Words signal a writer values language. For many readers, the words listed here were last seen on a standardized test, such as the SAT or GRE. However, they also are used in elite publications, from the New York Times to the Atlantic Monthly. Some of these words were once widely used and appear in classic literature. Some modern novelists use them to great effect.
We believe the greater the vocabulary, the more concise the writing. Unfortunately, readers might not understand what you write. The definitions for some words listed are not the “common” meanings; we have chosen to focus on the words and meanings used to impress audiences.
Serious readers enjoy new words and writers love using the rare greats. Reading teaches vocabulary as we study context at all levels: Elemental grammar, plot, setting, and more. Readers thrill at the discovery of new words; writers should thrill at using them wisely. There is more to words than winning at Scrabble™.
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M]
[N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
– A –
abate (v) – to lessen; to lower the intensity
abbreviate (v) – shorten
aberrant (adj) – abnormal
aberration (n) – anomally; something unusual
abet (v) – aid, encourage
abhor (v) – detest, hate
ablution (n) – washing
abominable (adj) – extremely unpleasant, very bad
abortive (adj) – unsuccessful, fruitless
abridge (v) – condense or shorten
abrogate (v) – void, do away with, repeal
abscond (v) – to depart secretly
abstemious (adj) – moderate in consumption
abstinent (adj) – stubborn, refraining from, keeping from
abstain (v) – to avoid
abstruse (adj) – obscure, confusing, difficult
accede (v) – to agree
acclaim (v) – to applaud, to praise
accolade (n) – public praise, award
accoutre (v) – to equip, to supply
accretion (n) – mass gained (astronomy, geology)
acerbic (adj) – severe manner, bitter
acidulous (adj) – bitter, sour in mood
acme (n) – peak, highest point
acquiesce (v) – agree passively
acolyte (n) – follower, trainee; assistant to a priest
acrimonious (adj) – bitter, sharp, severe; looking to argue acrimony (n)
actuate (v) – to start, to motivate
acumen (n) – quick insight; accurate knowledge
adamant (adj) – hard, inflexible
adulterate (v) – make impure, contaminate
aeon (n) – long period of time
aesthetic (adj) – appreciating art and beauty
aggrandize (v) – to inflate; to promote
alacrity (n) – eagerness, willingness; quickness, briskness
alchemy (n) – medieval “science” of transmutation, especially changing of metals into gold
alchemist (n) – a fraud; chemist, especially one seeking to create gold from other metals
alliteration (n) – repetition of beginning sound in poetry
amalgamate (v) – to combine things into a whole
ameliorate (v) – to improve; to make tolerable. amelioration (n)
amenable (adj) – agreeable, responsive
anachronism (n) – something out of its era; misplaced in time. anachronistic (adj)
analogous (adj) – comparable, equal
anarchy (n) – absence of governing body
animus (n) – hostile feeling or intent
annihilate (v) – to destroy
annotate (v) – comment, make explanatory notes
anomalous (adj) – abnormal, irregular. anomally (n)
anomaly (n) – abnormal. anomalous (adj)
antecede (v) – to precede, to come before
antipathy (n) – hostility, hatred; repugnance, abhorrence, disgust
antithesis (n) – a direct opposite
antithetic (adj) – opposite, contrast
aplomb (n) – self-confidence; perpendicularity
apocryphal (adj) – false, counterfeit, questionable sources
apostate (n/adj) – one who forsakes his religion or principles; renegade, traitor
apathy (n) – lack of caring, indifference
ape (v) – to imitate, mimic
apex (n) – tip, summit, climax
appellation (n) – name, title
approbation (n) – approval
arbiter (n) – a judge
arcane (adj) – understood by specialists; rare knowledge
array (v) – placed in proper or desired order
ascetic (n) – one who is abstinent, austere, often for religious reasons
asperity (n) – a harshness of condition, severity
asperse (v) – to slander; calumniate, vilify, traduce; to sprinkle with water. aspersion (n)
assay (v) – analyze, evaluate
assuage (v) – to ease, relieve
astringent (adj) – harsh, severe; tightening living tissue
audacious (adj) – daring, fearless; reckless. audacity (n)
augment (v) – increase, add to
augur (n/v) – prophet; to predict, to prophesy
austere (adj) – ascetic; bare, severely simple
avarice (n) – greed
aver (v) – to affirm
axiom (n) – self-evident truth. axiomatic (adj)
– B –
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I]
[J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R]
