The Complete Digital SAT Vocabulary List

SAT Easy Vocabulary (0 words)

Words that appear in the easier half of Digital SAT Words-in-Context questions.

SAT Medium Vocabulary (0 words)

Mid-difficulty SAT vocabulary that separates a 1300 from a 1450.

SAT Hard Vocabulary (1800 words)

The toughest SAT Words-in-Context vocabulary — these are the score-ceiling words.

• abandon— leave behind or give up
• abasement— humiliation or degradation
• abate— lessen; make less active or intense
• aberrant— deviant; markedly different from an accepted norm
• abet— assist; assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
• abeyance— pause; temporary cessation or suspension
• abject— wretched; of the most contemptible kind
• abrade— scrape; wear away
• abridge— shorten; reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
• abscond— run off; run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
• absolve— release from blame; grant remission of a sin to
• absorb— take in or soak up
• abstain— say no; refrain from voting
• abstemious— restraining; sparing in consumption of especially food and drink
• abstruse— difficult to understand
• absurdity— quality of being ridiculous
• accelerate— speed up; move faster
• accidental— happening without intention or planning
• acclaim— approval; praise vociferously
• accolade— award; a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
• accommodate— make room for; be agreeable or acceptable to
• accompany— come with; be present or associated with an event or entity
• accost— approach aggressively
• accumulate— gather; get or gather together
• acknowledge— recognize or admit something as true
• acquittal— pardon; a judgment of not guilty
• acrimonious— bitter; marked by strong resentment or cynicism
• acrimony— bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
• acronym— a word formed from initials
• acumen— insight; a tapering point
• adapt— get used to; make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
• addiction— dependence; the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else
• adept— highly skilled or proficient
• adequate— enough; having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
• adjacent— next to; nearest in space or position
• adjust— alter; alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
• administrate— manage; work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of
• admonish— warn; admonish or counsel in terms of someone's behavior
• adroit— highly skillful
• adulation— praise; servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise
• adulterate— pollute; corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
• advantageous— providing benefit or gain
• adversary— opponent; someone who offers opposition
• adverse— harmful; contrary to your interests or welfare
• adversity— hardship; a state of misfortune or affliction
• advocate— support or argue in favor
• aesthetic— concerned with beauty or art
• affable— genial; diffusing warmth and friendliness
• affinity— attraction; a natural liking or attraction to something
• affirm— agree; establish or strengthen with new evidence
• affix— attach; attach to
• affluence— wealth; abundant wealth
• affluent— wealthy; an affluent person; a person who is financially well off
• aggregate— collection; formed of separate units gathered into a mass or whole
• aggressive— forceful and actively hostile
• agile— quick; moving quickly and lightly
• alacrity— eager readiness
• alias— false name; a name that has been assumed temporarily
• alienate— cause separation or hostility
• allege— claim or accuse without proof
• alleviate— relieve; provide physical relief, as from pain
• allocate— assign; distribute according to a plan or set apart for a special purpose
• alloy— blend; lower in value by increasing the base-metal content
• allude— indicate; make a more or less disguised reference to
• allusion— suggestion; passing reference or indirect mention
• ally— a partner or friendly nation
• aloft— suggestion; at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
• aloof— distant; remote in manner
• alter— change; cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
• altercation— fight; noisy quarrel
• altruism— selflessness; the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
• altruistic— selfless; showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
• amalgamate— combine; to bring or combine together or with something else
• amass— gather a large amount
• ambiguous— open to multiple interpretations
• ambition— a strong desire to achieve
• ambivalence— mixed or conflicting feelings
• ambivalent— undecided; uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
• ambulatory— able to walk; relating to or adapted for walking
• ameliorate— improve; to make better
• amenable— willing; disposed or willing to comply
• amiable— pleasant and friendly
• ample— plentiful; more than enough in size or scope or capacity
• amplify— expand; increase in size, volume or significance
• amuse— entertain or provide enjoyment
• anachronism— something out of its time
• analogous— similar; similar or equivalent in some respects though otherwise dissimilar
• analogy— similarity; an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others
• anarchy— lawlessness; state of lawless disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)
• ancillary— supplementary; furnishing added support
• anecdote— story; short account of an incident (especially a biographical one)
• animate— bring to life; heighten or intensify
• animosity— hatred; a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
• anomalous— abnormal; deviating from the general or common order or type
• anomaly— odd item; deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
• antagonism— hostility; a state of deep-seated ill-will
• antecedent— predecessor; someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
• anticipate— expect or prepare for something
• anticlimax— letdown; a disappointing decline after a previous rise
• antidote— cure; a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison
• antipathy— hatred; a feeling of intense dislike
• antiquated— out-of-date; obsolete or old-fashioned
• antiseptic— decontaminator; thoroughly clean and free of or destructive to disease-causing organisms
• antithesis— opposition; exact opposite
• apathy— indifference; an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
• aplomb— poise; great coolness and composure under strain
• apocryphal— of doubtful authenticity; being of questionable authenticity
• apologetic— expressing regret
• apostate— unorthodox; a disloyal person who deserts his cause or religion or political party
• apparent— seeming; clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
• appease— soothe; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
• append— add; add to the very end
• applaud— show approval through praise
• appreciate— value; recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
• apprehension— dread; fearful expectation or anticipation
• apprenticeship— instruction; the position of apprentice
• apprise— inform; inform (somebody) of something
• approbation— approval; official approval
• arable— suitable for farming; (of farmland) capable of being farmed productively
• arbiter— judge; someone with the power to settle matters at will
• arbitrary— random; based on individual preference or impulse
• arcane— known by very few
• archaic— out of date; so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
• archipelago— a group of many islands
• arduous— requiring great effort; characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
• aria— song; an elaborate song for solo voice
• aristocracy— nobility; a privileged class holding hereditary titles
• arrogance— pride; overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
• arrogant— excessively self important
• articulate— express ideas clearly
• artifact— saved item; a man-made object taken as a whole
• artisan— skilled person; a skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft
• ascendant— dominant; position or state of being dominant or in control
• ascertain— find out with certainty
• ascetic— practicing self denial
• aspire— hope; have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
• assemble— put together; create by putting components or members together
• assert— declare; state categorically
• assiduous— diligent; marked by care and persistent effort
• assuage— soothe; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
• assumption— supposition; a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn
• assurance— sureness; freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
• assure— guarantee; make certain of
• astound— shock or greatly amaze
• astute— sharp and perceptive
• asylum— hiding place; a shelter from danger or hardship
• atrophy— wasting away; a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
• attain— reach; to gain with effort
• attenuate— weaken; weaken the consistency of (a chemical substance)
• attitude— mindset; a complex mental state involving beliefs, feelings, and values
• attrition— gradual reduction; erosion by friction
• audacious— reckless; invulnerable to fear or intimidation
• augment— add; increase; enlarge or increase
• auspicious— encouraging; auguring favorable circumstances and good luck
• austere— stark; severely simple
• authentic— genuine and true to origin
• authenticate— validate; establish the authenticity of something
• authoritarian— absolutist; characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty
• autobiography— a written account of one's life
• autonomous— self governing; not controlled by outside forces
• autonomy— self governing independence
• autopsy— death report; an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death
• avarice— greed; reprehensible acquisitiveness
• aver— declare; report or maintain
• averse— opposing; (usually followed by 'to') strongly opposed
• aversion— dislike; a feeling of intense dislike
• avert— avoid; prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
• avid— eager; enthusiastic or passionate about something
• awe— amaze; an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
• babble— chat; utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way
• badger— bother; annoy persistently
• balk— resist; refuse to comply
• banal— commonplace; repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
• baneful— extremely harmful
• bastion— support; a group that defends a principle
• begrudge— resent; be envious of; set one's heart on
• behalf— benefit; for someone's benefit
• belie— give a false impression
• belittle— make seem unimportant
• beneficent— benevolent; doing or producing good
• beneficial— useful; promoting or enhancing well-being
• beneficiary— recipient; the recipient of funds or other benefits
• benevolent— kind and well meaning
• benign— harmless and gentle
• bereavement— the experience of loss and grief
• bestial— brutal; resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility
• bestow— confer; present
• betray— show; break the trust of; reveal unintentionally
• bias— unfair opinion; a partiality preventing objective consideration
• bland— tasteless; lacking taste or flavor or tang
• blandishment— flattery; flattery intended to persuade
• blare— blast; make a strident sound
• blasphemy— swearing; blasphemous language (expressing disrespect for God or for something sacred)
• blithe— happy; lacking or showing a lack of due concern
• bloat— swell; become bloated or swollen or puff up
• bolster— support or strengthen
• bombast— pretentious language
• bombastic— overly pompous
• boon— blessing; a desirable state
• boor— jerk; a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement
• boundless— endless; seemingly limitless in amount, number, degree, or especially extent
• bourgeois— middle-class; a capitalist who engages in industrial commercial enterprise
• boycott— refuse to do business with; refuse to sponsor; refuse to do business with
• braggart— boastful person; a very boastful and talkative person
• brandish— flourish; move or swing back and forth
• breach— break; act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
• brevity— shortness in expression
• brittle— fragile; having little elasticity; hence easily cracked or fractured or snapped
• brochure— document; a small book usually having a paper cover
• brusque— abrupt; marked by rude or peremptory shortness
• bulk— volume; the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts
• bungle— mistake; make a mess of, destroy or ruin
• buoyant— floaty; tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
• burgeon— grow; grow and flourish
• burnish— polish; polish and make shiny
• bustle— activity; move or cause to move energetically or busily
• buttress— support; reinforce with a buttress
• cajole— coax; influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
• calamity— disaster; an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
• calligraphy— handwriting; beautiful handwriting
• callous— emotionally insensitive
• camaraderie— friendship; the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
