|
diffidence |
shyness |
|
dilate |
speak comprehensively become
wider large |
|
disallow |
refuse to allow or accept as a
correct |
|
discern |
see with an effort but clearly |
|
discomfit |
confuse embarrass |
|
disconcert |
upset the self-possession of |
|
discountenance |
refuse to approve of |
|
discourse |
speech lecture |
|
discredit |
refuse to believe |
|
discreet |
careful/prudent |
|
discrete |
individually distinct |
|
disdain |
look on with contempt |
|
disencumber |
free from encumbrance |
|
disheveled |
untidy |
|
disingenuous |
sophisticated artful trying to
deceive cunning |
|
disinter |
dig up from the earth |
|
dislodge |
move force from the place
occupied |
|
dismal |
sad gloomy miserable |
|
disparate |
essentially different |
|
disproof |
proof to the contrary |
|
dissemble |
speak or behave so as to hide
something (in mind) |
|
disseminate |
distribute (esp. ideas) |
|
dissent |
have a different opinion refuse
to assent |
|
dissolution |
disintegration looseness in
morals |
|
distraught |
distracted violently upset in
mind |
|
divergence |
getting farther apart from a
point |
|
divestiture |
taking off getting rid of
giving up |
|
divulge |
make known something secret |
|
doggerel |
trivial poorly constructed
verse |
|
dogmatic |
positive certain arbitrary
without room for discussion |
|
dolt |
stupid fellow |
|
dormant |
in a state of inactivity but
awaiting development |
|
dote |
show much fondness center one's
attention |
|
drawl |
slow way of speaking |
|
droll |
jesting |
|
drone |
male bee person who isn't
self-employed |
|
drowsiness |
feeling sleepy half asleep |
|
dubious |
feeling doubt |
|
dud |
no use person something that
fails |
|
dulcet |
melodious harmonious |
|
dupe |
cheat make a fool of |
|
duplicity |
deliberate deception |
|
duress |
threats to compel smb |
|
dwarf |
person or smb much below the
usual size |
|
dynamo |
a generator something that
produces electric current |
|
earthenware |
dishes made of baked clay |
|
ebullience |
exuberance outburst of feeling |
|
ebullient |
overflowing with enthusiasm
showing excitement |
|
ecumenical |
representing the whole
Christian world |
|
edacious |
voracious devouring |
|
eddy |
circular or spiral movement
(e.g.. of wind) |
|
edible |
fit to be eaten/not poisonous |
|
effete |
infertile worn out weak |
|
efficacy |
production of a desired result |
|
effluvia |
outflow in a stream of
particles a noxious odor or vapor |
|
effrontery |
boldness impudence arrogance |
|
egress |
way out exit |
|
elaborate |
worked out with much care in
great detail |
|
elegy |
a lament a melancholy
composition |
|
elicit |
draw out |
|
eloquence |
fluent speaking skillful use of
language |
|
emaciate |
make thin and weak |
|
embellish |
make beautiful |
|
embezzle |
use in a wrong way for one's
own benefit |
|
emote |
stir up excite |
|
empirical |
relying on experiment |
|
encapsulate |
enclose in capsule |
|
encomium |
warm or glowing praise eulogy
panegyric |
|
encumbrance |
burden things that get on the
way of |
|
endearing |
making dear or liked |
|
endemic |
epidemic |
|
endorse |
write one's name on the back
of |
|
enduring |
lasting |
|
enervate |
weaken deprive of strength
attenuate |
|
engender |
cause produce give rise to |
|
engrave |
impress deeply |
|
engrossing |
taken up all the time or
attention writing in large or formal |
|
engulf |
swallow up |
|
enigma |
something that is puzzling |
|
enmity |
hatred being an enemy |
|
ensign |
flag/badge |
|
entangle |
put into difficulties |
|
enthral |
please greatly/enslave (fig) |
|
entice |
tempt or persuade |
|
entreat |
ask earnestly |
|
enunciate |
pronounce (words)/express a
theory |
|
enzyme |
catalyst |
|
epicurean |
devoted to pleasure (sensuous
enjoyment) |
|
epistle |
letter |
|
epithet |
adjective |
|
epitome |
brief summary representative
example a typical model |
|
equable |
steady regular |
|
equanimity |
calmness of temperament |
|
equilibrium |
state of being balanced |
|
equipoise |
equal distribution of weight
equilibrium |
|
equivocal |
having a double or doubtful
meaning suspicious |
|
equivocate |
try to deceive by equivocal
language |
|
eradicate |
get rid of pull up by the
roots |
|
erratic |
irregular in behavior or
opinion |
|
erudite |
learned scholarly |
|
eschew |
avoid |
|
esoteric |
abstruse intended only for a
small circle of |
|
espouse |
marry give one's support to |
|
eulogy |
formal praise panegyric |
|
euphoria |
elation state of pleasant
excitement |
|
euthanasia |
easy and painless death |
|
evasive |
tending to evade |
|
evince |
to show clearly to indicate |
|
evoke |
call up bring out |
|
excoriation |
severe criticism |
|
exculpate |
to clear from a charge of
guilt |
|
exhaustive |
complete thorough |
|
exigency |
emergency an urgent situation |
|
exoneration |
set smb clear free (e.g.. from
