User:Gzhao91
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- abandon: to leave something behind
- abase: to cause to feel shame, to hurt the pride of
- abate: to make or become less
- abdicate: to give up a position of power
- abduct: to kidnap or seize
- aberrant: deviating from what is normal or desirable
- aberration: differing from what is normal or usual
- abet: to assist somebody to do something, especially something illegal
- abeyance: temporary inactivity or non-operation
- abhor: to loath, detest
- abide: to tolerate, to put up with
- abject: being in low spirit or hope
- abjure: to reject or give up
- abnegate: to give up or renounce something
- abolish: to put an end to something
- abolitionist: opponent of slavery, someone who supports the ban of something
- abominate: to hate violently
- aboriginal: existing from the earliest known times
- abortive: unsuccessful
- abound: to be plentiful
- abrade: to wear away
- abrasive: rough, coarse, harsh
- abreast: side by side; up to a certain level of knowledge
- abridge: to shorten by leaving important parts
- abrogate: to revoke formally
- abscond: to escape especially to avoid arrest
- absolute: complete, totally unlimited, certain
- absolve: to set free from duty or blame
- abstain: to keep oneself from doing something
- abstemious: marked by temperance in indulgence
- abstention: nonparticipation
- abstract: theoretical, non concrete
- abstruse: hard to understand, obscure
- absurd: ridiculous
- abut: to touch or be adjacent to something along one side
- abysmal: being terrible, awful or extremely bad
- accede: to give consent or agreement to something
- accelerate: to move faster
- accentuate: to stress, single out as important; to emphasize
- access: approach or admittance to places, persons, things, an increase (n/v)
- accessible: easy to approach, obtainable
- accessory: optional part, additional
- acclaim: to applaud, to announce with great approval
- acclimate: to get to used to different things, to familiarize
- accolade: applause
- accommodate: to provide a place for living; to help someone or adjust into harmony
- accomplice: partner in crime
- accord: agreement or treaty
- accost: to approach or confront
- accredit: to give somebody the authority to perform a function
- accrete: to grow larger
- accrue: to increase in amount or value
- acculturate: to take on other culture
- acerbic: harsh, bitter
- achromatic: colorless
- acknowledge: to recognize, admit
- acme: zenith
- acquiesce: to agree or go along well
- acrid: strong and sharp, harsh or corrosive in tone
- acrimonious: full of or displaying anger and resentment
- acrimony: bitterness and resentment
- actuate: to induce or start, to activate
- acuity: sharpness
- acumen: shrewdness shown by keen insight
- ad hoc: improvised, done for a particular purpose without considering wider issues
- ad infinitum: endlessly
- ad nauseam: to an extreme or annoying extent
- adage: traditional saying
- adamant: utterly unyielding
- adapt: to accommodate, to adjust
- addle: to befuddle
- adept: skilled; expert
- adhere: to cling or follow without deviation
- adhere: to stick fast to
- adieu: farewell
- adjacent: neighboring
- adjudge: to make declaration about, to declare
- adjudicate: to decide legally, to judge
- adjunct: something inessential added
- adjuration: earnest appeal or request
- adjure: to order solemnly
- admissible: allowable, allowed to be done
- admonish: to warn or urge, to advise
- admonition: mild but earnest rebuke, advice or caution
- adoration: great love and esteem, worship
- adrift: floating without direction, without a purpose
- adroit: skillful
- adulate: to flatter in an obsequious manner
- adulation: excessively admiring behavior
- adulterate: to contaminate or make impure
- adumbrate: to outline or sketch in an obscure way
- advent: the arrival of something important
- adventitious: accidental
- adventurous: daring to participate in something risky
- adversarial: antagonistic, competitive
- adverse: unfavorable
- adversity: hardship and suffering
- advocate: to support
- aerial: being or related to mid-air, above air
- aesthetic: pertaining to beauty or art
- affable: diffusing warmth and friendliness
- affected: pretentious, intended to impress others
- affection: love and friendliness
- affinity: kinship, attraction to
- affluent: rich, abundant
- affront: an open insult or giving of offense to somebody (n/v)
- afoul: into conflict, entangled
- afresh: again but in a new or different way
- agape: with the mouth wide open in surprise or wonder
- agenda: plan, schedule
- agglomerate: to pile or heap together
- agglutinate: to adhere
- aggrandize: to exaggerate or enlarge
- aggravate: to annoy someone
- aggregate: to collect together
- aggrieve: to give pain to one
- aghast: stuck with horror
- agile: nimble
- agitate: to make nervous and troubled
- agnostic: one denying the existence of something
- agrarian: relating to rural and farming
- ailment: any type of illness, sickness
- airs: affected manners intended to impress others
- akin: similar or closely related to something
- alacrity: promptness or eager and speedy readiness
- alas: unfortunately
- albeit: even though
- alfresco: outside, outdoors
- algorithm: established procedure for solving a problem or equation
- alias: assumed name
- alibi: excuse, the claim to have been somewhere else
- alienate: to cause to become unfriendly or hostile
- alight: to come down or settle, full of energy
- aliment: to support, something that sustains
- all-around: versatile, all-inclusive
- allay: to calm an emotion or worry
- allege: to report or maintain
- allegiance: loyalty
- allegory: symbolic representation
- alleviate: to provide physical relief, as from pain, to make easier
- alley: narrow passage
- allot: to assign, to give in portion
- alloy: combination (n/v)
- allure: the power to entice or attract through personal charm (n/v)
- allusion: indirect reference
- aloof: physically distant or apart from somebody or something, detached
- altercate: to engage in a heated argument or confrontation
- altruism: unselfishness
- amalgamate: to combine
- amaranthine: eternal, undying
- amass: to bring together
- amateur: practicing for the love of it, but not as a profession
- amatory: designated to excite love
- ambidextrous: with the ability to use both hands equally well, skillful in many ways
- ambiguous: being vague, unclear and confusing
- ambit: extent of limit of something
- ambition: the goal or aim, dream or desire
- ambivalent: unsure
- ambrosial: extremely pleasing to the taste, sweet and fragrant
- ameliorate: to improve
- amenable: agreeable, willing to cooperate
- amend: to make changes to something
- amenity: pleasantness resulting from agreeable conditions
- amiable: friendly, pleasant, likable
- amicable: friendly, peaceful
- amiss: wrong and improper
- amnesty: official pardon
- amoral: unprincipled, unethical
- amorous: inclined toward or displaying love
- amorphous: without a shape
- amphibious: operating or living on land and in water
- ample: plenty, being more than enough
- amplify: to increase in size, volume or significance, to add details
- amulet: charm or talisman
- anachronistic: outdated
- anaerobic: living or active in the absence of free oxygen
- analogous: similar in some respects
- anarchy: absence of government or law, chaos
- anathema: an object of loathing, curse
- anchor: to fasten, to secure
- anchorage: place that seems to give stability or security
- ancillary: providing support; auxiliary
- anew: again but in a new or different way
- angst: dread, anxiety
- anguish: suffering or pain (n/v)
- animadvert: to comment critically or unfavorably
- animate: to add enthusiasm or excitement
- animosity: hatred
- annex: an addition that extends a main building; to take illegally, as of territory
- annihilate: to destroy completely
- annul: to make something invalid
- anodyne: painkilling, serving to soothe, relax, or comfort
- anomalous: abnormal or strange
- anonymous: having no name or an unknown name
- antagonism: hatred
- antecedent: preceding in time or order
- antedate: to occur earlier than
- antediluvian: ancient, obsolete
- anterior: forward, or front
- anthology: collection of writing works
- antipathy: feeling of dislike
- antiquate: to make out of date
- antiquity: ancient times
- antithesis: direct opposite
- apace: quickly, abreast
- apathetic: indifferent, uninterested, lazy
- apathy: lack of concern of interest
- aperture: narrow opining
- apex: the highest point of something
- aphorism: succinct statement expressing an opinion or a general truth
- apiece: for each
- aplomb: confidence, calmness
- apocalypse: total disaster, destruction
- apocryphal: not genuine, fictional
- apostate: one who abandons his faith
- apotheosis: one having no equal, excellence
- appall: to horrify
- appeal: an earnest request, attraction (n/v)
- appease: to cause to be more favorably inclined
- appertain: to belong as a proper function or part
- apportion: to divide something among many
- apposite: relevant
- appreciable: sufficient enough to be noticed
- apprehend: to put under arrest, to grasp mentally
- apprehension: feeling of anxiety or fear that something bad will happen
- apprise: to inform or notice
- approbation: praise, official approval
- appropriate: to take possessions of
- apt: very appropriate to something, likely
- aptitude: inherent ability, power
- arable: suitable for cultivation
- arbitrary: random and illogical
- arboreal: relating to trees
- arcane: secret, obscure, only known to few
- archaic: belonging or relating to a much earlier period, old
- archetype: original model
- archipelago: group of many islands in a large body of water
- ardent: having intense enthusiastic
- arduous: requiring hard work or continuous strenuous effort
- arid: extremely dry or deathly boring
- aromatic: having a strong distinctive fragrance
- arraign: to charge with an offense
- arrant: completely such
- arrogate: to claim something without right
- arsenal: stockpile of weapons and military equipment
- articulate: well spoken (adj/v)
- artifice: clever trick. cunning
- artisan: craftsperson, expert
- artless: naïve, simple
- ascend: to rise or climb
- ascendancy: position of power or domination over others
- ascertain: to uncover and verify
- ascetic: self-denying, abstinent
- ascribe: to attribute or credit to
- ashen: pallid and pale
- asinine: utterly ridiculous or lacking sense
- askew: turned or twisted toward one side
- asperity: harshness or severity
- aspersion: defamatory remark
- asphyxiate: to suffocate
- aspire: to have great hopes, to aim at a goal
- assail: to attack, to assault
- assemble: to bring together, to collect, to put together, to build
- assert: to affirm
- assertion: strong statement that something is true
- assiduous: diligent and constant
- assimilate: to take in or incorporate
- assorted: mixed, of many different kinds purposefully arranged
- assuage: to provide physical relief, as from pain
- assurance: pledge, freedom from doubt, promise
- assure: to make certain of, to make a promise, to ensure
- astringent: harsh, severe, stern
- astute: marked by practical hardheaded intelligence, shrewd
- asylum: institution for the care, place of safety
- atone: to make amends for a wrong
- atrocious: shockingly brutal or cruel, very bad
- atrophy: to waste away in size or strength (v/n)
- attain: to gain with effort, to reach
- attentive: giving attention to something, considerate
- attenuate: to weaken
- attest: to show that something exists or is true or valid
- attire: to put clothes on
- attrition: deterioration, reduction
- attune: to adjust something to something else, to bring into harmony with
- audacious: bold, daring, fearless
- audible: capable of being heard
- augment: to expand, extend
- augur: to predict the future from an omen
- august: full of solemn splendor and dignity
- aura: distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing
- aural: of or pertaining to the ear
- auspicious: favorable, hopeful
- austere: stern, strict
- authentic: genuine, not counterfeit or copied
- authoritarian: extremely strict
- autocratic: absolute in power or authority
- autonomous: self-governing
- auxiliary: giving assistance or support (adj/n)
- avail: to use to one's advantage
- avarice: greed or desire
- avenge: to get even or revenge
- aver: to declare to be true
- averse: reluctant, strongly opposed
- aversion: strong feeling of dislike or hatred of somebody or something
- avert: to turn away
- aviary: large enclosure housing birds
- avid: marked by active interest and enthusiasm
- avouch: to attest, to guarantee
- avow: to state or affirm that something is a fact
- awe: feeling mixed of fear and wonder
- awestruck: full of awe
- awry: not in the proper position but turned or twisted to one side, amiss
- axiom: generally accepted truth
- baffle: to confuse
- bailiwick: area of activity or knowledge in which somebody has particular responsibility
- bait: to lure or attract
- baleful: wicked or threatening, deadly
- ballad: song that tells a story
- ballast: counter-balance
- ballistic: of projectiles
- balm: soothing, healing influence
- banal: boringly ordinary and lacking in originality
- bane: something causing death, destruction, ruin
- banter: to tease
- barb: sharp point that stick out and backwards
- barefaced: audacious, with no effort to conceal
- baroque: in highly exaggerated in style
- barren: incapable of producing offspring, unproductive (adj/n)
- barrier: something that obstructs or separates
- barring: apart from, expect for
- base: morally low or mean-spirited
- bashful: shy
- bastion: somebody or something regarded as providing strong defense or support
- bay: to bark, especially in deep, prolonged way
- beam: to smile warmly
- beatific: blissful happy
- beatify: to sanctify
- becalm: to make quiet
- befall: to happen
- befog: to confuse
- beforehand: in advance (adv)
- beget: to be the cause of something, to cause
- begrudge: to resent
- beguile: to attract, to cause to be enamored
- behemoth: huge creature
- behest: authoritative command or request
- behold: see with attention
- beholden: under an obligation, indebted
- belabor: to insist repeatedly on something unnecessary
- belated: late or delayed
- beleaguer: to bother and disturb
- belie: to misrepresent
- belittle: to regard or portray as less important
- bellicose: warlike, aggressive, quarrelsome
- belligerent: characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight, aggressive
- bellwether: leader
- bemoan: to regret strongly
- benchmark: standard
- benediction: expression of approval or good wishes
- benefactor: someone giving aid or money
- beneficent: producing benefit
- beneficiary: somebody benefiting from something
- benevolent: kind
- benighted: unenlightened
- benign: having a kind and gentle disposition or appearance
- benignant: gracious
- bequeath: to hand down or leave properties for the next generation
- bequest: something disposed of in a will
- berate: to scold somebody vigorously and lengthily
- bereave: to deprive through death
- bereft: deprived, lacking
- berserk: extremely aggressive or angry
- beseech: to implore or beg
- besmear: to smear something with mud, dirt or sticky substance
- besmirch: to bring shame or disgrace
- bestial: beastly
- bestow: to present something to somebody
- bestride: to stand across something or be on both sides of
- bewilder: to confuse
- bias: prejudice, unfairness, something favor for one side
- bicker: to argue
- bigoted: prejudiced and intolerant
- bilk: to defraud, cheat or elude
- billow: to surge or rise
- birthright: privilege or possession into which one is born
- bisect: to cut into two (usually equal) parts
- bittersweet: both bitter and sweet at the same time, causing happiness and sadness at the same time
- bizarre: conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
- blanch: turn pale, as if in fear
- bland: tasteless; boring
- blandish: to coax with flattery
- blasphemous: cursing, profane
- blatant: glaring, obvious, showy
- blazon: to make widely known
- bleak: bare, dreary, dismal
- blight: to afflict, to destroy
- blindside: to attack or hit on or from the side where the attacked person's view is obstructed
- bliss: total happiness
- blithe: carefree, joyous
- bloodcurdling: extremely alarming terrifying
- bluff: to mislead or deceive, a steep cliff
- blunder: serious or embarrassing mistake, usually the result of carelessness or ignorance
- blunt: dull, not sharp
- blush: to feel embarrassed, to redden
- bluster: to speak loudly, boisterously, or arrogantly
- bogus: fake or deceitful
- boisterous: rowdy, loud, unrestrained
- bolster: to strengthen something through support or encouragement
- bolt: to fasten (v/n); to run off
- bombastic: using high-sounding but meaningless language
- bona fide: undertaken in good faith, not counterfeit or copied
- bondage: slavery, any state of being bound or held down
- bonhomie: easy good-humored friendliness
- boomerang: to return to the initial position from where it came
- boon: blessing, something to be thankful about
- boorish: rude
- botanize: to study plants
- botch: to do something very badly out of clumsiness or lack of care
- bourgeois: middle class, conventional person (n/adj)