• candid— honest and direct in speech
• candor— honesty; ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty
• cant— meaningless talk; stock phrases that have become nonsense through repetition
• cantankerous— bad tempered and stubborn
• capricious— impulsive and unpredictable
• caption— heading; provide with a caption or title
• captivate— fascinate; attract; cause to be enamored
• caricature— exaggerated cartoon; represent in or produce a caricature of
• carp— complain; raise trivial objections
• castigate— chasten; censure severely
• castigation— chastisement; a severe scolding
• catastrophe— a sudden disastrous event
• cathartic— providing emotional release
• caustic— bitter; any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue
• cease— stop; put an end to a state or activity
• cede— yield; give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another
• censor— ban; forbid the public distribution of ( a movie or a newspaper)
• censorious— critical; harshly critical or expressing censure
• censure— express strong disapproval
• cerebral— focused on intellect rather than emotion
• cessation— stopping; a stopping
• chaff— waste; be silly or tease one another
• chaotic— mixed up; lacking a visible order or organization
• charlatan— pretender; a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes
• chary— cautious; characterized by great caution and wariness
• chastise— scold; censure severely
• chauvinist— bigot; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
• chicanery— deceptive trickery
• chronicle— history; record in chronological order; make a historical record
• circumscribe— enclose; draw a line around
• circumspect— careful and cautious
• circumstance— situation; a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
• cite— quote; make reference to
• clairvoyant— psychic; someone who has the power of clairvoyance
• clandestine— secret; conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
• clarify— clear up; make clear and (more) comprehensible
• clause— section; (grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate
• claustrophobia— fear of enclosed spaces; a morbid fear of being closed in a confined space
• clemency— forgiveness; good weather with comfortable temperatures
• cliche— commonplace; a trite or obvious remark
• climax— high point; the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
• clique— exclusive group; an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
• cloy— become excessive
• coagulate— clot; change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state
• coalesce— blend; mix together different elements
• coalition— combination; an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty
• coda— concluding section; the closing section of a musical composition
• coercion— force; the act of compelling by force of authority
• cogent— convincing; powerfully persuasive
• cogitate— think about; consider carefully and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one's mind
• coherent— clear and logically connected
• coincide— occur at the same time or in the same place; go with, fall together
• coincidence— a striking or unlikely combination of events or circumstances
• collaborate— cooperate; work together on a common enterprise
• collaborative— done through working together
• collapse— fall apart; break down, literally or metaphorically
• colleague— fellow worker; an associate that one works with
• colonial— related to foreign settlements; of or relating to a colony
• colossal— huge; so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
• comely— attractive; according with custom or propriety
• commemorate— preserve in memory; mark by some ceremony or observation
• commence— begin; take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
• commendable— deserving praise
• commensurate— equivalent; corresponding in size or degree or extent
• commiserate— sympathize; to feel or express sympathy or compassion
• commodity— goods; articles of commerce
• communicate— inform; transmit information
• comparable— similar; able to be compared or worthy of comparison
• compendium— collection; a publication containing a variety of works
• compensate— pay back; adjust for
• complacency— contentedness; the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself
• complacent— overly self satisfied
• complaisant— agreeable; showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
• complement— well-matched pair; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction
• compliant— willing to follow rules or requests
• composure— calmness; steadiness of mind under stress
• compound— combination; make more intense, stronger, or more marked
• compress— pack together; make more compact by or as if by pressing
• comprise— include; be composed of
• compromise— a settlement reached by concession
• conceal— hide or keep secret
• concede— admit; admit to a wrongdoing
• conceive— understand; have the idea for
• concentrate— focus; make denser, stronger, or purer
• conciliatory— seeking to appease
• concise— brief but clearly expressed
• conclude— decide; decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion
• conclusive— decisive and ending doubt
• concoct— combine; make a concoction (of) by mixing
• concord— harmony or agreement
• concur— agree; be in accord; be in agreement
• concurrent— simultaneous; occurring or operating at the same time
• condemn— express strong disapproval
• condescend— lower oneself; behave in a patronizing and condescending manner
• conditional— dependent on certain requirements
• condole— comfort; express one's sympathetic grief, on the occasion of someone's death
• condone— forgive or overlook wrongdoing
• confer— discuss; have a conference in order to talk something over
• confine— limit; place limits on extent or access
• conflagration— a large destructive fire
• conform— adapt; be similar, be in line with
• conformity— agreement with rules or norms
• confound— confuse; be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly
• confrontation— conflict; a bold challenge
• confusion— disorder; disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
• congeal— solidify; become gelatinous
• congenial— friendly; suitable to your needs
• conjoin— join together
• connoisseur— a person with expert taste
• connotation— suggestion; what you must know in order to determine the reference of an expression
• conscientious— careful and thorough
• consecrate— declare sacred
• consensus— general agreement among a group
• consent— agreement; permission to do something
• consequent— following; following or accompanying as a consequence
• consequential— important; having important issues or results
• conservationist— one who protects the environment
• considerable— important; large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
• consign— hand over or assign
• consistent— not varying; (sometimes followed by with?) in agreement or consistent or reliable
• console— comfort; give moral or emotional strength to
• consolidate— combine; unite into one
• consolidation— combination; combining into a solid mass
• conspicuous— obvious; obvious to the eye or mind
• constituent— component; one of the individual parts of a composite entity
• constrain— hold back; hold back
• constraint— restriction; the state of being physically constrained
• construct— build; make by combining materials and parts
• consume— use; eat or drink immoderately
• contagion— infection; any disease easily transmitted by contact
• contempt— strong disrespect or dislike
• contemptuous— showing strong scorn
• contend— argue or struggle against
• contention— argument; a point asserted as part of an argument
• contentious— quarrelsome; inclined to dispute, even to engage in law suits
• contiguous— sharing a common border
• contingent— depending on; a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
• contortion— distortion; the act of twisting or deforming the shape of something (e.g., yourself)
• contradict— differ; be in contradiction with
• contrary— opposite to; very opposed in nature or character
• contrite— remorseful; feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
• controversy— a public disagreement or debate
• conundrum— riddle; a difficult problem
• convene— meet; meet formally
• conventional— following traditional customs or norms
• converge— move toward a meeting point; be adjacent or come together
• converse— opposite; carry on a conversation
• conviction— strong belief; an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
• convince— change someone's opinion or belief
• convivial— friendly and sociable
• convoluted— very complex and confusing
• cooperate— work together toward a goal
• coordinate— organize; bring order and organization to
• cordial— warm and friendly
• corroborate— confirm; establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
• corrode— wear away; cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid
• corrosive— hurtful; of a substance, especially a strong acid
• cosmic— related to the universe; pertaining to the cosmos or universe
• cosmopolitan— worldly and culturally diverse
• counterproductive— having opposite effect
• covert— secret; a flock of coots
• covetous— greedy; showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages
• crass— rude; (of persons) so unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility
• craven— coward; lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
• credible— believable and trustworthy
• credulity— gullibility; tendency to believe readily
• critic— a professional judge of works
• crucial— essential; of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
• cryptic— mysterious; of an obscure nature
• culinary— related to cooking; of or relating to or used in cooking
• cull— gather; remove something that has been rejected
• culmination— high point; a final climactic stage
• culpable— blameful; deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious
• cumbersome— awkward; difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight
• curative— having healing properties
• cursory— casual; hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
• curtail— cut back; place restrictions on
• cynical— distrustful; believing the worst of human nature and motives
• daunt— intimidate; cause to lose courage
• dawdle— linger; take one's time; proceed slowly
• dazzle— impress or amaze greatly
• dearth— a severe lack
• debacle— a complete and sudden failure
• debase— shame; corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
• debilitate— weaken greatly
• decade— ten years; a period of 10 years
• decadence— degeneration; the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities
• decipher— figure out; convert code into ordinary language
• decline— drop; grow worse
• decorous— polite and proper
• decorum— propriety; propriety in manners and conduct
• decry— publicly criticize
• deduce— infer; reason by deduction; establish by deduction
• deducible— possible to infer; capable of being deduced
• deface— spoil the appearance; mar or spoil the appearance of
• defame— slander; charge falsely or with malicious intent
• defeatist— pessimistic; someone who is resigned to defeat without offering positive suggestions
• defer— delay or put off action
• deference— respect; a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard
• deficit— a shortage or lack of something
• definite— exact; precise; explicit and clearly defined
• definitive— authoritative and final
• defunct— no longer in use
• defy— resist openly or challenge authority
• degenerate— worsen; grow worse
• degradation— shame; changing to a lower state, a less respected state
• deign— patronize; do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
• deleterious— hurtful; harmful to living things
• deliberate— done with careful thought
• delineate— describe; outline; show the form or outline of
• delirium— madness; state of violent mental agitation
• delusion— illusion; (psychology) an incorrect belief that is held in spite of evidence to the contrary
• demagogue— a manipulative political leader
• demean— disgrace; reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
• demeanor— conduct; (behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
• demolition— destruction; an event (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something
• demonstrative— openly expressive
• demur— object; take exception to
• demure— shy; affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
• denigrate— criticize or belittle; cause to seem less serious; play down
• denote— mean; be a sign or indication of
• denounce— publicly condemn or criticize
• deny— refuse to admit or accept
• dependent— needing support or relying on something
• depict— picture; show in or as in a picture
• deplete— use up; use up (resources or materials)
• deplore— regret; express strong disapproval of
• depravity— corruption; moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
• deprecate— blame; express strong disapproval of; deplore
• depress— push down; lower someone's spirits; make downhearted