[S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
Bacchanalia (n) – any wild party; ancient festival in honor of Bacchus, Roman god of wine
bacchanalian (adj) – drunken and wildly merry. bacchantic / bacchic (adj), bacchant (n)
baleful (adj) – evil, harmful, malignant
banal (adj) – common, trite
banality (n) – conventional, common
baneful (adj) – bad, evil, pernicious
bellicose (adj) – warlike
bereave (v) – to deprive; to leave isolated
bombastic (adj) – pompous writing or speech; grandiloquent. bombast (n)
bountiful (adj) – abundant, generous
brook (v) – to endure, tolerate
bucolic (adj) – rustic, pastoral, natural; simple
burgeoning (v) – to sprout, grow, flourish. burgeon (v)
buttress (v) – to support, reinforce, defend
– C –
cacophony (n) – dissonance, discord
callow (adj) – young, inexperienced; low, flood-prone
calumny (n) – a slander, lies
cajole (v) – to cheat by flattery
canon (n) – established code (religion). canonical (adj)
capricious (adj) – erratic, unpredictable, impulsive
carnage (n) – destruction of life
carping (adj) – finding fault
castigate (v) – to criticize severely, punish. castigation (n)
catalyst (n) – person or thing accelerating change
catechism (n) – book for religious instruction
catholic (adj) – universal, general, inclusive
caustic (adj) – corrosive; burning, stinging
celerity (n) – speed, rapidity
censure (v) – to rebuke officially
chary (adj) – wary, cautious
chicanery (n) trickery, mischief
churlish – (adj) surly, ill-tempered
circumlocution (n) – roundabout speech; confusing tale
climactic (adj) – relating to the highest point
cloy (v) – to make weary by too much of anything pleasant; satiate, surfeit
coda (n) – completing music; the end
cogent (adj) – convincing, reasonable
cognizant (adj) – aware, knowing
cohere (v) – stick together
culpability (n) – responsibility, guilt
colloquy (n) – informal discussion
commensurate (adj) – proportional, fair, even
compendium (n) – brief comprehensive summary
compilation (n) – listing of statistical information in tabular or book form
complaisant (adj) – eager to please, wanting to comply
complaisance (n) – (antiquated spelling, but appears on some exams)
compliant (adj) – submissive
conciliatory (adj) – calming, pacifying
concordat (n) – agreement
confer (v) – discuss or compare ideas
conformity (n) – harmony, agreement
conjoin (v) – to connect
connoisseur (n) – astute judge of taste; cultural expert
contentious (adj) – quarrelsome, argumentative
contingent (adj) – dependent on, conditional
contrite (adj) – penitent, regretful
conundrum (n) – puzzle, riddle with a “pun” answer
conventional (adj) – common, accepted, normal
convention (n) – standard
convoluted (adj) – complicated, twisted; questionable
copious (adj) – plentiful
correlate (v) – bring into relation; (n) either of two things implying the other
corroborate (v) – to confirm. corroboration
counterpart (n) – a thing that completes another, things alike
covert (adj) – secret, hidden, implied
craven (adj) – cowardly, abject
credulous (adj) – gullible
culpable (adj) – guilty, responsible
cupidity (n) – greed
curmudgeon (n) – miser; bitter person
curtail (v) – shorten, reduce
cynicism (n) – distrust of people
– D –
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I]
[J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R]
[S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
dally (v) – procrastinate
dearth (n) – a lack, scarcity
debacle (n) – disaster; bad plan
debase (v) – reduce in quality or value
debonair (adj) – friendly, aiming to please
declivity (n) – downward slope
debauchery (n) – reckless indulgence
decorum (n) – proper conduct. decorous (adj)
defer (v) – to show respect. deference
deference (n) – courteous regard for another’s wish
deleterious (adj) – harmful
deliberate (v) – consider, ponder
demur (v) – to question; to oppose
deplete (v) – reduce, exhaust
deposition (n) – testimony under oath
depraved (v/adj) – made corrupt, perverted, damaged. depravity (n)
derelict (adj) – abandoned
derision (n) – scorn, ridicule, contempt
derivative (adj) – unoriginal, derived from another source
descant (v) – discuss fully
desiccate (v) – to dehydrate, dry. desiccation (n)
detriment (n) – harm, damage
diatribe (n) – harsh denunciation; rant
didactic (adj) – intended to teach, for educating
diffident (adj) – shy, unsure. diffidence
diffuse (adj) – spread out, wide-ranging; using too many words
dilate (v) – expand
dilatory (adj) – delaying
dilettante (n) – amateur, superficial
disabuse (v) – to set right; to free from error, remove misconception
discernible (adj) – distinguishable, perceivable