blame) |
|
exorbitant |
much too high or great |
|
expatiate |
to roam wander freely |
|
expedient |
likely to be useful for a
purpose |
|
expiation |
ending expiring |
|
exploit |
brilliant achievement develop
use selfishly |
|
expostulate |
argue earnestly to dissuade
correct or protest |
|
expurgate |
to remove obscenity purify
censor |
|
exscind |
to cut out cut away |
|
extant |
still in existence |
|
extempore |
without previous thought or
preparation |
|
extenuate |
reduce the strength of lessen
seriousness partially excuse |
|
extinct |
no longer active |
|
extinguish |
end the existence of/wipe or
put out |
|
extirpate |
to destroy exterminate cut out
exscind |
|
extol |
praise highly |
|
extort |
obtain by threats violence |
|
extralegal |
outside the law |
|
extricable |
that can be freed |
|
extrovert |
cheerful person |
|
exuberance |
state of growing vigorously
being full of life |
|
facetious |
humorous funny jocular |
|
facile |
easily done |
|
fagged |
too tired, exhausted |
|
fallacious |
based on error |
|
falter |
waver/move in an uncertain
manner |
|
fatuous |
without sense foolish
self-satisfaction |
|
fawn |
young deer try to win smb's
favor |
|
feckless |
lacking purpose or vitality
ineffective careless |
|
fecund |
fertile |
|
feint |
pretend |
|
felicitous |
apt suitably expressed well
chosen apropos |
|
felon |
person guilty of murder |
|
ferment |
substance become excited |
|
ferocity |
savage cruelty |
|
ferret |
discover by searching search |
|
fervid |
showing earnest feeling |
|
fervor |
warmth of feelings earnestness |
|
fetid |
stinking |
|
fetter |
to shackle put in chains |
|
feud |
bitter quarrel over a long
period of time |
|
fidelity |
loyalty accuracy |
|
fidget |
move restlessly make nervous |
|
figurehead |
carved image on the prow of a
ship |
|
finesse |
delicate way of dealing with a
situation |
|
finical |
too fussy about food clothing
etc. |
|
finicky |
finical |
|
fission |
splitting or division (esp. of
cells) |
|
fixate |
stare at |
|
flak |
criticism/anti-aircraft guns |
|
flamboyant |
brightly colored florid |
|
flaunting |
show off complacently |
|
flax |
pale yellow (hair) a plant |
|
fledged |
able to fly trained
experienced |
|
fleet |
number of ships quick-moving |
|
flinch |
draw move back wince |
|
flop |
fail/move/fall clumsily |
|
florid |
very much ornamented naturally
red (e.g.. of face) |
|
flout |
reject mock to go against (as
in going against tradition) |
|
fluke |
lucky stroke |
|
fluster |
make nervous or confused |
|
foible |
defect of character (a person
is wrongly proud) |
|
foil |
prevent from carrying out
contrast |
|
foment |
put something warm (to lessen
the pain) |
|
foolproof |
incapable of failure or error |
|
foppish |
like a man who pays too much
attention to his clothes |
|
forage |
food for horses and cattle |
|
forbear |
refrain from be patient
ancestor |
|
forbearance |
patience willingness to wait |
|
ford |
shallow place in a river (to
cross) |
|
forestall |
prevent by taking action in
advance preempt |
|
forfeit |
suffer the loss of something |
|
forge |
workshop for the shaping of
metal to shape metal lead |
|
forgery |
counterfeit |
|
forswear |
renounce disallow repudiate |
|
foster |
nurture care for |
|
fracas |
noisy quarrel |
|
fragile |
easily injured broken or
destroyed |
|
fragrant |
sweet-smelling |
|
frantic |
wildly excited with joy pain
anxiety |
|
frenetic |
frantic frenzied |
|
fret |
worry irritation wear away |
|
fringe |
edge ornamental border part of
hair over the forehead |
|
froward |
intractable not willing to
yield or comply stubborn |
|
frugal |
careful economical |
|
fulmination |
bitter protest |
|
fulsome |
disgusting offensive due to
excessiveness |
|
gainsay |
to deny to oppose |
|
garble |
make unfair selection from
facts |
|
garner |
to gather and save to store up |
|
garrulity |
talkativeness |
|
garrulous |
too talkative |
|
gaucherie |
socially awkward tactless
behavior |
|
germane |
relevant pertinent to |
|
gist |
the point general sense |
|
glean |
gather facts in small
quantities |
|
glib |
ready and smooth but not
sincere |
|
glimmer |
weak/unsteady light |
|
gloat |
over look at with selfish
delight |
|
glut |
supply to much fill to excess |
|
gnaw |
waste away bite steadily |
|
goad |
something urging a person to
action |
|
gorge |
eat greedily/narrow opening
with a stream |
|
gossamer |
soft light delicate material |
|
gouge |
tool for cutting grooves in
wood |
|
gourmand |
a person who is devoted to
eating and drinking to excess |
|
grandiloquent |
using pompous words |
|
grave |
serious requiring
consideration |
|
graze |
touch or scrape lightly in
passing |
|
gregarious |
living in societies liking the
company |
|
grievous |
causing grief or pain serious
dire grave |
|
grovel |
crawl humble oneself |
|
