TOEFL Word List 1600 (1)

By examword.com
The 1600 TOEFL words are extremely important for TOEFL test takers. A quick
review of them helps very much to get a good score. examword.com offers
explanations for each of them, as well as in local languages for ESL (English as
Secord Language) students.

abandon: lacking restraint or control; feeling of extreme emotional intensity;

unbounded enthusiasm
abate: subside; decrease; become less in amount or intensity
abbreviation: shortening something by omitting parts of it
abduct: carry off by force; kidnap
abhor: fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate
abject: being of the most miserable kind; wretched; lacking pride; brought low
in condition or status
abolish: cancel; put an end to; destroy completely
abort: stop; terminate before completion; terminate a pregnancy
abrupt: broken off; very steep; having sudden transitions from one subject to
another
absolve: let off hook; relieve of requirement or obligation
abstain: refrain; hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice
abstruse: obscure; profound; difficult to understand.
absurd: preposterous; ridiculously incongruous or unreasonable; foolish
abundant: plentiful; possessing riches or resources
abyss: enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit; any deep, immeasurable space;
hell

accessible: easily approached or entered; obtainable; easy to talk to or get

along with
acclaim: applaud; announce with great approval
accomplice: partner in crime; associate in wrongdoing
accurate: capable of providing a correct reading or measurement; performing
with care and precision
accuse: blame; condemn
acid: sour; water-soluble compounds having a sour taste; quality of being
sarcastic, bitter, or scornful
acquaint: inform about; cause to come to know personally; make familiar
acquiesce: assent; agree without protesting
acrid: unpleasantly sharp or bitter to taste or smell; bitterly pungent
actuate: put into motion or action; activate
acute: quickly perceptive; keen; having a sharp point or tip; extremely sharp
or severe
adamant: extremely hard; inflexible; stubbornly unyielding
adapt: make fit for; change to suit a new purpose
adept: expert at; very skilled; having or showing knowledge and skill and
aptitude
adequate: sufficient; enough to meet a purpose
adhere: stick fast; stick to firmly; be compatible or in accordance with
adjacent: adjoining; neighboring; close to; lying near
admonish: warn; counsel someone against something to be avoided
adorn: enhance or decorate with or as if with ornaments
advent: coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important

adverse: in opposing direction; harmful or unfavorable; acting or serving to

oppose
advocate: speak, plead, or argue in favour of; plead for; push for something
affable: easily approachable; warmly friendly
affect: have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
affiliate: associate; incorporate
affinity: natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship; relationship by
marriage
affliction: cause or condition of pain, suffering, or distress
affluent: having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
aggravate: worsen; make worse or more troublesome
aggregate: gather into a mass, sum, or whole; amount to
agile: moving quickly and lightly; mentally quick
agitate: cause to move with violence or sudden force; upset; disturb
agrarian: pertaining to land or its cultivation; relating to agricultural or rural
matters
ailment: sickness; illness; affliction
akin: of the same kin; related by blood
allegiance: loyalty to a nation, sovereign, or cause; fidelity to any person or
thing; devotion
alleviate: provide physical relief, as from pain; make easier; remove in part
allocate: assign; distribute according to plan
allot: parcel out in parts or portions; distribute to each individual concerned;
assign as a share or lot

allude: refer casually or indirectly, or by suggestion

aloft: in or into a high place; high or higher up
aloof: apart; remote in manner; distant physically or emotionally; reserved and
remote
alternative: one of two or more things, ideas or courses of action that may be
used; option; choice
amazing: awesome; astounding; surprising
ambiguous: unclear or doubtful in meaning
ambivalence: state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes,
such as love and hate
ambivalent: mixed; experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory
feelings
amenable: responsive to advice or suggestion; responsible to higher authority;
willing to comply with; agreeable
amiable: good-natured and likable; lovable; warmly friendly
amicable: exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; not quarrelsome
amnesia: partial or total loss of memory, usually resulting from shock or illness
amnesty: general pardon granted by government, especially for political
offenses
amphitheater: oval building with tiers of seats from central open space or
arena
analogous: comparable; similar or alike
anecdote: short account of amusing or interesting event; short narrative;
secret story of history or biography
annex: append or attach; take possession of; incorporate into an existing
political unit
annual: occurring or payable every year

anonymous: having no name; having unknown or unacknowledged name

antagonism: active resistance; condition of being an opposing principle, force,
or factor
antagonist: one who contends with another, especially in combat; an
adversary; opponent
antedate: be earlier in time; go back further
anticipate: act in advance of; deal with ahead of time; predict
antique: any furniture old and valuable; out of fashion
anxious: eager; keen; worried; uneasy and apprehensive about an uncertain
event or matter
apathy: lack of caring; indifference
apparent: capable of being seen, or easily seen; open to view; visible to eye
appealing: attractive; charming
appease: bring peace, quiet, or calm to; satisfy or relieve
applaud: acclaim; express approval, especially by clapping the hands
appraise: estimate value of; evaluate, especially in official capacity
apprise: inform; give notice to; make aware
approbation: expression of warm approval; praise
apt: likely; exactly suitable; appropriate; quick to learn or understand
arable: fit for growing crops, as by plowing
arduous: demanding great effort or labor; difficult
arid: dry; lacking moisture, especially having insufficient rainfall to support
trees or plants
aroma: fragrance; scent; pleasant characteristic odor, as of a plant, spice, or

food
arrogant: arising from feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others
articulate: expressing oneself easily in clear and effective language
artificial: made by humans; produced rather than natural.
ascertain: find out for certain; discover with certainty; make sure of
assail: assault; attack with or as if with violent blows
assault: attack; onslaught
assert: declare or state with confidence; put oneself forward boldly
assiduous: constant in application or attention; diligent; unceasing or
persistent
assimilate: incorporate and absorb into mind; make similar; cause to
resemble
astonishing: very wonderful; of a nature to excite astonishment; surprising
greatly
astute: wise or keen; shrewd; with sharp intelligence
atone: make amends, as for sin or fault; pay for; turn away from sin
atrocity: brutal deed; atrocious condition, quality, or behavior; monstrousness
attain: achieve or accomplish; gain
attribute: essential quality; reputation; honor
audacious: fearlessly, often recklessly daring; bold
auditory: pertaining to sense of hearing
augment: make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity
august: impressive; majestic; inspiring awe or admiration
austere: strict or severe in discipline; severely simple and unornamented

authentic: not counterfeit or copied; valid; trustworthy

authorize: empower; give permission for; sanction
automaton: mechanism that imitates actions of humans
autonomy: independence; self-government or the right of self-government;
self-determination
avalanche: great mass of falling snow and ice
avarice: greediness for wealth; insatiable desire of gain
aver: declare to be true; affirm
aversion: firm dislike; turning away; avoidance of a thing, situation, or
behavior because of dislike
avert: prevent; turn or cause to turn off or away
aviator: someone who operates an aircraft
avid: greedy; eager for; marked by keen interest and enthusiasm
avoid: shield away from; prevent
awkward: difficult to handle or manage
bacchanalian: drunken; relating to reveling and drunkenness
bachelor: unmarried men; the first or lowest academic degree conferred by
universities and colleges
baffle: frustrate as by confusing or perplexing; impede force or movement of
bald: hairless; lacking a natural or usual covering
balmy: mild and pleasant; fragrant
ban: official prohibition; decree that prohibits something
bankrupt: penniless, without any money; financially ruined

bar: a counter where you can obtain food or drink; cafe; strip; stick
bare: lacking the usual or appropriate covering or clothing
barren: desolate; fruitless and unproductive; lacking
barter: trade goods or services without the exchange of money
bashful: abashed; daunted; very modest, or modest excess; constitutionally
disposed to shrink from public notice
bead: small piece of material, such as glass, plastic, or wood, that is pierced
for stringing
beam: ray of light; long piece of metal or wood; long piece fixed or movable in
structure, machine, or tool
bear: support; sustain; carry; have; yield; give birth; hold up or support
beckon: signal or summon, as by nodding or waving; attract because of
inviting or enticing appearance
bellicose: warlike or hostile in manner or temperament; showing or having
impulse to be combative
belligerent: inclined or eager to fight; aggressive
beneficial: helpful; tending to promote physical well-being
beneficiary: person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or
will
benefit: advantage; something that aids or promotes well-being ; welfare; gain
benevolent: generous in providing aid to others; charitable
bequeath: leave to someone by a will; hand down
besiege: surround with armed forces; harass with requests
bestow: give as gift; present
betray: be unfaithful; reveal unconsciously or unwillingly

beverage: liquids for drinking, usually excluding water; refreshment

bias: preference or inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment;
influence in unfair way
bicker: engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel
bilateral: two-sided; mutual
biography: an account of the series of events making up a person's life;
accounts of people's life
bland: lacking stimulating or mild; agreeable
blatant: flagrant; conspicuously obvious; loudly offensive
blend: combination; mixture; forming uniform mixture
blizzard: snowstorm; storm
bloom: flower; blossom; best time of youth; period of greatest prosperity or
productivity
bluff: pretense of strength; mislead or deceive
blunder: serious mistake typically caused by ignorance or confusion
blunt: having a dull edge or end; not sharp; lacking in feeling; insensitive
bold: brave; daring; intrepid; impudent
bolster: support or prop up with or as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion
bond: link; connection; uniting force or tie; binding agreement; duty
boom: bonanza; prosperity; prosper; expand; flourish
brace: something which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly, as
bandage, cord, or rod;
breakthrough: act of overcoming or penetrating an obstacle or restriction
breathtaking: very surprising or shocking

breed: raise; produce offspring; give birth to or hatch; mate

breeze: light current of air; gentle wind; progress swiftly and effortlessly
brilliant: full of light; shining; bright; sharp and clear in tone
brisk: marked by speed, liveliness, and vigor; energetic; swift; keen or sharp in
speech or manner
brittle: easily broken; having little elasticity
broach: introduce; bring up for discussion or debate; announce
brochure: pamphlet; small book usually having paper cover
brutal: like a brute; savage; cruel; inhuman; merciless
bulky: of large size for its weight
burrow: tunnel; hole in the ground made by an animal for shelter; dig; move
through by or as by digging
buttress: support physically; prop up; support something or someone by
supplying evidence
cajole: influence or urge by gentle urging or flattering
calamity: event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction;
disaster; misery
calm: freedom from motion, agitation, or disturbance; tranquility; stillness;
quiet; serenity
camouflage: exploit natural surroundings to disguise something; conceal
canvass: determine votes; examine carefully or discuss thoroughly; scrutinize
capable: having the ability required for a specific task
captivate: charm; enthrall; seize by force, as an enemy in war, or anything
belonging to enemy
caricature: representation that is deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic
effect

carnage: destruction of life; savage and excessive killing of many people

carve: cut; sculpt
cast: assign the roles of; choose at random
casual: informal; purposeless; occurring by chance
cataclysm: an event resulting in great loss and misfortune; deluge or
overflowing of water
catastrophe: calamity; disaster; state of extreme ruin and misfortune
caustic: capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away by chemical
action
cautious: conservative; careful
cavity: hole; cavern; hollow area within the body
celebrated: famous; well-known; having illustrious past
censor: overseer of morals; official responsible for removal of objectionable or
sensitive content
censure: expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism; blame
census: official examination of the details of a country's population
centennial: of hundredth anniversary; lasting or aged a hundred years
chaos: disorder; condition or place of great disorder or confusion; disorderly
mass
chasm: deep opening in the earth surface
cherish: harbor; treasure; treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear
chicanery: mean or unfair artifice to obscure truth; deception by trickery or
sophistry
chide: scold mildly so as to correct or improve; express disapproval

chilly: cold
chop: hew; cut by striking with a heavy sharp tool, such as an ax
chubby: of a person, slightly overweight, somewhat fat and hence soft;
rounded and plump
cite: quote; adduce as an instance
clandestine: secret; conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
clash: make noise by striking against something; dash noisily together; meet
in opposition
classify: declare unavailable, as for security reasons; arrange or order by
classes or categories
cliche: obvious remark; overused expression or idea
cling: hold fast or adhere to something; stick together and resist separation;
remain emotionally
clumsy: awkward; showing lack of skill or aptitude
coalescence: union of diverse things into one body or form or group; growing
together of parts
coalition: partnership; league; state of being combined into one body
coax: persuade or try to persuade by pleading or flattery; move to or adjust
toward a desired end
coherent: adhesive; cohesive; sticking together ; logical; sound; capable of
thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner
coin: make pieces of money from metal; invent or fabricate
collaborate: work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort
colossal: of extraordinary size; huge; gigantic
commence: have a beginning or origin; originate; start; begin
commerce: trade; business; intellectual exchange or social interaction

commitment: pledge, undertaking; act of binding yourself to a course of

action
commodity: goods; article of trade; advantage; benefit.
compact: closely and firmly united or packed together; briefly giving gist of
something
compel: force; coerce; necessitate or pressure by force
competent: capable; adept
compile: put together or compose from materials gathered from several
sources
complement: complete; consummate; make perfect
compliment: praise; commendation; say something to someone that
expresses praise
comply: yield assent; accord; agree, or acquiesce; adapt one's self; fulfill;
accomplish
component: element; ingredient; abstract part of something
comprehensible: understandable; readily comprehended or understood;
intelligible
comprehensive: thorough; including all or everything; broad in scope
comprise: include; consist of; be composed of
compulsory: mandatory; obligatory; required by rule
concede: admit; yield; give up physical control of another
concerted: planned or accomplished together; combined
concise: brief and compact; expressing much in few words
concoct: digest; convert into nourishment by the organs of nutrition.
concord: agreement of opinions; harmonious state of things