- bovine: relating to cows
- brace: to prepare oneself for something unpleasant or difficult
- brandish: to wave something about
- brash: impolite, rude
- brawn: very strong muscles, especially on the arms and legs
- brawny: strong, muscular
- brazen: harsh, extremely bold
- breach: to break a law or promise (v/n)
- brevity: shortness
- brittle: fragile, harsh
- broach: to mention or suggest for the first time
- broad: wide, large, big, wide-ranging
- brook: to put up with something; small stream
- brunt: the main force or effect of something
- brusque: marked by rudeness or peremptory shortness
- brutish: cruel, ruthless, or insensitive
- buckled: collapsed usually after pressure
- bucolic: of or pertaining to countryside
- bumptious: full of self-conceit
- bungle: to cause something to fail through carelessness or incompetence
- buoyant: cheerful or optimistic
- burden: onerous or difficult concern
- burgeon: to sprout or flourish
- burly: muscular and heavily built
- burnish: to polish
- buttress: to reinforce or support
- cache: to save up as for future use (v/n)
- cacophonous: having an unpleasant sound
- cadence: rhythmical flow or movement
- caitiff: cowardly
- cajole: to coax
- calamity: disaster or mishap
- calculated: deliberately planned or thought in advance
- caliber: quality or character
- calibrate: to mark with a standard scale
- callous: unsympathetic, cruel
- callow: immature, lacking sophistication
- calumny: slander
- camaraderie: friendship
- camouflage: to disguise or hide
- candid: frank, sincere, impartial
- candor: frankness or openness
- canine: relating to dogs
- canny: showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
- canorous: richly melodious
- cantankerous: easily angered and difficult to get along with
- capitulate: to submit completely, to surrender
- capricious: tending to make sudden and unpredictable changes
- capsize: to overturn
- captious: overly critical
- captivate: to charm, to fascinate
- captivity: the state of being imprisoned
- carapace: self-protection that shelters one as a shell
- cardinal: main, most important
- caress: to touch or stroke somebody or something affectionately (v/n)
- caricature: pictorial representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect, travesty (n/v)
- carnage: widespread and indiscriminate slaughter or massacre
- carping: finding fault
- cartography: science or art of making maps
- carton: box of cardboard paper
- cascade: to fall like a waterfall
- castigate: to criticize
- castrate: to take away the strength, power, force, or vigor of somebody or something
- catalyst: substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected
- cataract: eye disease; waterfall
- catastrophe: disaster
- categorical: absolute, certain, and unconditional, with no room for doubt, question, or contradiction
- catholic: free from provincial prejudices, broad
- caucus: private meeting
- caustic: biting, sarcastic, able to burn
- cauterize: to burn with heated iron
- cavern: any large dark enclosed space
- cede: to pass title to
- cement: to confirm or unite
- censor: to examine or edit (v/n)
- censorious: inclined or eager to criticize people or things
- censure: strong disapproval or harsh criticism
- cerebral: of the front brain, intellectual
- certitude: assurance, freedom from doubt
- cessation: stop
- chagrin: feeling of vexation or humiliation due to disappointment about something
- chameleon: changeable or inconstant person
- chancy: risky, random or haphazard
- chaotic: extremely disorderly
- charismatic: possessing an extraordinary ability to attract
- charlatan: one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes
- charming: pleasing or delighting, delightful, captivating
- chary: cautiously reluctant to do something
- chastise: to punish for misbehavior
- chastity: celibacy, pureness
- cherubic: having a sweet nature befitting an angel
- chide: to reproach or scold somebody gently
- chimerical: fanciful
- choler: anger, wrath
- chortle: to laugh quietly or with restraint (v/n)
- chromatic: relating to color
- chronic: something that’s none-ending
- chronicle: to record in chronological order (v/n)
- circuitous: lengthy because very indirect
- circumscribe: to encircle, to set limits on
- circumspect: cautious
- circumvent: to go around restriction
- citadel: fortress or stronghold
- civil: polite, relating to citizens
- clairvoyant: perceiving things beyond the natural range of the senses, foreseeing the future
- clammy: cold and damp
- clamor: loud harsh or strident noise
- clandestine: conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods, secret
- clasp: to grasp (v/n)
- classy: very stylish and elegant
- clemency: merciful leniency
- clench: to hold in a tight grasp
- cliché: trite or obvious remark
- clientele: clients or customers of a professional organization or business
- clincher: factor that decides the outcome of something
- clinical: scientifically detached, unemotional
- clique: small exclusive group
- cloister: to confine, to seclude
- cloying: overly sweet, excessive
- clump: to come together as in a cluster or flock (v/n)
- coagulate: to form one big mass
- coalesce: to grow together or cause to unite as one
- coarse: being rough, vulgar and bad-mannered
- coax: to influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
- cocky: overly self-confident or self-assertive
- coddle: to treat with excessive indulgence
- coerce: to compel by force or intimidation
- cogent: logically forceful
- cogitate: to think over
- cogitative: thinking deeply about or seriously considering something
- cognate: similar
- cognizant: fully aware or having knowledge of something
- coherent: intelligible, lucid, understandable
- cohesive: sticking, holding, or working together to form a united whole
- collaborate: to work together
- collateral: accompanying, serving to support
- colloquial: characteristic of informal speech
- collude: to work secretly with somebody
- collusion: conspiracy
- colossal: unusually or impressively large
- comely: attractive
- commandeer: to take arbitrarily or by force
- commence: to start, begin
- commend: to praise somebody or something in a formal way
- commensurate: of the same size or extent
- commerce: trade
- commodious: pleasantly spacious
- commotion: turmoil and disturbance, disorder
- commune: to communicate intimately with
- communicable: readily transmittable
- commute: to travel; to put something less severe in replace
- comparable: similar
- compassion: kindness and sympathy, care
- compatible: able to exist and perform in harmonious or agreeable combination
- compensate: to make up for or to pay back
- competent: properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient; capable
- complacent: satisfied
- complement: to make complete or perfect
- compliant: ready to conform or agree to do something
- complicity: involvement with another in doing something illegal or wrong
- comply: to obey or conform to something
- component: part or section of the whole
- comport: to behave in a certain way; to agree upon
- composure: calm and steady control over the emotions
- comprehensive: complete, covering many things or a wide area
- comprise: to include
- compromise: to settle an agreement
- compulsive: caused by or suggestive of psychological compulsion
- compulsory: something required or essential
- compunction: feelings of shame and regret about doing something wrong
- concatenate: to bring together
- concave: curding inward
- concede: to submit, to yield
- conceited: having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
- conceive: to imagine or visualize some idea
- concert: to contrive a plan by mutual agreement
- conciliate: to attempt to make compatible, to appease
- conciliatory: peace-making
- concise: expressing much in a few words
- conclusive: forming an end or termination
- concoct: to make up or invent; to prepare or produce
- concord: agreement
- concur: to have the same opinion or reach agreement on a specified point
- concurrent: occurring or operating at the same time
- condense: to abridge
- condescend: to do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
- condone: to regard something that is considered immoral or wrong in a tolerant way, to forgive
- conducive: favorable
- conduit: tube, pipe, or similar passage
- confederate: an accomplice
- confess: to admit, make a clean breast of
- confidant: someone to whom private matters are confided
- confide: to reveal in private, to tell confidentially
- configure: to set up or arrange parts
- confine: boundary, bound
- conflagration: large destructive fire
- conform: to adapt oneself to different conditions, to be in harmonious
- conformation: something’s structure
- confound: to puzzle or confuse somebody
- confute: to prove to be false
- congeal: to become thick or solid, as a solid freezing
- congenial: pleasant and suitable to somebody’s character or taste or to a situation
- congenital: existing at birth
- congest: to block to reduce movement
- conglomerate: collected group of varying things
- congregate: to gather into a crowd
- congruous: appropriate to or suitable for a particular thing or situation
- conjecture: an inference, something not supported by facts
- conjoin: to unite or link things
- conjure: to call forth, with or as if by magic, to do magic tricks
- connive: to be in collusion
- connoisseur: expert in an area
- connote: to imply or suggest something in addition to the main or literal meaning
- conscientious: very careful
- consecrate: to declare a place holy
- consensus: agreement in the judgment or opinion reached by a group as a whole
- consent: to give permission or approval for something to happen
- considerate: thoughtful of other people’s wants
- consolation: comfort
- console: to comfort; control panel
- consolidate: to merge into one, to strengthen
- conspicuous: obvious to the eye or mind
- consternation: fear resulting from the awareness of danger, dismay
- constrain: to force to act, to limit or restrain
- construe: to interpret
- consummate: to bring into conclusion; supreme or perfect
- contagious: easily diffused or spread as from one person to another
- contaminate: to make impure
- contemplate: to consider or plan, to look at
- contemplative: persistently or morbidly thoughtful
- contemporaneous: happening at the same time
- contemporary: person belonging to the same period; modern, current and up to date
- contemptuous: showing contempt, disdainful
- contention: opinion or claim stated in the course of an argument
- contentious: controversial, arguable
- contiguous: adjoining
- continence: self control and restraint
- contingent: depending on something that may or may be available
- continual: frequent
- contort: to twist out of natural shape
- contraband: illegal imports, smuggled goods
- contravene: to violate, to contradict something
- contrite: apologetic
- contrivance: cleverly made device or machine, especially one that is unusual
- contrive: to accomplish something by being clever and creative
- controversial: marked by or capable of arousing controversy
- conundrum: something puzzling, confusing, or mysterious
- convalesce: to recover after sickness
- convene: to meet, come together, assemble
- conventional: typical, customary, commonplace
- converge: to meet and join together
- convex: with a surface that curves outward
- convivial: sociable or friendly, welcoming
- convoluted: very complicated
- cope: to struggle against something
- copious: large in number or quantity
- cornucopia: abundance
- corpulence: obesity, fatness, bulkiness
- correlate: to have a mutual or complementary relationship
- corrigible: capable of being corrected or set right
- corroborate: to confirm
- corrode: to cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid
- corrupt: to change the mind to a worse condition
- cosmetic: relating to beauty
- cosmopolitan: worldly, having wide interests
- coterie: small exclusive group of people who share the same interests
- countenance: to approve, tolerate
- counterfeit: fake, false
- counterpart: the corresponding person, the matching part
- coven: group of witches
- covert: secret or hidden, not openly practiced or engaged in or shown or avowed
- coveted: greatly desired
- covetous: avaricious, eagerly desirous of
- cow: to intimidate or frighten somebody into submission
- cower: to crouch and tremble in fear
- cozen: to deceive, cheat, or defraud somebody
- craggy: rocky and rough
- craggy: rocky and steep
- cranky: grouchy, disagreeable and easily irritated
- crass: coarse and insensitive
- crate: to pack boxes for protection (v/n)
- craven: cowardly
- credence: acceptance, believability
- credential: official document
- credible: believable
- creditable: praiseworthy
- credulous: gullible, trusting
- creed: formal summary of the principles of the Christian faith
- creep: to move slowly, stealthily or furtively
- cremate: to incinerate
- crepuscular: like twilight, dim
- cringe: to shrink in fear
- crisis: unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
- criterion: basis for comparison
- critique: to evaluate and criticize, to review critically
- crow: to boast in triumph
- crude: not refined, lacking grace
- crux: the main feature, a vital part, the bottom line
- cryptic: deliberately mysterious and seeming to have a hidden meaning
- cubicle: small room or compartment
- cue: signal or indication
- cuisine: cooking style
- culinary: relating to food or cooking
- cull: to pick or select
- culminate: to reach the top, to come to an end
- culpable: guilty, deserving blame or punishment for a wrong
- culprit: someone who perpetrates wrongdoing, offender
- cumbersome: difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight
- cunning: shrewdness in deception
- cupidity: greed, stinginess and selfishness
- curmudgeon: crusty old person full of stubborn ideas
- cursory: hasty and without attention to detail, not thorough
- curt: marked by rude or peremptory shortness, brief and to the point, effectively cut short
- curtail: to cut short or limit
- cutthroat: ruthless in competition
- cynical: believing the worst of human nature and motives
- cynosure: center of attention; guide
- dabble: to have a casual or superficial interest in something
- damp: moist (n/adj/v)
- damper: depressing restraint; wet
- dapper: neat, smart in dress appearance
- daunt: to frighten someone, to overcome with fear, to intimidate, to dishearten, to discourage
- dauntless: invulnerable to fear or intimidation
- daze: to overcome as with astonishment or disbelief, to stun
- dearth: scarcity or lack of something
- debar: to exclude somebody, to preclude
- debase: to degrade or lower in quality or stature
- debauch: to corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality; a wild gathering
- debilitate: to sap strength of somebody or something
- debunk: to expose while ridiculing, especially of pretentious or false claims and ideas
- decadent: in a process of decline or decay, immoral
- deceive: to mislead; to trick
- deciduous: shredding leaves in fall
- decimate: to destroy large proportion of something
- decisive: settling something, crucial
- decorous: suitable for the conditions or circumstances
- decorum: dignity or correctness that is socially expected
- decouple: to disconnect or separate
- decoy: to lure to a trap
- decree: order with the power of legislation
- decrepit: in old and poor condition
- decriminalize: to remove or reduce the criminal status of
- decry: to express strong disapproval of, to criticize
- deduce: to come to a conclusion
- deface: to mar the appearance of, to vandalize
- defamatory: harmful to somebody’s good name, character, or reputation
- defame: to harm one’s reputation
- defeatist: showing a tendency to expect failure or accept it too readily
- defer: to put something off until a later time
- deference: respect, submission
- deferential: respectable and polite in a submissive way
- defiant: boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
- deficient: inadequate in amount or degree, lacking
- deflation: decrease, depreciation
- defray: to provide money to pay for
- defunct: no longer operative, valid, or functional
- defy: to challenge
- degenerate: to become worse
- degrade: to lower in grade or dignity
- dejected: in a low spirit
- delectable: with a delicious taste
- delegate: to assign a task to someone
- deleterious: with a harmful or damaging effect on somebody or something
- delineate: to describe or explain
- delirious: marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion
- delude: to deceive, to lead into false belief
- deluge: flood, sudden heavy downpour
- delusive: leading to a belief in something untrue or unreal
- demagogue: political leader who gains power by appealing to people’s emotions
- demarcate: to decide on and fix land boundaries
- demean: to reduce somebody to a much lower status in a humiliating way
- demeanor: outward behavior
- demise: death
- demobilize: to let go from military service
- demography: the branch of sociology that studies the characteristics of human populations
- demolition: destruction and annihilation
- demote: to reduce to a lower grade or rank
- demulcent: soothing substance
- demur: to express doubts or objections
- demure: sober or serious in manner, modest
- denigrate: to disparage
