Wordsmyth S.A.T.

Dictionary
The Wordsmyh S.A.T. Dictionary includes the 2000 words that appear most frequently on the S.A.T. tests. The
selection of words was based on a frequency analysis of 10 years of S.A.T. tests. The most frequent words are
marked with an asterick ("*"). There are many ways to use this vocabulary in your study process. The most
important meaning is given, but there are additional meanings of many of these words.

A
abase, n.
(opp.: exalt)
to bring down the status or reputation of; degrade.
abasement, n.

abash, v.
(opp.: embolden)
to cause to feel embarrassed or uneasy: He was abashed at having been so wrong.
abashed, adj.

abbreviate, v.
to shorten in length or duration: They had an abbreviated class because of the holiday.
abbreviated, adj.

abdicate, v.
to give up or refuse to fulfill a responsibility or position of power: The king abdicated the throne.

aberration, n.
a straying from normal functioning; irregularity: aberrations in the airplane's path of flight.
aberrant, aberrational, adj.

abhor, v.
(opp.: adore)
to regard with hatred, horror, or intense loathing: I abhor lima beans.
abhorrence, n.; abhorrent, adj.

abject, adj.
without pride; humble; wretched: He made an abject apology for the wrong.
abjectness, n.

abode, n.
a dwelling place: His summer abode is near the lake.

abolish, v.
(opp.: establish)
to do away with; end; destroy: Lincoln abolished slavery.
abolition, abolitionist, n.

abominable, adj.
(opp.: admirable)
deserving of disgust, or extremely unpleasant: an abominable murder.
abominate, v.; abomination, n.

abort, v.
to end or cause to end before completion or full growth: The rocket launch was aborted; an abortive attempt to
read all of the Bible.
aborted, abortive, adj.; abortion, n.

abound, v.
to be or grow in a large number or amount; teem: Rabbits abound in these woods.
abundant, adj.

abrasive, adj.
causing to wear away or become irritated: an abrasive cleaner; abrasive manners.
abrade, v.; abrasion, n.

abridge, v.
(opp.: extend)
1. to shorten while retaining content: an abridged dictionary. 2. to restrict or deprive: abridged privileges.
abridged, adj.; abridgement, n.

abrogate, v.
to abolish, repeal, or set aside: Congress abrogated the treaty.
abrogative, adj.

abscond, v.
to leave suddenly and secretly, esp. to avoid capture: He absconded with the stolen goods.

absolve, v.
to free or release from blame, guilt, responsibility, or obligation: He was absolved of his duty.
absolution, n.

abstain, v.
(opp.: indulge)
to choose to refrain from something: Abstain from drinking; Don't abstain from voting.
abstention, n.; abstinence, n.; abstinent, adj.

abstemious, adj.
(opp.: gluttonous)
eating or drinking in controlled or moderate amounts; temperate: The model had to be abstemious to keep her
figure.

** abstract, adj.
(opp.: concrete)
1. not concerning things that are visible, touchable, or hearable: "Faith" is an abstract word. 2. not practical or
applied; theoretical: abstract reasoning.
abstracted, adj.; abstraction, n.

abstruse, adj.
difficult to understand, as a subject, book, etc.

absurd, adj.
contrary to rational thought; illogical; ridiculous: The absurd idea of flying by flapping one's arms.
absurdity, n.

** abuse, v.,n.
(to subject to) incorrect, improper, offensive, or injurious treatment or use: He abused his privileges by staying
out past curfew.
abusive, adj.

abysmal, adj.
(opp.: lofty, sublime)
1. of great extent; deep; extreme: abysmal selfishness. 2. very bad: an abysmal movie.
accelerate, v.
(opp.: decelerate)
to increase or cause to increase the speed or rate of something: the car accelerated; an accelerated heartbeat.
accelerated, adj.

accentuate, v.
(opp.: downplay)
to emphasize or stress: She accentuated her strong points at the interview.

access, n.
a way of entering, or the right to enter or use: There were two accesses to the house; She had access to the
school's computers.
accessible, adj.

acclaim, v.,n.
(to give) enthusiastic approval or applause: Critics have acclaimed his new novel; The acclaim made all the
hard work worthwhile.
acclamation, n.

acclimate, v.
to become or cause to become used to a new situation or climate: They quickly acclimated to the cold weather.
acclimated, adj.

accolade, n.
(opp.: rebuke, vilification)
an expression of approval; honor; award: He received many accolades for his work.

accomplice, n.
one who helps another commit a crime or wrongful act: an accomplice to the murder.
** accomplished, adj.
(opp.: inept)
having much talent, skill, or expertise: She was an accomplished musician.
accomplish, v.; accomplishment, n.

accord, v.,n.
(opp.: discord)
1. (to be in) agreement, harmony, or cooperation: The students and teachers were in accord on the issue. 2. to
grant as proper; bestow upon: He was accorded the right to vote.
accordance, n.

accost, v.
to approach and speak first to, often aggressively or sexually: He accosted her in the hallway.

accrue, v.
(opp.: diminish, dissipate)
to come about by natural growth or accumulation: Interest accrues in a savings account.
accrual, n.

acerbic, adj.
having a sharp, bitter, or astringent manner or taste: Vinegar has an acerbic flavor; an acerbic sense of humor.
acerbity, n.

acknowledge, v.
(opp.: deny, repudiate)
1. to admit, recognize, or be aware of the existence, truth, or receipt of something: We acknowledge your right
to speak. 2. to show thanks for; appreciate.
acknowledged, adj.; acknowledgement, n.
acme, n.
(opp.: nadir)
the highest point, as in success or perfection; pinnacle: Becoming a senator was the acme of his political career.

** acquiesce, v.
(opp.: dissent, rebel)
to agree passively; comply; consent: He acquiesced without a complaint.
acquiescence, n.; acquiescent, adj.

acquit, v.
(opp.: convict)
1. to clear someone of breaking a rule or law. 2. to behave in the correct or required manner: He acquitted
himself well at the interview.
acquittal, n.

acrimonious, adj.
(opp.: harmonious)
characterized by bitter or harsh speech or manners: an acrimonious divorce.
acrimony, n.

acuity, n.
(opp.: obtuseness)
sharpness or keenness of sight, understanding, etc.: the acuity of her comments on my paper.

acumen, n.
superior insight, esp. in practical matters: Her business acumen got her promoted quickly.

adage, n.
an old familiar saying that expresses folk wisdom; proverb.

adamant, adj.
(opp.: accommodating, tractable)
unbending in response to any request or argument; unyielding: adamant in his refusal.

** adapt, v.
to make or become fit for a particular need or condition; adjust: The children adapted well to their new school;
a movie adapted for TV.
adaptable, adj.; adaptation, n.

adhere, v.
to stick to, follow closely, or maintain loyalty to: We adhered to the rules; adhesive substances.
adherence, adherent, adhesion, n.; adhesive, adj.

adjacent, adj.
near or next to; adjoining: The adjacent lot is a ballfield.
adjacency, n.

administration, n.
the act of, those in charge of, or a period of directing or managing something: school administration; the
Reagan administration.
administer, v.; administrative, adj.

admonish, v.
to warn, criticize firmly, or remind of a duty: The teacher admonished the students to complete their homework.
admonition, n.

adopt, v.
(opp.: disown, reject)
to take on as one's own (a manner, style, point of view, etc.): He's adopted his wife's love of theater.
adoption, n.
adorn, v.
(opp.: disfigure)
to beautify or enhance, as with ornaments: A vivid flower adorned her hair.
adornment, n.

adroit, adj.
(opp.: inept)
clever or skillful with the mind or body: adroit in managing several tasks at once.
adroitness, n.

adulation, v.
(opp.: censure, condemnation)
excessive praise, devotion, or admiration: the crowd's adulation of the rock star.
adulate, v.; adulatory, adj.

adulterate, v.
(opp.: purify)
to lessen the purity or quality of by adding something harmful or inferior: Chemical additives adulterated the
taste of the city water.
adulterant, n., adj.

advent, n.
(opp.: departure)
arrival or coming about: With the advent of test week, I'm already exhausted.

adversary, n.
(opp.: ally)
someone or something opposed to another; enemy; opponent: His adversary blocked his every effort.
adversarial, adj.

adverse, adj.
(opp.: agreeable, favorable)
acting against; opposing; harmful: The members were adverse to the president's plan; Adverse weather
prevented the trip.
adversity, n.

** advocate, v., n.
(opp.: opponent)
(to be) one who urges support or acceptance of a law, action, etc.: Some people advocate capital punishment.
advocacy, n.

aegis, n.
support or protection; sponsorship: Under the aegis of the town's leading citizens, he ran for mayor.

** aesthetic or esthetic, adj.

1. concerning beauty of form in works of art or design, as in literature, music, architecture, etc.: a strong
aesthetic sense. 2. of or concerning the criticism of art: aesthetic theories.
aesthete, n.; aestheticism, n.

affable, adj.
(opp.: surly)
easy to know; warm and friendly; cordial: Her affability won her the job.
affability, n.

affinity, n.
(opp.: antipathy, aversion)
a natural liking for or tendency toward: an affinity for her in-laws; an affinity for getting into trouble.

afflict, v.
(opp.: relieve)
to affect in a painful or distressful way: afflicted with one misfortune after another.
affliction, n.; afflictive, adj.

agenda, n.
a list of things to be done or acted upon in some way: the agenda for the club meeting.

aggravate, v.
(opp.: alleviate, mitigate)
to make worse, or to annoy; irritate: The sore was aggravated by the child's scratching; His laziness aggravated
us.
aggravated, aggravating, adj.

aggregation, n.
(opp.: segregation)
a combination, sum, or composite of separate or various elements: The aggregation of our various talents
should benefit the project.
aggregate, n., v., adj.

aggressive, adj.
(opp.: reticent, retiring)
hostile in actions; forceful or assertive: His aggressive manner got the job done more quickly.
aggress, v.; aggression, aggressor, n.

aghast, adj.
amazed or shocked; dismayed or terrified: He was aghast that his son had killed someone.

agitate, v.
(opp.: pacify)
to work up or arouse, as public support; to upset or excite, esp. emotionally: Union members agitated for better
working conditions; Their aggressiveness agitated me.

agnostic, n.
one who does not believe one way or the other as to the existence of God, and denies that such knowledge is
possible.
agnosticism, n.

agrarian, adj.
(opp.: industrial)
having to do with land, farmers, or agriculture: an agrarian way of life.

agriculture, n.
the science and art of raising crops and livestock; farming.
agricultural, adj.

ailment, n.
a sickness or disorder, usu. physical; illness: The ailment prevented him from leaving on time.
ail, v.; ailing, adj.

akin, adj.
similar in nature: In some religions, suicide is akin to murder.

alacrity, n.
(opp.: averseness, reluctance)
willingness; enthusiasm; brisk energy: She completed her chores with alacrity.
alchemy, n.
1. in medieval times, the attempt to perform wonders, such as changing lead to gold, by chemical means. 2. a
seemingly magical process or change: The alchemy by which he changed a hostile crowd into fans.
alchemist, n.

** alien, n.; adj.

(one who is) not a citizen where he lives; foreigner; (someone or something) strange or opposed in nature: This
way of courting is alien to our culture.
alienate, v.
to cause to turn away or feel unwanted; make hostile: His self-centeredness alienated his classmates.

allay, v.
(opp.: aggravate)
to still, put to rest, or make lighter, as pain, fear, grief, etc.: Her soothing words allayed my anxiety.

allege, v.
to say or affirm positively, or to assert without proof; give as an excuse or plea: He alleged his innocence
throughout the trial.
allegation, n.; alleged, adj.

allegory, n.
the presentation of ideas, principles, etc. by the symbolic use of characters, things, and happenings, as in a
story: In this allegory, the pearl stands for man's purest motives.
allegorical, adj.; allegorize, v.

alleviate, v.
(opp.: aggravate)
to make more bearable; ease: A good nurse alleviates suffering.

alloy, n.
a metallic substance made by combining two or more metals.

alloy, v.
to make less pure by the addition of some element, quality, feeling, etc.; adulterate: A sense of sadness alloyed
his triumph.

allusion, n.
a reference, often casual or incidental, as to some other written work, time, incident, person, etc.: The poem
contained many allusions to Biblical stories.
allude, v.; allusive, adj.

aloof, adj.
distant, removed, or detached; indifferent: His manner was aloof until he met a fellow intellect.

alter, v.
to make different; change: They altered their course of action.
alterable, adj.; alteration, n.

altercation, n.
a loud or angry argument or quarrel: The cop broke up an altercation in the bar.

alternative, adj., n.
(allowing) a different choice, or (presenting) an option: a good alternative to the traditional system; an
alternative plan of action.
alternate, v., adj.

altruism, n.
(opp.: egoism)
unselfishly valuing the welfare of others before one's own interest or profit: Many religious leaders preach
altruism.
altruist, n.; altruistic, adj.

amass, v.
(opp.: disperse)
to gather or accumulate into a large amount: They amassed great wealth.

ambience, n.
the feeling or atmosphere present, as in a setting or environment: The ambience of the meeting hall was one of
positive expectation.
ambient, adj.

** ambiguous, adj.
(opp.: unambiguous)
having two or more possible meanings or interpretations; unclear; uncertain: an ambiguous answer; an
ambiguous situation.
ambiguity, ambiguousness, n.

ambivalent, adj.
(opp.: unwavering)
having conflicting feelings, such as love and hate, toward a person, thing, or situation; indecisive: ambivalent
emotions concerning graduation.
ambivalence, n.

ambulatory, adj.
able to walk about, or moving from place to place: an ambulatory hospital patient.
ambulate, v.

ameliorate, v.
to make or become better; improve: Medical supplies would ameliorate their situation.
ameliorative, adj.

amenable, adj.
(opp.: intractable)
willing to go along with or be influenced: She is amenable to our suggestions.
amenability, n.

amend, v.
to correct or make improvements in; rectify: We will amend our bylaws to allow younger members.
amendable, adj.; amendment, amends, n.

** amiable, adj.
(opp.: antagonistic, hostile)
having or showing friendliness; congenial: an amiable young man; an amiable relationship.
amiability, n.; amiably, adv.

amicable, adj.
(opp.: inimical, unamicable)
expressing friendliness and good will: an amicable family reunion.

amity, n.
(opp.: enmity)
friendly and peaceful relations: We strive for amity between neighboring nations.
amnesty, n.
the general giving of pardon for offenses against the government: The President declared amnesty for that
group of soldiers.
amoral, adj.
(opp.: moral)
without standards of right and wrong; neither moral nor immoral: The mentally impaired have some excuse to
be amoral.
amorality, n.

amorous, adj.
loving, in a romantic or sexual way: an amorous poem to his girlfriend.

amorphous, adj.
lacking definite form, character, or structure: The amorphous mass in the boat was a dead jellyfish.

ample, adj.
(opp.: insufficient)
enough or more than enough in size, capacity, or amount: These furnishings are ample for the apartment.
ampleness, amplitude, n.

amplify, v.
(opp.: abbreviate, reduce)
to make larger or greater, or to expand upon or make clearer: I will amplify my talk with illustrations.
amplification, n.

anachronism, n.
a person, event, thing, etc. not placed or being in its proper time: A clock in a play about ancient Rome is an
anachronism.
anachronistic, adj.

analogy, n.
a similarity or likeness between things otherwise different: the analogy between winter and death; He drew an
analogy between prejudice and cancer.
analogous, adj.

** analyze, v.
(opp.: synthesize)
to separate into parts for close examining; study and explain: They analyzed the debris for the cause of the
explosion; his analysis of the enrollment decline.
analysis, analyses (pl.), n.; analytical, adj.

anarchism, n.
a view or theory supporting the elimination of government to achieve political and social freedom, or violence
toward this end: Anarchism destroyed the newly formed nation.
anarchist, n.; anarchistic, adj.
anarchy, n.
1. absence of government or law, or disorder resulting from such an absence: A period of anarchy occurred after
the revolution. 2. a state of confusion or chaos.
anarchic, adj.

anatomy, n.
the structure of an organism or of its parts; a detailed or thorough analysis: Your anatomy of our military
strategy is quite perceptive.
anatomical, adj.; anatomize, v.

ancillary, adj.
(opp.: primary)
secondary; helpful in an additional but not essential way: The pay is ancillary to job satisfaction, claimed the
wealthy heir.
anecdote, n.
a brief account of a funny or interesting incident.
anecdotal, adj.

anesthetic (anaesthetic), n.
a drug causing numbness or anesthesia in the whole of or a part of the body: The anesthetic was almost
immediately effective.
anesthesia, anesthetist, n.

anguish, v., n.
(to cause or suffer) extreme pain or distress: her anguish at her mother's death.
anguished, adj.

angular, adj.
(opp.: curved, graceful)
having angles or sharp, pointed lines; without smoothness of movement: an angular jaw; an angular posture at
bat.
angularity, n.

animate, v., adj.

(opp.: inanimate)
(to make) alive or spirited; (cause or inspire someone or something to be) moving or vivacious: The good news
instantly animated her blank face.
animated, adj., animation, n.

animosity, n.
(opp.: amicability)
open or active hostility: I have no animosity toward my critics.

annals, n.
records of events given in order by years; historical records: a significant year in the annals of medicine.

annex, v., n.
(to add or attach, esp. to something larger) an added physical structure, piece of land, or written material: He
annexed several acres to the city park.
annexation, n.

annul, v.
(opp.: effectuate)
to make ineffective or no longer valid; cancel: Their marriage was annulled a week after the wedding.
annulment, n.

anoint, v.
to rub an oil or oily substance on, sometimes as a symbol of sacredness.
anointment, n.

anonymous, adj.
of unknown identity, as an author or donor: an anonymous poem; an anonymous giver.
anonymity, n.

** antagonism, n.
(opp.: amicability)
a feeling or condition of being opposed; hostility; hatred; enmity.
antagonistic, adj.; antagonize, v.

antecedent, n.
(opp.: successor)
something that has gone or come before, as a happening, situation, issue, etc.: That invention was an
antecedent to television.
antecedence, n.

antediluvian, adj.
hopelessly old-fashioned; primitive; outdated: The new styles make my old wardrobe look antediluvian.

anthology, n.
a collection of similar literary works by one or more authors: my favorite anthology of short stories.
anthologist, n.; anthologize, v.

anthropology, n.
the study of mankind in relation to beginnings, development, social structures, and cultures.
anthropological, adj.; anthropologist, n.

anticipate, v.
to look forward to or expect, or to fulfill in advance: A good secretary anticipates her boss's needs.
anticipation, n.; anticipatory, adj.

anticlimactic, adj.
(opp.: climactic)
disappointingly weak or ordinary, compared to built-up expectations; moving suddenly from very important to
insignificant ideas in talk or writing: The movie's ending was anticlimactic for me.
anticlimax, n.

antidote, n.
a substance that works against poison, or anything that acts as a remedy: Exercise is a good antidote for
sluggishness.
antidotal, adj.

antipathy, n.
(opp.: empathy, sympathy)
a strong and sure dislike; aversion: an antipathy toward prejudice.
antipathetic, adj.

antiquity, n.
(opp.: modernity)
ancient times, esp. before the Middle Ages; being ancient: the antiquity of the Greek ruins.

antiseptic, adj.
(opp.: septic)
able to kill germs; exceedingly clean and orderly: an antiseptic work environment.
antisepsis, n.