• derelict— deserted; a person without a home, job, or property
• deride— ridicule or mock
• derivative— produced from another source
• derive— come from; reason by deduction; establish by deduction
• desecrate— profane; violate the sacred character of a place or language
• desiccate— dry out; preserve by removing all water and liquids from
• despondent— depressed; without or almost without hope
• desultory— goalless; marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose
• detach— disconnect; cause to become detached or separated; take off
• detect— notice; discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
• deter— discourage; try to prevent; show opposition to
• determination— firmness of purpose; devoting full strength and concentrated attention to something
• deterrent— restraint; something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
• detrimental— harmful; (sometimes followed by to?) causing harm or injury
• deviate— stray; turn aside; turn away from
• device— plan; come up with an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle after mental effort
• devious— scheming; indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading
• devise— plan; come up with an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle after mental effort
• devote— dedicate; give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
• diagnosis— identification; identifying the nature or cause of some phenomenon
• dichotomy— division; being twofold; a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses
• didactic— instructional; instructive (especially excessively)
• differentiate— distinguish; mark as different
• diffidence— shyness; lack of self-confidence
• diffuse— spread out widely
• digress— wander; lose clarity or turn aside from the main subject in writing or speaking
• dilettante— amateur without seriousness
• diligence— careful and persistent effort
• diligent— hard working; quietly and steadily persevering especially in detail or exactness
• diminish— reduce in size or importance
• diminution— lessening; change toward something smaller or lower
• diminutive— very small
• diplomatic— careful to avoid offense
• dirge— lament; a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
• disabuse— rid; free somebody (from an erroneous belief)
• disavowal— repudiation; denial of any connection with or knowledge of
• discern— distinguish; detect with the senses
• discernible— recognizable; perceptible by the senses or intellect
• discernment— ability to judge wisely
• discipline— training that builds control and skill
• disclaim— deny; renounce a legal claim or title to
• disclose— reveal; make known to the public information previously private
• disconcert— disturb; cause to feel embarrassment
• discord— conflict; be different from one another
• discordant— conflicting; not in agreement or harmony
• discredit— disgrace; cause to be distrusted or disbelieved
• discrepancy— difference; a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions
• discrete— separate; constituting a separate entity or part
• discriminate— recognize differences or show bias
• disdain— strong contempt
• disembark— get off; go ashore
• disgruntle— make dissatisfied
• disguise— conceal true identity or nature
• dishevel— tangle; disarrange or rumple
• disinclination— unwillingness; that toward which you are inclined to feel dislike
• disingenuous— dishonest or insincere
• disintegrate— break apart completely
• disinterest— neutrality; tolerance attributable to a lack of involvement
• disjoint— separate; part; cease or break association with
• disparage— speak of with contempt
• disparate— not alike; fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
• disparity— difference; inequality or difference in some respect
• dispassionate— calm and impartial
• dispatch— speed; send away towards a designated goal
• dispel— drive away; force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
• dispense— distribute or give out
• disperse— scatter; distribute loosely
• displace— move; cause to move, usually with force or pressure
• dispose— throw away; give, sell, or transfer to another
• disputation— formal argument
• disputatious— argumentative; inclined to disagree, even to engage in law suits
• disregard— ignore or pay no attention
• dissemble— feign; make believe with the intent to deceive
• disseminate— broadcast; cause to become widely known
• dissent— disagree; withhold assent
• dissertation— thesis; a treatise advancing a new point of view resulting from research
• dissident— protester; a person who dissents from some established policy
• dissipate— disappear slowly; to cause to separate and go in different directions
• dissolution— separation; separation into component parts
• dissonance— lack of harmony; a conflict of people's opinions or actions or characters
• dissuade— deter; turn away from by persuasion
• distend— dilate; become wider
• distill— purify; remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate
• distinct— different; clearly distinguishable from others
• distinction— recognition; a discrimination between things as different
• distort— warp; make false by mutilation or addition; as of a message or story
• disturb— interrupt or unsettle emotionally
• diverge— branch off; move or draw apart
• divergent— different; diverging from another or from a standard
• diverse— many different kinds or types
• divest— take away; take away possessions from someone
• divisive— causing disagreement
• divulge— reveal secret information
• docile— obedient and submissive
• doctrine— belief; a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
• dogma— fixed belief; a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof
• dominate— rule; be larger in number, quantity, power, or importance
• dormant— inactive; in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
• downcast— depressed; directed downward
• draconian— harsh; unusually or unreasonably harsh or severe
• dregs— sediment; sediment that has settled at the bottom of a liquid
• dross— impurity; worthless or dangerous material that should be removed
• dubious— uncertain or doubtful
• ductile— flexible; easily influenced
• dupe— fool; fool or hoax
• duplicitous— deceptively two faced
• duplicity— misrepresentation; a fraudulent or duplicitous representation
• duration— length; the period of time during which something continues
• dwindle— lessen; become smaller or lose substance
• ebb— flow back, flow out; flow back or recede
• ebullient— enthusiastic; joyously unrestrained
• eclectic— drawn from many different sources; selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
• eclipse— cover; one celestial body obscures another
• effervescence— enthusiasm; the process of bubbling as gas escapes
• efficacy— effectiveness; capacity or power to produce a desired effect
• effrontery— shameless boldness
• effusive— overly enthusiastic
• egotism— selfishness; an exaggerated opinion of your own importance
• egotistical— excessively self centered
• egregious— very bad; conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
• elaborate— add detail or complexity
• elate— make happy; fill with high spirits; fill with optimism
• elegy— lament; a mournful poem; a lament for the dead
• elicit— evoke; call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
• eliminate— completely remove or get rid of
• elitist— believing in superiority of few
• eloquence— fluency; powerful and effective language
• eloquent— expressive and persuasive in speech
• elucidate— clarify; make clear and (more) comprehensible
• elusive— difficult to capture or define
• emanate— come from; proceed or issue forth, as from a source
• emancipate— liberate; give equal rights to; of women and minorities
• embarrassment— a feeling of shame or discomfort
• embellish— decorate or add extra detail
• embrace— accept willingly or include fully
• emerge— come out; come out into view, as from concealment
• empathetic— showing understanding of others
• empathy— understanding others' feelings
• emphasis— importance; special importance or significance
• empirical— practical; derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
• emulate— adopt as a role model; strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
• encounter— meeting; come together
• encrusted— coated; form a crust or a hard layer
• encumber— burden; hold back
• encumbrance— a burden or hindrance
• endemic— local; a disease that is constantly present to a greater or lesser degree
• endorse— support; be behind; approve of
• endure— suffer; put up with something or somebody unpleasant
• energize— stimulate; cause to be alert and energetic
• enervate— weaken; weaken mentally or morally
• enforce— carry out; ensure observance of laws and rules
• engender— cause; call forth
• enigma— something mysterious or puzzling
• enlighten— give knowledge or understanding
• enmity— hostility; a state of deep-seated ill-will
• enormous— huge; extraordinarily large in size or extent
• enterprising— active and adventuresome; marked by initiative and readiness to undertake new projects
• enthrall— captivate or fascinate
• entrench— establish firmly
• enumerate— count; specify individually
• enunciate— articulate; speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
• ephemeral— fleeing; lasting a very short time
• epic— heroic poem; a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds
• epilogue— conclusion; a short speech addressed to the audience by an actor at the end of a play
• equanimity— calmness; steadiness of mind under stress
• equate— consider equal; consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous
• equip— make ready; provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose
• equivocal— conflicting; open to two or more interpretations
• equivocate— use ambiguous language; be deliberately unclear in order to mislead
• eradicate— completely destroy or eliminate
• erode— wear away; become ground down or deteriorate
• erratic— unpredictable in behavior
• erroneous— containing mistakes or errors
• erudite— scholarly; having or showing profound knowledge
• erudition— deep scholarly knowledge
• eschew— avoid; avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
• esoteric— understood by a small group
• espouse— adopt; choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
• esteem— respect; the condition of being honored, esteemed, or well regarded
• estrange— alienate; remove from customary environment or associations
• ethereal— delicate; characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
• ethic— moral principle; the principles of right and wrong
• ethnic— cultural; distinctive of the ways of living of a particular group of people
• eulogy— a speech praising the dead
• euphemism— substitution of a more polite expression
• eventual— expected; expected to follow in the indefinite future from causes already operating
• evident— obvious; clearly revealed to the mind or senses
• evocative— suggestive; serving to bring to mind
• evolve— develop; work out
• exacerbate— make a problem worse
• exalt— praise; praise, glorify, or honor
• excerpt— short selection; take out of a literary work in order to cite or copy
• exculpate— exonerate; pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
• execute— kill; kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment
• exemplary— model; worthy of imitation
• exemplify— be example; be characteristic of
• exhaustive— thorough; performed comprehensively and completely
• exhilarate— thrill; fill with sublime emotion
• exigency— urgent situation; a pressing or urgent situation
• exonerate— acquit; pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
• exotic— foreign; being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world
• expedient— useful, practical; serving to promote your interest
• expedite— rush; speed up the progress of; facilitate
• expeditious— done quickly and efficiently
• experimentation— testing ideas through trials
• explicate— explain; make plain and comprehensible
• explicit— expressed; precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
• exploit— use something for personal gain
• expose— reveal; expose or make accessible to some action or influence
• expurgate— cleanse; edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
• extol— praise; praise, glorify, or honor
• extract— pull out with effort or force
• extraneous— inessential; not pertinent to the matter under consideration
• extrapolation— prediction; an inference about the future based on known facts and observations
• extravagant— excessive and unrestrained
• extremity— a farthest point or condition
• extricate— disentangle; release from entanglement of difficulty
• exuberance— enthusiasm; joyful enthusiasm
• exuberant— full of enthusiasm
• fabricate— construct; put together out of artificial or natural components or parts
• fabrication— a false or invented story
• facetious— kidding; cleverly amusing in tone
• facilitate— assist; make easier
• fallacious— false; containing or based on a fallacy
• fanaticism— obsession; excessive intolerance of opposing views
