countenance

facetious

pedantic

esoteric

ambiguous

repudiate

melancholy

paradigm

not meant to be taken seriously or

literally, lacking serious intent;
amusing or frivolous

the look or expression of the face,

also approval or encouragement;
moral support

understood by or meant for only

the select few who have special
knowledge or interest; secret or
condential

ostentatious in one's learning,

overly concerned with minute
details or formalisms, especially in
teaching

to reject as having no authority or

binding force, to cast off or disown

open to or having several possible

meanings or interpretations;
difcult to comprehend,
distinguish, or classify

a set of forms all of which contain

a particular element, an example
serving as a model or pattern

affected with, characterized by, or

showing sadness; mournful;
soberly thoughtful

capricious

ostentatious

paradox

mitigate

pragmatic

auspicious

plethora

lethargic

characterized by or given to
pretentious or conspicuous show
in an attempt to impress others or
attract notice

subject to, led by, or indicative of

caprice or whim; erratic

to lessen in force or intensity, as

wrath, grief, harshness, or pain;
moderate or make less severe

a statement or proposition that

seems self-contradictory or absurd
but in reality expresses a possible
truth

promising success, favored by

fortune; prosperous

pertaining to a practical point of

view or practical considerations

drowsy and sluggish

overabundance, excess

gullible

erudite

eclectic

obsequious

refute

disingenuous

lucid

opaque

characterized by great knowledge;

learned or scholarly

easily deceived or cheated

characterized by or showing
servile complaisance or
deference; fawning, servilely
compliant or deferential

selecting from various sources or

made up of what is selected from
different sources

lacking in frankness, candor, or

sincerity

to prove to be false or erroneous,

as an opinion or charge

not transparent or translucent;

impenetrable to light; dark or dull

easily understood; completely

intelligible or comprehensible

aesthetic

mundane

hyperbole

loquacious

rhetoric

apathy

discretion

articulate

pertaining to this world or earth as

contrasted with heaven; earthly,
common, ordinary, banal or
unimaginative

pertaining to the beautiful or the

branch of philosophy dealing with
such notions as the beautiful, the
ugly, the sublime, the comic

talking or tending to talk much,

excessively or freely

obvious and intentional

exaggeration; an extravagant
statement or gure of speech not
intended to be taken literally

absence or suppression of
passion, emotion, or excitement;
lack of interest in or concern for
things that others nd moving or
exciting

the undue use of exaggeration or

display in writing or speech;
bombast

to utter clearly and distinctly;

pronounce with clarity

the power or right to decide or act

according to one's own judgment;
freedom of judgment or choice

enigmatic

appropriate

acumen

advocate

innocuous

gregarious

anathema

banal

to set apart and authorize for

some specic purpose; to take for
oneself or to take without
permission or consent

perplexing and mysterious

to speak or write in favor of;

support or urge by argument;
recommend publicly

keen insight or shrewdness

fond of the company of others;

sociable

not harmful or injurious; harmless

devoid of freshness or originality;

hackneyed or trite

a person or thing detested,

loathed, consigned to damnation
or destruction; a formal
ecclesiastical curse involving
excommunication

efcacy

benign

meticulous

ephemeral

succinct

reticent

contentious

ambiguity

having a kindly disposition;

showing or expressive of
gentleness or kindness

capacity for producing a desired

result or effect; effectiveness

lasting a very short time, transitory

taking or showing extreme care

about minute details; precise and
thorough

disposed to be silent or not to

speak freely; reluctant or
restrained

expressed in few words; concise

or terse

doubtfulness or uncertainty of
meaning or intention

tending to argument or strife;

causing, involving, or
characterized by controversy

insipid

alacrity

austere

presumptuous

dogmatic

arcane

taciturn

impetuous

cheerful readiness, promptness, or

willingness

without distinctive, interesting, or

stimulating qualities; vapid or
bland

unwarrantedly or impertinently
bold; forward

severe in manner or appearance,

rigorously self-disciplined and
severely moral; lacking softness

known or understood by very few;

mysterious, secret or obscure

of the nature of a dogma or

doctrine, asserting opinions in an
arrogant manner; opinionated

characterized by sudden or rash

action; impulsive; moving with
great force or violence

inclined to silence; reserved in

speech; dour, stern, and silent in
expression and manner

anomaly

inherent

pernicious

spurious

contrite

volatile

emulate

petulant

existing in someone or something

as a permanent and inseparable
element, quality, or attribute

a deviation from the common rule,

type, arrangement, or form; an
odd or peculiar condition

not genuine, authentic, or true;

