, progress in his own case was impeded.
impending
a. close in time; about to occur syn:at hand,close at hand,imminent,impendent
The impending doom of our world has been a discussed and debated for 2000 years - maybe even longer.
imperil
transitive verb. to put at risk; endanger; synonyms: endanger, hazard, jeopardize
The impending doom of our world has been a discussed and debated for 2000 years - maybe even longer.
imperil
The impending doom of our world has been a discussed and debated for 2000 years - maybe even longer.
imperious
a. having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy syn:disdainful,haughty,lordly,overbearing,prideful,sniffy,supercilious,swaggering
Children are imperious with each other before they learn that earning someone's respect is better than demanding.
impermeable
a. does not allow fluids to pass through
The sand bags placed on the river formed an impermeable barrier, protecting the town from flooding.
impertinent
syn:adj not pertinent to the matter under consideration syn:extraneous,immaterial,orthogonal
The sand bags placed on the river formed an impermeable barrier, protecting the town from flooding.
impertinent
a. being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold syn:fresh,impudent,overbold,sassy,saucy,smart,wise
Dexter, distraught over losing his pet dachshund, Madeline, found the police officer's questions impertinent - after all, he thought, did she have to pry into such details as to what Madeline's favorite snack was?
impervious
a. not admitting of passage or capable of being affected syn:imperviable
I am not impervious to your insults; they cause me great pain.
impetuous
a. characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation syn:brainish,hotheaded,impulsive,madcap,tearaway
Herbert is rarely impetuous, but on the spur of the moment, he spent thousands of dollars on a motorcycle today.
implacable
a. incapable of making less angry or hostile
Win or lose, the coach was always implacable, never giving the athletes an easy practice or a break.
implausible
a. describing a statement that is not believable syn:farfetched
The teacher found it implausible that the student was late to school because he had been kidnapped by outlaws on horseback.
implicate
v. convey a meaning; imply syn:entail
By saying that some of the guests were uncomfortable, the manager implicated to the hotel staff that it needed to be more dilligent.
implicate
v. to indicate in wrongdoing, usually a crime
The crime boss was implicated for a long list of crimes, ranging from murder to disturbing the peace.
imponderable
a. impossible to estimate or figure out
According to many lawmakers, the huge variety of factors affecting society make devising an efficient healthcare system an imponderable task.
importuned
v. beg persistently and urgently
After weeks of importuning the star to meet for a five-minute interview, the journalist finally got what she wanted.
impregnable
a. immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with syn:inviolable,secure,strong,unassailable,unattackable
As a child, Amy would build pillow castles and pretend they were impregnable fotresses.
improvident
a. not given careful consideration syn:ill-considered,ill-judged,shortsighted
Marty was improvident, never putting money aside for the future but spending it on decorating the interior of his home.
imprudent
a. not wise
Hitler, like Napoleon, made the imprudent move of invading Russia in winter, suffering even more casualties than Napoleon had.
impudent
a. improperly forward or bold syn:fresh,impertinent,overbold,sassy,saucy,smart,wise
In an impudent move, the defendant spoke out of order to say terribly insulting things to the judge.
impugn
v. attack as false or wrong
Though many initially tried to impugn Darwin's theory, in scientific circles today, the is idea taken as truth.
impute
v. attribute syn:responsibility or fault to something syn:ascribe,assign,attribute
He imputed his subpar performance on the test to a combination of stress and poor sleep.
inadvertent
a. happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally syn:accidental
Although Prohibition was rooted in noble ideals, the inadvertent and costly consequences of making alcohol illegal in the U.S. led its the repeal.
inanity
n. total lack of meaning or ideas syn:mindlessness,pointlessness,senselessness,vacuity
Bill's poem was nothing more than a list of impressive sounding words, so there was no point in trying to take meaning from the inanity.
inarticulate
a. without or deprived of the use of speech or words syn:unarticulate
Although a brilliant economist, Professor Black was completely inarticulate, a terrible lecturer.
incense
v. make furious syn:exasperate,infuriate
When Herb bought football tickets for a game on the day of their wedding anniversary, Jill was incensed.
incessant
a. uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing syn:ceaseless,constant,never-ending,perpetual,unceasing,unremitting
I don't mind small children in brief doses, but I think the incessant exposure that their parents have to them would quickly wear me down.
inchoate
a. only partly in existence; imperfectly formed syn:incipient inchoate ideas about the relation of humans to other animals had been discussed since the Middle Ages but the modern theory really began with Darwin.
incisive
a. having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions syn:acute,discriminating,keen,knifelike,penetrating,penetrative,piercing,sharp
The lawyer had an incisive mind, able in a flash to dissect a hopelessly tangled issue and isolate the essential laws at play.
inclement
a. syn:of weather unpleasant, stormy
After a week of inclement weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun.
inclement
a. used of persons or behavior; showing no mercy
Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was inclement to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently.
incongruous
a. lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
The vast economic inequality of modern society is incongruous with America's ideals.
incontrovertible
a. necessarily or demonstrably true; impossible to deny or disprove syn:demonstrable,irrefutable,positive
Unless you can provide incontrovertible evidence, I will remain skeptical.
incorrigible
a. impervious to correction by punishment
Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youth until Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyer can't match his fierce individual spirit.
incumbent
a. necessary syn:for someone as a duty or responsibility
Middle managers at times make important decisions, but real responsibility for the financial well-being of the corporation is ultimately incumbent on the CEO.
indecorous
a. not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society syn:indecent,unbecoming,uncomely,unseemly,untoward
Eating with elbows on the table is considered indecorous in refined circles.
indict
v. to formally charge or accuse of wrong-doing
The bankrobber was indicted on several major charges, including possession of a firearm.
indifference
n. the trait of seeming not to care syn:apathy,numbness,spiritlessness,emotionlessness,impassiveness,impassivity,phlegm,stolidity,unemotionality
In an effort to fight indifference, the president of the college introduced a new, stricter grading system.
indigenous
a. originating in a certain area syn:autochthonal,autochthonic,autochthonous,endemic
The plants and animals indigenous to Australia are notably different from those indigenous to the U.S - one look at a duckbill platypus and you know you're not dealing with an opossum.
indigent
a. poor; having very little syn:destitute,impoverished,necessitous,needy,poverty-stricken
In the so-called Third World, many are indigent and only a privileged few have the resources to enjoy material luxuries.
indigent
n. a poor or needy person
The indigents, huddled under the overpass, tried to start a small bonfire in the hope of staying warm.
indignant
a. feeling anger over a perceived injustice syn:incensed,outraged,umbrageous
When the cyclist swerved into traffic, it forced the driver to brake and elicited an indignant shout of "Hey, punk, watch where you're going!"
industrious
a. characterized by hard work and perseverance syn:hardworking,tireless,untiring
Pete was an industrious student, completing every assignment thoroughly and on time.
ineffable
a. too sacred to be uttered; defying expression or description syn:unnameable,unspeakable,unutterable,indefinable,indescribable,unspeakable,untellable
While art critics can occasionally pinpoint a work's greatness, much of why a piece captures our imaginations is completely ineffable.
ineluctable
a. impossible to avoid or evade: syn:inescapable,unavoidable
For those who smoke cigarettes for years, a major health crisis brought on by smoking is ineluctable.
inequity
n. injustice by virtue of not conforming with rules or standards syn:unfairness
After decades of racial inequity, the "separate but equal" doctrine was successfully overturned.
inexorable
a. impossible to stop or prevent syn:adamant,adamantine,intransigent
The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology and culture.
infelicitous
a. inappropriateSynonyms:defective
During the executive meeting, the marketing director continued to make infelicitous comments about the CEO's gambling habit.
inflammable
a. extremely controversial, incendiary
It only takes one person to leave an inflammable comment on an Internet thread for that thread to blow up into pages upon pages of reader indignation.
ingenuity
n. the power of creative imagination syn:cleverness,ingeniousness,inventiveness
Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together.
ingenuous
a. to be na챦ve and innocent syn:innocent
Two-years in Manhattan had changed Jenna from an ingenuous girl from the suburbs to a jaded urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse, regardless of how elaborate.
ingratiate
v. gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
Even though Tom didn't like his new boss, he decided to ingratiate himself to her in order to advance his career.
inimical
a. hostile syn:usually describes conditions or environments syn:unfriendly
Venus, with a surface temperature that would turn rubber to liquid, is inimical to any form of life.
inimitable
a. defying imitation; matchless
Mozart's music follows a clear pattern that, anyone could imitate, but his music gives an overall sense of effortlessness that is inimitable.
inkling
n. a slight suggestion or vague understanding syn:glimmer,glimmering,intimation
Lynne speaks four Romance languages, but she doesn't have an inkling about how East Asian languages are structured.
innocuous
a. harmless and doesn't produce any ill effects syn:innocent
Everyone found Nancy's banter innocuous - except for Mike, who felt like she was intentionally picking on him.
inscrutable
a. not easily understood; unfathomable syn:cryptic,cryptical,deep,mysterious,mystifying
His speech was so dense and confusing that many in the audience found it inscrutable.
insidious
a. working in a subtle but destructive way syn:pernicious,subtle
Plaque is insidious: we cannot see it, but each day it eats away at our enamel, causing cavities and other dental problems.
insipid
a. dull and uninteresting syn:bland,flat,flavorless,flavourless,savorless,savourless,vapid
The movie director was known for hiring beautiful actors in order to deflect attention away from the insipid scripts he would typically use.
insolent
a. rude and arrogant
Lilian could not help herself from being insolent, commenting that the Queen's shoes were showing too much toe.
insolvent
a. unable to pay one's bills; bankrupt
With credit card bills skyrocketing, a shockingly large number of Americans are truly insolvent.
insouciance
n. lack of concern syn:carefreeness,lightheartedness,lightsomeness
Surprisingly, Hank had become a high-powered CEO; his high school friends remembered him as "Hanky Panky", who shrugged off each failed class with insouciance.
insufferable
a. intolerable, difficult to endure syn:impossible,unacceptable,unsufferable
Chester always tried to find some area in which he excelled above others; unsurprisingly, his co-workers found him insufferable and chose to exclude him from daily luncheons out.
intermittent
a. stopping and starting at irregular intervals
The intermittent thunder continued and the night was punctuated by cracks of lightning - a surreal sleepless night.
internecine
a. syn:of conflict within a group or organization
The guerilla group, which had become so powerful as to own the state police, was finally destroyed by an internecine conflict.
intimate
v. to suggest something subtly syn:adumbrate,insinuate
At first Manfred's teachers intimated to his parents that he was not suited to skip a grade; when his parents protested, teachers explicitly told them that, notwithstanding the boy's precocity, he was simply too immature to jump to the 6th grade.
intimation
n. an indirect suggestion syn:breath,hint
At first the hostess tried intimation, praising the benefits of cutlery; when Cecil continued eating with his hands, the hostess told him to use a fork at dinner.
intransigent
a. unwilling to change one's beliefs or course of action syn:adamant,adamantine,inexorable
Despite many calls for mercy, the judge remained intransigent, citing strict legal precedence.
intrepid
a. fearless syn:audacious,brave,dauntless,fearless,hardy,unfearing
Captain Ahab was an intrepid captain whose reckless and fearless style ultimate leads to his downfall.
inundate
v. to flood or overwhelm syn:deluge,submerge,flood,swamp
The newsroom was inundated with false reports that only made it more difficult for the newscasters to provide an objective account of the bank robbery.
inure
v. to make accustomed to something unpleasant syn:harden,indurate
Three years of Manhattan living has inured her to the sound of wailing sirens; she could probably sleep through the apocalypse.
invective
n. abusive or denunciatory language syn:vitriol,vituperation
The Internet has unleashed the invectives in many of us; many people post stinging criticism on the comments section underneath newspaper articles or YouTube videos.
inveterate
a. habitual syn:chronic
He is an inveterate smoker and has told his family and friends that there is no way he will ever quit.
invidious
a. likely to cause resentment
At a time when many others in the office were about to be laid off, many considered Cheryl's fine clothes that day an invidious display.