- denote: to have something as a specified meaning
- denounce: to speak out against
- deplete: to use up, to exhaust
- deplore: to find extremely unacceptable, to regret
- deploy: to spread out strategically over an area
- deport: to expel or banish
- depravity: moral perversion, impairment of virtue and moral principles
- deprecate: to denounce
- depreciate: to lose value gradually
- derelict: deserted, neglected (adj/n)
- deride: to ridicule or show contempt for somebody or something
- derisive: abusing vocally, expressing contempt or ridicule
- derivative: copied from somewhere and not original
- derogatory: disparaging
- desiccate: to remove the moisture from something or become free of moisture
- desist: to cease or stop doing something
- desolate: bare, uninhabited, and deserted
- despair: to lose all the hope (v/n)
- despicable: worthy of scorn, contemptible
- despondent: lacking hope
- despotic: ruled by or characteristic of a dictator
- destitute: lacking the necessities of life, very poor
- desultory: happening in a random, disorganized, or unmethodical way
- deter: to discourage or refrain someone in an action
- deteriorate: to lower in quality or value, to wear away
- detract: to take away a part from, to diminish
- deviant: abnormal or nonstandard
- deviate: to stray, to wander
- devious: characterized by insincerity or deceit, evasive
- devise: to plan
- devoid: completely lacking
- devour: to eat quickly, to take in eagerly
- devout: pious, sincere
- dexterous: physically skillful
- diabolic: showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil, evil
- diagnose: to determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness
- diaphanous: delicate or gauzy, so as to be transparent
- diatribe: bitter criticism
- dictate: to issue commands or orders for
- dictum: an authoritative declaration, a pronouncement
- didactic: containing a political or moral message, teaching
- diffident: shy and timid
- diffuse: to spread through
- digress: to move off the central topic
- dilapidate: to cause something to decay
- dilate: to become wider
- dilatory: tending to waste time or move slowly, intended to decay
- dilemma: quandary, problem
- diligent: hard-working, industrious
- dilute: to get thinner, to reduce
- diminutive: smaller than most others of the same type
- diplomacy: discretion, tact
- dire: causing fear or dread or terror
- dirge: funeral hymn
- disaffect: to alienate
- disarray: disorganized state (n/v)
- disburden: to gain relief by taking burden off
- disburse: to pay out money, especially from a fund
- discern: to see something that is not very clear or obvious
- discharge: to release or free
- disclose: to reveal to make known
- disconcert: to distress and disturb
- discontented: dissatisfied
- discordant: not in harmony
- discredit: to harm the reputation of, dishonor
- discreet: careful to avoid offending people
- discrepancy: distinct difference between two things
- discrepant: opposite
- discrete: completely separate and unconnected
- discretion: the good judgment and sensitivity needed to avoid embarrassing or upsetting others
- discursive: lengthy with digressions
- disdain: disrespect, contempt, scorn
- disencumber: to relieve somebody or something of a burden or problem
- disengage: to become detached
- disentangle: to free from tangles or complications
- disfigure: to mar the appearance of somebody or something
- disgorge: to pour out liquid, gas, or other contents in a gushing stream
- disgrace: to bring shame on, to degrade
- disgruntled: displeased, annoyed
- dishearten: to take away the enthusiasm of, to discourage
- dishevel: to disarrange or rumple
- disillusion: freeing from false belief or illusions
- disintegrate: to lose wholeness
- disinterested: without prejudice, unbiased
- disjunctive: separating, dividing
- dislocate: to put out of place (ant. restore)
- dislodge: to remove, to dislocate
- dismantle: to take apart
- dismay: to discourage somebody (v/n)
- dismissive: indicating rejection, especially showing contempt or indifference
- disorient: to cause to be lost or disoriented
- disown: to refuse or no longer acknowledge a connection with somebody or something
- disparage: to belittle
- disparate: different in kind
- disparity: lack of equality between things or people
- dispassionate: not influenced by emotion or personal feelings
- dispel: to force to go away
- dispense: to give out
- disperse: to scatter, to cause to separate and go in different directions
- dispirit: to discourage or dishearten somebody
- disrepute: to disgrace, to dishonor
- dissemble: to put on a false appearance in order to conceal facts, feelings, or intentions
- disseminate: to spread
- dissent: to disagree
- dissertation: long essay, formal discourse
- dissever: to separate
- dissident: dissenter, rebel
- dissipate: to scatter and disappear
- dissolute: lacking moral restraint, indulging in sensual pleasures or vices
- dissuade: to persuade somebody not to do something, to deter
- distend: to swell or stretch
- distinctive: having characteristics that distinguish one thing from others
- distraught: extremely upset
- dither: to be agitated and indecisive
- diurnal: in the daytime, happening every day
- diversion: distraction, activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
- divert: to turn away, to switch, to distract
- divest: to take away something, to separate from
- divine: heavenly and great; to discover or realize something, as if supernaturally
- divisive: causing disagreement
- divulge: to tell, reveal, to make public
- doable: can be done, achievable
- docile: easily handled or managed
- doctrinaire: dogmatic
- dogged: stubborn and determined
- dogmatic: prone to expressing strongly held beliefs and opinions
- doleful: very sad and mournful
- dolorous: showing, causing, or involving sorrow
- domestic: concerning the internal affairs of a nation
- domineer: to rule tyrannically
- dormant: not active but capable of becoming active, latent
- dote: to show extreme fondness
- dour: gloomy and sullen
- doyen: most senior man in a group or profession
- dreary: lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise, dull
- drivel: silly and irrelevant or inaccurate talk (n/v)
- droll: amusing in a wry or odd way
- drooping: weak from exhaustion
- dross: waste matter
- drudge: to work hard (v/n)
- dubious: uncertain about an outcome or conclusion
- dubitable: uncertain, open to doubt or suspicion
- dulcet: extremely pleasant in a gentle way
- dupe: to fool, the victim of deceit
- duplicitous: marked by deliberate deceptiveness
- dwindle: to shrink or decrease
- dysfunctional: failing to function properly
- dyspeptic: having acid indigestion, bad-tempered
- earnest: intensely serious and sincere
- ease: to free from pain, worry, or agitation (v/n)
- ebb: to flow back or recede (v/n)
- ebullient: full of cheerful excitement or enthusiasm
- eccentric: unconventional
- eclectic: selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
- eclipse: to exceed in importance, to darken
- ecstatic: delighted
- edacious: voracious, or devoted to gluttony
- edict: proclamation
- edifice: building, structure
- edify: to improve the morals or knowledge of somebody
- efface: to remove or obliterate something by rubbing, to behave humbly
- effervesce: to give off gas in small bubbles, often producing foam and a hissing sound
- effigy: stuffed doll, likeness of a person
- effrontery: impudence
- effulgent: brilliantly shining
- effusive: giving or involving an extravagant of feelings in writing or speech, demonstrative
- egotism: selfishness, lack of consideration for others
- egregious: bad, blatant, or ridiculous to an extraordinary degree
- elaborate: to work with many details, very complicated and rich with details
- elation: feeling of joy and pride
- elegiac: expressing sorrow or regret
- elevate: to raise something up, to promote
- elicit: to bring something latent or potential out
- elite: group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status (n/adj)
- ellipsis: omission or suppression of parts of words or sentences
- elocution: art of speaking clearly and well, with correct enunciation
- elongate: to make something longer
- eloquent: skilled or fluent in expression
- elucidate: to explain or clarify something
- elusive: difficult to find or catch
- emaciated: extremely thin, starving
- emanate: to flow forth or proceed, as from some source
- emancipate: to free from slavery, to release or liberate
- embargo: ban on commerce or trade
- embed: to fix firmly
- embellish: to beautify something
- embezzle: to misuse entrusted money or property
- embroil: to entangle into strife
- emigrate: to leave to another country (emigrate from, immigrant to)
- eminent: standing above the others in rank, famous/ important
- emollient: softening or soothing, especially to the skin
- empathetic: having complete understanding of another’s feelings
- emphatic: expressed or done with emphasis, forcible and definite
- empirical: based on observation and experiment
- emulate: to strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
- enact: to make proposed legislation into law
- enamor: to attract, to charm
- enchant: to charm one, to cast a spell
- enclose: to surround or encircle, to include
- encomium: formal expression of praise
- encumber: to hamper or impede somebody or something
- endear: to make something affectionately loved
- endeavor: to try to do something; effort
- endemic: native, characteristic of an area
- endorse: to approve formally
- endow: to give qualities or abilities to, to award
- endue: to endow somebody or something with an ability or quality
- enervate: to weaken
- enfeeble: to debilitate
- enfranchise: to grant freedom to
- engender: to produce or create
- engross: to take up somebody’s whole attention
- enigmatic: puzzling, inexplicable
- enjoin: to command somebody to do something or behave in a certain way
- enlighten: to give clarifying information
- enliven: to invigorate
- enmity: intense hatred
- ennoble: to dignify
- ennui: boredom
- enormity: extreme evil or moral offensiveness
- enraged: extremely angry
- enrapture: to fill somebody with delight
- ensconce: to fix firmly
- ensue: to result or develop
- entail: to have as consequence
- entangle: to put into difficult situation
- enthrall: to hold spellbound, to charm
- enthrone: to crown one on throne
- enthuse: to be or make enthusiastic
- entice: to attract
- entitle: to qualify
- entity: object
- entrance: to fascinate
- entreat: to plead desperately
- entrée: something that permits entry into something
- enunciate: to speak clearly
- envoy: representative or messenger, agent
- ephemeral: enduring a very short time
- epicure: somebody who has developed a refined taste for food
- epigram: short, witty saying or poem
- epigraph: introduction quotation
- epilogue: concluding section of a literary work
- epistolary: taking the form of a letter or a series of letters
- epitome: perfect example
- epitomize: to be a highly representative example of something
- epoch: point of time marking a new era
- equanimity: calm temperament
- equine: of horses
- equivocate: to use vague or ambiguous language intentionally
- eradicate: to remove
- ergo: therefore or consequently
- errant: behaving in an unacceptable manner
- erratic: having no fixed course; irregular, unpredictable
- erroneous: incorrect, containing mistakes
- erstwhile: former, previous
- erudite: having or showing profound knowledge
- escalate: to elevate, to increase in intensity
- eschew: to avoid and stay away from deliberately, stay clear of
- esoteric: beyond most people’s understanding knowledge
- espouse: to advocate; to marry
- estrange: to alienate
- eternal: continuing forever or indefinitely
- ethereal: very highly refined, airy
- eulogy: spoken or written laudation of a person's life or character
- euphemism: use of an inoffensive word or phrase in replace of a more distasteful one
- euphonious: having a pleasant sound
- euphoria: feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation
- evade: to avoid, to dodge
- evanescent: fleeting, brief
- evasion: escape, avoidance
- evict: to expel or eject without recourse to legal process, to force to leave
- evoke: to bring to mind a memory or feeling, especially from the past
- exacerbate: to make worse
- exacting: requiring concentration and strict attention to detail
- exalt: to raise somebody or something in rank, position, or esteem
- exasperate: to make furious or worse, to infuriate
- excavate: to remove earth or soil by digging or scooping out
- excerpt: passage selected from a larger work
- excoriate: to severely criticize somebody or something
- excruciate: to cause extreme pains of
- exculpate: to acquit
- execrable: extremely bad or of very low quality
- execute: to carry out and run
- exemplary: serving as a model, outstanding
- exempt: excused, excepted
- exhalation: the state of being energetic or filled with happiness
- exhaustive: complete, through
- exhilarating: exciting, filled with emotion
- exhort: to urge to do something
- exhume: to dig up, to reintroduce something
- exigent: needing immediate action
- exile: the sending people away from his country (n/v)
- exodus: mass departure from a place or country
- exonerate: to declare officially one is not guilty
- exorbitant: very expensive, excessive
- exorcise: to get rid of oppressive feeling
- exotic: foreign
- expatriate: to settle in another country (v/n)
- expectorate: to cough up and spit forth, clearing passages
- expedient: advantageous, useful; means to an end
- expedite: to facilitate, to help along
- expeditious: characterized by speed and efficiency
- expiate: to atone for wrongdoing
- explicate: to explain something, especially a literary text, in a detailed and formal way
- explicit: open and precise
- exploit: to make use of; feat, deed
- exponent: somebody who supports a cause and speaks in favor of it
- exposition: systematic interpretation or explanation
- expostulate: to reason earnestly with someone in an effort to dissuade or correct
- expound: to describe and explain something in detail
- expropriate: to confiscate
- expunge: to remove
- expurgate: to edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
- exquisite: intense or sharp, of extreme beauty
- extant: still in existence
- extemporaneous: without preparing
- extemporize: to improvise
- extent: area in which something extends
- extenuate: to diminish the gravity or importance of
- exterminate: to totally annihilate
- extol: to praise
- extradite: to hand over to the authorities of another country
- extraordinary: beyond what is ordinary or usual, highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
- extrapolate: to infer something unknown from facts
- extravagant: going beyond what is reasonable
- extravaganza: any lavishly staged or spectacular entertainment
- extricate: to remove, especially from a difficult position
- extrinsic: that is not an essential part of something
- extrovert: outgoing person
- exuberant: having high spirits, abundant
- exude: to release (a liquid) in drops or small quantities, to radiate
- exult: to be extremely happy or joyful about something
- fabricate: to construct, to invent something that is not true
- facade: the face or front of a building
- facetious: amusing in tone, teasing
- facile: easy to do
- facilitate: to simplify a process
- facsimile: exact copy of something
- faction: group that is a minority within a larger group
- factious: liable to cause, taking part in, or typical of conflict within a group
- fallacious: untrue
- fallacy: something that is believed to be truth but is erroneous
- fallible: open for error
- fallow: uncultivated, unused
- falsify: to alter fraudulently
- falter: to be unsure or weak; to hesitate (v/n)
- fanaticism: extremely devotion to a cause
- fanciful: not based on fact, dubious, imaginary
- fanciless: without ideas or imagination
- fancy: to imagine, to conceive of, to have particular liking or desire for
- fantasize: to portray in the mind, to dream
- farcical: ridiculous, nonsensical
- fare: to proceed or get along
- farewell: departure, final good-bye
- fastidious: giving and careful attention to detail, hard to please
- fatality: death resulting from an accident or a disaster
- fated: determined in advance by destiny or fortune
- fathom: to understand
- fatuous: complacently or inanely foolish
- faux: fake
- fawn: to flatter excessively, to seek favor of; a young deer
- faze: to disturb the composure of
- fearsome: causing fear or dread or terror
- feasible: possible, plausible
- feat: notable achievement
- febrile: relating to, involving, or typical of fever
- feckless: careless, ineffective, irresponsible
- fecund: fertile, fruitful, productive
- feeble: weak and frail
- feign: to pretend, to fake
- felicitous: appropriate, pleasant, fortunate
- fell: to make to fall, to cut down
- fervent: ardent in feelings
- fervid: showing passionate enthusiasm
- fervor: great intensity, passion
- fester: to decay, to deteriorate
- fetid: stinking like something rotten
- fetid: with a rotten or offensive smell
- fetter: means of confinement or restraint (n/v)
- fiasco: completely failure
- fidelity: loyalty
- fiend: evil person
- fierce: being violent and intense
- fiery: glowing hot