** apathy, n.
(opp.: zeal)
lack of interest, feeling, or concern; indifference: Because of their apathy, some people don't vote.
apathetic, adj.

aphorism, n.
a short saying expressing a general truth; proverb such as "Waste not, want not."
aphoristic, adj.

aplomb, n.
(opp.: tremulousness)
complete lack of nervousness; self-assurance; poise: Her aplomb during the contest impressed the judges.

apocalyptic, adj.
revealing or disclosing, esp. of great matters such as the coming end of the world: apocalyptic science fiction
novels.
apocalypse, n.

apocryphal, adj.
of doubtful or unknown origin or authorship: an apocryphal legend.

appall, v.
(opp.: elate, encourage)
to cause to feel horror, shock, dismay, etc.: His speech appalled the audience.
appalled, appalling, adj.

apparel, n.
clothing, or that which covers or decorates: the woods in their brilliant fall apparel.

appease, v.
(opp.: inflame)
to cause to become calmer or more satisfied, esp. by yielding to demands; placate: We can't appease everyone
who has a complaint.
appeasable, adj.; appeasement, n.

application, n.
1. the act of putting to use, or applying a substance; earnest effort: an application of oil; the application of force
to mechanical joints. 2. a request, usu. written, for a job, admission, etc.
apply, v.

appraise, v.
to determine the quality, nature, or value of: He appraised the performance as amateurish.
appraisal, appraiser, appraisement, n.

applaud, v.
(opp.: censure)
to clap hands, or to give approval or praise: The townspeople applauded his heroic service to the community.
applause, n.

** appreciate, v.
(opp.: deprecate, depreciate)
1. to be thankful for, or know the value of: She appreciated fine clothes. 2. to increase in monetary value:
Antique cars appreciate greatly.
appreciable, appreciative, adj.

apprehensive, adj.
(opp.: sanguine)
feeling anxiety about future events: I was apprehensive about going to the dentist.
apprehension, n.

approbatory, adj.
(opp.: disapproving)
showing approval; commendatory: an approbatory speech.
approbation, n.; approbative, adj.

** approve, v.
(opp.: disapprove)
to consider good or right, or to give official sanction to: They approved the legislation overwhelmingly.
approval, n.; approved, approving, adj.

approximate, adj.
very nearly as expected or required; near, close, or similar: an amount approximate to that desired;
Approximate timing will be okay.
approximation, n.

aquatic, adj.
(opp.: terrestrial)
having to do with, or living in or growing on, the water: aquatic races; aquatic plants and animals.

arable, adj.
(opp.: barren)
able to yield crops when cultivated: Severe drought will ruin this arable farmland.
arability, n.

arbitrary, adj.
resulting from one's own will, choice, or impulse rather than fairness or reason; self-ruling, without legal
restrictions: an arbitrary, quick decision to get rid of us; a number chosen arbitrarily.

arbitrate, v.
to decide, as one given authority to judge: He has arbitrated in many labor-management disputes.
arbitrable, adj.; arbitrator, n.

archaic, adj.
of or similar to things or ways of ancient times; antiquated: It seems archaic to grind one's own flour, but some
do.
archaism, n.

archipelago, n.
a large body of water containing many islands, or a group of islands: the most scenic archipelago in the South
Pacific.
archipelagic, adj.

archives, n.
the information or records having to do with an institution, group, or historical person; or the place where these
are kept: archives of the space museum.
archival, adj., archivist, n.

ardent, adj.
(opp.: apathetic)
having strong feelings such as passion, devotion, or desire; fervent or forceful: his ardent belief in that cause;
an ardent plea for mercy.
ardor, n.

arduous, adj.
(opp.: effortless)
involving great difficulty or endurance; laborious; strenuous: an arduous attempt to overcome his handicap.
arduousness, n.

arid, adj.
(opp.: humid)
1. extremely dry or parched, as land: the arid desert. 2. lacking imagination or feeling; dull: Statistics can be an
arid topic.
aridity, n.

aromatic, adj.
(opp.: fetid, malodorous)
having a pleasing or sweet smell or fragrance: an aromatic blend of coffee.
aroma, n.

arrogant, adj.
(opp.: humble)
having or showing an offensive attitude of superiority or self-importance; haughty: an arrogant nobleman; an
arrogant sneer.
arrogance, n.

articulate, adj.
(opp.: inarticulate)
speaking or spoken with clearness and skill: an articulate spokesman; an articulate argument.
articulateness, articulation, n.

arsenal, n.
a building where weapons, ammunition, etc. are made or stored, or any supply or store of something suggesting
weapons: an arsenal of jokes for any occasion.

artificial, adj.
(opp.: genuine, natural)
made by man; imitating something natural: an artificial diamond; artificial laughter at the jokes.
artificiality, n.

artless, adj.
(opp.: artful)
free of pretense or deceit; simple and natural; lacking skill: Her artless style of writing was refreshing; He
handled the matter artlessly, hurting their feelings.
artlessness, n.

** ascend, v.
(opp,: descend)
to go, or to slope, upward; rise; move to a higher position: He ascended rapidly in the military ranks.
ascendant, ascending, adj.

ascetic, n., adj.

(opp.: self-indulgent)
(one who is) self-denying and severely self-disciplined; without normal pleasures and comforts; austere: He
seemed to be content with the ascetic furnishings.
asceticism, n.

ascribe, v.
to regard or suppose as coming from, or belonging to, a person, cause, source, etc.: We ascribed those writings
to the Romans; ascribing honor to our parents.
ascribable, adj., ascription, n.

aspect, n.
that side of something seen by a viewer; an element or part: the front aspect of the monument; a difficult aspect
of the problem.

aspire, v.
to want strongly; have as an aim: aspiring to be a missionary doctor.
aspiration, n.,; aspiring, adj.

assassinate, v.
to murder, esp. an important person for money or because of strong beliefs, or to destroy or severely degrade:
She publicly assassinated his character.
assassin, n.

assault, v., n.
(to make) a violent physical or verbal attack, or one staged by the military: an assault on American values.

assert, v.
(opp.: deny)
to put forward with force or confidence; defend or maintain: He asserted his friend's innocence.
assertion, n.; assertive, adj.

assess, v.
to establish or judge the amount, extent, or nature of something or someone: After the storm we assessed the
damage to our house; my assessment of his abilities.
assessment, n.

asset, n.
(opp.: liability)
a useful or valuable quality or thing; property exchangeable for cash: Good study habits are an asset to a
student.

assiduous, adj.
(opp.: lackadaisical, perfunctory)
with constant attention; diligent; persevering: the proofreader's assiduous search for error.
assiduity, n.

assuage, v.
(opp.: aggravate, intensify)
to make less severe or more bearable; relieve; alleviate: His sympathy assuaged my sorrow.

** assume, v.
1. to suppose to be true; take for granted: I assumed he was telling the truth. 2. to take on as a duty or role, or to
make a pretense of doing so: He assumed leadership efficiently; They merely assumed interest in the subject.
assumed, adj., assumption, n.; assumptive, adj.

assure, v.
to say with force or surety; cause to feel, or make, certain; guarantee: He assured me of his support; The
contract assures continual service.
assurance, n.; assured, adj.

asteroid, n.
any of thousands of very small planets having orbits usu. between those of Mars and Jupiter; planetoid.
asteroidal, adj.

astound, v.
to fill with amazement; surprise or astonish: I am astounded at your great fortune.
astounding, adj.

astronomy, n.
the study of the universe beyond the earth's atmosphere.
astronomer, n.; astronomical, adj.

astute, adj.
(opp.: injudicious)
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd: an astute business decision.
astuteness, n.

asylum, n.
a place of care for such as the mentally ill or orphans, or a place of safety and protection for political refugees;
sanctuary: Our nation has given asylum to many.

atheist, n.
(opp.: theist)
one who believes there is no God.
atheism, n.; atheistic, adj.
** atmosphere, n.
gases surrounding any planet or the air of a certain place; a present influence or a feeling or mood: a cozy
atmosphere in your home; a depressing atmosphere created by this painting.
atmospheric, adj.

atone, v.
to make up for a sin, crime, error, etc.: He atoned for his rudeness with a note of apology.
atonement, n.

atrophy, v., n.
(to cause or experience) a gradual wasting away or degeneration: Disuse atrophied her arm; a case of moral
atrophy.
atrophic, adj.

attain, v.
to get by effort, or to arrive at: He attained wisdom; to attain manhood.
attainment, n.

attentive, adj.
(opp.: inattentive)
carefully observant; thoughtful and considerate of others' needs: attentive to details; attentive to his elderly
parents.
attend, v.; attention, n.

attire, v., n.
(to put on) clothing, esp. fancy or elegant garments: formal attire.

** attribute, v., n.
(to regard) a characteristic, quality, item, or situation (as having come from or belonging to): I attribute the bad
weather to pollution; Understanding is her mother's finest attribute; We attribute this epistle to Paul.
attributable, adj.; attribution, n.

atypical, adj.
not like others of the same group or type; unusual: This plant was atypical in its shape.

audacity, n.
(opp.: timidity)
boldness and daring, or unconcern for proper social or legal behavior; insolence: the audacity to lie under oath.
audacious, adj.

auditory, adj.
of or concerning hearing or sound: the auditory nerves.

augment, v.
(opp.: diminish)
to make to become greater in size, degree, or amount: He augments his income with a second job.
augmentation, n.
augury, n.
a sign for the future; omen: an augury of success at college.
augur, v.

auspicious, adj.
(opp.: inauspicious)
likely to be followed by favorable events: an auspicious beginning.

austere, adj.
(opp.: luxurious, sumptuous)
limited to only what is strictly necessary; simple and plain; severe: an austere lifestyle; an austere manner of
dress.
austerity, n.

** authentic, adj.
real, genuine, or valid: an authentic genius; an authentic Picasso painting.
authentically, adv.; authenticate, v.; authenticity, n.

authoritarian, adj.
(opp.: democratic)
demanding complete obedience without concern for individual rights; domineering: an authoritarian
government; authoritarian leaders.
authoritarianism, n.

** authority, n.
1. the right or power to give orders, make decision, or demand obedience; one who lawfully holds this power.
2. a source of expert information: an authority on the use of herbs. 3. force of execution; mastery: He plays the
piano with great authority.
authoritative, adj.

authorize, v.
to give permission or authority to or for (someone or something): I authorized him to decide; She authorized
that change in policy.
authorization, n.; authorized, adj.

autobiography, n.
a person's own written account of his or her life.
autobiographer, n.; autobiographical, adj.

autocrat, n.
one who rules with absolute power; despot; any domineering person having unlimited power: The owner of the
new company soon became an autocrat.
autocracy, n.; autocratic, adj.

autonomy, n.
(opp.: dependence)
freedom and independence; self-governance: His job autonomy grew with his capability.
autonomous, adj.

avalanche, n.
a sudden rush of much snow, ice, or rocks downward, or a sudden flowing in of anything: an avalanche of
phone calls.

avarice, n.
(opp.: philanthropy)
an excessive desire to pile up riches; greed: His avarice corrupted his entire character.
avaricious, adj.

avenge, v.
to inflict punishment or cause suffering to pay (someone) back: She avenged the cruelty done to her little
brother.
avenger, n.

averse, adj.
(opp.: amenable)
strongly against or opposed; unwilling: She was averse to dancing.
aversion, n.

aviary, n.
a large structure designed to house birds.

awe, v., n.
(to cause) a strong feeling of wonder or fear: She felt awe at meeting the famous actor; The sight awed them.
awesome, awful, adj.

axis, n.
a straight line that serves as the unmoving center about which a body or figure turns.
axes, pl.n.

B
bacteria, n.
any of various kinds of single-cell organisms having different shapes and often causing disease.
bacterial, adj., bacterium, sing. n.

** baffle, v.
1. to cause to be confused or frustrated; bewilder; perplex; confound: The defendant's persistent silence baffled
the judge.
2. to obstruct the movement of, as sound waves, gases, or liquid.
bafflement, n., baffling, adj.

balm, n.
(opp.: irritant)
any soothing, healing ointment or influence: lip balm.
balmy, adj.

banal, adj.
lacking originality or liveliness; disappointingly ordinary; trite: the banal observation that people aren't all
alike.
banality, n.

bane, n.
something or someone that causes great trouble: He was the bane of my life at school.
baneful, adj.

banish, v.
to force or cast out or away; exile: She was banished from the room.
banishment, n.

ban, v., n.
1. to forbid, usu. officially: The school board banned the book.
2. a law or rule that forbids something: a ban on smoking in public places.

barbaric, adj.
of or resembling an uncivilized person; lacking manners; crude: a barbaric haircut.
barbarian, barbarism, barbarity, n.

barren, adj.
(opp.: fecund, prolific)
1. incapable of producing (children, plants, etc.); unproductive: a barren woman; rocky, barren land. 2. lacking
or empty; uninteresting: a novel barren of suspense; a barren personality.

bask, v.
to lie in, experience, and enjoy warmth, comfort, approval, etc.: He basked in the approval of his family.
bastion, n.
a safeguard or a fortified or well-protected principle, idea, position, or area: a bastion of justice.

baton, n.
a thin rod, stick, or staff used by athletes, orchestra conductors, etc.

beckon, v.
to signal to approach; attract: The sea beckoned us.
beckoning, adj.

bedeck, v.
to dress or decorate in a showy way: We bedecked our Christmas tree with gold ribbon.

befuddle, v.
to confuse or mislead: I was befuddled by all the choices.
befuddlement, n.

beleaguer, v.
to attack by surrounding with troops; to harass with difficulties: Beleaguered by the problems at work, he had
no time for his family.
beleaguered, adj.

belie, v.
to give a false impression of, or to reveal the falseness of; contradict: The simple look of the dress belied the
actual cost.

belittle, v.
(opp.: exaggerate, magnify)
to make (someone or something) seem less in size, value, or importance: He belittled my contribution to the
project.
belittlement, n.

bemoan, v.
(opp.: rejoice)
to grieve over, express pity for, or lament: He bemoaned the loss of his pet.

bemuse, v.
to confuse or bewilder (someone): The subway system bemused her with all its routes.

benefactor, n.
(opp.: malefactor)
one who helps a person or institution, esp. by giving money.

** benefit, v., n.
(to give, do, or receive) something that provides an advantage or service, esp. one that makes life better: the
benefits of exercise; laws to benefit the poor.
beneficial, adj.

** benevolence, n.
(opp.: malevolence)
the act of benefiting others; good will; kindness: his benevolence to his neighbors.
benevolent, adj.

benign, adj.
(opp.: malign)
of a kind or gently nature; favorable; beneficial: a benign old man; a benign climate.
benignity, n.
bequeath, v.
(opp.: inherit)
to leave or transfer property, ideas, etc., often by a will: He bequeathed his cars to his son; the freedom
bequeathed to us by our ancestors.
bequest, n.

beset, v.
to set upon from all sides; trouble constantly; harass: Problems beset her at every turn.
besetting, adj.

bestial, adj.
like a beast, esp. in brutality or lack of intelligence: She hated his bestial manners.
bestiality, n.

betoken, v.
to be a token or sign of: a ring that betokens love.

betray, v.
to be disloyal to, be unfaithful to, or reveal unintentionally: Her tears betrayed her emotions.
betrayal, n.

bevy, n.
a large often noisy group of birds, people, or other animals:
a bevy of quail; a bevy of young girls.

bewilder, v.
(opp.: enlighten)
to confuse or befuddle, esp. with too many or conflicting alternatives: I was bewildered by all my choices.
bewildered, adj.; bewilderment, n.

bias, n.
an inclination or preference that influences judgment; prejudice: a racial bias; his bias in favor of city life.
biased, adj.

billow, v., n.
(to swell or cause to swell like) a large wave or something resembling a wave: The wind billowed the sails of
the ship.
billowing, adj.

biology, n.
the scientific study of the life processes, growth, development, and functioning of a living thing or group of
living things.
biological, adj.; biologist, n.

bizarre, adj.
(opp.: commonplace, inconspicuous)
strikingly odd or unusual, esp. in appearance or behavior: a bizarre costume.

blanch, v.
to make or turn pale; remove color from: He blanches at the sight of blood.
blanched, adj.

bland, adj.
1. gentle in effect; inoffensive; dull: a bland diet; a bland smile of innocence. 2. unfeeling or indifferent: his
bland disregard of others' feelings.

blandishment, n.
a remark or action meant to flatter or coax; cajolery: Despite our blandishments, he wouldn't lend us his car.

blasphemy, n.
speaking with disrespect or irreverence of God or sacred things.
blaspheme, v.; blasphemer, n.; blasphemous, adj.

blatant, adj.
(opp.: subtle)
completely obvious or readily seen, often in an offensive way: a blatant dislike of children; a blatant violation of
the rules.
blatancy, n.

blight, v., n.
(to act as) a harmful or ruinous force, disease, etc.: potato blight; Lack of money blighted her plans.

bliss, n.
extreme or supreme happiness: the bliss of a first love.
blissful, adj.

blithe, adj.
(opp.: melancholy, morose)
1. carefree and happy in manner or personality. 2. unconcerned or casual: a blithe disregard for the rules.

bloat, v.
(opp.: deflate)
1. to make or become swollen, as with air or water. 2. to inflate with feelings of vanity or pride: Success
bloated her ego.

bludgeon, v.
to force or bully; beat with a club-like weapon: He bludgeoned me into doing it his way.

blueprint, n.
a detailed drawing or plan: an architect's blueprint; a blueprint of her future.

blunder, v., n.
1. (to make) a careless, thoughtless, or stupid mistake: I blundered by getting the address wrong. 2. to act or
move without clear purpose: We blundered about in the fog.

blunt, adj.
1. having a dull edge or point; not sharp: a blunt instrument. 2. direct in manner; abrupt and frank: His blunt
questions got quickly to the point.

bolster, v.
to encourage or lend support to: Her smile bolstered me in those dark times.

bombastic, adj.
showy, high sounding, or pompous in speech or writing, but having little meaning, content, or importance: Her
bombastic speech about herself made everyone laugh.
bombast, n.

bondage, n.
(opp.: emancipation)
a state of being held in control by external forces; a state of slavery to another: the bondage of tradition.
bond, n., v.

boorish, adj.
(opp.: refined)
without manners; crude: boorish behavior at the table.
boor, n.

botany, n.
the scientific study of plants, or plant life in a particular area; flora.
botanical, adj.; botanist, n.

bounty, n.
generous giving or a gift: the bounties of a rich land.
bounteous, bountiful, adj.

bourgeois, adj.
of the middle class, or esp. concerned with respectability, comfort, and material possessions: His bourgeois
values shaped his lifestyle.
bourgeoisie, n.

boycott, v., n.
(to engage in) a refusal to buy or participate in, in order to protest or persuade: a boycott of grapes; Several
people boycotted the meeting.

braggart, n.
one who boasts a lot: That super athlete is also a braggart.

brawn, n.
large solid muscles, or strength: He used his brawn instead of his brain.
brawny, adj.

breadth, n.
distance from side to side, or extent or size; broadness: You can't measure the breadth of a mother's love.

brevity, n.
(opp.: lengthiness, longevity)
shortness, in time span or in written or spoken expression: the brevity of his life; the brevity of her remarks.

bridle, v.
1. to restrain or put limits on: He bridled his son's activities.
2. to draw (oneself) back, as in resentment or scorn: She bridled at the notion of mud-wrestling.

brilliant, adj.
(opp.: dull)
extremely bright, clear, sharp, or splendid, as a person's mind, an event, work of art, etc.: His brilliant
performance won him an Oscar.
brilliance, n.

brittle, adj.
easily broken, or difficult to deal with; inflexible: His brittle manner ruined the partnership.

broad-minded, adj.
(opp.: narrow-minded, parochial)
having unprejudiced views; tolerant or liberal: His broad-minded ways made him a permissive parent.

browbeat. v.
to bully or control by threatening words or actions: The coach tried to browbeat his team into winning.

buffet, v.
to hit or strike against: tree limbs buffeting the roof.

bulky, adj.
large in a clumsy or awkward way; cumbersome: a bulky package.
bulwark, n.
a wall-like defense structure, or anything or anyone providing strength, support, etc.: a bulwark against
communism.

buoyant, adj.
able to stay afloat, or showing a quickness to bounce back in spirit: She remained buoyant through many
difficulties.
buoyancy, n.

bureaucracy, n.
an organized group of hired officials, esp. governmental; a system of running things with too much routine and
hard, fast rules: The bureaucracy often seems to lack efficiency.
bureaucrat, n.; bureaucratic, adj.

burgeon, v.
to start to grow, as a shoot, bud, etc.; grow or develop quickly: Her raw talents burgeoned into polished skills.
burgeoning, adj.

bustle, v., n.
(to engage in) rapid, energetic movement; (to move in) swarming abundance: The airport bustled with activity;
the bustle of city life.
bustling, adj.

bypass, v.
to go past or around; pass up or avoid: We bypassed Dallas; He bypassed his turn.