concrete: solid mass; covering with cement; hard, strong construction

material consisting of sand, conglomerate , and gravel
concurrent: simultaneous; coincident; occurring or operating at the same time
condemn: blame; denounce; express strong disapproval of
confer: bestow; present; have a conference in order to talk something over
confidential: treated with confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; secret
configuration: arrangement of parts or elements; outline
confiscate: seize as forfeited to the public treasury; appropriate to the public
use
conflict: fight; struggle; incompatibility of dates or events
conform: comply with; follow; fit; meet
congenial: compatible
congestion: act of gathering or heaping together or forming a mass
conglomerate: corporation made up of different companies in diversified
fields; composing of heterogeneous elements gathered into a mass
congregate: assemble; convene; gather
conjecture: believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
consecutive: following one after another without interruption; sequential
consistent: being in agreement with itself; coherent; regular
conspicuous: noticeable; prominent; easy to notice; obvious
contaminate: make impure or unclean by contact or mixture; pollute; defile
contemplate: look at attentively and thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
contempt: state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace; disobedience to,
or open disrespect of

contention: competing as for profit or prize

contrive: form by an exercise of ingenuity; devise; invent; design
controversial: controvertible; disputable
controversy: contentious speech act; argument
convenient: suited or favorable to one's comfort, purpose, or needs:; near;
accessible
convey: carry from one place to another; bear or transport
conviction: judgment that someone is guilty of crime; strongly held belief
copious: plentiful; containing plenty; affording ample supply
cordial: gracious; showing warm and friendliness
corporeal: bodily; of a material nature; tangible
corpulent: very fat; large in body; overweight
corroborate: establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; support
with evidence
courteous: exhibiting courtesy and politeness; showing regard or thought for
others
covert: secretive, not openly shown
cozy: comfortable; relaxing
crave: ask with earnestness or importunity; ask with submission or humility;
beg
crease: line made by pressing, folding, or wrinkling
crooked: having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned; curved
crouch: bend down; stoop low; lie close to the ground with the legs bent, as an
animal when waiting for prey, or in fear

crucial: of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis; of the

greatest importance
crude: being in an unrefined or natural state; raw; lacking tact or taste; blunt
or offensive
cryptic: having hidden meaning; mystifying; using code or cipher
cultivate: improve and prepare, as by plowing or fertilizing, for raising crops;
promote the growth of
cumbersome: heavy; difficult to handle because of weight or bulk
cumulative: increasing by successive addition
curb: bend or curve; guide and manage, or restrain
curious: difficult to please or satisfy; careful or anxious to learn; eager for
knowledge; given to research or inquiry
curt: having been shortened; effectively cut short; rudely brief or abrupt, as in
speech or manner
curtail: cut short or reduce; cut off end or tail, or any part
damp: humid; moist; slightly wet
dangle: hang loosely, or with a swinging or jerking motion; swing, as
something suspended loosely
daring: bold; brave
daunt: frighten; abate the courage of; discourage
dazzling: bright; brilliant
decadent: self-indulgent; moral decay
decay: decompose; break sown; disintegration; rottenness; decline; worsen;
decadence
deceit: attempt or disposition to deceive or lead into error; any declaration,
artifice, or practice, which misleads another, or causes him to believe what is
false

deception: act of deceiving

decipher: convert code into ordinary language; read with difficulty
declare: state clearly; make known formally or officially
declivity: downward slope, as of a hill
decompose: decay
decorate: adorn; embellish
dedicate: set apart; devoted; consecrated
deem: decide; judge; sentence; condemn
defame: harm someone's reputation; degrade; bring into disrepute; make
infamous
defect: abandon or turn against; cease or change one's loyalty
defective: having a defect; faulty; imperfect; incomplete; lacking
defer: delay till later; put off; hold back to a later time
deficient: inadequate; lacking an essential quality or element
definitive: final; complete; precisely defined or explicit
defraud: deprive of some right, interest, or property, by a deceitful device
degenerate: become worse; decline; fall
dehydrate: remove water from; dry out; lose water or bodily fluids
deity: god; divinity; supernatural things
dejected: being in low spirits; depressed
deliberate: consider; think about carefully; weigh
delicate: pleasing to the senses, especially in a subtle way; easily hurt; very
subtle in difference

deluge: great flood; heavy downpour; any overflowing of water

delusion: false belief; mistaken or unfounded opinion
demise: end of existence or activity; termination
demolish: raze; destroy; do away with completely; put an end to
denote: indicate; signify directly; refer to specifically
denounce: condemn openly; criticize; make known in formal manner
dense: thick; crowded closely together; compact
depress: lower in spirits; press down
deprive: deny; take away
derelict: left and abandoned; negligent in performing a duty
deride: ridicule; make fun of; laugh at with contempt
descry: catch sight of; discover by careful observation or scrutiny
desecrate: violate with violence, especially to sacred place
deserted: remote from civilization; left desolate or empty; abandoned
desiccate: dry up thoroughly; make dry, dull, or lifeless; preserve foods by
removing the moisture
desist: cease to proceed or act; stop; forbear
desolate: unpopulated; providing no shelter or sustenance; devoid of
inhabitants
desultory: aimless; haphazard; at random; not connected with subject
detect: feel; discover the presence of; identify
deteriorate: become worse; decline
detrimental: causing damage or harm; injurious

deviate: turn away from a principle, norm; depart; diverge

device: technique or means; instrument; machine used to perform one or
more relatively simple tasks
devise: form, plan, or arrange in the mind; transmit or give by will
devoid: completely lacking; barren or empty
dexterous: skillful in the use of the hands; having mental skill
digress: turn aside, especially from main subject in writing or speaking
diligent: assiduous; industrious; hard-working
dilute: weaken; make thinner or less concentrated by adding a liquid such as
water
dim: emitting only a small amount of light; lacking in brightness
dimension: measure of spatial extent, especially width, height, or length; size;
aspect; element
dingy: darkened with smoke and grime; dirty or discolored
dip: insert into a fluid and withdraw again; immerse for baptism; wet, as if by
immersing; moisten; appear to move downward
discard: throw out something from one's hand; get rid of
discern: detect; perceive
discipline: trait of being well behaved ; act of punishing ; system of rules of
conduct or method of practice
disclose: unclose; open; remove a cover or envelope from; lay open or expose
to view
discord: conflict; lack of agreement among persons, groups, or things
discrepancy: lack of consistency; difference
disdain: view with scorn or contempt; feel with aversion

dismal: causing gloom or depression; dreary; somber; melancholy

dismay: destroy courage or resolution by exciting dread; cause to lose
enthusiasm
disparity: difference; condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or
degree
disperse: move away from each other; cause to separate; cause to become
widely known
disposition: natural or acquired habit with tendency; act or means of getting
rid of something
dispute: argument; angry altercation; quarrel; verbal controversy; debate
disseminate: distribute; spread; scatter like seeds
dissolve: melt; liquefy; cause to pass into solution; cause to disappear or
vanish
distinct: definite; separate; different
distinguished: prominent; celebrated, well-known or eminent because of past
achievements
distract: cause to turn away from original focus; pull in conflicting emotional
directions; unsettle
diverge: vary; go in different directions from the same point
divulge: reveal; make known to public
docile: obedient; ready and willing to be taught; easily managed or handled
dodge: avoid a blow by moving or shifting quickly aside; shifty or ingenious
trick
dogged: determined; stubbornly persevering; unyielding
doleful: sorrowful; filled with or expressing grief; mournful
dominate: monopolize; command; rule; prevail; be prevalent in

donate: grant; present as a gift to a fund or cause; contribute

dot: the shorter of two telegraphic signals used in Morse code; very small
circular shape
doze: slumber; sleep lightly; be in dull or stupefied condition, as if half asleep;
be drowsy
drain: draw out; flow out; waste
drastic: radical; taking effect violently or rapidly
drawback: disadvantage or inconvenience; shortcoming; refund or remittance,
such as a discount on duties or taxes
dreary: gloomy; dismal; dark, colorless, or cheerless
drench: cause to drink, especially by force; put potion down throat of; steep in
moisture; wet thoroughly
drip: process of falling in drops; liquid or moisture that falls in drops; sound
made by liquid falling in drops
drought: dry period; aridity; long period of abnormally low rainfall
drowsy: dull with sleepiness; showing lack of attention
dubious: questionable; filled with doubt
dull: lacking responsiveness or alertness; intellectually weak or obtuse
dumbfound: fill with astonishment and perplexity; confound
dunce: backward in book learning; child or other person dull or weak in
intellect; dullard or dolt
durable: lasting; long-lasting; enduring
dwell: live as a resident; exist in a given place or state
dwelling: residence; place to live in; abode
dwindle: shrink; reduce in size; become less

dynamic: energetic; vigorously active

eclipse: darken; exceed in importance; outweigh
ecology: science of the relationships between organisms and their
environments
edible: eatable; substance that can be used as food
edifice: building, especially one of imposing appearance or size; a structure
that has a roof and walls
eerie: suggestive of the supernatural; mysterious
efface: rub or wipe out; make indistinct as if by rubbing
elaborate: marked by complexity and richness of detail; done with care and in
minute detail
elasticity: tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been
stretched or compressed
elderly: somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age
elegant: refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style
elevate: raise; give a promotion to or assign to a higher position
elicit: draw out; bring forth or to light; generate or provoke as response or
answer
eligible: qualified; desirable and worthy of choice, especially for marriage
elucidate: make clear or plain, especially by explanation; clarify
elude: avoid cleverly; escape perception of
emanate: come or send forth from a source, used chiefly of intangible thing,
as light
emancipate: free from bondage, oppression, or restraint; liberate
embed: enclose; place in something; fix firmly in surrounding mass

emblem: symbol; sign; distinctive badge, design, or device

emboss: mold or carve in relief; decorate with or as if with a raised design
eminent: standing out above other things; high in rank, office, or worth
emit: give off; send out; give out as sound
emulate: be a match or counterpart for; eager to equal or excel
enamored: totally in love; marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness
enchant: charm by sorcery; get control of by magical words and rites
enchanting: having the power to enchant; charming
encomium: high praise; formal expression of praise; tribute
encounter: face; confront; meet, especially unexpectedly; come upon
endeavor: attempt by employing effort
endorse: acknowledge by signing a bill, draft, or other instrument
engender: cause; bring into existence; give rise to
enhance: make better or more attractive; increase; improve
enigma: puzzle; difficult problem
enlist: enter on a list; enroll; register; engage for military or naval service
enmity: ill will; hatred; quality or state of being hostile
ennui: feeling of being bored by something tedious
ensue: pursue; follow or come afterward; follow as a consequence
enthrall: capture; attract and hold by charm, beauty, or excellence; hold in
bondage or subjection
entice: attract by arousing hope or desire

enumerate: list each one; mention one by one

enunciate: speak distinctly; state or set forth precisely or systematically;
pronounce; articulate
envisage: look in the face of; apprehend; consider or regard in a certain way
ephemeral: short-lived; enduring a very short time
epitaph: inscription on tombstone in memory
epithet: word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing
equitable: marked by or having equity; just and impartial
equivocal: open to two or more interpretations and often intended to mislead
eradicate: completely destroy; eliminate; exterminate
erect: construct; stand; set up
escalate: rise; increase in extent or intensity
eschew: avoid; refuse to use or participate in; stand aloof from
espouse: take in marriage; marry; give one's loyalty or support to; adopt
essay: effort made for performance of anything; short literary composition on
a single subject
essential: necessary; critical; vital; constituting or being part of the essence of
something
estate: extensive landed property; everything you own; all of your assets
esteem: regard with respect; favorable regard
eulogy: expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death
evacuate: make empty; empty out; remove contents of
evade: get away from by artifice; avoid by dexterity; escape from cleverly
evanescent: fleeting; vanishing or likely to vanish like vapor

evenhanded: impartial; fair; rightly balanced; equitable

evolve: develop; grow
exacerbate: increase severity, violence, or bitterness of; aggravate
exacting: making severe demands; rigorous; requiring great care, effort, or
attention
exalt: raise in rank or dignity; praise
excavate: unearth; dig out; make a hole in; hollow out
exceed: go beyond; be or do something to a greater degree
excerpt: passage or segment taken from a longer work, such as literary or
musical composition
excursion: trip; usually short journey made for pleasure
execute: put into effect; carry out the legalities of
exhaustive: treating all parts or aspects without omission; comprehensive
exhilarating: invigorating and refreshing; cheering; making lively and joyful
exhortation: act of practice of exhorting; act of inciting to laudable deeds;
incitement to that which is good; language intended to incite and encourage
expendable: not essential or mandatory in order to achieve a goal; not
reusable; Suitable to be expended
expire: come to an end; terminate; lose validity; breathe one's last breath; die
explicit: precisely and clearly expressed; definite; outspoken
exploit: make use of, sometimes unjustly
explore: investigate systematically; examine; search
expose: set forth; set out to public view
expunge: cancel; remove; erase or strike out

extensive: widespread; far-reaching; wide

extol: praise highly; glorify; celebrate
extract: draw or pull out, usually with some force or effort; remove; get
despite difficulties or obstacles
extraneous: not essential; coming from outside
extravagant: wandering beyond one's bounds; exceeding due bounds; wild;
excessive; unrestrained
facet: small, smooth, flat surface, as on a bone or tooth; side; a smooth
surface
facile: done or achieved with little effort or difficulty; ready or fluent
facilitate: help bring about; make less difficult
facility: service, space, and equipment provided for a particular purpose
fade: disappear; die out; lose color; lose freshness
faint: lacking strength or vigor ; weak
fake: imitation; counterfeit; having a false or misleading appearance
falter: be unsteady in purpose or action, as from loss of courage or confidence
famine: shortage of food; starvation
fancy: capricious notion; something many people believe that is false
fare: food and drink; diet; transportation charge; a paying passenger
fasten: attach; affix
fatal: causing death
fatigue: physical or mental weariness; exhaustion
feasible: capable of being accomplished or brought about