inviolable
a. never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored syn:impregnable,secure,strong,unassailable,unattackable
To many the grass at Wimbledon is inviolable and only greater tennis players are able to enjoy a game there.
inviolate
a. must be kept sacred syn:inviolable,sacrosanct
While the literary critic subjected most of the classics to the harshest reviews, he regarded Cervantes as inviolate, and had nothing but praise for him.
involved
a. complicated, and difficult to comprehend syn:byzantine,convoluted,knotty,tangled,tortuous
The physics lecture became so involved that the undergraduate's eyes glazed over.
irascible
a. quickly aroused to anger syn:choleric,hot-tempered,hotheaded,quick-tempered,short-tempered
If Arthur's dog is not fed adequately, he becames highly irascible, even growling at his own shadow.
irk
v. irritate or vex syn:gall
My little sister has a way of irking and annoying me like no other person.
irrefutable
a. impossible to deny or disprove syn:incontrovertible,positive
The existence of life on earth is irrefutable; the existence of intelligent life on earth is still hotly debated.
irresolute
a. uncertain how to act or proceed
He stood irresolute at the split in the trail, not sure which route would lead back to the camp.
irrevocable
a. incapable of being retracted or revoked syn:irrevokable
Once you enter your plea to the court, it is irrevocable so think carefully about what you will say.
itinerant
a. traveling from place to place to work syn:gipsy,gypsy
Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling between patients' homes.
jargon
n. a characteristic language of a particular group syn:argot,cant,lingo,patois,slang,vernacular
To those with little training in medicine, the jargon of doctors can be very difficult to understand.
jaundice
a. to be biased against due to envy or prejudice
Shelly was jaundiced towards Olivia; though the two had once been best friends, Olivia had become class president, prom queen, and, to make matters worse, the girlfriend of the one boy Shelly liked.
jejune
a. immature; childish syn:adolescent,juvenile,puerile
Her boss further cemented his reuptation for being jejune after throwing a fit when the water cooler wasn't refilled.
jejune
a. dull; lacking flavor syn:insubstantial,insipid
Although many top chefs have secured culinary foam's popularity in haute cuisine, Waters criticizes it for being jejune and unfilling.
jingoism
n. fanatical patriotism syn:chauvinism,superpatriotism,ultranationalism
North Korea maintains intense control over its population through a combination of jingoism and cult of personality.
jingoist
n. a person who thinks that their country should be at war syn:chauvinist,flag-waver,hundred-percenter,jingo,patrioteer
In the days leading up to war, a nation typically breaks up into the two opposing camps: doves, who do their best to avoid war, and jingoists, who are only too eager to wave national flags from their vehicles and vehemently denounce those who do not do the same.
jocular
a. characterized by jokes and good humor syn:jesting,jocose,joking
My uncle was always in a jocular mood at family gatherings, messing up people's hair and telling knock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen.
jovial
a. full of or showing high-spirited merriment, i.e. happiness syn:gay,jocund,jolly,merry,mirthful
The political candidate and his supporters were jovial once it was clear that she had won.
jubilant
a. full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success syn:exultant,exulting,prideful,rejoicing,triumphal,triumphant,elated,gleeful,joyful
My hardwork paid off, and I was jubilant to receive a perfect score on the GRE.
juggernaut
n. a force that cannot be stopped syn:steamroller
Napoleon was considered a juggernaut until he decided to invade Russia in winter; after which, his once indomitable army was decimated by cold and famine.
junta
n. an aggressive takeover by a group syn:usually military
As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is, some analysts believe that were a junta suddenly to gain power, it could be even more unpredictable and bellicose than the current leadership
juxtapose
v. place side by side
The appeal of her paintings comes from a classical style which is juxtaposed with modern themes.
kowtow
v. to bow or act in a subservient manner syn:bootlick,fawn,kotow,suck up,toady,truckle
Paul kowtowed to his boss so often the boss herself became nauseated by his sycophancy.
label
n. a name or phrase given to a group of things to identify them syn:often negative
verb: to give a label to something
label
Synonyms : mark , tag
The meaning of the label ""punk"" has changed greatly in the last 30 years.
laborious
a. characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort syn:arduous,backbreaking,grueling,gruelling,hard,heavy,operose,punishing,toilsome
The most laborious job I've had was working 20 hours a day as a fisherman in King Salmon, Alaska.
lacerate
v. deeply hurt the feelings of; distress
The teacher was fired for lacerating a student who wrote a poor essay.
lachrymose
a. showing sorrow syn:dolorous,dolourous,tearful,weeping lachrymose and depressed, Alexei Alexandrovich walked two miles home in the rain after learning that his wife was having an affair.
laconic
a. one who says very few words syn:crisp,curt,terse
While Martha always swooned over the hunky, laconic types in romantic comedies, her boyfriends inevitably were very talkative - and not very hunky.
lambast
v. criticize severely or angrily syn:bawl out,berate,call down,call on the carpet,chew out,chew up,chide,dress down,have words,jaw,lambaste,lecture,rag,rebuke,remonstrate,reprimand,reproof,scold,take to task,trounce
Showing no patience, the manager utterly lambasted the sales team that lost the big account.
lampoon
v. ridicule with satire syn:satirise,satirize
Mark Twain understood that lampooning a bad idea with humor was the most effective criticism.
languid
a. not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed syn:dreamy,lackadaisical,languorous
As the sun beat down and the temperature climbed higher, we spent a languid week lying around the house.
languish
v. become feeble syn:fade
Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the hiker languished, eating protein bars and nuts.
largess
n. extreme generosity and giving syn:largesse,magnanimity,munificence,openhandedness
Uncle Frank was known for his largess, so his nephew was sad when he did not receive a present for his birthday.
lascivious
a. lecherous; sexually perverted syn:lewd,libidinous,lustful
Lolita is a challenging novel for many, not necessarily because of the elevated prose style but because of the depravity of the main character, Humbert Humbert, who, as an old, lascivious man, falls in love with a girl.
laudable
a. worthy of high praise syn:applaudable,commendable,praiseworthy
To say that Gandhi's actions were laudable is the greatest understatement; he overthrew an empire without violence.
leery
a. openly distrustful and unwilling to confide syn:mistrustful,suspicious,untrusting,wary
Without checking his references and talking to previous employers, I am leery of hiring the candidate.
lethargic
a. lacking energy syn:unenrgetic
Nothing can make a person more lethargic than a big turkey dinner.
limpid
a. clarity in terms of expression syn:crystal clear,crystalline,lucid,pellucid,transparent,perspicuous
Her limpid prose made even the most recondite subjects accessible to all.
lionize
v. assign great social importance to syn:celebrate,lionise
Students in the U.S. learn to lionize Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington because they are the founding fathers of the nation.
litany
n. any long and tedious account of something
Mr. Rogers spoke to a Senate committee and did not give a litany of reasons to keep funding the program, but instead, appealed to the basic human decency of all present.
loath
a. unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom syn:usually followed by 'to' syn:loth,reluctant,antipathetic,antipathetical,averse,indisposed
I was loath to leave the concert before my favorite band finished playing.
lucid
a. syn:of language transparently clear; easily understandable syn:crystal clear,limpid,luculent,pellucid,perspicuous
Though Walters writes about physics and time travel, his writing is always lucid, so readers with little scientific training can understand difficult concepts.
lugubrious
a. excessively mournful
At the funeral, lugubrious songs filled the small church.
macabre
a. suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome syn:ghastly,grim,grisly,sick
Edgar Allen Poe was considered the master of the macabre; his stories vividly describe the moment leading up to - and often those moments after - a grisly death.
machinate
v. engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together syn:cabal,complot,conjure,conspire
The rebels met at night in an abandoned barn to machinate.
magisterial
a. offensively self-assured or given to exercising unwarranted power syn:autocratic,bossy,dominating,high-and-mighty,peremptory
Though she was only a third grade teacher, Ms. Martinet was magisterial in dealing with her class, lording over them like a queen.
magnanimous
a. noble and generous in spirit, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful, 邈幕磨 碼?巒膜邈 syn:greathearted
He was a great sportsman: in defeat he was complementary and in victory he was magnanimous.
maintain
v. to assert syn:defend
The scientist maintained that the extinction of dinosaurs was most likely brought about by a drastic change in climate.
maladroit
a. clumsySyn: bumbling,gauche,unskillful
As a child she was quite maladroit, but as an adult, she has become an adept dancer.
malady
n. a disease or sickness syn:illness,sickness,unwellness
The town was struck by a malady throughout the winter that left most people sick in bed for two weeks.
malapropism
n. the confusion of a word with another word that sounds similar syn:malaprop
Whenever I looked glum, my mother would offer to share "an amusing antidote" with me - an endearing malapropism of "anecdote" that never failed to cheer me up.
malevolent
a. wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred syn:evil,malefic,malign
Villians are known for their malevolent nature, oftentimes inflicting cruetly on others just for enjoyment.
malfeasance
a. misconduct or wrongdoing syn:especially by a public official
Not even the mayor's trademark pearly-toothed grin could save him from charges of malfeasance: while in power, he'd been running an illegal gambling rink in the room behind his office.
malingerer
n. someone shirking their duty by pretending to be sick or incapacitated syn:shammer,skulker
At one time, our country was full of hardworking respectful people, but now it seems that everyone is a malingerer with little inclination to work.
malleable
a. easily influenced syn:ductile
My little brother is so malleable that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me.
malleable
a. capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out syn:ductile,pliable,pliant,tensile,tractile
The clay became malleable and easy to work with after a little water was added.
malodorous
a. having an unpleasant smell syn:ill-smelling,malodourous,stinky,unpleasant-smelling
Some thermally active fountains spew sulfur fumes--the air around them is sometimes so malodorous that many have to plug their noses.
martial
a. suggesting war or military life syn:warlike,soldierlike,soldierly,warriorlike
Americans tend to remember Abraham Lincoln as kindly and wise, not at all martial, despite the fact that he was involved in the fiercest war America has even fought.
martinet
n. a strict disciplinarian syn:disciplinarian,moralist
The job seemed perfect to Rebecca, until she found out that her boss was a total martinet; after each project the boss would come by to scrutinize - and inevitably criticize - every little detail of the work Rebecca had done.
maudlin
a. overly emotional and sad syn:bathetic,drippy,hokey,kitschy,mawkish,mushy,schmaltzy,schmalzy,sentimental,slushy,soppy,soupy
Just as those who were alive during the 70's are mortified that they once cavorted about in bellbottoms, many who lived during the 80's are now aghast at the maudlin pop songs they used to enjoy - really, just what exactly is a total eclipse of the heart?
maunder
v. speak syn:about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly syn:blab,blabber,chatter,clack,gabble,gibber,palaver,piffle,prate,prattle,tattle,tittle-tattle,twaddle
After drinking two espressos each, the animated couple would maunder loudly, annoying the other patrons in the coffee shop.
maunder
v. wander aimlessly
Max liked to maunder down by the seaside and pick up whatever sea shells he would stumble upon.
maverick
n. someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action syn:rebel
Officer Kelly was a maverick, rarely following police protocols or adopting the conventions for speech common among his fellow officers.
mawkish
a. overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting syn:bathetic,drippy,hokey,kitschy,maudlin,mushy,schmaltzy,schmalzy,sentimental,slushy,soppy,soupy
The film was incredibly mawkish, introducing highly likeable characters only to have them succumb to a devastating illnesses by the end of the movie.
maxim
n. a short saying expressing a general truth syn:axiom
Johnson initially suggests that the secret to business can be summarized in a single maxim but then requires a 300-page book to explain exactly what he means.
meander
v. to wander aimlessly syn:thread,wander,weave,wind
A casual observer might have thought that Peter was meandering through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited.
melancholy
n. a deep, long-lasting sadness
Hamlet is a figure of tremendous melancholy: he doesn't have a truly cheerful scene throughout the entire play.
melee
n. a wild, confusing fight or struggle syn:battle royal,scrimmage
After enduring daily taunts about my name, I became enraged and pummeled the schoolyard bully and his sycophantic friends in a brutal melee.
mellifluous
a. smooth and sweet-sounding syn:dulcet,honeyed,mellisonant,sweet
Chelsea's grandmother thought Franz Schubert's music to be the most mellifluous ever written; Chelsea demurred, and to her grandmother's chagrin, would blast Rihanna on the home stereo speakers.
mendacity
n. the tendency to be untruthful.