C
cacophonous, adj.
(opp.: soothing, harmonious)
sounding harsh or dissonant: a cacophonous clatter.
cacophony, n.

cajole, v.
to coax or persuade insistently, as by flattery or false promises: He cajoled the woman into buying the expensive
face cream.
cajolery, n.

calculate, v.
to compute mathematically, or to evaluate carefully: We calculated the cost.; a scheme calculated to make
money.
calculated, adj.

callous, adj.
(opp.: sensitive, sympathetic)
insensitive or unfeeling; hardhearted: a callous disregard for other's suffering.

callow, adj.
(opp.: mature)
lacking sophistication or judgment; inexperienced; immature: a callow young employee.

camouflage, v., n.
(to use) a method or material for concealment or disguise: a camouflaged soldier; Her smile was camouflage for
hurt feelings.
cancel, v.
to do away with; to make up for, compensate, or neutralize: The extra pay cancels out the extra distance.
cancellation, n.

** candid, adj.
(opp.: deceptive)
without deceiving or concealing; honest: a candid response.
candor, n.

canine, n., adj.

(an animal) of the dog family.

canny, adj.
difficult to fool or take advantage of; shrewd; clever: A canny mind helps a detective.

canvass, v.
to seek votes, contributions, or sales, as from a group or district; to conduct a survey: Voters were canvassed
concerning that issue.

capitalism, n.
(opp.:socialism)
an economic system of privately owned production and distribution systems, with prices mainly decided by
open competition in a free market.
capital, capitalist, n.; capitalistic, adj.

capitulate, v.
to surrender or give up; acquiesce: He capitulated to the victor's terms.

capricious, adj.
(opp.: steadfast)
changing, suddenly or without reason, in feeling, mood, action, etc.; erratic: The capricious young lady irritated
her fiance; a capricious wind.
caprice, n.

caricature, n.
a written or drawn and exaggerated version of a person or thing, done comically or critically: His caricatures
have made him famous as a political commentator.
caricaturist, n.

carnivore, n.
(opp.: herbivore)
a flesh-eating animal, esp. a meat-eating animal.
carnivorous, adj.

carping, adj.
finding fault; critical; complaining: his continuous carping ways.
carp, v.

castigate, v.
to punish or rebuke, esp. by harsh criticism; chastise: He was castigated because his carelessness endangered
lives.

catalyst, n.
an agent that causes an interaction without being affected itself: His call served as a catalyst for me to make my
decision quickly.
catalytic, adj.

catastrophe, n.
a disaster with widespread effects; calamity: Opening night was a catastrophe for the show.
catastrophic, adj.

cater, v.
to supply food or service, or to supply anything desired: catering to her every whim.

caucus, v., n.
(to hold) a private meeting of political leaders to conduct specific business: picking a candidate at the caucus.

caustic, adj.
bitingly critical: caustic comments about her appearance.

** censor, v., n.
(to act as) an official, etc. who examines writings, plays, films, etc. to take out objectionable parts, or who
exercises control over information and ideas: Some dictatorships maintain control by censoring the press.
censorious, adj.; censorship, n.

** censure, v., n.
(opp.: commend)
(to give) severe criticism or disapproval: They were censured for associating with criminals.

ceremonious, adj.
(opp.: unceremonious)
given to formality or formal politeness: Our governor is a ceremonious person.
ceremonial, adj.; ceremony, n.

certitude, n.
(opp.: dubiety, skepticism)
freedom from doubt or uncertainty; confidence: acting with certitude.

chaos, n.
complete disorder and confusion: the chaos of a stampede.
chaotic, adj.

charitable, adj.
(opp.: stingy)
generous in giving or doing for those in need, or unwilling to judge others harshly: Though others condemned
him, she was charitable in her evaluation.
charity, n.

charlatan, n.
one who falsely claims to have a skill or ability; fraud: That lawyer is an expensive charlatan.
charlatanism, n.

chasten, v.
to discipline to make morally better; bring under control or restrain: He promised to chasten his temper.
chastened, chastening, adj.

chastise, v.
to punish, esp. physically; criticize harshly: He was chastised in front of the class for cheating.
chastisement, n.

chef, n.
a skilled or professional cook, esp. one in charge of a hotel or restaurant kitchen.

cherish, v.
(opp.: despise)
to value or care for with tender affection; hold in one's mind: She cherishes hopes of his return.
cherished, adj.

chicanery, n.
tricking by clever or cunning means; deception: the chicanery of the dishonest ad.

chimera, n.
a fantastic, often horrible, mental idea or image: the chimera of Russian world dominance.
chimerical, adj.

chortle, v., n.
(to express or say with) a snorting chuckle: He chortled at the thought of her surprise.

chronic, adj.
(opp.: transitory)
lasting for a long time, or continuous; recurring: chronic back problems; a chronic complainer.
chronicity, n.

chronicle, v., n.
(to give) an account of events in the order in which they happened: He chronicled the team's season.
chronicler, n.

chronology, n.
a list or record according to the time and order in which things happened; sequence: a chronology of space
flights.
chronological, adj.

circumlocution, n.
(opp.: bluntness)
being indirect or roundabout in speaking or writing: Her circumlocution came from a lack of confidence.
circumlocutory, adj.

circumspection, n.
(opp.: indiscretion)
wise consideration of circumstances or outcomes; caution; discretion: This major decision required careful
circumspection.
circumspect, adj.

circumvent, v.
(opp.: confront)
to go around, avoid, or evade, esp. by clever maneuvering: He circumvented a possible difficulty by phoning
ahead.

citadel, n.
a fortress or any stronghold: That university became a citadel for dissenters.

cite, v.
to quote or refer to; to publicly compliment; bring to mind; mention: He was cited for his selfless work; She
cited several instances of his negligence.
citation, n.

civil, adj.
relating to citizenship or social order; observing acceptable standards of behavior: our civil responsibilities,
such as voting; Treat one another civilly.
civilian, civility, n.

clairvoyant, n., adj.

(one who is claimed to be) able to know or see beyond that which is perceived through the senses: The
clairvoyant helped locate the missing child.
clairvoyance, n.

clamor, v., n.
(to produce) a loud or continuous noise or uproar, esp. of voices; din; vigorous public outcry: They clamored for
more; a clamor for government-funded day care.
clamorous, adj.

clandestine, adj.
(opp.: overt)
secret or secretive; surreptitious: a clandestine gathering of dissidents.

** clarify, v.
(opp.: obfuscate, obscure)
to make more understandable or clearer, or to remove impurities: Clarify your objections to our plan.
clarification, n.

clarity, n.
(opp.: ambiguity, confusion)
clearness, as in speech, thought, or understanding, or visual clearness, as of impurities: the clarity of a fine
wine; the clarity of his mind at work.

clasp, v.
to fasten, grasp, or grip with, or as if with, a device, a hand, or the arms: She clasped tightly to one final hope.

** classical, adj.
resembling ancient Greek and Roman culture or art; of a formal, simple, balanced, and objective nature, or of
the serious, traditional European music.
classicism, classicist, n.

claustrophobia, n.
an abnormal fear of being in closed or confined placed: Elevators give her claustrophobia.
claustrophobic, adj.

clemency, n.
(opp.: persecution)
1. the act of mercy or forgiveness; leniency: clemency toward the offender. 2. mildness, as of weather.
clement, adj.

clergy, n.
(opp.: laity)
those persons authorized to conduct religious services: married by a clergyman.

cliche, n.
an overused, wornout, trite word or expression: Many comparisons, such as "dead as a doornail," are cliches.
cliched, adj.

climax, n.
the high or crucial point as in an event, story, or play: The climax of a long, difficult campaign.
climactic, adj.

clot, v., n.
(to form) a thick lump; (to cause) a blockage, as of a passageway: Reporters clotted the doorway.
clotty, adj.

cloy, v.
to oversupply with some sweetness or pleasure, so that it becomes sickening or wearisome: He cloys us with
compliments.
cloying, adj.
coagulate, v.
(opp.: dilute)
to cause to thicken; congeal: Spoilage coagulated the milk.

coalesce, v.
(opp.: disintegrate, disperse)
to grow, or cause to grow, together into a unit; unify.
coalescence, n.; coalescent, adj.

coddle, v.
to indulge, as one would a baby or invalid; pamper: He said we were coddling the students.

coerce, v.
to bring about or persuade by threats, force, etc.: A confession was coerced from him.
coercion, n.; coercive, adj.

coffer, n.
a large chest or strongbox, or monetary resources: Jewels filled her coffer; the state government's coffers.

cognate, adj.
having a common ancestor or origin, as languages, or having similar properties or functions: Italian and
Spanish are cognate languages.
cognation, n.

coherent, adj.
(opp.: incoherent)
holding together, or logically ordered or connected; consistent: his coherent approach to problem solving.
cohere, v.; coherence, n.

cohesive, adj.
sticking or holding together: a cohesive group of friends.
cohesion, n.

collaborate, v.
to cooperate or work with someone else: The two writers collaborated on a new television series.
collaborative, adj.

colleague, n.
someone who shares the same work or employer: my colleagues in the medical profession.

colonize, v.
to settle, or turn into, a colony: The Dutch colonized New Jersey.
colonization, colonizer, n.

colossal, adj.
(opp.: infinitesimal)
extremely large in size, magnitude, or effect; gigantic: a colossal building; colossal mistakes.
colossus, n.

combustion, n.
the process of burning or oxidizing, or a violent disturbance or turmoil: The combustion of the crowd led to a
riot.
combustible, adj.

commemorate, v.
to serve as a reminder of or memorial to: commemorating the day we met.
commemorative, adj.
commence, v.
(opp.: terminate)
to begin or have a beginning; start: Commence the parade.
commencement, n.

commend, v.
(opp.: castigate, censure)
to recommend or give praise to, or to place in someone's care: commended for his cancer research; commended
to his uncle's care temporarily.
commendable, adj.; commendation, n.

commensurate, adj.
(opp.: incommensurate)
of equal measure, in time or extent, or fitting or in proportion: rewards commensurate to your efforts.

commerce, n.
the exchange of goods or services for money; business interaction: our commerce with Japan; restricting
commerce in drugs.
commercial, adj.; commercialism, n.; commercialize, v.

commiserate, v.
to express pity or sympathy for: He commiserated my loss.
commiserative, adj.

commission, n.
1. the act of committing: commission of a crime: 2. an order granting authority to perform a certain task or
function; a fee or payment for doing so: a commission to design a park; a salesman's commission. 3. a group
given some authority or task: the governor's commission on crime.

commit, v.
1. to give over in trust, or make secure; to bind by promise: commit to memory; I am committed to keeping my
vows. 2. to do; perform; put into confinement: committed an error; committed to the hospital.
commitment, n.

commonplace, adj.
ordinary or unremarkable; unoriginal or trite: commonplace events in his diary; the chairman's commonplace
suggestions.

** communal, adj.
(opp.: personal, private)
of or belonging to members of a group or community: That lake is communal property; a communal decision.
communality, n.

compassion, n.
a feeling of sharing, or a desire to relieve, another's suffering; commiseration; clemency: He had compassion
for the runaways.
compassionate, adj.

compatible, adj.
(opp.: incompatible)
existing or functioning harmoniously with another; consistent or congruous: compatible business partners;
conclusions compatible with the evidence.

compatriot, n.
(opp.: alien)
a fellow citizen: traveling with a compatriot.
compel, v.
to force or drive to an action or attitude; make necessary: A gas shortage compels strict rationing.
compelling, adj.; compulsion, n.

compensate, v.
to make up for, or offset; pay: These job benefits compensate for lower wages; well-compensated for his work.
compensatory, adj.

competent, adj.
(opp.: incompetent)
capable or qualified; adequate, but usu. not outstanding: a steady, competent student.
competence, competency, n.

compiled, adj.
put or gathered together into a unit, work, or book: the compiled data from the experiments; compiled poetry of
the romantics.
compilation, n.; compile, v.

complacent, adj.
overly pleased with oneself or with things as they are: If we are complacent, our competitors will overtake us.
complacency, n.

complementary, adj.
making complete, full, or whole: With their complementary talents, they made a great team.
complement, v., n.; complemental, adj.

** complex, adj.
not simple; having complicated or interconnected elements; difficult to understand: a complex communication
system; complex criminal motivations.
complexity, n.

comply, v.
to act in agreement with or obedience to: He complied with school rules.
compliance, n.; compliant, adj.

complicity, n.
participation in wrongdoing, esp. in a crime: his complicity in the theft.

** compliment, v., n.
(opp.: disparage)
(to give) an expression of praise, admiration, or respect: My compliments on a job well done.
complimentary, adj.

composer, n.
one who makes or forms things, esp. a writer of music: the composer's first symphonic work.
compose, v.; composition, n.

** compound, v., n.
1. (to combine or mix) something having two or more parts or elements. 2. to calculate (interest) on principal
plus interest still owed. 3. to intensify by adding to: He compounded my error.

comprehend, v.
to understand or grasp the meaning of: He comprehends Spanish, but doesn't speak it well.
comprehension, n.; comprehensible, adj.

** comprehensive, adj.
(opp.: restricted)
wide or all-inclusive in range or scope: a comprehensive examination; comprehensive car insurance.
comprehend, v.; comprehension, n.

compress, v.
(opp.: expand)
to press into less space; condense: Compress the soil above the seed; She compressed the article into a single
page.
compression, n.; compressible, compressive, adj.

compromise, v., n.
1. (to make) a settlement of differences by mutual concessions: We compromised on a price of $15. 2. (to cause)
an endangering, as of one's principles or reputation: Recording it that way compromises my honesty.
compromising, adj.

compulsive, adj.
(opp.: voluntary)
resulting from some strong, persistent urge or driving force: a compulsive need to be immaculately clean.
compulsion, n.

compulsory, adj.
(opp.: voluntary)
required or obligatory: It is compulsory to have a license first; a compulsory test.

concede, v.
to agree with the truth or rightness of; admit; give as a right: He conceded her point in the discussion; Voting
rights were finally conceded to women.
concession, n.; concessionary, adj.

conceit, n.
1. an exaggerated opinion of oneself; vanity. 2. a fanciful notion, or an exaggerated metaphor: His thoughts
lapsed into unrealistic conceits.

** concept, n.
a clear or logical thought; general understanding gotten through experiences, observations, or mental
constructs: His concept of success had little to do with money.
conceive, conceptualize, v.; conception, n.

conciliate, v.
(opp.: enrage)
to overcome anger, distrust, etc.; appease: We conciliated the angry customer.
conciliatory, adj.

concise, adj.
short and to the point; saying much in a few words: a concise history of Greece.
conciseness, n.

concoct, v.
to put together from parts or ingredients; to make untruthfully or evasively; contrive: He concocted a clever
costume; trying to concoct a believable excuse.
concoction, n.

concrete, adj.
(opp.: abstract)
of a solid, tangible, or actual form or experience: concrete proof of his guilt; a concrete proposal for a solution.

concur, v.
to share the same opinion, or to work together; to happen at the same time: The boss concurred with his
secretary's proposal; The warm spell concurred with our vacation dates.
concurrence, n.; concurrent, adj.
** condemn, v.
(opp.: sanction, vindicate)
to express extreme disapproval of, or declare to be wrong, inadequate, or evil: He condemned the school's
lenient policies.
condemnation, n.; condemnatory, adj.

condense, v.
(opp.: expand)
to make denser or compress; to make more concise; abridge: condensed milk; Condense your speech to ten
minutes.
condensation, n.

condescend, v.
1. to agree to descend to a lower level than one's own: I won't condescend to answer that stupid remark. 2. to
act as if one is superior; treat others as inferior.
condescending, adj.; condescension, n.

condolence, n.
openly sharing another's grief or sorrow: With heartfelt condolences, he comforted the new widow.
condole, v.

condone, v.
(opp. condemn)
to pardon, disregard, or overlook: She condoned her brother's thievery.

confine, v.
to limit, restrict, or shut in; enclose: His thoughts were confined to tomorrow's test; Confine the child to his
room.
confinement, n.

confiscate, v.
to seize, as by authority or as a penalty: Police confiscated the drugs; land confiscated because of unpaid taxes.

conflagration, n.
a large, damaging fire: The city block was one terrifying conflagration.
conflagrant, adj.

** conform, v.
to act according to an established standard, or to become similar: We conformed to their code of ethics;
Gradually, the foreigners conformed to our ways.
conformist, conformity, n.

confound, v.
to confuse or bewilder: The dog's howling confounded his owner.

** confront, v.
(opp.: circumvent)
to meet or face directly, or with hostility; to be present or faced and dealt with: She finally confronted her boss;
problems confronting the unemployed.
confrontation, n.

congenial, adj.
1. suited to one's tastes or character; compatible: I find warm colors more congenial. 2. having a pleasing,
sociable personality: a congenial secretary.
congeniality, n.

congest, v.
to fill to excess; overcrowd; clog: The crowd congested the elevator; Highways were congested.
congestion, n.; congestive, adj.

conglomerate, v., n.
(to gather or create) a mixture or mass of various elements: a conglomerate of mud, stone, and ice; a
conglomerate of unrelated businesses.
conglomeration, n.

connote, v.
(opp.: denote)
to suggest or imply (meanings) beyond the literal meaning: Nicknames for ethnic groups often connote
prejudice.
connotation, n.; connotative, adj.

conscientious, adj.
(opp.: lax, perfunctory)
done in accordance with one's conscience; scrupulous or precise; meticulous: conscientious about doing his
best; a conscientious job of cleaning.

consecutive, adj.
following one after another without interruption, or having a logical sequence: five consecutive days of rain;
Read the volumes consecutively.

consequence, n.
1. that which follows; result, or conclusion: the consequence of their negligence. 2. importance or significance:
an issue of great consequence.
consequent, consequential, adj.

conservative, adj.
(opp.: liberal)
preferring the traditional, as in appearance or ideas; restrained; moderate: a conservative tweed suit; a
conservative political stand; a conservative bid at auction.
conservatism, n.

consolidate, v.
to combine into a mass or unify; to strengthen or secure: Several smaller school areas consolidated; That ordeal
consolidated their relationship.

conspicuous, adj.
easily seen; attracting attention; prominent: a conspicuous stain on the rug; a conspicuous lifestyle.

conspiracy, n.
a secret plan to perform some wrongful act: The conspiracy was uncovered by a spy.
conspirator, n.; conspiratory adj.; conspire, v.

consternation, n.
(opp.: composure)
surprise and alarm, leading to confusion or panic: Imagine her consternation when the brakes failed!

constitute, v.
to form or compose; to establish; found: Seven days constitute a week; Your opinions don't constitute proof.
constitution, n.