feat: achievement; accomplishment

fee: give a tip beyond the agreed-on compensation
feeble: lacking vigor, force, or effectiveness; faint; frail
feign: make false appearance of; disguise; conceal; invent or imagine
felicity: great happiness; pleasing and appropriate manner or style
ferocious: fierce; savage; wild; indicating cruelty
fertile: rich; fruitful; inventive; creative; intellectually productive
fervent: extremely hot; sincerely or intensely felt
fickle: not fixed or firm; liable to change; unstable; of a changeable mind
fidelity: faithfulness to obligations, duties, or observances
finance: management of money and credit and banking and investments;
subsidizing; fund
finite: having a limit; limited in quantity, degree, or capacity; bounded
fitting: small accessory to a larger system; small detachable part for a
machine or apparatus; act of trying on clothes
flagrant: obvious and offensive, blatant, scandalous; flaming into notice
flaw: crack or breach; gap or fissure; defect; fault; sudden burst of noise and
disorder
flee: run away, as from danger or evil; avoid in alarmed or cowardly manner
flexible: pliant; elastic; capable of being bent or flexed; pliable
flimsy: weak; feeble; limp; slight; vain; without strength or solidity
flip: go mad, go crazy; turn upside down, or throw so as to reverse; toss with a
sharp movement
florid: reddish; elaborately or excessively ornamented

fluctuate: rise and fall in or as if in waves; shift; vary irregularly

foggy: obscured by fog; indistinct or hazy in outline
fold: make something double; bend or lay so that one part covers the other
forego: precede; go ahead of; go forward; go on
foremost: leading; main; primary; first in time or place
forestall: prevent by taking action in advance
forlorn: sad and lonely; wretched; abandoned or left behind
formative: developing; forming; capable of forming or molding
foul: act that violates of the rules of a sport
fragile: easy to destroy, delicate, not strong
fragment: small part broken off or detached; fraction
fragrant: pleasant-smelling; odorous
frail: physically weak; easily broken
framework: fundamental structure, as for a written work; skeleton
fraud: getting money by lying or cheating; something intended to deceive
fraudulent: cheating; deceitful; planning or using fraud; given to practice of
fraud
frenetic: excessively agitated; transported with rage or other violent emotion
frustrate: make null; bring to nothing; prevent from taking effect or attaining
fulfillment
fugitive: lasting only a short time; fleeting; elusive
fundamental: relating to foundation or base; elementary; primary; essential
fuse: combine; blend; become plastic or fluid or liquefied from heat

fusion: union; act of melting together by heat

futile: useless; having no useful result; vain
gainsay: speak against; contradict; oppose in words; deny or declare not to be
true
gale: very strong wind; gust of wind; emotional outburst as laughter or tears
gap: opening through mountains; pass; conspicuous difference or imbalance
garrulous: talking much and repetition of unimportant or trivial details
gaudy: very showy or ornamented, especially when excessive, or in a tasteless
or vulgar manner
genial: friendly; cordial; having a pleasant or friendly disposition or manner
gentle: well-born; of a good family or respectable birth; mild; meek; bland;
amiable; tender
genuine: authentic; real; true
germane: related to the topic being discussed or considered; appropriate or
fitting; relevant
germinate: cause to sprout or grow; come into existence
ghastly: horrible; inspiring shock; extremely unpleasant or bad
glisten: sparkle or shine, especially shine with a mild, subdued, and fitful
luster; emit a soft, scintillating light; gleam
glitter: bright, sparkling light; brilliant and showy luster; brilliancy
glorify: cause to seem more splendid; beautify
glossy: smooth and shining; reflecting luster from smooth or polished surface;
plausible
goad: urge with a long pointed stick; give heart or courage to
gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful; magnificent

grab: take or grasp suddenly; snatch; capture

grace: elegance and beauty of movement or expression; short prayer of
thanks before a meal
graphic: represented by graph; described in vivid detail; clearly outlined
grasp: grip; take hold of or seize firmly with or as if with the hand
gratuitous: given freely; unwarranted; granted without recompense; unearned
grave: place for the burial; death or extinction
gravity: seriousness; solemn and dignified feeling; natural force between two
massive bodies
graze: scrape gently; feed on growing grasses and herbage
gregarious: sociable; seeking and enjoying the company of others
grim: unrelenting; rigid; dismal and gloomy; cold and forbidding
grip: hold fast or firmly; seize as in a wrestling match
gross: of huge size; excessively large; coarse; rough; not fine or delicate
grueling: by effort to the point of exhaustion, especially physical effort
grumble: utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds
guile: skillful deceit; disposition to deceive or cheat; disguise cunningly
gullible: easily deceived or cheated; easily tricked because of being too
trusting
gusto: vigorous enjoyment; enthusiasm
haggle: argue about prices; bargain, as over the price of something
hamper: put at disadvantage; prevent progress or free movement of
handy: convenient; close
haphazard: not thorough, constant or consistent; by chance

harangue: noisy speech; speech or piece of writing with strong feeling or

expression
harass: irritate or torment persistently; wear out; exhaust
harmony: compatibility in opinion and action; an agreeable sound property
harness: stable gear consisting of an arrangement to an animal so that it can
be attached to and pull a cart
harsh: rough; coarse; severe; unpleasantly stern
hasty: easily angered; irritable; made too quickly to be accurate or wise
haul: draw slowly or heavily; pull or drag forcibly; shift direction
havoc: wide and general destruction; devastation; waste
hazardous: dangerous; reckless; daring; inclined to run risks
hector: behave like a bully; swagger; intimidate or dominate in a blustering
way
hedonist: one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life
heed: pay attention to; listen to and consider
heighten: enhance; hoist; raise or increase the quantity or degree of; intensify
herald: proclaim; announces important news; messenger
heretic: one who holds to a heresy; one who believes some doctrine contrary
to the established faith or prevailing religion
heterogeneous: consisting of dissimilar elements or parts; completely
different
hilarious: by or causing great merriment or happiness; gay or merry
hinder: put at a disadvantage; tie up; hamper; prevent the progress
hoax: act intended to deceive or trick; practical joke

hoist: raise; lift; elevate

holocaust: great destruction resulting in the extensive loss of life, especially
by fire; massive slaughter
homogeneous: of the same or similar nature or kind
hospitable: disposed to treat guests with warmth and generosity; receptive
hospitality: act or practice of one who is hospitable; reception and
entertainment of strangers or guests without reward
hostage: prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will
meet specified terms
hostile: unfriendly; showing the disposition of an enemy
hub: core port; nucleus; heart; center
hue: color; appearance; particular gradation of color
humiliate: cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
hurl: throw with great force; cast; toss
hyperbole: figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis;
overstatement
hypocrite: one who puts on a false appearance of virtue; one who pretends to
hold beliefs
ideal: existing in idea or thought; conception; intellectual; mental; imaginary
standard of excellence; fit for a model; faultless
idiosyncrasy: behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an
individual
idle: useless; vain; trifling; unprofitable; thoughtless; given rest and ease;
avoiding work or employment; lazy
illiterate: uncultured; uneducated; not able to read or write
illusion: misleading vision; being deceived by a false perception or belief

illustrate: represent; demonstrate; depict; clarify, as by use of examples or

comparisons
imaginary: having existence only in the imagination; fanciful; visionary
imbibe: drink in; absorb or take in as if by drinking
immense: enormous; boundless; so great as to be beyond measurement
imminent: near at hand; close in time; about to occur
immortal: not mortal; exempt from liability to die; undying; imperishable;
lasting forever
immune: resistant to; free or exempt from; not subject to
immutable: unable to be changed without exception; not mutable
impair: injure or hurt; become worse; affect negatively
impartial: not biased; fair; showing lack of favoritism
impecunious: without money; poor; penniless
impediment: any structure that makes progress difficult; stumbling-block
impel: drive or force onward; drive forward; urge to action through moral
pressure
impending: close in time; about to occur; approaching
imperceptible: impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses
implement: put into effect; supply with tools
impose: demand; force; compel to behave in a certain way
impromptu: without previous preparation
improvise: compose, perform, or do something with little or no preparation
impute: lay responsibility or blame for, often unjustly
incandescent: strikingly bright; shining with intense heat; emitting light as

result of being heated

incense: enrage; infuriate; cause to be extremely angry
incentive: something, such as the fear of punishment or the expectation of
reward
incessant: uninterrupted; unceasing; continuing without interruption
incipient: beginning to exist or appear; in an early stage
incise: cut; carve
incognito: with one's identity disguised or concealed; in disguise; in an
assumed character, or under an assumed title
incompatible: inharmonious; impossible to coexist; not easy to combine
harmoniously
incongruous: not fitting; lacking in harmony or compatibility
increment: process of increasing in number, size, quantity, or extent
incriminate: accuse of a crime or other wrongful act; suggest that someone is
guilty
incumbent: imposed as an obligation or duty; currently holding an office
indict: charge; accuse formally of a crime
indifferent: having no particular interest or concern; being neither good nor
bad
indigenous: native; originating where it is found
indigent: poor; experiencing want or need; impoverished
indignant: affected with indignation; wrathful; passionate; irate; feeling wrath
by unworthy or unjust treatment
indiscriminate: choosing at random; not marked by fine distinctions
indispensable: essential; requisite; impossible to be omitted or remitted

induce: persuade; bring about; reason or establish by induction

inept: lacking of judgment, sense, or reason; unsuited; inappropriate; foolish
inevitable: unavoidable; incapable of being avoided or prevented
infamous: notoriously bad; having exceedingly bad reputation
infinite: unlimited or boundless, in time or space; without limit in power,
capacity, knowledge, or excellence
infinitesimal: very small; immeasurably or incalculably minute
infringe: act contrary to, as a law, right, or obligation; annul or hinder
infuriate: enrage; make furious or mad with anger
ingenious: clever; having inventive or cunning mind
ingenuous: naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated
ingredient: element in a mixture or compound
inhabit: live in; occupy; reside in
inherent: firmly established by nature or habit
inhibit: restrain; prevent or forbid; hold back
inimical: unfriendly; hostile; harmful; detrimental
initial: early; preliminary; occurring at the beginning
injurious: harmful; tending to injure or impair; abusive; insulting
innate: possessed at birth; inborn
innocuous: having no adverse effect; harmless
innovative: marked by or given to innovations; introducing a change
inopportune: untimely; poorly chosen; inappropriate or ill-timed
inordinate: exceeding reasonable limits; excessive; not regulated; disorderly

inroad: entrance of an enemy into a country with purposes of hostility; sudden

or desultory incursion or invasion; raid; encroachment
insinuate: hint; suggest; introduce by subtle and artful means
insipid: lacking flavor or zest; not tasty; dull
insolent: strange; unusual; haughty or brutal in behavior or language; grossly
rude or disrespectful
insolvent: bankrupt; unable to repay one's debts
inspire: encourage; inspirit; fire the imagination of
instantaneous: instant; immediate; occurring with no delay
instigate: goad or urge forward; provoke; incite
insult: offend; affront; treat, mention, or speak to rudely
insurrection: rebellion; uprising; rising against civil or political authority
intact: undamaged in any way; integrated; whole
integral: essential or necessary for completeness; entire
intelligible: understandable; clear to the mind
intense: extreme; acute; in an extreme degree
interim: time between one event, process; interval of time
interminable: being or seeming to be without an end; endless; tedious;
continual
intervene: get involved; come, appear, or lie between two things
intimate: give to understand; imply as a possibility; make known subtly and
indirectly
intimidate: frighten; make timid; fill with fear
intractable: difficult to manage or govern; stubborn; unyielding

intrepid: fearless; indicating or springing from courage

intricate: complex; elaborate; having many complexly arranged elements
intrigue: captivate; cause to be interested or curious; plot for: scheme for
intrude: trespass; enter as an uninvited person
invaluable: valuable under estimation; inestimable; priceless
inventory: check list; a collection of resources
inveterate: deep-rooted; firmly and long established; habitual
invincible: incapable of being overcome or defeated; unconquerable
inviting: attractive; tempting
involuntary: acting or done without or against one's will
irate: feeling or showing extreme anger; enraged
irreversible: impossible to reverse or be reversed
irrevocable: unalterable; irreversible; impossible to retract or revoke
irritable: easily annoyed; abnormally sensitive to a stimulus
itinerant: wandering; traveling place to place, especially to perform work or
duty
jagged: unevenly cut; having the texture of something so cut; having a rough
quality
jeopardy: exposure to death, loss, or injury; hazard; risk of loss or injury
jolly: be joyous, merry, and mirthful; excite mirth and gayety; keep amused or
diverted
jolt: sudden jerking, as from a heavy blow; sudden, strong feeling of surprise
or disappointment
jovial: good-natured; marked by good cheer; cheerful and good-humored

judicious: exhibiting good judgment or sound thinking; prudent

juncture: point in time, especially a critical point; joining point
juvenile: youth; adolescent; not fully grown or developed
keen: acute; incisive; sharp ; express grief verbally
knack: clever, expedient way of doing something; specific talent, especially
one difficult to explain or teach
lag: delay; drag; the act of slowing down or falling behind
laggard: slow; sluggish; wasting time
landscape: scenery; expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
landslide: slide of a large mass of dirt and rock down a mountain or cliff;
overwhelming electoral victory
languid: lacking energy or vitality; weak; sluggish; lacking spirit or liveliness
lapse: gliding, slipping, or gradual falling; unobserved or imperceptible
progress; slip or error; failing in duty
lassitude: state or feeling of weariness, diminished energy, or listlessness
latent: present or potential but not evident or active; dormant; hidden
laud: give praise to; glorify; celebrate or honor
lavish: liberal; wasteful; excessive spending
lax: loose and not easily controlled; lacking in rigor or strictness
leaflet: small leaf; leaf like organ or part
legendary: mythical; fabled; extremely well known; famous or renowned
legitimate: accordant with law; lawful; based on logical reasoning; reasonable
lenient: relaxing; emollient; softening