disconsolate (adj) – sad
discordant (adj) – conflicting, harsh; dissonant sound
discourse (n) – discussion
discrete (adj) – separate, distinct
discretion (n) – caution; confidential, private manner
disinterested (adj) – unbiased; without self-interest
dismember (v) – cut into small parts
disparage (v) – to slight, to insult
disparate (adj) – distinct, different
dispersion (n) – scattering
disputatious (adj) – argumentative
dissemble (v) – to pretend, to disguise, to mislead
dissipated (adj) – corrupted; scattered
dissipation (n) – frivilous life
dissonant (adj) – jarring; discordant. dissonance (n)
diurnal (adj) – daily
divulge (v) – to disclose
doggerel (n) – trivial verse, bad poetry
dogma (n) – fixed opinion or belief. dogmatic (adj), dogmatism (n)
dogmatic (adj) – opinionated, arbitrary, doctrinal
dubious (adj) – questionable, filled with doubt
duplicity (n) – deceitfulness; conspirator
– E –
ebullience (n) – enthusiasm, lively
eclectic (adj) – unorthodox; varied parts, a mixture
ecstasy (n) – rapture, joy, any overpowering emotion
edify (v) – instruct, correct morally
effete (adj) – worn out, exhausted, barren
efficacy (n) – effectiveness, efficiency. efficacious
effluvium (n) – vapors, odors (plural noun)
effrontery (n) – brazen boldness, presumptuousness
elegy (n) – mournful poem, lamentation
elucidate (v) – explain, enlighten
emollient (adj) – soothing, mollifying
empirical (adj) – measured, factual; experimental results
emulate (v) – to copy, to imitate
encomium (n) – elaborate expression of praise
encompass (v) – surround
encumber (v) – burden
endemic (adj) – localized, regional
enervate (v) – to weaken, to drain, to take vitality from
engender (v) – to create, to produce, to cause
engrossed (adj) – occupied fully
enigma (n) – a puzzle, mystery. enigmatic (adj)
ennui (n) – restlessness, dissatisfaction; result of apathy
ephemeral (adj) – temporary, fleeting, transient
epic (n) – long heroic poem, novel, similar work of art
epitome (n) – perfect example of embodiment
epoch (n) – period of time
equivocal (adj) – ambiguous, intentionally confusing. equivocate (v), equivocation (n)
equivocate (v) – lie, mislead, attempt to conceal the truth
ersatz (n/adj) – substitute; inferior type
erudite (adj) – scholarly, learned. erudition (n)
erudition (n) – high degree of knowledge and learning
esoteric (adj) – understood by few; intended for a minority; trivial
espouse (v) – to support, to advocate; to marry
estheticism (n) – belief in beauty as the basic standard of value in life
eulogy (n) – high praise. eulogize
evanescent (adj) – vanishing; like vapor
exacerbate (v) – to make worse
excoriate (v) – strip raw; censure, denounce
exculpate (v) – to exonerate, to clear
execrable (adj) – very bad
exegesis (n) – explanation, especially of Biblical passages
exhaustive (adj) – thorough, comprehensive
exigent (adj) – urgent, pressing; immediate
exonerate (v) – to clear; to prove innocent
exorbitant (adj) – excessive
expatiate (v) – talk at length
expediency (n) – that which is advisable or practical
explication (n) – detailed explanation
exposition (n) – introduction, background; underlying theme (music)
extemporaneous (adj) – improvised; without preparation
extol (v) – to praise
exuberant (adj) – abundant, excessive
– F –
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I]
[J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R]
[S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
fabricate (v) – build, lie
facetious (adj) – playful, humorous; sarcastic
facile (adj) – easily accomplished, ready or fluent, superficial
fallacious (adj) – incorrect, mistaken. fallacy (n)
fancied (adj) – imagined, unreal
fanciful (adj) – whimsical, visionary
fatalism (n) – belief that events are determined by forces beyond one’s control
fatuous (adj) – silly, foolish
fawn (v) – to flatter excessively. fawning
fecund (adj) – fertile. fecundity
feign (v) – to pretend, act, deceive
fervent (adj) – emotional; zealous
fester (v) – ulcerate; rankle. festering (v)
festor (n) – a sore
fetid (adj) – stinking; rotting
filibuster (n) – obstruction; a delay by speech
finesse (n) – delicate skill
flag (v) – to waiver, to decline
flay (v) – to strip off the skin; to criticize without mercy; to rob, cheat; to inflict acute pain or torture
florid (adj) – gaudy, ornate; ruddy, flushed
flout (v) – to show contempt
fluster (v) – confuse
forbear (v) – to refrain; to cease
forbearance (n) – patience
fortuitous (adj) – by fortunate accident
frenetic (adj) – frantic; insane
frieze (n) – decoration
froward (adj) – willful, obstinate; adverse