guile |
deceit cunning |
|
gullible |
easily gulled |
|
gush |
burst out suddenly/talk
ardently |
|
gust |
outburst of feeling sudden rain
wind fire etc. |
|
hack |
cut roughly hired horse |
|
halcyon |
calm and peaceful |
|
hallow |
to make holy consecrate |
|
harangue |
a long passionate speech |
|
harbinger |
something or smb that foretells
the coming of |
|
harrow |
to distress create stress or
torment |
|
haughty |
arrogant conceited |
|
heed |
attention/give notice to |
|
heinous |
odious (of crime) |
|
heresy |
belief contrary to what is
generally accepted |
|
hermetic |
sealed by fusion |
|
heterogeneous |
made up of different kinds |
|
hew |
make by hard work cut (by
striking) |
|
highbrow |
(person) with superior tastes |
|
hirsute |
hairy shaggy |
|
hoax |
mischievous trick played on smb
for a joke |
|
hoi |
polloi the masses the rabble |
|
hollow |
not soled with hole |
|
holster |
leather case for a pistol |
|
homiletics |
act of preaching |
|
hone |
stone used for sharpening
tools |
|
hoodwink |
trick mislead |
|
hospitable |
liking to give hospitality |
|
hubris |
arrogant pride |
|
hush |
make or become silent |
|
husk |
worthless outside part of
anything |
|
hypocrisy |
falsely making oneself appear
to be good |
|
iconoclast |
person who attacks popular
beliefs |
|
idiosyncrasy |
personal mannerism |
|
idolatry |
excessive admiration of |
|
idyll |
a carefree episode or
experience |
|
ignoble |
dishonorable common
undignified |
|
ignominious |
shameful dishonorable
undignified disgraceful |
|
illicit |
unlawful forbidden |
|
imbroglio |
complicated and embarrassing
situation |
|
immaculate |
pure faultless |
|
imminent |
likely to come or happen soon |
|
immutable |
that cannot be changed |
|
impair |
worsen diminish in value |
|
impassive |
unmoved feeling no sign of
passion |
|
impecunious |
having little or no money |
|
impede |
hinder get in the way of |
|
impediment |
something that hinders (e.g.
stammer) |
|
impending |
imminent being about to happen
expected |
|
imperative |
urgent essential |
|
imperious |
commanding haughty arrogant |
|
impermeable |
that cannot be permeated |
|
imperturbable |
calm not capable of being
excited |
|
impervious |
not allowing to pass through
(of materials) |
|
imperviousness |
haughty arrogant commanding |
|
impetuous |
having sudden energy impulsive
thrusting ahead forceful |
|
impiety |
lack of reverence or
dutifulness |
|
implacable |
incapable of being placated
unpleasable |
|
implicate |
show that smb has a share |
|
implicit |
implied though not plainly
expressed |
|
implosion |
collapse bursting inward |
|
importune |
beg urgently solicit (of a
prostitute) |
|
imprecation |
an invocation of evil a curse |
|
impromptu |
without preparation |
|
impudent |
rash indiscreet |
|
impugned |
challenged to be doubted |
|
impute |
to attribute to a cause or
source ascribe |
|
inadvertent |
not paying proper attention |
|
inane |
silly senseless |
|
inasmuch |
since because |
|
incense |
make angry |
|
incessant |
often repeated continual |
|
inchoate |
not yet fully formed
rudimentary elementary |
|
incipient |
beginning |
|
incise |
engrave make a cut in |
|
incite |
stir up rouse |
|
inclined |
directing the mind in a certain
direction |
|
incongruous |
out of place not in harmony or
agreement |
|
incorrigibility |
cannot be cured or corrected |
|
incredulous |
skeptical unwilling to believe |
|
inculcate |
fix firmly by repetition |
|
incumbents |
official duties |
|
incursion |
a raid a sudden attack |
|
indefatigability |
not easily exhaustible
tirelessness |
|
indelible |
that cannot be rubbed out |
|
indigence |
poverty |
|
indigenous |
native |
|
indistinct |
not easily heard seen clearly
marked |
|
indolence |
laziness |
|
indomitable |
not easily discouraged or
subdued |
|
indulge |
gratify give way to satisfy
allow oneself |
|
indulgent |
inclined to indulge |
|
ineffable |
to great to be described in
words |
|
ineluctable |
certain inevitable |
|
inept |
unskillful said or done at the
wrong time |
|
ineptitude |
quality of being unskillful |
|
inferno |
hell |
|
infuriate |
fill with fury or rage |
|
infuse |
put pour fill |
|
ingenuous |
naive young artless frank
honest sincere |
|
ingest |
take in by swallowing |
|
inimical |
harmful or friendly |
|
inimitable |
defying imitation unmatchable |
|
innocuous |
causing no harm |
|
inscrutable |
incapable of being discovered
or understood |
|
insensible |
unconscious unresponsive
unaffected |
|
insinuate |
suggest unpleasantly make a way
for something gently |
|
insipid |
without taste or flavor |
|
insouciant |
unconcerned carefree |
|
insularity |
narrow-mindedness isolated |
|
insurrection |
rising of people to open
resistance to |
|
interdict |
prohibit forbid |
|
interim |
as an installment |
|
intersperse |
place here and there |