I can forgive her for her mendacity but only because she is a child and is seeing what she can get away with.
mendicant
n. a pauper who lives by begging syn:beggar
Tolstoy was an aristocrat, but he strove to understand the Christianity of the Russian peasants by wandering among them as a mendicant.
mercurial
a. syn:of a person prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood syn:erratic,fickle,quicksilver
The fact that Ella's moods were as mercurial as the weather was problematic for her relationships - it didn't help that she lived in Chicago.
mesmerize
v. to spellbind or enthrall syn:bewitch,magnetise,magnetize,mesmerise
The plot and the characters were so well developed that many viewers were mesmerized, unable to move their eyes from the screen for even a single second.
meteoric
a. like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience
The early spectacular successes propelled the pitcher to meteoric stardom, but a terribly injury tragically cut short his career.
meticulous
a. marked by extreme care in treatment of details
The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in making his noodles and would never let another person take over the task.
mettlesome
a. filled with courage or valor syn:game,gamey,gamy,gritty,spirited,spunky
For its raid on the Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Seal Team Six has become, for many Americans, the embodiment of mettle.
misanthrope
n. a hater of mankind syn:misanthropist
Kevin is such a misanthrope that he refused to attend the Christmas party, claiming that everyone's happiness was "fake" and "annoying."
misattribute
v. To erroneously attribute; to falsely ascribe; used especially of authorship.
I made a mistake; I misattributed "Crime and Punishment" to Leo Tolstoy when it was actually written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
misconstrue
v. interpret in the wrong way syn:be amiss,misapprehend,misconceive,misinterpret,misunderstand
The politician never trusted journalists because he though that they misconstrue his words and misrepresent his positions.
miscreant
n. a person who breaks the law syn:reprobate
Come back you miscreant! yelled the woman who just had her purse stolen.
miser
n. a person who doesn't like to spend money syn:because they are greedy
Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned.
misogynist
n. a person who dislikes women in particular syn:woman hater
Many have accused Hemingway of being a quiet misogynist, but recently unearthed letters argue against this belief.
mitigate
v. make less severe or harsh syn:extenuate,palliate
I can only spend so much time mitigating your disagreements with your wife, and at certain point, you need to do it on your own.
mitigate
v. lessen the severity of an offense
If it weren't for the mitigating circumstances, he would have certainly lost his job.
modicum
n. a small or moderate or token amount
If my sister had even a modicum of sense, she wouldn't be engaged to that barbarian.
mollify
v. to make someone angry less angry; placate syn:season,temper
In the morning, Harriat was unable to mollify Harry, if he happened to become angry, unless he had his cup of coffee.
moment
n. significant and important value syn:consequence,import
Despite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of no great moment in Hampton's writing career, and within a few years the public quickly forgot his foray into theater arts.
moot
a. open to argument or debate; undecidable in a meaningless or irrelevant way syn:arguable,debatable,disputable
Since the Board just terminated Steve as the CEO, what the finance committe might have thought of his proposed marketing plan for next year is now a moot point.
mordant
a. biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style syn:caustic,corrosive,erosive,vitriolic,black,grim
While Phil frequently made mordant remarks about company policy overall, he always was considerably gentler in discussing any person in particular.
moribund
a. being on the point of death; declining rapidly losing all momentum in progress syn:stagnant
Whether you like it or not, jazz as a genre is moribund at best, possibly already dead.
morose
a. ill-tempered and not inclined to talk; gloomy syn:dark,dour,glowering,glum,moody,saturnine,sour,sullen
After Stanley found out he was no longer able to go on vacation with his friends, he sat in his room morosely.
morph
v. To undergo dramatic change in a seamless and barely noticeable fashion.
The earnestness of the daytime talk shows of the 1970's has morphed into something far more sensational and vulgar: today guests actually standup and threaten to take swings at one another.
mulct
v. to defraud or swindle syn:bunco,con,defraud,diddle,gip,goldbrick,gyp,hornswoggle,nobble,rook,scam,short-change,swindle,victimize
The so-called magical diet cure simply ended up mulcting Maria out of hundreds of dollars, but did nothing for her weight.
mundane
a. relating to the ordinary world syn:terrene
Though we think of the pope as someone always dealing in holy matters, he is also concerned with mundane events, such as deciding when to set his alarm each morning.
mundane
a. repetitive and boring; not spiritual
Nancy found doing dishes a thorougly mundane task, although Peter found a kind of Zen pleasure in the chore.
munificent
a. very generous syn:lavish,overgenerous,too-generous,unsparing,unstinted,unstinting
Uncle Charley was known for his munificence, giving all seven of his nephews lavish Christmas presents each year.
muted
a. softened, subdued syn:hushed,quiet,subdued
Helen preferred muted earth colors, such as green and brown, to the bright pinks and red her sister liked.
myopic
a. lacking foresight or imagination syn:short,shortsighted,unforesightful
The company ultimately went out of business because the myopic managers couldn't predict the changes in their industry.
myriad
n. a large indefinite number syn:countless,infinite,innumerable,innumerous,multitudinous,numberless,uncounted,unnumberable,unnumbered,unnumerable
There are a myriad of internet sites hawking pills that claim to boost energy for hours on end.
nadir
n. the lowest point syn:low-water mark
For many pop music fans, the rap and alternative-rock dominated 90s were the nadir of musical expression.
negligible
a. so small as to be meaningless; insignificant syn:paltry,trifling
The GRE tests cumulative knowledge, so if you cram the night before it is, at best, likely to only have a negligible impact on your score.
nettlesome
a. causing irritation or annoyance syn:annoying,bothersome,galling,irritating,pesky,pestering,pestiferous,plaguey,plaguy,teasing,vexatious,vexing
Maria found her coworker's cell phone nettlesome, because every few minutes it would buzz to life with another text message.
noisome
a. having an extremely bad smell syn:fetid,foetid,foul,foul-smelling,funky,ill-scented,smelly,stinking
Each August, when the winds moved in a south easterly direction, the garbage dump would spread noisome vapors through the small town.
nonchalant
a. coming across as uninterested or unconcerned; overly casual syn:casual,insouciant
The twenty-somethings at the coffee shop always irked Sheldon, especially the way in which they acted nonchalantly towards everything, not even caring when Sheldon once spilled his mocha on them.
nonplussed
v. unsure how to act or respond
Shirley was totally nonplussed when the angry motorist cut her off and then stuck his finger out the window.
nuance
n. a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude syn:nicety,refinement,shade,subtlety
Because of the nuances involved in this case, I hired an outside consultant to advice us and help.
obdurate
a. stubbornly persistent in changing an opinion or action syn:cussed,obstinate,unrepentant
No number of pleas and bribes would get him to change his obdurate attitude.
objurgate
v. express strong disapproval of syn:condemn,decry,excoriate,reprobate
The manager spent an hour objurgating the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.
obliging
a. showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others syn:complaisant
Even after all his success, I found him to be accommodating and obliging, sharing with me his "secret tips" on how to gain wealth and make friends.
oblique
a. not straightforward; indirect syn:devious
Herbert never explicitly revealed anything negative about Tom's past, but at times he would obliquely suggest that Tom was not as innocent as he seemed.
obscure
v. make unclear syn:becloud,befog,cloud,fog,haze over,mist,obnubilate
On the Smith's drive through the Grand Canyon, Mr. Smith's big head obscured much of Mrs. Robinson's view, so that she only saw momentary patches of red rock.
obscure
a. known by only a few syn:unknown,unsung
Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscure actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films.
obsequious
a. attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery syn:bootlicking,fawning,sycophantic,toadyish
The obsequious waiter did not give the couple a moment's peace all through the meal, constantly returning to their table to refill their water glasses and to tell them what a handsome pair they made.
obstinate
a. resistant to guidance or discipline; stubbornly persistent syn:cussed,obdurate,unrepentant,contrary,perverse,wayward
The coach suggested improvements Sarah might make on the balance beam, but she remained obstinate, unwilling to modify any of the habits that made her successful in the past.
obstreperous
a. noisily and stubbornly defiant; willfully difficult to control syn:casual,insouciant
When the teacher asked the obstreperous student simply to bus his tray, the student threw the entire tray on the floor, shouted an epithet, and walked out.
obtain
a. be valid, applicable, or true syn:hold,prevail
The custom of waiting your turn in line does not obtain in some countries, in which many people try to rush to front of the line at the same time.
obtuse
a. slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; lacking in insight or discernment syn:dense,dim,dull,dumb,slow
Jackson was the most obtuse member of the team: the manager's subtle ironies were always lost on him.
officious
a. intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner syn:busy,busybodied,interfering,meddlesome,meddling
The professor had trouble concentrating on her new theorem, because her officious secretary would barge in frequently reminding her of some trivial detail involving departmental paperwork.
opaque
a. not clearly understood or expressed syn:unintelligible
The meaning of the professor's new research was opaque to most people, so no one asked any questions.
opulence
n. wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living syn:luxuriousness,luxury,sumptuousness
Russian oligarchs are famous for their opulence, living in fancy homes and dining on expensive cavier.
ornate
a. marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details syn:flowery
The ornate Victorian and Edwardian homes spread throughout San Francisco are my favorite part of the city.
ossify
v. make rigid and set into a conventional pattern syn:petrify,rigidify
Even as a young man, Bob had some bias against poor people, but during his years in social services, his bad opinions ossified into unshiftable views.
ostentatious
a. intended to attract notice and impress others; tawdry or vulgar syn:pretentious,?魔磨碼?
Matt wanted to buy stone lions for front of the house, but Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ostentatious for a modest house in an unassuming neighborhood.
ostracize
v. exclude from a community or group syn:ban,banish,blackball,cast out,ostracise,shun
Later in his life, Leo Tolstoy was ostracized from the Russian Orthodox Church for his writings that contradicted church doctrine.
overweening
a. arrogant; presumptuous syn:excessive,extravagant,exuberant,uppity
Mark was so convinced of his basketball skills that in his overweening pride he could not fathom that his name was not on the varsity list; he walked up to the basketball coach and told her she had forgotten to add his name.
palatable
a. acceptable to the taste or mind syn:toothsome
MIkey didn't partake much in his friends' conversations, but found their presence palatable.
palaver
v. speak syn:about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly syn:blab,blabber,chatter,clack,gabble,gibber,maunder,piffle,prate,prattle,tattle,tittle-tattle,twaddle
During the rain delay, many who had come to see the game palavered, probably hoping that idle chatter would make the time go by faster.
palimpsest
n. something that has been changed numerous times but on which traces of former iterations can still be seen
The downtown was a palimpsest of the city's checkered past: a new Starbucks had opened up next to an abandoned, shuttered building, and a freshly asphalted road was inches away from a pothole large enough to swallow a small dog.
panacea
n. hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; a universal solution syn:catholicon,cure-all,nostrum
While the company credit card has made most large purchases easier, it is no panacea: some smaller basic transactions still must be conducted in cash.
panache
n. distinctive and stylish elegance syn:dash,elan,flair,style
Jim, with his typical panache, came to the wedding reception with a top hat, a cane, and a long cape covered in sequins.
panegyric
n. a formal expression of praise syn:encomium,eulogy,paean,pean
Dave asked Andrew to do just a simple toast, but Andrew launched into a full panegyric, enumerating a complete list of Dave's achievements and admirable qualities.
paradoxical
a. seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true syn:self-contradictory
That light could be both a particle and a wave seems paradoxical, but nonetheless, it is true.
paragon
n. model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal syn:apotheosis,ideal,nonesuch,nonpareil,nonsuch,saint
Even with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many still believe that Michael Jordon is the paragon for basketball players.
paragon
n. an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept syn:beau ideal,idol,perfection
Some say that Athens was the paragon of democracy, but these people often forget that slaves and women were still not allowed to vote.
pariah
n. an outcast syn:castaway,ishmael
The once eminent scientist, upon being found guilty of faking his data, has become a pariah in the research community.