pretended or counterfeit

causing insidious harm or ruin,

injury or hurt

tending or threatening to break out

into open violence; changeable or
mercurial

showing sincere remorse; lled

with a sense of guilt and the desire
for atonement

moved to or showing sudden,

impatient irritation, especially over
some triing annoyance

imitate with effort to equal or

surpass or to rival with some
degree of success

convoluted

obstinate

laconic

propensity

audacious

pique

prosaic

mercurial

rmly or stubbornly adhering to

one's purpose or opinion; not
yielding to argument, persuasion,
or entreaty

twisted or coiled; complicated or

intricately involved

a natural inclination or tendency

using few words; expressing much

in few words; concise

a feeling of irritation or
resentment, as from a wound to
pride or self-esteem

extremely bold or daring;

recklessly brave and fearless, also
extremely original

changeable, volatile, ckle, ighty

and erratic

commonplace or dull; matter-offact or unimaginative; having the

character of prose rather than
poetry

hegemony

exacerbate

nascent

disparate

avarice

sporadic

assuage

penchant

to increase the severity, bitterness,

or violence of; aggravate

leadership or predominant
inuence exercised by one nation
over others; predominance

distinct in kind and essentially

different; dissimilar

beginning to exist or develop

appearing or happening at
irregular intervals in time;
scattered or isolated instances

insatiable greed for riches; miserly

desire to gain and hoard wealth

a strong inclination, taste, or liking

for something

to make milder or less severe;

relieve, ease or mitigate

arduous

specious

dearth

cogent

ambivalence

ameliorate

perfunctory

lugubrious

apparently good or right though

lacking real merit; supercially
pleasing

requiring great exertion; laborious,

using much energy and vigor; full
of hardships

convincing or believable by virtue

of forcible, clear, or incisive
presentation

an inadequate supply; scarcity;

lack as during famine

to make or become better, more

bearable, or more satisfactory;
improve

uncertainty, especially when

caused by inability to make a
choice or by a simultaneous desire
to say or do two opposite or
conicting things

mournful, dismal, or gloomy in an

affected, exaggerated, or
unrelieved manner

performed merely as a routine

duty; hasty and supercial; lacking
interest, care, or enthusiasm;
indifferent or apathetic

pithy

empirical

tenuous

amenable

catalyst

digress

peruse

indolent

depending upon experience or

observation alone, without using
scientic method or theory

brief, forceful, and meaningful in

expression; full of vigor,
substance, or meaning; terse

ready or willing to answer, open to

inuence, persuasion, or advice;
agreeable

thin or slender in form like a

thread; lacking a sound basis in
reasoning; an unsubstantiated or
weak stand, statement or
argument

to deviate or wander away from

the main topic or purpose in
speaking or writing

a person or thing that precipitates

an event or change

having or showing a disposition to

avoid exertion; slothful

to read through with thoroughness

or care, to examine in detail

tacit

latent

placate

eloquent

ascetic

vindictive

caustic

garrulous

present but not visible, apparent,

or actualized; existing as potential

understood without being openly

expressed; implied, unvoiced or
unspoken

having or exercising the power of

uent, forceful, and appropriate
speech, characterized by forceful
and appropriate expression

to appease or pacify, especially by

concessions or conciliatory
gestures

disposed or inclined to revenge;

proceeding from or showing a
revengeful spirit

a person who dedicates his or her

life to a pursuit of contemplative
ideals and practices extreme selfdenial for religious reasons

excessively talkative in a rambling,

roundabout manner, especially
about trivial matters

capable of burning, corroding, or

destroying living tissue; severely
critical or sarcastic

recalcitrant

precarious

anachronism

prodigal

diatribe

bane

morose

verbose

dependent on circumstances
beyond one's control; uncertain,
unstable or insecure

resisting authority or control, not

obedient or compliant

wastefully or recklessly
extravagant or lavish

something or someone that is not

in its correct historical or
chronological time, especially one
that belongs to an earlier time

a person or thing that ruins or

spoils

a bitter, sharply abusive

denunciation, attack, or criticism

characterized by the use of many

or too many words

gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as

a person or mood; characterized
by or expressing gloom

deleterious

onerous

rescind

axiom

abate

assiduous

admonish

ostensible

burdensome, oppressive, or
troublesome; having obligations or
that outweigh the advantages