- filch: to steal something furtively
- filthy: being extremely dirty
- finagle: to achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods
- finicky: exacting especially about details
- fiscal: relating to financial matters in general
- fitful: in bursts, starting and stopping irregularly
- flabbergast: to amaze or astonish somebody completely
- flaccid: soft, limp, or lacking firmness
- flagrant: very obvious and contrary to standards of conduct or morality
- flair: natural quality, talent, or skill, distinctively style
- flamboyant: showy and dashing in a self-satisfied way
- flashy: tastelessly showy, marked by conspicuous display
- flatter: to over-praise
- flaunt: to show off or display
- fledgling: inexperienced (adj/n)
- flippant: lacking in seriousness
- flora: plants
- florid: elaborately or excessively ornamented
- flounder: to make uncontrolled movements, to be in serious difficulty
- flout: to treat with contemptuous disregard
- fluctuate: to alternate, to waver
- fluster: to confuse, to cause to be nervous or upset
- flux: instability
- fodder: coarse food for animals; expendable things
- foible: minor weakness or bad habit
- foil: to enhance by contrast
- foment: to try to stir up public opinion, to agitate
- foolhardy: showing boldness or courage but not wisdom or good sense
- foray: sudden short attack (n/v)
- forbear: to hold back from something, to be tolerant
- ford: to cross in shallow water (v/n)
- forebear: ancestor
- forebode: to portend or predict
- foreclose: to shut out
- forego: to precede
- foreordain: to predetermine
- forerun: to serve as an indication of or anticipate something that is to happen
- forerunner: predecessor, somebody or something showing future
- foresee: to know or see about beforehand
- forestall: to keep from happening or arising
- forethought: thought for the future, consideration
- forgo: to abstain from
- forlorn: deserted, hopeless, despairing
- formidable: exciting fear, offering serious difficulties
- forswear: to reject strongly
- forte: strong point
- forthcoming: approaching, helpful, available
- forthright: with directness, immediately, outspoken
- fortify: to strengthen
- fortuitous: accidental
- foster: to advance, to care for, to bring up
- founder: to become filled with water and sink, or to make something sink
- fracas: noisy quarrel or fight
- fractious: irritable and likely to complain or misbehave
- fracture: to crack or break, a rupture
- fragrant: having a distinctive odor that is pleasant
- frail: weak
- fraternity: society of common people
- fraternize: to associate; to mix together
- fraudulent: not honest, true, or fair, and intended to deceive people
- fraught: marked by distress
- fray: to wear away; fight
- frazzle: to exhaust physically or emotionally (v/n)
- freeload: to impose upon one's generosity without sharing the cost
- frenetic: characterized by feverish activity, confusion, and hurry
- frequent: to be a regular or frequent visitor to a certain place
- fretful: easily worried
- frigid: cold
- fringe: outside boundary or surface of something
- frisky: behaving or tending to behave in a lively, playful way
- frivolous: not serious in content or attitude or behavior
- frolicsome: playful
- frowzy: dirty
- frugal: avoiding waste, thrifty
- fruit: product or consequence of something done
- fugacious: fleeting, brief
- fulgent: shining intensely
- fulminate: to speak scathingly, to criticize severely
- fulsome: unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating
- fumble: to search awkwardly
- funeral: mournful, gloomy
- furbish: to polish
- furnish: to supply
- further: to promote the growth of
- furtive: done in a way that is intended to escape notice
- futile: producing no result or effect, useless
- gaffe: socially awkward or tactless act
- gallant: courteous and thoughtful, chivalrous
- galore: in abundance
- galvanize: to stimulate somebody or something into great activity
- gamut: the entire range of something
- gaping: wide open and deep
- garble: to distort in such a way as to make unintelligible
- gargantuan: huge
- garish: tastelessly showy
- garner: to gather and store
- garnish: to decorate
- garrulous: talking a great deal, especially on trivial ones
- gaudy: tastelessly showy
- gauge: to calculate or evaluate something
- gaunt: extremely thin
- gauzy: so thin as to transmit light
- gawky: awkward and clumsy
- gelatinous: semi-solid
- gelid: exceedingly cold
- generalize: to draw general inferences
- generic: applying generally, not specifically
- generous: free in giving other people things
- genesis: origin, creation
- genial: diffusing warmth and friendliness, friendly
- genteel: well-mannered
- genuflect: to kneel, as in worship
- genuine: not fake or counterfeit, real, sincere
- germane: relevant
- germinate: to begin to develop
- gestation: pregnancy, development
- ghastly: frightful, horrible, deathly pale
- gibberish: meaningless language
- gibe: to make taunting remarks
- giddy: lacking seriousness
- gingerly: with extreme care or delicacy (adj/adv)
- girth: distance around something
- gist: essence
- gladden: to make joyous
- gleam: to shine brightly and continuously (v/n)
- glee: joyful or animated delight
- glib: speaking in a smooth, easy manner
- glimmer: to emit a faint or intermittent light, to present to small extent
- gloat: to be smugly happy (v/n)
- glower: angry stare (n/v)
- glut: oversupply (n/v)
- glutinous: having a sticky consistency
- glutton: one who habitually eats with greed
- goad: to push or driven, to annoy
- godforsaken: depressing, deserted, or empty
- goodwill: friendly disposition toward somebody or something
- gore: to wound by piercing with a sharp or penetrating object
- gracious: showing kindness and courtesy
- grandeur: quality of being great and very impressive
- grandiloquent: pompous, lofty manner
- grandiose: impressive and magnificent
- grateful: feeling or showing gratitude, thankful and gratifying
- grating: rough, irritating
- gratis: free, costing nothing
- gratuitous: unnecessary, free, not requiring benefit or compensation in return
- grave: serious, somber
- gravid: pregnant or enlarged with something
- greed: desire, avarice
- gregarious: tending to form a group with others of the same kind
- grievous: causing sorrow or pain, serious
- grim: cruel, stern, harsh in appearance, frightful
- grimace: contorted twisting of the face that expresses disgust or pain
- grind: to press with a crunching noise; drudge
- grisly: shockingly repellent, inspiring horror, ghastly
- grotesque: in a strange way, distorted
- grouch: to complain or grumble (v/n)
- grovel: to show submission or fear
- gruesome: causing horror or fright
- gruff: brusque or stern in manner, surly
- guarded: wary and noncommittal
- guile: shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
- gullible: tending to trust people, hence easily tricked
- gustatory: having to do with the sense of taste
- gyrate: to move with a circular or spiral motion, especially around a fixed central point
- habitat: dwelling place
- hackneyed: worn out by overuse
- hail: to welcome or greet somebody upon meeting (v/n)
- halcyon: calm and peaceful
- halfhearted: with little enthusiasm
- hallow: to render holy by means of religious rites, to make sacred
- hallucinate: to imagine seeing, hearing, or otherwise sensing people, things
- halt: to stop, to bring to an end
- hamper: to hold back
- handicapped: physically or mentally challenged
- handy: useful or easy to use
- haphazard: marked by great carelessness, having no plan
- hapless: unlucky or unfortunate
- harangue: noisy attacking speech
- harbinger: indicators, omen
- hardy: sufficiently robust to withstand fatigue, hardship, or adverse physical conditions
- hasty: fast
- haughty: behaving in a superior, condescending, or arrogant way, proud
- haven: shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary
- havoc: widespread damage, destruction, or devastation
- haywire: functioning erratically, or not functioning at all
- hazy: foggy
- heal: to cure, to return to a healthy condition
- heartless: cold-blooded, cruel
- heathen: person who does not acknowledge God
- hectic: marked by intense agitation or emotion, chaotic
- hector: t o intimidate or dominate in a blustering way.
- hedonism: pursuit of pleasure as goal
- heed: to pay attention to (v/n)
- hegemony: authority or control
- hegira: journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment
- heinous: shockingly brutal or cruel
- hemorrhage: heavy bleeding
- herald: sign of what will happen (n/v)
- heretical: against established views
- heretofore: hitherto, up until now
- hermit: loner, one who lives by himself
- heterodox: unorthodox, unconventional
- heterogeneous: composed of unlike parts, different, diverse
- hew: to make or shape as with an axe
- hew: to shape or cut down with an ax; to hold to
- heyday: time of greatest success
- hiatus: break in something where there should be continuity, a gap
- hidebound: stubbornly prejudiced, narrow-minded, or inflexible
- hideous: grossly offensive to decency or morality, causing horror, dreadful
- highfalutin: pretentious, affecting a grand style in an unconvincing way
- hinder: to hold back
- histrionic: characteristic of acting or a stage performance; overdramatic
- hitherto: up until now or then, previously
- hoard: to save up as for future use (v/n)
- hoary: old and stale from overuse, white
- hoax: deception (n/v)
- hobnob: to socialize in a familiar manner with somebody
- hodgepodge: jumble, mixture of several unrelated things
- hogwash: worthless stuff or nonsense
- hoist: to raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help (v/n)
- holistic: relating to a whole
- homage: show of reverence and respect toward somebody
- homogenous: composed of identical parts
- honcho: somebody in charge (n/v)
- hone: sharpen
- honk: to make a loud noise (v/n)
- hoodwink: to deceive or trick someone
- hooligan: young person who is violent or prone to committing crimes
- horde: vast number, throng
- hortatory: marked by strong urging
- hospice: lodging for travelers or for the terminally ill
- hospitality: kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
- hostel: inexpensive inn or place of lodging
- hostile: bearing unfriendliness, hatred
- hub: center of activity or interest or commerce or transportation
- hubris: excessive pride or arrogance
- huddle: to crowd or draw together
- hullabaloo: noisy excitement or fuss
- humane: marked by kindness or consideration
- hunch: strong feeling or guess
- husband: to use cautiously and frugally
- hutch: cage for small animals
- hybrid: cross or mix
- hygienic: clean, sanitary
- hyperbole: purposeful exaggeration for effect
- hypnotic: of sleep; attracting and fascinating
- hypnotize: to fascinate
- hypochondriac: somebody with imaginary illness (n/adj)
- hypocrite: person claming beliefs or virtues that he or she doesn’t really possess
- hypocritical: pretending to be virtuous, deceiving
- hypothesis: assumption subject to belief
- hypothetical: based on assumptions, supposed
- iconoclast: somebody challenging tradition
- ideal: perfect
- ideology: system of social beliefs
- idiosyncrasy: peculiarity
- ignoble: dishonorable, shameful
- ignominious: shameful
- illicit: illegal, improper
- illuminate: to give light, to make clear, to provide with understandings
- illusory: deceptive, imaginary
- illustrious: extremely distinguished, eminent
- imbecile: person of subnormal intelligence
- imbibe: to absorb something, to drink alcohol
- imbrue: to saturate something, to stain something
- imbue: to spread or diffuse through
- immaculate: completely neat and clean
- immaterial: of no importance, making no difference
- immerse: completely cover something in liquid
- imminent: being about to happen
- immoderate: exceeding normal or appropriate bounds
- immolate: to offer as a sacrifice by killing or by giving up to destruction
- immune: protected from harm or disease
- immutable: unchangeable, invariable
- impair: to make worse or less effective
- impart: to make known
- impartial: not biased
- impasse: deadlock
- impassive: not showing emotion
- impeach: to charge with misdeed in public office, to accuse
- impeccable: faultless
- impecunious: not having enough money to pay for necessities
- impediment: an impairment, obstacle
- impel: to force, to drive forward
- impend: to be about to happen, to be imminent
- imperative: very important or essential
- imperceptible: unnoticeable
- imperil: endanger
- imperious: arrogant, haughty
- impertinent: showing a bold or rude lack of respect, especially to a superior
- imperturbable: unable to be disturbed
- impervious: impossible to penetrate, incapable of being affected
- impetuous: characterized by undue haste, marked by violent force
- impious: not devout in religion
- implacable: not easily calmed or pacified
- implement: to put into practice or action
- implicate: to associate in a crime, to incriminate
- implicit: implied
- implore: to beg
- imply: to suggest
- imponderable: not measurable
- importune: to pester and annoy presently
- imposing: impressive
- impotent: powerless
- impound: to seize
- impoverish: to make poor and weaken
- imprecation: curse, slanderous accusation
- impregnable: impossible to break into
- impregnate: to infuse or fill completely, to fill, as with a certain quality
- impromptu: unplanned or unprepared
- impropriety: indecent or improper act, rudeness
- improvise: to substitute, to do unprepared
- impudent: marked by casual disrespect
- impugn: to call into question, to attack verbally
- impulsive: inclined to act on sudden urges
- impunity: freedom from punishment
- inadvertent: done unintentionally or without thinking
- inadvisable: not recommended, unwise
- inane: stupid, pointless, absurd
- inanimate: not alive, not active, energetic, or lively
- inapt: not suitable, unskilled
- inarticulate: expressing oneself poorly
- inaugurate: to begin or start officially
- inbred: innate
- incandescent: glowing with heat
- incarcerate: to imprison
- incendiary: containing highly flammable substances that will cause a fire on impact
- incense: to anger
- incentive: positive motivational influence
- inception: the beginning of something
- incessant: occurring so frequently as to seem ceaseless or uninterrupted
- inchoate: just beginning to develop, imperfectly formed
- incinerate: to burn thoroughly to destroy
- incipient: beginning to appear or develop
- incisive: very penetrating and clear and sharp in operation, keen
- incite: to stir up
- inclement: unpleasant and stormy inclined
- incognito: in disguise, concealing one’s identity
- incommodious: uncomfortably or inconveniently small
- incompetent: not qualified or suited for a purpose
- inconsolable: unable to be comforted
- incontrovertible: certain, undeniable, and not open to question
- incorporate: to include or contain
- incorrigible: impossible to correct or change
- incredulous: disbelieving, skeptical
- incriminate: to show evidence of involvement in a crime of fault
- inculcate: to fix something firmly in somebody’s mind through frequent and forceful repetition
- inculpable: free of guilt, not subject to blame
- incumbent: currently in office, presently serving
- incur: to come into or acquire
- indecent: offending public moral standards or improper
- indefatigable: never showing any sign of getting tired or of relaxing an effort
- indefensible: permitting no excuse, unable to be protected
- indefinitely: for unspecified length of time, vaguely
- indelible: cannot be removed, washed away or erased
- indeterminate: not known exactly, vague, unspecified
- indict: to charge or accuse someone
- indifferent: uninterested, unconcerned
- indigenous: native
- indigent: poor and needy, impoverished
- indignant: angry, incensed
- indistinct: vague
- indoctrinate: to teach doctrines to, to instruct
- indolent: disinclined to work or exertion, lazy
- indomitable: fearless, unconquerable
- indubitable: unable to be doubted, unquestionable
- induce: to cause to do, to persuade
- induct: to formally bring in
- indulge: to spoil, to treat with pamper
- indulgent: lenient
- industrious: hard-working
- ineffable: indescribable
- inept: unable to handle job, totally inappropriate
- inert: inactive
- inevitable: being sure to happen, certain
- inexcusable: unforgivable
- inexhaustible: showing no sign of tiring, everlasting
- inexorable: unstoppable, adamant and pitiless
- inexplicable: difficult or impossible to explain or account for
- infamous: reputable for bad deeds
- infectious: easily spread, communicable
- infer: to conclude, to deduce
- infest: to be present in such numbers as to be a source of annoyance, trouble, or danger
- infidel: heathen
- infiltrate: to gradually enter or sneak into
- infinitesimal: exceedingly small
- infirmity: a weakness or failing in somebody’s character
- inflammatory: provocative
- inflict: to impose, to cause to be put up with
- influx: the process of flowing in, arrival
- infraction: violation of a rule or regulation
- infrastructure: basic structure or features of a system or organization, communication
- infringe: to violate a law
- infuse: to fill
- ingenious: skillful in adapting means to ends
- ingenuous: showing innocence and a lack of worldly experience, appearing honest and direct
