Word Definition

v. to diminish in intensity
abate
v. to cause to diminish in intensity

aberrant adj. diverging from the standard type

abjure v. to reject or renounce
abscond v. to leave secretly, evading detection
abstain v. to voluntarily refrain from doing something
acumen n. keen judgment and perception
admonish v. scold or to advise firmly
adulterate v. to contaminate or make impure by introducing inferior elements
v. to recommend, support, or advise
advocate n. one who advocates

aesthetic adj. concerned with the nature of beauty and art

n. fake or artificial behavior, often meant to impress or conceal the
affectation
truth
aggrandize v. enlarge or increase, esp. wealth, power, reputation
alacrity n. promptness and eagerness
alleviate v. to relieve a problem or ease a burden
amalgamate v. to combine to or mix together
adj. unclear
ambiguous adj. open to multiple interpretations

adj. having mixed or contradictory feelings about someone or

ambivalent
something
ameliorate v. to improve or mitigate a situation

amenable adj. easily convinced or persuaded

1
 n. something old-fashioned
anachronism n. something appearing in a time period where it does not belong

n. comparable
analogous n. appropriate for analogy

v. to choose for a particular office or position

anoint v. to use oil on a person in a religious ceremony

anomaly n. an exception or unusual case

antipathy n. strong dislike or hatred
antithetical adj. contrary to the very nature of
apathy n. state of total disinterest or unenthusiasm
v. to placate
appease v. to satisfy (an appetite, a need)

arbitrary adj. seemingly chosen or designated without reason or purpose

arcane adj. secret or known only to a select group
adj. old-fashioned
archaic adj. no longer in the common usage

arduous adj. difficult, taxing, requiring considerable effort

articulate adj. exhibiting considerable communication skills, well-spoken
adj. without artifice
artless adj. natural, untrained

ascetic adj. austere or self-denying

v. to provide relief from an unpleasant feeling
assuage v. to satisfy a need or appetite

astonishment n. total surprise, shock

audacious adj. very bold or presumptuous
austere adj. severe, unadorned
avarice n. greed

2
aver v. to assert or allege
banal adj. boring, cliché
v. give a false impression (intentional or unintentional) in word,
belie
appearance, or deed
benign adj. gentle, harmless
biased adj. prejudiced, displaying partiality
bolster v. to shore up or support
bombastic adj. overblown, theatrical
adj. bold or open to the point of shocking
brazen adj. shameless

bucolic adj. pastoral, rustic, countryfied

burgeon v. flourish, bloom, expand or increase quickly
cacophony n. loud and chaotic noise
calumny n. lie or slander
candid adj. honest, open
n. accepted rules and tenets of a discipline
n. sacred works/scripture; in this sense it is also used to refer to
canon
notable literary and artistic works of a culture or discipline

n. the capability to perform a particular action or fulfill a given

function
n. the total amount a container can hold
capacity
n. a particular position or role (i.e. “she served in an advisory
capacity”)

capricious adj. mercurial, unpredictable, whimsical

castigate v. to scold or berate strongly
catalyst n. something that speeds up a process or causes action
adj. corrosive
caustic adj. bitterly sarcastic

3
censure v. to express intense condemnation
n. someone who believes prejudicially that their own group is the
chauvinist
superior one
chicanery n. trickery or deception
chronological adj. ordered by time
coalesce v. to come together, esp. from disparate parts
cogent adj. clearly laid out and persuasive
commensurate adj. in accordance with, proportional
adj. captivating
compelling adj. very persuasive

comprehensive adj. complete and thorough

condone v. to approve or allow
confound v. to confuse or astonish
n. an expert in a particular subject matter area, usually relating to
connoisseur
the fine arts or cultural pursuits
adj. as a result of
consequential adj. significant or memorable

construe v. to interpret
consumption n. utilization (esp. of a resource)
v. assert or claim
contend v. grapple with

adj. controversial
contentious adj. involving conflict

contrite adj. remorseful

convoluted adj. roundabout, not straightforward
copious adj. plentiful or abundant
adj. of or relating to a city or urban area
cosmopolitan adj. sophisticated