fulminate (v) – to loudly denounce; to attack
fulsome (adj) – offensively excessive; fawning
furtive (adj) – stealth, covert, surreptitious
fusillade (n/v) – continuous discharge of many weapons; rapid verbal attack. fusilladed (v), fusillading (v)
futile (adj) – useless, hopeless, ineffectual
– G –
gainsay (v) – to speak against, to oppose, to deny
galvanize (v) – stimulate by shock, stir up
gape (v) – open widely
garner (v) – gather, store up
garrulity (n) – talkativeness
garrulous (adj) – talkative, pointlessly wordy
gaunt (adj) – lean and angular, barren
genial (adj) – kindly, jovial; conducive to growth
genre (n) – kind, sort, a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition
germane (adj) – relevant
gerrymander (v) – change voting district lines in order to favor a political party
ghastly (adj) – horrible
gingerly (adv) – very carefully
glib (adj) – superficial; informal
glutinous (adj) – sticky, viscous
goad (v) – urge; irritate
gossamer (adj) – sheer, like cobwebs
gourmand (n) – epicure, person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink
grandiloquent (adj) – pompous
gratuitous (adj) – given freely, unwarranted, uncalled for
gregarious (adj) – sociable, outgoing, charming
grotesque (adj) – fantastic, comically hideous
guffaw (n) – boisterous laughter
guile (n) – deception. guileless – lacking guile, unable to deceive
gustatory (adj) – affecting the sense of taste
gusto (n) – enjoyment, enthusiasm
– H –
hackneyed (adj) – trite; overused
haggard (adj) – wasted away, gaunt
halcyon (adj) – calm, peaceful
hamper (v) – obstruct
haphazard (adj) – random, by chance
hapless (adj) – unfortunate
harangue (v) – to rant, tirade; to lecture
harping (n) – tiresome dwelling on a subject
harrowing (adj) – agonizing, distressing, traumatic
haughtiness (n) – pride, arrogance
hedonism (n) – devotion to pleasure
hegemony (n) – dominance of one ideology
heretic (n) – person who maintains opinions contrary to the doctrines of the church
hiatus (n) – gap, interruption in duration or continuity, pause
hierarchy (n) – body divided into ranks
hubris (n) – arrogant pride; presumption
hyperbole (n) – exaggeration, overstatement
hypocritical (adj) – pretending to be virtuous, deceiving
hypothetical (adj) – based on assumptions or hypotheses, supposed
– I –
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I]
[J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R]
[S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
iconoclastic (adj) – attacking tradition. iconoclast (n)
ideology (n) – system of ideas of a group
idiom (n) – expression whose meaning as a whole differs from the meanings of it’s individual words
idolatrous (adj) – excessive devotion
idyllic (adj) – simple, charming; rustic
ignominious(adj) – deeply disgraceful, shameful
imbroglio (n) – complicated situation
immune (adj) – resistant to, free or exempt from
immutable (adj) unchanging; constant
impervious (adj) – resistant, strong, incapable of being affected
impalpable (adj) – imperceptible, intangible
impassive (adj) – without emotion; controlled
impeccable (adj) – faultless
impecunious (adj) – poor, lacking funds
impediment (n) – hindrance, stumbling block
impermeable (adj) – impervious
imperturbable (adj) – extremely calm, steady
impetuous (adj) – hasty, rash, impulsive; vehement
impinge (v) – infringe, touch, collide with
implacable (adj) – difficult to pacify or soothe, inflexible
implausible (adj) – unlikely, unbelievable
impolitic (adj) – not wise
improvident (adj) – lacking foresight; not planning; not conserving
impudent (adj) – without shame, immodest; rudely bold, insolent; forward
impropriety (n) – improperness, unsuitableness
imprudent (adj) – lacking caution, injudicious
impugn (v) – question, challenge
impunity (n) – immunity (law)
inadvertence (n) – oversight, carelessness
inarticulate (adj) – speechless, producing indistinct speech
inchoate (adj) – unfinished; imperfect, malformed
incipient (adj) – becoming apparent; beginning
incisive (adj) – sharp, pointed; trenchant
incoherence (n) – unintelligibility, lack of logic
incontrovertible (adj) – indisputable, not open to question
incorrigible (adj) – uncorrectable
incredulous (adj) – withholding belief
inculcate (v) – teach
incumbent (adj) – obligatory; currently holding an office
indifferent (adj) – without concern; unbiased
indignant (adj) – moved by anger or scorn
indolence (n) – laziness
indubitably (adv) – beyond a doubt; unquestionably
ineffable (adj) – too great to be described; not to be known
ineluctable (adj) – inevitable
inept (adj) – lacking skill; unsuited ; incompetent
