abate verb to lessen in intensity or degree

aberrant adjective deviating from the norm

abscond verb to depart clandestinely; to steal away and hide

accolade noun an expression of praise

acerbic adjective having a sour or bitter taste or character

acumen noun quick, keen, or accurate knowledge or insight

adulation noun excessive praise; intense adoration

adulterate verb to reduce purity by combining with inferior ingredients

aesthetic adjective dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful

aggrandize verb to increase in intensity, power, or prestige

alacrity noun eager and enthusiastic willingness

alchemy noun a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals,

especially base metals into gold

amalgamate verb to combine several elements into a whole

ameliorate verb to make better or more tolerable

amenable adjective agreeable; responsive to suggestion

anachronism noun something or someone out of place in terms of its

historical or chronological context

anomaly noun deviation from the normal order, form, or rule; abnormality

approbation noun an expression of approval or praise

archaic adjective outdated; associated with an earlier, perhaps more

primitive, time

arduous adjective strenuous, taxing, requiring significant effort

ascetic noun one who practices rigid self-denial, especially as an act

of religious devotion

assuage verb to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify

astringent adjective having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh;

severe

audacious adjective daring and fearless; recklessly bold

austere adjective without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic

avarice noun greed, especially for wealth

aver verb to state as a fact; to confirm or

axiom/axiomatic noun a universally recognized principle; taken as a

given; possessing self-evident truth taken as a

given; possessing self-evident truth

bolster verb to provide support or reinforcement

bombast/bombastic noun adjective self-evident or pompous writing or

speech; pompous; grandiloquent

bucolic adjective rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and

their inhabitants

burgeon verb to grow rapidly; to flourish

cacophony noun harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance

canon noun an established set of principles or code of laws, often

religious in nature

canonical adjective following or in agreement with orthodox requirements

capricious adjective inclined to change one's mind impulsively; erratic;

unpredictable

castigation noun severe criticism or punishment

catalyst noun a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical

reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that

causes change

caustic adjective burning or stinging; causing corrosion

censure verb to criticize severely; to officially rebuke

chary adjective wary; cautious

chicanery noun trickery or subterfuge

cogent adjective appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing

complaisance noun the willingness to comply with the wishes of others

connoisseur noun an informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert

contentious adjective argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or

disagreement

contrite adjective regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness

convention noun a generally agreed-upon practice or attitude

convoluted adjective complex or complicated

credulous adjective tending to believe too readily; gullible

culpable adjective deserving blame

cynicism noun an attitude or quality of belief that all people are

motivated by selfishness

dearth noun smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack

decorum noun polite or appropriate conduct or behavior

demur verb to question or oppose

derision noun scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment

desiccate verb to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull

diatribe noun a harsh denunciation

didactic adjective intended to teach or instruct

dilettante noun one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the

arts or a branch of knowledge

disabuse verb to undeceive; to set right

discordant adjective conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound

discretion noun cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible

decisions

disinterested adjective indifferent; free from self-interest

disparage verb to slight or belittle

disparate adjective fundamentally distinct or dissimilar

dissemble verb to disguise or conceal; to mislead

divulge verb to disclose something secret

dogmatic adjective stubbornly opinionated

ebullience noun the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of

thoughts and feelings

eccentric adjective departing from norms or conventions

eclectic adjective composed of elements drawn from various sources

effrontery noun extreme boldness; presumptuousness

elegy noun a mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead

eloquent adjective well-spoken; expressive; articulate

emollient adjective soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh;