4
covet v. to desire something that does not belong to you
n. cunning
craft n. skill

craven adj. cowardly to the point of being shameful

credence n. belief or trust
credulous adj. gullible, naïve
decorum n. appropriate behavior or good manners
deference n. respect or polite submission
deflect v. divert or cause to ricochet
adj. skill, acumen
deftness adj. manual dexterity

v. to describe very accurately

v. to clearly demarcate a boundary
delineate
v. to render an outline

demur v. to object or raise concerns

denigrate v. say negative things about, particularly in a defamatory way
deride v. to mock or ridicule
derivative adj. imitates another work in a way that is unoriginal or uninspiring
v. to dry out completely
desiccate v. to suck out the vitality and passion

adj. halfhearted
desultory adj. inconsistent or random

detachment n. objectivity or aloofness

determinant n. a strong factor in an outcome
diatribe n. a rant or angry speech denouncing someone or something
adj. educational or with an instructive purpose; often includes an
didactic
element of moralizing

5
diffident adj. shy, timid, or reserved due to a lack of confidence
dilettante n. someone with an amateur, nonserious interest in something
n. funeral or mourning lament
dirge n. any sad, slow song

v. to dispel someone’s illusions or false impressions about

disabuse
something
discern v. to perceive
discrepancy n. inconsistency
adj. objective, unbiased
disinterested adj. not invested in the outcome

disparage v. to belittle
disparate adj. dissimilar to such a degree that comparison is not possible
dispassionate adj. impartial or cool
disregard v. to ignore or pay no attention to
dissemble v. to mislead or conceal the truth, esp. with respect to one’s motives
disseminate v. to spread widely (esp. information)
dissonance n. a clash between two elements that don’t blend well
diverge v. to split apart, esp. a road or path
dogma n. the official beliefs or tenets of particular sect or group
dupe v. to deceive or fool
ebullient adj. cheerful, enthusiastic, excited
eccentric adj. quirky or unusual
eclectic adj. composed of a variety of styles, themes, motifs, etc.
efficacy n. effectiveness
elegy n. sad poem or song, often in remembrance of someone deceased
elicit v. to provoke a response
eloquence adj. persuasive and articulate speech
eminent adj. well-known, respected, distinguished

6
empirical adj. based on evidence
emulate v. to imitate or attempt to equal in accomplishment
enervate v. to exhaust or drain of energy
engender v. to cause or give rise to
enhance v. intensify, increase, augment
n. belief that one deserves things one has not earned
entitlement n. the rights one is afforded under the law

ephemeral adj. short-lived or transient

adj. even-tempered
equable adj. not given to much change or variation

equivocate v. to use ambiguous language in order to mislead or deceive

erroneous adj. incorrect
erudite adj. learned
eschew v. avoid or abstain from
esoteric adj. obscure, arcane
estimable adj. deserving respect, esteem, and admiration
n. memorial speech for one who has passed, normally given at a
eulogy
funeral
exacerbate v. to make worse
exacting adj. challenging, demanding, grueling
exculpate v. to exonerate or vindicate
exigent adj. urgent or pressing
exonerate v. to clear of charges of wrongdoing
expatiate v. to elaborate on something in great detail
explicate v. to explain in detail
n. a thorough explanation
exposition n. a public show or fair

extraneous adj. irrelevant or superfluous

7
 v. to estimate or conjecture about the future based on presently
extrapolate
available information or facts
facetious adj. glib or flippant
facilitate v. to make something easier or simpler
fallacious adj. relying on a fallacy and thus incorrect/misinformed
adj. meticulous
fastidious adj. invested in cleanliness

fluctuate v. to shift without apparent pattern

foment v. to foster unrest or discontent
forestall v. to hold off or try to prevent
fortuitous adj. fortunate and lucky
frugal adj. economical, thrifty
gainsay v. deny or oppose
galvanize v. to prod someone into action
garrulous adj. talkative
gauche adj. socially inept, inappropriate, or awkward
germane adj. relevant to the matter at hand
glib adj. talking volubly, but carelessly or insincerely
gregarious adj. sociable, genial
guile n. craftiness and cunning
hackneyed adj. cliché, trite, banal
harangue n. diatribe or rant
hedonism n. the pursuit of pleasure
hierarchical adj. arranged in rank order or hierarchy
homogenous adj. uniform, identical
hyperbole n. obvious exaggeration for effect
iconoclast n. a person who attacks traditional religious and cultural institutions
ideological adj. relating to a particular belief system or theory