** consume, v.
(opp.: conserve)
to eat or devour; to destroy or use up: consumed by fire; Daydreaming consumed his waking hours.
consumer, consumption, n.
contagion, n.
a rapid or harmful spreading, as of a disease, influence, or idea: Violence became a contagion.
contagious, adj.

contaminate, v.
to make impure or unusable: The dead frog contaminated the water; Greed contaminates the personality.
contaminant, adj., n.

contemplate, v.
1. to look at thoughtfully; think deeply about: He contemplated his father's advice. 2. to consider as a future
action: She is contemplating entering law school.
contemplative, adj.

** contemporary, n., adj.

1. (a person or thing) belonging to the same period of time, or the same age group: a contemporary of Lincoln.
2. of the present time; modern: a contemporary design.
contemporaneous, adj.

** contempt, n.
the feeling or showing of angry disgust; scorn: her contempt for cheaters.
contemptible, contemptuous, adj.

contend, v.
to strive against difficulties or opposition, or in competition: contending against harsh weather; contending for
the championship.
contending, adj.; contention, n.

contentious, adj.
(opp.: placatory)
inclined to argue or quarrel; belligerent: Her contentious manner drove away friends.

** context, n.
language accompanying a word or phrase; circumstances or situation surrounding a particular event: Context
gives clues to word meaning; the historical context of the assassination.
contextual, adj.

continent, adj.
(opp.: incontinent)
being self-restrained, esp. in sexual activity.
continence, continency, n.

** contract, v.
(opp.: expand)
1. to make or become smaller by drawing together; shorten; narrow: Do not contract words in formal writing;
contracting muscles. 2. to enter into a formal written agreement: We contracted to paint two buildings.
contracting, adj., n.; contractual, adj.

contradict, v.
(opp.: affirm, confirm)
to deny the truth of; be inconsistent with: The facts contradict your theory; Your behavior contradicts your
words.
contradiction, n.; contradictory, adj.

contrary, adj.
opposite; not favorable; opposed, or stubbornly willful: You and I hold contrary views; Contrary winds precede
a storm; a contrary, spoiled brat.
contrariety, n.
** contrast, v., n.
(opp.: compare, similarity)
(to reveal or demonstrate) oppositeness or difference: We contrasted the American and French Revolutions; the
contrast between Florida and Alaska.
contrasting, adj.

contrite, adj.
(opp.: obdurate)
feeling deep guilt or regret for one's wrongdoing or shortcoming; remorseful.
contriteness, contrition, n.

contrive, v.
to plan, invent, scheme, or plot cleverly: She contrived a new method; contriving to overthrow the dictator.
contrivance, n.; contrived, adj.

controversy, n.
a dispute, esp. public; debate; quarrel: The controversy about the town's garbage site rages on.
controversial, adj.

contusion, n.
an injury that does not break the skin; bruise.
contuse, v.

convene, v.
(opp.: adjourn)
to gather, esp. for a formal meeting: They convened to elect new officers.
convention, n.

convention, n.
a practice or procedure widely accepted; custom: the polite conventions of society, such as shaking hands; the
eccentric painter despised convention.
conventional, adj.

converge, v.
(opp.: diverge)
to meet at or move toward a common point or unity of interest, purpose, etc.: the roads converge at Johnville;
The generals' strategies converged well.
convergence, n.; convergent, adj.

** convert, v.
to change into another form or substance, or to accept different beliefs or attitudes: He converted his holdings
into cash.
conversion, n.; convertible, adj.

convey, v.
to carry or transmit from one place or person to another; to express: Wires convey electricity; This note conveys
your sympathy.
conveyance, n.

convict, v.
(opp.: exonerate)
to find or show to be guilty of a crime, esp. legally, or of some other error, fault, etc.: His every word convicts
him of conceitedness.
conviction, n.

convivial, adj.
enjoying social gatherings; sociable: a convivial gathering after the wedding.
conviviality, n.
convoke, v.
to call to an assembly; convene: A meeting of our church members will be convoked.
convocation, n.

cope, v.
to deal with problems and responsibilities, esp. with some success: She coped well in spite of her handicap.

copious, adj.
(opp.: minimal)
abundant or plentiful: copious passages of description in her books.

cordial, adj.
warm and gracious: Her cordial manner calmed the new employee.
cordiality, n.

corpulent, adj.
(opp.: emaciated)
fat; obese: His corpulence made it difficult to buy clothing.
corpulence, n.

correspondence, n.
(opp.: contradiction, disparity)
1. agreement or resemblance between things: a strong correspondence in the accounts given by witnesses. 2.
communication through exchange of letters.
correspond, v.; correspondent, n.; corresponding, adj.

corroborate, v.
(opp.: contradict)
to support with evidence; certify the truth of: Witnesses corroborated the man's story.
corroborative, adj.

corrode, v.
1. to wear or be worn away by degrees: Rust corroded the car.
2. to damage or slowly destroy: Pride is corroding his character.
corrosion, n; corrosive, adj.

** corrupt, adj.
(opp.: uncorrupted)
1. dishonest, impure, unjust, or otherwise immoral: a corrupt judge. 2. decayed or contaminated; rotten.
corruptible, adj.

cosmopolitan, n., adj.

(opp.: provincial)
(one who is) not bound by local prejudices and customs and at ease in most areas and countries.

counsel, v., n.
(to give) advice or guidance: His counsel was the best she had received.
counselor, n.

courtesy, n.
politeness or consideration for others; kindness or favor: We were treated with courtesy; The samples were a
courtesy for the customers.
courteous, adj.

covetous, adj.
greedily desirous, esp. of that which belongs to another: The covetous woman became bitter as her sister
prospered.
covet, v.

cow, v.
(opp.: embolden)
to intimidate or make afraid, as by threats: The boss's gruff manner cowed his employees.

cower, v.
to crouch or cringe in fear: He cowered as the brute advanced to hit him.

cranny, n.
a small opening in a wall, rock, etc.; crack or crevice: A small flower bloomed through the cranny.
crannied, adj.

crass, adj.
(opp.: refined)
lacking in sensitivity or refinement; crude: His crass behavior embarrassed his date.

crave, v.
to desire intensely or need urgently; long for: The neglected child craved attention.
craving, n.

credible, adj.
(opp.: incredible)
believable; trustworthy; plausible: credible testimony.
credibility, n.

credit, v., n.
1. (to give) acknowledgment and approval: We credit him with the invention; He gets the credit. 2. a source of
honor: a credit to his family. 3. to consider to be factual; believe: We don't credit those news stories.
creditable, adj.

credulous, adj.
(opp.: incredulous, dubious)
inclined to believe, esp. on slight evidence; gullible: If you weren't so credulous, you'd be fooled less often.
credulity, n.

cringe, v.
to crouch or shrink back, usu. in fear; cower: He cringed at the sight of the dentist's pliers.

crisis, n.
the point of a decisive or critical change, or an unstable or dangerous situation; a crisis in his bout with drug
addiction; an international crisis because of terrorism.
crises, pl.n.; critical, adj.

criterion, n.
a standard or test to judge by: Speed is only one criterion of automotive excellence.
criteria, pl.n.

crucial, adj.
(opp.: inconsequential)
of decisive importance; critical: It was crucial to rest between piloting the flights.
crux, n.

crude, adj.
(opp.: refined)
1. not processed; raw: crude fiber. 2. lacking in skill, intelligence, social graces, etc., or without precision: a
crude attempt at humor; crude estimates.
crudity, n.
crusade, v., n.
(to pursue energetically) a cause or campaign, esp. in support of moral principles or against something
considered evil: a crusade for better enforcement of child abuse laws.
crusading, adj.

cryptic, adj.
(opp.: straightforward)
difficult to understand; ambiguous, secretive, or mysterious: His only answer was a cryptic "Oh, you know."
cryptically, adv.

cuisine, n.
a particular type of cooking: Chinese cuisine.

culminate, v.
(opp.: commence)
to arrive at a climax or conclusion: The celebration culminated in fireworks.

culprit, n.
someone charged with or guilty of a mistake, fault, or crime.

** cultivate, v.
to make (land) fit for growing; to encourage the growth or improvement of: cultivating his friendship;
cultivating a taste for good literature.
cultivated, adj.

** culture, n.
1. the sum of a people's language, customs, beliefs, and art: European culture. 2. refinement gotten through
training, as in the arts and worldly affairs: a well-traveled, cultured statesman.
cultural, cultured, adj.

curb, n., v.
(anything that serves) to limit, restrain, or check: Curb your spending, or you'll go broke.

currency, n.
1. money in circulation. 2. widespread acceptance: That rumor has had currency for some time.
current, adj.

cursory, adj.
(opp.: assiduous)
done quickly and without care; superficial: a cursory job of housecleaning.

curtail, v.
to make shorter; cut off part of: She saw their weariness and curtailed her presentation.
curtailment, n.

cycle, n.
an event or sequence of events repeated at regular time intervals: the washing machine cycle; Her moods
change in cycles.
cyclic, adj.

**cynicism, n.
the belief that persons are only selfishly motivated or insincere, or that life is not worth living; any expression
of such belief.
cynic, n.; cynical, adj.
D
dabble, v.
(opp.: delve)
to work at or be involved in, in an off-and-on or superficial way: She dabbles in all the arts.
dabbler, n.

dainty, adj.
(opp.: coarse, crude)
small and delicate, or refined; excessively fussy or fastidious: a dainty blossom; too dainty to step on a spider.

daredevil, n.
one who recklessly risks physical harm by performing dangerous tricks or feats: the daredevil on a motorcycle.

daunt, v.
to lessen the determination of; discourage; intimidate: The players were daunted by the size of the other team.
dauntless, adj.

dawdle, v.
to walk slowly and aimlessly; linger or waste time; be idle: He dawdled at his homework.
dawdler, n.

daze, v.
to stun, as by a blow or shock; to confuse or dazzle: He was dazed by the bad news; The blinding lights dazed
the small child.
daze, n.

dearth, n.
(opp.: abundance)
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack: There is a dearth of information on this subject; a dearth of food.

debase, v.
to reduce in value, quality, character, etc.: His drug abuse debased him; Inflation debases a nation's currency.
debased, adj., debasement, n.

debilitate, v.
(opp.: rehabilitate)
to make feeble; weaken: His long illness debilitated him.
debilitative, adj.

debunk, v.
to expose the falseness or exaggeration of: The cartoonist enjoys debunking the politicians' promises.

decade, n.
a period of ten years, or a set or series of ten.

**deceive, v.
to mislead (a person) to believe something untrue; trick; delude: He had been deceived into thinking the work
would be easy.
deceit, deception, n.; deceitful, deceptive, adj.

decided, adj.
(opp.: questionable)
unquestionable; definite, or with determination: There is a decided difference between them; a decided effort to
achieve.

decipher, v.
(opp.: encode)
to decode, or to interpret or understand despite faultiness: We deciphered the enemy's coded message; It was
hard to decipher his scribbled note.
decipherable, adj.

decisive, adj.
(opp.: indecisive)
having power or character to end a dispute; not hesitant or wavering; definite or clear-cut: the decisive factor to
consider; a decisive manager; a decisive election victory.

declaim, v.
1. to speak formally or without sincerity, for effect. 2. to speak against emphatically or dramatically: He
declaimed against the income tax laws.
declamation, n.; declamatory, adj.

**decline, v.
1. to turn down politely, withhold consent, or refuse: He declined the job offer. 2. to slope, incline, or go
downward; decrease: The population is declining in some states.
declination, decline, n.; declining, adj.

decompose, v.
to break down into simpler compounds or elements; to cause to decay; rot: Over time, untreated wood will
decompose.
decomposition, n.

decorous, adj.
(opp.: indecorous)
conforming in behavior, manners, appearance, etc. with what is fitting and proper: Sitting at the head table
were several decorous younger people.
decorum, n.

dedication, n.
1. full and unreserved commitment or devotion: dedication to her mentor as well as her music. 2. an
inscription, as in a book, or a ceremony indicating that something is offered or presented to honor a person: the
dedication of a monument.
dedicate, v., dedicated, adj.

deduce, v.
(opp.: induce)
to draw a conclusion from given information or general principles: We can deduce his state of mind from
certain psychological principles.
deducible, deductive, adj.

deem, v.
to consider, suppose, or judge: They deemed it necessary to postpone the project.

deface, v.
to damage or disfigure or to make illegible or valueless: They defaced the park emblem; Don't deface a piece of
currency.
defacement, n.

defame, v.
to damage someone's reputation, or speak ill of wrongly; libel or slander: He defamed his partner because he
envied him.
defamation, n.; defamatory, adj.

defect, n.
a flaw, error or imperfection; deficiency or shortcoming: There is but one defect in this plan; a defective
television set.
defective, adj.

defect, v.
to abandon a cause, country, duty, etc.: He defected during the Civil War; Many defectors went to Canada.
defection, defector, n.

defer, v.
to put off until later; postpone; procrastinate: He deferred payment until his next paycheck.
deferment, n.; deferrable, adj.

deference, n.
the act of giving in to another's will, desire, preference, etc.; considerate, thoughtful regard: In deference to the
President, the aide stopped arguing; deference to older people.
defer, v.; deferential, adj.

**deficient, adj.
(opp.: sufficient)
lacking something essential; inadequate: deficient in vitamin C; She is deficient in attentiveness to her
children.
deficiency, n.

deficit, n.
(opp.: surplus)
an amount by which something is less than required or expected: Our budget this month shows a slight deficit.

deflate, v.
(opp.: inflate)
to cause to shrink, diminish, or be reduced in value: You deflated her confidence with that criticism; the
deflated value of the dollar.
deflated, adj.

deft, adj.
(opp.: inept)
capable, quick, and clever in action; dexterous: a deft auto mechanic; He deftly played two instruments at once.

defunct, adj.
no longer in existence or use; extinct: a defunct tradition; a defunct washing machine.

**defy, v.
1. to challenge openly or refuse to obey; resist or withstand attempts: defying military orders; The puzzle defies
solution. 2. to challenge or dare (someone) to do something hard or impossible: I defy you to climb that rock
face.
defiance, n.; defiant, adj.

degenerate, v., adj.

(to become) worse in nature or quality; deteriorated: Her job degenerated under the new boss; He acquired a
degenerate attitude from his new crowd of friends.
degeneracy, n.

degrade, v.
to bring (someone or something) down in character, rank, esteem, or value: The theft degraded his reputation;
Poor pastures degraded the quality of the dairy's milk.
degradation, n.; degraded, degrading, adj.

dehydration, n.
the loss or removal of water: The baby suffered from dehydration because his stomach was so upset;
Dehydration is a method of food preservation.
dehydrate, v.; dehydrated, adj.
deity, n.
a god or goddess; divinity; that which is worshipped as a god: He honors no deity above himself.

delectable, adj.
(opp.: distasteful)
extremely pleasing, delightful, or delicious: a delectable social event.
delectation, n.

delegate, v., n.
(to give or entrust one's authority, functions, etc. to another as) an agent or representative: a delegate to the
convention; He delegated that task to his secretary.
delegation, n.

deleterious, adj.
(opp.: ameliorative)
harmful or injurious: a deleterious chemical spill; his deleterious influence on the child.

delete, v.
to remove, as a word or sentence, by blotting out, erasing, editing, etc.: They deleted several vulgar words.
deletion, n.

deliberate, adj.
done intentionally; thinking or thought carefully out in advance; premeditated: deliberate rudeness; a slow,
deliberate man.

deliberate, v.
to think, ponder, or discuss carefully and thoroughly: He deliberated before answering; The jury is deliberating
his fate.
deliberative, adj.

delineate, v.
to sketch out, or to describe or portray in precise or vivid detail: He delineated every gory detail of the accident.

delinquent, n., adj.

(one who is) guilty of an offense or neglectful of a duty; not paid on time: delinquent in caring for his children;
Our school tax is delinquent.
delinquency, n.

demean, v.
(opp.: exalt)
to lower in esteem, stature, or dignity; degrade: That punishment demeaned the student in front of his peers.
demeaning, adj.

demise, n.
the end of existence or operation; decease; death: The demise of that actor's career; The old man's peaceful
demise.

**democrat, n.
(opp.: autocrat)
a supporter of democratic government and principles, such as equality of all under the law, exercise of power by
the people or their selected representatives, etc.
democracy, n.; democratic, adj.

demographer, n.
one who studies human populations with statistical measures, as of location, density, ages, etc.
demographic, adj.; demography, n.
demolish, v.
to tear down, ruin, damage, or destroy: demolish a building; She demolished his reputation in court.
demolition, n.

demoralize, v.
(opp.: inspire)
to weaken or destroy the confidence, courage, conscience, or morals of: Many defeats demoralized the team.

denote, v.
(opp.: connote)
to symbolize a meaning that is generally agreed-upon; to mark, signal, or name: "The West" denotes a
particular part of the U.S., but it may connote different things to different people.
denotation, n.; denotative, adj.

**denounce, v.
(opp.: acclaim)
to attack or condemn verbally; speak out against; accuse.
denouncement, denunciation, n.

dense, adj.
(opp.: sparse)
having parts closely massed; thick; difficult to understand: dense forest; dense smoke; a dense passage in a
book.
density, n.

**deny, v.
(opp.: affirm)
to declare false; refuse to provide; dispute: The parents denied the boy the use of the car; He denied he wrecked
the car.
denial, n.

depict, v.
to portray or represent, as in a painting or written work: The sculpture depicted the struggle for freedom.

deplete, v.
(opp.: augment)
to lessen drastically; exhaust: Our funds were depleted by extra expenses.
depletion, n.

deplore, v.
(opp.: applaud)
to show or feel regret, sorrow, or disapproval: He deplored his brother's actions.
deplorable, adj.

deport, v.
to eject (an alien) forcefully from a country: His visa expired, and the government deported him.
deportation, n.

depose, v.
(opp.: enthrone, install)
to deprive of rank or office: The uprising deposed the king.

depravity, n.
a lack of morals; wickedness: His depravity was disguised by his angelic face.
depraved, adj.

deprecate, v.
(opp.: laud)
to speak against or treat as having little value; belittle: He deprecated our efforts to improve school spirit.
deprecatory, adj.

**depress, v.
1. to cause to be unhappy or downcast. 2. to push in or down: depress the button. 3. to cause to be less forceful;
decrease in value: The economy was depressed.
depressed, depressing, adj.

deprive, v.
to take or keep a possession, attribute, etc. away from: She was deprived of her car by her parents; depriving
them of an opportunity.
deprivation, n.

deride, v.
(opp.: applaud)
to ridicule or mock scornfully: They derided him for his beliefs.
derision, n.; derisive, adj.