|
intransigence |
unwillingness to compromise
stubbornness intractability |
|
intransigent |
uncompromising |
|
intrepid |
fearless brave undaunted |
|
introspection |
examining one's own thoughts
and feelings |
|
inundate |
flood cover by overflowing |
|
inured |
accustomed to adapted |
|
invective |
abusive language curses |
|
inveigh |
to attack verbally denounce
deprecate |
|
inveterate |
deep-rooted. long-established |
|
invincible |
too strong to be defeated |
|
involute |
complex |
|
irascible |
irritable easily angered |
|
irate |
angry |
|
ire |
anger |
|
irksome |
tiresome |
|
irresolute |
hesitating undecided |
|
irrevocable |
final and unalterable |
|
itinerate |
to travel from place to place
to peregrinate |
|
jabber |
talk excitedly utter rapidly |
|
jagged |
notched, rough |
|
jibe |
gibe make fun of |
|
jocular |
meant as a joke |
|
judicious |
sound in judgment wise |
|
knit |
draw together unite firmly |
|
labyrinthine |
to entangle the state of
affairs |
|
lachrymose |
causing tears tearful |
|
lackluster |
(of eyes) dull |
|
lament |
show feel great sorrow |
|
lassitude |
weariness tiredness |
|
latent |
present but not yet active
developed or visible |
|
laudatory |
expressing or giving praise |
|
lavish |
giving or producing freely
liberally or generously |
|
legacy |
something handed down from
ancestors |
|
levee |
formal reception/embankment |
|
levity |
lack of seriousness |
|
libel |
statement that damages
reputation |
|
liberality |
free giving generosity |
|
libertine |
immoral person |
|
lien |
legal claim until a debt on it
is repaid |
|
limn |
paint portray |
|
limp |
lacking strength walking
unevenly |
|
lionize |
treat as a famous person |
|
lithe |
bending twisting |
|
loll |
rest to sit or stand in a lazy
way hang (dog's tongue) |
|
lope |
move along with long strides |
|
loquacious |
talkative garrulous |
|
lucubrate |
write in scholarly fashion |
|
luculent |
easily understood lucid clear |
|
lugubrious |
mournful excessively sad |
|
lull |
become quiet or less active |
|
lumber |
move in a clumsy/noisy way |
|
luminary |
star light-giving body |
|
lurk |
be out of view ready to attack |
|
lustrous |
being bright polished |
|
macabre |
gruesome suggesting death |
|
macerate |
make or become soft by soaking
in water |
|
machination |
plot scheme (esp. evil) |
|
maladroit |
tactless clumsy |
|
malapropism |
misuse of a word (for one that
resembles it) |
|
malevolence |
wishing to do evil |
|
malign |
injurious speak ill of smb tell
lie |
|
malinger |
to fake illness or injury in
order to shirk a duty |
|
malleable |
yielding easily shaped moldable
adapting |
|
manacle |
chains for the hands or feet |
|
massacre |
cruel killing of a large number
of people |
|
matriculation |
be admitted enter a university
as a student |
|
maudlin |
sentimental in a silly or
tearful way |
|
maul |
hurt by rough handling |
|
maverick |
rebel nonconformist |
|
mellifluous |
sweetly flowing |
|
mendacity |
dishonesty |
|
mendicant |
a beggar |
|
mercurial |
quick changeable in character
fleeting |
|
meretricious |
attractive on the surface but
of little value |
|
mesmerize |
hypnotize |
|
meticulous |
giving great attention to
details |
|
mettle |
quality of endurance or
courage |
|
mettlesome |
courageous high-spirited |
|
middling |
fairly good but not very good |
|
minatory |
menacing threatening |
|
mince |
pronounce or speak affectedly
euphemize |
|
misanthrope |
person who hates mankind |
|
mischievous |
harmful causing mischief |
|
miser |
person who loves wealth and
spends little |
|
misogynist |
one who hates women/females |
|
mite |
Avery small amount, portion, or
particle |
|
moderation |
quality of being limited not
extreme |
|
mollify |
make calmer or quieter |
|
molt |
moult lose hair feathers before
new growing |
|
morbid |
diseased unhealthy (e.g.. about
ideas) |
|
morose |
ill-tempered unsocial |
|
muffler |
cloth worn round the
neck/silencer |
|
multifarious |
varied motley greatly
diversified |
|
mundane |
worldly as opposed to spiritual
commonplace everyday |
|
myriad |
very great number |
|
nadir |
lowest weakest point |
|
nascent |
coming into existence emerging |
|
nebulous |
cloud-like hazy vague
indistinct |
|
negligent |
taking too little care |
|
neophyte |
person who has been converted
to a belief |
|
nexus |
a connection tie or link |
|
nibble |
show some inclination to accept
(an offer) |
|
noisome |
offensive disgusting (smell) |
|
nonchalant |
not having interest |
|
nonplused |
greatly surprised |
|
nostrum |
a quack remedy an untested
cure |
|
noxious |
harmful |
|
nugatory |
trifling/worthless |
|
obdurate |
hardened and unrepenting
stubborn inflexible |
|
obfuscate |
to darken make obscure muddle |
|
oblivious |
unaware having no memory |
|
obloquy |
abusively detractive language
sharp criticism vituperation |