8
imminent adj. about to happen
immutable adj. unchangeable
impair v. to hinder or weaken someone or something
impediment n. barrier, hindrance, or obstruction
imperturbable adj. remaining calm under any circumstance
adj. unforgiving
implacable adj. relentless

implicit adj. implied or insinuated without being directly stated

imprudence n. bad judgment
impudent adj. disrespectful
inadvertent adj. by accident or unintentional
Inchoate adj. rudimentary, in the beginning stages
inconclusive adj. indeterminate or unresolved
adj. owing money
indebted adj. owing gratitude to someone or something

indefatigable adj. cannot be made tired

adj. lazy
indolent adj. idle

infer v. to conclude from implicit evidence (as opposed to explicit facts)

ingenuous adj. naïve or innocent
inimical adj. harmful or hostile
Innocuous adj. harmless
inscrutable adj. enigmatic, incomprehensible
insipid adj. bland, uninspired, inane
adj. tight-knit and isolated; uninterested in matters outside one’s
insular
immediate sphere
intensive adj. concentrated and in-depth
intermediary n. a go-between

9
 adj. close (as in a relationship)
adj. particularly private
intimate
v. to imply

adj. unmanageable
intractable adj. stubborn or obstinate

intransigent adj. uncompromising, obstinate

intrepid adj. bold and adventurous
inveterate adj. ingrained, habitual
invulnerable adj. indestructible, impervious to harm
irascible adj. irritable, testy, touchy
irresolute adj. wishy-washy, hesitant
laconic adj. taciturn, reserved, succinct
laud v. to praise
laudable adj. praiseworthy
litigation n. legal proceedings
loquacious adj. talkative
lucid adj. clear and coherent
luminous adj. full of light
magnanimity n. generosity and nobility of spirit
maladroit adj. clumsy, awkward, inept
adj. evil or harmful
malign v. to speak negatively about someone or something

adj. pliant or pliable

malleable adj. easily influenced

maverick n. an unorthodox person or rebel

mendacity n. untruthfulness, dishonesty
mercurial adj. easily changeable, fickle

10
meticulous adj. paying close attention to detail
misanthrope n. person who hates humanity
mitigate v. to improve a painful, unpleasant, or negative situation
adj. not boastful
modest adj. not overly showy

mollify v. placate
monotony n. boredom and repetition
mundane adj. everyday, boring
munificent adj. very generous
naïve adj. inexperienced or gullible
nascent adj. just beginning or in the early stages
neglect v. to abandon or leave uncared-for
nonplussed adj. confused and baffled
notoriety n. fame for doing something negative or criminal
nuance n. subtle shades of difference
obdurate adj. stubborn, obstinate
adj. mysterious or not well-known
obscure v. to cover something up or make it more difficult to perceive

obsequious adj. overly fawning and helpful in a way that is disingenuous

obstinate adj. stubborn, uncompromising
v. to forestall the need for something
obviate v. to prevent

occlude v. to block or obstruct

occult n. the mystical and supernatural
offset v. to counterbalance or counteract
olfactory adj. relating to smell or the sense of smell
omniscience n. the quality or state of being all-knowing

11
onerous adj. difficult or burdensome
opaque adj. not see-through; blocking light
n. the practice of taking advantage of opportunities as they arise
opportunism
without particular concern for morality or ethics
opprobrium n. criticism or condemnation
oscillate v. to swing back and forth between two points, poles, or positions
ostentatious adj. overly showy in a way that is gaudy or vulgar
outstrip v. to overtake or outrun
v. to literally cast a shadow over
overshadow v. to appear more notable than

painstaking adj. attentive to detail, meticulous

partial adj. incomplete
partisan n. a devoted supporter of a group, cause, or person
patent adj. blatant, obvious
paucity n. scarcity, poverty
pedantic adj. overly concerned with irrelevant detail, fussy
pedestrian adj. boring, monotonous, run-of-the-mill
perfidy n. treachery or deceit
perfunctory adj. done without much effort, care, or thought
peripheral adj. on the edge or periphery; not centrally important
permeate v. to pervade or penetrate throughout
perseverance n. persistence in the face of obstacles
v. to read something carefully and closely
v. to read something informally or quickly
peruse
(context is critical for this word!)