**derivative, adj., n.
(opp.: source)
(being or pertaining to) something gotten from something else: Yogurt is a milk derivative; Many English
words are derivatives of Latin words.
derivation, n.; derive, v.

descendant, n.
someone (or something) regarded as the offspring of, or derived from, someone (or something) else: He was the
descendant of kings; The calculator is a descendant of the adding machine.

descent, n.
(opp.: ascent)
1. the act or process of going downward; a downward path: He made his descent down the stairs. 2. biological
derivation: the descent of the birds from reptiles.

desecration, n.
(opp.: consecration)
the act of violating the sacredness of something; sacrilegious or disrespectful treatment: the desecration of the
saint's tomb.

desert, v.
to leave (esp. a duty, cause, person, or place), usu. not intending to return: He deserted his wife and children;
deserting the movement.
deserted, adj.

desiccate, v.
to remove or lose all moisture; dry up, esp. to preserve: He desiccated the coconut meat; a desiccated old man.
desiccated, adj.

desist, v.
(opp.: persist)
to stop acting in a certain way: He was ordered to desist from bothering his neighbor.

desolate, v., adj.

1. (to cause to be) without those things necessary or desirable for life; bleak: desolate island. 2. (to cause to feel)
friendless, hopeless, or lonely: Her divorce desolated her.

**despair, v., n.
(to feel) the complete absence of hope: The lazy boy was the despair of his parents.
despairing, adj.
despise, v.
(opp.: esteem)
to hate or feel contempt for: I despise Monday mornings.
despicable, despised, adj.

despoil, v.
to forcefully take belongings or goods from: The invaders despoiled the countryside.
despoliation, n.

despondent, adj.
(opp.: exhilarated)
in low spirits; depressed: They took the despondent boy to the circus to cheer him up.
despondence, despondency, n.

despotism, n.
government by a tyrant; tyranny.
despot, n.; despotic, adj.

destine, v.
to send toward a particular end or purpose; ordain in advance: His skill destined him for success; This wheat is
destined for Russia.
destination, destiny, n.

destitute, adj.
(opp.: affluent)
having no money, means of living, etc.: homeless and destitute; destitute of friends.

desultory, adj.
disconnected; aimless; occurring by chance; offhand: a desultory attempt at essay writing; a bored, desultory
comment.

detach, v.
to separate from something: He detached himself from his old friends.
detached, adj.

detain, v.
to prevent from going on; delay; hold in confinement: The police detained him overnight.
detainment, detention, n.

deter, v.
(opp.: encourage, provoke)
1. to stop or discourage by arousing doubt or fear: The fear of punishment deterred him from stealing. 2. to
prevent: an attempt to deter war.
deterrence, n.; deterrent, n., adj.

deteriorate, v.
to make or become inferior in value or quality; erode; wear away: The house deteriorated because of poor
upkeep; Relations between the two are deteriorating.

detest, v.
to hate; loathe: I detest racist people.
detestable, adj., detestation, n.

detract, v.
(opp.: augment)
to diminish or take away from: His big nose detracted from his good looks.
detrimental, adj.
(opp.: beneficial)
harmful; causing harm or damage: Smoking is detrimental to your health.
detriment, n.

devastate, v.
to cause great destruction to; ravage; have an overwhelming effect on: Fire devastated the village; She was
devastated by the news.

deviate, v.
(opp.: adhere)
to turn or stray from a direct course or normal behavior: You deviated from my directions; Her degree of
anxiety deviates from the norm.
deviant, adj., n.

devious, adj.
not taking the straightest, most direct, honest or straightforward way: Cheating is a devious way to win; a
devious rascal.

devoid, adj.
(opp.: replete)
not having something; totally lacking: devoid of common sense.

**devote, v.
to give time or oneself to a special purpose; dedicate: Nuns devote their lives to serving God.
devoted, adj.; devotion, n.

devour, v.
to eat, consume, take in, or absorb wholly or greedily: She devours films like candy.
devouring, adj.

diagnose, v.
to analyze or determine the nature of a problem or disease: The mechanic diagnosed the problem with the car.
diagnoses (pl.), diagnosis, n., diagnostic, adj.

dialogue, n.
a conversation between two or more people or between characters in a play, film, book, etc.: The dialogue in the
play was hard to hear.

diatribe, n.
(opp.: eulogy)
a bitter, abusive attack in speech or writing: His speech was a diatribe against his critics.

diction, n.
1. word choice and arrangement in speech or writing. 2. a way of pronouncing words; enunciation: His diction
was not clear because he slurred his sounds together.

dictum, n.
a formal pronouncement, often serving as an authoritative, final, or definitive statement: the college president's
dictum on the purpose of education.
dicta, pl.n.

didactic, adj.
intended to teach or instruct, esp. in morals: a didactic folk tale.
didacticism, n.

diffidence, n.
(opp.: confidence)
shyness, reticence: Her diffidence made her hard to get to know.
diffident, adj.

diffuse, v., adj.

(opp.: concentrated)
1. (to be) poured out, well-dispersed, or scattered: a diffused liquid or gas; Diffuse light gave a soft glow. 2. (to
be) lacking focus or precision: I was confused by his diffuse presentation.
diffusion, n.

dignitary, n.
(opp.: nonentity)
one who holds a high office or rank: The prince and other dignitaries came to visit America.

digress, v.
to stray from the main topic; ramble: The history professor often digressed from his subject.
digressive, adj.

dilapidated, adj.
fallen into disrepair or decay: a dilapidated old building.

dilatory, adj.
(opp.: expeditious)
tending to or used to cause a delay; slow: He was dilatory in responding to the letter.

**diligent, adj.
(opp.: lackadaisical)
continually attending to and striving to reach a goal; painstaking; persevering: a diligent nurse.
diligence, n.

diluted, adj.
(opp.: concentrated)
decreased in strength or concentration esp. by adding something else: a diluted acid; The extra work diluted his
enthusiasm.
dilute, v., adj.

**diminish, v.
to decrease in size or importance; abate; disparage: His funds diminished rapidly; The article diminished her
contribution to American literature.
diminution, n.

diplomat, n.
1. a government official employed to negotiate with other nations or governments. 2. any person showing tact
and sensitivity in dealing with people.
diplomacy, n., diplomatic, adj.

dirge, n.
a song, hymn, piece of poetry, etc. used as a lament for the dead at a funeral, memorial service, etc.

disarray, v., n.
(to throw into) disorder or confusion: Her clothes were in disarray after she slept in them; an army retreating in
disarray.

disband, v.
(opp.: coalesce)
to break up or dissolve, as a group; disperse: The small unit disbanded when its work was finished.

discard, v.
to throw out or away; cast off: She discards old husbands like old clothes.
**discern, v.
to perceive, recognize, or differentiate: She discerned a figure in the shadows; He discerned a subtle difference.
discernible, adj.; discernment, n.

disciple, n.
a pupil, believer, or follower, esp. one of the apostles of Christ: a disciple of an influential architect.

**discipline, v., n.
1. (to give) punishment for the sake of training or correction: She disciplined her children when they broke a
rule. 2. (to train) behavior according to rules or expectations: disciplining one's eating habits to lose weight.
disciplinarian, n., disciplined, adj.

disclaim, v.
(opp.: acknowledge)
to deny knowledge of, connection with, or the validity of something: He disclaimed all responsibility.

disclose, v.
(opp.: conceal)
to make known, visible, or apparent; reveal: We must disclose the facts.
disclosure, n.

disconcert, v.
(opp.: reassure)
to upset one's calm; throw into confusion or frustration; ruffle: Her unexpected apology disconcerted him.
disconcerted, disconcerting, adj.

discontent, v., n.
(to cause) uneasiness, dissatisfaction, resentment, or restlessness: her discontent with being a housewife.
discontented, adj.

discord, n.
(opp.: accord, concord)
lack of agreement or good relations; disagreement; conflict: discord among the team members.
discordant, adj.

discredit, v., n.
(to cause) a lack of trust or belief in, or an injury to one's reputation: She discredited him in court.
discreditable, adj.

discreet, adj.
(opp.: indiscreet)
using good judgment in behavior and speech; reserved; wisely careful: A discreet person does not reveal
confidential matters.
discretion, n.

discrepancy, n.
(opp.: consistency)
lack of agreement; difference: a discrepancy between their two stories.
discrepant, adj.

**discriminate, v.
1. to recognize differences between things, people, shapes, colors, etc.: I can't discriminate between green and
blue-green. 2. to feel or act favorably or unfavorably toward someone because of his or her being in some group
or category.
discriminatory, adj.

discursive, adj.
1. proceeding by reason in an orderly or coherent manner: a discursive essay on Chaucer. 2. rambling and
disorderly; digressive.
discourse, n.

disdain, v., n.
(to regard or treat with) contempt; scorn: He disdained the invitation; She shows disdain for my ideas.
disdainful, adj.

disfigure, v.
to harm the appearance or shape of: The accident disfigured his face.

disgruntled, adj.
dissatisfied, resentful, or discontent: His disgruntled complaining annoyed her.
disgruntle, v.

disharmony, n.
lack of harmony; discord: disharmony in the family.
disharmonious, adj.

dishearten, v.
to depress or destroy the hope or confidence of; discourage: He was disheartened by his test results.
disheartened, disheartening, adj.

disincline, v.
to be or cause to be unwilling: The cold wind disinclined her to go skiing.
disinclination, n.; disinclined, adj.

disinterested, adj.
neutral; impartial; not biased: Jurors should be disinterested, but not uninterested.

dislodge, v.
to move or remove from a position or location: a way to dislodge food caught in the windpipe.
dislodgment, n.

dismal, adj.
cheerless or depressing; weak or uninteresting: a dismal climate; a dismal failure.

dismantle, v.
(opp.: assemble, construct)
to strip, tear down, or take apart: The mechanic dismantled the engine; The old battleship was dismantled.

disoblige, v.
to ignore or violate the wishes or desires of (another person).
disobliging, adj.

disown, v.
to deny ownership of or any connection with: She disowned her son after he treated her badly; disowning one's
earlier beliefs.

disparage, v.
to speak ill of; belittle; depreciate: She disparages everyone else's appearance.
disparagement, n.; disparaging, adj.

disparity, n.
(opp.: parity)
the condition of being unlike or unequal; difference: a disparity between his ambitions and his ability.

dispassionate, adj.
without strong feeling or bias; calm; impartial.

dispel, v.
to drive away by, or as if by, scattering; disperse: The accident dispelled all hope of his being able to compete;
The fan dispelled the smoke.

dispense, v.
1. to give out or distribute; to execute: dispensing medicine; dispensing justice. 2. to do away with or do
without: Let's dispense with the formalities.
dispensable, adj.

disperse, v.
to break up and scatter; drive away; distribute widely; dispel: The police dispersed the crowd.
dispersal, dispersion, n.

dispose, v.
1. to arrange in proper order; settle matters: She disposed the furniture about the room. 2. to incline or make
willing: The apology disposed him to forgive. 3. (with "of") to get rid of.
disposed, adj.

disposition, n.
1. the settling of or arrangements regarding people or affairs: The disposition of his inheritance is uncertain. 2.
one's usual mood or frame of mind; a tendency toward: a disposition toward laziness.

**dispute, v., n.
(opp.: concede)
1. (to participate in) an argument or debate; controversy; quarrel: frequent disputes with his brother. 2. to argue
against (a point, claim, etc,): They dispute my right to attend.
disputable, disputation, adj.

disqualify, v.
to make unfit; to strip of a right or privilege: He was disqualified from the race.

disquiet, v., n.
(opp.: composure)
(to cause) uneasiness, anxiety, or disturbance: The prospect of war disquieted them.
disquietude, n.

disrepute, n.
low regard; disgrace or disfavor: her disrepute in the law community.
disreputable, adj.

disrupt, v.
to throw into turmoil or disorder; to break off: Hecklers disrupted his speech.

dissemble, v.
to hide one's true thoughts, motives, etc. by pretense: He dissembles so cleverly that he probably fools himself.
dissemblance, n.

disseminate, v.
to spread widely: We need to disseminate this information nationally.

dissent, v., n.
(opp.: assent, consent)
(to express) a disagreement with or rejection of something, esp. a majority or official view, policy, etc.
dissension, dissenter, n.; dissenting, adj.

dissimilar, adj.
not alike; different: dissimilar writing styles.
dissimilarity, n.

dissociate, v.
to cut or end a connection of; cease association; separate: He dissociated himself from the scandal.

dissonant, adj.
(opp.: harmonious)
discordant; lacking harmony; inconsistent; disagreeing: The protesters were a dissonant factor in the meeting.
dissonance, n.

distaste, n.
(opp.: penchant)
dislike or repugnance: He had a distaste for violence.
distasteful, adj.

distend, v.
(opp.: contract)
to swell or cause to swell from internal pressure: The water distended her stomach.
distention, n.

distinct, adj.
(opp.: indistinct)
clearly different; unmistakable; having clarity: There were two distinct colors in the painting.

distinction, n.
1. something that sets apart; recognition of differences: He makes clear distinctions in his writing. 2. honor or
excellence: a writer of distinction.

distinctive, adj.
(opp.: commonplace)
serving to set apart; unusual: He has a distinctive walk.

**distinguish, v.
to tell apart, set apart or above, or see (or hear) clearly: She distinguished herself in the race; He distinguished
the outline of the bridge through the fog.
distinguished, adj.

**distort, v.
to twist out of shape, as in form or meaning: The child distorted her mother's words.
distorted, distortive, adj.; distortion, n.

distract, v.
to disturb, upset, or divert: She was distracted by anxiety; Don't distract me while I'm dialing.
distracted, adj.

distraught, adj.
anxiously worried; mentally disturbed; crazed: He was distraught at his wife's sudden death.

dither, v., n.
(to be in) a state of excitement, nervousness, or indecision: He dithered about which job to take; in a dither
about her bills.

diurnal, adj.
(opp.: nocturnal)
active or occurring during the daytime: A few owls are diurnal.

diverge, v.
(opp.: merge)
to move in a different direction; turn aside; deviate: Foolishly he diverged from his original plan.
divergence, n.; divergent, adj.

**diversify, v.
to give variety to: Mom diversified our breakfast menu; diversifying one's stock purchases.
diversification, diversity, n.

divert, v.
to set aside; draw away; distract: He diverted some of the money to unpermitted uses; diverted his attention.
diversion, n.; diverting, adj.

divulge, v.
(opp.: conceal, reveal)
to disclose, esp. something secret: Reporters often won't divulge their sources.

doctrine, n.
a teaching or set of beliefs; dogma: Constitutional doctrine; religious doctrine.
doctrinaire, doctrinal, adj.

**document, v., n.
(to provide with) information or evidence, esp. papers: His research was carefully documented.
documentation, n.

**dogmatic, adj.
(opp.: open-minded)
asserting opinions and beliefs as though they were proven facts: He is terribly dogmatic in his political theories.
dogma, dogmatism, n.

domestic, adj.
1. having to do with the family, its household, or home: Mother loves her domestic duties. 2. of one particular
country, rather than international: Domestic needs face every President. 3. tame, as dogs or cows.
domesticity, n.

domesticate, v.
to tame; make accustomed to domestic life: The cat is a domesticated animal.
domesticated, adj.

domicile, n.
a place where one lives; home; residence: a self-sufficient domicile in the desert.

**dominate, v.
to control or govern; rise above or be the characteristic feature of: Romance dominated her thoughts; His nose
dominates his face.
dominating, adj.; dominance, n.

domineer, v.
to control or rule in an arrogant or arbitrary manner: Some bosses try to domineer, rather than lead.
domineering, adj.

dormant, adj.
asleep or seemingly asleep; inactive: a dormant volcano.
dormancy, n.

drab, adj.
(opp.: vivid)
lacking distinctiveness or color; dull; having a dull gray color: She wore a drab dress; a drab personality.
drama, n.
an event or series of events marked by emotional conflict: the drama of war.

**dramatic, adj.
(opp.: mundane)
of or possessing drama; striking; impressive: a dramatic difference in his looks; a dramatic exit.
dramatize, v.

drastic, adj.
(opp.: mild)
occurring with great speed, impact, or violence; extreme: a drastic punishment; drastic steps to halt inflation.

drivel, v., n.
(to utter) foolish or silly speech or ideas; nonsense: The idea that the world is flat is drivel.

droll, adj.
(opp.: solemn)
wryly amusing or humorous: a droll story.

drone, v., n.
1. (to make) a low, drawn-out buzzing or humming sound: the drone of sleepy classrooms. 2. an unproductive
person supported by others.

drought, n.
(opp.: deluge)
a prolonged lack of something, esp. rain: a drought of good ideas.

drowsy, adj.
(opp.: alert)
nearly asleep; causing sleepiness: She was drowsy after school.

**dubious, adj.
(opp.: credulous)
1. having, showing, or causing doubt; skeptical: dubious about his chances; a dubious situation. 2. of doubtful
value: a dubious honor.
dubiety, dubiousness, n.

dumbfound (dumfound), v.
to confuse, amaze, or astonish: The magic trick dumbfounded the audience.
dumbfounded, adj.

dunce, n.
(opp.: savant)
an unintelligent, foolish, or ignorant person.

dune, n.
a mound or hill of sand built up by the action of wind.

duplicate, v., n.
(to make) an exact copy of an original; repeat: He duplicated his first dive.

duplicity, n.
(opp.: candor)
deceitful speech or action: His duplicity about his feelings broke up their relationship.
duplicitous, adj.

durable, adj.
not easily worn out; long-lasting; sturdy: a durable finish on that car.
duration, n.
the interval of time during which something exists or proceeds: the duration of the movie.

dutiful, adj.
(opp.: undutiful)
carrying out responsibilities as required or expected: a dutiful father.
duty, n.

dwindle, v.
(opp.: burgeon)
to become or cause to become smaller; diminish: My bank account is dwindling; The summer dwindles to a few
days.

dynamic, adj.
(opp.: inert, stagnant)
constantly active or changing; full of energy: a dynamic personality; a dynamic economy.
dynamism, n.

E
ebullient, adj.
(opp.: apathetic)
having an enthusiastic or spirited manner; bubbling: an ebullient coach; an ebullient greeting.
ebullience, n.

eccentric, n., adj.

(opp.: conventional)
(a person who is) unconventional or peculiar in manner, behavior, or thinking: Eccentric people often have
original ideas.
eccentricity, n.

eclipse, v., n.
(to cause to be) obscure or darker; (to undergo) a decline in importance or popularity: The eclipse of a once-
popular singer.

economic, adj.
relating to the production and distribution of goods, wealth, and services: an economic necessity; an economic
downturn.

**economics, n.
the study of production and distribution of goods, services, and wealth; matters of finance: His family's
economics need close attention.

ecstasy, n.
(opp.: misery)
an emotional state of intense pleasure, joy, or spiritual uplifting: the ecstasy of young love.
ecstatic, adj.

edifice, n.
a building, esp. a large or impressive structure.

edify, v.
to uplift morally, intellectually, or spiritually: His lecture edified us all.
edification, n.
efface, v.
to cause to disappear; destroy; erase: The new culture effaced all traces of the older one.
effacement, n.

effervescent, adj.
giving off tiny gas bubbles; fizzing; lively or bubbly in manner: an effervescent young hostess.
effervesce, v.; effervescence, n.

effete, adj.
1. lacking vigor or effectiveness; worn out: an effete society. 2. excessively refined or delicate; decadent: His
effete mannerisms sickened us.