- ingest: to absorb something into the body
- ingrate: person who shows no gratitude
- ingratiate: to gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
- inherent: present at birth but not necessarily hereditary, natural
- inhibit: to hold back, to prevent, to restrain
- inhospitable: not welcoming or friendly
- inimical: not favorable, hostile
- inimitable: impossible to imitate
- iniquitous: wicked, sinful, evil
- initial: relating to or being beginning, placed at the beginnings
- initiate: to set going or begin
- initiative: having the readiness to take the first steps
- injudicious: lacking in judgment or discretion
- injunction: court order
- innate: being talented through inherited qualities, natural
- innocuous: inoffensive, harmless, safe
- innovate: to invent, to modernize, to revolutionize
- innuendo: insinuation, hint of something improper
- innumerable: too many to be counted
- inoculate: to protect somebody against disease
- inordinate: excessive, being unreasonably beyond
- inquest: formal investigation
- inquire: to ask
- inquisition: severe interrogation
- inquisitive: showing curiosity
- insatiable: impossible to satisfy
- inscribe: to write or engrave, to enter a name on a list
- inscrutable: of an obscure nature, impossible to understand fully
- insidious: sly, treacherous, devious
- insightful: exhibiting insight or clear and deep perception
- insinuate: to imply, to suggest or say indirectly
- insipid: dull and bland, boring and flavorless
- insolent: boldly disrespectful
- insouciant: cheerfully unconcerned or unworried about something
- instigate: to incite or stir up
- instill: to impress ideas, principles, or teachings gradually on somebody’s mind
- instinctive: natural
- institute: to start or set something up; organization for the promotion of learning
- insular: limited in outlook, removed form others
- insulate: to place or set apart, to isolate
- insuperable: unable to be overcome
- insurgent: rebel (n/adj)
- insurrection: rebellion, uprising
- intact: undamaged in any way, whole, together
- integral: central, indispensable
- integrity: decency, honesty, wholeness
- intemperate: not moderate, subject to extremes
- inter: to bury someone
- intercede: to act between parties with a view to reconciling differences
- interim: the time between; coming between two points in time
- interlock: to fit or fasten two or more things together closely and firmly, to link
- interloper: someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
- interlude: relatively short period of time between two longer periods
- intermediary: negotiator who acts as a link between parties
- interminable: endless
- intermittent: happening or coming from time to time, irregular
- intern: to force to stay in an area
- interrogate: to question formally
- intervene: to take some action or get involved in something
- interweave: to connect closely
- intimate: having close relations, personal and private
- intimation: subtle hint or sign of something
- intimidate: to make timid or fearful
- intractable: not easily managed or manipulated
- intransigent: uncompromising, refusing to be reconciled
- intrepid: brave, fearless, bold
- intricate: complicated, difficult to understand
- intrigue: to arouse the curiosity
- intrinsic: essential, inherent, build-in, natural
- introspect: to observe and analyze one's own thoughts and feelings
- introvert: to fold inwards or inside
- intrude: to break in or interrupt
- intuition: instinctive knowing
- inundate: to overwhelm with a huge quantity, to flood
- inure: to cause to accept or become hardened to
- invariably: almost always
- invective: abusive language
- inveigh: to speak out angrily in criticism or protest at something
- inventory: list of items with description and quantity
- inveterate: firmly established, especially with respect to a habit or attitude
- invidious: tending to provoke envy, resentment, or ill will
- invigorate: to strengthen and stimulate
- invincible: unbeatable or too difficult to overcome
- inviolable: unbreakable, secure from attack
- invoke: to ask or appeal for something
- iota: very small amount of something
- irascible: easily provoked to anger or outbursts of temper
- irate: feeling great anger
- iridescent: having rainbow colors, lustrous
- irk: to irritate or vex
- irredeemable: hopeless
- irrefragable: indisputable
- irreproachable: free of guilt, inculpable
- irresistible: not able to be resisted or successfully opposed
- irresolute: incapable of deciding, indecisive
- itinerary: proposed route of travel
- itinerate: to go from place to place
- jaded: bored through overexpose to something
- jargon: language that is used by a particular group, profession, or culture
- jaunty: happy, carefree, and confident, casual
- jeer: to laugh at with contempt and derision
- jettison: to throw something from a ship, aircraft, or vehicle
- jingoism: fanatical nationalism
- jocular: intended to be funny, intended to be funny
- jocund: cheerful and full of good humor
- jovial: cheerful
- jubilant: joyful
- judicious: showing wisdom, good sense, or discretion
- juncture: point where two things are joined
- juxtaposition: positioning close together
- keen: sharp and intense
- kernel: innermost, essential part; seed grain, often in a shell
- kindle: to start a fire
- kinetic: relating to motion, characterized by movement
- knell: sound of funeral bell, omen of death or failure (n/v)
- kudos: fame, glory, honor
- laborious: requiring a great deal of effort
- labyrinth: complex and complicated maze
- labyrinth: maze
- lacerate: to cut or tear irregularly (v/adj)
- lachrymose: tearful
- lackadaisical: lacking spirit or liveliness, lazy
- lackluster: lacking luster or shine, dull
- laconic: brief and to the point, effectively cut short
- lacuna: gap of place where something is missing
- laden: loaded
- laggard: somebody who or something that falls behind and does not keep up with others
- lagniappe: unexpected bonus
- lambaste: to criticize somebody or something severely
- lament: to express grief verbally (v/n)
- lampoon: to ridicule with satire
- languid: without energy, sluggish
- languish: to lose vigor or health
- languor: tiredness
- lanky: tall and thin and having long slender limbs
- lapse: error; gap in continuity
- larceny: theft
- larder: place where food is stored
- largess: generous giving to other who may seem inferior
- lassitude: state of weariness accompanied by listlessness or apathy
- latent: potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
- laud: to praise, glorify, or honor
- laudatory: expressing praise
- lave: to wash something
- lavish: characterized by extravagance and profusion
- lax: lacking in rigor or strictness, not firm
- leery: suspicious or cautious
- legerdemain: sleight of hand, a display of skill or cleverness, especially for deceitful purposes
- legible: readable
- legislation: laws, making of laws
- legitimate: being in compliance with the law, reasonable
- lenient: not strict, compassionate
- lesser: of less size or importance, smaller in size or amount or value
- lest: for fear that
- lethal: capable of or causing death
- lethargic: tired, mentally tired, weary
- levitate: to rise in the air or cause to rise
- levity: flippancy, lightheartedness
- lexical: of or relating to words or dictionaries
- lexicon: dictionary
- liability: debt, responsibility, disadvantage
- libel: defamation
- liberal: broad-minded, tolerant of different views and standard of behavior in others
- libertine: free thinker, usually used disparagingly, one without moral restraint
- licentious: immoral, unrestrained by society
- licit: lawful
- limpid: clear
- linger: to remain
- lionize: to glorify
- liquidate: to get rid of
- lissome: gracefully flexible
- listless: lacking energy, interest, or the willingness to make an effort
- literate: able to read and write
- lithe: supple, easily bent
- litigate: to engage in legal proceedings
- litigious: quarrelsome
- litter: waster and trash (n/v)
- livid: ash-colored looking from illness or emotion
- loath: reluctant
- loathe: to detest
- loiter: to stand around idly
- loll: to lounge in a relaxed way
- longevity: long duration of life, career span
- loom: to become visible, to be about to happen
- loquacious: full of trivial conversation, talkative
- lowly: low in status, simple and modest
- lucent: transparent
- lucid: transparently clear, easily understandable
- lucrative: profitable, worthwhile, beneficial
- ludicrous: ridiculous
- lugubrious: lachrymose
- lukewarm: feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm
- lumber: to walk with heavy clumsiness
- luminary: celebrity who is an inspiration to others
- luminous: softly bright or glowing
- lunatic: crazy person
- lunge: to make a thrusting forward movement, to attack
- lurid: shocking
- lurk: to move about furtively
- luscious: with a rich, sweet, and juicy taste, desirable
- lush: growing vigorous, with rich taste
- lustrous: shining
- luxuriant: marked by complexity and richness of detail
- lyrical: suitable for poetry and song, expressing feeling
- macabre: gruesome
- macerate: to soften
- machination: artful or skillful plot or scheme
- maelstrom: an exceptionally large or violent whirlpool
- magnanimous: generous
- magnate: the person of power or influence
- magnitude: the property of relative size or extent
- mainstay: chief support
- maladroit: clumsy
- malady: physical or psychological disorder or disease
- malapropism: unintentional use of wrong word
- malcontent: person who is discontented or disgusted
- malefactor: someone who has committed a crime
- malevolent: wanting to cause harm
- malfunction: to fail to function in the correct or normal way, or stop working altogether
- malice: the quality of threatening evil, hatred
- malign: to speak unfavorably about, evil or harmful
- malignant: likely to cause death, evil in result
- malinger: to feign illness
- malleable: capable of being shaped or bent
- malodorous: smelling unpleasant
- maltreat: to treat badly
- manacle: handcuff (n/v)
- mandatory: necessary, required
- mangle: to tear and crush
- mania: obsession and desire
- manifest: to clear to see or understand
- manifesto: public declaration of intentions
- manifold: various
- mannered: artificial in character, affected
- mantle: to cover (v/n)
- manumit: to free somebody from slavery
- mar: to spoil or detract from something
- maraud: raid for plunder
- maritime: relating to the sea or sailing
- marked: noticeable, evident
- maroon: to leave stranded or isolated with little hope of rescue
- marshal: to place in proper rank
- martial: of or relating to military, warlike
- martinet: strict military disciplinarian
- martyr: somebody who chooses to die rather than deny religious or political beliefs
- marvel: something that inspires awe, amazement, or admiration (n/v)
- masochism: pleasure through pain or humiliation
- massive: solid or heavy
- masterpiece: success; work of art
- masticate: to chew food
- maudlin: overly sentimental
- mawkish: over-sentimental, bland or unappetizing in taste or smell
- maxim: saying is that widely accepted; machine gun
- mayhem: absolute chaos or severe disruption
- meadow: grassy field
- meager: deficient in amount or quality or extent, not enough
- meander: to follow an indirect route or course or wander slowly and aimlessly (v/n)
- meddlesome: intrusive in a offensive manner, interfering
- mediate: to arbitrate
- mediocre: average, adequate but not very good
- medley: mixture or assortment of various things
- meek: quiet and obedient, spiritless
- melancholy: sad and depressed
- melee: noisy riotous fight
- meliorate: to become better, or make something better
- mellifluous: smooth
- mellow: soft in color or tone
- melodious: pleasing to hear
- melodramatic: having the excitement and emotional appeal, histrionic
- memoir: account of the author's personal experiences
- menace: something that is a possible source of danger, threat (n/v)
- menagerie: various animals kept together for exhibition
- mend: to heal or recover
- mendacious: untruthful
- mendicant: livings on alms, beggar
- menial: used of unskilled work, unskilled
- mentor: wise and trusted guide and advisor (n/v)
- mercenary: motivated solely by a desire for money; professional soldiers
- merciful: compassionate and kind; fortunate
- mercurial: liable to sudden unpredictable change
- meretricious: gaudy, falsely attractive
- merit: any admirable quality or attribute (n/v)
- meritorious: deserving reward or praise, commendable
- mesmerize: to absorb somebody’s attention, to hypnotize
- metallic: sharp and hard
- metamorphosis: the passing from one shape to another
- methodical: characterized by method and orderliness
- meticulous: careful
- metropolis: large or chief city
- mettle: courage, spirit, or strength of character of character
- migratory: wandering
- militant: aggressive, given to fighting; an activist
- militate: to have influence on something, especially a negative one
- minatory: menacing or threatening
- mingle: to mix gently
- miniature: being on a very small scale
- minuscule: extremely small or completely insignificant
- minute: very small or insignificant
- mire: mud, wet, swampy ground, tough situation; to get stuck
- mirthful: joyful, jovial
- misanthrope: one who hates people in general
- misconstrue: to misunderstand, to fail to discover
- misdeed: wicked act
- miser: stingy hoarder of money and possessions
- misgiving: uneasy feeling
- mishap: unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate
- misnomer: unsuitable name
- missive: letter or written communication
- mitigate: to alleviate
- mnemonic: designed to assist memory aid
- mobile: movable, not fixed
- mock: to ridicule
- modesty: diffident
- modulate: to change sound or wave characteristics
- mollify: to calm or soothe somebody who is angry or upset
- molt: to lose feathers, fur, or skin
- momentous: highly significant
- monastic: extremely plain or secluded, as in a monastery
- monetary: relating to money
- monition: warning of danger
- monolithic: large and unchanging
- monologue: long speech
- montage: single pictorial composition made by juxtaposing or superimposing many pictures or designs
- moot: open to argument, arguable
- morbid: showing a strong interest in unpleasant or gloomy subjects
- mordant: sharply sarcastic or bitingly critical
- moribund: on the point of dying
- morose: being miserable, sad and gloomy
- morsel: small piece of something, especially of food
- mortify: to degrade or humiliate
- mote: tiny speck or particle
- motley: composed of heterogeneous or inharmonious elements
- mottle: to mark with spots
- motto: favorite saying of a sect or political group
- muffle: to conceal or hide, to quiet or deaden
- mulish: stubborn and unwilling to cooperate or listen to suggestions
- mull: to think over
- multifarious: of great variety, diverse
- multitude: large number or mass
- mumble: to talk indistinctly, usually in a low voice
- mundane: ordinary
- munificent: very generous
- murky: dark and gloomy, hard to see through
- muse: to ponder
- mushroom: to grow or develop very rapidly
- muster: to gather or bring together
- mutable: capable of or tending to change in form or quality or nature
- mutate: to undergo or make something undergo change
- muted: silent, toned down
- mutilate: to cut off or destroy a necessary part; to make imperfect
- mutiny: to refuse to obey authority
- myriad: large indefinite number, countless
- mystify: to puzzle
- nadir: the lowest point
- naive: being simple; showing lack of experiment
- nascent: just beginning to develop
- natal: of birth
- nebulous: not clear, distinct, or definite
- nefarious: extremely wicked
- negate: to deny the truth of something, or prove something to be false
- negligent: habitually careless or irresponsible
- negligible: too small or unimportant to be worth considering
- nemesis: something causing misery or death
- neophyte: beginner
- nervy: fearless, bold
- nescient: ignorant
- nethermost: lowest, farthest down
- nettle: to irritate or annoy somebody
- niche: place, job or a thing a person is best fitted in
- nihilism: belief that existence and all traditional values are meaningless
- nocturnal: occurring at night, as opposed to during the day
- noisome: causing or able to cause nausea
- nomadic: moving from place to place
- nominal: in name only
- nonchalant: calm and unconcerned about things
- noncommittal: not making clear any personal opinions or feelings about something
- noncommittal: very reluctant to give out information
- nondescript: ordinary, with no interesting or remarkable characteristics
- nonentity: insignificant person
- nonpareil: eminent beyond or above comparison
- nonplus: to confuse somebody
- normative: relating to standards
- nostalgia: longing for something past
- notion: idea
- notorious: infamous
- notwithstanding: regardless of, in defiance of
- novel: new
- novice: beginner
- novitiate: state of being a beginner or novice
- noxious: harmful, poisonous
- nuance: very slight difference in meaning, feeling, tone, or color
- nuisance: annoyance
- nullify: to invalidate or make useless
- nurture: to take care for
- obdurate: stubborn
- obfuscate: to deliberately make something difficult to understand
- objective: undistorted by emotion or personal bias, based on observable phenomena