parochial
a. narrowly restricted in scope or outlook syn:insular
Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling 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."
parsimonious
a. extremely frugal; miserly syn:penurious
Katie is so parsimonious that she only buys a pair of socks if all of her other socks have holes in them.
parvenu
n. a person who has suddenly become wealthy, but not socially accepted as part of a higher class syn:arriviste,nouveau-riche,upstart
The theater was full of parvenus who each thought that they were surrounded by true aristocrats.
pastoral
a. relating to the countryside in a pleasant sense syn:arcadian,bucolic
Those who imagine America's countryside as a pastoral region are often disappointed to learn that much of rural U.S. is filled with cornfields extending as far as the eye can see.
patent
a. glaringly obvious syn:apparent,evident,manifest,plain,unmistakable
Since the book had been through no fewer than six proof runs, the staff was shocked to see such a patent spelling mistake remaining, right in the middle of the front cover!
patronize
v. treat condescendingly syn:condescend,patronise
She says she genuinely wanted to help me, but instead she patronized me, constantly pointing out how I was inferior to her.
paucity
n. a lack of something syn:dearth
There is a paucity of jobs hiring today that require menial skills, since most jobs have either been automated or outsourced.
pecuniary
a. relating to or involving money syn:monetary
The defendent was found guilty and had to serve a period of community service as well as pay pecuniary damages to the client.
pedantic
a. marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects syn:academic,donnish
Professor Thompson was regarded as an expert in his field, but his lectures were utterly pedantic, focused on rigorous details of the most trivial conventions in the field.
pedestrian
a. lacking imagination syn:earthbound,prosaic,prosy
While Nan was always engaged in philosophical speculation, her brother was occupied with far more pedestrian concerns: how to earn a salary and run a household.
peevish
a. easily irritated or annoyed syn:cranky,fractious,irritable,nettlesome,peckish,pettish,petulant,scratchy,techy,testy,tetchy
Our office manager is peevish, so the rest of us tip-toe around him, hoping not to set off another one of his fits.
pejorative
a. expressing disapproval syn:usu. refers to a term syn:dislogistic,dyslogistic
Most psychologists object to the pejorative term "shrink", believing that they expand the human mind, not limit it.
pellucid
a. transparently clear; easily understandable syn:crystal clear,limpid,lucid,luculent,perspicuous
The professor had a remarkable ability make even the most difficult concepts seem pellucid.
penurious
a. lacking money; poor syn:hard up,impecunious,in straitened circumstances,penniless,pinched
Truly penurious, Mary had nothing more than a jar full of pennies.
penurious
a. miserly syn:parsimonious
Warren Buffett, famous multi-billionaire, still drives a cheap sedan, not because he is penurious, but because luxury cars are gaudy and impractical.
perceive
v. to be aware of, to sense or feel syn:comprehend
If hunters are skilled, the animals will not perceive their presence.
percipient
a. highly perceptive syn:clear
Even the most percipient editor will make an occasional error when proofreading.
peremptory
a. bossy and domineering syn:autocratic,bossy,dominating,high-and-mighty,magisterial
My sister used to peremptorily tell me to do the dishes, a chore I would either do perfunctorily or avoid doing altogether.
perennial
a. lasting an indefinitely long time; eternal; everlasting
Even at the old-timers games, Stan Musial would get the loudest cheer: he was a perennial favorite of the fans there.
perfidy
n. an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust syn:betrayal,treachery,treason,perfidiousness,treachery
The lowest circles in Dante's Inferno were for those who had practiced perfidy, and among these, the very lowest was for those, such as Judas, who had been treacherous to one of their benefactors.
perfunctory
a. done routinely and with little interest or care syn:casual,cursory,passing
The short film examines modern perfunctory cleaning rituals such as washing dishes, doing laundry and tooth-brushing.
peripatetic
a. traveling by foot syn:wayfaring
Jim always preferred a peripatetic approach to discovering a city: he felt that he could see so many more details while walking.
pernicious
a. exceedingly harmful; working or spreading in a hidden and injurious way syn:baneful,deadly,pestilent,insidious,subtle
The most successful viruses are pernicious: an infected person may feel perfectly healthy for several months while incubating and spreading the virus.
perpetuate
v. cause to continue
If you do not let him do things for himself, you are merely perpetuating bad habits that will be even harder to break in the future.
perquisite
n. a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group syn:especially a hereditary or official right syn:exclusive right,prerogative,privilege
Even as the dishwasher at the French restaurant, Josh quickly learned that he had the perquisite of being able to eat terrific food for half the price diners would pay.
perspicacious
a. acutely insightful and wise syn:sagacious,sapient
Many modern observers regard Eisenhower as perspicacious, particularly in his accurate prediction of the growth of the military.
pertinent
a. having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand syn:apposite,apt
While the salaries of the players might draw attention in the media, such monetary figures are not pertinent to the question of who plays the best on the field.
perturb
v. disturb in mind or cause to be worried or alarmed syn:cark,disorder,disquiet,distract,trouble,unhinge
Now that Henry is recovering from a major illnesses, he no longer lets the little trivialities, such as late mail, perturb him.
peruse
v. to read very carefully
Instead of perusing important documents, people all too often rush to the bottom of the page and plaster their signatures at the bottom.
petulant
a. easily irritated or annoyed syn:cranky,fractious,irritable,nettlesome,peckish,peevish,pettish,scratchy,techy,testy,tetchy
When Ed first met Ruth, he didn't realize she was so petulant, but now that they are three months into their relationship, Ed feels a day doesn't go by in which she isn't whining about some minor issue.
phantasmagorical
a. illusive; unreal syn:phantasmagoric,surreal,surrealistic
Those suffering from malaria fall into a feverish sleep, their world a whirligig of phantasmagoria; if they recover, they are unsure of what actually took place and what was simply a product of their febrile imaginations.
philistine
a. smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural values syn:anti-intellectual
Jane considered Al completely philistine, because he talked almost exclusive about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was.
phlegmatic
a. showing little emotion syn:phlegmatical
Arnold is truly noble, remaining reserved until an issue of significance arises, but Walter is simply phlegmatic: he doesn't have the energy or inclination to care about anything.
picayune
a. trifling or petty syn:a person syn:fiddling,footling,lilliputian,little,niggling,petty,piddling,piffling,trivial
English teachers are notorious for being picayune; however, the English language is so nuanced and sophisticated that often such teachers are not being contrary but are only adhering to the rules.
pillory
v. ridicule or expose to public scorn syn:gibbet
After the candidate confessed, the press of the opposing party took the opportunity to pillory him, printing editorials with the most blatantly exaggerated accusations.
pine
v. to yearn for syn:ache,languish,yearn,yen
Standing forlornly by the window, she pined for her lost love.
pinnacle
n. the highest point syn:acme,elevation,height,meridian,peak,summit,superlative,tiptop,top
At its pinnacle, the Roman Empire extended across most of the landmass of Eurasia, a feat not paralleled to the rise of the British Empire in the 18th and 19th century.
piquant
a. having an agreeably pungent taste syn:savory,savoury,spicy,zesty
The chef, with a mere flick of the salt shaker, turned the bland tomato soup into a piquant meal.
pith
n. the most essential part of something syn:center,centre,core,essence,gist,heart,heart and soul,inwardness,kernel,marrow,meat,nitty-gritty,nub,substance,sum
When Cynthia hears a speaker presenting a complex argument, she is always able to discard the irrelevant details and extract the pith of what the speaker is trying to convey.
pithy
a. concise and full of meaning syn:sententious
I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy and insightful prose; it always gives me something to think about.
pittance
n. a small amount syn:of money
Vinny's uncle beamed smugly about how he'd offered his nephew fifty dollars for his Harvard tuition; even twice the amount would have been a mere pittance.
placate
v. cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of syn:appease,assuage,conciliate,gentle,gruntle,lenify,mollify,pacify
I was able to placate the angry mob of students by promising to bring cookies on Monday.
placid
a. not easily irritated syn:equable,even-tempered,good-tempered
Doug is normally placid, so we were all shocked to see him yelling at the television when the Mets lost the game.
platitude
n. a trite or obvious remark syn:banality,bromide,cliche,commonplace
The professor argued that many statements regarded as wise in previous times, such as the Golden Rule, are now regarded as mere platitudes.
plodding
a. syn:of movement slow and laborious syn:leaden
Charlie may seem to run at a plodding pace, but he is an ultramarathoner, meaning he runs distances of up to 100 miles, and can run for ten hours at a stretch.
ploy
n. a clever plan to turn a situation to one's advantage syn:gambit,stratagem
Dennis arranged an elaborate ploy, involving 14 different people lying for him in different situations, so that it could appear that he was meeting Mary completely by chance at the wedding reception.
plucky
a. marked by courage and determination syn:gutsy,feisty,spunky
Some scouts initially doubted Pedroia because of his short stature, but he is a plucky player, surprising everyone with his boundless energy and fierce determination.
poignant
a. emotionally touching syn:affecting,touching
After the Montagues and Capulets discover the dead bodies of Romeo and Juliet, in the play's most poignant moment, the two griefstricken familes agree to end their feud once and for all.
polemic
n. a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
The professor launched into a polemic, claiming that Freudian theory was a pack of lies that absolutely destroyed European literary theory.
Pollyannaish
a. extremely optimistic syn:cheerful,upbeat
Even in the midst of a lousy sales quarter, Debbie remained pollyannaish, never losing her shrill voice and wide smile, even when prospective customers hung up on her.
ponderous
a. weighed-down; moving slowly syn:heavy,lumbering
Laden with 20 kilograms of college text books, the freshman moved ponderously across the campus.
pontificate
v. talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner
The vice-president would often pontificate about economic theory, as if no one else in the room were qualified to speak on the topic.
portentous
a. ominously prophetic syn:fateful,foreboding
When the captain and more than half the officers were sick on the very first night of the voyage, many of the passengers felt this was portentous, but the rest of the voyage continued without any problems.
posit
v. assume as fact syn:postulate
Initially, Einstein posited a repulsive force to balance Gravity, but then rejected that idea as a blunder.
powwow
n. an informal meeting or discussion
Before the team takes the field, the coach always calls for a powwow so that he can make sure all the players are mentally in the right place.
pragmatic
a. guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory syn:hard-nosed,hardheaded,practical
Rather than make a philosophical appeal to the Congressmen, the Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach, making small side-deals that would add votes to his bill.
precarious
a. fraught with danger syn:parlous,perilous,touch-and-go
People smoke to relax and forget their cares, but ironically, in terms of health risks, smoking is far more precarious than either mountain-climbing or skydiving.
precedent
n. an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time syn:case in point
The principal explained that even though one student had done modelling work outside of school, the outfits that student wore in those photographs in no way established a precedent for what could be worn at school dances.
precipitate
a. hasty or rash syn:hasty,overhasty,precipitant,precipitous
Instead of conducting a thorough investigation after the city hall break-in, the governor acted precipitately, accusing his staff of aiding and abetting the criminals.
precipitate
v. to cause to happen
The government's mishandling the hurricane's aftermath precipitated a widespread outbreak of looting and other criminal activity.
precipitous
a. done with very great haste and without due deliberation syn:hasty,overhasty,precipitant,precipitate
He was expecting a precipitous rise in the value of a "hot" tech stock, so he was disappointed when it only inched up a dollar or two each day.
preclude
v. keep from happening or arising; make impossible syn:forbid,foreclose,forestall,prevent
The manager specified that all other gates be locked, to preclude the possibility of persons without tickets entering the arena undetected.
precocious
a. characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity syn:especially in mental aptitude
Though only seven years old, she was a precocious chess prodigy, able to beat players twice her age.
predilection
n. a strong liking syn:penchant,preference,taste
Monte had a predilection for the fine things in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine, and trips to the French Riviera.
preempt
v. take the place of or have precedence over syn:displace
A governmental warning about an imminent terrorist attack would preempt ordinary network programming on television.
preemptive
a. done before someone else can do it
Just as Martha was about to take the only cookie left on the table, Noah preemptively swiped it.