• fastidious— careful; giving careful attention to detail
• fatuous— stupid; devoid of intelligence
• fawn— flatter; a color or pigment varying around a light grey-brown color
• feasible— possible; capable of being done with available means
• feint— maneuver; deceive by a mock action
• felicitous— fortunate; exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style
• ferment— agitate; a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
• fervor— passion; feelings of great warmth and intensity
• fester— rot; ripen and generate pus
• fetid— stinking; offensively malodorous
• fetter— shackle; restrain with fetters
• fiasco— catastrophe; a sudden and violent collapse
• finesse— skillful handling
• finite— limited; bounded or limited in magnitude or extent
• firebrand— troublemaker; a piece of wood that has been burned or is burning
• fissure— crack; break into fissures or fine cracks
• fitful— spasmodic; occurring in spells and often abruptly
• flagrant— openly offensive
• flamboyance— showy extravagance
• flattery— give insincere compliments; excessive or insincere praise
• fledgling— beginner; any new participant in some activity
• flippant— disrespectfully playful
• flourish— grow successfully or vigorously
• flout— disregard; treat with contemptuous disregard
• fluctuate— change; cause to fluctuate or move in a wavelike pattern
• fluency— command of language; powerful and effective language
• foible— weak point; a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
• foment— stir up; try to stir up public opinion
• forbearance— patience; good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
• forebode— foretell; make a prediction about; tell in advance
• foresee— predict or know beforehand
• foreshadow— presage; indicate by signs
• foresight— insight into the future; providence by virtue of planning prudently for the future
• forestall— prevent; keep from happening or arising; make impossible
• forgo— give up; do without or cease to hold or adhere to
• forthcoming— expected; at ease in talking to others
• forthright— candid; characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
• fortuitous— lucky; having no cause or apparent cause
• foster— encourage growth or development
• founder— fail completely or collapse
• fragility— easily broken quality
• frail— weak; physically weak
• franchise— voting; an authorization to sell a company's goods or services in a particular place
• frantic— distressed; excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
• fraudulent— fake; intended to deceive
• frivolous— silly; not serious in content or attitude or behavior
• frugality— reluctance to spend; prudence in avoiding waste
• fugitive— fleeing; someone who flees from an uncongenial situation
• fundamental— basic and essential in nature
• furthermore— additionally; in addition
• furtive— sneaky; marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
• fusion— blending; an occurrence that involves the production of a union
• futile— producing no useful result
• gainsay— contradict; take exception to
• gale— storm; a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
• galvanize— stimulate; to stimulate to action
• garble— mix up; make false by mutilation or addition; as of a message or story
• garish— gaudy; tastelessly showy
• garrulous— talkative; full of trivial conversation
• genealogy— family tree; successive generations of kin
• genteel— cultured; marked by refinement in taste and manners
• germane— relevant; relevant and appropriate
• gibberish— nonsense; unintelligible talking
• giddy— excited and silly; having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
• gingerly— carefully; in a gingerly manner
• glimmer— sparkle; a flash of light (especially reflected light)
• globe— round figure; the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
• glossy— polished; a magazine printed on good quality paper
• glower— glare; look at with a fixed gaze
• glutton— lover of food; a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
• goad— incite; give heart or courage to
• gouge— dig or poke out; force with the thumb
• grandeur— splendor; the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand
• grandiloquent— excessively heightened speech; lofty in style
• grandiose— pretentious; impressive because of unnecessary largeness or grandeur
• gratify— satisfy; make happy or satisfied
• gratuitous— unnecessary and unearned
• gravity— seriousness; the force of attraction between all masses
• gregarious— talkative; (of animals) tending to form a group with others of the same species
• guile— trickery; shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
• gullible— easily deceived
• hackneyed— overused; repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
• hamper— restrain; prevent the progress or free movement of
• harangue— criticism; deliver a harangue to; address forcefully
• hardy— strong; having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
• harmful— causing damage or injury
• haughty— arrogantly superior
• headstrong— obstinate; habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition
• heckle— interrupt a public speaker; comb with a heckle
• hedonist— pleasure seeker; someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures
• hedonistic— focused on pleasure
• heed— pay attention; pay close attention to; give heed to
• hence— so; (used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
• heresy— unorthodoxy; any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or orthodox position
• hermetic— isolated; completely sealed; completely airtight
• hermitage— the residence of a recluse; the abode of a hermit
• hesitant— uncertain and slow to act
• heterogeneous— composed of different elements
• hiatus— suspension; an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
• hierarchy— order; a series of ordered groupings within a system
• hindrance— obstacle; something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
• homogeneous— alike; all of the same or similar kind or nature
• hostile— unfriendly or aggressive
• humane— kind; pertaining to or concerned with the humanities
• humility— modesty without arrogance
• hyperbole— exaggeration; extravagant exaggeration
• hypocritical— deceitful; professing feelings or virtues one does not have
• hypothesis— expectation; a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations
• hypothetical— based on assumption rather than fact
• iconoclastic— rebellious; characterized by attack on established beliefs or institutions
• identical— same; exactly alike and incapable of being perceived as different
• ideology— value system; an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation
• idiom— expression; a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
• idiosyncrasy— peculiarity; a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
• idiosyncratic— unique to an individual
• idolatry— worship; religious zeal; the willingness to serve God
• ignoble— shameful; completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose
• ignorant— lacking knowledge or awareness
• illuminate— light up; make lighter or brighter
• illusory— misleading or deceptive
• illustrate— demonstrate; clarify by giving an example of
• imaginative— creative and inventive in thought
• imbalance— difference; a lack of balance or state of disequilibrium
• imbibe— drink; take in, also metaphorically
• imitation— a copy of something original
• immigrate— enter; migrate to a new environment
• immobility— stillness; remaining in place
• immune— unaffected; a person who is immune to a particular infection
• immutable— changeless; not subject or susceptible to change or variation in form or quality or nature
• impair— harm; make worse or less effective
• impart— give; transmit (knowledge or skills)
• impassable— impossible to pass; incapable of being passed
• impassioned— filled with strong emotion
• impassive— expressionless; having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
• impeccable— faultless; without fault or error
• impecunious— penniless; not having enough money to pay for necessities
• impede— hinder; be a hindrance or obstacle to
• impel— force; urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate
• imperceptible— unnoticeable; impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses
• impermeable— extremely dense; preventing especially liquids to pass or diffuse through
• impertinent— disrespectful; characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
• imperturbable— calm; not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure
• impervious— unaffected; not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
• impetuous— acting without thought
• impiety— unrighteousness; unrighteousness by virtue of lacking respect for a god
• implacable— impossible to please; incapable of being placated
• implausible— unlikely to be true
• implicate— involve, entangle; bring into intimate and incriminating connection
• implication— meaning; something that is inferred (deduced or entailed or implied)
• implicit— hinted; implied though not directly expressed; inherent in the nature of something
• implode— collapse inward; burst inward
• imply— suggest; express or state indirectly
• importune— plead; beg persistently and urgently
• impose— force something upon someone
• impotent— powerless; lacking power or ability
• impressionable— easily influenced
• impromptu— improvised; an extemporaneous speech or remark
• impudence— disrespect; an impudent statement
• impugn— attack as false
• impulsive— acting without thinking
• inadequate— not sufficient or enough
• inadvertent— accidental; happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally
• inane— silly; devoid of intelligence
• inanimate— lifeless; belonging to the class of nouns denoting nonliving things
• inarticulate— voiceless; without or deprived of the use of speech or words
• inaudible— unable to be heard
• incapacitate— disable; make unable to perform a certain action
• incarcerate— imprison; lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
• incentive— motive; a positive motivational influence
• incessant— never-ending; uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
• inchoate— not yet organized; only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
• incidence— happening; the relative frequency of occurrence of something
• incidental— minor and not essential
• incipient— beginning; only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
• incisive— penetrating; having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
• incite— prompt; give an incentive for action
• incline— slope; have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
• inclusive— including; including much or everything and stated limits
• incoherent— disconnected; without logical or meaningful connection
• incongruity— incompatibility; the quality of disagreeing; being unsuitable and inappropriate
• incongruous— absurd; lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
• inconsequential— not important
• inconsistency— difference; the relation between propositions that cannot both be true at the same time
• incorporeal— bodiless; without material form or substance
• incorrigible— impossible to correct; impervious to correction by punishment
• incumbent— current holder of an office; the official who holds an office
• indefatigable— tireless; showing sustained enthusiastic action with unflagging vitality
• indelible— permanent; cannot be removed or erased
• indeterminate— not clearly defined
• indict— accuse; accuse formally of a crime
• indictment— a formal criminal accusation
• indifference— lack of interest or concern
• indifferent— uncaring; marked by a lack of interest
• indigence— extreme poverty
• indigenous— native; originating where it is found
• indiscriminate— random; failing to make or recognize distinctions
• indispensable— absolutely necessary or essential
• indisputable— undeniable; not open to question; obviously true
• indolent— slothful; disinclined to work or exertion
• indomitable— persevering; impossible to subdue
• indubitable— certain; too obvious to be doubted
• induce— cause; cause to arise
• indulge— allow oneself pleasure
• indulgent— overly generous or lenient
• industrious— hardworking; characterized by hard work and perseverance
• ineffable— impossible to describe
• inept— lacking skill or ability
• inert— motionless; unable to move or resist motion
• inevitable— certain to happen and unavoidable
• infallible— dependable; incapable of failure or error
• infamous— well known for bad reasons
• infer— conclude; reason by deduction; establish by deduction
• inferior— lower in quality or rank
• infernal— related to hell; characteristic of or resembling Hell
• infinitesimal— tiny; (mathematics) a variable that has zero as its limit
• inflexible— unwilling to change
• infraction— offense; a crime less serious than a felony
• infrequent— not occurring often
• ingenious— clever; showing inventiveness and skill
• ingenuous— innocent; characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious
• ingrate— ungrateful person; a person who shows no gratitude