injurious to health

a self-evident truth that requires

no proof, a universally accepted
principle or rule

to annul, revoke or repeal, to

invalidate by a later action or a
higher authority

unremitting; constant in application

or effort; working diligently at a
task

to reduce in amount, degree, or

intensity

outwardly appearing, professed or

pretended

to caution, advise, to reprove or

scold in a mild and good-willed
manner

corroborate

lament

sagacious

sanction

paucity

fervent

terse

bombastic

to feel or express sorrow or regret

for, to mourn for something or
someone

to make more certain; conrm

authoritative permission that

serves to support an action or
condition

having or showing acute mental

discernment and keen practical
sense; shrewd

having or showing great warmth or

intensity of spirit, feeling,
enthusiasm; ardent

smallness of quantity, scarcity,

insufciency of number

high-sounding, inated or
pretentious speech or writing

neatly or effectively concise, brief

and pithy

malevolent

whimsical

decorum

abscond

connoisseur

obdurate

resolute

apocryphal

given to whimsy or fanciful

notions; capricious

wishing evil or harm to another or

others; showing ill will

to depart in a sudden and secret

manner, especially to avoid
capture and legal prosecution

dignied propriety of behavior,

speech and dress; an observance
or requirement of polite society

unmoved by persuasion, pity, or

tender feelings; stubborn,
unyielding

a person who is especially

competent to pass critical
judgments in an art, particularly
one of the ne arts, or in matters
of taste

of doubtful authorship or
authenticity

rmly resolved or determined,

characterized by rmness and
determination

difdent

zealot

archaic

guile

inchoate

ingenuous

fortuitous

endemic

an excessively zealous person or

a fanatic

lacking condence in one's own

ability, worth, or tness; restrained
or reserved in manner or conduct

insidious cunning in attaining a

goal; crafty or artful deception

marked by the characteristics of

an earlier period; antiquated or
primitive

free from reserve, restraint, or

dissimulation; candid or sincere

not yet completed or fully

developed; just begun; incipient;
not organized

characteristic of a specic people

or place; native or indigenous

happening or produced by chance;

lucky or fortunate

fatuous

halcyon

disparage

irascible

propriety

misanthrope

hackneyed

vindicate

calm and tranquil; rich and

prosperous; happy and carefree

foolish or inane, especially in an

unconscious, complacent manner;
silly

easily provoked to anger; very

irritable

to treat slightingly or belittle

a person who dislikes other people

conformity to established
standards of good or proper
behavior or manners

to clear, as from an accusation,

imputation or suspicion; to uphold
or justify by argument or evidence

made commonplace or trite; stale

or banal

acerbic

approbation

platitude

sordid

impede

precipitate

maverick

perennial

approval; commendation or ofcial

sanction

sour or astringent in taste; harsh

or severe, as of temper or
expression

morally ignoble or base; meanly

selsh, self-seeking, or mercenary

a at, dull, or trite remark uttered

as if it were fresh or profound

to hasten the occurrence of; bring

about prematurely, or to cast or
plunge violently

to retard in movement or progress

by means of obstacles or
hindrances

lasting for an indenitely long time;

enduring

an unbranded calf that is

separated from its mother, or a
lone dissenter who takes an
independent stand apart from his
or her associates

adroit

quotidian

ippant

pusillanimous

levity

tirade

obviate

inscrutable

daily, usual or customary;

everyday

expert or nimble in the use of the

hands or body; cleverly skillful,
resourceful, or ingenious

lacking courage or resolution;

timid

frivolously disrespectful, shallow,

or lacking in seriousness;
characterized by levity

a prolonged outburst of bitter,

outspoken denunciation

lightness of mind, character, or

behavior; lack of appropriate
seriousness or earnestness

incapable of being investigated,

analyzed, or scrutinized; not easily
understood; mysterious

to anticipate and prevent or

eliminate difculties by effective
measures; render unnecessary

odious

blithe

phlegmatic

deference

paragon

voracious

soporic

accolade

joyous, merry, or gay in

disposition; without thought or
regard

deserving or causing hatred;

highly offensive

respectful submission or yielding

to the judgment, opinion or will of
another

not easily excited to action or

display of emotion; selfpossessed, calm, or composed

craving or consuming large

quantities of food; exceedingly
eager or avid

a model or pattern of excellence or

of a particular excellence

award, honor, or laudatory notice;