|
obsequious |
too eager to obey or serve |
|
obstreperous |
noisy loud |
|
obtain |
to be established accepted or
customary |
|
obtrusive |
projecting prominent
undesirably noticeable |
|
obtuse |
blunt/stupid |
|
obviate |
to make unnecessary get rid of |
|
occluded |
blocked up |
|
odious |
repulsive hateful |
|
odium |
contempt dislike aversion |
|
odor |
smell favor reputation |
|
officious |
too eager or ready to help
offer advice |
|
ominous |
threatening |
|
onerous |
needing effort burdensome |
|
opaqueness |
dullness/not allowing light to
pass through |
|
opprobrious |
showing scorn or reproach |
|
ossify |
to turn to bone to settle
rigidly into an idea |
|
ostensible |
seeming appearing as such
professed |
|
ostentation |
display to obtain admiration or
envy |
|
ostracism |
shut out from society refuse to
meet talk |
|
overhaul |
examine thoroughly to learn
about the condition |
|
overweening |
presumptuously arrogant
overbearing immoderate being a jerk |
|
paean |
song of praise or triumph |
|
palate |
roof of the mouth sense of
taste |
|
palatial |
magnificent |
|
palliate |
lessen the severity of |
|
palpability |
can be felt touched understood |
|
palpitate |
tremble beat rapidly and
irregularly |
|
panegyric |
formal praise eulogy |
|
paradigm |
a model example or pattern |
|
parenthesis |
sentence within another one
something separated |
|
pariah |
an outcast a rejected and
despised person |
|
parley |
negotiation, discussion between
enemies |
|
parsimonious |
too economical miserly |
|
partisan |
one-sided committed to a party
biased or prejudiced |
|
patron |
regular customer person who
gives support |
|
paucity |
scarcity a lacking of |
|
peccadillo |
small sin small weakness in
one's character |
|
pedantic |
bookish showing off learning |
|
pedestrian |
commonplace trite unremarkable |
|
pellucid |
transparent easy to understand |
|
penchant |
strong inclination a liking |
|
penitent |
feeling or showing regret |
|
penurious |
poor/stingy |
|
penury |
extreme poverty |
|
peregrination |
traveling about wandering |
|
peremptory |
urgent imperative
unchallengeable ending debate |
|
perfidious |
treacherous faithless |
|
perfidy |
treachery breaking of faith |
|
perfunctory |
done as a duty without care |
|
perilous |
dangerous |
|
peripatetic |
wandering |
|
perish |
be destroyed decay |
|
perjury |
willful FALSE statement
unlawful act |
|
permeate |
spread into every part of |
|
pernicious |
harmful injurious |
|
perpetrate |
be guilty commit (a crime) |
|
personable |
pleasing in appearance
attractive |
|
perspicacity |
quick judging and
understanding |
|
pertain |
belong as a part have
reference |
|
pest |
destructive thing or a person
who is nuisance |
|
petrified |
taken away power (to think feel
act) |
|
petrify |
to make hard rocklike |
|
petrous |
like a rock hard stony |
|
petulant |
unreasonably impatient |
|
philistine |
a smug ignorant person one who
lacks knowledge |
|
phlegmatic |
calm sluggish temperament
unemotional |
|
picaresque |
involving clever rogues or
adventurers |
|
pied |
of mixed colors |
|
pinch |
be too tight take between the
thumb and finger |
|
pine |
waste away through sorrow or
illness |
|
pious |
dutiful to parents devoted to
religion |
|
piquant |
agreeably pungent stimulating |
|
pique |
hurt the pride or self-respect
stir (curiosity) |
|
pitfall |
covered hole as a trap
unsuspected danger |
|
pith |
essential part force soft
liquid substance |
|
pivotal |
of great importance (others
depend on it) |
|
placate |
soothe pacify calm |
|
plaintive |
mournful melancholy sorrowful |
|
plaque |
flat metal on a wall as a
memorial |
|
platitude |
a trite or banal statement
unoriginality |
|
plea |
request |
|
plead |
address a court of law as an
advocate |
|
plethora |
glut |
|
pliant |
pliable easily bent shaped or
twisted |
|
plod |
continue doing something
without resting |
|
pluck |
pull the feathers off pick
(e.g.. flowers) |
|
plumb |
get to the root of |
|
plummet |
fall plunge steeply |
|
plunge |
move quickly suddenly and with
force |
|
poignant |
deeply moving keen |
|
poncho |
large piece of cloth |
|
ponderous |
heavy bulky dull |
|
portent |
omen marvelous threatening |
|
precarious |
uncertain risky dangerous |
|
precepts |
rules establishing standards of
conduct |
|
preclude |
prevent make impossible |
|
precursory |
preliminary anticipating |
|
predilection |
special liking mental
preference |
|
predominate |
have more power than others |
|
preen |
tidy/show self-satisfaction |
|
premature |
doing or happening something
before the right time |
|
preponderance |
greatness in number strength
weight |
|
presage |
warning sign |
|
presumption |
arrogance |
|
preternatural |
not normal or usual |
|
prevalent |
common |
|
prevaricate |
to equivocate to stray from the
truth |
|