prescience
n. the power to foresee the future syn:prevision,晩?? 碼?曼?磨
Baxter's warnings about investing in technology stocks seemed like an act of prescience after the whole market declined significantly.
presentiment
n. a feeling of evil to come syn:boding,foreboding,premonition
On the night that Lincoln would be fatally shot, his wife had a presentiment about going to Ford's Theater, but Lincoln persuaded her that everything would be fine.
presumption
n. an assumption that is taken for granted syn:given,precondition
When Mr. Baker found out the family car was gone, he acted under the presumption that his rebellious son had taken the car, calling his son's phone and yelling at him; only later did Mr. Baker realize that Mrs. Baker had simply gone out to get her nails done.
presumption
n. audacious syn:even arrogant behavior that you have no right to
The new neighbor quickly gained a reputation for her presumption; she had invited herself to several neighbors' homes, often stopping over at inopportune times and asking for a drink.
presumptuous
a. excessively forward syn:assuming,assumptive
Many felt that Barney was presumptuous in moving into the large office before the management even made any official announcement of his promotion
prevail
v. be widespread in a particular area at a particular time; be current:
During the labor negotiations, an air of hostility prevailed in the office.
prevail
v. prove superior
Before the cricket match, Australia was heavily favored, but India prevailed
prevaricate
v. to speak in an evasive way syn:beat around the bush,equivocate,palter,tergiversate
The cynic quipped, "There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to prevaricate".
primacy
n. the state of being first in importance
The primacy of Apple Computers is not guaranteed, as seen in the recent lawsuits and weak growth.
pristine
a. Immaculately clean and unused
Drill sergeants are known for demanding pristine cabinets, uniforms, and beds, and often make new recruits clean and clean and clean until they meet the expected high standards.
pristine
a. Unspoiled, untouched syn:usu. of nature
The glacial lake was pristine and we filled our canteens to drink deeply.
probity
n. integrity, strong moral principles
The ideal politician would have the probity to lead, but reality gravely falls short of the ideal of morally upright leaders.
prodigal
a. rashly or wastefully extravagant syn:extravagant,profligate,spendthrift
Successful professional athletes who do not fall prey to prodigality seem to be the exception - most live decadent lives.
prodigious
a. so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe syn:colossal,stupendous
After the relatively small homerun totals in the "dead ball" era, Babe Ruth's homerun totals were truly prodigious: every year, he set a new all-time record.
profligate
a. spending resources recklessly or wastefully syn:extravagant,prodigal,spendthrift
The composer Wagner, while living on a limited salary, was so profligate as to line all the walls of his apartment with pure silk.
profligate
n. someone who spends resources recklessly or wastefully
Most lottery winners go from being conservative, frugal types to outright profligates who blow millions on fast cars, lavish homes, and giant yachts.
profuse
a. plentiful; pouring out in abundance syn:exuberant,lush,luxuriant,riotous
During mile 20 of the Hawaii Marathon, Dwayne was sweating so profusely that he stopped to take off his shirt, and ran the remaining six miles wearing nothing more than skimpy shorts.
profusion
n. the property of being extremely abundant syn:cornucopia,profuseness,richness
When Maria reported that she had been visited by Jesus Christ and had proof, a profusion of reporters and journalists descended on the town.
prognostication
n. a statement made about the future syn:forecasting,foretelling,prediction
When the Senator was asked about where the negotiations would lead, he said that any guess he could make would be an unreliable prognostication.
prolific
a. intellectually productive syn:fecund,fertile
Schubert was the most prolific composer, producing hundreds of hours of music before he died at the age of 31.
prolixity
n. boring verbosity syn:long-windedness,prolixness,windiness,wordiness
I loved my grandfather dearly, but his prolixity would put me to sleep, regardless of the topic.
promulgate
v. state or announce syn:exclaim,proclaim
The President wanted to promulgate the success of the treaty negotiations, but he had to wait until Congress formally approved the agreement.
propitiate
v. to placate or appease
The two sons, plying their angry father with cheesy neckties for Christmas, were hardly able to propitiate him - the father already had a drawer full of ones he had never worn before or ever planned to.
propitious
a. presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success
The child's heartbeat is still weak, but I am seeing many propitious signs and I think that she may be healing.
proponent
n. a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea syn:advocate,advocator,exponent
Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents.
prosaic
a. dull and lacking imagination syn:earthbound,pedestrian,prosy,commonplace,humdrum,unglamorous,unglamourous
Unlike the talented artists in his workshop, Paul had no such bent for the visual medium, so when it was time for him to make a stained glass painting, he ended up with a prosaic mosaic.
proscribe
v. command against syn:disallow,forbid,interdict,nix,prohibit,veto
My doctor proscribes that I not eat donuts with chocolate sauce and hamburger patties for breakfast.
proselytize
v. convert to another religion, philosophy, or perspective syn:proselytise
Lisa loves her Mac but says little about it; by contrast, Jake will proselytize, interrogating anyone with an Android about why she didn't purchase an iPhone.
protean
a. readily taking on different roles; versatile
Peter Sellers was truly a protean actor - in Doctor Strangelove he played three very different roles: a jingoist general, a sedate President and a deranged scientist.
provident
a. careful in regard to your own interests; providing carefully for the future
In a move that hardly could be described as provident, Bert spend his entire savings on a luxurious cruise, knowing that other bills would come due a couple months later.
provincial
a. characteristic of the a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated
Maggie's enthusiasm about her high school teams seemed provincial to her college classmates, all of whom were following a nationally ranked college team.
provisional
a. under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon syn:probationary,provisionary,tentative
Until the corporate office hands down a definitive decision on use of the extra offices, we will share their use in a provisional arrangement.
puerile
a. of or characteristic of a child; displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity syn:adolescent,jejune,juvenile
Helen enjoyed blowing soap bubbles, but Jim regarded this as puerile, totally unworthy of a woman with a Ph.D.
pugnacious
a. eager to fight or argue; verbally combative
The comedian told one flat joke after another, and when the audience started booing, he pugnaciously spat back at them, "Hey, you think this is easy - why don't you buffoons give it a shot?"
puissant
a. powerful
Over the years of service, and quite to his surprise, he became a puissant advisor to the community.
punctilious
a. marked by precise accordance with details syn:meticulous
The colonel was so punctilious about enforcing regulations that men feel compelled to polish even the soles of their shoes.
pundit
n. someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field syn:initiate,learned person,savant
Steven Pinker's credentials are unquestioned as a pundit; he has taught at MIT and Stanford, teaches at Harvard, and has published a number of influential books on cognition, language, and psychology.
pyrrhic
a. describing a victory that comes at such a great cost that the victory is not worthwhile
George W. Bush's win in the 2000 election was in many ways a pyrrhic victory: the circumstances of his win alienated half of the U.S. population.
quail
v. draw back, as with fear or pain syn:cringe,flinch,funk,recoil,shrink,squinch,wince
Craig always claimed to be a fearless outdoorsman, but when the thunderstorm engulfed the valley, he quailed at the thought of leaving the safety of his cabin.
qualify
v. to be eligible for a role, status, or benefit by meeting specific requirements syn:measure up
If James had made more than $50,000 last year, then he wouldn't have qualified for the low-income scholarship.
qualify
v. to make less severe; to limit syn:a statement syn:restrict
Chris qualified his love for San Francisco, adding that he didn't like the weather as much as the weather in Los Angeles.
qualm
n. uneasiness about the fitness of an action syn:misgiving,scruple
While he could articulate no clear reason why Harkner's plan would fail, he neverless felt qualms about committing any resources to it.
quandary
n. state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options syn:dilemma
Steve certainly is in a quandary: if he doesn't call Elaine, she will blame him for everything, but if he does call her, the evidence of where he currently is could cost him his job.
querulous
a. habitually complaining syn:fretful,whiney,whiny
The querulous old woman was begining to wear down even the happier members of the staff with her ceaseless complaining.
quip
n. a witty saying or remark syn:epigram,crack,sally,wisecrack
In one of the most famous quips about classical music, Mark Twain said: "Wagner's music is better than it sounds."
quip
v. to make a witty remark, to say in jest syn:gag
When a old English teacher criticized Churchill for ending a sentence with a preposition, he quipped, "This is the kind of criticism up with which we will not put!"
quisling
n. a traitor syn:collaborationist,collaborator
History looks unfavorably upon quislings; indeed they are accorded about the same fondness as
Nero?봦e who watched his city burn down while playing the violin.
quixotic
a. wildly idealistic; impractical syn:romantic,wild-eyed
For every thousand startups with quixotic plans to be the next big name in e-commerce, only a handful ever become profitable.
quotidian
a. found in the ordinary course of events syn:everyday,mundane,routine,unremarkable,workaday
Phil gets so involved thinking about Aristotle's arguments that he totally forgets quotidian concerns, such as exercising and eating regularly.
raconteur
n. a person skilled in telling anecdotes syn:anecdotist
Jude is entertaining, but he is no raconteur: beyond the handful of amusing stories he has memorized, he has absolutely no spontaneous story-telling ability.
raffish
a. marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness syn:devil-may-care,rakish
The men found him raffish, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.
raft
n. a large number of something syn:batch,deal,flock,good deal,great deal,hatful,heap,lot,mass,mess,mickle,mint,mountain,muckle,passel,peck,pile,plenty,pot,quite a little,sight,slew,spate,stack,tidy sum,wad
Despite a raft of city ordinances passed by an overzealous council, noise pollution continued unabated in the megalopolis.
raillery
n. light teasing syn:backchat,banter,give-and-take
The new recruit was not bothered by the raillery, finding most of it light-hearted and good-natured.
rakish
a. marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness syn:devil-may-care,raffish
As soon as he arrived in the city, the rakish young man bought some drugs and headed straight for the seedy parts of town.
rankle
v. gnaw into; make resentful or angry syn:eat into,fret,grate
His constant whistling would rankle her, sometimes causing her to leave in a huff.
rapprochement
n. the reestablishing of cordial relations syn:reconciliation
Although Ann hoped that her mother and her aunt would have a rapprochement, each one's bitter accusations against the other made any reconciliation unlikely.
rarefied
v. make more subtle or refined
Jack's vulgar jokes were not so successful in the rarefied environment of college professors.
rash
a. marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences; imprudently incurring risk syn:foolhardy,heady,reckless
Although Bruce was able to make the delivery in time with a nightime motorcycle ride in the rain, Susan criticized his actions as rash.
ravenous
a. extremely hungry; devouring or craving food in great quantities syn:esurient,famished,sharp-set,starved,edacious,esurient,rapacious,ravening,voracious,wolfish
John didn't eat much at all during the week he had the flu, so now that he is regaining his health, it's not surprising that he has a ravenous appetite.
rebuke
v. criticize severely or angrily; censure syn:bawl out,berate,call down,call on the carpet,chew out,chew up,chide,dress down,have words,jaw,lambast,lambaste,lecture,rag,remonstrate,reprimand,reproof,scold,take to task,trounce
The police chief rebuked the two officers whose irresponsible decisions almost led to the deaths of seven innocent by-standers.
recapitulation
n. a summary syn:think of recap syn:recap,review
Every point of the professors lesson was so clear that the students felt his concluding recapitulation was not necessary.
reconcile
v. make syn:one thing compatible with syn:another, ??? 磨?? syn:accommodate,conciliate
Peggy was unable to reconcile her kind friend Jane with the cruel and merciless character Jane played on television.
recondite
a. difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge syn:abstruse,deep
I found Ulysses recondite and never finished the book, waiting instead to read it with someone else so we could penetrate its meaning together.
recrimination
n. mutual accusations
The two brothers sat and cried, pointing fingers and making elaborate recriminations of the other's guilt
recrudesce
v. to break out or happen again syn:break,develop,erupt
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.
redoubtable
a. inspiring fear or awe syn:formidable,unnerving
On television basketball players don't look that tall, but when you stand in front of a seven-foot tall NBA player, he is truly redoubtable.
redress
n. an act of making something right syn:remediation,remedy
Barry forgot his wife's birthday two years in a row, and was only able to redress his oversight by surprising his wife with a trip to Tahiti.