**efficiency, n.
(opp.: inefficiency)
ability to quickly and accurately perform a task: His efficiency comes from years of experience.

effrontery, n.
insulting or shameless behavior: She had the effrontery to stomp out as the main speaker was introduced.

eject, v.
(opp.: inject)
to push, throw, or drive out, often forcefully: The volcano ejected lava; The bartender ejected the offensive
patron.
ejection, n.

elate, v.
(opp.: depress)
to make happy or proud: The honors he received elated his family.
elation, n.

**elegant, adj.
(opp.: tawdry)
rich and fine in tastefulness, quality, or dignity: an elegant, refined elderly gentleman.

elementary, adj.
(opp.: advanced)
basic or simple; at a first or low level; fundamental: We can build on elementary principles once you've
mastered them.

element, n.
1. a part of any whole: the elements of good nutrition. 2. a natural environment or one that suits: When he
paints, he's in his element; A fish's element is water.
elemental, adj.

elicit, v.
(opp.: suppress)
to draw out or call forth; evoke: His denial of guilt elicited angry protests from the victim.

elongate, v.
to make longer; lengthen: In this dialect the "a" sound is elongated.
elongated, adj.

eloquent, adj.
smooth, effective, and persuasive, as a speaker or speech: an eloquent appeal for justice.
eloquence, n.

elucidate, v.
(opp.: obscure)
to make clear or explain; clarify: He elucidated how the complex physics problem could be solved.
elucidative, adj.

elusive, adj.
hard to catch, understand, or define: an elusive criminal; elusive ideas.
elude, v.; elusiveness, n.

emaciated, adj.
(opp.: obese, corpulent)
extremely thin, as from starvation or disease: emaciated bodies in the famine-stricken land.
emaciation, n.

embark, v.
to board a ship or plane, or to begin some venture or undertaking: He embarked on a political career.
embarkation, n.

embellish, v.
to improve or try to improve by adding something: Decorations embellished the bathroom; She embellished her
story with dialogue.
embellishment, n.

embezzle, v.
to illegally take money or property in one's care for one's own use: He embezzled funds during his term as
treasurer of the company.
embezzlement, embezzler, n.

embody, v.
to stand for in a visible, real way, or to hold in an organized body or system: That statue embodies our national
virtues; This document embodies all our ideals.
embodiment, n.

embrace, v.
(opp.: exclude)
to take up or accept easily, or to include or encompass: She found it hard to embrace the stepchild as her own;
That religion embraces many superstitious practices.
embraceable, adj.

embroider, v.
to add to, as with made-up details or exaggerations: He embroidered the lesson to make a deeper impression on
the children.

embroil, v.
to involve in conflict, or to confuse; complicate: The land-border issue embroiled the neighbors in a lengthy
controversy.
embroilment, n.

emissary, n.
an agent representing a person or a government, as in negotiations.

emission, n.
the act of sending out, or that which is sent out: the emission of poisonous gases.
emit, v.

empirical, adj.
based on experience, observation, or fact; objective; pragmatic: empirical evidence.

emulate, v.
to try to be as good as someone, or to succeed at doing so: He is emulating his heroes.
emulative, adj.

enact, v.
1. to make into law. 2. to act out or act the part of, as in drama: They enacted the ceremony of Lee's surrender.
enactment, n.

enchant, v.
to charm and delight: His music enchants us.
enchanted, enchanting, adj.; enchantment, n.

encompass, v.
(opp.: exclude)
to surround, enclose, or include: Mountains encompass the lake; This cookbook encompasses everything
imaginable.
encompassing, adj.

encore, n.
a repeated or added performance or deed, or a request for such.

encounter, v.
to meet, esp. suddenly, or to confront in conflict: The immigrant encountered many difficulties.
encounter, n.

endanger, v.
(opp.: safeguard)
to cause to be exposed to danger; imperil: Your reckless driving endangered her life.
endangered, adj.; endangerment, n.

endeavor, v., n.
(to make) an earnest effort; attempt; strive: He endeavored to meet all his financial obligations promptly.

endorse, v.
(opp.: repudiate)
to approve or give support to: She endorsed the proposed law.
endorsement, n.

endow, v.
1. to give a permanent income or property to: She endowed the gallery with valuable art works. 2. to equip with
some ability or quality: endowed with a beautiful voice.
endowment, n.

**endure, v.
1. to exist through time; last: His writing has endured. 2. to put up with, tolerate, or go on in spite of: She
endured the desert heat.
endurable, adj.; endurance, n.

enfranchise, v.
(opp.: disfranchise)
to free, as from slavery, or to give the rights of citizenship to, esp. the right to vote.
enfranchisement, n.

engender, v.
to create or give rise to; produce: His new idea engendered many imitations.

engulf, v.
to cover entirely; envelop, as by a flood: Worries about his schoolwork seemed to engulf him.

**enhance, v.
(opp.: detract)
to heighten or increase in value, attractiveness, desirability, etc.: His signature enhanced the value of the book;
Make-up enhanced her eyes.
enhancement, n.

enigma, n.
something or someone that is puzzling, mysterious, or hard to comprehend: Russia was an enigma to Churchill.
enigmatic, adj.

**enlighten, v.
to provide with needed insight, information, or knowledge: The villagers were enlightened by our lessons on
nutrition.
enlightenment, n.

enmesh, v.
to catch; cause to be involved; entangle: Her business tactics enmeshed her in a lawsuit.

enmity, n.
(opp.: amity)
a feeling of hatred; hostility; antagonism: Loving the same man caused deep enmity between the sisters.

ensconce, v.
to position (oneself) firmly or comfortably, or to cover or hide for protection: She was ensconced on the lounge
for the evening.

entail, v.
to lead to or include as a necessary result or part: Success usually entails hard work.

enthrall, v.
to hold the complete attention of; captivate: He was so enthralled by the video game that he didn't want supper.

entice, v.
to attract to, by possible benefits; tempt; lead on: She was easily enticed by clearance sales to spend more than
was wise.
enticement, n.; enticing, adj.

entrench, v.
to make firm and unchangeable: His religious beliefs were entrenched.
entrenchment, n.

entrepreneur, n.
someone assuming the financial and managerial risk and responsibility for starting one or more businesses.
entrepreneurial, adj.

enumerate, v.
to name or list one by one, or to number, as in counting: She enumerated all my faults.
enumeration, n.

enunciate, v.
to pronounce clearly or state with exactness and clarity: English-speakers find some sounds in French hard to
enunciate.

envelop, v.
to surround completely; be a covering or wrapping for: The robe enveloped her; We were enveloped in inky
blackness.
enveloped, enveloping, adj.; envelopment, n.

**environment, n.
all that surrounds persons or organisms or has an impact on their development and survival: an earthworm's
environment; Environment influences intelligence.
environmental, adj.

eon, n.
an extremely long time; two or more eras, in geology: We seemed to wait eons for her arrival; Dinosaurs lived
eons ago.
eonian, adj.

ephemeral, adj.
lasting for only a short period: an ephemeral mood.
ephemera, n.

epic, adj., n.
1. (having the qualities of) a long poem, novel, movie, etc. that relates grand and heroic deeds: an epic tale of
exploration and adventure. 2. on a grand scale; impressively great: an epic victory.

epidemic, n., adj.

(something that is) spreading or growing rapidly, or affecting many: an epidemic demand for health foods; An
epidemic of AIDS is feared.

epigram, n.
a short poem or saying having a clever or witty thought or twist.

epitaph, n.
a message on a person's gravestone, or a brief writing in praise of one who has died.

epitomize, v.
to represent purely and fully, or to summarize briefly: His life epitomized selfishness.
epitome, epitomization, n.

equanimity, n.
calmness and balance of mind and emotions, even under pressure or stress: Her equanimity following the
accident was amazing.
equanimous, adj.

equivocate, v.
(opp.: explicate)
to purposely express indirectly or ambiguously, esp. to deceive: He equivocated when asked about his career
plans.
equivocal, adj.

era, n.
a period of time marked by an important event or events, or to which something belongs: the Christian era; an
era of revolutions; the technological era.

eradicate, v.
to completely destroy; obliterate; annihilate: That wonderful flight eradicated my fear of flying.
eradicable, adj.

erode, v.
to wear away, eat into, or destroy: Drainage eroded the bank; His frequent lies are eroding my trust of him.
erosion, n.; erosive, adj.

err, v.
to make a mistake, sin, or stray from a proper course: He erred by getting married so young.
erring, errant, adj.
erratic, adj.
not occurring or moving consistently or predictably; unpredictable: erratic behavior; an erratic pattern of sales.

erudite, adj.
(opp.: untutored)
having a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned: an erudite professor.
erudition, n.

eschew, v.
to avoid or refuse; shun: A dieter eschews candy.
eschewal, n.

esoteric, adj.
understood or known only by a few who have special training or interests: the esoteric field of gene splicing.
esoterica, n.

espouse, v.
to take up, or commit oneself to: They espoused the cause of cleaning up our oceans.
espousal, n.

essay, n.
1. a short written piece expressing the writer's opinions, ideas, etc. 2. an attempt: Their essay at mountain
climbing was spoiled by rain.
essay, v.

**essential, n., adj.

(that which is) necessary, fundamental, or not able to be dispensed with; vital: an essential step in making it
work; an attitude essential to success.
essence, n.

esteem, v.
(opp.: disdain)
to have a high opinion of; honor; to regard in a certain way; judge: I esteem kindness more than beauty; She
esteemed him likely to excel in college.
esteem, n.

eternal, adj.
(opp.: temporal)
having, or seeming to have, no beginning or end; timeless or unaffected by time: the eternal God; the eternal
battle of the sexes.
eternity, n.

ethereal, adj.
extremely light, delicate; beyond the worldly; celestial: ethereal innocence; ethereal music.
ethereality, n.; etherealize, v.

**ethics, n.
the branch of philosophy that deals with questions of right and wrong behavior; a person's or group's standards
of right and wrong: the ethics of the medical profession; an ethical way of doing business.
ethical, adj.; ethos, n.

eulogy, n.
a tribute, esp. to honor a dead person; high praise: The yearbook included eulogies for several teachers.
eulogize, v.

euphemism, n.
a milder, more pleasant expression substituted for a more offensive one: "Put to sleep" is a euphemism for
"kill."
euphemistic, adj.; euphemize, v.

euphonious, adj.
(opp.: cacophonous)
pleasant-sounding, as a combination of tones or words.
euphonic, adj.; euphony, n.

evacuate, v.
to leave, or to remove (persons) from a place for safety reasons: Those in the vicinity of the toxic spill had to be
evacuated.
evacuation, n.

evade, v.
to avoid or escape by cleverness, or to fail to respond appropriately: He evaded arrest for months; She evaded
her duties as a mother.
evasion, n.

**evaluate, v.
to determine the value or worth of, or to study carefully and judge; assess: Let's evaluate the pros and cons.
evaluation, evaluator, n.; evaluative, adj.

evanescent, adj.
tending to disappear like vapor; fleeting: an evanescent memory of her youthful days.
evanescence, n.

evaporate, v.
(opp.: consolidate)
to disappear, as if vaporized: Our chances of winning evaporated in the second half.

evasive, adj.
allowing someone, or attempting, to avoid or escape: evasive tactics; He was evasive as the police questioned
him.
evasion, n.

evoke, v.
to call forth, summon, or bring out in the mind or in action: His actions evoked anger from many; The
fragrance evoked memories from my childhood.
evocation, n.; evocative, adj.

evolve, v.
to come about, develop, or devise gradually: Man evolved as a tool-maker.
evolution, n.; evolving, adj.

exacerbate, v.
(opp.: alleviate)
to increase the pain or severity of; aggravate, or make bitter; irritate: To know that he was responsible
exacerbated the pain of his son's death.

exact, v.
to require, demand, or cause to be given up: They will exact every last penny; an exacting test of skill.
exacting, adj.

**exaggerate, v.
(opp.: understate)
to overstate, or cause to seem or be larger or more extreme: He exaggerated the importance of his role; The tall
hat exaggerated his height.

exalt, v.
(opp.: degrade, debase)
to raise in rank, power, esteem, etc.; elevate, or honor; glorify: We mustn't exalt money above all else.
exaltation, n.; exalted, adj.

exasperate, v.
to annoy or irritate; cause to lose patience: Her constant demands exasperated her husband.
exasperating, adj.

excavate, v.
to make a hole or cavity by digging or scooping out; to expose or unearth, as an archeological site.

excerpt, v., n.
(to select and use) a short passage from a writing, film, etc.: The instructor read excerpts of her best dialogues.

excise, n.
a tax on the making or selling of certain goods, or on those getting certain licenses.

excise, v.
to cut out or remove, as a tumor or a written passage.
excision, n.

**exclude, v.
to leave out, omit; keep out, or prevent from enjoying ordinary rights; bar: That restaurant used to exclude
minorities.
exclusion, n.; exclusive, adj.

excruciating, adj.
extremely painful or distressing, or extremely intense or thorough: She tells everything with excruciating detail.

excursion, n.
a short trip or pleasure tour: a shopping excursion.

exemplary, adj.
deserving to be imitated or followed; model; admirable: an exemplary soldier; exemplary behavior.

exemplify, v.
to serve as an example of; illustrate: This poem exemplifies Hood's style.
exemplification, n.

exemption, n.
not being held to a particular condition or obligation that others are held to: She got an exemption from the
final because of her perfect class average.
exempt, v.; exemptible, adj.

**exert, v.
to put forth or bring to bear (power, strength, etc.); to apply (oneself) to strong effort: I exerted my willpower
and quit smoking.
exertion, n.

exhilarate, v.
(opp.: debilitate)
to invigorate, stimulate, or make extremely glad: Both the exercise and the good news exhilarated me.

exhort, v.
(opp.: dissuade)
to advise, urge, or incite in an encouraging way: She exhorted her brother to look for a job.
exhortation, n.
exhume, v.
(opp.: inter)
to dig out, as from a grave; restore to prominence, esp. following obscurity: He exhumed all his old athletic
trophies.
exhumation, n.

exigency, n.
urgency, demands, or needs relating to a condition or situation: the exigencies of having small children.
exigent, adj.

exonerate, v.
(opp.: indict)
to free from blame; absolve; to release from a task or burden: He was finally exonerated and his position
restored.
exonerative, adj.

exorcise, v.
to cast out, or to free (someone or some place) from a demon, evil spirits, curses, etc.
exorcism, exorcist, n.

exotic, adj.
foreign, or strikingly unusual; intriguing: an exotic fruit; exotic customs.
exotica, pl.n.; exoticism, n.

expedient, n., adj.

(opp.: inexpedient)
1. (something that is) suitable or advantageous, or quick, for the purpose or in the circumstance: It would be
expedient to skip the first part. 2. (an action that is) self-serving and usu. morally questionable.
expedience, expediency, n.

expedite, v.
to accomplish with speed and efficiency.
expeditious, adj.

expel, v.
to put or drive out by force; dismiss or oust, as from school: He expelled a weary sigh.
expulsion, n.

expendable, adj.
able to be disposed of or consumed, replaced, or sacrificed; not vitally useful: In this war we are all expendable.
expend, v.

expertise, n.
expert knowledge or skill: His expertise in French served us well in parts of Canada.

explicit, adj.
(opp.: implicit)
very clearly expressed, or plainly observable: My directions were so explicit a child could follow them; explicit
violence.

**exploit, n.
a deed of daring or spirit; feat: The exploits of great military leaders make good reading.

**exploit, v.
to put to use, esp. for advantage or profit, and often selfishly so: He was quick to exploit his opportunity; They
have shamelessly exploited what should be a national resource.
exploitation, n.
expunge, v.
to cross out, erase, or destroy all trace of; obliterate: The traitor's name should be expunged from the minds of
loyal men.

expurgate, v.
to rid of offensive or incorrect material before publication, as a book.
expurgatory, adj.

exquisite, adj.
(opp.: crude, primitive)
1. of exceptional beauty; delicately or finely made. 2. keenly sensitive or discerning: an exquisite appreciation
for good theater.

extend, v.
1. to enlarge, lengthen, or stretch out or over. 2. to give or offer openly: He extended warmth and friendship to
the new immigrants.
extended, adj.; extension, n.

extensive, adj.
great or large in reach, quality, size, or degree; thorough: extensive cancer research.
extent, n.

external, adj.
(opp.: internal)
being outside, visible, or for show or superficial: She possesses external beauty only; Our nation's external
relations are steadily improving.

extinguish, v.
(opp.: kindle, rekindle)
to put out or put an end to: The renewed bombing extinguished all hope of a settlement.
extinguishable, adj.; extinguishment, n.

extol, v.
(opp.: derogate)
to praise highly: He extolled the virtues of his new car.
extolment, n.

extract, v.
to remove or obtain by force, effort, or drawing out: The police extracted a confession from her; He extracted
pleasure from the gruesome ruin of his rival.

extraneous, adj.
(opp.: intrinsic)
coming from outside; not essential or relevant: extraneous advice; extraneous matter in a mixture.

extravagant, adj.
(opp.: scanty)
excessive or foolish in spending; beyond what is reasonable: The press gave him extravagant praise; an
extravagant purchase.
extravagance, n.

extricate, v.
(opp.: implicate)
to free or release from difficulty or involvement; disengage: Joining the army extricated him from a crowd of
hoodlum friends.
extricable, adj.

extroverted, adj.
(opp.: introverted)
showing interest in or concern for others more than for oneself; outgoing; gregarious: Partying appeals to an
extroverted personality.
extroversion, extrovert, n.

exult, v.
(opp.: despair)
to rejoice greatly, esp. over some triumph: He exulted when notified he had gotten the long-sought job.
exultant, adj.; exultation, n.

F
fabricate, v.
to construct, create, or assemble; make up, or invent: fabricating a homemade windmill; He fabricated an
unbelievable story to cover up his irresponsibility.

facet, n.
an angle or aspect, as of a problem or situation: Which facet of city life excites you most?; several facets of his
personality.

facetious, adj.
not meant seriously; humorous or frivolous: The student's facetious answer annoyed the teacher.

facilitate, v.
(opp.: impede)
to make less difficult; help to progress: She facilitated my enrollment in school.

faction, n.
a group, sometimes a dissenting or opposed group, within a larger body: the Southern faction in the Senate.
factional, factious, adj.

faculty, n.
a mental capability such as memory, perception, reasoning, etc.: Her faculties were sharpened by the word
games.

fallacious, adj.
containing, or based on, an unsound argument; in error: fallacious reasoning.
fallacy, n.

fallible, adj.
(opp.: infallible)
capable of making a mistake; liable to error: Aren't we on this earth all fallible?

fallow, adj.
of farmland, tilled but left unplanted for a season; inactive or undeveloped: His tremendous talents remain
fallow for lack of opportunity.

falter, v.
to move, speak, or act with hesitation or unsteadiness: When it came time to face his boss, his confidence
faltered.
faltering, adj.

fanatic, n., adj.