prim |
neat formal |
|
pristine |
primitive unspoiled pure as in
earlier times unadulterated |
|
probity |
uprightness incorruptibility
principle |
|
proclivity |
inclination |
|
procrastination |
keeping on putting off |
|
prodigal |
wasteful reckless with money |
|
prodigious |
enormous wonderful |
|
profane |
worldly having contempt for
God |
|
profligacy |
shameless immorality |
|
profligate |
wasteful prodigal licentious
extravagant |
|
profundity |
depth |
|
profuse |
abundant/lavish |
|
proliferate |
grow reproduce by rapid
multification |
|
prolix |
tiring because too long |
|
prone |
prostrate inclined to
(undesirable things) |
|
propagation |
increasing the number spreading
extending |
|
propinquity |
nearness in time or place
affinity of nature |
|
propitiatory |
conciliatory appeasing
mitigating |
|
propitious |
auspicious presenting favorable
circumstances |
|
prosaic |
everyday mundane commonplace
trite pedestrian |
|
proscribe |
denounce as dangerous |
|
protracted |
prolonged |
|
provident |
frugal looking to the future |
|
provisional |
of the present time only |
|
provoke |
make angry vax |
|
prudence |
careful forethought |
|
prudish |
easily shocked excessively
modest |
|
prune |
dried plum silly person |
|
pry |
get something inquire too
curiously |
|
pucker |
wrinkle |
|
pugnacious |
fond of in the habit of
fighting |
|
puissance |
strength |
|
punctilious |
precise paying attention to
trivialities |
|
pundit |
pedant authority on a subject |
|
pungency |
sharpness stinging quality |
|
purvey |
provide supply |
|
pusillanimous |
cowardly craven |
|
putrefaction |
becoming rotten |
|
pyre |
large pile of wood for burning |
|
quack |
person dishonestly claiming to
something |
|
quaff |
drink deeply |
|
quail |
lose courage turn frightened |
|
qualm |
feeling of doubt temporary
feeling of sickness |
|
quandary |
state of doubt or perplexity |
|
quell |
suppress subdue |
|
quibble |
try to avoid by sophistication |
|
quiescence |
state of being
passive/motionless |
|
quiescent |
at rest dormant torpid |
|
quirk |
habit or action peculiar to smb
or something |
|
quixotic |
generous unselfish |
|
quotidian |
banal everyday |
|
rabble |
mob crowd the lower classes of
populace |
|
raconteur |
person who tells anecdotes |
|
raffish |
low vulgar base tawdry |
|
ramify |
to be divided or subdivided to
branch out |
|
rancorous |
feeling bitterness
spitefulness |
|
rant |
use extravagant language |
|
rapacious |
greedy (esp for money) |
|
rarefy |
to make thin to make less dense
to purify or refine |
|
rave |
act with excessive enthusiasm |
|
reactionary |
opposing progress |
|
rebuff |
snub |
|
recalcitrant |
disobedient |
|
recant |
take back as being FALSE give
up |
|
recast |
cast or fashion anew |
|
recidivism |
relapse into antisocial or
criminal behavior |
|
reciprocity |
granting of privileges in
return for similar |
|
recitals |
a number of performance of
music |
|
recluse |
person who lives alone and
avoids people |
|
recompense |
make payment to reward punish |
|
reconcile |
settle a quarrel restore peace |
|
recondite |
little known abstruse |
|
recreancy |
cowardice a cowardly giving up |
|
recuperate |
become strong after illness
loss exhaustion |
|
redeem |
get back by payment compensate |
|
redoubtable |
formidable causing fear |
|
refine |
make or become pure cultural |
|
refractory |
stubborn unmanageable
untractable |
|
refulgent |
shining brilliant |
|
regale |
to delight or entertain to
feast |
|
regicide |
crime of killing a king |
|
reiterate |
say or do again several times |
|
rejuvenation |
becoming young in nature or
appearance |
|
relapse |
fall back again |
|
reminiscent |
viewing the past |
|
remonstrate |
to protest object |
|
render |
deliver provide represent |
|
renovate |
restore something to better
condition |
|
renowned |
celebrated famous |
|
repast |
meal |
|
repel |
refuse to accept/cause dislike |
|
repine |
at be discontented with |
|
reproach |
scold upbraid |
|
reprobate |
person hardened in sin one
devoid of decency |
|
repudiate |
disown refuse to accept or pay |
|
repulsive |
causing a feeling of disgust |
|
requite |
repay give in return |
|
rescind |
repeal/annul/cancel |
|
resigned |
unresisting submissive |
|
resilience |
quality of quickly recovering
the original shape |
|
resort |
to frequently visit |
|
restive |
refusing to move reluctant to
be controlled |
|
resuscitation |
coming back to consciousness |
|
retard |
check hinder |
|
reticent |
reserved untalkative silent
taciturn |
|
retrospective |
Looking back on past |
|
revere |
have deep respect for |
|
reverent |
feeling or showing deep
respect |
|
riddle |
puzzling person or thing |
|
rift |
split crack dissension |
|
rivet |
fix take up secure metal pin |
|
roll |
call calling of names |
|
rotund |
rich and deep plump and round |