lethal: deadly; causing or capable of causing death

lethargic: drowsy; dull; indifferent or apathetic
levity: lack of seriousness; lightness of manner or speech, especially when
inappropriate
lewd: lustful; indecent; suggestive of or tending to moral looseness
liable: bound or obliged in law or equity
liaison: close relationship, connection, or link; secret love affair
licentious: amoral; unrestrained; lacking moral discipline or ignoring legal
restraint
linger: be slow in leaving; continue or persist; stay
link: be or become joined or united; connect, fasten, or put together two or
more pieces
loathsome: highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
locate: find; monitor; settle; determine or specify the position or limits o
locomotion: self-propelled movement; power or ability to move
lofty: high, tall, having great height; idealistic, implying over-optimism
loom: appear or take shape, usually in enlarged or distorted form
lucid: easily understood; clear; intelligible
lucrative: profitable; producing good profit
lugubrious: mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to exaggerated degree
lull: moment of calm; a period of calm weather; temporary quiet and rest
lullaby: song to quiet babes or lull them to sleep
lumber: move heavily or clumsily; cut down timber of
luminous: shining; emitting light, especially emitting self-generated light

lunatic: insane; mad; wildly or giddily foolish

lure: bait; charm; attract
lurid: causing shock or horror; gruesome
lurk: stealthily lie in waiting; exist unperceived
luster: shine, polish or sparkle; soft reflected light
lustrous: giving out or shedding light, as sun or fire; reflecting light; having
brilliant surface
luxurious: rich and superior in quality; lavish
magnificent: grand or noble in thought or deed; outstanding of its kind
magnify: intensify; increase; make greater in size; enlarge
magnitude: extent; greatness of rank, size, or position
makeup: composition; structure; the way in which someone or something is
composed
malady: disease, disorder, or ailment; unwholesome condition
malediction: curse; evil speaking; utterance of curse or execration
malice: enmity of heart; malevolence; ill will; spirit delighting in harm or
misfortune to another
malign: speak evil of; bad-mouth; defame
malignant: injurious; tending to cause death; disposed to do evil
mandatory: obligatory; required or commanded by authority
manifest: clearly apparent to understanding; obvious
mar: spoil or damage; impair the soundness, perfection, or integrity of
maritime: relating to, or adjacent to the sea; nautical

marked: noticeable or pronounced; having one or more distinguishing marks

massacre: killing of a considerable number of human beings under
circumstances of atrocity or cruelty
masterpiece: chief excellence or great talent; outstanding work of art or craft
mature: develop and reach maturity; grow old or older
maxim: proverb; formulation of fundamental principle or general truth
meager: deficient in quantity, fullness, or extent; inadequate; feeble
meddle: mix; mingle; interfere or busy one's self improperly with another's
affairs, specifically, to handle or disturb another's property without permission
mediate: resolve or settle differences by working with all conflicting parties
meek: quiet and obedient; showing patience and humility
memorable: unforgettable; worthy to be remembered; very important or
remarkable
menace: danger; a threat or the act of threatening; something that is a source
of danger; threaten; intimidate
mend: make repairs or restoration to; fix; improve
mercurial: capricious; liable to sudden unpredictable change; quick and
changeable in temperament
merge: combine; unite
mesmerize: hypnotize; attract strongly, as if with magnet; bring into a state of
mesmeric sleep
meteor: any of the small solid extraterrestrial bodies that hits the earth's
atmosphere
meticulous: excessively careful; marked by extreme care in treatment of
details
mingle: be all mixed up or jumbled together;

minuscule: very small; tiny; lowercase letter

minute: extremely small; short note
mirth: gladness and gaiety, especially when expressed by laughter
misappropriate: appropriate wrongly; use for wrong purpose; embezzle
misdemeanor: minor crime; ill behavior; evil conduct; misdeed
misrepresent: give false or incorrect impression, often deliberately; serve
unsatisfactorily as representative
mock: treat with ridicule or contempt; mimic; frustrate hopes of
moderate: temperate; gentle; mild; make less fast or intense ; preside over
molest: trouble; disturb; render uneasy; interfere with; vex
monitor: observe; watch; keep an eye on
monotonous: boring; dull; tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
monumental: massive; taking a great amount of time and effort to complete;
in manner of a monument
morale: confidence; mood or spirit of a group that makes the members wants
the group to succeed
morbid: caused by disease; pathological or diseased; unhealthy or
unwholesome
mortify: cause to experience shame or humiliation; embarrass
mournful: feeling or expressing sorrow or grief; sad; gloomy
mundane: belonging to this earth or world; not ideal or heavenly; concerned
with commonplaces; ordinary
murky: dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague
mute: refraining from producing speech or vocal sound; unable to speak;
expressed without speech; unspoken

mysterious: beyond ordinary understanding

mythical: legendary; fictitious; existing in myth
nausea: feeling of sickness in stomach by an urge to vomit; strong aversion;
disgust
neglect: disregard; ignore; pay little or no attention to
negligible: so small, trifling, or unimportant that it may be easily disregarded
nibble: bite by little at a time; seize gently with the mouth; eat slowly or in
small bits
nimble: light and quick in motion; moving with ease and celerity; lively; swift
nocturnal: of or relating to or occurring in the night; most active at night
notable: worthy of note or notice; remarkable; important
notify: make known; give notice to; inform by notice
notion: general or universal conception; belief or opinion
notorious: disreputable; known widely and usually unfavorably; infamous
novel: previously unknown; strikingly new, unusual, or different; young
novice: beginner; person new to a field or activity
noxious: harmful to living things; injurious to health
obese: extremely fat; grossly overweight
obituary: death notice; list of dead
objective: not influenced by emotions; having actual existence or reality
oblique: having slanting or sloping direction, course, or position; inclined
oblivious: inattentive or unmindful; lacking all memory; forgetful
oblong: having greater length than breadth, especially when rectangular

obscene: offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty; repulsive;

disgusting
obscure: darken; make dim or indistinct; conceal in obscurity
obsequious: slavishly attentive; attempting to win favor from influential
people by flattery
obsolete: no longer useful; outmoded; antiquated
obstinate: stubbornly adhering to an attitude or opinion; hard to control or
treat
obtrude: push oneself or one's ideas forward or intrude; stick out or extrude
obvious: exposed; easily discovered; plain
odd: not easily explained; beyond from the usual or expected; not divisible by
two
odor: scent; property or quality of a thing that affects, stimulates, or is
perceived by the sense of smell
offhand: without planning or thinking ahead; right away; immediately
offspring: descendant
omen: any indication or action regarded as a foreshowing; phenomenon
supposed to portend good or evil
ominous: threatening; foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
ooze: be any thick messy substance; pass gradually; progress slowly but
steadily
opportune: timely; just in time; suited or right for a particular purpose
orbit: path; circle; move in an orbit; encircle
ordeal: severe trial; form of trial to determine guilt or innocence; difficult or
painful experience
ornamental: decorative; any plant grown for its beauty or ornamental value

ostracize: exclude from community or group; banish by popular vote

outgoing: sociable; going out or away; departing
outlet: an opening that permits escape or release; activity that releases
creative energy or emotion
outlook: prospect; view; belief about the future ; act of looking out
outrage: act of extreme violence or viciousness; offense
outskirt: part or region remote from a central district, as of a city or town;
fringe; outer border
outstanding: distinguished from others in excellence
overall: general; comprehensive; from one end to the other; including
everything
overcast: covered or obscured, as with clouds or mist; gloomy; melancholy
overcome: defeat another in competition or conflict; conquer; prevail over
overdue: past due; not paid at the scheduled time; late; delayed
overlook: ignore; disregard; fail to notice ; watch over
override: ride over or across; ride upon; trample down.
overrun: run or extend beyond normal or desired limit; overflow
oversee: supervise; manage; watch over and direct; examine or inspect
oversight: unintentional omission or mistake; watchful care or management;
supervision
overt: open to view; not secret or hidden
overtake: come up with in a course, pursuit, progress, or motion; catch up
with; come upon from behind; capture; overcome
overwhelm: defeat; cover completely or make imperceptible; overcome by
superior force ; charge someone with too many tasks

pace: single movement from one foot to the other in walking; slow gait; step
pacifist: one opposed to force; antimilitarist
pacify: ease anger or agitation of; make calm or quiet; end war or violence
pact: written agreement between two states or sovereigns; treaty
painstaking: extremely careful and diligent work or effort; taking of pains
pale: not ruddy; dusky white; pallid; not bright or brilliant
paltry: insignificant; lacking in importance or worth; worthless
panacea: remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all
panic: sudden mass fear and anxiety
particle: a tiny piece of anything
path: way; footway; course or track; route; passage
patronage: sponsorship; support; state of being a sponsor
peculiar: special; characteristic; unusual; odd; bizarre
pedantic: marked by narrow focus on or display of learning, especially formal
rules and trivial points; bookish
penetrate: pierce; go through; permeate
perceive: become aware of through the senses; detect
perceptible: capable of being perceived; cognizable; discernible; perceivable
perch: a place high up; an elevated place serving as a seat
perennial: lasting indefinitely long time; suggesting self-renewal; remaining
active throughout all the time
perforate: pierce, punch, or bore hole or holes in; penetrate
peril: danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy; exposure of person or property to injury,
loss, or destruction

perilous: full of, attended with, or involving, peril; dangerous; hazardous

periodic: repeated; recurring at intervals of time
permeate: spread or flow throughout; pervade
pernicious: very destructive; tending to cause death or serious injury; deadly
perpetual: everlasting; continuing without interruption
perplexing: puzzling; lacking clarity of meaning; complicated
persecute: pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; beset with cruelty
or malignity; harass; annoy
pertain: belong; have connection with, or dependence on
pertinent: having precise or logical relevance; pertaining or relating
pervade: pass or flow through, as an aperture; permeate; pass or spread
through the whole extent of
petulant: easily irritated or annoyed; unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered
pierce: penetrate; make a hole into
pillage: rob of goods by force, especially in time of war; plunder; take as spoils
placate: appease or pacify; bring peace to
placid: peaceful; tranquil; calm or quiet
plague: epidemic disease with a high death rate; annoyance
plausible: likely but not certain to be or become true or real
plead: appeal or request earnestly; enter a plea; offer as an excuse
plethora: excess; overfullness in any respect; superabundance
poise: be balanced or held in suspension; hover; carry or hold in equilibrium;
balance

poky: confined; cramped.

ponder: weigh; weigh in the mind; view with deliberation; examine carefully;
consider attentively
portion: section or quantity within a larger thing; a part of a whole
portray: depict; describe; draw
posthumous: after death, as of child born after father's death or book
published after author's death
postpone: hold back to a later time; delay; defer
potent: powerful; having power to influence or convince; having great control
or authority
pounce: attacks suddenly; seize something swiftly and eagerly; leap into the
air intending to seize someone or something
preach: advocate; speak, plead; argue in favor of
precarious: uncertain; risky; dangerously lacking in security or stability
precept: rule or principle prescribing particular action or conduct; authorized
direction or order
precious: of high worth or cost
precipitation: unexpected acceleration or hastening; the quantity of water
falling to earth
precise: exact; clearly expressed; accurate or correct
predicament: tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma; troublesome
preface: something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as
introductory to a book or essay
prerogative: privilege; unquestionable right; exclusive power to command
presage: foretell or predict; indicate or warn of in advance
prescribe: dictate; guide; advise the use of; assert a right; claim

presumptuous: overconfident; going beyond what is right or proper;

excessively forward
pretense: act of giving a false appearance; imaginative intellectual play
pretext: excuse; something serving to conceal plans; fictitious reason
prevail: induce; be greater in strength or influence; triumph; win out
prevalent: widespread; widely or commonly occurring, existing, accepted
prior: preceding in the order of time; former; previous
probe: explore with tools; investigate; search
proclaim: declare; announce
procure: bring into possession; cause to accrue to, or to come into possession
of; cause to come; bring
prodigal: wasteful; reckless with money
prodigious: impressively great in size, force, or extent; enormous
profane: violate; put to improper, unworthy, or degrading use; abuse
profound: deep; not superficial; far-reaching
profuse: in great quantity or abundance; bountiful; exceedingly liberal
proliferate: grow rapidly; propagate; reproduce
prolific: producing offspring or fruit in great abundance; fertile
prolong: make longer; draw out; lengthen
prominent: conspicuous; immediately noticeable; sticking out; widely known
promiscuous: having casual sexual relations frequently with different
partners; irregular, casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
prompt: move to act; incite; give rise to; assist with a reminder

pronounced: clear; distinct; strongly marked; easily noticeable; spoken;

voiced
propriety: fitness; correct conduct; quality of being proper; appropriateness
proscribe: command against; banish; outlaw
prosper: flourish; thrive; gain in wealth; grow stronger
protagonist: principal character in a work of fiction; main character in a
drama; leader of a cause; champion
provenance: place of origin; source; provenience
provisional: temporary; provided for present need only
provoke: stir to anger; give rise to; stir to action or feeling
prudent: cautious; careful in regard to one's own interests
pseudonym: pen name; fictitious name used when someone performs a
particular social role
pulverize: pound, crush, or grind to powder or dust
pungent: stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic
pursue: follow in; go in search of or hunt for
puzzling: lacking clarity of meaning; confusing
quaint: odd; old-fashioned; picturesque; unfamiliar or unusual in character
quandary: dilemma; state of uncertainty or perplexity
quench: put out a fire; extinguish; put an end to; destroy
query: inquiry; doubt in the mind; mental reservation
quest: act of searching for something
quote: cite or repeat a passage from; repeat or copy the words of another
radiant: brilliant; delighted