mollifying

empirical adjective based on observation or experiment

endemic adjective characteristic of or often found in a particular

locality, region, or people

enervate verb to weaken; to reduce in vitality

enigmatic adjective mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand

ennui noun dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or

apathy

ephemeral adjective brief; fleeting

equivocate verb to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent

erudite adjective very learned; scholarly

esoteric adjective intended for or understood by a small, specific group

eulogy noun a speech honoring the dead

evanescent adjective tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing

exacerbate verb to make worse or more severe

exculpate verb exonerate; to clear of blame

exigent adjective urgent; pressing; requiring immediate action or

attention

exonerate verb to remove blame

extemporaneous adjective improvised; done without preparation

facetious adjective playful; humorous

fallacy noun an invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief

fawn verb to flatter or praise excessively

fervent adjective greatly emotional or zealous

filibuster noun intentional obstruction, especially using prolonged

speechmaking to delay legislative action

flout verb to demonstrate contempt for, as in a rule or convention

fortuitous adjective happening by fortunate accident or chance

fulminate verb to loudly attack or denounce

furtive adjective marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious

garrulous adjective pointlessly talkative, talking too much

germane adjective relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in

subject matter

glib adjective marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in

depth; superficial

grandiloquence noun pompous speech or expression

gregarious adjective sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other

people

hackneyed adjective rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage

halcyon adjective calm and peaceful

harangue verb to deliver a pompous speech or tirade

hedonism noun devotion to pleasurable pursuits, especially to the

pleasures of the senses

hegemony noun the consistent dominance of one state or ideology over

others

heretical adjective violating accepted dogma or convention

hubris noun arrogant presumption or pride

hyperbole noun an exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of

speech

iconoclast noun one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or

institutions

idolatrous adjective given to intense or excessive devotion to something

imminent adjective about to happen; impending

immutable adjective not capable of change

impassive adjective revealing no emotion

impecunious adjective lacking funds; without money

imperturbable adjective marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and

steadiness

impetuous adjective hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement

implacable adjective not capable of being appeased or significantly

changed

impunity noun immunity from punishment or penalty

inchoate adjective in an initial stage; not fully formed

incipient adjective beginning to come into being or to become apparent

indifferent adjective having no interest or concern; showing no bias or

prejudice

inert adjective unmoving; lethargic; sluggish ,

infelicitous adjective unfortunate; inappropriate

ingenuous adjective artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication

inimical adjective damaging; harmful; malevolent

innocuous adjective harmless; causing no damage

insipid adjective without taste or flavor; lacking spirit; bland

intractable adjective not easily managed or directed; stubborn,

obstinate

intransigent adjective refusing to compromise

intrepid adjective steadfast and courageous

inured adjective accustomed to accepting something undesirable

inveigle verb to obtain by deception or flattery

irascible adjective easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts

laconic adjective using few words; terse

laud verb to praise highly

loquacious adjective extremely talkative

lucid adjective clear; easily understood

luminous adjective characterized by brightness and the emission of light

magnanimity noun the quality of being generously noble in mind and

heart, especially in forgiving

malevolent adjective having or showing often vicious ill will, spite, or

hatred

malleable adjective capable of being shaped or formed; tractable;

pliable

martial adjective associated with war and the armed forces

maverick noun an independent individual who does not go along with a

group or party

mendacity noun the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty

mercurial adjective characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in

mood

meticulous adjective characterized by extreme care and precision;

attentive to detail

misanthrope noun one who hates all other humans

mitigate verb to make or become less severe or intense; to moderate

mollify verb to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity

morose adjective sad; sullen; melancholy

mundane adjective of the world; typical of or concerned with the

ordinary

nascent adjective coming into being; in early developmental stages nebulous adjective vague; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form

neologism noun a new word, expression, or usage; the creation or use of

new words or senses

neophyte noun a recent 'convert; a beginner; novice

noxious adjective harmful; injurious

obdurate adjective unyielding; hardhearted; intractable

obfuscate verb to deliberately obscure; to make confusing

obsequious adjective exhibiting a fawning attentiveness

obstinate adjective stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising

obtuse adjective lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in

thought or expression

obviate verb to anticipate and make unnecessary

occlude verb to obstruct or block

odious adjective evoking intense aversion or dislike

onerous adjective troubling; burdensome

opaque adjective impenetrable by light; not reflecting light

opprobrium noun disgrace; contempt; scorn

oscillation noun the act or state of swinging back and forth with a

steady, uninterrupted rhythm

ostentatious adjective characterized by or given to pretentiousness

paean noun a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving

parody noun a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect,

especially in literature and art

pedagogy noun the art or profession of training, teaching, or

instructing

pedantic adjective the parading of learning; excessive

attention to minutiae and formal rules

penurious adjective penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous

penury noun poverty; destitution

perennial adjective recurrent through the year or many years; happening

repeatedly

perfidy noun intentional breach of faith; treachery

perfunctory adjective cursory; done without care or interest

pernicious adjective extremely ham1ful; potentially causing death

perspicacious adjective acutely perceptive; having keen discernment

peruse verb to examine with great care

pervade verb to permeate throughout

pervasive adjective having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout

phlegmatic adjective calm; sluggish; unemotional

pine verb to yearn intensely; to languish; to lose vigor

pious adjective extremely reverent or devout; showing strong religious

devotion

pirate verb to illegally use or reproduce

pith/pithy noun/adjective the essential or central part; precise and brief

placate verb to appease; to calm by making concessions

platitude noun a superficial remark, especially oneoffered as meaningful

plethora noun an overabundance; a surplus

plummet verb to plunge or drop straight down

polemical adjective controversial; argumentative

pragmatic adjective practical rather than idealistic

prattle verb to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner

precipitate verb/adjective to cause or to happen before anticipated or

required; acting with excessive haste or impulse

precursor noun one that indicates or announces someone or something to come

predilection noun a disposition in favor of something; conversations

preference

preen verb to dress up;to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care

prescience noun foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to

their occurring

presumptuous adjective overstepping due bounds (as of

propriety or courtesy); taking liberties

prevaricate verb to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead

pristine adjective pure; uncorrupted; clean

probity noun adherence to highest principles; uprightness

proclivity noun a natural predisposition or inclination

prodigal adjective recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish

prodigious adjective abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary

profligate adjective excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant

profuse adjective given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant

proliferate verb to grow or increase swiftly and abundantly

prolific adjective producing large volumes or amounts; productive

propensity noun a natural inclination or tendency; penchant

prosaic adjective dull; unimaginative

pungent adjective characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste

putrefy verb to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor

quaff verb to drink deeply

qualm noun misgiving; reservation; cause for hesitancy

querulous adjective prone to complaining or grumbling; quarrelsome

query noun question; inquiry; doubt in the mind; reservation

quiescence noun stillness; motionlessness; quality of being at rest

quixotic adjective foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals

quotidian adjective occurring or recurring daily; commonplace

rancorous adjective characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment

rarefy verb to make or become thin, less dense; to refine

recalcitrant adjective obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage

recant verb to retract, especially a previously held belief

recondite adjective hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure

redoubtable adjective awe-inspiring; worthy of honor

refulgent adjective radiant; shiny; brilliant

refute verb to disprove; to successfully argue against

relegate verb to forcibly assign, especially to a lower place or position

renege verb to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise

repudiate verb to refuse to have anything to do with; disown

rescind verb to invalidate; to repeal; to retract

reticent adjective quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and

feelings

reverent adjective marked by, feeling, or expressing profound awe and

respect

rhetoric noun the art or study of effective use of language for

communication and persuasion

salubrious adjective promoting health or well-being

sanction noun authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended

to enforce compliance

satire noun a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice

through humor or derision

sedulous adjective diligent; persistent; hard-working

shard noun a piece of broken pottery or glass

solicitous adjective concerned and attentive; eager

solvent adjective able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve

another substance

soporific adjective causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep

sordid adjective characterized by filth, grime, or squalor; foul

sparse adjective thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals

specious adjective seeming true, but actually being fallacious;

misleadingly attractive

spendthrift noun one who spends money wastefully

sporadic adjective occurring only occasionally, or in scattered

instances

spurious adjective lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit

squalid adjective sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect

squander verb to waste by spending or using irresponsibly

static adjective not moving, active, or in motion; at rest

stoic adjective indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast

stupefy verb to stun, baffle, or amaze

stymie verb to block; thwart

subpoena noun a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony

subtle adjective not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern

succinct adjective brief; concise

superfluous adjective exceeding what is sufficient or necessary

supplant verb to take the place of; supersede

surfeit verb excess; overindulgence

synthesis noun the combination of parts to make a whole

tacit adjective implied; not explicitly stated

tenacity noun the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued

tenuous adjective having little substance or strength; flimsy; weak

terse adjective brief and concise in wording

tirade noun a long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation

torpid adjective lethargic; sluggish; dormant

torque noun a force that causes rotation

tortuous adjective winding; twisting; excessively complicated

tout verb to publicly praise or promote

transient adjective fleeting; passing quickly; brief

trenchant adjective sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating

truculent adjective fierce and cruel; eager to fight

ubiquitous adjective existing everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread

unfeigned adjective genuine; not false or hypocritical

untenable adjective indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable

urbane adjective sophisticated; refined; elegant

vacillate verb to waver indecisively between one course of action or

opinion and another

variegated adjective multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches

of different color

veracity noun truthfulness; honesty

vexation noun annoyance; Irritation

vigilant adjective alertly watchful your verbal score,

vilify verb to defame; to characterize harshly

virulent adjective extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or

antagonistic

viscous adjective thick; sticky

vituperate verb to use ,harsh, condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; berate

volatile adjective readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle;

explosive

voracious adjective having an insatiable appetite for an activity or

pursuit; ravenous

waver verb to move to and fro; to sway; to be unsettled in opinion

zealous adjective fervent; ardent; impassioned