originally a light touch on the
shoulder with the at side of the
sword in the ceremony of
conferring knighthood

causing sleep; characterized by

drowsiness

feign

extant

abeyance

prevaricate

antipathy

boisterous

propitious

salacious

still existing, not destroyed or lost

to invent ctitiously or deceptively,

as a story or an excuse

to speak falsely, deliberately

misstate or create an incorrect
impression; to lie

temporary inactivity, cessation, or

suspension

rough and noisy, jolly or rowdy;

clamorous and unrestrained

a basic, or habitual repugnance;

aversion or dislike

lustful or lecherous; obscene

writing or photographs

presenting favorable conditions;

auspicious

appease

dilettante

aberrant

umbrage

invidious

lial

elegy

truculent

a person who takes up an art,

activity, or subject merely for
amusement, especially in a
supercial way; a dabbler

to bring to a state of peace, quiet,

ease, calm, or contentment

offense, annoyance or
displeasure; the slightest
indication or vaguest feeling of
suspicion, doubt or hostility

departing from the right, normal, or

usual course; exceptional

pertaining to or betting a son or

daughter; noting or having the
relation of a child to a parent

calculated to create ill will,

resentment or give offense; hateful

erce; cruel; brutally harsh or

aggressively hostile

a mournful, melancholy poem,

especially in remembrance of the
dead

iconoclast

incipient

anomalous

partisan

opprobrium

exigent

vacillate

desultory

beginning to exist or appear; in an

initial stage

a person who attacks cherished

beliefs, traditional institutions, or
religions as being based on error
or superstition

an adherent or supporter of a
person, group, party, or cause,
especially one that shows a
biased, emotional allegiance

deviating from or inconsistent with

the common order, form, or rule;
not tting into a common or type or
pattern

requiring immediate action or aid;

requiring a great deal, or more
than is reasonable

the disgrace incurred by conduct

considered outrageously
shameful; infamy

lacking in consistency or visible

order; random

to waver in mind or opinion; be

indecisive or irresolute

lassitude

apposite

inhibit

implacable

eulogy

effrontery

inimical

turgid

suitable, well-adapted, pertinent,

relevant or apt

weariness of body or mind from

strain; a condition of indolent
indifference

not to be appeased, mollied, or

pacied

to restrain, hinder, arrest, or

check; to prohibit or forbid

shameless or impudent boldness;

barefaced audacity

a speech or writing in praise and

in honor of a deceased person

swollen, distended, tumid;

overblown or pompous

adverse in tendency or effect,

unfavorable; unfriendly or hostile

bolster

pristine

neophyte

credulous

anodyne

iniquity

apotheosis

exonerate

having its original purity;

uncorrupted or unsullied

to support with a pillow or cushion,

or to support and uphold

willing to believe or trust too

readily without proper or adequate
evidence; gullible

a beginner or novice, a person

newly converted to a belief, as a
heathen, heretic, or nonbeliever

gross injustice or wickedness; a

violation of right or duty

a medicine that relieves or allays

pain

to clear, as of an accusation; free

from guilt or blame

the elevation or exaltation of a

person to the rank of a god; an
ideal example

demur

dissonance

viscous

rue

salubrious

pungent

out

reprobate

inharmonious or harsh sound; a

simultaneous combination of tones
conventionally accepted as being
in a state of needing completion

the act of making objection

to feel sorrow over or regret

bitterly; to wish that something had
never taken place

of a thick nature or consistency

sharply affecting the organs of

taste or smell, as if by a
penetrating power; biting or acrid

favorable to or promoting health

morally depraved, unprincipled or

bad; rejected by God and beyond
hope of salvation

to treat with disdain, scorn, or

contempt

inert

abstain

apprise

amalgamate

castigate

apostate

luminous

engender

to hold oneself back voluntarily,

especially from something
regarded as improper or unhealthy

having no inherent power of

action, motion, or resistance

to combine, unite, merge, or

coalesce

to give notice to; inform or advise

a person who forsakes his religion,

cause or party

to criticize or reprimand severely,

or punish in order to correct

to produce, cause, or give rise to

radiating or reecting light;