(one who is) excessively enthusiastic or devoted to a principle, religion, leader, etc.
fanaticism, n.
fanciful, adj.
imaginative; created in the mind; of a light or playful nature: fanciful notions of becoming a star; a fanciful
decoration scheme.
fancy, n.

farcical, adj.
of a humorous or comically exaggerated nature; ridiculous, absurd, or pretentious: The comedian gave a
farcical imitation of the President's news conference.
farce, n.

far-fetched, adj.
unlikely or improbable; exaggerated; irrelevant: a far-fetched excuse for the lateness of his paper.

fastidious, adj.
exceedingly particular, demanding, or fussy about details, as of food, manners, or dress: He fastidiously refused
to eat meat with any fat on it.

fathom, v.
to understand completely; get to the bottom of: Her illustrations helped him fathom the physics principles.
fathomable, fathomless, adj.

fatuous, adj.
smugly foolish or stupid: His fatuous expression showed he felt no regret for his misbehavior.
fatuity, fatuousness, n.

feasible, adj.
(opp.: unfeasible)
able to be brought about or used; possible or suitable: It's not feasible for my family to move that soon; a
feasible plan for reorganizing the company.
feasibility, n.

feeble, adj.
(opp.: sturdy)
lacking strength, vigor, or intensity; ineffective or insufficient: She gave us a feeble, half-hearted apology.

feign, v.
to give a false appearance of; pretend: She feigned indifference to his compliments.
feigned, adj.

felicitous, adj.
(opp.: inapt)
well-suited or apt; very appropriate, pleasant, or agreeable: a felicitous choice of words; His visit began a
felicitous series of events.
felicity, n.

ferment, v., n.
(to bring about) a state of agitation, excitement, or rapid change: Cancer research has fermented much concern
about the role of diet.
fermentation, n.

fertile, adj.
(opp.: barren, sterile)
leading or tending to abundant production: a fertile environment for creative thinking.
fertility, n.

fervent, adj.
(opp.: apathetic)
having or showing warmth, depth, or intensity of feeling: a fervent desire to keep his family together.
fervor, n.

fiasco, n.
an utter and shameful failure: Her husband's weekend alone with the toddlers proved to be a fiasco.

fickle, adj.
(opp.: steadfast)
quick to change without reason, esp. in affection or loyalty: The fickle public follows the latest fad.

**fiction, n.
1. an invention, fabrication, or falsehood: His testimony turned out to be pure fiction. 2. in literature, invented
stories, esp. novels and short stories.
fictional, adj.; fictionalize, v.; fictitious, adj.

fidget, v.
to move nervously and restlessly, or to touch or fiddle with aimlessly: The little girl fidgeted in the doctor's
waiting room,
fidgety, adj.

finale, n.
the concluding part of a musical or dramatic piece, or a course of events: And for a grand finale, all the party-
goers jumped fully clothed into the pool.

finesse, n.
(opp.: ineptitude)
delicate and skillful ability in handling a task or situation; cunning: His finesse was put to the test as he tried to
calm his quarreling wife and boss.

finite, adj.
(opp.: infinite)
limited or subject to limits or confines: a finite amount of time on earth.
finitude, n.

firebrand, n.
a person who stirs up others to conflict or action, esp. illegal political action: The firebrand organized a violent
demonstration before the governor's mansion.

fitful, adj.
(opp.: placid)
occurring irregularly; restless; erratic: a fitful, troubled sleep.

fixity, n.
the quality of being unable to be moved or changed; stability: the fixity of some prejudices.
fixed, adj.

flabby, adj.
not firm; soft; without strength, force, or resolve: flabby, unused muscles; a flabby attempt.

flagrant, adj.
(opp.: subtle)
exceptionally or glaringly noticeable or bad: a flagrant slip of the tongue; a flagrant violation of the rules.
flagrance, flagrancy, n.

flamboyant, adj.
(opp.: austere)
especially showy or dashing; elaborately decorated or colored: his flamboyant socializing and spending; the
peacock's flamboyant tail feathers.
flamboyance, flamboyancy, n.
flaunt, v.
to show off deliberately and proudly; openly display: She flaunted her large diamond ring.

**flaw, v., n.
(to create) a fault, defect, or imperfection: Continual little lies flawed his trustworthiness; The flaw caused the
contract to be invalid.
flawed, flawless, adj.

fledgling, n.
a young bird just learning to fly, or an inexperienced or young person: He is a fledgling in this line of work.

fleeting, adj.
(opp.: enduring)
passing quickly; lasting for, or as if for, a moment; transient: Those summer days were glorious, but fleeting.

flexible, adj.
(opp.: inflexible)
easily bent; pliant; adaptable or easily influenced: a flexible metal rod; a person whose schedule is flexible.
flex, v.

flinch, v.
to draw away, esp. suddenly, from pain, difficulty, fear, etc.; wince: He flinched at the sound of the shot.

flippant, adj.
disrespectful; making light of someone or something deserving a serious response; shallowly humorous: a
flippant remark to the teacher; a flippant attitude toward her mother's illness.
flippancy, n.

florid, adj.
(opp.: pallid, wan)
1. red or ruddy in complexion. 2. overly decorative or flowery: an insincere, florid compliment.
floridity, n.

flourish, v.
(opp.: wane)
1. to grow and thrive; be or do well; be at full strength or prosperity: He flourished in the new environment. 2.
to wave about or display dramatically; brandish: The boy flourished his new pen knife.

flout, v.
to mock or show contempt for; scorn: He openly flouted the rules at the summer camp.

**fluctuate, v.
to change irregularly; rise and fall; move as in waves: The price of oil has been fluctuating.
fluctuant, adj.

fluent, adj.
(opp.: halting)
1. speaking and writing, or spoken and written, easily and smoothly: She is fluent in several languages. 2.
graceful and smooth; flowing in form and motion: a fluent dance movement.
fluency, n.

**focus, v., n.
(to center or concentrate on) a point or area where pictures, thoughts, or activities come together clearly or
necessarily: His proposal was the focus of the meeting.
focal, adj., foci, pl.n.

foible, n.
a minor flaw or weakness, as in personality or character: Constantly saying "uh" is a foible of his.

folly, n.
(opp.: astuteness)
lack of common sense; foolish or rash behavior: Financing my cousin's business was folly on my part.

foment, v.
to encourage the development of; instigate or foster: His continual criticisms fomented the blow-up.
fomentation, n.

foolhardy, adj.
(opp.: prudent)
unreasonably bold or daring; rash: Skating on thin ice is truly foolhardy.
foolhardiness, n.

forbear, v.
to hold oneself back; show patience in spite of being provoked: They are asking for trouble, but I will forbear.
forbearance, n.; forbearing, adj.

forego, v.
(opp.: succeed)
to go before; precede: Experience in the lab ought to forego setting up your private practice.
foregone, adj.

forerunner, n.
one that came before; predecessor; someone or something that signals what is to come: The robin is a common
forerunner of spring's arrival.

foresee, v.
to know, realize, or prepare for ahead of time: I foresee problems for you two as roommates.
forseeable, adj.; foresight, n.

forestall, v.
to prevent or make certain things difficult by doing something ahead of time: To forestall an argument, we
agreed to some corrections.

forgo, v.
to refrain from; give up: Let's forgo any further discussion on this.

formidable, adj.
very difficult; causing fear or a feeling of admiration: These physics problems are formidable; a formidable
opponent.

formulate, v.
to state or develop in a clear or systematic way: We formulated a more economical way to heat with electricity.

forsake, v.
to give up, abandon, or renounce: He promised his fiancee he would forsake his gambling habit.
forsaken, adj.

forte, n.
(opp.: flaw)
a strong or exceptional talent, skill, ability, etc.: Humor is his forte.

forthright, adj.
(opp.: devious)
outspoken and to the point: a forthright answer to personal questions.
forthrightness, n.
fortify, v.
(opp.: debilitate)
to strengthen or reinforce; encourage: Zinc fortifies the body's immune system.

fortuitous, adj.
happening or appearing by lucky chance: A fortuitous interruption saved him from further embarrassment.

fragile, adj.
(opp.: sturdy)
easily damaged; delicate; flimsy: The aged, ailing woman had only a fragile hold on life.
fragility, n.

fragmentary, adj.
(opp.: comprehensive)
consisting of broken or disconnected pieces or parts; incomplete: a fragmentary report on the animal's habits.
fragment, fragmentation, n.; fragmented, adj.

frail, adj.
(opp.: robust, sturdy)
easily damaged or broken; weakened, physically or morally: His frail determination gave way to despair.
frailty, n.

fraud, n.
deliberate trickery, cheating, or deception, usu. for personal gain; something purposely false: He was charged
with fraud and impersonating an officer.
fraudulent, adj.

frenetic, adj.
(opp.: serene)
frantic; frenzied: the frenetic pace of the first week at college.

frenzy, n.
a fit or seizure of violent upset, excitement, or enthusiasm; wild madness: a frenzy of activity in the disturbed
beehive.
frenzied, adj.

fret, v.
to feel annoyed, concerned, or anxious: She fretted that her son was marrying too young.
fretful, adj.

frigid, adj.
(opp.: torrid)
extremely cold or freezing; emotionally or sexually unresponsive: frigid arctic air; a frigid refusal to contribute.
frigidity, n.

frivolous, adj.
(opp.: earnest)
1. not worth taking seriously; silly or trivial: a frivolous suggestion. 2. lacking seriousness; light or humorous:
frivolous behavior.
frivolity, n.

frugal, adj.
(opp.: prodigal)
tending to economize; thrifty; small in expense or quantity: a frugal old woman; a frugal meal.
frugality, n.

fruitless, adj.
(opp.: fruitful)
unsuccessful; unproductive: His efforts to change her mind were fruitless.

frustrate, v.
(opp.: facilitate)
to hinder, prevent, or bring to nothing: Our car's breakdown frustrated our vacation plans; His indifference
frustrated her advances.

fugitive, n., adj.

1. (one who is) running away or fleeing. 2. not permanent; fleeting: fugitive moments of pleasure.

fulsome, adj.
offensive, esp. by being excessive or overly flattering: His fulsome compliments only annoyed her.

**fundamental, adj., n.
1. (serving as) a basic principle or foundation of a system, process, etc.: the fundamental purpose of exercise;
the fundamentals of good nutrition. 2. (of or concerning) a basic purpose or function: a fundamental change in
direction.

furrow, v., n.
(to make) any narrow depression in a surface: furrows of new seedlings; Worry furrowed his brow.

furtive, adj.
sly or secretive: a furtive glance at his friend's test paper; a furtive sort of petty criminal.

futile, adj.
unlikely to achieve, or incapable of achieving, a desired result; hopeless; ineffective: a futile attempt to excuse
his crime.
futility, n.

G
gainsay, v.
to deny or contradict; speak against: I wouldn't gainsay your right to a fair hearing.

galaxy, n.
1. a separate system of billions of stars held by gravitation apart from other systems. 2. a brilliant or grand
display of people or things: a galaxy of TV stars.
galactic, adj.

galling, adj.
causing irritation or upset; very annoying or exasperating: those galling middle-of-the-night phone calls.
gall, v.

gamely, adv.
(opp.: cravenly)
bravely; showing spirit or willingness: She gamely played on, in spite of her injury.
game, adj.

garble, v.
(opp.: clarify)
to mix up, distort, confuse, or cause to be unintelligible: The translator garbled the sense of my remarks.

garish, adj.
(opp.: subdued)
overly or tastelessly colored or decorated; flashy, gaudy: Her makeup was garish and sloppily applied.
garner, v.
to earn or collect: He garnered several awards for his performance.

garrulous, adj.
(opp.: taciturn, terse)
given to talking excessively; verbose: garrulous, tiring phone conversations.
garrulity, n.

gaunt, adj.
(opp.: corpulent)
exceptionally thin and bony; emaciated; haggard: Most survivors of the famine were gaunt and sickly.

gender, n.
a grouping or categorizing according to sex: masculine, feminine, or neuter gender.

**general, adj.
(opp.: specific)
of the whole; common or widespread; not detailed; indefinite; the general public; A cold is a general ailment; I
got only a general idea from his brief explanation.
generality, n.

generalize, v.
to make or be a statement about a whole or a group of people, things, instances, etc.: Don't generalize without
adequate evidence; The article generalizes about women, based on case studies of only 200 California women.

generate, v.
to cause to be brought into being: The cotton gin generated a greater need for slaves.
generative, adj.

generation, n.
people born at roughly the same time; time period between the birth of parents and the birth of their children:
Grandmother's generation; lasting for three generations.

**genius, n.
1. extraordinary power of intellect, or one having such power. 2. a particular distinguishable or identifying
characteristic: The genius of ancient Greece was philosophy.

genre, n.
a particular type or kind; a category of artistic work: the literary genres of satire and tragedy.

geology, n.
the scientific study of the physical structure and development of the earth, esp. concerning rocks.
geological, adj.; geologist, n.

germane, adj.
having relevance; pertinent; significant: information germane to my research.

germinate, v.
to begin to grow or develop; sprout: The idea for the book germinated while she was working on something
else.

gibe, v., n.
(to make) a mocking or ridiculing comment; taunt.

glacier, n.
a large mass of ice and snow that has built up and moves down a mountainside or outward from a land surface.
glacial, adj.
glower, v.
to look or stare angrily, sulkily, or with hatred; scowl.

glutton, n.
1. one who eats excessively. 2. one able to handle or seemingly desirous of that which is hard or troublesome: a
glutton for hard work.
gluttonous, adj.; gluttony, n.

goad, v., n.
(to act as) something that prods or irritates one into action: His hatred of commuting goaded him into moving.

grandiose, adj.
(opp.: humble)
1. magnificent or impressive. 2. making a false display of grandness; pompous: His grandiose promises only
made him seem more ridiculous.
grandiosity, n.

gratify, v.
to satisfy or please; give in to a desire or urge: Her good scores gratified her parents; He gratified his cravings
for sweets with fruit.
gratification, n.

gratis, adv., adj.

without cost; free: The flowers come gratis with the room.

gratuitous, adj.
1. given or received without charge. 2. given or done without good reason or justification; unwarranted: a
gratuitous act of violence.

**gravity, n.
(opp.: levity)
seriousness in result or in manner: the gravity of the emergency; the gravity with which he spoke.
grave, adj.

gregarious, adj.
(opp.: reclusive)
liking to socialize or gather in groups, packs, flocks, etc.: The teen years are often gregarious ones.

grievance, n.
a wrongdoing considered cause for complaint, or the complaint itself: The union filed a grievance against the
company because of poor working conditions.
grievous, adj.

gross, adj.
1. large, extreme, or obvious: a gross miscalculation. 2. offensive; unrefined, or lacking fine distinctions: a
gross sense of humor.

grovel, v.
to lower oneself or act in an excessively humble way; crawl: Be respectful, but don't grovel to anyone.

guile, n.
(opp.: ingenuousness)
intentional deceiving; trickiness; treachery.
guileful, guileless, adj.

gulf, n.
a large, deep, or gap-like opening, space, or distance between: Politically, there is a gulf between us.
gullible, adj.
(opp.: wary)
easily tricked or deceived: No matter how unbelievable the advertisement, some gullible people always buy.
gull, v.; gullibility, n.

gusty, adj.
occurring in sudden bursts, as wind, sound, laughter, etc.
gust, n., v.

H
habitable, adj.
(opp.: uninhabitable)
able to be lived in.

habitat, n.
a place where something or someone lives or grows: the perfect habitat for wild ferns.
habitation, n.

hackneyed, adj.
caused to be worn out or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase; trite.

hamper, v.
to hinder or interfere with: Fatigue will hamper your concentration in classes.

haphazard, adj.
not organized, logical, or purposeful: a haphazard, ineffective approach to studying.

harass, v.
to trouble or disturb repeatedly or persistently: Hecklers harassed the speaker until police removed them.
harassment, n.

harbinger, n.
a signal or foreshadowing of the future: The conference was a harbinger of a more peaceful relationship
between the nations.

harbor, v.
to have in the mind, or to hide or conceal: She harbored doubts about her decision; The criminal was harbored
by a distant relative.

hardy, adj.
(opp.: frail)
able to endure; rugged; courageous: hardy mountain climbers; a hardy plant.
hardiness, n.

**harmony, n.
(opp.: cacophony, disharmony)
1. the condition of fitting together well or agreeing with one another: harmony in family life. 2. pleasing
combination of sounds, as in music.

haughty, adj.
(opp.: humble)
proud while looking down on others; snobbish or arrogant.

hazard, v., n.
(to put into) danger or risk: She hazarded $5 on the bet; the hazards of ski-jumping.
hazardous, adj.

heckle, v.
to deliberately annoy (a speaker, performer, etc.) with rude remarks or questions.
heckler, n.

hedonism, n.
the practice of seeking constant or maximum pleasure: His hedonism interferes with his studies.
hedonist, n., adj.; hedonistic, adj.

heed, v., n.
(to give) one's careful attention; notice: He didn't heed my warning; You should take heed of the dangers.
heedful, heedless, adj.

heir, n.
one receiving another's rank or property when that person dies, or one seeming to carry on in a similar style;
inheritor: an author's literary heir.

hemisphere, n.
half of the earth, either latitudinally or longitudinally, or either lateral half of the brain.

herald, v.
to announce the approach of something: The transistor heralded a new age in electronics.
herald, n.

heredity, n.
traits or tendencies transmitted from parents and inherited by a child.
hereditary, adj.

heretic, n.
one whose opinions or beliefs challenge accepted views, esp. in religion: To my father, anyone who slept late
was a heretic.
heresy, n.; heretical, adj.

heretofore, adv.
(opp.: hereafter)
prior to this time; before now: Heretofore we haven't been able to buy a car.

**heritage, n.
something that is inherited or passed down from earlier people: her heritage from her mother; a heritage of
freedom.

hermit, n.
one who has withdrawn from society to life in solitude; recluse.

heterogeneous, adj.
(opp.: homogeneous)
made up of parts or members that differ; dissimilar: a heterogeneous collection of plants.

hibernate, v.
to remain dormant over the winter; be inactive: Bears hibernate in winter.

hidebound, adj.
unyielding in one's conservative, bigoted, or narrow-minded opinions: a hidebound insistence on following
tradition.

hierarchy, n.
something graded according to rank or level of authority; highest group that governs: a hierarchy of his values,
from most to least important; the hierarchy in the State Department.
hierarchical, adj.

hilarious, adj.
(opp.: melancholy)
exceptionally funny or amusing; merry: a hilarious story; a hilarious reunion.
hilarity, n.

**hinder, v.
to block or interfere with the progress of something or someone: His complaints hindered our rehearsal.
hindrance, n.

hoard, v., n.
(to collect) a supply of something that is hidden or stored for use at a later time: a hoard of food.

homage, n.
special respect or honor publicly displayed or expressed: paying homage to a war hero.

hone, v.
to sharpen or make more effective: He honed his public speaking style.

horizontal, adj.
(opp.: vertical)
parallel to the earth's surface or the horizon: a horizontal line.

hostage, n.
a person held prisoner in an attempt to force another person or group to meet certain conditions or demands.

**hostile, adj.
feeling or showing dislike; unfriendly; disagreeable: a hostile remark; a hostile climate.
hostility, n.

**humble, adj.
(opp.: arrogant)
not proud; modest; low in importance or quality: a humble but clean home; a humble self-estimate.
humility, n.

humid, adj.
(opp.: arid)
having a high amount of moisture or water vapor: a humid climate.
humidity, n.

hurdle, v., n.
(to leap over or surmount) a barrier in a race, or an obstacle or difficulty: They had to hurdle many problems
before getting married.

hyperbole, n.
an obvious and deliberate exaggeration not intended to be taken literally: His love for hyperbole made him a
great storyteller.
hyperbolic, adj.

hypochondriac, n.
one who worries unnecessarily or excessively about his health: A true hypochondriac, she always "had"
whatever disease was in the news.
hypochondria, n.