inert (adj) – lethargic, sluggish
inexorable (adj) – unrelenting
inference (n) – conclusion drawn from data
infirmity (n) – weakness
infelicitous (adj) – unfortunate; inappropriate
ingenuous (adj) – artless; unsophisticated; frank, candid
inimical (adj) – harmful, malevolent, damaging
iniquity (n) – injustice; wickedness
injurious (adj) – harmful
innocuous (adj) – harlmess, safe
inordinate (adj) – unrestrained; excessive
inscrutable (adj) – mysterious; impenetrable
insidious (adj) – treacherous; stealthy
insipid (adj) – bland, plain, lacking
insouciant (adj) – indifferent; without concern or care
intractable (adj) – hard to control, unyielding
intransigent (adj) – uncompromising; solid, strong
intrepid (adj) – courageous; steadfast, loyal
inured (adj) – immune; accustomed to misery. inure (v)
invective (n) – abusive speech
inveigh (v) – to speak against, to oppose
inveigle (v) – to seduce; to obtain by deception; to receive by manipulation
interregnum (n) – interval between reigns
interrex (n) – regent; authority, leader
invidious (adj) – causing resentment; enviable
irascible (adj) – easily angered; prone to outbursts
irksome (adj) – repetitious; tedious
– J –
jactation (n) – throwing; boasting
jactitation (n) – falsely posing as married
jaundiced (adj) – jealous, soured on
jejune (adj) – poor; unsatisfying
jetsam (n) – object tossed overboard to lighten a ship
jingoism (n) – extremely aggressive and militant patriotism
juxtapose (v) – place side by side
– K –
kalology (n) – study of beauty
kilter (n) – orderly arrrangement
kindred (adj) – related; similar in nature or character
kinematic (adj) – relating to motion
knavery (n) – untrustworthiness; lack of principles
– L –
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I]
[J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R]
[S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
laconic (adj) – using few words, aloof
languid (adj) – weary; sluggish; listless
languish (v) – lose animation; lose strength
lambaste (v) – to scold; to criticize
latency (n) – present but hidden. latent (adj)
laud (v) – to praise. laudable (adj), laudatory (adj)
laudatory (adj) – expressing praise
lecherous (adj) – impure in thought and act, lustful
levity (n) – lack of seriousness; lightness
libertine (n) – a dissolute person; lax in morals
libidinous (adj) – lustful
licentious (adj) – sexually immoral
lieu (n) – instead of
linguistic (adj) – pertaining to language
loquacious (adj) – talkative
lucid (adj) – clear, understood (speech)
lugubrious (adj) – mournful
luminous (adj) – bright; emitting light
lymphatic (adj) – fatty; sluggish
– M –
magnanimity (n) – generosity. magnanimous (adj)
magnate (n) – person of prominence or influence
malaise (n) – uneasiness; vague feeling of ill heath
malevolent (adj) – evil; causing harm
malicious (adj) – hateful; spiteful
malleable (adj) – pliable; easily twisted
manifest (adj) – clearly revealed; fated
marshal (v) – to organize, to gather
martial (adj) – of war
materiel (n) – all things used by an army, weapons
maverick (n) – an independent
meddlesome (adj) – interfering
meditation (n) – reflection; though
melancholy (adj/n) – sadness, gloom
mellifluous (adj) – sweet like/as honey
mendacious (adj) – dishonest. mendacity (n)
mercurial (adj) – unpredictable; violent moods
metamorphosis (n) – change of form
metaphor (n) – implied comparison
meticulous (adj) – organized, careful, precise
miasma (n) – foul-smelling vapor from decay
mien (n) – demeanor; bearing
migratory (adj) – wandering
mimicry (n) – imitation
minatory (adj) – threatening, menacing
misanthrope (n) – person who dislikes humanity. misanthropic (adj)
miscellany (n) – mixture of writing on various subjects
misconstrue (v) – interpret incorrectly; misjudge
misogamy (n) – hatred of marriage
mitigate (v) – to soften, to ease. mitigation
mnemonic (adj) – pertaining to memory
mogul (n) – powerful person
moiety (n) – half; part
mollify (v) – to calm, to reduce
monarchy (n) – government under a single ruler
monotheism (n) – belief in one God
moot (adj) – debatable; controversial; hypothetical
mordant (adj/n) – biting, cutting, sarcastic; acute, burning; corrosive; acid that eats into metal. mordacious
mores (n) – conventions; moral standards
moribund (adj) – near death
morose (adj) – sad, sullen, melancholy
motility (n) – quality of movement; self-propelled
muddle (v) – confuse; mix up
multifarious (adj) – varied; greatly diversified
mundane (adj) – plain, common
munificent (adj) – extremely generous
mutinous (adj) – unruly; rebellious
myriad (v) – very large number
– N –
nadir (n) – lowest point