refractory
a. stubbornly resistant to authority or control syn:fractious,recalcitrant
Used to studious high school students, Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindgergarteners who neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said.
refute
v. prove to be false or incorrect syn:controvert,rebut
No one could refute his theories or propositions, and that is why he was esteemed by all his colleagues in the philosophy department.
register
v. to identify and show on a tool for measuring syn:read,record,show
The bomb was so strong that far away weather balloons registered the heat.
register
v. to put your name or other information in a list for something
If you'd like to buy a meal plan, you can register at the student affairs office.
relegate
v. assign to a lower position syn:break,bump,demote,kick downstairs
When Dexter was unable to fulfill his basic duties, instead of firing him, the boss relegated him to kitchen cleanup.
relevant
a. closely connected to the topic and therefore important
I think Professor McGarry can give you some relevant books to help you write that essay.
remiss
a. to be negligent in one's duty syn:delinquent,derelict,neglectful remiss in his duty to keep the school functioning efficiently, the principal was relieved of his position after only three months.
remonstrate
v. to make objections while pleading syn:bawl out,berate,call down,call on the carpet,chew out,chew up,chide,dress down,have words,jaw,lambast,lambaste,lecture,rag,rebuke,reprimand,reproof,scold,take to task,trounce
The mothers of the kidnapped victims remonstrated to the rogue government to release their children, claiming that the detention violated human rights.
renege
v. fail to fulfill a promise or obligation syn:go back on,renege on,renegue on
We will no longer work with that vendor since it has reneged on nearly every agreement.
replete
a. completely stocked or furnished with something
Only weeks after the hurricane made landfall, the local supermarket shelves were replete with goods, so quick was the disaster relief response.
reprisal
n. a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime
The Old Testament doctrine of an eye for an eye is not the kind of retaliation practiced in war; rather, an arm, a leg, and both ears are the reprisal for the smallest scratch.
reproach
v. to express criticism towards syn:upbraid
At first, Sarah was going to yell at the boy, but she didn't want to reproach him for telling the truth about the situation.
reprobate
n. a person who is disapproved of syn:miscreant
Those old reprobates drinking all day down by the river-they are not going to amount to much.
repudiate
v. reject as untrue or unfounded
Many in the public believed the rumors of a UFO crash outside town, so the chief of police did everything he could to repudiate the rumors.
rescind
v. cancel officially syn:annul,countermand,lift,overturn,repeal,reverse,revoke,vacate
The man's driver's license was rescinded after his tenth car accident, which meant he would never be allowed to legally drive again.
reservation
n. an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly syn:arriere pensee,mental reservation
I was initially excited by the idea of a trip to Washington, D.C. but now that I have read about the high crime statistics there, I have some reservations.
resignation
n. the acceptance of something unpleasant that can't be avoided syn:surrender
Since Jack could not think of a convincing reason why he had to miss the seminar, he attended it with a sense of resignation.
resolve
v. reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation syn:conclude
After much thought, Ted resolved not to travel abroad this summer because he didn't have much money in his bank account.
resource
n. some saved material that can be used for a purpose syn:especially money, anything used to make energy such as oil, or information sources such as books
Many of the richest countries have surprisingly few natural resources and must buy oil or gas from other countries.
respite
n. a pause from doing something syn:as work syn:break,recess,time out,
relief , rest , rest period
respite
Every afternoon, the small company has a respite in which workers play foosball or board games.
relief , rest , rest period
restive
a. restless syn:edgy,high-strung,highly strung,jittery,jumpy,nervy,overstrung,uptight
The crowd grew restive as the comedian's opening jokes fell flat.
resurgent
a. rising again as to new life and vigor syn:renascent
The team sank to fourth place in June, but is now resurgent and about to win the division.
reticent
a. reluctant to draw attention to yourself; temperamentally disinclined to talk syn:untalkative,retiring,self-effacing
When asked about her father, Helen lost her outward enthusiasm and became rather reticent.
retiring
a. to be shy, and to be inclined to retract from company syn:reticent,self-effacing
Nelson was always the first to leave soirees - rather than mill about with "fashionable" folk, he was retiring, and preferred the solitude of his garret.
retract
v. pull inward or towards a center; formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure syn:draw in,abjure,forswear,recant,resile
Email is wonderfully efficient, but once something awkward or damaging has been sent, there is no way to retract it.
reverent
a. feeling or showing profound respect or veneration syn:godly,worshipful
The professor could speak objectively about the other composers, but he always lectured about Brahms with a particularly reverent air, unable to offer a single criticism of his compositions.
ribald
a. humorously vulgar syn:bawdy,off-color
The speaker was famous for his ribald humor, but the high school principal asked him to keep the talk G-rated when he spoke to the student body.
rile
v. cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations syn:annoy,bother,chafe,devil,get at,get to,gravel,irritate,nark,nettle,rag,vex
Dan is usually calm and balanced, but it takes only one intense glare from Sabrina to rile him.
robust
a. sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction
Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more robust flavor.
row
n. an angry dispute syn:dustup,quarrel,run-in,words,wrangle
The Prime Minister looked very foolish after his row with the foreign dignitary was caught on video and posted on youtube.
rudimentary
a. being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles syn:fundamental,underlying
I would love to be able to present a fully polished proposal to the board, but right now, our plans for the product are still in the most rudimentary stages.
rustic
a. characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial syn:countrified,countryfied,bumpkinly,hick,unsophisticated
The vacation cabin had no electricity and no indoor plumbing, but despite these inconveniences, Nigel adored its rustic charm.
sagacious
a. having good judgement and acute insight syn:perspicacious,sapient
Steve Jobs is surely one of the most sagacious CEOs, making Apple the most recognizable and valuable companies in the world.
sanctimonious
a. making a show of being pious; holier-than-thou syn:holier-than-thou,pharisaic,pharisaical,pietistic,pietistical,self-righteous
Even during the quiet sanctity of evening prayer, she held her chin high, a sanctimonious sneer forming on her face as she eyed those who were attending church for the first time.
sanction
v. give authority or permission toSynonyms :approve,o.k.,okay
The authorities have sanctioned the use of the wilderness reserve for public use; many expect to see hikers an campers enjoying the park in the coming months.
sanction
n. a legal penalty for a forbidden action
International sanctions have been placed on certain shipping lanes that were thought to be involved in human trafficking.
sangfroid
n. calmness or poise in difficult situations
The hostage negotiator exhibited a sangfroid that oftentimes was more menacing than the sword at his throat, or the gun at his head.
sanguine
a. cheerful; optimistic syn:florid,rubicund,ruddy
With the prospect of having to learn 3,000 words during the course of the summer, Paul was anything but sanguine.
sardonic
a. disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking
A stand-up comedian walks a fine line when making jokes about members of the audience; such fun and joking can quickly become sardonic and cutting.
sartorial
a. related to fashion or clothes
Monte was astute at navigating the world of finance; sartorially, however, he was found wanting - he typically would attempt to complement his beige tie with a gray suit and white pants.
saturnine
a. morose or gloomy syn:dark,dour,glowering,glum,moody,morose,sour,sullen
Deprived of sunlight, humans become saturnine; that's why in very northerly territories people are encouraged to sit under an extremely powerful lamp, lest they become morose.
savvy
v. get the meaning of something syn:apprehend,compass,comprehend,dig,get the picture,grasp,grok
The student savvies the meaning of astrophysics with little effort.
savvy
n. a perceptive understanding syn:apprehension,discernment,understanding
Although a great CEO, he did not have the political savvy to win the election.
savvy
a. well-informed or perceptive
With his savvy business partner, the company was able to turn a profit within a year.
schadenfreude
n. joy from watching the suffering of others
From his warm apartment window, Stanley reveled in schadenfreude as he laughed at the figures below, huddled together in the arctic chill.
scintillating
a. describes someone who is brilliant and lively syn:aglitter,coruscant,fulgid,glinting,glistering,glittering,glittery,scintillant,sparkly,bubbling,effervescent,frothy
Richard Feynman was renowned for his scintillating
lectures?봳he arcana of quantum physics was made lucid as he wrote animatedly on the chalkboard.
screed
n. an abusive rant syn:often tedious
Joey had difficulty hanging out with his former best friend Perry, who, during his entire cup of coffee, enumerated all of the government's deficiencies--only to break ranks and launch into some screed against big business.
scrupulous
a. characterized by extreme care and great effort syn:conscientious,painstaking
Because of his scrupulous nature, Mary put him in charge of numbering and cataloging the entire collection of rare stamps.
scrupulous
a. having a sense of right and wrong; principled
Everyone trusted what he said and followed his example because he was scrupulous and honest.
sedulous
a. done diligently and carefully syn:assiduous
An avid numismatist, Harold sedulously amassed a collection of coins from over 100 countries - an endeavor that took over fifteen years, and to five continents.
self-effacing
a. reluctant to draw attention to yourself syn:reticent,retiring
The most admirable teachers and respected leaders are those who are self-effacing, directing attention and praise to their students and workers.
semblance
n. an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading syn:color,colour,gloss
While the banker maintained a semblance of respectability in public, those who knew him well were familiar with his many crimes.
sententious
a. to be moralizing, usually in a pompous sense
The old man, casting his nose up in the air at the group of adolescents, intoned sententiously, "Youth is wasted on the young."
sentimental
a. effusively or insincerely emotional, especially in art, music, and literature syn:bathetic,drippy,hokey,kitschy,maudlin,mawkish,mushy,schmaltzy,schmalzy,slushy,soppy,soupy
I don't like romanticism for the same reason I don't like melodramatic acting and soap operas - overly sentimental.
serendipity
n. the instance in which an accidental, fortunate discovery is made
By pure serendipity, Sarah discovered, at a flea market in Peoria, a matching earring to replace the one that fell down the storm drain back home.
serene
a. calm and peaceful syn:tranquil,unagitated
I'd never seen him so serene; usually, he was a knot of stress and anxiety from hours of trading on the stock exchange.
simulacrum
n. a representation of a person syn:especially in the form of sculpture syn:effigy,image
The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center showcases a simulacrum of all the present and approved buildings in the city of Shanghai.
simulacrum
n. a bad imitation
The early days of computer graphics made real people into a simulacrum that now seems comical.
sinecure
n. an office that involves minimal duties
The position of Research Director is a sinecure: the job entails almost no responsibilities, nor does the person in that position have to answer to anyone.
slapdash
a. carelessly and hastily put together syn:haphazard,slipshod,sloppy
The office building had been constructed in a slapdash manner, so it did not surprise officials when, during a small earthquake, a large crack emerged on the
fa챌ade of the building.
smattering
n. a slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of something syn:handful
I know only a smattering of German, but Helen is able to read German newspapers and converse with natives.
smug
a. marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction syn:self-satisfied
When Phil was dating the model, he had a smug attitude that annoyed his buddies.
snide
a. expressive of contempt; derogatory or mocking in an indirect way syn:sneering,supercilious
The chairman interpreted Taylor's question about promotions as a snide remark, but in all innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the company's process.
snub
v. refuse to acknowledge; reject outright and bluntlySynonyms :cut,disregard,ignore,rebuff,repel
Wheeler was completely qualified for the committee, but the board snubbed him, choosing an obviously lesser qualified candidate instead.
solecism
n. a socially awkward or tactless act syn:faux pas,gaffe,gaucherie,slip
Mother Anna was always on guard against any solecism from her children and scolded them immediately if any of them talked out of place in public.
solicitous
a. showing hovering attentiveness
Our neighbors are constantly knocking on our door to make sure we are ok, and I don't know how to ask them to stop being so solicitous about our health.
solicitude
n. a feeling of excessive concern syn:solicitousness
I walked to his house in the rain to make sure he had enough to eat while he was sick, but he seemed not to appreciate my solicitude.
soporific
a. inducing mental lethargy; sleep inducing syn:hypnagogic,hypnogogic,somniferous,somnific,soporiferous,narcotic
Although the professor is brilliant, his bland monotone gives his lectures a soporific effect.
sordid
a. involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul and run-down and repulsive syn:seamy,seedy,sleazy,squalid,flyblown
The nightly news simply announced that the senator had had an affair, but the tabloid published all the sordid details of the interaction.