radical: drastic; extreme; arising from or going to a root or source; basic

ragged: torn; worn; having an irregular surface or edge; uneven or jagged in
outline
raid: search without warning; surprise attack by a small armed force
random: without definite purpose, plan, or aim; having no specific pattern
range: limits within which something can be effective; variety of different
things or activities
ration: allotment; allowance; portion; allot; distribute in rations
raw: in the natural unprocessed condition; cruel and unfair; uncooked;
untrained and inexperienced
raze: destroy completely; scrape or shave off
rebellion: organized opposition to authority
recede: move back; retreat; withdraw a claim or pretension
reception: act of receiving; manner in which something is greeted
recess: withdrawing or retiring; moving back; retreat; state of being
withdrawn; seclusion
reciprocal: concerning each of two or more persons or things; exchangeable;
interacting
reckless: headstrong; rash; indifferent to or disregardful of consequences
reclaim: bring into or return to a suitable condition for use; claim back; make
useful again
reconcile: correct inconsistencies; become friendly after a quarrel; become
compatible or consistent
recount: narrate or tell; count over again
recrimination: countercharge; counter or mutual accusation

recruit: enlist; register formally as a participant; engage for military service

recurring: repeated; Returning again; repetitious
redeem: purchase back; regain possession of by payment; ransom or rescue
from captivity; pay penalty; make amends for
redoubtable: formidable; arousing fear or awe; worthy of respect or honor
refine: purify; make more precise; improve
refute: disprove; prove to be false or incorrect
rehabilitate: restore to proper condition; help to re-adapt, as to former state
of health or good repute
rehearse: practice; drill; engage in preparation for a public performance
reign: sovereignty; rule; dominance or widespread influence
reimburse: pay back for some expense incurred
reiterate: say, state, or perform again or repeatedly
rejoice: feel joy; experience gladness in a high degree; have pleasurable
satisfaction; be delighted; enjoy
rejoicing: of rejoice; feeling and expression of joy and gladness; procedure
expressive of joy; festivity
release: give off; liberate; grant freedom to; make something available
relegate: assign to obscure place, position, or condition; delegate; assign
reliable: worthy of being depended on; trustworthy
relinquish: give up something with reluctance; retire from; give up or abandon
relish: take keen or zestful pleasure in; enjoy the flavor of; give spice or flavor
to
remedy: a medicine or therapy; ; cure; fix; repair; provide relief for
reminisce: recollect and tell of past experiences or events; talk or write about

memories of the past, especially pleasant memories

remit: send back; give up; surrender; resign; restore; transmit or send,
especially as money in payment of a demand
remnant: remainder; small part or portion that remains after the main part no
longer exists
render: deliver;give or make available; provide; represent in a drawing or
painting
renounce: abandon; disown; turn away from; give up
renowned: famous; celebrated for great achievements, for distinguished
qualities
repeal: revoke or annul, especially by official or formal act
repel: force or drive back; disgust; offer resistance to; fight against
repercussion: often indirect effect or result that is produced by an event or
action; reflection, especially of sound
replenish: fill or make complete again; add a new stock or supply to
reproach: express disapproval or disappointment; bring shame upon; disgrace
reprobate: person hardened in sin; person without moral scruples
reproduce: have offspring or young; duplicate; make a copy
reprove: voice or convey disapproval of; rebuke; find fault with
repugnance: extreme dislike or aversion; opposition; conflict; resistance, in a
physical sense
repute: ascribe a particular fact or characteristic to; consider; suppose
rescind: cancel; make void; repeal or annul
resent: feel bitter; consider as injury or affront; be in angry
reserved: held in reserve; kept back or set aside; marked by self-restraint and
reticence

residual: remaining as a residue; surplus

resolute: firm, unyielding, or determined; having decided purpose
restless: never resting; unquiet; uneasy; continually moving; eager for
change; discontented
resume: give a summary; return to a previous location or condition
resurrection: rising again; resumption of vigor; act of rising from the dead or
returning to life
retaliate: do something harmful or negative to get revenge for some harm;
fight back or respond in kind to an injury or affront
reticent: inclined to keep silent; reserved; uncommunicative.
retract: withdraw; take back; draw back or in
retreat: receding; pull back or move away or backward; withdrawal of troops
to a more favorable position
retrieve: recover; find and bring in; get back
reveal: make known; disclose or show
revere: worship; regard with feelings of respect or honor
revoke: void or annul by recalling, withdrawing, or reversing; cancel; retract
riddle: pierce with numerous holes; perforate; permeate or spread throughout
rigid: stiff and unyielding; strict; hard and unbending; not flexible
rigor: strictness or severity, as in temperament, action, or judgment;
something hard to endure
rip: tear or be torn violently; criticize or abuse strongly and violently
ripe: ready; fully developed; mature
risky: involving risk or danger; hazardous

roam: wander; ramble; stroll

rotundity: roundness; rounded fullness; integral entireness
rough: not perfected; having or caused by an irregular surface
route: way for travel or transportation
rudimentary: relating to basic facts or principles; being in the earliest stages
of development; incipient
rugged: uneven; rough; very difficult
rummage: make an energetic, usually hasty search
rural: country; relating to rural areas
ruthless: pitiless; cruel; having no compassion or pity; merciless
salvage: save from loss or destruction; rescue of a ship; save for further use
sanction: give authorization or approval to something; penalize a state,
especially for violating international law
sanctuary: place of refuge or asylum; shrine; holy place, such as a church,
temple, or mosque
sanguine: cheerfully confident; optimistic; of healthy reddish color; ruddy
saturate: soak, fill, or load to capacity; cause to unite with the greatest
possible amount of another substance
scale: climb up or over; alter according to a standard; estimate or measure;
remove in layers
scan: make a wide, sweeping search of; examine
scant: scarcely sufficient; less than is wanted for the purpose; not enough
scarce: hard to find; absent or rare; limited
scatter: sprinkle; disseminate; cause to separate and go in different directions
scent: distinctive odor that is pleasant; fragrance; perfume

scholarly: academic; scientific; characteristic of scholars or scholarship

scope: range of one's perceptions, thoughts, or actions; extent; bound
scorch: burn superficially; parch, or shrivel, the surface of, by heat; affect
painfully with heat; burn
scorn: extreme and lofty contempt; haughty disregard
scrap: small piece or bit; fragment; fragment; leftover bits of food; remnant
scribble: write or draw carelessly and in a hurry; doodle; meaningless marks
and lines
scrupulous: exactly and carefully conducted; by extreme care and great
effort; cautious
scrutinize: examine closely and critically
seasoned: experienced, especially in terms of a profession or a hobby; aged
or processed
secluded: removed or remote from others; solitary; hidden or isolated
sedition: resistance to authority; insubordination or rebellion
seemly: proper; appropriate; of pleasing appearance; handsome
sensational: arousing or intended to arouse strong curiosity, interest, or
reaction
sentinel: one that keeps guard; soldier stationed as a guard
sequester: isolate; retire from public life; segregate; seclude
serene: completely clear and fine
sever: cut off from a whole; set or keep apart; divide or separate
severe: serious in feeling or manner; not light, lively, or cheerful
shabby: torn or worn to rage; poor; mean; ragged

shatter: destroy; break up; break into many pieces

sheer: very thin or transparent; very steep; absolute or pure
shimmer: shine with a weak or fitful light; glimmer intermittently
shiver: shake with or as if with cold; tremble; break into fragments or splinters
shred: a small amount; a long, narrow piece cut or torn off; long irregular strip
that is cut or torn off
shrewd: clever; characterized by keen awareness, sharp intelligence
shrill: acute; sharp; piercing; having or emitting a sharp, piercing tone or
sound
shrink: become smaller or draw together; compress
shun: avoid deliberately; keep away from
shy: timid; bashful; easily startled; distrustful
significant: fairly large; important in effect or meaning
signify: denote; mean; indicate
simulate: make a pretence of; reproduce someone's behavior or looks
simultaneous: existing, happening, or done at the same time
singular: unique; extraordinary; being only one
sip: drink or imbibe in small quantities; take in with lips in small quantities, as
liquid; draw into the mouth; suck up
skeptical: marked by or given to doubt; questioning
sketch: draw or describe briefly; give the main points; summary of
sketchy: containing only an outline or rough form; being in the manner of a
sketch; incomplete
slack: area of still water; lack of tension; cord, rope, or cable that is hanging
loosely; unused capacity; casual trousers

slander: defamation; false and malicious statement or report about someone

slender: having little width in proportion to height or length; long and thin
slim: small in quantity; being of delicate or slender build
sluggish: lazy; with little movement; very slow
smolder: burn without flame; be liable to break out at any moment
snare: trap; gin; anything by which one is entangled and brought into trouble
soak: cause or suffer to lie in a fluid; absorb; drain; drink intemperately or
gluttonously
sojourn: temporary stay; brief period of residence; place of temporary stay
solace: comfort or relieve in sorrow, misfortune, or distress
solicit: request earnestly; seek to obtain by persuasion or formal application
somber: gloomy; depressing or grave; dull or dark in color
sophisticated: wide-ranging knowledge; complex; intellectually appealing
sophistry: argument for exercise merely; plausible but misleading argument;
art or process of reasoning; logic
sort: kind or species; a class of;
sound: sensation perceived by the ear; distinctive noise; long narrow inlet
sovereign: having supreme rank or power; self governing; excellent;
independent
span: duration; distance; cover; extent or measure of space between two
points
spartan: avoiding luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined
spawn: lay eggs; produce offspring in large numbers
specific: stated explicitly or in detail; definite

specimen: model; sample; an example regarded as typical of its class

spectacular: impressive or sensational; lavishly produced performance; grand
spell: name or write in order the letters constituting; add up to; signify
spin: turn round rapidly; move round rapidly; move swiftly
splash: cause fluid to scatter in flying masses; strike and dash about, as water,
mud
splendid: shining; very bright; magnificent; brilliant
splice: fasten together; join at the ends; join by interweaving strands
spoil: go bad; rot; decay; become unfit for consumption or use
sporadic: occurring at irregular intervals; having no pattern or order in time
spot: location; place; site; pinpoint; mark to allow easy recognition
spouse: man or woman engaged or joined in wedlock; married person,
husband or wife
sprout: have new growth of a plant such as a new branch or a bud; shoot up
spur: urge a horse; incite or stimulate; ride quickly by spurring a horse;
proceed in haste
spurious: false; counterfeit; forged; illogical
squander: spend wastefully; fail to take advantage of; lose a chance for
stable: not easily moved or disturbed
stagnant: not moving or flowing; lacking vitality or briskness; stale; dull
stain: soiled or discolored; symbol of disgrace or infamy; natural spot of a
color different from the gound
stale: having lost freshness; lacking originality or spontaneity
stall: small area set off by walls for special use; booth

stately: majestic; impressive, as in size or proportions

stationary: fixed; immobile; static; not capable of being moved
steep: soak; make thoroughly wet
stern: hard, harsh, or severe in manner or character; firm or unyielding
stoic: one who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure,
or pain
stout: dependable; stocky; euphemisms for fat
strenuous: arduous; intense; performed with much energy or force;
stretch: extend; pull in opposite directions; lie down comfortably
strife: act of striving; earnest endeavor; exertion or contention for superiority;
contest of emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts
strive: endeavor; struggle or fight forcefully; exert much effort or energy
stubborn: unreasonably, often perversely unyielding; persistent; difficult to
treat
stumble: miss a step and fall or nearly fall; walk unsteadily
stun: surprise greatly; amaze; make senseless or dizzy by or as if by a blow
stupendous: astonishing; wonderful; amazing, especially, astonishing in
magnitude or elevation
sturdy: robust; strong; substantially made or constructed
sublime: of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth; characterized by
nobility; majestic
submerge: sink; immerse; put under water
subsequent: following in time or order; succeeding; later
subside: settle down; sink to a lower level or form depression; wear off or die
down

subsidiary: subordinate; secondary; serving to assist or supplement

substantial: fairly large; in essentials; material; true or real; not imaginary;
solidly built
subterranean: hidden; secret; situated or operating beneath the earth's
surface; underground
subtle: slight; be difficult to detect or grasp by the mind
succumb: submit to an overpowering force; yield to an overwhelming desire;
give up or give in
sullen: lonely; solitary; desolate; gloomy; dismal; affected with ill humor
summit: utmost height; highest point of a mountain
sundry: various; miscellaneous; separate; distinct; diverse
superb: of unusually high quality; excellent; wonderful
superficial: trivial; of little substance; involving a surface only
supplant: replace; usurp; displace and substitute for another
supple: flexible; moving and bending with ease
supplicate: ask for humbly or earnestly, as by praying; make humble, earnest
petition; beg
surfeit: eat until excessively full; be more than full; feed someone to excess
surge: outburst; roll or be tossed about on waves, as a boat
surly: rude; sullenly ill humored; gloomy; threatening, as of weather conditions
surmise: guess; infer something without sufficiently conclusive evidence
surpass: be or go beyond, as in degree or quality; exceed
susceptible: easily influenced; having little resistance, as to a disease;
receptive to

suspend: hang freely; postpone; delay

sway: swing; move back and forth or sideways; win approval or support for;
convince
sweeping: extensive; having wide-ranging influence or effect:
swift: quick; moving or capable of moving with great speed
synthesize: integrate; compose; combine so as to form a new, complex
product
taciturn: silent or reserved in speech; saying little; not inclined to speak or
converse
tact: sense of touch; feeling; stroke in beating time; sensitive mental touch;
peculiar skill or faculty
tactic: plan for attaining a particular goal; action calculated to achieve some
end
taint: contaminate; cause to lose purity; affect with or as if with a disease;
corrupt morally
tame: domesticated; very restrained or quiet; make less strong or intense;
soften
tamper: interfere in a harmful manner; alter improperly
tangle: uniting or knitting together confusedly; knot of threads, or other thing,
united confusedly, or so interwoven as not to be easily disengaged
tantalize: tease; torture with disappointment; bait someone by showing
something desirable but leaving them unsatisfied
tantamount: equivalent in effect or value
tardy: late; delayed; moving slowly
tarnish: make dirty or spotty; stain; dull the luster of; discolor, especially by
exposure to air or dirt
tart: a species of small open pie, or piece of pastry, containing jelly or
conserve; a sort of fruit pie