• ingratiate— gain others' favor for; gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
• inherent— included; existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
• inhibit— restrict; put down by force or authority
• initiate— start; bring into being
• injure— hurt; cause injuries or bodily harm to
• inkling— slight idea; a slight suggestion or vague understanding
• innate— inherent; not established by conditioning or learning
• innocuous— harmless and safe
• innovate— create; bring something new to an environment
• innovation— a new idea or creation
• innovative— introducing new and creative ideas
• inopportune— unlucky; not opportune
• inordinate— excessive; beyond normal limits
• inquisitor— interrogator; a questioner who is excessively harsh
• inscrutable— difficult to understand
• insensible— unfeeling; incapable of physical sensation
• insidious— sneaky; beguiling but harmful
• insight— understanding; clear or deep perception of a situation
• insightful— showing deep understanding or perception
• insinuate— imply; introduce or insert (oneself) in a subtle manner
• insipid— tasteless; lacking taste or flavor or tang
• insist— declare firmly without backing down
• insolence— rude disrespect
• insolent— rudely disrespectful
• insolvent— bankrupt; someone who has insufficient assets to cover their debts
• inspect— examine; look over carefully
• instantaneous— occurring immediately
• instigate— provoke or start something
• instruct— teach; impart skills or knowledge to
• instrumental— important in achieving a result
• insubordination— disobedience; defiance of authority
• insubstantial— unreal; lacking material form or substance; unreal
• insularity— isolation; the state of being isolated or detached
• insurrection— rebellion; organized opposition to authority
• intangible— abstract; impossible to feel or touch
• integral— included; existing as an essential constituent
• integrity— complete honesty and moral strength
• intelligible— easy to understand
• intemperate— excessive and uncontrolled
• intense— forceful; possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
• interact— act together; act towards each other; act together or towards others or with others
• interloper— an unwelcome intruder
• intermediate— middle; lying between two extremes in time or space or state
• interminable— endless; tiresomely long; seemingly without end
• intermittent— irregular; stopping and starting at irregular intervals
• interpret— explain; make sense of; assign a meaning to
• interval— period; a definite length of time marked off by two instants
• intervene— interrupt; get involved, so as to alter an action, or through force or threat of force
• intimidate— frighten; make timid or fearful
• intractable— hard to manage; not tractable; difficult to manage or mold
• intransigence— stubbornness; the trait of being intransigent; stubbornly refusing to compromise
• intrepid— fearless; invulnerable to fear or intimidation
• intricate— complex and detailed
• intrinsic— essential; belonging to a thing by its very nature
• introspective— thoughtful; given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences
• intuition— knowledge gained without reasoning
• intuitive— understood instinctively without reasoning
• inundate— flood; fill quickly beyond capacity; as with a liquid
• inure— accustom to hardship; cause to accept or become hardened to; habituate
• invalidate— void; declare invalid
• invective— vilification; abusive language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will
• invert— reverse; make an inversion (in a musical composition)
• investigate— examine; investigate scientifically
• inviolable— invulnerable; incapable of being transgressed or dishonored
• invoke— call forth; summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
• irascible— angry; quickly aroused to anger
• irksome— annoying; so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
• ironic— amusing; humorously sarcastic or mocking
• irrational— illogical; not consistent with or using reason
• irrelevant— not related to the topic
• irresolute— indecisive; uncertain how to act or proceed
• irreverent— lacking respect
• isolate— keep apart; place or set apart
• itinerant— wanderer; a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment
• itinerary— travel plan; an established line of travel or access
• jabber— talk; talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
• jade— to tire or wear out
• jargon— technical language; a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
• jaunty— lighthearted; marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
• jeopardize— endanger; pose a threat to; present a danger to
• jocose— joking; characterized by jokes and good humor
• jocular— joking; characterized by jokes and good humor
• judicious— showing good judgment
• justification— reason; something that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary
• justify— support; show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for
• juxtapose— place side by side
• kindle— excite; catch fire
• laborious— grueling; characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
• lackadaisical— lacking energy
• laconic— using few words
• laggard— lazy person; someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind
• lament— complaint; express grief verbally
• lampoon— ridicule; ridicule with satire
• languid— lethargic; lacking spirit or liveliness
• larceny— theft; the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
• lassitude— sluggishness; a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)
• latent— inactive; potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
• laud— praise; praise, glorify, or honor
• lavish— given generously or excessively
• leaven— add yeast, cause to rise; cause to puff up with a leaven
• lecture— speech; a speech that is open to the public
• legislate— make laws; make laws, bills, etc. or bring into effect by legislation
• legitimate— lawful and recognized as valid
• leniency— indulgence; mercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerant
• lethal— deadly; of an instrument of certain death
• lethargic— lacking energy; deficient in alertness or activity
• levee— landing place; a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)
• levity— lack of seriousness
• levy— impose; impose and collect
• libel— false and malicious statement; print slanderous statements against
• liberal— forward-thinking; a person who favors reform and the protection of civil liberties
• liberate— free from restriction or control
• likewise— similarly; in like or similar manner
• Lilliputian— tiny; a very small person (resembling a Lilliputian)
• linger— remain; remain present although waning or gradually dying
• listless— lacking interest; lacking zest or vivacity
• loath— unwilling; unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
• loathe— hate; find repugnant
• lofty— elevated; of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
• logic— reasoning; the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference
• logical— based on reason and sound thinking
• loquacious— very talkative
• lucid— clear and easy to understand
• lucrative— profitable; producing a sizeable profit
• lugubrious— excessively gloomy
• luminous— glowing; softly bright or radiant
• lurk— hide; lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
• luxuriant— abundant; marked by complexity and richness of detail
• machination— a secretive scheme
• maelstrom— whirlpool; a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)
• magnanimity— largess; liberality in bestowing gifts; extremely liberal and generous of spirit
• magnanimous— generous and forgiving
• malice— spitefulness; feeling a need to see others suffer
• malicious— hateful; having the nature of or resulting from malice
• malign— slander; evil or harmful in nature or influence
• malingerer— slacker; someone shirking their duty by feigning illness or incapacity
• malleable— flexible; easily influenced
• manifest— obvious; provide evidence for
• manipulate— influence; influence or control shrewdly or deviously
• margin— edge; the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
• marshal— organize; a law officer having duties similar to those of a sheriff
• martinet— tyrant; someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms
• maverick— independent thinker who resists norms
• mawkish— maudlin; effusively or insincerely emotional
• maxim— saying; a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
• maximize— make as great as possible; make as big as possible
• meander— wander; to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
• mediate— help settle a disagreement
• mediocre— average and unimpressive
• meditation— profound thought; continuous contemplation on a deep subject
• meek— mild; humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
• mellifluous— smooth and sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear
• melodious— pleasant sounding
• mendacious— untruthful; given to lying
• mercenary— soldier of fortune; a person hired to fight for another country than their own
• mercurial— highly unpredictable
• mesmerize— captivate; attract strongly, as if with a magnet
• metamorphosis— major change; the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult
• methodical— organized; characterized by method and orderliness
• meticulous— very careful and precise
• migrate— move; move from one country or region to another and settle there
• migratory— traveling; used of animals that move seasonally
• minimal— littlest; the least possible
• minimize— make seem unimportant; make small or insignificant
• misanthrope— people-hater; someone who dislikes people in general
• misconception— a false or incorrect idea
• misconstrue— misinterpret; interpret in the wrong way
• miserly— stingy; (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity
• mishap— an unlucky accident
• misrepresent— deceive; represent falsely
• mitigate— reduce severity or seriousness
• mock— make fun; treat with contempt
• moderate— not extreme or excessive
• modicum— a small amount
• mollify— calm or appease
• momentous— extremely important
• monarchy— royalty; an autocracy governed by a monarch who usually inherits the authority
• monotony— dullness; the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety
• monumental— impressive; relating or belonging to or serving as a monument
• moratorium— suspension; a legally authorized postponement before some obligation must be discharged
• morbid— focused on unhealthy topics
• morose— gloomy; showing a brooding ill humor
• mortality— death rate; the quality or state of being mortal
• mortify— humiliate; practice self-denial of one's body and appetites
• motive— reason; the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal
• muddle— jumble; a confused multitude of things
• mundane— ordinary and lacking excitement
• mural— wall painting; a painting that is applied to a wall surface
• muse— think over; reflect deeply on a subject
• mutable— changeable; capable of or tending to change in form or quality or nature
• mute— not speaking or silent
• mutinous— rebellious; disposed to or in a state of mutiny
• mutual— shared; common to or shared by two or more parties
• myriad— a very large number
• mysterious— difficult to understand or explain
• mystical— related to spiritual mystery
• nadir— low-point; an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything
• narrative— story; a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events
• navigable— travelable; able to be sailed on or through safely
• nebulous— vague and unclear
• negate— eliminate; be in contradiction with
• neglect— fail to give proper attention
• negligence— carelessness; failure to act with the prudence that a reasonable person would exercise
• negligible— too small to matter
• negotiate— discuss terms to reach agreement
• neologism— invented word; a newly invented word or phrase
• neophyte— novice; a plant that is found in an area where it had not been recorded previously
• neutral— objective; having no personal preference
• nevertheless— any way; despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession)
• nocturnal— active at night; belonging to or active during the night
• nonchalance— casual indifference
• nondescript— ordinary-looking; lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting
• nonentity— unimportant person; the state of not existing
• nonetheless— however; despite anything to the contrary
• norm— standard; a standard or model regarded as typical
• nostalgia— fond remembrance of the past; longing for something past
• notable— famous; worthy of notice
• noteworthy— deserving attention or notice
• notion— idea; a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
• notoriety— infamy; the state of being known for some unfavorable act or quality
• notorious— ill famed; known widely and usually unfavorably
• novelty— something new and unusual
• nullify— invalidate; declare invalid
• nurture— foster; help develop, help grow
• nutrient— source of nourishment; any substance metabolized by an animal