spartan
a. unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment; practicing great self-denial syn:severe
After losing everything in a fire, Tim decided to live in spartan conditions, sleeping on the floor and owning as little furniture as a possible.
specious
a. based on pretense; deceptively pleasing, 幕卍? 碼??挽?邈 syn:gilded,meretricious
Almost every image on TV is specious and not to be trusted.
specious
a. plausible but false, ?万?? syn:spurious
He made a career out of specious arguments and fictional lab results, but lost his job and reputation when his lies were exposed by an article in The New York Times.
spendthrift
n. one who spends money extravagantly syn:scattergood,spend-all,spender
Taking weekly trips to Vegas, Megan was a spendthrift whose excesses eventually caught up to her.
splenetic
a. very irritable syn:bristly,prickly,waspish
Ever since the car accident, Frank has been unable to walk without a cane, and so he has become splenetic and unpleasant to be around.
sporadic
a. recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
The signals were at first sporadic, but now we detect a clear, consistent pattern of electromagnetic radiation eminating from deep space.
spurious
a. plausible but false syn:specious
When listening to a politician speak, it is hard to distinguish the spurious claims from the authentic ones.
spurn
v. reject with contempt syn:disdain,freeze off,pooh-pooh,reject,scorn,turn down
She spurned all his flattery and proposals, and so he walked off embarrassed and sad.
squander
v. spend thoughtlessly; waste time, money, or an opportunity syn:blow,waste,consume,ware
Fearing his money would be squandered by his family, he gave all of it to charity when he died.
squelch
v. suppress or crush completely syn:quell,quench
After the dictator consolidated his power, he took steps to squelch all criticism, often arresting any journalist who said anything that could be interpreted as negative about his regime.
staid
a. characterized by dignity and propriety syn:sedate
Frank came from a staid environment, so he was shocked that his college roommate sold narcotics.
stalwart
a. dependable; inured to fatigue or hardships syn:stout,hardy,sturdy
Despite all the criticism directed at the President during this scandal, Lisa has remained his stalwart supporter.
start
v. to suddenly move in a particular direction
All alone in the mansion, Henrietta started when she heard a sound.
staunch
a. firm and dependable especially in loyalty syn:steadfast,unswerving
No longer a staunch supporter of the movement, Todd now will openly question whether its goals are worthwhile.
steadfast
a. marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable syn:firm,steady,stiff,unbendable,unfaltering,unshakable,unwavering
A good captain needs to be steadfast, continuing to hold the wheel and stay the course even during the most violent storm.
stem
v. to hold back or limit the flow or growth of something
To stem the tide of applications, the prestigious Ivy requires that each applicant score at least 330 on the Revised GRE.
stipend
n. a regular allowance syn:of money
He was hoping for a monthly allowance loan from the government, but after no such stipend was forthcoming he realized he would have to seek other means of paying for his college tuition.
stolid
a. having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited syn:impassive
Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives.
stringent
a. demanding strict attention to rules and procedures syn:rigorous,tight
Most of the students disliked the teacher because of his stringent homework policy, but many students would later thank him for demanding so much from them.
stultify
v. cause one, through routine, to lose energy and enthusiasm syn:cripple
As an undergraduate Mark felt stultified by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school, in which he could focus solely on literary analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge.
stymie
v. hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of syn:block,blockade,embarrass,hinder,obstruct,stymy
The engineers found their plans stymied at every turn and were ultimately able to make almost no progress on the project.
subsume
v. consider syn:an instance of something as part of a general rule or principle syn:colligate
Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes all other modern novels, demonstrating modern literary devices and predating even the idea of a postmodern, metanarrative.
subsume
v. contain or include
The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pier and boardwalk, destroying everything in its path.
subterfuge
n. something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity syn:blind
Finally deciding to abandon all subterfuge, Arthur revealed to Cindy everything about his secret affair over the past two years.
subversive
a. in opposition to a civil authority or government syn:insurgent,seditious
The ruling political party has begun a campaign to shut down subversive websites that it deems as a threat to "national safety."
sullen
a. showing a brooding ill humor syn:dark,dour,glowering,glum,moody,morose,saturnine,sour
Herbert took board games too seriously, often appearing sullen after losing.
summit
n. the peak or highest point syn:acme,elevation,height,meridian,peak,pinnacle,superlative,tiptop,top,crest,crown
After hiking for two days, the climbers finally reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
summit
n. a meeting of high-level leaders
Since climate change policy has been mired in congressional fighting, this summit should help set the goals for president's next term.
supercilious
a. haughty and disdainful; looking down on others syn:disdainful,haughty,imperious,lordly,overbearing,prideful,sniffy,swaggering
Nelly felt the Quiz Bowl director acted superciliously towards the underclassmen; really, she fumed, must he act so preternaturally omniscient each time he intones some obscure fact - as though everybody knows that Mt. Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America.
superfluous
a. more than is needed, desired, or required syn:excess,extra,redundant,spare,supererogatory,supernumerary,surplus
The third paragraph in your essay is superfluous and can be deleted.
superfluous
a. serving no useful purpose syn:otiose,pointless,purposeless,senseless,wasted
How can we hope to stay open if we don't eliminate all superfluous spending, like catered meetings and free acupucture Tuesday?
supplant
v. take the place or move into the position of syn:replace,supercede,supersede,supervene upon
For many, a cell phone has supplanted a traditional phone; in fact, most 20-somethings don't even have a traditional phone anymore.
surfeit
n. an excessive amount of something syn:excess,overabundance
There was no such thing as a surfeit of shopping for Nancy--she could stay at the outlet stores from opening to closing time.
surly
a. inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace syn:ugly
Every morning, Bhavin was a surly unhappy person, but once he ate breakfast, he became loving, laughing, and a joy to be around.
surreptitious
a. stealthy, taking pains not to be caught or detected syn:furtive,sneak,sneaky,stealthy
Since his mom was a light sleeper, Timmy had to tiptoe surreptitiously through the entire house, careful to not make the floors creak, until he at last was able to enjoy his plunder: a box of chocolate chip cookies.
sybarite
n. a person who indulges in luxury syn:voluptuary
Despite the fact that he'd maxed out fifteen credit cards, Max was still a sybarite at heart: when the police found him, he was at a $1,000 an hour spa in Manhattan, getting a facial treatment.
sycophant
n. a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage syn:ass-kisser,crawler,lackey,toady
The CEO was unaware of the damaging consequences of his choices, largely because he surrounded himself with sycophants who would never dare criticize him.
taciturn
a. habitually reserved and uncommunicative
While the CEO enthusiastically shares his plans and agenda with all who will listen, the CFO is far more taciturn, rarely revealing his perspective.
tact
n. consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense syn:tactfulness
In a tremendous display of tact, Shelly was able to maintain a strong friendship with Marcia, even though Marcia's husband, Frank, confessed to finding Shelley more attractive than Marcia.
tantamount
a. being essentially equal to something syn:equivalent
In many situations, remaining silent is tantamount to admitting guilt, so speak to prove your innocence.
tarnish
v. make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically syn:defile,maculate,stain,sully
Pete Rose was one of the best baseball players of his generation, but his involvement with gambling on baseball games has tarnished his image in the eyes of many.
tawdry
a. tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy syn:brassy,cheap,flash,flashy,garish,gaudy,gimcrack,loud,meretricious,tacky,tatty,trashy,cheapjack,shoddy
Carol expected to find New York City magical, the way so many movies had portrayed it, but she was surprised how often tawdry displays took the place of genuine elegance.
taxing
a. use to the limit; exhaust syn:burdensome,onerous
The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so taxing that I could barely speak or stand up.
telling
a. significant and revealing of another factor
Her unbecoming dress was very telling when it came to her sense of fashion.
telltale
a. revealing
The many telltale signs of chronic smoking include yellow teeth, and a persistent, hacking cough.
temerity
n. fearless daring syn:audaciousness,audacity
No child has the temerity to go in the rundown house at the end of the street and see if it is haunted.
temperance
n. the trait of avoiding excesses syn:moderation,sobriety
Welles wasn't known for his temperance--he usually ate enough for two and drank enough for three.
tempered
a. moderated in effect syn:hardened,toughened,treated
The wide-eyed optimism of her youth was now tempered after she had worked many years in the criminal justice system.
tempestuous
a. as if driven by turbulent or conflicting emotions; highly energetic and wildly changing or fluctuating syn:angry,furious,raging,wild
Chuck and Kathy had always been stable and agreeable people on their own, but when they got involved, it was a tempestuous relationship.
tenacious
a. stubbornly unyielding syn:dogged,dour,persistent,pertinacious,unyielding
Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit some of the dangers that firearms present.
tendentious
a. likely to lean towards a controversial view syn:tendencious
Because political mudslinging has become a staple of the 24-hour media cycle, most of us, despite protestations to the contrary, are tendentious on many of today's pressing issues.
tender
v. offer up something formally syn:bid
The government was loath to tender more money in the fear that it might set off inflation.
thoroughgoing
a. very thorough; complete syn:exhaustive,thorough
As a thoroughgoing bibliophile, one who had turned his house into a veritable library, he shocked his friends when he bought a Kindle.
thrifty
a. spending money wisely syn:careful
He was economical, spending his money thriftily and on items considered essential.
thwart
v. hinder or prevent syn:the efforts, plans, or desires of syn:baffle,bilk,cross,foil,frustrate,queer,scotch,spoil
I wanted to spend a week in New York this autumn, but the high costs of travel and lodging thwarted my plans.
timorous
a. timid by nature or revealing fear and nervousness syn:fearful,trepid
Since this was her first time debating on stage and before an audience, Di's voice was timorous and quiet for the first 10 minutes.
tirade
n. an angry speech syn:broadside,philippic
In terms of political change, a tirade oftentimes does little more than make the person speaking red in the face.
torpor
n. inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy syn:listlessness,torpidity,torpidness
After work, I was expecting my colleagues to be enthusiastic about the outing, but I found them in a state of complete torpor.
tortuous
a. marked by repeated turns and bends; not straightforward syn:twisting,twisty,voluminous,winding
Because the logic behind McMahon's side of the debate was so tortuous, his audience came out either completely confused or, worse, feeling they'd been tricked.
tout
v. advertize in strongly positive terms; show off syn:blow,bluster,boast,brag,gas,gasconade,shoot a line,swash,vaunt
At the conference, the CEO touted the extraordinary success of his company's Research & Development division.
tractable
a. readily reacting to suggestions and influences; easily managed syn:controlled or taught or molded syn:amenable,manipulable
Compared to middle school students, who have an untamed wildness about them, high school students are somewhat more tractable.
transient
a. lasting a very short time syn:ephemeral,fugacious,passing,short-lived,transitory
The unpredictable and transient nature of deja vu makes it a very difficult phenomenon to study properly.
transitory
a. lasting a very short time syn:ephemeral,fugacious,passing,short-lived,transient
If we lived forever and life was not transitory, do you think we would appreciate life less or more?
transmute
v. change or alter in form, appearance, or nature syn:metamorphose,transform,transubstantiate
One of the goals of alchemy was to find the substance or process that would transmute lead into gold.
travail
n. use of physical or mental energy; hard work; agony or anguish syn:effort,elbow grease,exertion,sweat
While they experienced nothing but travails in refinishing the kitchen, they completed the master bedroom in less than a weekend.
travesty
n. an absurd presentation of something; a mockery syn:farce,farce comedy,burlesque,charade,lampoon,mockery,parody,pasquinade,put-on,sendup,spoof,takeoff
What I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced travesty of the form.
treacherous
a. tending to betray syn:perfidious,punic
Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his treacherous actions than for eliminating a criminal and murder.
treacherous
a. dangerously unstable and unpredictable syn:unreliable
The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across, and so I think I will stay put right here.
trenchant
a. characterized by or full of force and vigor; having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought, expression, or intellect syn:hard-hitting,searching
Jill presented a rather superficial treatment of sales in Asia, but her trenchant analysis of sales in Europe inspired a number of insights into how to proceed in that market.