|
ruffian |
violent cruel man |
|
rumple |
make rough |
|
sagacious |
having sound judgment
perceptive wise like a sage |
|
salacious |
obscene |
|
salubrious |
healthful |
|
salutary |
remedial wholesome causing
improvement |
|
sanctimony |
self-righteousness hypocritical
with FALSE piety |
|
sanction |
approval (by authority)
penalty |
|
sanguine |
cheerful confident optimistic |
|
sanity |
health of mind soundness of
judgment |
|
sash |
long strip worn round the
waist |
|
satiate |
satisfy fully |
|
saturnine |
gloomy dark sullen morose |
|
savant |
person of great learning |
|
savor |
taste flavor something |
|
sawdust |
tiny bits of wood |
|
scabbard |
sheath for the blade |
|
scent |
smell (especially pleasant) |
|
scorch |
become discolored/dry up/go at
high speed |
|
scribble |
write hastily |
|
scurvy |
mean contemptible |
|
secular |
material (not spiritual) living
outside monasteries |
|
sedulous |
persevering |
|
seminal |
like a seed constituting a
source originative |
|
sententious |
short and pithy full of
maxims/proverbs |
|
sequence |
succession connected line of |
|
sere |
make hard and without feeling |
|
sermon |
reproving a person for his
faults |
|
serrated |
having a toothed edge |
|
serration |
having a toothed edge |
|
servile |
like a slave lacking
independence |
|
sever |
break off |
|
severance |
severing |
|
shallow |
little depth not earnest |
|
shard |
piece of broken earthenware |
|
sheath |
cover for the blade of a weapon
or a tool |
|
shrewd |
astute showing sound judgement |
|
shrill |
sharp piercing |
|
shun |
keep away from avoid |
|
shunt |
send from one track to another
lay aside evade discussion |
|
sidestep |
step to one side |
|
simper |
(give a) silly/self-conscious
smile |
|
sinuous |
winding undulating serpentine |
|
skiff |
small boat |
|
skit |
short piece of humorous
writing |
|
slack |
sluggish dull not tight |
|
slake |
to assuage to satisfy allay |
|
slate |
king of blue-grey stone propose
criticize |
|
sluggard |
lazy slow-moving person |
|
slur |
join sounds/words (indistinct) |
|
smolder |
burn slowly without flame |
|
snare |
trap |
|
snub |
treat with contempt |
|
soar |
rise fly high |
|
sober |
self-controlled |
|
sobriety |
quality or condition of being
sober |
|
sodden |
soaked saturated |
|
soggy |
heavy with water |
|
solvent |
of the power of forming a
solution |
|
somatic |
of the body |
|
soot |
black powder in smoke |
|
sophisticated |
complex subtle refined |
|
sophistry |
fallacious reasoning faulty
logic |
|
sophomoric |
self-assured though immature
affected bombastic overblown |
|
soporific |
producing sleep |
|
sordid |
wretched comfortless
contemptible |
|
spear |
weapon with a metal point on a
long shaft |
|
specious |
illogical of questionable truth
or merit |
|
splenetic |
bad-tempered irritable |
|
splice |
join (two ends) |
|
sponge |
porous rubber for washing live
at once expense |
|
spurious |
FALSE counterfeit |
|
spurn |
have nothing to do reject or
refuse |
|
squalid |
foul filthy |
|
squander |
spend wastefully |
|
squat |
crouch/settle without
permission |
|
stanch |
to stop the flow of a fluid |
|
steeply |
rising or falling sharply |
|
stentorian |
extremely loud and powerful |
|
stickler |
person who insists on
importance of something |
|
stigma |
mark of shame or disgrace |
|
stigmatize |
describe smb scornfully |
|
sting |
something sharp |
|
stingy |
spending using unwillingly |
|
stint |
to be thrifty to set limits |
|
stipple |
paint with dots |
|
stipulate |
state or put forward as a
necessary condition |
|
stolid |
showing no emotion impassive |
|
stray |
wander lose one's way |
|
streak |
long thin move very fast |
|
striated |
striped grooved or banded |
|
stride |
walk with long steps |
|
strut |
a supporting bar |
|
stygian |
hence dark gloomy |
|
stymie |
to hinder obstruct or block |
|
subdue |
overcome bring under control |
|
sublime |
extreme astounding |
|
submerge |
put under water liquid sink out
of sight |
|
suborn |
induce by bribery or something
to commit perjury |
|
subpoena |
written order requiring a
person to appear in a low court |
|
substantiation |
giving facts to support
(statement) |
|
subsume |
include under a rule |
|
succor |
assistance relief in time of
distress |
|
suffice |
be enough |
|
suffocate |
cause or have difficulty in
breathing |
|
sullied |
to be stained or discredited |
|
summarily |
briefly without delay |
|
sumptuous |
magnificent |
|
sundry |
various miscellaneous separate |
|
supercilious |
disdainful characterized by
haughty scorn |
|
superfluous |
more then is needed or wanted |
|
superimpose |
put something on the top |
|
supersede |
take the place of |
|
supine |
lying on the back slow to act
passive |
|
suppliant |
asking humbly beseeching |
|
supplicate |
make a humble petition to |
|
suppress |