taunt: reproach in a mocking, insulting, or contemptuous manner; make fun of

, often in an aggressive manner
tautology: unnecessary repetition, especially for same sense in different
words ; redundancy
tawdry: cheap in nature or appearance; tastelessly showy; shameful or
indecent
tease: tear into pieces; raise the fibers of
tedious: tiresome by reason of length, slowness, or dullness; progressing very
slowly
temperate: restrained; self-controlled; moderate in degree or quality
tempting: attractive; appealing
tender: offer formally; extend; propose a payment
tenor: general, usual, or prevailing course or direction; settled or prevailing or
habitual course of a person's life
tentative: hesitant; not fully worked out or developed; experimental; not
definite or positive
tepid: moderately warm; lacking in emotional warmth or enthusiasm;
halfhearted
tether: tie with rope; fasten or restrict with rope or chain
thaw: melt, such as snow and ice; defrost; warm weather following a freeze
thermal: relating to or caused by heat; designed to help retain heat
thorough: accurate or careful; complete
thrifty: careful about money; economical
thrive: make steady progress; prosper; flourish
thwart: hinder or prevent of ; frustrate

tilt: slight but noticeable partiality; line or surface that departs from the
vertical
timid: shy; craven; lacking self-confidence; shy
tint: color; dye with a color
toil: exhausting labor or effort; any thread, web, or string spread for taking
prey
tolerant: showing respect for the rights of others; open-minded; showing
capacity for endurance
torpid: having lost motion, or the power of exertion and feeling; numb;
benumbed
torrent: rushing stream; flood; heavy downpour
torture: extreme pain; anguish of body or mind
toupee: partial wig or hairpiece worn to cover a bald spot
tow: draw or pull behind by a chain or line
towering: high; outstanding; very great or intense
toxic: poisonous; caused by a toxin or other poison
trait: quality; attribute; distinguishing feature; slight degree or amount
trajectory: path of other moving body through space; chosen or taken course
tranquility: a state of peace and quiet
transmute: change from one form, nature, substance, or state into another;
transform
transparent: easily detected; permitting light to pass through freely
transpose: substitute one for the other of; reverse or transfer order or place
of; interchange
traverse: go through or across, often under difficult conditions

treacherous: dangerous; dangerously unstable and unpredictable; disloyal;

tending to betray
tremendous: huge; capable of making one tremble; terrible
tremor: shaking or vibrating movement; slight quiver
trepidation: state of alarm or dread; nervous apprehension; involuntary
trembling or quivering
tribunal: seat of a judge; bench on which a judge and his associates sit for
administering justice; court or forum
trickle: flow in drops; run or flow slowly; drip
trigger: cause something happen; set off
triumph: victory; win; expressing great joy
trivial: unimportant; of little significance or value; ordinary; commonplace
tug: pull or draw with great effort; draw along with continued exertion; haul
along; tow
tumble: fall down, as if collapsing
turbulent: characterized by unrest or disorder
turmoil: state of extreme confusion or agitation; commotion or tumult
twinkle: open and shut the eye rapidly; blink; wink
tyro: beginner in learning something; novice
ultimate: final; being the last or concluding; fundamental; elemental; extreme
unbearable: unendurable; so unpleasant, distasteful, or painful as to be
intolerable
uncanny: strange; mysterious; peculiarly unsettling, as if of supernatural
origin or nature
uncouth: lacking refinement or cultivation or taste

undergo: experience; suffer; pass through

underlying: lying under or beneath something; basic; implicit; taking
precedence; prior
underscore: draw a mark or line under; emphasize; stress
undertake: take on; embark on; assume
ungainly: awkward; lacking grace in movement or posture
uniform: consistent; standardized; clothing of a particular group
unilateral: being on one side only; affecting but one side; one-sided.
unique: without an equal; being the only one of its kind
universal: affecting all; general; present everywhere; relating to the entire
world or all within the world; worldwide
unruly: difficult or impossible to discipline, control, or rule; not according to
rule; irregularly
unscathed: not injured or unharmed
upheaval: violent disturbance; sudden, violent disruption or upset
uphold: support; preserve; hold aloft; raise
upkeep: act of keeping up, or maintaining; maintenance
uptight: being in a tense state; excessively concerned with rules and order
urge: force in an indicated direction; stimulate; excite
urgent: pressing; compelling immediate action or attention
usurp: seize and hold power or rights of another by force or without legal
authority
utensil: instrument, implement, or container for practical use, especially in
kitchen or laboratory
utter: speak; express; send forth with the voice

vacant: void of thought or knowledge; without an occupant or incumbent

vacuous: empty; showing lack of thought or intelligence; vacant
vague: imprecise; indistinct; not clearly expressed; inexplicit
vain: having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless;
unsatisfying
valedictory: of speech given in farewell, especially one delivered by an
outstanding member of graduating class
valiant: vigorous in body; strong; powerful; performed with valor or bravery;
heroic
valid: logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable; well grounded
vanguard: advance forces; leading units at front of army or fleet; persons at
forefront of any group or movement
vanish: disappear; pass out of sight, especially quickly; die out
vanity: quality or state of being vain; emptiness; feelings of excessive pride;
conceit
variable: factor; something that is likely to vary; changeable; inconstant
variation: act of changing or altering
vast: large; broad; extensive; very great in size, number, amount, or quantity
vein: blood vessel that carries blood
venerate: treat with great respect and deference; consider hallowed or be in
awe of
venomous: poisonous; secreting and transmitting venom; marked by deep ill
will; deliberately harmful
venturesome: willing to try new things and take risks; bold
venue: scene of any event or action; locality where a crime is committed or a
cause of action occurs

verbose: wordy; using or containing a great and usually an excessive number

of words
verge: extreme edge or margin; border; enclosing boundary; space enclosed
by such a boundary
verify: confirm; prove the truth of by presentation of evidence or testimony
versatile: having many talents; capable of working in many fields
vessel: craft; ship; container for liquids
vex: annoy; disturb, especially by minor irritations; be a mystery or
bewildering to
viable: practical or workable; capable of maintaining life; capable of continuing
effectiveness
vicinity: state of being near in space or relationship; proximity
vie: strive for victory or superiority; contend; compete
vigilance: watchfulness; wakefulness; process of paying close and continuous
attention
vigorous: robust; strong; energetic, and active in mind or body
vindicate: clear from blame; exonerate; maintain, uphold, or defend
visceral: felt in one's inner organs; obtained through intuition rather than from
reasoning or observation
vital: full of life; animated; necessary to continued existence; living or
breathing
vivid: bright; lively; graphic; having striking color
vogue: popular fashion; current state or style of general acceptance and use
volatile: tending to vary often or widely, as in price; inconstant or fickle;
tending to violence
voluptuous: giving pleasure or satisfaction of the senses; having strong

sexual appeal
vomit: throw up; eject from stomach through mouth; disgorge
vow: solemn promise made to God; promise of fidelity; pledge of love or
affection
vulnerable: susceptible to wounds; capable of being wounded or hurt
wade: paddle; walk through relatively shallow water
wag: move one way and the other with quick turns; shake to and fro; move in
vibrating; cause to vibrate
wage: hazard on the event of a contest; stake; engage in, as a contest;
adventure, or lay out, for hire or reward; hire; employ
wail: grieve or protest loudly and bitterly; express sorrow by a mournful vocal
sound; moan; cry
walkout: strike; act of leaving or quitting a meeting, company, or organization,
especially as a sign of protest
wan: having a pale or sickly color; unnaturally pale, as from physical or
emotional distress
wander: move about without a definite destination or purpose; range about;
stroll; go away; depart
wane: decrease in size or strength; draw gradually to an end
ward: guard; defender; protector; state under guard; division of a county;
division of a hospital
ware: articles of merchandise; style or class of manufactures; especially, in the
plural, goods; commodities; merchandise
warp: rope used in hauling or moving a vessel, usually with one end attached
to an anchor, a post, or other fixed object; towing line; state of being twisted or
bent out of shape
wary: very cautious; on guard; watchful
waxy: paleness; smooth and lustrous; consisting of, abounding in, or covered

with wax
weary: tired; exhausted; physically or mentally fatigued
wholesome: conducive to sound health or well-being; beneficial
wicked: evil in principle or practice; contrary to moral or divine law; addicted
to vice or sin
widespread: spread or scattered over a considerable extent; occurring or
accepted widely
wile: trick or stratagem practiced for deception;
wily: cunning; full of tricks; skill in deception
winsome: agreeable; gracious; charming, often in childlike or naive way
withdraw: remove from; pull back; break from gathering; retreat; depart
wither: shrivel; decay; lose freshness, vigor, or vitality; loss of moisture
withhold: refuse to give; refrain from giving, granting, or permitting; deduct
from employee's salary
withstand: stand up against; successfully resist; oppose with force or
resolution
woe: deep, inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering; deep distress or misery, as
from grief
wrinkle: a minor difficulty; a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface
yearn: pain; grieve; vex; be pained or distressed; feel deep pity, sympathy, or
tenderness
yield: give in; surrender; give forth a natural product; be productive
zealous: enthusiastic; filled with or motivated by zeal
zenith: point directly overhead in sky; summit
zone: region; portion of the surface of a sphere;

Top 100 words for TOEFL

By examword.com
This is a must-have words list for TOEFL test takers. We suggest everyone check these words
just before your TOEFL exam. If you haven't enough time to prepare or practice, scan this list
save you much of time.
abyss: enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit; any deep, immeasurable space; hell
acquiesce: assent; agree without protesting
affable: easily approachable; warmly friendly
affliction: cause or condition of pain, suffering, or distress
affluent: having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
agitate: cause to move with violence or sudden force; upset; disturb

ambiguous: unclear or doubtful in meaning

annex: append or attach; take possession of; incorporate into an existing political unit
aqueous: of or like water
arduous: demanding great effort or labor; difficult
aroma: fragrance; scent; pleasant characteristic odor, as of a plant, spice, or food
atone: make amends, as for sin or fault; pay for; turn away from sin
avarice: greediness for wealth; insatiable desire of gain
bellicose: warlike or hostile in manner or temperament; showing or having impulse to
be combative
calisthenics: exercises to develop strong bodies
captor: person who takes smb captive
concoct: digest; convert into nourishment by the organs of nutrition.
dangle: hang loosely, or with a swinging or jerking motion; swing, as something
suspended loosely
deprive: deny; take away
diligent: assiduous; industrious; hard-working
disrobe: undress
docile: obedient; ready and willing to be taught; easily managed or handled
doleful: sorrowful; filled with or expressing grief; mournful
drought: dry period; aridity; long period of abnormally low rainfall
dubious: questionable; filled with doubt
dumbfound: fill with astonishment and perplexity; confound
efface: rub or wipe out; make indistinct as if by rubbing
elucidate: make clear or plain, especially by explanation; clarify
enchant: charm by sorcery; get control of by magical words and rites
endeavor: attempt by employing effort
endorse: acknowledge by signing a bill, draft, or other instrument

enthral: take the whole attention, enslave

exploit: make use of, sometimes unjustly
extensive: widespread; far-reaching; wide
extol: praise highly; glorify; celebrate
flimsy: weak; feeble; limp; slight; vain; without strength or solidity
fraud: getting money by lying or cheating; something intended to deceive
gaudy: very showy or ornamented, especially when excessive, or in a tasteless or
vulgar manner
ghastly: horrible; inspiring shock; extremely unpleasant or bad
grumble: utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds
harass: irritate or torment persistently; wear out; exhaust
heretic: one who holds to a heresy; one who believes some doctrine contrary to the
established faith or prevailing religion
impediment: any structure that makes progress difficult; stumbling-block
indigenous: native; originating where it is found
insatiate: never satisfied
intrepid: fearless; indicating or springing from courage
irate: feeling or showing extreme anger; enraged
jeopardy: exposure to death, loss, or injury; hazard; risk of loss or injury
leash: control
loafer: an idle, lazy person
lucrative: profitable; producing good profit
lustrous: giving out or shedding light, as sun or fire; reflecting light; having brilliant
surface
malign: speak evil of; bad-mouth; defame
meddle: mix; mingle; interfere or busy one's self improperly with another's affairs,
specifically, to handle or disturb another's property without permission
mend: make repairs or restoration to; fix; improve
mirth: gladness and gaiety, especially when expressed by laughter

nausea: feeling of sickness in stomach by an urge to vomit; strong aversion; disgust

neglect: disregard; ignore; pay little or no attention to
nocturnal: of or relating to or occurring in the night; most active at night
obese: extremely fat; grossly overweight
obsolete: no longer useful; outmoded; antiquated
perch: a place high up; an elevated place serving as a seat
pervade: pass or flow through, as an aperture; permeate; pass or spread through the
whole extent of
petulant: easily irritated or annoyed; unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered
pillage: rob of goods by force, especially in time of war; plunder; take as spoils
presumptuous: overconfident; going beyond what is right or proper; excessively
forward
quashed: annuled
quenching: satisfy, put an end to, put out
refurbished: make clean, as if like new
rejoicing: of rejoice; feeling and expression of joy and gladness; procedure expressive
of joy; festivity
reticent: inclined to keep silent; reserved; uncommunicative.
reverberate: be sent back, again and again
rigor: strictness or severity, as in temperament, action, or judgment; something hard
to endure
rotundity: roundness; rounded fullness; integral entireness
salvage: save from loss or destruction; rescue of a ship; save for further use
scattered: not situated together
shatter: destroy; break up; break into many pieces
shunned: avoided, kept away from
sketchy: containing only an outline or rough form; being in the manner of a sketch;
incomplete
sporadic: occurring at irregular intervals; having no pattern or order in time

stifled: suppressed, kept back

strive: endeavor; struggle or fight forcefully; exert much effort or energy
subsequent: following in time or order; succeeding; later
succumb: submit to an overpowering force; yield to an overwhelming desire; give up
or give in
taciturn: silent or reserved in speech; saying little; not inclined to speak or converse
tantalize: tease; torture with disappointment; bait someone by showing something
desirable but leaving them unsatisfied
tentative: hesitant; not fully worked out or developed; experimental; not definite or
positive
torpid: having lost motion, or the power of exertion and feeling; numb; benumbed
treacherous: dangerous; dangerously unstable and unpredictable; disloyal; tending to
betray
tremor: shaking or vibrating movement; slight quiver
tyro: beginner in learning something; novice
uproar: noise and excitement
vanity: quality or state of being vain; emptiness; feelings of excessive pride; conceit
vehemence: forcefulness; intensity; conviction
vigilance: watchfulness; wakefulness; process of paying close and continuous
attention
vindicate: clear from blame; exonerate; maintain, uphold, or defend
voluptuous: giving pleasure or satisfaction of the senses; having strong sexual appeal
wan: having a pale or sickly color; unnaturally pale, as from physical or emotional
distress
wile: trick or stratagem practiced for deception;
wrinkle: a minor difficulty; a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface

500 Basic TOEFL Words (1)

By examword.com
This is a middle size TOEFL vocabulary. Lots of websites and books use them as source of
flash cards. examword.com collects them here and revises some with new definitions of Pacific
Lava School. All words are divided into three groups to easy access and review. Welcome to
visit this popular TOEFL preparation resource.
accolade: award of merit; expression of approval; praise
adamant: extremely hard; inflexible; stubbornly unyielding
admonition: gentle or friendly reproof; counseling against fault or oversight; warning
affable: easily approachable; warmly friendly
affinity: natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship; relationship by marriage

aftermath: outcome; consequence, especially of a disaster or misfortune

ailing: somewhat ill or prone to illness
aisles: spaces for walking between row of seats
amenable: responsive to advice or suggestion; responsible to higher authority; willing
to comply with; agreeable
amidst: amid; in the middle of; among
among: in, into, or through the midst of more than two points,objects, etc.
apocryphal: untrue; of questionable authorship or authenticity; erroneous; fictitious
appall: depress or discourage with fear; grow faint or become weak
arousal: act of awaking from sleep; arousing from what is like sleep
assuage: ease or lessen pain; satisfy or appease
awash: covered with water
bared: uncovered; exposed; revealed
barely: just; only; hardly; scarcely
bear: support; sustain; carry; have; yield; give birth; hold up or support
beef: meat from an adult domestic bovine
beg: call upon in supplication
bend: strain or move out of a straight line; curve; turn toward some certain point
beneath: lower in place, with something directly over or on; under; underneath;
below
bequest: inheritance; legacy; act of giving, leaving by will, or passing on to another
besiege: surround with armed forces; harass with requests
bet: stake or pledge upon the event of a contingent issue; amount or object risked in a
wager
bind: tie, or confine with a cord, band, or chain; make fast; contract; cohere or stick
together
binge: short period of excessive consumption; rapid and excessive consumption of
food, especially of excessive alcohol consumption
blade: flat part of the leaf, of any plant, especially of gramineous plants; cutting part
of an instrument

blasphemy: act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God; utterance or
writing concerning God or a sacred entity
blast: explode; burst; gale; very strong gust of wind or air
blazing: light up by or as by fire or flame; of tremendous intensity or fervor
blister: (pathology) an elevation of the skin filled with serous fluid
blow: forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth
blunt: having a dull edge or end; not sharp; lacking in feeling; insensitive
boast: show off oneself; speak of with excessive pride
bobbing: moving up and down
bolster: support or prop up with or as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion
bout: contest between antagonists; contest or fight; a period of time spent in a
particular way, as in illness
brag: an instance of boastful talk
brash: presumptuously daring
breed: raise; produce offspring; give birth to or hatch; mate
brevity: quality or state of being brief in duration; concise expression
bribe: something serving to influence or persuade; reward or gift with a view to
prevent judgment
brusque: abrupt and curt in manner or speech; rudely abrupt, unfriendly
burden: problem, trouble, an onerous or difficult concern
burglary: breaking and entering for the purpose of committing a crime
burst: the act of exploding or bursting something
cacophony: loud confusing disagreeable sounds
calf: young of domestic cattle
callus: thickened layer of skin
captivity: prison; confinement; state of being a prisoner
cartons: a box made of cardboard
catering: providing food and services

cattle: domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

cease: stop; terminate; put an end to; discontinue
censure: expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism; blame
chimera: monster represented as vomiting flames, and as having lion head, goat
body, and dragon tail
chuckle: call, as a hen to her chickens; fondle; cocker; laugh in a suppressed or
broken manner
churning: moving with or producing or produced by vigorous agitation
clam: be moist or glutinous; stick or adhere; produce or cause to clang
clamor: noise; loud outcry; expression of discontent or protest
clash: make noise by striking against something; dash noisily together; meet in
opposition
clemency: mildness, as of the weather
clever: showing inventiveness and skill
clumsy: awkward; showing lack of skill or aptitude
clutch: grasp and hold tightly; attempt to grasp or seize
coalesce: combine; fuse; grow together; come together so as to form one whole;
unite
cock: adult male chicken
coeds: a female student at a school for males and females.
cognizant: aware; conscious
come: about happen
commiserate: feel or express pity or sympathy for
complaisant: trying to please; showing cheerful willingness to do favors for others
comprised: included; consisted of
concealed: put out of sight; hidden
concern: interest in any person or thing; regard; solicitude; anxiety
contract: constrict; make smaller; compress or concentrate

convey: carry from one place to another; bear or transport

convict: find or declare guilty
copious: plentiful; containing plenty; affording ample supply
copper: a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic
element
couch: sofa; arrange or dispose as in a bed
crap: obscene terms for feces
craze: fine crack in a surface or glaze; short-lived popular fashion; inordinate desire or
longing; passion
crop: the top, end, or highest part of anything, especially of plant or tree; grain or
other product of field while standing; anything cut off or gathered
crotch: the angle formed by the inner sides of the legs where they join the human
trunk
culprit: one guilty of a crime
cumbersome: heavy; difficult to handle because of weight or bulk
curl: form into coiled or spiral shape; twist into ringlets or coils; move in curve or
spiral
dainty: delicately beautiful or charming; exquisite; gratification or pleasure taken in
anything
dairy: place where milk is produced, kept, or converted into butter or cheese
dare: a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
dart: move suddenly and rapidly
dawn: time each morning at which daylight first begins; beginning; start
dazzling: bright; brilliant
deaf: unable to perceive sounds; hard of hearing; unwilling to hear or listen;
regardless; not to be persuaded
dean: dignitary or presiding officer; head in the faculty of some colleges or universities
dearth: scarcity; shortage of food; famine from failure or loss of crops
decadence: process, condition, or period of deterioration or decline; falling off or
away; decay
decay: decompose; break sown; disintegration; rottenness; decline; worsen;

decadence
deceive: fool; cause to believe what is not true; mislead
deed: something that is carried out; act or action; feat or exploit
defy: renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; provoke to
combat or strife
demise: end of existence or activity; termination
denim: a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
dentures: artificial teeth
depleted: emptied; drained; used up
deputy: one appointed as the substitute of another, and empowered to act for him;
substitute in office
desultory: aimless; haphazard; at random; not connected with subject
deter: keep from; stop; prevent or discourage from acting
devise: form, plan, or arrange in the mind; transmit or give by will
diatribe: bitter verbal attack
dimple: slight natural depression or indentation on the surface of some part of the
body; slight indentation on any surface
dire: causing fear or dread or terror
disgruntled: unhappy; dissatisfied; frustrated
dispassionate: calm; impartial; unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
distress: discomfort; cause strain, anxiety, or suffering to
donor: giver; one that contributes something, such as money, to a cause or fund
downwind: towards the side away from the wind
doze: slumber; sleep lightly; be in dull or stupefied condition, as if half asleep; be
drowsy
draped: covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
dreary: gloomy; dismal; dark, colorless, or cheerless
drizzling: (of rain) falling lightly in very small drops
drowziness: state of being in torpor, sleepy

dull: lacking responsiveness or alertness; intellectually weak or obtuse

dumb: mute; lacking the power of speech
duplicity: double-dealing; deliberate deceptiveness in behavior or speech; acting in
bad faith.
duty: work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons
dye: substance used to color materials
ease: satisfaction; pleasure; entertainment; freedom from care
edge: brink; perimeter; margin
edifice: building, especially one of imposing appearance or size; a structure that has a
roof and walls
eerie: suggestive of the supernatural; mysterious
effervescent: bubbly, lively
eloquent: vividly or movingly expressive; persuasive
endowed: given from birth
endure: tolerate; carry on through, despite hardships
enmity: ill will; hatred; quality or state of being hostile
equivocal: open to two or more interpretations and often intended to mislead
erroneous: containing or derived from error; mistaken
exemplary: serving as model; outstanding; typical
expedient: suitable; appropriate to a purpose; serving to promote your interest
exuberance: overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness

fad: fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of time; craze
faint: lacking strength or vigor ; weak
fair: a traveling show
fancy: capricious notion; something many people believe that is false
fast: abstaining from food
feat: achievement; accomplishment

feather: the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
fetter: restrain with U-shaped bar for ankles or feet; impede; hamper
fidget: move uneasily one way and the other; behave or move nervously or restlessly
fizz: an effervescent beverage (usually alcoholic), make a hissling noise
flair: natural talent or aptitude
flare: sudden outburst of emotion; glare; shine; shine with sudden light
flaw: crack or breach; gap or fissure; defect; fault; sudden burst of noise and disorder
fledgling: young and inexperienced; having just acquired its flight feathers
flood: a large flow
flunk: fail, especially in a course or an examination; give a failing grade to
folly: foolishness; lack of good sense, understanding, or foresight
footstool: a low stool to rest the feet of a seated person
frantic: highly excited with strong emotion; disordered or nervous activity
fright: cause fear in
fringe: margin; periphery; decorative border of hanging threads, cords, or strips, often
attached to a separate band
frivolous: lacking in seriousness; not serious; relatively unimportant
fulfill: accomplish, satisfy, meet, suit
garbled: mixed up; difficult to understand because it has been distorted
garments: an article of clothing
garner: gather; store up; amass; acquire
gauntlet: a glove with long sleeve
gerbil: a small rodent that is often kept as a pet
giggle: laugh with short catches of the breath or voice; laugh in light, affected, or silly manner
glazed: having a shiny surface or coating; lacking liveliness, used of eyes; fitted or covered
with glass
gloomy: imperfectly illuminated; dusky; dim; clouded
gorgeous: dazzlingly beautiful; magnificent

grated: to reduce something to small shreds by rubbing it on a grater.

gravel: small stones, or fragments of stone; very small pebbles, often intermixed with particles
of sand
gravity: seriousness; solemn and dignified feeling; natural force between two massive bodies
greedy: wanting to get more than one can reasonably get
grief: pain of mind; mental suffering arising from any cause, as misfortune, loss of friends;
sorrow; sadness
grim: unrelenting; rigid; dismal and gloomy; cold and forbidding
grip: hold fast or firmly; seize as in a wrestling match
groan: give forth a low, moaning sound in breathing
groovy: (british informal) very chic
groping: acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence
ground: solid surface of the earth; bottom; lowest part
grudge: be unwilling or reluctant to give or admit; be envious; show discontent
gut: the part of the alimentary canal between the stomach and the anus
hackneyed: repeated too often; over familiar through overuse
haggle: argue about prices; bargain, as over the price of something
hail: call for; salute; greet; praise vociferously
haphazard: not thorough, constant or consistent; by chance
harm: any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
harsh: rough; coarse; severe; unpleasantly stern
harvest: gather; yield from plants in a single growing season
hassle: argument or fight; trouble; bother
hasty: easily angered; irritable; made too quickly to be accurate or wise
hatch: breed; emerge from the egg
haunt: be a regular or frequent visitor to a certain place; bother; disturb
haze: fog; mist; partially opaque covering; vague or confused state of mind

heal: cure; make or get healthy again

hedge: thicket of bushes, usually thorn bushes
heel: back part of the human foot; lower end of a ship's mast
heist: commit a burglary
hen: female chicken
herd: flock; crowd; group of cattle or other domestic animals
heretic: one who holds to a heresy; one who believes some doctrine contrary to the
established faith or prevailing religion
hermit: person who retires from society and lives in solitude; recluse; anchoret, especially, one
who so lives from religious motives
hindrance: something that holds back or causes problems with something else; obstacle
hindsight: understanding the nature of an event after it has actually happened
hobbling: walking awkwardly
hold: keep from departing; take and maintain control over; stop dealing with
hollow: sound as if echoing in a empty space; void; vain; not solid; having a space or gap or
cavity
hue: color; appearance; particular gradation of color
hurtle: crash; move with or as if with great speed and rushing noise
impart: reveal or tell; grant a share of; bestow
incessant: uninterrupted; unceasing; continuing without interruption
incidental: happening, as occasional event, without regularity; coming without design
incite: arouse to action; motivate; induce to exist
indefatigable: tireless; showing sustained enthusiastic action
indelible: impossible to remove, erase, or wash away; permanent
infraction: violation of rule or regulation; breach; minor offence or petty crime
inmate: a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
insolvent: bankrupt; unable to repay one's debts
intricate: complex; elaborate; having many complexly arranged elements