• obdurate— stubborn; stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
• obfuscate— make obscure; make obscure or unclear
• obligation— a duty or responsibility to act
• obligatory— required; morally or legally constraining or binding
• oblique— indirect; slanting or inclined in direction or course or position
• obliterate— destroy; mark for deletion, rub off, or erase
• oblivion— unconsciousness; the state of being disregarded or forgotten
• oblivious— unaware; (followed by 'to' or of?) lacking conscious awareness of
• obnoxious— irritating; causing disapproval or protest
• obscure— not well known or unclear
• obsequious— excessively obedient
• obsess— think about something constantly; haunt like a ghost; pursue
• obstinate— stubbornly resistant
• obtrude— stick out; push to thrust outward
• obtrusive— annoyingly noticeable
• obtuse— lacking sharpness or intelligence
• obviate— prevent; do away with
• occasional— happening from time to time
• occlude— obstruct; occlude
• occupy— fill; keep busy with
• offensive— attacking; the action of attacking an enemy
• officious— intrusive; intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
• offset— make up for; compensate for or counterbalance
• ominous— threatening; threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
• omnivorous— eating all types of food; feeding on both plants and animals
• onerous— burdensome and difficult
• ongoing— continuous; currently happening
• opaque— not transparent or translucent; not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy
• opponent— a person on the opposing side
• opportunist— profit-seeker; a person who places expediency above principle
• opprobrium— disgrace; state of disgrace resulting from public abuse
• opt— choose one option over another
• optimist— positive thinker; a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
• optimistic— expecting positive outcomes
• opulence— luxury; wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
• orator— speaker; a person who delivers a speech or oration
• ordeal— trouble; a severe or trying experience
• orderly— neatly arranged and organized
• orient— locate; be oriented
• ornate— highly decorated or elaborate
• orthodox— following traditional beliefs
• oscillate— swing back and forth; be undecided about something
• ossify— become rigid or fixed
• ostentatious— showy and pretentious
• outlandish— bizarre; conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
• outmoded— no longer fashionable
• outwit— to exceed in cleverness; beat through cleverness and wit
• overbear— dominate; bear too much
• overlap— lie over; coincide partially or wholly
• oversight— a small mistake or omission
• overt— obvious; open and observable; not secret or hidden
• pacifist— peace lover; someone opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes
• pacify— calm down; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
• painstaking— meticulous; characterized by extreme care and great effort
• palliative— relieving pain without curing
• pallid— pale; abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress
• panacea— cure all; (Greek mythology) the goddess of healing
• parable— moral story; a short moral story (often with animal characters)
• paradigm— model; systematic arrangement of all the inflected forms of a word
• paradox— apparent contradiction; (logic) a statement that contradicts itself
• paragon— perfection; an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
• parallel— not intersecting; being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting
• paramount— essential; having superior power and influence
• parch— dry; cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat
• parody— humorous imitation; a composition that imitates somebody's style, usually in a humorous way
• partial— incomplete; being or affecting only a part; not total
• partisan— strongly supporting one side
• partition— divide; a vertical structure that divides rooms or spaces
• passive— not active; lacking in energy or will
• passport— legal identification; any authorization to pass or go somewhere
• pastoral— rural; of or relating to a pastor
• pathological— diseased; of or relating to the practice of pathology
• patronize— support; assume sponsorship of
• paucity— shortage; an insufficient quantity or number
• pedantic— bookish; marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
• peerless— unique; eminent beyond or above comparison
• penchant— a strong liking
• penitent— showing remorse
• penury— poverty; a state of extreme poverty or destitution
• perceive— notice; to become aware of through the senses
• perdition— damnation; (Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil
• peremptory— imperious; offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power
• perennial— enduring; lasting three seasons or more
• perfectionism— having extremely high standards; a feeling that anything less than perfect is unacceptable
• perfidious— treacherous; tending to betray
• perfunctory— inattentive; hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
• peripheral— outside; on or near an edge or constituting an outer boundary; the outer area
• perjury— lying while under oath; criminal offense of making false statements under oath
• permeable— possible to fill or pass through; allowing fluids or gases to pass or diffuse through
• pernicious— extremely harmful
• perpetrate— commit; perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
• perpetual— ageless; continuing forever or indefinitely
• perpetuate— extend; cause to continue or prevail
• persist— continue; continue to exist
• persistent— continuing firmly despite difficulty
• perspicacious— keenly insightful
• pertinent— relevant to the matter
• peruse— examine; examine or consider with attention and in detail
• pervasive— far reaching; spreading or spread throughout
• perverse— stubbornly resistant; marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict
• pessimism— having a negative outlook; the feeling that things will turn out badly
• petulant— sulky; easily irritated or annoyed
• phenomenon— an observable event or occurrence
• philanthropist— humanitarian; someone who makes charitable donations intended to increase human well-being
• phlegmatic— emotionally unresponsive
• piety— devotion; righteousness by virtue of being pious
• pioneer— one who leads or explores first
• pique— annoy; tightly woven fabric with raised cords
• pivot— swivel; turn on a pivot
• placate— appease; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
• placid— calm and peaceful
• plagiarize— steal; take without referencing from someone else's writing or speech
• plasticity— ability to be molded
• platitude— overused phrase; a trite or obvious remark
• plethora— abundance; extreme excess
• pliable— flexible; susceptible to being led or directed
• pliant— easily bent or influenced
• plight— a difficult or unfortunate situation
• plummet— fall; drop sharply
• podium— pulpit; a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
• polemical— controversial; of or involving dispute or controversy
• ponderous— heavy; slow and laborious because of weight
• pore— examine; any tiny hole admitting passage of a liquid (fluid or gas)
• porous— permeable; able to absorb fluids
• portend— foreshadow; indicate by signs
• portly— stout; euphemisms for 'fat'
• pose— position; introduce
• posterity— future generations; all of the offspring of a given progenitor
• potency— effectiveness; the power or right to give orders or make decisions
• potentate— a powerful ruler
• practitioner— physician or performer; someone who practices a learned profession
• pragmatic— focused on practical results
• prate— chatter; speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
• prattle— chatter; speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
• preamble— introduction; a preliminary introduction to a statute (usually explaining its purpose)
• precarious— unstable; affording no ease or reassurance
• precede— occur earlier; be earlier in time or go back further
• precedent— prior example; an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
• precipitate— speed; bring about abruptly
• precipitous— done too quickly
• precise— exact; sharply exact or accurate or delimited
• preclude— prevent something from happening
• precocious— early; characterized by very early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
• precursor— something that comes before another
• predator— an organism that hunts others
• predecessor— ancestor; one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)
• predetermine— establish in advance; determine beforehand
• predict— declare something in advance
• predictable— easy to foresee or expect
• predilection— a strong preference
• predominant— common; most frequent or common
• preeminent— leading; greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement
• preempt— seize precedence; acquire for oneself before others can do so
• prelate— high priest; a senior clergyman and dignitary
• preliminary— prior; denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
• premise— basis; a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn
• premonition— forewarning; a feeling of evil to come
• preposterous— ridiculous; incongruous; inviting ridicule
• prescience— foresight; the power to foresee the future
• prestige— respect earned through success
• presume— assume; take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
• presumptive— based on reasonable assumption
• presumptuous— assuming; excessively forward
• pretentious— arrogant; intended to attract notice and impress others
• prevail— succeed or dominate in the end
• prevalent— widely existing or common
• prevaricate— equivocate; be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information
• prey— victim; a person who is the aim of an attack
• pristine— clean; completely free from dirt or contamination
• privation— lack; a state of extreme poverty
• probity— truthfulness; complete and confirmed integrity; having strong moral principles
• problematic— presenting difficulty; open to doubt or debate
• proceed— continue; continue talking
• prodigal— wasteful; a recklessly extravagant consumer
• prodigious— extraordinary; so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
• prodigy— very gifted young person; an unusually gifted or intelligent (young) person
• profane— irreligious; characterized by profanity or cursing
• profligate— extravagant; a dissolute man in fashionable society
• profound— deep; showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
• profundity— deep wisdom
• profusion— abundance; the property of being extremely abundant
• progenitor— predecessor; an ancestor in the direct line
• prohibit— ban; command against
• prohibitive— discouraging by high cost
• proliferate— increase; grow rapidly
• proliferation— expansion; growth by the rapid multiplication of parts
• prolific— highly productive
• prologue— introduction; an introduction to a play
• prolong— extend; lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
• prominent— well known or easily noticeable
• promontory— high ground; a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)
• promulgate— make known; state or announce
• prone— lying down; having a tendency (to); often used in combination
• propagate— breed; transmit from one generation to the next
• propensity— a natural tendency or inclination
• propitiate— appease; make peace with
• proponent— advocate; a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
• proportion— corresponding; the relation between things with respect to their quantity or degree
• propriety— suitableness; correct or appropriate behavior
• prosaic— ordinary and dull
• proscribe— prohibit; command against
• prospect— chance; the possibility of future success
• prospectus— a formal written proposal
• prosper— achieve success or wealth
• prosperity— wealth and economic success
• prototype— early model; a standard or typical example
• protract— extend; lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
• protuberance— bulge; something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings
• provident— looking ahead wisely; providing carefully for the future
• provincial— rural person; of or associated with a province
• provisional— conditional; under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
• provocative— stimulating; serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate
• proximity— nearness; the property of being close together
• prudent— careful; careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment
• prurient— lustful; characterized by lust
• psychology— mind study; the science of mental life
• puerile— immature; of or characteristic of a child
• pugnacity— belligerence; a natural disposition to be hostile
• pulverize— crush; make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust
• pummel— strike; strike, usually with the fist
• punctilious— precise; marked by precise accordance with details
• pungency— sharpness; wit having a sharp and caustic quality
• purge— removal; oust politically