shining; bright; enlightened, as in
a writer or a writer's works

belie

chicanery

derivative

fallacious

noxious

august

immutable

enervate

trickery or deception by quibbling

or sophistry

show to be false; to misrepresent

or act unworthily according to
some standard

containing a fallacy; logically

unsound or misleading

not original but secondary

inspiring reverence or admiration;

of supreme dignity or grandeur;
majestic

harmful or injurious to health or

physical well-being; morally
harmful, corrupting or pernicious

to deprive of force or strength;

destroy the vigor of and weaken

unchangeable, changeless

exhort

itinerant

harangue

venerate

stint

recondite

precursor

perdy

traveling from place to place,

journeying

to urge, advise, or caution

earnestly; urgently admonish

to regard or treat with reverence

a scolding or a long or intense

verbal attack; a long, passionate,
vehement speech delivered before
a public gathering

dealing with very profound or

difcult subject matter; beyond
ordinary knowledge or
understanding

to limit to a certain amount,

number, share, or allowance, often
inappropriately

deliberate breach of faith or trust

a person, animal, or thing that

goes before and indicates the
approach of someone or
something else; harbinger

imperious

renege

attenuate

stolid

probity

gauche

culpable

intractable

to break a rule of play or go back

on one's word

domineering in a haughty manner;

dictatorial or overbearing

not easily stirred or moved

mentally; unemotional or
impassive

to weaken or reduce in force,

intensity, effect, quantity, or value;
to make thin, slender or ne

lacking social grace, sensitivity, or

acuteness; awkward, crude or
tactless

integrity and uprightness; honesty

not easily controlled or directed;

not docile or manageable;
stubborn

deserving blame or censure;

blameworthy

subpoena

impugn

tortuous

laud

insular

churlish

reverent

noisome

to challenge as false; to cast doubt

upon

the usual writ for the summoning

of witnesses or the submission of
evidence, as records or
documents, before a court

to praise, extol

full of twists, turns, or bends; not

direct or straightforward, as in
procedure or speech

boorish and rude, difcult to work

or deal with

of or pertaining to an island or
islands, or detached and isolated

offensive or disgusting, such as an

odor; harmful or injurious to health

feeling, exhibiting, or
characterized by reverence;
deeply respectful

equivocate

pedestrian

fell

compendium

impecunious

excoriate

homogeneous

ofcious

lacking in vitality, imagination or

distinction; commonplace or dull

to use ambiguous or unclear

expressions, usually to avoid
commitment or in order to mislead

a brief account of an extensive

subject; a summary

an upland pasture, moor, or

thicket; a highland plateau

to denounce or berate severely; to

strip off or remove the skin from;
verbally ay

having little or no money;

penniless, poor

objectionably aggressive in
offering one's unrequested and
unwanted services, help, or
advice; meddlesome

composed of parts or elements

that are all of the same kind; of the
same kind or nature

confound

dissolution

sedulous

inundate

trenchant

querulous

intransigent

occlude

the act or process of resolving or

dissolving into parts or elements,
the undoing or breaking of a bond,
tie, union or partnership

to perplex or amaze by a sudden

disturbance or surprise; to throw
into confusion or disorder

to ood or cover with water;

deluge, or to overwhelm

diligent in application or attention;

persistently or carefully maintained

full of complaints; complaining or

peevish

incisive or keen, as language or a

person; vigorous, effective and
energetic

to close, shut, or stop up

refusing to agree or compromise;

inexible

pervade

edgling

palliate

denigrate

philanthropic

augury

solicitous

deprecate

young, new, or inexperienced

to become spread throughout all

parts of

to speak damagingly in a
derogatory manner; to treat or
represent as lacking in value or
importance

to relieve or lessen without curing;

to try to conceal the gravity of an
offense by excuses or apologies

the art or practice of divination or a

related omen, token, or indication

pertaining to or engaged in
benevolent giving, engaging in the
betterment of condition for others;
charitable work

to express earnest disapproval of;

to protest against a scheme

anxious or concerned about;

desirous or eager

mendacious

relegate

mollify

perdious

foment

torpid

turpitude

deride

to send or consign to an inferior

position, place, or condition

telling lies, habitually dishonest,

untruthful

deliberately faithless, treacherous

or deceitful

to soften in feeling or temper;

pacify or appease; reduce or
soften

inactive or sluggish; slow; dull or

lethargic

to instigate or foster discord or ill

feeling

to laugh at in scorn or contempt;