adj. found everywhere, widespread; often has a negative

pervasive
connotation
phenomena n. things that happen

12
phlegmatic adj. cool and unruffled
pith n. the essential substance of something
placate v. to calm, esp. an angry or upset person
adj. easily shaped or molded
plastic adj. made of plastic

platitude n. a trite or cliché statement

plausible adj. believable, reasonable
plethora n. a surplus or overabundance of something
plummet v. to fall quickly and far
polarize v. to cause a sharp division between two groups
polemical adj. angry, hostile, harshly critical
pragmatic adj. practical
precarious adj. uncertain or unstable
preceded adj. went before
v. to cause
adj. hastily and not well-considered
precipitate
n. particulate matter formed within a solution

precursor n. a forerunner
prescient adj. knowing things before they happen, prophetic
presumptuous adj. overly familiar; invades social boundaries
v. to succeed, esp. with respect to vanquishing an opponent
prevail v. to convince or persuade

prevaricate v. to evade or deceive without outright lying

pristine adj. untouched, clean, pure
probity n. integrity and honor
prodigal n. a reckless spender
prodigious adj. enormous, immense, gigantic

13
profligate adj. extravagant and wasteful, esp. in an immoral way
proliferate v. to multiply and spread rapidly
v. to obtain special favor from someone, esp. a powerful person or
deity, by performing a pleasing action
propitiate
v. to appease someone who is angry

propriety n. appropriateness, manners, decorum

adj. potential or likely
prospective adj. applicable to the future

n. credential
qualification n. a modifying statement

quotidian adj. relating to the everyday or mundane

rationalize v. to attempt to justify with reasons that are only superficially valid
v. to bring into harmony
reconcile v. to repair a relationship

recondite adj. arcane or obscure

refute v. to rebut or disprove
relentless adj. never stopping, constant
relevant adj. relating to the topic or issue at hand
reproach v. to scold or express criticism
repudiate v. to renounce or disown
rescind v. to take back or retract (an offer or statement)
respectively adv. in the sequential order previously given
adj. hesitant to speak
reticent adj. introverted or silent

reverent adj. solemn and respectful

rhetoric n. the art of effective communication (written or verbal)
salubrious adj. health-promoting

14
 v. to give official permission
v. to impose a penalty for a particular action
sanction
n. punishments imposed for breaking a regulation

satiate v. to completely satisfy (with respect to hunger or appetite)

adj. of or relating to the world or worldly matters (as opposed to
secular
religious ones)
sediment n. material that settles at the bottom of a body of water
sedulous adj. dedicated and careful
simultaneous adj. occurring at the same moment
solicitous adj. considerate, attentive
soporific adj. makes sleepy
adj. scattered or scarce
sparse adj. austere and unadorned

specious adj. spurious; appearing true but actually false

sporadic adj. occasional or scattered
spurious adj. fake or false
stolid adj. calm and dependable
subjective adj. open to personal interpretation; not based in objective fact
substantiate v. to corroborate or give evidence of something
subversive adj. meant to undercut established institutions or norms
sufficient adj. enough for a given purpose
superbly adv. excellently
supine adj. laying back with the face upward (opposite position to prone)
supplant v. to overtake or replace
sycophant n. a fawning, insincere admirer
synthesize v. to combine disparate parts into a coherent whole
tacit adj. unspoken; implicit
taciturn adj. reticent or reserved; tending towards silence

15
 n. moderation and restraint, sometimes used to specifically describe
temperance
abstinence from alcohol
tenuous adj. weak, flimsy, insubstantial
timorous adj. meek or timid
tirade n. an angry rant
torpor n. tiredness, lethargy
adj. winding or twisty
tortuous adj. complicated

tractable adj. can be easily influenced or managed

transient adj. passes quickly; short-lived
ubiquitous adj. ever-present or universal
unadorned adj. plain; unembellished
undermine v. to weaken or compromise
v. to line underneath for emphasis
underscore v. to emphasize

adj. weak or unsupportable, esp. with respect to an opinion or

untenable
situation
vacillate v. to shift between multiple options or opinions
venality n. the state of being capable of being bribed
venerate v. to give a high degree of respect; may border on worship
veracity n. Truth and factual accuracy
verbose adj. long-winded; loquacious
vexation n. state of being frustrated, irritated, or concerned.
volatile adj. easily changeable or extreme; unstable
whimsical adj. fanciful or capricious
zeal n. passion or fervor

16