tribulation
n. something, especially an event, that causes difficulty and suffering syn:trial,visitation
As of 2013, nearly 1.5 million Syrians have fled their country hoping to escape the tribulations of a civil war tearing their country to pieces.
trite
a. repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse syn:banal,commonplace,hackneyed,old-hat,shopworn,stock,threadbare,timeworn,tired,well-worn
Many style guides recommend not using idioms in writing because these trite expressions are uninteresting and show a lack of imagination on the part of the writer.
truculence
n. defiant aggressiveness syn:truculency
When the boss confronted Aaron about his earlier remarks, Aaron responded with utter truculence, simply throwing a glass of water in the boss' face and walking away.
truculent
a. having a fierce, savage nature
Standing in line for six hours, she became progressively truculent, yelling at DMV employees and elbowing other people waiting in line.
truncate
v. reduce the length of somethingSynonym: abridge
The soccer game was truncated when the monsoon rain began to fall.
tumult
n. a state of chaos, noise and confusion syn:garboil,tumultuousness,uproar,commotion,din,ruckus,ruction,rumpus
Riots broke out just in front of our apartment building, and the tumult continued late into the night.
turgid
a. syn:of language pompous and tedious syn:bombastic,declamatory,large,orotund,tumid
The amount of GRE vocabulary he used increased with his years--by the time he was 60, his novels were so turgid that even his diehard fans refused to read them.
turpitude
n. depravity; a depraved act
During his reign, Caligula indulged in unspeakable sexual practices, so it not surprising that he will forever be remembered for his turpitude.
tyro
n. someone new to a field or activity syn:beginner,initiate,novice,tiro
All great writers, athletes, and artists were tyros at one
time?봴nknown, clumsy, and unskilled with much to learn.
umbrage
n. a feeling of anger caused by being offended syn:offence,offense
Since he was so in love with her, he took umbrage at her comments, even though she had only meant to gently tease him.
unassailable
a. immune to attack; without flaws syn:impregnable,inviolable,secure,strong,unattackable,bulletproof,unshakable,watertight
Professor Williams is so self-assured as to seem arrogant, presenting each and every opinion as an unassailable fact.
uncanny
a. suggesting the operation of supernatural influences; surpassing the ordinary or normal syn:eldritch,unearthly,weird,preternatural
Reggie has an uncanny ability to connect with animals: feral cats will readily approach him, and sometimes even wild birds will land on his finger.
uncompromising
a. not making concessions syn:inflexible,sturdy
The relationship between Bart and Hilda ultimately failed because they were both so uncompromising, never wanting to change their opinions.
unconscionable
a. unreasonable; unscrupulous; excessive syn:exorbitant,extortionate,outrageous,steep,usurious
The lawyer's demands were so unconscionable that rather than pay an exorbitant sum or submit himself to any other inconveniences, the defendant decided to find a new lawyer.
undermine
a. to weaken syn:usually paired with an abstract term
The student undermined the teacher's authority by questioning the teacher's judgment on numerous occasions.
underscore
v. give extra weight to syn:a communication syn:emphasise,emphasize,underline
While the hiking instructor agreed that carrying a first aid kit could be a good idea under certain circumstances, he underscored the importance of carrying enough water.
underwrite
v. to support financially syn:subvent,subvention
The latest symphony broadcast was made possible with underwriting from the Carnegie Endowment.
unequivocal
a. admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion syn:unambiguous,univocal
The President's first statement on the subject was vague and open to competing interpretations, so when he spoke to Congress about the same subject later, he was cafeful to make his position completely unequivocal.
unflappable
a. not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure syn:imperturbable
The house shook and the ground quaked, but my dad was unflappable and comforted the family.
unforthcoming
a. uncooperative, not willing to give up information
The teacher demanded to know who broke the window while he was out of the room, but the students understandably were unforthcoming.
unimpeachable
a. free of guilt; not subject to blame; beyond doubt or reproach syn:blameless,inculpable,irreproachable
After his long and unimpeachable service to the company, Sharat felt that a gold watch was a slap in the face rather than an honor.
unnerve
v. to make nervous or upset syn:enervate,faze,unsettle
At one time unnerved by math problems, she began avidly "Magoosh-ing", and soon became adept at even combinations and permutations questions.
unprecedented
a. having never been done or known before; novel
When America first created its national parks, the idea of setting aside the most beautiful land in a country was unprecedented in the history of mankind.
unprepossessing
a. creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression syn:unpresentable
World leaders coming to meet Gandhi would expect a towering sage, and often would be surprised by the unprepossessing little man dressed only in a loincloth and shawl.
unpropitious
a. syn:of a circumstance with little chance of success
With only a bottle of water and a sandwich, the hikers faced an unpropitious task: ascending a huge mountain that took most two days to climb.
unruly
a. syn:of persons noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline; unwilling to submit to authority syn:boisterous,rambunctious,robustious,rumbustious,disobedient
Walk in to any preschool and I am sure that you will find an unruly and chaotic scene - unless it's nap time.
unscrupulous
a. without scruples or principles
In the courtroom, the lawyer was unscrupulous, using every manner of deceit and manipulation to secure a victory for himself.
unseemly
a. not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society syn:indecent,indecorous,unbecoming,uncomely,untoward
He acted in an unseemly manner, insulting the hostess and then speaking ill of her deceased husband.
unstinting
a. very generous syn:lavish,munificent,overgenerous,too-generous,unsparing,unstinted
Helen is unstinting with her time, often spending hours at the house of a sick friend.
untenable
a. syn:of theories etc incapable of being defended or justified syn:indefensible
With the combination of Kepler's brilliant theories and Galileo's telescopic observations, the old geocentric theory became untenable to most of the educated people in Europe.
untoward
a. unfavorable; inconvenient syn:indecent,indecorous,unbecoming,uncomely,unseemly,adverse,inauspicious
Some professors find teaching untoward as having to prepare for lectures and conduct office hours prevents them from focusing on their research.
untrammeled
a. not confined or limited syn:untrammelled
The whole notion of living untrammeled inspired the American Revolution and was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
unviable
a. not able to work, survive, or succeed syn:also spelled inviable.
The plan was obviously unviable considering that it lead to complete environmental destruction in the river valley.
upbraid
v. to reproach; to scold
Bob took a risk walking into the "Students Barbershop" - in the end he had to upbraid the apparently drunk barber for giving him an uneven bowl cut.
urbane
a. showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience syn:polished,refined,svelte
Because of his service as an intelligence officer and his refined tastes, W. Somerset Maugham became the inspiration for the urbane and sophistcate spy James Bond.
vacillate
v. be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action syn:hover,oscillate,vibrate,fluctuate,waver
Some students vacillate between schools when deciding which to attend, while others focus only on one school.
vacuous
a. devoid of intelligence, matter, or significance syn:asinine,fatuous,inane,mindless,empty,hollow
To the journalist's pointed question, the senator gave a vacuous response, mixing a few of his overall campaign slogans with platitudes and completely avoiding the controversial subject of the question.
vanquish
v. come out better in a competition, race, or conflict syn:beat,beat out,crush,shell,trounce
For years, Argentina would dominate in World Cup qualifying matches, only to be vanquished by one of the European countries during the late stages of the tournament.
variance
n. the quality of being different
The cynic quipped, "There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to lie".
vaunted
a. highly or widely praised or boasted about
For years, they had heard of New York City's vaunted skyline, and when they finally saw it, the spectacular cityscape did not disappoint them in the least.
vehement
a. marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions syn:fierce,tearing,trigger-happy,violent
While the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way, Andrew responded in a vehement manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.
venality
n. the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption
Even some of the most sacred sporting events are not immune to venality, as many of the officials have received substantial bribes to make biased calls.
veneer
n. covering consisting of a thin superficial layer that hides the underlying substance
Mark Twain referred to the Victorian Period in America as the "Gilded Age", implying the ample moral corruption that lay beneath a mere veneer of respectability
venerate
v. to respect deeply syn:fear,revere,reverence
The professor, despite his sleep-inducing lectures, was venerated amongst his colleagues, publishing more papers yearly than all of his peers combined.
venial
a. easily excused or forgiven; pardonable syn:excusable,forgivable
His traffic violations ran the gamut from the venial to the egregious - on one occasion he simply did not come to a complete stop; another time he tried to escape across state lines at speeds in excess of 140 mph.
veracious
a. truthful syn:right
While we elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be veracious, history has shown that such a hope is naive.
verisimilitude
n. the appearance of truth
All bad novels are bad for numerous reasons; all good novels are good for their verisimilitude of reality, placing the readers in a world that resembles the one they know.
veritable
a. truthfully, without a doubt syn:authentic,bona fide,unquestionable
Frank is a veritable life-saver - last year, on two different occasions, he revived people using CPR.
vicarious
a. felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another
The advent of twitter is a celebrity stalker's dream, as he or she can - through hundreds of intimate "tweets" - vicariously live the life of a famous person.
vicissitude
n. change in one's circumstances, usually for the worse
Even great rulers have their vicissitudes - massive kingdoms have diminished overnight, and once beloved kings have faced the scorn of angry masses.
vie
v. compete for something syn:compete,contend
While the other teams in the division actively vie for the championship, this team seems content simply to go through the motions of playing.
vilify
v. spread negative information about syn:rail,revile,vituperate
Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to say only complimentary things about Barbara, but Barbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd.
vindicate
v. to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof syn:justify
Even seven Tour de France wins cannot vindicate Lance Armstrong in the eyes of the public--that the athlete used performance enhancing drugs invalidates all those wins.
vindictive
a. to have a very strong desire for revenge
Though the other girl had only lightly poked fun of Vanessa's choice in attire, Vanessa was so vindictive that she waited for an entire semester to get the perfect revenge.
virago
n. an ill-tempered or violent woman syn:amazon
Poor Billy was the victim of the virago's invective - she railed at him for a good 30-minutes about how he is the scum of the earth for speaking loudly on his cellphone in public.
vitriol
n. abusive or venomous language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will syn:invective,vituperation
His vitriol spewed forth from a deep-seated racism that consumed his whole life.
vitriolic
a. harsh or corrosive in tone syn:acerb,acerbic,acid,acrid,bitter,blistering,caustic,sulfurous,sulphurous,virulent
While the teacher was more moderate in her criticism of the other student's papers, she was vitriolic toward Peter's paper, casting every flaw in the harshest light.
vituperate
a. to criticize harshly; to berate syn:rail,revile,vilify
Jason had dealt with disciplinarians before, but nothing prepared him for the first week of boot camp, as drill sergeants vituperated him for petty oversights such as forgetting to double knot the laces on his boots.
vociferous
a. conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry syn:blatant,clamant,clamorous,strident
In giving Marcia a particular vociferous response, Paul caused people at every other table in the restaurant to turn around an look at them angrily.
volubility
n. the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously syn:articulateness,fluency
The professor's volubility knows no bounds; he could talk through a hurricane and elaborate a point from one St. Patrick's Day to the next.
voracious
a. very hungry; approaching an activity with gusto syn:edacious,esurient,rapacious,ravening,ravenous,wolfish
Steven was a voracious reader, sometimes finishing two novels in the same day.
wanting
a. lacking syn:deficient,lacking
She did not think her vocabulary was wanting, yet there were so many words that inevitably she found a few she didn't know.
wanton
a. without check or limitation; showing no moral restraints to one's anger, desire, or appetites syn:easy,light,loose,promiscuous,sluttish
Due to wanton behavior and crude language, the drunk man was thrown out of the bar and asked to never return.&@`
wanton
wax
Due to wanton behavior and crude language, the drunk man was thrown out of the bar and asked to never return.&@`
whimsical
a. determined by impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason syn:capricious,impulsive
Adults look to kids and envy their whimsical nature at times, wishing that they could act without reason and play without limitation.
winsome
a. charming in a childlike or naive way
She was winsome by nature, and many people were drawn to this free and playful spirit.
zeitgeist
n. spirit of the times
Each decade has its own zeitgeist - the 1990's was a prosperous time in which the promise of the American Dream never seemed more palpable.
zenith
n. the highest point; culmination
At the zenith of his artistic career, Elvis was outselling any other artist on the charts.
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