scoff, jeer or mock

vile, shameful or base character or

act

satiate

proscribe

vitiate

fawn

mendacity

magnanimity

din

dilatory

to denounce or condemn as
dangerous or harmful; prohibit or
banish into exile

to supply with anything to excess,

so as to disgust or weary; or to
satisfy to the full

to seek notice or favor by servile

demeanor or to behave
affectionately

to impair or weaken the

effectiveness of; invalidate

the quality of being extremely

generous

the quality of being untruthful, an

instance of lying

tending to delay or procrastinate;

to slow

a loud, confused noise, continued

or tumultuous

prolix

venal

penury

dissemble

propitiate

aver

timorous

peremptory

willing to sell one's inuence in

return for a bribe

extended to great, unnecessary, or

tedious length; long and wordy

to give a false or misleading

appearance to; conceal the truth
or real nature of something in a
feign

extreme poverty or destitution

to assert with condence; declare

in a positive or peremptory
manner

to make favorably inclined;

appease

leaving no opportunity for denial or

refusal; imperative, decisive or
nal

full of fear, subject to fear; timid

felicitous

salutary

temperate

orid

fetid

craven

dirge

complaisant

promoting or conducive to health;

wholesome

well-suited for the occasion, as an

action, manner, or expression; apt
or appropriate

reddish, ruddy or rosy; owery or

excessively ornate

moderate or self-restrained; not

extreme in opinion, statement, or
overly indulgent in appetite or
passion

cowardly, contemptibly timid,

pusillanimous

having an offensive odor; stinking

inclined or disposed to please;

agreeable or gracious

a funeral song expressing

mourning in commemoration of
the dead

municent

recant

aspersion

saturnine

tractable

accretion

impassive

strut

to withdraw or disavow a
statement or opinion; to formally
retract

extremely liberal in giving; very

generous

sluggish in temperament; gloomy

or taciturn

a damaging or derogatory remark

or criticism; the act of slandering

an increase by natural growth or

by gradual external addition;
growth in size or extent

easily managed or controlled;

docile; easily worked, shaped, or
otherwise handled

to walk with a vain, pompous

bearing, as with head erect and
chest thrown out

without emotion, unmoved; calm

or serene

ebullience

talisman

burgeon

gossamer

fervid

refractory

tendentious

dupe

a stone, ring, or other object

supposed to possess occult
powers to be worn as an amulet or
charm

high spirits, exhilaration or

exuberance

a ne, lmy cobweb seen on grass

or bushes or oating in the air in
calm weather; any thin, light fabric
with this quality

to grow or develop quickly; ourish

hard or impossible to manage;

stubbornly disobedient

heated or vehement in spirit,

enthusiasm; burning, glowing or
intensely hot

a person who is easily deceived, a

gullible person who
unquestioningly or unwittingly
serves a cause or another person

having or showing a denite

tendency, bias, or purpose

astringent

oscillate

turbid

waver

discordant

panegyric

expiate

encomium

to swing or move to and fro, as a

pendulum does, or to vacillate
between differing beliefs, opinions
or conditions

harshly biting, stern or severe;

sharply incisive or pungent

an act of uttering or vacillating

not clear or transparent because

of stirred-up sediment; clouded,
opaque or obscured

a lofty oration or writing in praise

of a person or thing; an eulogy

being at variance; disagreeing or

harsh

a formal expression of high praise;

eulogy

make amends or reparation for

aggrandize

buttress

adumbrate

untoward

antagonism

multifaceted

exculpate

ag

any prop or support built to steady

a structure by opposing its
outward thrusts

to widen in scope, enlarge or

extend, to make greater in power,
wealth, rank, or honor

unfavorable or unfortunate;
improper

to produce a faint image or

resemblance of; to foreshadow,
darken or partially conceal

having many facets, such as a

gem, or having many aspects or
phases

an active hostility or opposition, as

between unfriendly or conicting
groups; an opposing force or
tendency

to fall off in vigor, energy, activity,

interest; to hang loosely or droop

to clear from a charge of guilt or

fault; free from blame

veracious

sinuous

imperturbable

penurious

daunt

adulterate

desiccate

libertine

having many curves, bends, or

turns; winding and indirect;
devious.