- objurgate: to scold somebody angrily
- obligate: to force or compel somebody to do something
- obligatory: required
- oblique: slanting at an angle, indirect
- obliterate: to totally destroy
- oblivion: state of being utterly forgotten
- oblivious: lacking conscious awareness of
- obloquy: censure and disgrace
- obscene: offensive to the mind
- obscure: to make less visible or unclear
- obsequious: attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery, flattering
- obsession: mania, fascination
- obsolescent: becoming obsolete or disappearing from use
- obsolete: no longer in use
- obstinate: to persist stubbornly
- obstreperous: noisy and aggressively boisterous, unruly
- obstruct: to stop up by an obstacle, to block
- obtrusive: forward, undesirably prominent, thrust out
- obtuse: slow to learn or understand, lacking intellectual acuity
- obviate: to prevent
- occlude: to block passage through
- odious: causing hatred or strong dislike
- offhand: with little or no preparation or forethought
- officiate: to perform a ceremony or duty, to act as an officer
- officious: intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
- offset: something that makes up for something (n/v)
- omen: happening believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
- ominous: being a sign of trouble to come
- omnipotent: having power or authority without limit
- omnipresent: ubiquitous
- omniscient: knowing or seeming to know everything
- onerous: difficult, burdensome
- onrush: forceful forward rush or flow
- onset: beginning or early stages
- onslaught: violent attack
- opaque: impervious to light, difficult to understand
- openhanded: generous
- opine: to express an opinion
- opportune: suitable or at a time that is suitable for a particular purpose
- oppress: to keep down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
- oppressive: imposing a harsh or cruel form of domination
- opprobrious: expressing scorn, contempt, or severe criticism
- opt: to choose
- opulent: having wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
- orate: to deliver an elaborate or formal public speech
- ordain: to make a religious appointment, to order
- ordeal: difficult experience
- ordinary: the expected or commonplace condition or situation, normal
- original: new and creative
- ornate: excessively decorate
- orthodox: adhering to what is commonly accepted
- oscillate: to be undecided about something
- ossify: to harden into bone
- ostensible: appearing as such but not necessarily so
- ostentatious: marked by a vulgar display of wealth and success designed to impress people
- ostracize: to exclude or banish
- oust: to force someone out
- outcry: strong reaction against something
- outdo: to exceed or surpass
- outlandish: conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
- outlast: to live longer than
- outlaw: notorious criminal, especially one on the run
- outright: without reservation or exception, absolute
- outskirt: a part of the city far removed from the center
- outspoken: candid, expressing opinions directly, frankly, and fearlessly
- outstrip: to go beyond
- overbearing: bossy, arrogant and tending to order people around
- overt: open
- overtone: supplementary meaning, nuance
- overwrought: extremely upset, emotional, or agitated
- pacify: to restore calm, to bring peace
- pact: mutual agreement
- pail: bucket, container
- painstaking: characterized by extreme care and great effort
- palatial: grand or luxurious
- palaver: to idly chatter
- pale: light and pallid
- palindrome: word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward
- pall: to lose strength; a covering that darkens
- palliate: to reduce the intensity or severity of something
- pallid: abnormally deficient in color
- palpable: capable of being perceived by the senses or the mind, tangible
- paltry: insignificant or unimportant
- panacea: hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases, cure-all
- panache: flamboyance, dashing style
- pandemic: having widespread effect
- pandemonium: fiendish or riotous uproar
- panegyric: speech expressing high praise
- panoply: impressive and magnificent display or array of something
- panoramic: having an unobstructed view extending in all directions
- paradigm: typical example of something
- paradox: self contradiction
- paragon: example of excellence
- paramount: having superior power and influence
- paramour: lover, often secret, not allowed by law or custom
- paranoia: mental disorder of false suspicions
- paranoid: suspicious about something
- paraphrase: to reword, usually more simply
- parasite: person who flatters in exchange for free items
- parcel: plot of land; to dive and give in parts
- parch: to dry or shrivel
- pare: to remove outer layer, to trim
- pariah: somebody who is despised and avoided by other people
- parity: equality
- parlous: dangerous
- parochial: narrow-minded, of limited scope or outlook
- parody: humorous imitation
- parry: to ward off
- parsimonious: very frugal or ungenerous
- partisan: strong or biased support
- pastiche: mixture, piece of literature or music imitating other works
- pastoral: rural
- pathetic: being dismal, sad and weak
- pathos: pity, compassion, a quality that arouses pity and emotions
- patrician: of aristocratic or noble rank
- patronize: to support, to be a customer or client
- paucity: scarcity
- pauper: person who is very poor
- peasant: farmer
- peccadillo: trifling offense
- pedagogue: an education or school-teacher
- pedantic: too concerned with formal rules and details
- pedestal: base or support as for a column, statue, or vase
- pedestrian: somebody who is traveling on foot; dull, ordinary, unimaginative, or uninspired
- peer: to look closely; someone of equal standing with another
- peerless: unequaled
- pejorative: expressing criticism or disapproval
- pellucid: transparent, clear in meaning
- penchant: strong liking, taste, or tendency for something
- penitent: expressing regret or sorrow for having committed sins or misdeeds
- pensive: persistently or morbidly thoughtful
- penurious: not having enough money to pay for necessities, excessively unwilling to spend
- penury: extreme poverty
- perceive: to become aware of through the senses
- percolate: to pass slowly or through a filter, to seep into
- peremptory: expecting to be obeyed and unwilling to tolerate disobedience
- perennial: present throughout the years, persistent
- perfidious: faithless, disloyal
- perforce: by necessity, unavoidably
- perfunctory: unthinking, hasty and without attention to detail
- perilous: dangerous
- peripatetic: moving from place to place
- peripheral: at the edge, not significant
- perish: to die out
- perjury: false testimony while under oath
- permeable: penetrable
- permeate: to enter and spread through something
- pernicious: exceedingly harmful, insidious
- perpetual: continuous, long-lasting
- perquisite: reclusive right, privilege
- persecute: to cause to suffer
- perseverant: having persistent determination
- perspicacious: having insight
- perspicuous: clear and comprehensible
- pert: amusingly bold, jaunty
- pertinacious: persistent or unyielding, resolute
- pertinent: having logical precise relevance
- peruse: to read carefully
- pervade: to spread or diffuse through
- pervasive: spread throughout
- pervert: to cause to change in immoral way
- pervious: able to be permeated
- pesky: troublesome or irritating
- pessimistic: expecting the worst, negative
- pestilential: causing disease, deadly
- petite: very small
- petulant: ill-tempered, easily irritated or annoyed
- phalanx: massed group of soldiers, people, or things
- phenomenon: fact or occurrence that can be observed
- philander: to have casual affairs with women
- philanthropy: generosity to worthy causes
- philippic: tirade
- philistine: narrow-minded person, someone lacking appreciation for art or culture
- phlegmatic: showing little emotion
- phobia: exaggerated, illogical fear
- phonetic: having to do with speech sounds
- phonic: of or relating to speech sounds
- phosphorescent: glowing or emitting light
- pickle: difficult situation
- piecemeal: little by little (adv)
- pierce: to stab, to puncture or make a hole
- piety: religious devotion
- piffle: to behave in a silly or ineffective way (v/n)
- pilfer: to steal small things
- pinnacle: summit or zenith
- pious: deeply religious
- pique: bad mood (n/v)
- pithy: concise and full of meaning, brief
- pitiable: evoking contempt
- pitiful: arousing pity or contempt
- pitiless: without mercy
- placate: to calm
- placid: peaceful and calm
- plagiarism: taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas
- plaintiff: applicant or petitioner
- plaintive: expressing sadness or sounding sad
- plait: easily bent
- plastic: adapting easily, pliant
- platitude: banal statement
- plaudit: expression of praise or approval
- plausible: reasonable
- plenipotentiary: having full power
- plenitude: abundance
- plethora: excess
- pliable: flexible, not rigid
- pliant: bending easily, easily influenced
- plight: unfortunate condition
- plucky: brave, marked by courage
- plummet: to drop sharply
- plunder: to take illegally
- plunge: to drop steeply
- ply: to use diligently or work hard at something; to offer or supply something
- poignant: emotionally moving
- poise: composure, equilibrium
- polemic: controversy, argument (n/adj)
- polyglot: competent in many languages (adj/n)
- pompous: self-important, showy
- ponder: to think about
- ponderous: heavy and massive
- pontificate: to speak in a pompous or dogmatic way
- pore: any tiny hole admitting passage of a liquid; to look concentrated
- porous: able to absorb fluids
- portend: to foreshadow or indicate something
- portent: omen, sign of something about to happen
- portentous: significant; pompous
- portion: section
- postdate: to put a date on that is later than the actual date, to occur later than
- posterior: anterior, later
- posterity: future generations, descendants
- posthumous: occurring or published after somebody’s death, postmortem
- postmortem: occurring after death
- postulate: to assume or claim something
- potable: suitable for drinking
- potent: having the power to influence or convince, strong
- powwow: meeting or gathering to discuss something
- practicable: capable of being done
- practical: concerned with actual use or practice, sensible
- pragmatic: concerned with practical matters, realistic
- prairie: treeless grassy plain
- prattle: to talk in an aimless, foolish way (v/n)
- preach: to give sermon
- preamble: introduction to a speech or piece of writing
- precarious: unsafe, not well founded
- precede: to be earlier in time
- precipice: very steep cliff, the brink or edge of disaster
- precipitant: done with very great haste and without due deliberation
- precipitate: to make something happen suddenly and quickly
- precipitous: steep, done rashly
- precise: sharply exact or accurate
- preclude: to prevent
- precocious: mentally advanced for age
- precursor: forerunner
- predicament: difficult situation
- predilection: particular liking or preference for something
- predominate: main
- preeminent: highly distinguished or outstanding
- preface: introduction to a book or a speech
- prefatory: acting as preface, introductory
- pregnant: rich in significance or implication
- prejudice: bias
- premeditate: to plan beforehand
- premise: assumption, postulate
- premonition: forewarning, suspicion
- preoccupy: to obsess the mind with something
- preordain: to decide in advance that something will happen
- preponderant: having superior power and influence
- prepossess: to occupy somebody’s mind
- preposterous: completely devoid of wisdom or good sense
- prerequisite: something that is required in advance (n/adj)
- prerogative: exclusive privilege
- presage: portent or omen (n/v)
- prescient: knowing in advance
- presentiment: feeling that something will happen, foreboding
- preside: to be the chairperson or hold a similar position of authority
- prestige: importance in the eyes of people
- presumably: by reasonable assumption, most likely
- presume: to accept that something is virtually certain to be correct even though there is no proof of it
- presumption: something believed without actual evidence
- presumptuous: rude or arrogant
- pretense: the act of giving a false appearance
- pretentious: self-important, ostentatious
- preternatural: exceeding what is normal in nature
- pretext: made-up excuse
- prevalent: encountered generally especially at the present time
- prevaricate: to be deliberately ambiguous
- prim: overly neat, precise, proper, or formal, prudish
- primal: first, original, of first importance
- prime: of the highest quality, of the greatest importance or the highest rank
- principal: main or primary
- prioritize: to order things according to their importance or urgency
- priority: main concern
- pristine: beautiful, unspoiled, immaculate
- privation: the lack of life’s necessities
- probative: designed to test or prove something, providing proof
- probe: to search
- probity: absolute moral correctness
- proclivity: natural tendency to behave in a particular way
- procrastinate: to postpone doing something
- procure: to acquire or obtain something
- prodigal: recklessly wasteful (adj/n)
- prodigious: great in amount, size, or extent, marvelous
- prodigy: child genius
- profane: grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred
- profess: to declare something openly, to affirm
- proficient: expert, skilled in a certain subject
- profligate: extremely extravagant or wasteful
- profound: of the greatest intensity, complete, deep
- profundity: great perceptiveness, understanding, or knowledge
- profuse: plentiful
- progenitor: direct ancestor of someone or something
- progeny: offspring of an organism
- prognosis: medical forecast on the likelihood of a disease
- prognosticate: to predict or forecast
- proliferate: to grow by the rapid multiplication of parts
- prolific: abounding
- prolix: wordy
- prologue: introductory statement
- prolong: to make longer than usual or expected
- promenade: public place for leisure walk (n/v)
- prominent: having a quality that thrusts itself into attention; famous
- promiscuous: sexually indiscriminate, confusedly mixed, casual and unplanned
- promontory: point of land that juts out into the sea
- prompt: on time
- promulgate: to declare something officially, to make something known
- pronounced: noticeable or obvious
- pronto: in a prompt or rapid way
- propagate: to spread something widely
- propensity: tendency
- prophesy: to predict
- prophetic: foretelling events as if by supernatural intervention, visionary
- propitious: favorable and likely to lead to success
- proponent: somebody who advocates something
- propriety: moral correctness
- prosaic: not fanciful or imaginative, commonplace
- proscribe: to prohibit or condemn something
- proselytize: to try to convert somebody
- prosperity: good fortune, financial success
- prostrate: throw down flat, as on the ground
- protagonist: main character
- protean: able to change form
- protégé: somebody under patronage of another
- protocol: etiquette of state occasions, record or draft of agreement
- prototype: standard or typical example
- protract: to prolong, to make something last
- protrude: to stick out
- protuberant: curving outward
- protuberate: to swell out from surroundings
- provenance: origin
- provender: food for livestock
- proverb: short well-known saying that expresses an obvious truth and often offers advice
- provident: displaying foresight
- provincial: unsophisticated, rustic, limited in scope
- provisional: under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
- prowess: ability or skill
- proximity: closeness in space or time, nearness
- prude: person excessively concerned about propriety and decorum
- prudent: careful, cautious
- prudish: exaggeratedly proper
- pry: to intrude into, to force open
- pseudo: fake, artificial
- puerile: childish, silly, immature
- pugnacious: inclined to fight or be aggressive
- puissant: powerful
- pulchritudinous: beautiful
- punctilious: careful and socially correct
- punctual: on time
- pundit: someone with knowledge and wisdom
- pungent: with a strong smell or powerfully sharp or bitter taste
- punitive: relating to, done as, or imposed as a punishment
- purchase: firm grip or hold on something
- purge: to make clean
- purloin: to steal something
- purport: to claim, seem, or profess to be something specified
- pursue: to follow after in order, to chase
- pusillanimous: showing a lack of courage or determination
- putative: generally accepted
- putrescent: decaying or rotting
- quagmire: marsh, difficult situation
- quaint: with a charming old-fashioned quality
- qualified: limited, restricted
- quandary: predicament, dilemma
- quantify: to express as a number or measure or quantity
- quarantine: isolation period, to prevent spread of disease
- quartermaster: army officer
- quash: to put a stop to something, to declare null and void
- quay: dock or a harbor
- quell: to suppress or crush completely
- quench: to put out, to end by satisfy
- querulous: habitually complaining
- quest: search for something, especially a long or difficult one
- quibble: to talk about unimportant things