nascent (adj) – new; developing
nebulous (adj) – vague, cloudy, murky; lacking form
neologism (n) – a new word or usage
neophyte (n) – convert; beginner, novice
nepotism (n) – favoritism to a relative
niggle (v) – spend too much time on minor points
nihilism (n) – philosophy that traditional beliefs are groundless and existence meaningless
noisome (adj) – disgusting; pestilential
nonage (n) – immaturity
nonchalance (n) – indifference; lack of concern
notorious (adj) – outstandingly bad; unfavorably known
novice (n) – beginner
noxious (adj) – harmful, toxic
nugatory (adj) – futile; worthless
– O –
obdurate (adj) – stubborn (person), physically hard or resistant (thing)
obfuscate (v) – to make confusing; to mislead
objurgate (v) – to scold
obliquity (n) – indirectness; deviation from a position
obliterate (v) – destroy completely
obloquy (n) – abuse; disgrace
obscure (adj) – unexplained; humble
obsequious (adj) – fawning, overly attentive
obsolete (adj) – outmoded
obstinate (adj) – stubborn
obstreperous (adj) – boisterous; noisy
obtuse (adj) – imprecise, unclear; dimwitted, ignorant
obviate (v) – to anticipate and prevent, to render pointless
occlude (v) – to shut, block; to absorb, retain. occlusion (n)
odious (adj) – evoking aversion; dislikable, distasteful
olfactory (adj) – concerning the sense of smell
oligarchy (n) – government by a privileged few
omnipotent (adj) – all-powerful
onomatopoeia (n) – words formed in imitation of natural sounds
ontology (n) – science of being; the nature of things
opaque (adj) – solid color; blocking light
opprobrium (n) – contempt, scorn; disgrace
oratorio (n) – dramatic poem set to music
oscillate (v) – swinging motion; rhythmic movement. oscillation (n)
ossify (v) – harden; get stuck, rigid in ideas
ostentatious (adj) – pretentious
oust (v) – expel; drive out
overt (adj) – open to view
overweening (adj) – presumptuous: arrogant
– P –
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I]
[J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R]
[S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
paean (n) – hymn of praise
pacifist (n) – one opposed to force
palatable (adj) – agreeable; pleasing to the taste
palliate (v) – to relieve without curing; to excuse
palpable (adj) – certain; obvious
panegyric (n) – speech of praise
pantomime (n) – acting without dialogue
parable (n) – short, simple story
paradox (n) – seeming contradiction
parody (n) – imitation for ridicule
pastoral (adj) – rural; simple and peaceful
paucity (n) – scarcity; lack
pedagogue (n) – narrow-minded teacher
pedagogy (n) – art of teaching
pedantic (adj) – boring, academic; trying to impress with facts
pedestrian (adj) – uninspired, common; dull, slow
pejorative (adj) – negative in connotation
penchant (n) – strong inclination
penurious (adj) – miserly, thrifty; greedy
penury (n) – poverty, destitution
perennial (adj) – persistent
perfidious (adj) – treacherous; disloyal
perfidy (n) – treachery, disloyalty. perfidious (adj)
perfunctory (adj) – cursory, without care
periphrastic (adj) – wordy. periphrasis (n)
permeable (adj) – penetrable; porous
permeate (v) – to spread; to diffuse itself
pernicious (adj) – harmful, deadly
peroration (n) – conclusion of an oration
perspicacious (adj) – perceptive, discerning; keenly aware
perspicuity (n) – clearness of expression
pertinacious (adj) – obstinate
pertinent (adj) – to the point
peruse (v) – to examine carefully
pervade (v) – to permeate; to spread. pervasive (adj)
petulant (adj) – given to fits; moody
phlegmatic (adj) – calm, sluggish; unemotional
pique (n) : irritation; resentment
pillory (v) – to attack; to ridicule
pine (v) – to yearn, to desire; to languish, to decline
pious (adj) – devout, religious
piquant (adj) – pungent; stimulating
pirate (v) – to illegally reproduce; to use illegally
pith (n) – the central part
pithy (adj) – precise, brief
placate (v) – to pacify, to soothe; to appease
platitude (n) – superficial remark
plauditory (adj) : approving; applauding
plenary (adj) : complete; full
plenitude (n) : abundance; completeness
plethora (n) – a surplus, an abundance
plumb (v) – to explore; to test the depth
plummet (v) – to plunge, to drop
polemic (n) – argument; controversial statement. polemical (adj)
potent (adj) : powerful; persuasive
pragmatic (adj) – practical
prattle (v) – to babble, to ramble
preamble (n) : introductory statement
precipitate (v/adj) – to cause; acting in haste, impulsive
precursor (n) – one that indicates; signal of something to come
predilection (n) – disposition, preference
preen (v) – to primp, to groom