habitually speaking the truth;

characterized by truthfulness;
honest in content

extremely stingy, parsimonious or

miserly; extremely poor

incapable of being upset or

agitated; not easily excited, calm

to debase or make impure by

adding inferior materials or
elements

to overcome with fear; intimidate

a person who is morally or

sexually unrestrained, or a
freethinker in religious matters

to become thoroughly dried or

dried up

limpid

baleful

asperity

rent

reproof

remonstrate

disinterested

guileless

full of menacing or malign

inuences

clear and transparent, such as

water, crystal, or air; completely
calm, without distress or worry

an opening made by rending or

tearing; a breach of relations or
union between individuals or
groups

harshness or sharpness of tone or

manner; roughness and
unevenness

to say or plead in protest,

objection, or disapproval

the act of reproving, censuring, or

rebuking

free from guile; sincere, honest,

straightforward, frank

unbiased by personal interest or

advantage; not inuenced by
selsh motives

emollient

gainsay

mordant

fetter

qualify

disabuse

auspice

alloy

to deny, dispute, or contradict; to

speak or act against; oppose

having the power of softening or

relaxing, such as for the skin

a chain or shackle placed on the

feet; anything that connes or
restrains

sharply caustic or sarcastic, as wit

or a speaker; burning or corrosive

to free a person from deception or

error

to modify or limit in some way;

make less strong or positive

composed of two or more metals,

often a less costly metal mixed
with a more valuable one

patronage; support; sponsorship ;

a divination or prognostication,
originally from observing birds

undulate

coda

tyro

cacophonous

bent

inveigh

forestall

peccadillo

in music, an independent passage

at the end of a composition, made
to bring it to a satisfactory close;
anything that serves as a
conclusion

to move with a wavelike motion;

display a smooth rising-and-falling
or side-to-side alternation of
movement

having a harsh or discordant

sound

a beginner in learning anything

to protest strongly or attack

vehemently with words

direction taken, as by one's

interests; a capacity of endurance

a very minor offense, a triing fault

to prevent by action in advance,

anticipate, or to buy up goods in
advance in order to increase the
price when resold

fulminate

malinger

burnish

vituperate

arrant

slake

descry

rancorous

to pretend illness, especially in

order to shirk one's duty or avoid
work

to explode with a loud noise, or to

issue denunciations against

to use or address with harsh or

abusive language; revile

to polish a surface by friction to

make smooth and bright

to allay by satisfying; to make less

active, vigorous, intense

downright, thorough, unmitigated,

notorious

full of resentment or spite

to see something unclear or

distant by looking carefully; to
discover or detect

pillory

benecent

plastic

martinet

arrest

headlong

indigence

arabesque

doing good, conferring benets;

kind in action or purpose

to expose to public derision,

ridicule, or abuse

a strict disciplinarian, especially a

military one; someone who
stubbornly adheres to methods or
rules

capable of being molded or of

receiving form; pliable and
impressionable

undertaken quickly and suddenly;

hasty

to catch and hold, attract and x,

to stop and slow down

a sinuous, spiraling, undulating, or

serpentine line or linear motif,
often used in the Fine Arts

seriously impoverished condition;

poverty

abnegate

shard

minatory

welter

striated

simper

cadge

depredation

a fragment such as broken

earthenware, glass or shell

to refuse or deny oneself some

rights or conveniences; to reject or
renounce

to roll, toss, or heave, as waves or

the sea; to roll, writhe or tumble
about

menacing, threatening

a silly, self-conscious smile

marked with narrow furrows or

ridges; striped or streaked

the act of preying upon or

plundering

to obtain by imposing on another's

generosity or friendship, to borrow
without intent to repay

rarefy

raillery

artless

idolatrous

insensible

bedizen

novitiate

grandiloquence

good-humored ridicule or banter

to make more rened, spiritual, or

exalted

worshiping idols or blindly adoring

free from deceit or cunning;

natural, simple, uncontrived

to dress or adorn in a showy,

gaudy, or tasteless manner

incapable of feeling or perceiving;

deprived of sensation;
unconscious

speech that is lofty in tone, often

to the point of being pompous or
bombastic

the state or period of being a

novice of a religious order or
congregation; the state or period
of being a beginner in anything

blandish

Stoic

beatify

to make blissfully happy; in the

Roman Catholic Church, to
declare to be among the blessed
entitled to specic religious honor

to coax or inuence by gentle

attery; cajole

pertaining to the philosophy that

people should be free from
passion, unmoved by joy or grief,
and submit without complaint to
unavoidable necessity