- quiescent: quiet
- quintessence: the most essential part of everything
- quirk: full of strange and unexpected turn of events
- quiver: to shake, tremble
- quixotic: not sensible about practical matters, unrealistic, idealistic
- quotidian: of the most ordinary everyday kind, daily
- rabid: very enthusiastic or fanatical, furious, violently intense
- raconteur: witty, skillful storyteller
- radiant: bright, filled with light
- radical: far beyond the norm
- rail: to complain or scold bitterly
- ramble: to talk or write aimlessly
- rambunctious: noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
- ramify: to divide; to have complicating results
- rampant: unrestrained and violent, out of control
- ramshackle: likely to fall to pieces
- rancid: having the strong disagreeable smell or taste of decomposing fats or oils
- rancor: bitter resentment
- rancorous: unforgiving, vengeful
- rankle: to cause bitter feelings
- rant: to harangue or forcefully scold
- rapacious: greedy
- rapport: friendly relationship
- rapt: completely engrossed, blissfully happy
- rapture: ecstasy
- rarefy: to make thinner, purer, or more refined
- rash: thoughtless and impetuous
- rasp: to say something in harsh voice (v/n)
- raucous: harsh sounding
- raucous: unpleasantly loud
- ravage: to ruin or violently destroy
- ravenous: extremely hungry, voracious and predatory
- raze: to destroy or level a building or settlement completely
- reactionary: extremely conservative
- realm: kingdom, region or field of study
- rear: the farthest point; to bring or rise up
- reassure: to cause to feel sure
- rebuff: to reject or snub something
- rebuke: to criticize or reprimand somebody, usually sharply
- rebut: to overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
- recalcitrant: stubborn
- recant: to deny believing in something or withdraw something previously said
- recidivism: relapsing into crime
- reciprocate: to give or feel something mutually or in return
- reckless: marked by unthinking boldness, characterized by careless
- reclusive: shut off from the world
- recoil: to spring back, shrink (v/n)
- reconcile: to make compatible with
- recondite: obscure
- recount: to tell the story or details of something
- recoup: to make up for, regain
- recreant: disloyal to a cause or duty, cowardly (adj/n)
- recriminate: to accuse back
- rectify: to correct something right
- rectitude: strong moral integrity in character or actions
- recuperate: to regain health
- recur: to occur again
- recurrent: happening or appearing again, especially repeatedly
- redact: to edit something
- redolent: with a strong pleasant aroma
- redoubtable: formidable, with personal qualities worthy of respect or fear
- redress: compensation or reparation for a loss or wrong a party has experienced
- redundancy: unnecessary repetition
- reek: to give off unpleasant smell (v/n); to give a strong impression
- refract: to deflect light or sound
- refractory: stubborn, rebellious, and uncontrollable
- refrain: to avoid or hold yourself back from doing something
- refuge: safe place, shelter from danger or hardship
- refute: to overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
- regime: system or style of government
- regimen: program to improve health
- regurgitate: to pour something forth
- rehabilitate: to restore or reform
- reimburse: to pay back money to somebody
- reiterate: to repeat
- rejoinder: response, reply, retort
- rejuvenate: to make like new
- relegate: to assign to a lower position; reduce in rank, to demote
- relent: to become less strict or intense
- relentless: unyielding, harsh, without pity
- relinquish: to release
- relish: to enjoy greatly
- remarkable: extraordinary
- remedy: medicine or anything that relieves pain
- reminisce: to recall the past
- remnant: something that remains or is left over
- remote: situated a long way away
- remunerate: to pay for work done
- renascent: reborn, coming into being again
- render: to cause to become, to perform, to deliver officially, to process, extract
- rendezvous: a meeting planned at a certain time and place
- renegade: somebody who abandons previously held beliefs or loyalties
- renege: to fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
- renounce: to give up or quit
- renovate: to put in good condition again
- renown: fame
- reparation: compensation for something wrong, amend
- repast: meal (n/v)
- repeal: to revoke or formally withdraw
- repellent: serving or tending to repel, causing disgust
- repent: to be sorry
- repentant: apologetic, remorseful
- repercussion: result of action
- replenish: to refill
- replete: full
- repose: to lie resting (n/v)
- reprehensible: bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
- reprehensive: deserving blame
- reprieve: temporary relief or delay (n/v)
- reprimand: to rebuke somebody for a wrongdoing
- reprisal: act in return for harm done by another
- reproach: to criticize somebody (v/n)
- reprobate: to censure somebody, disreputable (adj/n)
- reprove: to criticize or correct
- repudiate: to reject and disapprove
- repugnant: offensive, disagreeable, distasteful
- repulse: to force or drive back (v/n)
- repulsive: very unpleasant
- reputation: the views that are generally held about somebody or something
- requisite: necessary for relief or supply
- requisition: authoritative request or demand
- requite: to revenge or retaliate
- rescind: to cancel something
- resent: to dislike, to begrudge
- residue: matter that remains after something has been removed
- resilient: able recover quickly from setbacks
- resolute: firm in purpose or belief
- resolve: to come to or cause somebody to come to a firm decision about something
- resonate: to resound or echo, or cause something to resound or echo
- respectively: in the order given, in that order
- respite: brief interval of rest
- resplendent: shining and splendid
- restive: being in a tense state, impatient especially under restriction or delay
- restraint: the act of controlling by restraining someone or something, limit
- resurgent: rising or becoming stronger again
- resurrect: to save or bring back to life
- retain: to keep possession of something
- retaliate: to get revenge
- retard: to slow or delay the progress of something
- reticent: silent and quiet
- retort: to answer in a sharp, quick manner (v/n)
- retract: to take back, to withdraw
- retribution: punishment, revenge
- retroactive: effective to a past date
- retrograde: to cause to deteriorate or move backwards
- retrospect: remembering of past events
- reveal: to disclose
- revel: to enjoy, to take great pleasure in something
- revere: to worship
- reverent: respectful
- revert: to go back to previous state
- revile: to attack with words, to insult
- revitalize: to renew somebody or something
- revive: to come, or bring somebody, back to life, consciousness, or full strength
- revoke: to formally cancel something
- rhapsodize: to express enthusiasm
- rhetoric: persuasive use of language
- ribald: humorous in a vulgar way
- rickety: weak and shaky
- ricochet: reflection or rebound, echo (n/v)
- riddle: to make holes in something; to spread out, to permeate
- rife: widespread and plentiful
- righteous: morally justified, respectable
- rigmarole: nonsense
- rigorous: full of strictness
- risqué: bordering on being inappropriate or indecent
- rivulet: small stream
- roam: to wander aimlessly (v/n)
- robust: strong and healthy
- rooted: well established, unable to move
- rostrum: stage for public speaking
- rotund: spherical in shape; fat
- roundabout: indirect
- rouse: to arouse from slumber, apathy, or depression
- rowdy: disorderly
- rubbish: trash, nonsense
- rubble: remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
- rudimentary: basic
- rue: to feel remorse or sorry for
- rueful: causing sorrow and regret
- ruffle: to destroy the evenness of
- rugged: rough, irregular
- rumble: to make deep sound
- ruminate: to chew over again, to reflect deeply on a subject
- rupture: state of being broken
- ruse: clever trick or plot used to deceive others
- rustic: rural
- rustle: to make a dry crackling sound
- ruthless: without mercy or pity, cruel
- sabotage: to deliberately destruct or cause damage (v/n)
- saccharine: sweet
- sacrilegious: blasphemous
- sacrosanct: sacred, holy
- sadistic: being cruel for fun
- sagacious: keen and wise in judgment, acute
- salient: prominent or conspicuous
- sallow: unnaturally pale and yellowish
- salubrious: healthful
- salutary: useful, healthful
- salutation: greeting
- salvage: to save and recover, to reclaim
- sanctify: to render holy by means of religious rites
- sanction: permission, support
- sanctuary: consecrated place where sacred objects are kept, refuge
- sanguine: cheerfully optimistic
- sapient: acutely insightful and wise
- sardonic: disdainfully or ironically mocking
- sated: full, satisfied
- satiate: to fill to satisfaction
- satiety: the state of being satisfactorily full
- satire: use of wit, especially irony, sarcasm, and ridicule
- saucy: impudent, showing a lack of respect
- saunter: to stroll
- savant: wise or scholarly person
- savory: having an appetizing taste or smell
- savvy: to comprehend something; shrewdness (n/adj)
- scale: to climb to the top of
- scandalous: shocking, defamatory
- scanty: inadequate
- scathing: harsh
- scintilla: tiny or scarcely detectable amount
- scintillate: to throw off sparks, to flash
- scoff: to show great disrespect with mocking behavior
- scorch: to make very hot and dry
- scorn: contempt, disrespect
- scoundrel: wicked or evil person
- scrounge: to beg or borrow
- scrupulous: characterized by extreme care and great effort
- scrutinize: to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
- scrutiny: close examination
- scurrilous: containing abusive language or defamatory allegations
- scuttle: to sink a ship by cutting holes; to get rid of something in a decisive way; to run hastily
- scythe: to cut or reap something with a cutting utensil
- secede: to withdraw formally and completely
- second: to express agreement and support for something that somebody has just said
- secondhand: derived from what is primary or original
- secrete: to release; to conceal something
- sectarian: of a religious faction (adj/n)
- secular: not controlled by a religious body or concerned with religious or spiritual matters
- sedate: to anesthetize; dignified
- sedation: state of calm, restfulness, or drowsiness
- sedentary: sluggish stationary, inactive
- seduce: to lure or entice away from proper conduct
- sedulous: working with great zeal and persistence
- seemly: according with custom or propriety
- seethe: to be in an agitated emotional state
- self-effacing: modest and reserved to avoid drawing attention to oneself in company
- semblance: outward appearance
- seminal: influential, capable of development
- senescent: growing older by the minute
- senile: mentally or physically infirm with age
- sensuous: appealing to or gratifying the senses
- sentient: capable of feeling and perception, conscious
- sentimental: affected acutely by emotional matters
- sentry: person on duty as guards
- sequester: to put somebody into isolation
- sequestrate: to keep away from others
- seraphic: angelic, pure, sublime
- serendipity: luck or good fortune
- serene: peaceful, sly: marked by skill in deception
- serpentine: twisting, snake-like
- servile: submissive, obedient
- servitude: slavery, forced labor
- sever: to keep apart, to cut off or separate
- shackle: metal bracelet for holding prisoners, restraint (n/v)
- sham: to feign (v/n/adj)
- shamble: to walk in awkward, unsteady way
- shambles: place or scene of disorder or destruction
- shard: broken piece of a brittle artifact
- shimmer: to shine or glimmer intermittently
- shirk: to avoid something or responsibility
- shoddy: poorly or carelessly made or done
- shrewd: marked by practical hardheaded intelligence, clever
- shriek: sharp piercing cry (n/v)
- shrivel: to shrink or weaken
- shroud: to cover, to hide
- shun: to keep away from
- simper: to smile affectedly or derisively
- simulate: to feign or pretend
- sin: action that breaks a religious law
- sinecure: paid job requiring little work
- singe: to slightly burn
- singular: unique, remarkable
- sinuous: with graceful winding or curving movements; not morally honest
- sizable: fairly large
- skeptical: doubtful, questioning
- sketchy: lacking in substance, clarity, or detail, vague
- skulk: to move about in a furtive way
- slacken: to slow up or loosen
- slander: to insult or show disrespect (v/n)
- slapdash: careless and hasty
- sleek: having a smooth, gleaming surface
- slender: small or slight in width in proportion to height or length, limited
- slight: to treat something as important
- slipshod: careless
- sliver: thin layer (n/v)
- slogan: favorite saying of a sect or political group
- sloth: laziness
- slough: to discard or shed
- slovenly: untidy, messy
- sluggish: inactive
- smear: to spread over, or spread something liquid or greasy over something
- smolder: to burn slowly and without a flame
- smother: to cover thickly
- snazzy: attractively new, bright, or fashionable
- sobriety: abstinence, seriousness
- sodden: thoroughly wet (adj/v)
- sojourn: brief stay at a place
- solace: comfort in time of trouble
- solemn: earnest, demonstrating sincerity and gravity
- solicit: to ask for
- solicitous: expressing an attitude of concern and consideration
- soliloquy: long speech one makes to oneself
- solitude: loneness and isolation
- soluble: capable of being solved or dissolved
- somber: dark and gloomy
- somnolent: drowsy, sleepy
- sonorous: producing or possessing a rich sound
- soothing: making more comfortable
- sophistry: method of argumentation that seems clever but is actually flawed or dishonest
- sophomoric: immature
- soporific: causing sleep or drowsiness
- sordid: morally degraded, nasty, squalid
- sovereign: monarch, independent, outstanding
- sparse: scant, thinly spread
- spartan: avoiding luxury and comfort, sternly disciplined
- spasm: sudden burst of energy
- spasmodic: occurring at uneven intervals
- spearhead: to act as leader of event
- specious: plausible but false
- spellbound: with attention and interest held completely, enthralled
- spendthrift: someone who spends money prodigally
- spiteful: hateful
- spleen: anger or bad temper
- spontaneous: instant
- spooky: scared, frightened
- sporadic: occurring occasionally at intervals that have no apparent pattern
- sprightly: full of life and vigor
- sprout: to begin to grow
- spruce: appearing neat and tidy (adj/v)
- spurious: lacking authenticity, counterfeit, fake
- spurn: to reject somebody or something with disdain
- squabble: to argue noisily over something unimportant
- squalid: neglected, unsanitary and unpleasant
- squalor: shabbiness, filth, degradation
- squander: to waste
- squawk: to utter a loud harsh cry
- squelch: to put end to something, to quell
- staccato: detached or disconnected in sound or style, abrupt
- staggering: with the effect of shocking or astounding people
- stagnant: not flowing or moving
- staid: self-restrained to the point of dullness
- stale: not so strong or energetic
- stalk: to follow stealthily
- stalwart: strong and sturdy
- stammer: to speak with involuntary stops and much repeating
- stampede: to rush or sprint, usually a mad or wild dash (v/n)
- stanch: to stop
- starchy: rigidly formal
- stark: bare or blunt; complete or extreme
- statute: enacted law
- staunch: firm, loyal
- steadfast: firm and unwavering in purpose, loyalty, or resolve
- stealthy: marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
- stench: distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant
- stentorian: loud, powerful or declamatory in tone
- sterile: barren and bare
- sterling: highest in quality, genuine, excellent
- sternly: in a severe, stern manner
- stevedore: somebody whose job is to load and unload ships
- stifle: to smother or suffocate
- stigmatize: to brand with disgrace
- stilted: artificially formal
- stimulate: to make active, to fire up
- stimulus: incentive
- stipend: allowance
- stipulate: to specify something such as a condition when making an agreement or an offer
- stockade: enclosed area forming defensive wall
- stoic: indifferent to or unaffected by emotions
- stolid: having or showing little emotion
- strait: strict and severe (adj/n)
- strapping: tall and powerfully built
- stratify: to form, arrange, or deposit in layers
- strenuous: requiring great effort, energy, stamina, or strength
- stricture: limit or restriction; severe criticism
- strident: loud, harsh sound; strongly expressed
- strife: bitter and sometimes violent conflict, struggle, or rivalry
- stringent: strictly controlled or enforced
- stroll: leisurely walk (n/v)
- studious: giving to diligent study, showing careful attention
- stupefy: to amaze and stun
- stupendous: impressively large, excellent, or great in extent or degree
- stupor: dazed state, unconsciousness
- stymie: to hinder the progress of
- suave: smooth
- subdue: to put down by force or intimidation
- subjection: domination, forced submission to control by others
- subjective: based on somebody’s opinions or feelings rather than on facts or evidence
- subjugate: to dominate, to put under control