prefatory (adj) : introductory
preposterous (adj) : absurd; ridiculous
prescience (n) – foreknowledge
presumptuous (adj) – overstepping; taking liberties
prevaricate (v) – to lie evasively. prevarication
pristine (adj) – pure, uncorrupted, clean
probity (n) – integrity, honesty
proclivity (n) – predisposition, inclination
prodigal (adj) – reckless, lavish, wasteful, extravagant
prodigious (adj) – abundant; extraordinary
profligate (adj) – reckless, lavish, wasteful, extravagant
profundity (n) – depth of thought, wisdom
profuse (adj) – abundant; extravagant; given generously
prognosticate (v) : predict
proliferate (v) – to grow, to increase swiftly. proliferation (n)
prolific (adj) – productive; producing in abundance
prolix (adj) – wordy, long-winded
promiscuous (adj) : indiscriminate
propensity (n) – inclincation, tendency; penchant
propinquity (n) – nearness; affinity
propitiate (v) – to appease, to sway, to convince
prosaic (adj) – dull, unimaginative
proselyte (n) – a convert, new member
proselytize (v) – to attempt to convert; to preach
puissance (n) – power
pungent (adj) – strong smell or taste
pusillanimous (adj) – cowardly
putrefy (v) – to rot, to decay
– Q –
quaff (v) – to drink; to quench thirst
qualm (n) – misgiving, reservation
quandary (n) – dilemma
querulous (adj) – quarrelsome; prone to complaining
query (n) – question; doubt, reservation
quiescence (n) – stillness, state of rest. quiescent (adj)
quixotic (adj) – impractical; romantic idealism
quorum (n) – number of members necessary to conduct a meeting
quotidian (adj) – commonplace; recurring daily
– R –
ramification (n) – branching out; subdivision
rancorous (adj) – bitter, long-lasting resentment
rapprochement (n) – reconciliation
rarefy (v) – to make pure. rarefied (adj), rarefaction (n)
rebuke (v) – to reprimand; to cast aside
recalcitrant (adj) – defiant; difficult to manage
recapitulate (v) – summarize
recant (v) – to retract
refutation (n) – disproof of opponents arguments
reciprocal (adj) – mutual, shared, exchanged in kind
recondite (adj) – hidden, concealed; obscure
recreant (adj) – crave, cowardly; apostate
redoubtable (adj) – worthy of honor; awe-inspiring
refractory (adj) – unmanageable, difficult; breaking the path (of light)
refulgent (adj) – radiant, shiny, brilliant
refute (v) – to disprove
relegate (v) – to forcibly assign; to demote
reminiscence (n) – recollection
remonstrate (v) – to protest; to argue
remunerative (adj) – compensating; rewarding
renaissance (n) – revival, rebirth, rediscovery. renascence (alt sp)
renege (v) – to fail a commitment; to break a promise
renitent (adj) – resisting pressure
repertoire (n) – list of works of music
reprobate (v/adj/n) – to reject; rejected, depraved; someone rejected by others
reprobation (n) – severe disapproval
reprove (v) – to blame; to rebuke
repudiate (v) – to reject, to ignore authority; to disown
repugnant (adj) – contrary; distateful
rescind (v) – to repeal, to retract
resolute (adj) – unyielding
restive (adj) – restless, uneasy; hard to manage; refusing to move, balky
reticent (adj) – reluctant; quiet, reserved
retrospective (adj) – looking back on the past
reverent (adj) – expressing awe, respectful
rhetoric (n) – study of effective persuasion; skilled language
ribald (adj) – irreverent; indecent
rivet (v) – to fascinate
ruddy (adj) – reddish; blushing
rusticate (v) – to send away, to dismiss; to make a rough surface
– S –
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I]
[J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R]
[S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
sagacious (adj) – shrewed, wise
salacious (adj) – lustful
salubrious (adj) – promoting health
salutary (adj) – tending to improve; beneficial
sanction (n/v) – permission, authorized; a penalty
sanguine (adj) – cheerful; hopeful
sapient (adj) – wise; shrewd
satiate (v) – to feed fully; satisfy fully; to disgust with too much; glut, cloy
satire (n) – literary ridicule of a vice. satiric (adj)
saturnine (adj) – gloomy; sluggish
savor (n/v) – the teaste of; to enjoy
scupper (v) – to sink intentionally, damage in a way that dooms
scurrilous (adj) – vulgar; coarse
sedulous (adj) – diligent, persistent
sequester (v) – isolate; retire from public life
serendipity (n) – gift for finding valuable or desirable things
servile (adj) – yielding through fear; lack of spirit; politically enslaved
shibboleth (n) – word or pronunciation used by one group but not by another
sinuous (adj) – curving, winding
sobriety (n) – moderation
solicitous (adj) – concerned, attentive; eager
soporific (adj) – inducing sleep, causing drowsiness; boring