• pursue— chase; carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
• quagmire— swamp; a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
• qualification— a requirement or limiting condition
• quandary— dilemma; a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant one
• quell— put down forcefully
• querulous— complaining; habitually complaining
• questionable— doubtful or suspicious
• quibble— objection; evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections
• quiescent— dormant; not active or activated
• quip— witty comment; make jokes or quips
• quixotic— fanciful; not sensible about practical matters; idealistic and unrealistic
• raconteur— narrator; a person skilled in telling anecdotes
• radical— extreme; far beyond the norm in opinions or actions
• rally— excite; gather together for a common purpose
• ramble— wander; continue talking or writing in a desultory manner
• rampant— widespread; unrestrained and violent
• ramshackle— falling apart; in deplorable condition
• rancid— ill smelling; corrupt
• rancor— bitter resentment
• rant— scolding speech; talk in a noisy, excited manner
• rarefy— refine; lessen the density or solidity of
• ratify— authorize; approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
• rational— logical; consistent with or based on reason
• raucous— rowdy; unpleasantly loud and harsh
• raze— completely destroy
• react— respond; show a response or reaction to something
• reactionary— opposed to change or progress; an extreme conservative; an opponent of progress or liberalism
• rearrange— change order or position
• rebel— someone who resists authority
• rebuff— repel; reject outright and bluntly
• rebut— disprove or contradict; overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
• recalcitrant— obstinate; stubbornly resistant to authority or control
• recant— retract; formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
• recapitulate— go over; summarize briefly
• receptive— open to ideas or influence
• recession— decline; the state of the economy declines
• recessive— tending to withdraw
• reciprocate— give or act in return; act, feel, or give mutually or in return
• recluse— hermit; one who lives in solitude
• reclusive— avoiding social contact
• reconcile— restore harmony or agreement
• recondite— mysterious; difficult to penetrate
• recount— tell; narrate or give a detailed account of
• recover— find again; get or find back; recover the use of
• rectify— correct; math: determine the length of
• rectitude— righteousness; righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest
• recumbent— lying down; lying down; in a position of comfort or rest
• recuperate— recover; regain or make up for
• recurrent— repeating; recurring again and again
• redolent— strongly suggestive
• redundant— unnecessary repetition or excess
• refine— improve; improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
• refractory— stubborn; lining consisting of material with a high melting point
• refuge— a safe place for shelter
• refute— prove something false
• regime— government; the organization that is the governing authority
• regulate— manage; fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
• reinforce— strengthen or support further
• reiterate— repeat; to say, state, or perform again
• reject— say no; refuse to accept or acknowledge
• rejoinder— comeback; a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
• rejuvenate— make young again; cause (a stream or river) to erode, as by an uplift of the land
• relax— be at ease; become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
• relegate— banish; refer to another person for decision or judgment
• relic— saved item; an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
• relinquish— give up; part with a possession or right
• relish— enjoy; derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
• reluctance— unwillingness; (physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)
• rely— trust; have confidence or faith in
• remedy— a solution that fixes a problem
• reminiscence— recall of past memories
• remiss— delinquent; failing in what duty requires
• remnant— saved item; a small part or portion that remains after the main part no longer exists
• remonstrance— complaint; the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
• remorse— guilt; a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
• remunerative— lucrative; for which money is paid
• renegade— rebel; break with established customs
• renounce— give up; give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations
• renovate— fix up; restore to a previous or better condition
• repeal— officially cancel a law
• repel— force back; cause to move back by force or influence
• repertoire— collection; a collection of works that an artist or company can perform
• repetitive— done again and again
• replenish— refill; fill something that had previously been emptied
• reprehensible— deplorable; bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
• repress— keep back; put down by force or intimidation
• reprimand— criticize; rebuke formally
• reproach— criticism; a mild rebuke or criticism
• reprobate— disgraceful person; reject (documents) as invalid
• reprove— rebuke; take to task
• repudiate— renounce; cast off
• repulsion— horror; the force by which bodies repel one another
• reputable— honorable; having a good reputation
• rescind— revoke; cancel officially
• reside— live in; make one's home in a particular place
• resign— give up; leave a job, post, or position voluntarily
• resilient— enduring; recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
• resist— refuse to accept or comply
• resolute— firmly determined
• resolve— firmness of purpose; bring to an end; settle conclusively
• resonant— echoing; characterized by resonance
• respiration— breathing technique; the metabolic processes whereby organisms obtain energy
• restive— jittery; being in a tense state
• restore— fix; return to its original or usable and functioning condition
• restrain— hold back; keep under control; keep in check
• restraint— limitation; the act of controlling by restraining someone or something
• restrict— limit; place restrictions on
• resumption— beginning again; beginning again
• retain— keep or hold onto
• retaliation— revenge; action taken in return for an injury or offense
• reticence— reserve; the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary
• reticent— quiet and reserved
• retract— take back; formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
• retraction— withdrawal of a statement
• retrieve— get back; get or find back; recover the use of
• retroactive— applying to past events
• reverent— respectful; feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
• reverse— turn; change to the contrary
• revitalize— restore energy or strength
• revoke— take back; fail to follow suit when able and required to do so
• revolution— major change; a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
• revolutionary— involving dramatic and radical change
• revulsion— disgust; intense aversion
• rhetoric— sophistication in speaking; using language effectively to please or persuade
• rift— gap; a gap between cloud masses
• rigid— stiff and inflexible
• rigidity— stiffness or strictness
• rigor— severity; something hard to endure
• rile— agitate; cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
• rivulet— stream; a small stream
• robust— strong and able to withstand stress
• rouse— awaken or stir up
• ruddy— flushed; inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
• rue— regret; feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
• rummage— search; search haphazardly
• ruse— trick; a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)
• ruthless— pitiless; without mercy or pity
• saccharine— sickly sweet; overly sweet
• sagacious— wise and perceptive
• sage— wise; a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
• salubrious— healthy; promoting health; healthful
• salutary— healthful; tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health
• salvage— save from damage or loss
• sanctimonious— hypocritically pious in manner; excessively or hypocritically pious
• sanction— approve; give sanction to
• sarcasm— sharp ironic mockery
• sate— satisfy; fill to satisfaction
• satiate— satisfy; fill to satisfaction
• satire— mockery; witty language used to convey insults or scorn
• satirical— mocking; exposing human folly to ridicule
• satirize— ridicule; ridicule with satire
• saturate— fill completely, soak; infuse or fill completely
• saunter— stroll; walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
• savant— learned person; someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
• savor— enjoy; derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
• savory— delicious; morally wholesome or acceptable
• scamp— rascal; perform hastily and carelessly
• scanty— inadequate; lacking in amplitude or quantity
• scapegoat— victim; someone who is punished for the errors of others
• scavenge— seek; clean refuse from
• scenario— situation; an outline or synopsis of a play (or, by extension, of a literary work)
• scintillate— sparkle or shine
• scrupulous— conscientious; having scruples; arising from a sense of right and wrong; principled
• scrutinize— examine very carefully
• scuffle— struggle; disorderly fighting
• seclude— keep isolated from others
• seclusion— isolation; the quality of being secluded from the presence or view of others
• secrete— give off; generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
• sect— religious order; a subdivision of a larger religious group
• secular— worldly; someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person
• sedition— rebellion; an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority
• seep— ooze; pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
• sensational— causing strong excitement
• sensitive— easily affected or responsive
• sequester— isolate; requisition forcibly, as of enemy property
• serendipity— good fortune; good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
• serenity— calm; a disposition free from stress or emotion
• servile— meek; submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior
• servitude— servanthood; state of subjection to an owner or master or forced labor imposed as punishment
• sesquipedalian— characterized by long words; long-winded
• sever— cut; set or keep apart
• severe— difficult; intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
• severity— seriousness; used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather
• shackle— bond; a restraint that confines or restricts freedom
• shamble— shuffle; walk by dragging one's feet
• shard— fragment; a broken piece of a brittle artifact
• shimmer— gleam; shine with a weak or fitful light
• simile— comparison; a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds
• simplicity— the state of being uncomplicated
• simulate— copy; reproduce someone's behavior or looks
• singular— unique; unusual or striking
• sinister— threatening; threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
• sinuous— winding; curved or curving in and out
• skeptic— unbeliever; someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs
• skeptical— nonbelieving; denying or questioning the tenets of especially a religion
• skulk— slink; lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
• slag— residue; convert into slag
• slapdash— sloppy; in a careless or reckless manner
• sloth— laziness; a disinclination to work or exert yourself
• sluggish— slow moving; moving slowly
• smelt— melt or fuse; extract (metals) by heating
• smolder— burn without flame; burn slowly and without a flame
• sobriety— seriousness; the state of being sober and not intoxicated by alcohol
• sodden— soaked; wet through and through; thoroughly wet
• solemnity— seriousness; a trait of dignified seriousness
• solicitous— showing concern
• soliloquy— monologue; speech you make to yourself
• somber— serious and gloomy
• somewhat— more or less; to a small degree or extent
• somnolent— sleepy; inclined to or marked by drowsiness
• soporific— causing sleep; a drug that induces sleep
• sordid— filthy; morally degraded
• sovereign— a supreme ruler or authority
• spare— extra or refrain from harming
• Spartan— unembellished; a resident of Sparta
• spat— quarrel; a quarrel about petty points
• specious— false; plausible but false
• spectrum— range; an ordered array of the components of an emission or wave
• speculate— form ideas without firm evidence
• spendthrift— wasteful; someone who spends money prodigally
• sphere— globe; a particular environment or walk of life
• spontaneous— happening without planning
• sporadic— intermittent; recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
• spurious— false; plausible but false
• squabble— quarrel; a quarrel about petty points
• squander— waste carelessly
• stagnant— motionless; not circulating or flowing
• staid— calm; characterized by dignity and propriety
• stalemate— standstill; subject to a stalemate