prevent from being known put an
end to |
|
surcharge |
additional load/charge |
|
surfeit |
satiate feed to fulness or to
excess |
|
susceptibility |
sensitiveness |
|
swerve |
change direction suddenly |
|
sycophant |
person who flatter to the rich
and powerful |
|
synopsis |
summary or outline |
|
taciturn |
untalkative silent |
|
tadpole |
form of a frog when it leaves
the egg |
|
talon |
claw of a bird of prey |
|
tamp |
tap or drive down by repeated
light blows |
|
tamper |
interfere with |
|
tangential |
suddenly changeable |
|
tarnished |
lost brightness |
|
tassel |
bunch of threads |
|
taunt |
contemptuous reproach hurtful
remark |
|
taut |
tightly stretched |
|
tautology |
a repetition a redundancy |
|
tawdry |
cheap gaudy showy tacky |
|
teetotal |
oppose to alcohol |
|
telltale |
That gives warning or
information |
|
temerity |
boldness brashness
intrepidness |
|
temperance |
abstinence from alcohol
self-control moderation |
|
temperate |
showing self-control |
|
tenacity |
firmness persistency
adhesiveness tending to hang on |
|
tenuous |
insubstantial flimsy weak |
|
tepid |
lukewarm |
|
terse |
brief and to the point |
|
testiness |
witness/evidence |
|
thrift |
care economy thriving
prosperous |
|
thwart |
obstruct/frustrate |
|
timid |
shy easily frightened |
|
timorous |
fearful timid afraid |
|
toady |
obsequious flatterer |
|
tonic |
something giving strength or
energy |
|
topple |
be unsteady and overturn |
|
torment |
severe pain or suffering |
|
torpid |
sleeping sluggish lethargic
dormant |
|
torque |
twisting force causing
rotation |
|
tortuous |
devious/not straightforward |
|
tout |
person who worries others to
buy something to use his service |
|
tractable |
easily controlled or guided |
|
transgress |
break go beyond (a limit) |
|
transient |
temporary fleeting |
|
transitory |
brief |
|
travesty |
parody/imitation |
|
trenchant |
forceful effective vigorous
extremely perceptive incisive |
|
trepidation |
alarm excited state of mind |
|
trickle |
flow in drops |
|
trifling |
unimportant |
|
trite |
not new |
|
truce |
(agreement) stop of fighting
for a time |
|
truculence |
aggressiveness ferocity |
|
trudge |
walk heavily |
|
turbid |
muddy having the sediment
stirred up |
|
turbulence |
being uncontrolled violent |
|
turgid |
excessively ornate swollen or
bloated |
|
turmoil |
trouble disturbance |
|
turpitude |
wickedness shamefulness |
|
turquoise |
greenish-blue precious stone |
|
tyro |
tyro beginner |
|
ubiquitous |
present everywhere |
|
ulterior |
situated beyond |
|
umbrage |
offense resentment |
|
uncouth |
rough awkward |
|
underbid |
make a lower bid then smb else |
|
undermine |
weaken gradually at the base
make something under |
|
undulate |
to move in wavelike fashion
fluctuate |
|
unearth |
discover and bring to light |
|
unencumbered |
easy-going trifle |
|
unfeigned |
not pretended sincere |
|
unscathed |
unharmed unhurt |
|
untoward |
unfortunate inconvenient |
|
upbraid |
scold reproach |
|
urbane |
elegant refined in manners |
|
vacillation |
being uncertain hesitating |
|
vagary |
strange act or idea |
|
vain |
without use result conceited |
|
valiant |
brave |
|
valorous |
brave |
|
vanquish |
conquer |
|
variegate |
To mark with different shade or
colors |
|
veer |
change direction |
|
venal |
ready to do something
dishonest |
|
veneer |
surface appearance covering the
TRUE nature |
|
veneration |
regard with deep respect |
|
veracity |
truth |
|
verdant |
fresh and green |
|
verisimilitude |
appearing TRUE or real |
|
veritable |
real rightly named |
|
verve |
spirit vigor enthusiasm |
|
vestige |
trace or sign |
|
vex |
annoy distress trouble |
|
vigilance |
watchfulness self-appointed
group who maintain order |
|
vigilant |
member of a vigilance
committee |
|
vigorous |
strong energetic |
|
vilify |
slander say evil things |
|
vindictive |
having a desire to revenge |
|
virago |
a loud domineering woman a
scold or nag |
|
visceral |
of the internal organs of the
body |
|
viscous |
sticky/semi-fluid |
|
vitiate |
lower the quality weaken the
strength |
|
vituperate |
curse abuse in words |
|
vivacious |
lively high-spirited |
|
volatile |
changeable inconstant fickle
unstable explosive |
|
volubility |
fluency verbosity easy use of
spoken language |
|
voluble |
fluent |
|
waffle |
talk vaguely and without much
result |
|
waft |
scent waving movement carry
lightly through |
|
wag |
merry person |
|
warmonger |
person who stirs up war |
|
warrant |
authority written order
guarantee |
|
wean |
to turn away (from a habit) |
|
weigh |
measure hoe heavy something is |
|
welter |
turmoil a bewildering jumble |
|
wend |
to go proceed |
|
whimsical |
full of odd and fanciful ideas |
|
wince |
show bodily or mental pain |
|
woo |
try to win |
|
writ |
written order |
|
yarn |
tale story fibers for knitting |