sordid (adj) – dirty, filthy, foul
sparse (adj) – thin, loose; few, small amount
specious (adj) – showy, false. speciousness (n)
spendthrift (n) – a wasteful person
sporadic (adj) – occasionally, scattered, random
spurious (adj) – counterfeit, flase, invalid
squalid (adj) – dirty from neglect; sordid
static (adj) – still, motionless
sterile (adj) – barren, empty
stoic (adj) – unmoved by emotion; extreme self-control
stultify (v) – to render useless; to make absurd
stupefy (v) – to stun, to baffle, to amaze
stymie (v) – to block, to prevent
subaltern (n) – subordinate
subjugate (v) – to conquer
subtle (adj) – not obvious, elusive
succinct (adj) – brief, concise
sullen (adj) – resentful; dismal
superfluous (adj) – extra, excessive
supercilious (adj) – arrogant; patronizing
supplant (v) – to supersede, to replace
suppress (v) – crush, subdue, inhibit
suppurating (v) – festering, ulcering. suppurate (v), supperation (n)
surfeit (n/v) – excess, overindulgence; to extreme; satiate; stuff
surreptitious (adj) – done secretly; stealth
synthesis (n) – combining of parts; a merging
– T –
tacit (adj) – implied quietly; existing out of custom
taciturn (adj) – silent; not fond of talking
tantamount (adj) – equivalent in effect or value
taut (adj) – tight, tense
tautological (adj) – needlessly repetitious
temerity (n) – rashness, foolhardy. temerarious (adj)
tenacity (n) – adherence, persistence
tenuous (adj) – without substance, weak, flimsy
terse (adj) – brief, concise
timbre (n) – distinct sound
timorous (adj) – cowardly; shy, timid
tirade (n) – denunciation; extremely critical speech
torpid (adj) – lethargic, sluggish, dormant
torque (n) – force, causing rotation
tortuous (adj) – winding, twisting, complicated
tout (v) – to praise
tractable (adj) – obedient, yielding, compliant, easy to control
transgression (n) – violation of a law; sin
transient (adj) – fleeting, brief, passing quickly. transitory (adj)
transmute (v) – change
trenchant (adj) – perceptive, keen, penetrating; forceful and vigorous
trepidation (n) – state of alarm; shaking from fear
trite (adj) – overused, common
truculent (adj) – fierce, cruel; eager to fight
turbid (adj) – muddy; thick
turgid (adj) – pompous, bombastic; inflated
turpitude (n) – depravity, baseness
tutelary (adj) – protective
tyro (n) – beginner, novice
– U –
ubiquitous (adj) – everywhere, widespread
ulterior (adj) – unstated; hidden
unconscionable (adj) – unscrupulous
unfaltering (adj) – steadfast
unfeigned (adj) – genuine
unfettered (adj) – free, unrestrained
unfledged (adj) – immature
uniformity (n) – sameness; consistency
unprecedented (adj) – novel
untenable (adj) – indefensible; uninhabitable
untoward (adj) – inconvenient
urbane (adj) – sophisticated, refined, cultured
usurpation (n) – act of seizing power and rank of another
– V –
vacillate (v) – to waver; to be undecided
vacuous (adj) – vacant; mindless
vainglorious (adj) – boastful
variegated (adj) – multicolored; various patches
vapid (adj) – dull and unimaginative, lacking energy
vehement (adj) – forceful
venerate (v) – to respect. veneration (n)
veracity (n) – truthfulness, honesty
verbose (adj) – wordy
vernacular (n) – living language
vex (v) – to annoy, to irritate. vexation (n)
viable (adj) – practical or workable
vigilant (adj) – alert, watchful
vilify (v) – to defame
vindicate (v) – clear from blame
vindictive (adj) – vengeful, spiteful
virulent (adj) – poisonous; harmful
viscous (adj) – thick, sticky
vitiate (v) – to deprive; to weaken
vituperate (v) – to abuse, to berate
volatile (adj) – fickle; explosive; quickly vaporizing
volition (n) – act of making a conscious choice
voluptuous (adj) – suggesting sensual delights
vulnerable (adj) – susceptible to wounds
voracious (adj) – ravenous; insatiable need to pursue
– W –
wane (v) – decrease in size or strength
wangle (v) – bring about by manipulation
welter (n/v) – turmoil; to roll, to tumble
wheedle (v) – to influence, to entice with flattery
whet (v) – sharpen; stimulate
winnow (v) – to blow free; to separate
winsome (adj) – agreeable; gracious
– X –
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I]
[J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R]
[S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
xanthic (adj) – yellowing
xenophobia (n) – fear and hatred of anything foreign
xenophobe (n) – one afraid of strangers
xyloid (adj) – like wood
– Y –
yammer (v) – to talk with a sad tone
yoke (v) – join together, unite
– Z –
zealot (n) – fanatic
zealous (adj) – ardent, impassioned, fervent
zymotic (adj) – of fermentation; caused by disease