• stalwart— sturdy, tough; a person who is loyal to their allegiance (especially in times of revolt)
• stanza— verse; a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem
• stark— plain and harshly clear
• stature— level of respect or status
• statute— law; an act passed by a legislative body
• steadfast— firm and dependable
• stereotype— overly narrow representation; a conventional or formulaic conception or image
• stifle— smother; conceal or hide
• stigma— mark of disgrace; the apical end of the style where deposited pollen enters the pistil
• stimulate— encourage activity or growth
• stimulus— something that triggers response
• stint— period, duration; subsist on a meager allowance
• stipulate— specify; specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement
• stodgy— uninteresting; heavy and starchy and hard to digest
• stoic— disinterested; seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
• stolid— placid; having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
• straightforward— honest; free from ambiguity
• stratagem— scheme; a maneuver in a game or conversation
• striated— striped; mark with stripes or striations
• strident— loud and harsh
• stringent— rigorous; demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
• strut— walk pompously; to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
• stupor— daze; the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens
• stymie— block progress
• subdue— keep down; put down by force or intimidation
• subjective— personal; taking place within the mind and modified by individual bias
• sublime— grand; inspiring awe
• submissive— compliant; willing to submit to orders or wishes of others
• subordinate— subsidiary; an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
• subpoena— legal summons; serve or summon with a subpoena
• subsequent— coming after in time or order
• subside— decrease; wear off or die down
• subsidiary— secondary; an assistant subject to the control of another
• subsidy— financial aid; a grant paid by a government to an enterprise that benefits the public
• substantial— real; fairly large
• substantiate— prove with evidence
• substitute— replace; put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
• subtle— hard to notice or detect
• subtlety— nuance; a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
• subvert— overturn; cause the downfall of; of rulers
• successor— replacement; a person who follows next in order
• succinct— concise; briefly giving the gist of something
• succulent— juicy or fleshy
• sufficient— enough; of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
• sullen— bad tempered and gloomy
• supercilious— arrogantly superior
• superficial— seeming; concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious
• superfluous— unnecessary; serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
• superior— higher in quality or performance
• supersede— replace; take the place or move into the position of
• supplant— replace something else
• supposition— guess; a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
• suppress— forcibly put an end to
• surpass— exceed; distinguish oneself
• surrender— give up control or power
• surreptitious— sneaky; marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
• survive— live on; continue to live through hardship or adversity
• susceptible— available; (often followed by of or to) yielding readily to or capable of
• suspect— doubt or believe something uncertain
• suspend— hang; hang freely
• suspicious— distrustful and cautious
• sustain— maintain or keep going
• swill— drink; feed pigs
• swindler— cheater; a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud
• sycophant— kiss-up; a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
• symmetry— exact matching of forms; an attribute of a shape or relation
• synoptic— inclusive or general; presenting a summary or general view of a whole
• synthesis— combination; the process of producing a chemical compound
• systematic— done according to a plan
• tacit— silent; implied by or inferred from actions or statements
• taciturn— silent; habitually reserved and uncommunicative
• tact— skill in handling situations politely
• tactile— related to the sense of touch; of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch
• tangential— only slightly relevant
• tarry— linger; be about
• tedious— boring; so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
• tedium— boredom; the feeling of being bored by something tedious
• temperament— disposition; your usual mood
• tempestuous— stormy; characterized by violent emotions or behavior
• temporary— short-term; not permanent; not lasting
• tenacious— holding firmly and persistently
• tenacity— firm persistence
• tenet— a core belief or principle
• tense— tighten; a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
• tension— mental or emotional strain
• tentative— experimental; under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
• tenuous— weak and flimsy
• terminate— end; bring to an end or halt
• termination— end; a coming to an end of a contract period
• terrestrial— earthly; of or relating to or inhabiting the land as opposed to the sea or air
• terse— brief and blunt
• therapeutic— healing; tending to cure or restore to health
• thesis— theory; an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument
• threaten— express intent to cause harm
• thrifty— economical; careful and diligent in the use of resources
• thrive— grow or succeed vigorously
• thwart— hinder; hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
• tiller— steering mechanism; grow shoots in the form of stools or tillers
• timidity— shyness; fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions
• tirade— outburst; a speech of violent denunciation
• titanic— huge; of great force or power
• toady— kiss-up; try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
• torpor— lethargy; a state of motor and mental inactivity with a partial suspension of sensibility
• tortuous— convoluted; highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious
• totalitarian— exercising absolute political control
• totter— sway; move without being stable, as if threatening to fall
• toxic— poisonous or extremely harmful
• tractable— cooperative; easily managed (controlled or taught or molded)
• tradition— custom; an inherited pattern of thought or action
• traduce— slander; speak unfavorably about
• tranquil— peaceful; (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
• transcendent— extraordinary; exceeding or surpassing usual limits especially in excellence
• transform— change; subject to a mathematical transformation
• transgression— violation; the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle
• transient— temporary; one who stays for only a short time
• transit— transportation; passing from one place to another
• transition— change; the act of passing from one state or place to the next
• transitory— lasting briefly
• translucent— transmitting light; allowing light to pass through diffusely
• transmit— send; transfer to another
• transparent— easy to see through or understand
• travail— labor; use of physical or mental energy; hard work
• trek— journey; journey on foot, especially in the mountains
• trenchant— sharp and forceful
• trepidation— fear; a feeling of alarm or dread
• tribute— an act showing respect or honor
• trifle— toy; waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently
• trigger— start; lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun
• trite— overused; repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
• trivial— unimportant; (informal) small and of little importance
• trough— feed box; a narrow depression (as in the earth or between ocean waves or in the ocean bed)
• truculence— belligerence; obstreperous and defiant aggressiveness
• truism— overused phrase; an obvious truth
• turbid— cloudy; (of liquids) clouded as with sediment
• turbulence— disturbance; unstable flow of a liquid or gas
• turbulent— troubled; characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
• turgid— pompous; ostentatiously lofty in style
• turmoil— shaking; a violent disturbance
• typhoon— storm; a tropical cyclone occurring in the western Pacific or Indian oceans
• tyrannical— cruelly oppressive
• ubiquitous— ever present; being present everywhere at once
• unanimity— agreement; everyone being of one mind
• unassuming— modest and not pretentious
• undaunted— not discouraged
• undergo— experience; pass through
• underlie— influence; be or form the base for
• undermine— weaken gradually or secretly
• underscore— emphasize; give extra weight to (a communication)
• undertake— attempt; enter upon an activity or enterprise
• undulate— rise and fall; stir up (water) so as to form ripples
• unearth— dig up; bring to light
• unequivocal— clear and unambiguous
• uneven— not level or uniform
• ungainly— awkward; lacking grace in movement or posture
• uniformity— sameness; a condition in which everything is regular and unvarying
• unify— unite; become one
• unorthodox— not following traditions
• unprecedented— new; having no precedent; novel
• unravel— figure out; become or cause to become undone by separating the fibers or threads of
• unrequited— unreturned; not returned in kind
• unscathed— unharmed; not injured
• unseemly— improper; not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
• unsightly— ugly; unpleasant to look at
• unwarranted— groundless; incapable of being justified or explained
• upbraid— reproach; express criticism towards
• uproarious— hilarious; uncontrollably noisy
• urbane— refined; showing refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience
• usurp— seize power unlawfully
• utilize— use; put into service
• utopia— Paradise; ideally perfect state, especially in its social and political and moral aspects
• vacillate— fluctuate; be undecided about something
• vagabond— wanderer; anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place
• valid— true or real; well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force
• validate— authorize; declare or make legally valid
• vanguard— leading position; the leading units moving at the head of an army
• vantage— point from which one sees; place or situation affording a comprehensive view
• vapid— lacking substance
• veneer— covering; cover with veneer
• venerable— respected because of age
• venerate— revere; regard with feelings of respect and reverence
• venturesome— daring; disposed to venture or take risks
• veracious— true; habitually speaking the truth
• veracity— truth; unwillingness to tell lies
• verbose— talkative; using or containing too many words
• verdant— green; characterized by abundance of verdure
• verisimilitude— lifelikeness; the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true
• versatile— able to adapt to many uses
• vertigo— dizziness; a reeling sensation; a feeling that you are about to fall
• vex— annoy or irritate
• viable— possible; capable of being done with available means
• vicarious— experienced through another
• vicissitude— fluctuation; a variation in circumstances or fortune in the development of something
• vie— compete; compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
• vigilant— alert and watchful
• vigor— energy; forceful exertion
• vilify— criticize; spread negative information about
• vindicate— prove right or justified
• vindication— proof of correctness
• vindictive— cruel; disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
• violate— go against; fail to agree with or be in violation of
• virtuoso— superstar; someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
• viscous— jelly-like; having a relatively high resistance to flow
• vise— clasp; a holding device attached to a workbench
• visible— possible to see; capable of being seen; or open to easy view
• vituperative— hateful; marked by harshly abusive criticism
• volatile— capable of exploding; liable to lead to sudden change or violence
• voluble— talkative; marked by a ready flow of speech
• voluminous— ample; large in volume or bulk
• voluntary— optional; of your own free will or design; done by choice; not forced or compelled
• voracious— ravening; excessively greedy and grasping
• vulnerable— easily harmed or attacked
• waive— give up; do without or cease to hold or adhere to
• wane— diminish; grow smaller
• warble— sing; sing or play with trills, alternating with the half note above or below
• warrant— permit; show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for
• wary— careful; marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
• welfare— benefit; governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need
• welter— rolling or tumbling; a confused multitude of things
• wheedle— coax; influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
• whet— sharpen; make keen or more acute
• whiff— puff of air; a short light gust of air
• whimsical— playful; determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
• whimsicality— playful unpredictability
• whittle— pare; cut small bits or pare shavings from
• widespread— occurring over a large area