- sublimate: to purify, refine or change something undesirable
- sublime: so awe-inspiringly beautiful as to seem almost heavenly
- subliminal: below the threshold of conscious perception, subconscious
- submerge: to go under water, to sink, to fill or cover completely, usually with water
- submissive: ready to submit to others, obedient
- subsequent: following in time, order, place
- subservient: compliant and obedient to authority
- subside: to sink into a lower level
- subsidiary : having secondary importance or occupying a subordinate position
- subsidize: to supply capital to or for
- subsist: to manage to live
- substantial: large in amount, firmly constructed
- substantiate: to establish by evidence
- subterfuge: sneaky strategy, trick
- subterranean: being or operating under the surface of the earth, existing or carried on in secret
- subtle: hard to detect or describe
- subversive: rebellious
- subvert: to cause the downfall of, to undermine or corrupt
- succinct: showing or expressed with brevity and clarity
- succulent: juicy and tasty, interesting
- succumb: to give away to superior force, to yield
- suffice: to be enough
- suffragist: one who advocates extended voting rights
- sulky: angrily silent
- sullen: brooding, gloomy
- sully: to spoil or make dirty
- summarily: done instantly, without delay
- summon: to call in an official matter, such as to attend court
- sumptuous: splendid or luxurious
- sunder: to break something apart
- sundry: various, assorted
- superannuated: obsolete, too old to be useful
- supercilious: having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
- supererogatory: superfluous
- superficial: not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually, insincere
- superfluous: extra, unnecessary
- superlative: excellent, of the highest quality or degree
- supersede: to replace something less efficient, to succeed something or somebody
- superstitious: showing ignorance or the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance
- supplant: to oust someone, to take place of, to supersede
- supple: flexible and elastic, moving easily
- suppliant: humbly entreating
- supplicate: to humbly address requests
- supposition: conjecture, hypothesis that is taken for granted
- supposititious: fraudulently substituted for something else
- suppress: to put down by force or authority, to hold back
- supremacy: the highest rank, power or authority
- surfeit: excess
- surly: bad-tempered, unfriendly, rude
- surmise: to guess (v/n)
- surmount: to deal with a difficulty successfully
- surpass: to be better, to exceed
- surreal: dreamlike
- surreptitious: secret
- surrogate: substitute, alternate
- surveillance: close observation of a person or group
- susceptible: easily influenced or affected by something
- sustain: to withstand or maintain
- svelte: pleasantly, fashionably slim
- swagger: bold, arrogant stride
- swarm: large mass (n/v)
- swelter: to be uncomfortably hot
- swerve: to veer and change direction
- swindle: to obtain something, especially money, by deception or fraud
- sybarite: somebody devoted to luxury and the gratification of sensual desires
- sycophant: servile flatterer
- sycophantic: attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
- syllabus: outline of a subject or a course
- symbiosis: cooperation, mutual helpfulness
- symmetry: arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained
- synchronize: to happen at the same time
- synopsis: plot summary
- synthesis: combining parts into a whole
- synthesize: to combine different elements into new whole
- systematic: carried out in a methodical and organized manner of a specific topic
- systemic: affecting an entire system
- tacit: understood or implied without being stated openly
- taciturn: inclined to silence
- tactile: of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch, tangible
- taint: to spoil or infect, to stain honor
- talisman: piece of jewelry thought to be a protection against evil
- talon: hooked claw of an animal, especially of a bird or a prey
- tang: sharp flavor or odor
- tangent: going off the main topic
- tangential: digressing, irrelevant
- tangible: able to be touched or perceived through the sense of touch
- tantalize: to tease someone
- tantamount: the same as, equal
- tantrum: fit of temper, outburst of anger
- tapering: gradually narrowed toward a point
- tarnish: to become dull
- tarry: to delay or dawdle
- taunt: to jeer at, or to mock (v/n)
- taut: tough, tight and tense
- tawdry: cheap, of little value
- tedious: boring or tiring
- teensy: very small
- teeter: to wobble
- telescope: to crush together or collapse; to make smaller
- temerity: reckless confidence that might be offensive, boldness
- temper: to moderate and alleviate
- temperate: not extreme in behavior, moderate, calm
- tempered: moderated, restrained, well proportioned
- tempestuous: stormy, emotionally turbulent
- temporal: not eternal, of or relating to or limited by time
- tempt: to make someone think of doing wrong
- tenable: defensible, reasonable
- tenacious: persistent, unyielding, with adhesiveness
- tender: to present something formal or official, in the form of a document
- tenet: belief, doctrine
- tentative: unsettled in mind or opinion, hesitant, cautious
- tenuous: weak
- tenure: the occupation of an official position
- tepid: moderately warm, unenthusiastic
- terminus: very last stop or end
- terse: brief and to the point, concise
- testament: proof; will
- tether: to bind or tie
- theocracy: government ruled by a god or priests
- thesaurus: book of synonyms and antonyms
- thorough: painstakingly careful and accurate
- thrall: the state of being under the control of another person
- thrifty: careful and diligent in the use of resources, economical
- thrive: to grow vigorously and healthily, to grow stronger
- throng: great number of people crowded together
- thrust: to push forcefully
- thwart: to prevent something
- tidings: news
- timely: happening or done at the right time or an appropriate time
- timorous: timid, showing fear or hesitancy
- tinge: to add a slight amount of color, to affect as in thought or feeling
- tirade: speech of violent denunciation
- titular: being such in name only, supposed
- toady: to behave in an obsequious and ingratiating manner (v/n)
- toil: to work hard (v/n)
- tome: book, usually large and academic
- tonic: lifting spirits, invigorating
- torpid: lethargic, lacking energy
- torpor: inactivity resulting from torpidity and lack of vigor or energy
- torrid: full of passion, scorching hot
- tortuous: with many turns or bends, intricate, devious
- toxin: poison
- tractable: being very easy to control or persuade
- traduce: to slander or malign
- tranquil: characterized by absence of emotional agitation, free from disturbance
- transact: to conduct business
- transcend: to go beyond limit
- transcendent: superior in quality or achievement, supreme
- transcribe: to write out an exact copy of something
- transfix: to fascinate
- transfuse: to transfer something by pouring
- transient: temporary, short-lived, fleeting
- transitory: not permanent or lasting, but existing only for a short time
- translucent: almost transparent, allowing light to pass through
- transmute: to change from one form, nature, substance, or state into another
- transpire: to come to light, to become known, to happen
- transplant: to move somebody or something to another place
- traumatize: to cause somebody to experience severe emotional shock
- travail: to work long and hard (v/n)
- travesty: distorted or debased version of something, grotesque imitation, caricature (n/v)
- treacherous: betraying trust or confidence
- treason: act of deliberate betrayal
- treatise: formal exposition
- tremor: involuntary vibration
- tremulous: trembling
- trenchant: direct, incisive, acute, sharp
- trepidation: fear
- tribute: compliment
- trifle: small amount
- trite: overused and consequently lacking in interest or originality
- trivial: unimportant
- troupe: group of traveling performers
- truculent: aggressively defiant
- truncate: to shorten something by removing part
- tryst: arrangement to meet, especially one made privately or secretly (n/v)
- tundra: treeless plain found in arctic or sub-arctic regions
- turbid: confused and muddled, muddy
- turbulent: marked by disturbances, changes, and unrest
- turgid: pompous, swollen, bloated
- turpitude: extreme immorality or wickedness
- twaddle: nonsensical or pretentious speech or writing (n/v)
- typical: having all or most of the characteristics shared by others
- tyro: novice, beginner
- ubiquitous: being present everywhere at once
- ulterior: existing in addition to or being other than what is apparent or assumed
- ultimatum: final peremptory demand
- umbrage: offence, giver of shade
- unabashed: not ashamed or embarrassed
- unabated: still as forceful or intense as before
- unadulterated: absolutely pure
- unalloyed: in a pure state
- unanimous: in complete agreement
- unassuming: acting in a way that does not assume superiority, modest
- unbridled: freely and openly expressed, unrestrained
- uncanny: eerie
- unconscionable: shocking and morally unacceptable
- unconstrained: at liberty
- uncorroborated: unsupported by evidence
- uncouth: ill-mannered
- unctuous: excessively ingratiating; oil, fatty, greasy
- undaunted: not shocked
- undeniably: unquestionably
- underlying: positioned beneath something else, fundamental
- underscore: to emphasize
- undertake: to make a pledge to do something
- undeviating: remaining loyal or constant
- undiluted: pure
- undue: excessive or very inappropriate
- undulate: to move sinuously like waves (v/adj)
- unduly: excessively
- unequivocal: absolute, certain
- unerring: accurate, without mistakes
- unforgiving: intolerant
- ungainly: lacking grace in movement or posture
- unheralded: without warning or announcement
- uniform: consistent and unchanging
- unimpeachable: impossible to discredit or challenge, faultless
- universal: of worldwide scope or applicability
- unnerving: causing to lose courage
- unprecedented: having no earlier parallel or equivalent
- unravel: to disentangle, to make understandable
- unremitting: constant, persistent
- unruffled: calm and poised
- unruly: difficult to control, manage, discipline, or govern
- unscrupulous: not restrained by moral or ethical principles
- unsettle: to disrupt or upset somebody
- unsettling: disturbing the composure of, worrying
- unshakable: firm and certain, not subject to doubt or uncertainty
- unsnarl: to untangle
- untrammeled: not restricted or restrained
- unveil: to expose something secret, take covering off
- unwarranted: unnecessary, not justified or deserved
- unwitting: unknowing, unintentional
- unyielding: not giving in to persuasion, pressure, or force
- upbeat: full of optimism or cheerfulness, increase in happiness, prosperity, or favorable activity
- upbraid: to scold sharply
- uphold: to maintain or support
- upright: of moral excellence
- uproarious: loud and forceful
- uproot: to pull up or displace
- upshot: the end result or outcome of something
- upturn: upward movement or trend as in business activity, improvement
- urbane: showing sophistication, refinement, or courtesy
- usurp: to seize and take control without authority and possibly with force
- usury: lending of money at an exorbitant rate or interest
- utopia: perfect place
- utter: to say; complete
- vacillate: to waver, to show indecision
- vacuous: having no content or idea, stupid
- vagrant: homeless wanderer (n/adj)
- valiant: having or showing valor or braveness
- vanguard: pioneer, leading position
- vanquish: to defeat or conquer
- vantage: position that provides an advantage
- vapid: tasteless, dull
- variegate: to change the appearance of, especially by marking with different colors
- varnish: paint that provides a hard glossy transparent coating (n/v)
- vaunt: to show off or brag
- veer: to change direction, especially suddenly
- vehement: marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
- vendetta: prolonged bitter quarrel marked by bitter hostility
- venerable: worthy of respect
- venerate: to regard somebody with profound respect
- vengeful: seek revenge or to cause injury
- venial: warranting only temporal punishment, forgivable
- venomous: extremely poisonous or injurious, producing venom
- vent: to give expression or utterance to
- venture: risky or daring undertaking; to expose to danger
- veracity: accuracy, truth
- verbatim: word for word
- verbose: talkative, wordy
- verdant: lush green
- verity: truthfulness
- vermin: destructive animals or insects
- vernacular: everyday language used by ordinary people
- vernal: related to spring
- versatile: with many uses, changeable, adaptable
- versify: compose verses or put into verse
- vest: to provide with power and authority; sleeveless garment
- vestige: trace, remnant
- vet: to examine
- vex: to annoy
- via: by way of
- viable: able to be done or worth doing
- vibrant: vigorous and animated
- vicarious: substitute, surrogate, indirect, experienced at secondhand
- vice versa: the other way around
- vice: immoral or wicked habit or characteristic
- vicious: cruel and spiteful
- vicissitude: variability, unexpected changes
- victual: to supply something with food
- vie: to compete for something
- vigil: devotional watch, purposeful surveillance to guard or observe
- vigilant: carefully observant or attentive, watchful
- vignette: short descriptive piece of literary writing
- vile: morally disgusting, miserable or unpleasant
- vilify: to make malicious and abusive statements about somebody
- villain: evil character, contemptible person
- vim: exuberant vitality and energy
- vindicate: to clear somebody or something of blame, to justify something
- vindictive: looking for revenge or done through a desire for revenge
- virile: masculine, characterized by energy and vigor
- virtual: being almost but not perfect
- virtue: the quality of being morally good or righteous
- virtuoso: skilled expert
- virtuous: having or showing moral goodness or righteousness
- virulent: extremely poisonous, malignant, hateful
- visage: appearance conveyed by a person's face
- viscid: gluey
- viscous: having the properties of glue, sticky
- visionary: person with unusual powers of foresight
- vista: scenic or panoramic view
- vital: necessary and important
- vitiate: to ruin
- vitriolic: expressing bitter hatred
- vituperate: to attack somebody in harshly abusive or critical language
- vivacious: vigorous and active, lively
- vocalize: to use the voice to express something
- vocation: somebody’s job
- vociferous: loud, noisy, vehement
- vogue: the current type of fashion or style
- void: invalid, devoid; vacuum
- volatile: changing suddenly, unstable
- volition: the ability to make conscious choices or decisions
- voluble: talking or spoken easily and at length
- voluminous: having great size, capacity, or fullness
- voluptuous: giving or suggesting ample, unrestrained pleasure to the senses
- voracious: craving food in great quantities, very eager
- vulgar: rude and bad-mannered, tasteless
- vulnerable: defenseless, unprotected
- waive: to voluntarily give up some claim
- wan: to become pale and sickly (v/adj)
- wanderlust: strong desire to travel
- wane: to decrease in size or strength
- wanton: immoral, reckless, undisciplined
- warble: to sing or babble (v/n)
- warp: to become or make something twisted out of shape
- wary: marked by keen caution and watchful prudence, cautious
- wayward: ungovernable, unpredictable
- weary: tired
- welfare: contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous
- wellbeing: happiness
- wheedle: to influence or urge by gentle urging or flattering
- whereabouts: location, the approximate place where somebody or something is
- whet: to sharpen, to stimulate
- whimsical: imaginative and impulsive
- whit: small amount
- whittle: to cut off bits
- wholehearted: hearty, sincere, characterized by enthusiasm, passion, or commitment
- whopping: very big or great
- wicked: morally bad in principle or practice, evil
- wield: to use or exercise
- will: determination; statement of how properties are distributed
- willful: intentional, headstrong
- willpower: the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior, determination
- wilt: to lose strength, limp
- wily: crafty, cunning
- windfall: sudden happening that brings good fortune
- winnow: to separates good parts from bad
- winsome: charming, especially because of a naive, innocent quality
- wintry: bleak, cheerless or unfriendly
- wistful: yearning for something
- wither: to shrivel or become weak
- withhold: to hold back
- wizen: to wither or dry up, or make something wither or dry up
- woebegone: feeling or looking distressed or sorrowful
- woeful: sad; mournful
- worldly: experienced in and knowledgeable about human society and its ways
- wrath: fierce anger
- wretched: miserable; shameful, vile
- writ: legal document issued by a court or judicial officer
- writhe: to twist and squirm
- wry: humorously sarcastic or mocking
- xenophobia: irrational fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers
- yoke: to join together
- zealot: someone passionately devoted to a cause
- zealous: actively and unreservedly enthusiastic
- zenith: the highest point, summit
- zephyr: gentle breeze