irascible: irritable; easily angered; excited by or arising from anger

irresolute: uncertain how to act or proceed; undecided; lacking in resolution
jargon: language used by a special group; technical terminology; nonsensical or meaningless
talk
jeopardy: exposure to death, loss, or injury; hazard; risk of loss or injury
jiggle: a slight irregular shaking motion
keen: acute; incisive; sharp ; express grief verbally
kindle: build or fuel a fire; cause to glow; light up; inspire
knack: clever, expedient way of doing something; specific talent, especially one difficult to
explain or teach
knob: hard protuberance; hard swelling or rising; bunch; lump
ladder: steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs
lagging: hang back or fall behind in movement, progress, development
lame: moving with pain or difficulty because of injury; disabled so that movement is difficult or
impossible
lampoon: ridicule; subject to abusive ridicule expressed in work of art
languish: lose animation; be or become weak or feeble; lose strength or vigor
lavish: liberal; wasteful; excessive spending
lead: a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element
lean: bend or slant away from the vertical; rely for assistance or support
lease: rent; charter; engage for service under a term of contract
leather: an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
leery: suspicious or distrustful; wary; cautious
leniency: mildness; quality of mercy or forgiveness, especially in the assignment of
punishment as in a court case
levity: lack of seriousness; lightness of manner or speech, especially when inappropriate
likely: has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
limb: arm; leg; any of the main branches arising from the trunk or a bough of a tree
limp: walk lamely, especially with irregularity, as if favoring one leg; move or proceed haltingly

or unsteadily
loaf: any thick lump, mass, or cake, especially, a large regularly shaped or molded mass, as of
bread
loony: informal or slang terms for mentally irregular, lunatic, insane
loosely: without regard to specific details or exceptions
loquacious: talkative; given to continual talking; chattering
lousy: infested with lice
ludicrous: laughable; completely devoid of wisdom or good sense
lump: a small mass of matter of irregular shape; irregular or shapeless mass; small cube of
sugar
lurches: makes and uncontrolled series of movements
maize: tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears
meander: follow a winding and turning course; move aimlessly and idly without fixed direction
mend: make repairs or restoration to; fix; improve
mere: being nothing more than what is specified; considered apart from anything else; small;
slight
messy: dirty; unorganized; disorderly; unpleasantly difficult to settle or resolve
miff: bad-tempered mood
mild: moderate in type or degree or effect or force
misanthrope: one who hates or mistrusts mankind
mischievous: causing mischief; harmful; hurtful; troublesome; irritating
misleading: deceptive
mock: treat with ridicule or contempt; mimic; frustrate hopes of
mold: model; fit tightly, follow the contours of ; frame; make something for a specific shape;
become moldy
mole: a small congenital pigmented spot on the skin
mood: a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
morose: ill humored; sullen; depressingly dark; gloomy; persistent
moss: tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants

muck: moist sticky mixture, especially of mud and filth; earth, rocks, or clay excavated in
mining
mug: rob at gunpoint or with the threat of violence
mull: reflect deeply on a subject
nave: the central area of a church
neat: clean or orderly
negligent: careless; inattentive
nonchalance: indifference; lack of concern; composure
obey: be obedient to
obtuse: lacking in insight or discernment; stupid
odorless: having no odor; devoid of odor or fragrance
offspring: descendant
onset: beginning or early stages; offensive against enemy
opaque: impenetrable by light; not transparent; not reflecting light; having no luster
opulence: extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance
orchard: garden; area of land devoted to the cultivation of fruit or nut trees
outnumber: be larger in number
outward: toward the outside
overwhelming: overpowering in effect or strength; very great or intense; extreme
parsimonious: excessively unwilling to spend; excessively sparing or frugal
partake: to take part; participate. share.
paucity: scarcity; smallness of number; fewness
paw: a clawed foot of an animal especially a quadruped
peak: summit; apex; maximum; prime
peel: come off in flakes or thin small pieces; strip the skin off; get undressed
peripheral: located in outer boundary; unimportant; auxiliary
peruse: read or examine, typically with great care

pinch: clutch; squeeze between the thumb and a finger, the jaws of a tool, or other edges
plea: request for help; excuse or pretext
pledge: promise solemnly and formally; binding commitment to do something
poised: marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
popsicle: ice cream or water ice on a small wooden stick
porch: covered and enclosed entrance to building; covered passage
poultry: domestic fowls reared for eating, or for their eggs or feathers, such as cocks and
hens, capons, turkeys, ducks, and geese
pouring: flowing profusely
praise: an expression of approval and commendation
prank: acting like a clown; dress up showily; practical joke
preach: advocate; speak, plead; argue in favor of
prodigal: wasteful; reckless with money
profane: violate; put to improper, unworthy, or degrading use; abuse
progeny: one derived from another; offspring or descendant; result of creative effort, as
product
proximity: state of being proximate; nearness in place, time, or relation
prudish: exaggeratedly proper
puddle: something resembling a pool of liquid; a small body of standing water
puffy: breathing heavily
pulled: attracted
pun: a humorous play on words
pursuit: follow after; follow with a view to obtain; endeavor to attain
quarrel: an angry dispute
querulous: habitually complaining; expressing complaint or grievance
rage: something that is desired intensely; state of extreme anger
rash: hasty, incautious, reckless

rave: speak wildly, irrationally; speak or write with wild enthusiasm

rebuke: scold harshly; criticize severely
recapitulate: summarize; repeat in concise form
recluse: one who lives in solitude; withdrawn from the world; reclusive
regret: sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment
rehearse: practice; drill; engage in preparation for a public performance
rekindle: arouse again
relieve: free from a burden; alleviate; save from ruin
rely: rest with confidence; have confidence; depend
remain: continue in a place, position, or situation
renounce: abandon; disown; turn away from; give up
repent: cause to feel remorse or regret; feel regret or self-reproach for
reproach: express disapproval or disappointment; bring shame upon; disgrace
rescind: cancel; make void; repeal or annul
resemble: be similar to; take after; look like
respite: usually short interval of rest or relief; delay in punishment
retreat: receding; pull back or move away or backward; withdrawal of troops to a more
favorable position
ribbing: the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule)
riddle: pierce with numerous holes; perforate; permeate or spread throughout
ridge: long, narrow upper section or crest; chain of hills or mountains
rinds: the chewy or crunchy outside layers on fruit. cheese, or meat
ripe: ready; fully developed; mature
roaring: a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal)
roll: a list of names
rot: become decomposed by a natural process; perish slowly; become corrupt
rough: not perfected; having or caused by an irregular surface

rouse: pull or haul strongly and all together, as upon a rope, without the assistance of
mechanical appliances
rug: floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
ruminate: chew over and over mentally, or like cows physically; mull over; ponder
ruse: trick; use of artifice or trickery; deceptive maneuver, especially to avoid capture
rust: become destroyed by water, air, or an etching chemical such as an acid
sagacious: perceptive; shrewd; having insight
sage: one celebrated for wisdom, experience, and judgment; various plants of the genus
Salvia
sate: satisfy appetite fully; satisfy to excess
savants: individuals with mental retardation who are extremely talented in one domain
scrawl: write carelessly
screech: a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry
screw: cause to penetrate with a circular motion; fastener with shank and slotted head
scrutinize: examine closely and critically
seal: middle size aquatic mammal; stamp used for authentication or security
seam: line of junction formed by sewing together two pieces; line across a surface, as a crack;
scar
seizing: the act of gripping something firmly with the hands
sentient: aware; conscious; able to perceive
settle: take up residence; form a community; come to rest; bring to an end; fix firmly
sew: create (clothes) with cloth
shackle: chain; fetter; restraint that confines or restricts freedom
shed: get rid of ; cast off; cause to pour forth
shelter: structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
shingles: viral disease that affects the peripheral nerves and causes blisters on the skin
shiv: a knife used as a weapon
shoplift: steal in a store

shore: support by placing against something solid or rigid

shriking: making a annoying noise
shrink: become smaller or draw together; compress
silk: a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
silly: exhibiting a lack of wisdom or good sense; foolish; stupid
skewer: a long pin for holding meat in position while it is being roasted
slash: cut; reduce largely
slaughter: act of killing; extensive, violent, bloody, or wanton destruction of life; carnage
slippers: low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily
slope: be at an angle; incline; gradient
slug: any of various terrestrial gastropods having an elongated slimy body and no external
shell
slum: a district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions
slump: sudden falling off or decline, as in activity, prices, or business; gross amount; mass
sly: stealthy, insidious, or secret; mischievous; foxy
smear: overspread with anything adhesive; soil in any way; pollute
snail: freshwater or marine or terrestrial gastropod mollusk usually having an external
enclosing spiral shell
snap: make a sharp sound; break suddenly as under tension; utter in angry or sharp tone
snub: ignore, to treat with disdain or contempt
soaked: drenched with water, or other liquid; very drunk
sober: not extreme; marked by seriousness or gravity; not affected by use of drugs; selfrestraint
somber: gloomy; depressing or grave; dull or dark in color
soothed: calmed or comforted
sovereignty: autonomy; independence
sparkle: be brilliant in performance; give off or reflect flashes of light; glitter
spotter: a person employed to watch for something to happen

spouting: propelled violently in a usually narrow stream

spree: a lively or wild outburst of activity
spurious: false; counterfeit; forged; illogical
squalid: sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect; morally degraded
squeeze: force something into or through a restricted space; compress with violence
squirm: to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
stage: any scene regarded as a setting for exhibiting or doing something
stagnant: not moving or flowing; lacking vitality or briskness; stale; dull
stale: having lost freshness; lacking originality or spontaneity
stare: a fixed look with eyes open wide
stark: bare; complete or extreme
steady: securely in position; not shaky; not easily excited
steep: soak; make thoroughly wet
stem: stop flow of a liquid; make headway against
stickler: one who insists on something unyieldingly; something puzzling or difficult
sticky: glutinous; adhesive; covered with an adhesive agent; humid; stiff
stiff: not moving or operating freely; lacking ease in bending; resistant
stingy: stinging; able to sting
stir: to mix gently with a spoon in a rotary motion
stoic: one who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain
stony: showing unfeeling resistance to tender feelings
strain: group of organisms within a species; tension; pressure
stretch: extend; pull in opposite directions; lie down comfortably
stride: step; pace; significant progress
stripes: rayas, lines
stroll: wander on foot; ramble idly or leisurely
struck: (used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

stubborn: unreasonably, often perversely unyielding; persistent; difficult to treat

stun: surprise greatly; amaze; make senseless or dizzy by or as if by a blow
stunt: difficult or unusual or dangerous feat usually done to gain attention
substantiate: establish by evidence; make firm or solid; support
sulky: silently resentful; disposed to keep aloof from society, or to repel the friendly advances
of others
supplant: replace; usurp; displace and substitute for another
surreptitious: secret; done or made by stealth, or without proper authority; made or
introduced fraudulently
swallow: take back what one has said ; enclose or envelop completely
swamp: low land that is seasonally flooded; low land region saturated with water
swath: a path or strip; the space created by the swing of a scythe or the cut of a mowing
machine
sway: swing; move back and forth or sideways; win approval or support for; convince
sweepings: the act of cleaning with a broom
thick: not thin
thigh: part of the leg between the hip and the knee
thorn: something that causes irritation; a sharp-pointed tip on a stem or leaf
thrifty: careful about money; economical
throw: up eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth
tickle: touch (the body) lightly so as to cause laughter; please
tide: periodic rise and fall of the sea level
torpor: state of mental or physical inactivity or insensibility; sluggishness; dormancy
touchy: tending to take offense with slight cause; oversensitive; requiring special tact or skill in
handling
trite: repeated too often; over familiar through overuse; worn out by use
trousers: (usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle,
covering each leg separately
trustworthy: dependable; reliable

tuckered: tired, exhausted

turd: obscene terms for feces
udder: mammary gland of bovids (cows and sheep and goats)
unassailable: impossible to assail; without flaws or loopholes
uncanny: strange; mysterious; peculiarly unsettling, as if of supernatural origin or nature
undergo: experience; suffer; pass through
underneath: under or below an object or a surface; lower down on the page
uniform: consistent; standardized; clothing of a particular group
unobstrusive: acting in a manner that does not attract attention
unpleasant: desagradable
unscathed: not injured or unharmed
untenable: indefensible; not able to be maintained
upbeat: pleasantly (even unrealistically) optimistic
upsetting: causing an emotional disturbance
vacillate: sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate
vanish: disappear; pass out of sight, especially quickly; die out
veal: flesh of a calf when killed and used for food
vex: annoy; disturb, especially by minor irritations; be a mystery or bewildering to
vilify: debase; degrade; spread negative information about
vogue: popular fashion; current state or style of general acceptance and use
voluminous: large in volume or bulk; large in number or quantity, especially of discourse
voracious: ravenous; excessively greedy and grasping; devouring or craving food in great
quantities
waist: narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
wart: (pathology) a firm abnormal elevated blemish on the skin
wax: increase gradually in size, number, strength, or intensity; show a progressively larger
illuminated area

weave: pattern or structure by weaving ; knit; interlace

wedge: a piece of metal, or other hard material, thick at one end, and tapering to a thin edge
at the other, used in splitting wood, rocks
weeds: any plant that grows where yhou dont want it to
weird: queer; of a strikingly odd or unusual character; strange
welfare: benefit; something that aids health or happiness
whalebone: a horny material from the upper jaws of certain whales
whinning: crying like a child
whipping: beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment
wholly: completely.
widen: extend in scope or range or area
wilted: to become limp from lack of water or too much heat
wisdom: quality of being wise; knowledge ; results of wise judgments
wise: having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
wool: dense, soft, often curly hair forming the coat of sheep and certain other mammals
worthy: having high moral qualities
wreck: destruction; destroy; smash or break forcefully
wriggle: to twist to and from; to squirm
writhe: move in twisting or contorted motion; contort in pain