**hypocrite, n.
one who states or pretends to hold beliefs he does not actually practice; two-faced person: That hypocrite says
he loves mankind, but he is cold and distant to his children.
hypocrisy, n.; hypocritical, adj.

**hypothesis, n.
a proposed explanation or theory: There are many hypotheses about the cause of dinosaur extinction.
hypotheses, pl.n., hypothetical, adj.

I
iconoclasm, n.
the attacking or violating of images, beliefs, or values that others hold sacred or precious: In his iconoclasm, he
even attacks Mom and apple pie.
iconoclast, n.; iconoclastic, adj.

idealism, n.
(opp.: realism)
the pursuit of or belief in noble ideals, principles, and values: Her idealism was considered unrealistic for
today's society.
idealist, n.; idealistic, adj.

ideology, n.
the body of beliefs, goals, and symbols that characterize a particular group: Christian ideology; communist
ideology.
ideological, adj.

idiom, n.
1. the unique grammar and ways of combining words of a particular language or dialect. 2. a figure of speech,
such as "fly off the handle," that may not be translatable word for word.
idiomatic, adj.

idiosyncrasy, n.
a peculiarity of habit, temperament, etc., particular to a given person or group: Putting orange juice on his
cereal was one of his idiosyncrasies.
idiosyncratic, adj.

idolize, v.
to be excessively devoted to; adore; hero-worship: He idolized baseball players.

ignite, v.
(opp.: quench)
1. to set on fire. 2. to stir up (emotions, people, etc.): The speech ignited the crowd's anger.

ignominy, n.
the condition of being in disgrace or dishonor, shame: The ignominy of getting only two percent of the votes.
ignominious, adj.

illogical, adj.
not logical; contrary to reason: an illogical argument.
illogic, n.

illuminate, v.
(opp.: obfuscate)
1. to make clear and understandable; give knowledge to (someone); clarify; enlighten. 2. to provide or brighten
with light.
illusion, n.
a fantasy or idea resulting from a misperception of reality; false thought or idea: the illusion that wealth would
surely make them happy.
illusionary, adj.

illustrate, v.
to explain by giving examples; provide pictures or drawings for something: He illustrated his point with
graphs.
illustrative, adj.

image, n.
a mental picture; reflection of something; visual representation; set of words that evokes a mental picture: I
have an image of him as a boy; She is the image of her mother; The poet uses natural images to represent his
feelings.

imagery, n.
mental pictures, esp. those evoked by language; visual representation: The writer uses mechanical imagery to
suggest the impersonality of modern life.

imbecile, n.
one who is stupid, foolish, mentally deficient, or absurd.
imbecilic, adj.; imbecility, n.

immaculate, adj.
free from dirt, error, fault, or moral impurity: an immaculate dress; an immaculate record in office.

immaterial, adj.
(opp.: material)
not having relevance or importance: immaterial evidence.

immeasurable, adj.
impossible to measure; without limit: immeasurable gratitude.

**immense, adj.
(opp.: minute)
very large or vast; boundless; great or excellent: an immense wasteland; of immense help.
immensity, n.

imminent, adj.
about to happen or likely to happen soon: her imminent arrival; War seemed imminent.

immobilize, v.
to keep from moving; make incapable of motion: fear immobilized us.
immobile, adj.

immoderate, adj.
(opp.: temperate)
beyond reasonable or appropriate limits; excessive: immoderate desires.

immortal, n., adj.

(one who is) not subject to death; enduring in fame or memory; an immortal soul; the immortal words of the
poet.
immortality, n.

**immune, adj.
(opp.: susceptible)
1. not subject to something that does affect others: She is immune to hostile criticism. 2. resistant to disease.
immunity, n.; immunize, v.
immutable, adj.
not subject to change; unchangeable: an immutable decree by the king.

impair, v.
to make less effective; diminish or damage: The noise outside impaired his concentration.
impairment, n.

**impartial, adj.
(opp.: biased, partial)
having no predetermined preference; not prejudiced; even-handed: an impartial judge.
impartiality, n.

impassive, adj.
(opp.: passionate)
not showing or responding to emotions or physical feelings; unfeeling; insensitive: He became more impassive
to his environment as he aged.
impassivity, n.

impecunious, adj.
lacking funds; penniless: an impecunious organization.

impede, v.
(opp.: expedite)
to slow or block the movement or progress of; hinder: Lack of money impeded her ambition to go to college.
impediment, n.

impending, adj.
about to occur; threatening to occur soon: their impending divorce; impending war.
impend, v.

imperative, n., adj.

(something) necessary or essential: the imperatives of survival; It is imperative that you be there.

imperil, v.
to put at risk; endanger: His hasty takeoff imperiled them all.

impertinent, adj.
1. rude or presumptuous: an impertinent interruption of our conversation. 2. not pertaining; irrelevant.
impertinence, n.

impetuous, adj.
(opp.: calculated)
sudden and impulsive: an impetuous action.

impious, adj.
(opp.: pious)
lacking in reverence or respect; irreverent: Her impious remark embarrassed them.
impiety, n.

implant, v.
(opp.: uproot)
to plant or establish firmly in something else: She implanted the idea in his mind.

implement, v.
to carry out or put into effect: He implemented his father's suggestions.
implementation, n.
implicate, v.
to involve (or prove involvement) in a situation or event: He was implicated in the murder.

implore, v.
to beg of or plead for urgently: She implored the judge to give a light sentence.

** imply, v.
(opp.: infer)
to say indirectly; suggest: She implied that I didn't care; the subtle implications of the speech.
implication, n.; implicit, adj.

import, v., n.
1. (to bring in) something from another country. 2. (to have) significance or importance: the import of his
decision; an event of real import.

impose, v.
to force or thrust on another (a duty, burden, one's presence, etc.); to institute; establish: The state imposed an
added liquor tax; He imposes on his relatives for meals and lodging.
imposition, n.

impotent, adj.
lacking strength, effectiveness, or capability: an impotent leader.
impotence, n.

impound, v.
to take and retain in legal custody; confiscate: The police impounded the smuggled goods.

impoverish, v.
(opp.: enrich)
to make poor; exhaust the natural richness of: Repeated planting impoverished the soil.
impoverishment, n.

impractical, adj.
not useful to be put into practice; not able to deal with practical matters: an impractical suggestion.

imprecise, adj.
not exact or accurate; vague: imprecise directions.
imprecision, n.

impregnable, adj.
(opp.: vulnerable)
able to withstand any attack, or totally secure, as a point or position: the impregnable fortress; an impregnable
construction of reasoning.
impregnability, n.

impressionable, adj.
affected by suggestion; easily influenced: an impressionable child.

improbable, adj.
unlikely to occur or to be true: an improbable situation.

impromptu, adj., adv.

thought of, made, or done without an advance plan or preparation; spontaneous: an impromptu piano recital.

improvise, v.
to create, construct, or compose without preparation from whatever materials are available: She improvised an
answer; We improvised a shelter from the rain.
improvisation, n.; improvised, adj.
imprudent, adj.
not wise; indiscreet; rash: an imprudent loan to a high-risk borrower.
imprudence, n.

impudent, adj.
openly disrespectful: The impudent child spit at his teacher.
impudence, n.

impulse, n.
a sudden desire; an inner tendency: She has generous impulses.
impulsive, adj.

inaccessible, adj.
hard or impossible to reach, approach, or attain: inaccessible goals; an inaccessible valley.

** inadequate, adj.
below standard; insufficient: an inadequate water supply; inadequate preparation.
inadequacy, n.

inadvertent, adj.
(opp.: purposeful)
not planned or intended; unintentional: an inadvertent sigh of boredom; an inadvertent mispronunciation of a
name.
inadvertence, inadvertency, n.

inanimate, adj.
lacking energy, spirit, or life; lifeless; dull: A teddy bear is an inanimate object.

inaudible, adj.
not capable of being heard.

inaugurate, v.
1. to install in office or open with a formal ceremony: Today we inaugurate the new mayor. 2. to start formally:
Last month we inaugurated the new telephone system.
inaugural, adj.

incandescent, adj.
very bright or glowing; showing brilliance or passion: an incandescent sense of humor.
incandescence, n.

incense, v.
(opp.: placate)
to make angry; enrage; infuriate: His tax bill usually incenses him.

incessant, adj.
never ceasing; continuous: the incessant drone of a mosquito.

incidental, n., adj.

(something) of relatively little importance; minor: incidental income; milk, bread, and a few incidentals.

incisive, adj.
(opp.: obtuse)
marked by clear, penetrating thought; sharp: an incisive remark.

incite, v.
(opp.: deter)
to cause or provoke an action, esp. a disruptive one: Her speech incited a riot.
incitement, n.

incline, v.
1. to be disposed or tend towards certain viewpoints or interests: He inclined toward an acting career. 2. to
cause to lean in a certain way: She inclined her head to the left.
inclination, n.; inclined, adj.

include, v.
(opp.: exclude)
to contain; incorporate; to take account of: We included your needs in our planning.
inclusion, n.; inclusive, adj.

incoherent, adj.
lacking sensible order or connection; unintelligible: incoherent speech.
incoherence, n.

** incompetence, n.
(opp.: proficiency)
the state or quality of being unqualified or unable to do something: His incompetence at his job was clear.
incompetent, adj.

inconclusive, adj.
not having a resolution or end; not providing absolute proof: inconclusive evidence; an inconclusive debate.

incongruous, adj.
not suitable or fitting; not blending in; inconsistent or inappropriate: an incongruous punching bag in the
formal dining room.
incongruent, adj.; incongruity, n.

inconsequential, adj.
of little or no importance; making little difference: inconsequential complaints and objections.

inconsiderate, adj.
lacking in thoughtfulness or consideration for others: an inconsiderate guest.

** inconsistent, adj.
not following a regular pattern or logic; contradictory: an inconsistent performance.
inconsistency, n.

inconspicuous, adj.
easily overlooked; not obvious: an inconspicuous hiding place.

inconstant, adj.
changeable, esp. frequently and at random; not faithful or reliable: an inconstant friend.
inconstancy, n.

** incorporate, v.
1. to include or blend parts together in a larger whole: She incorporated all their ideas into one composition. 2.
to become a corporation: The growing business incorporated last year.

incredible, adj.
difficult or impossible to believe; extraordinary; astonishing: an incredible story; incredible distances.

indecipherable, adj.
not able to be read or interpreted: indecipherable handwriting.

indecision, n.
inability or unwillingness to make a decision or make up one's mind: His indecision seemed to paralyze him.
indecisive, adj.

indefatigable, adj.
not subject to fatigue or tiredness; untiring: an indefatigable campaign worker.

indelible, adj.
(opp.: eradicable)
making or leaving a permanent mark: indelible ink; indelible memories of war.

indent, v., n.
1. (to make or form) a recess or notch: He indented the clay by pressing hard. 2. (to make) a blank space on a
page by setting in from the margin: Indent your paragraphs.
indentation, n.

index, n.
1. something serving as a sign or indicator: His donations are an index of his loyalty. 2. an alphabetical listing,
as of names and topics.

** indifferent, adj.
feeling or showing no interest; apathetic; neither good or bad: He was indifferent to her pain.
indifference, n.

indignant, adj.
angry because of something considered unfair: She became indignant when she was accused of lying.
indignation, n.

indiscriminate, adj.
(opp.: discriminating)
not able to make good choices or distinctions; not organized; haphazard: indiscriminately choosing friends; an
indiscriminate display of art pieces.

indispensable, adj.
(opp.: superfluous)
vitally needed or essential: an indispensable part of the engine.

indistinct, adj.
not clearly defined or perceived; vague; blurred: an indistinct sound.

indistinguishable, adj.
(opp.: distinctive)
without distinguishing marks or characteristics; not easily recognized or identified: The twins are
indistinguishable from each other.

indoctrinate, v.
to instruct in or cause to accept a particular set of ideas or beliefs: She was indoctrinated in her parents'
religion.

indolent, adj.
(opp.: industrious)
inclined to avoid work or effort; slothful.
indolence, n.

inducement, n.
(opp.: deterrent)
persuading someone to a course of action; something used to persuade: Money is an inducement to work.
induce, v.

indulgent, adj.
(opp.: strict)
inclined to allow, yield to, or provide for others' desires; lenient: Indulgent parents may spoil their children.
indulge, v.; indulgence, indulgency, n.

ineffectual, adj.
not producing an intended effect; futile: an ineffectual director; an ineffectual grab at the racing child.

inept, adj.
(opp.: adept)
lacking ability or competence; not appropriate: mechanically inept; His inept remarks embarrassed us.
ineptitude, ineptness, n.

inertia, n.
the condition of being motionless or inactive: our inertia on a hot summer afternoon.
inert, adj.

** inevitable, adj.
certain to occur; unavoidable: his inevitable downfall.
inevitability, n.

inextricable, adj.
unable to be freed, loosened, or undone: The horse was inextricable from the mud; an inextricable tangle of red
tape.
extricate, v.

infallible, adj.
incapable of error; not subject to failure: an infallible guide.

infamous, adj.
of bad reputation, or shameful; notorious: an infamous record of stock swindles.
infamy, n.

** infer, v.
(opp.: imply)
to reach a conclusion based on evidence or other data; construe: I infer from your testimony that you distrusted
the defendant.
inference, n.; inferential, adj.

inferior, n., adj.

(opp.: superior)
(one that is) low or lower in rank, position, value, importance, or quality: an inferior product.
inferiority, n.

infidelity, n.
failure to remain true; unfaithfulness, as to marital vows: His infidelity to his wife caused their divorce.

infiltrate, v.
to go into slowly without being noticed: Spies infiltrated the organization.

infirm, adj.
(opp.: robust)
weak or ill; lacking firmness of mind or intentions: He was infirm from old age.
infirmity, n.

inflame, v.
(opp.: soothe)
1. to excite, arouse, or intensify: She was inflamed by his speech. 2. to cause redness and swelling: Her eye was
inflamed.
inflamed, adj.; inflammation, n.

** inflate, v.
(opp.: deflate)
to enlarge, expand, or raise; puff up, as with pride: He inflated his estimated costs; The fancy car inflates his
ego.
inflated, adj.

** inflexible, adj.
not capable of compromise or of being bent; rigid; unyielding: her inflexible determination.

ingenious, adj.
(opp.: unimaginative)
having or showing cleverness or creativity: ingenious strategies; an ingenious scientist.
ingenuity, n.

ingenue, n.
an inexperienced or innocent girl, or an actress suited to playing such a role.

ingenuous, adj.
(opp.: sophisticated)
having a simple, innocent honesty; not sophisticated or deceitful: a wide-eyed, ingenuous look.

ingest, v.
(opp.: disgorge)
to take in as food; swallow; He ingested the poison by accident.

ingratiate, v.
to seek or secure another's favor or approval for (oneself): She ingratiated herself with important people; an
ingratiating smile.
ingratiating, adj.

inherent, adj.
(opp.: extrinsic)
existing in or belonging to; innate; intrinsic: an inherent instinct; the inherent powers of government.
inhere, v.; inherence, inherency, n.

inhibit, v.
to hold back, restrain, prevent, or forbid: She was inhibited by the presence of all the people.
inhibited, adj.; inhibition, n.

** initiate, v.
(opp.: terminate)
to cause to begin; originate; begin to teach basic knowledge: He was initiated in the art of wood carving; She
initiated an investigation.
initial, adj.

initiative, n.
the power, ability, or energy to organize or carry through a plan: She's a worker with great initiative.

inkling, n.
an unclear or partial understanding; a vague clue: no inkling of how to solve the math problem; I had an
inkling of my surprise party.

inlet, n.
a passage, channel, or opening that serves as an entrance; usu. a waterway.

innate, adj.
1. existing from the time of birth; inherent: innate characteristics. 2. of the essential nature, not learned: an
innate sense of good and evil.

innocuous, adj.
(opp.: sinister)
not capable of causing harm or offending: an innocuous garter snake; an innocuous walk in the moonlight.

** innovate, v.
to suggest or bring about new methods, approaches, ideas, etc.; invent.
innovative, adj.; innovator, n.

innumerable, adj.
very many; countless: innumerable stars in the sky.

inoffensive, adj.
having no annoying, offending, or harmful qualities: an inoffensive odor.

inopportune, adj.
(opp.: timely)
occurring at an undesirable time: an inopportune request for money.

inscrutable, adj.
impossible to investigate deeply or interpret; mysterious: an inscrutable expression.

insentient, adj.
lacking consciousness or the ability to sense things; inanimate: The boy was insentient, so they rushed him to
the hospital.

insidious, adj.
(opp.: innocuous)
dangerous through cunning, subtlety, etc., but often seemingly harmless: an insidious disease.

** insight, n.
the power of mind to grasp an essential meaning or truth: She showed unusual insight in her essay.
insightful, adj.

insinuate, v.
to advance (oneself); to suggest or introduce subtly and indirectly: She insinuated that he was a thief; The spy
insinuated himself into a strategic job.
insinuating, adj.

insipid, adj.
not interesting; dull or bland: an insipid story; an insipid soup.
insipidity, n.

insoluble, adj.
impossible to dissolve; impossible to solve or understand: an insoluble substance; an insoluble problem.

insolvent, adj.
unable to pay debts; bankrupt: Being insolvent, he was forced to sell everything.
insolvency, n.

insomnia, n.
difficulty in getting to sleep.
insomniac, adj., n.

instigate, v.
to provoke purposely; cause or incite: He instigated an argument between his parents.
instigator, n.

insularity, n.
isolation from outside opinions or influences; narrow-mindedness: His insularity made him a poor judge of
human nature.
insular, adj.

insurgent, n., adj.

(anyone) participating in a revolt or rebellion: an insurgent army.
insurgence, insurgency, n.

integral, adj.
serving as an essential part of the whole: His idea was integral to the success of the project.

integrate, v.
(opp.: segregate)
to bring together, unite, blend, or create a whole: She integrated three somewhat different ideas in her thesis.

integrity, n.
1. honesty and morality: His integrity made him widely trusted. 2. the condition of being whole and
undamaged: the integrity of the building.

** intellectual, n., adj.

(a person) of great mental capacity or interest in grasping and advancing knowledge: College is an intellectual
community.
intellect, n.

intemperate, adj.
(opp.: moderate)
lacking moderation or restraint: His intemperate drinking had become a problem.
intemperance, n.

** intense, adj.
having an extreme degree of something; strong: intense heat; an intense interest.
intensity, n.

** intensify, v.
(opp.: diminish)
to make or become stronger or more severe: The media reports intensified our fears of inflation; intensifying
the search.
intensification, n.

intercede, v.
to attempt to settle a disagreement between others, or to speak on behalf of another: She interceded with the
warden for her son.
intercession, n.; intercessory, adj.

interchangeable, adj.
able to be put or used in place of each other: Synonyms are fairly interchangeable words.

interminable, adj.
endless or seemingly endless: an interminable hot spell.

intermittent, adj.
(opp.: incessant)
occurring at intervals; alternately stopping and starting: intermittent rain.

internal, adj.
(opp.: external)
located or happening on the inside of a body, organization, etc.: internal organs; internal squabbling.

** interpret, v.
to explain, understand, or translate: I interpret her gesture as agreement; He interprets Japanese for English-
speakers.
interpretation, n.

interrogate, v.
to question lengthily and thoroughly: The officers interrogated the prisoner.
interrogatory, adj.

** intervene, v.
1. to enter a situation so as to change what is happening: She intervened in the argument. 2. to occur between
other events: Depression intervened between the two world wars.
intervening, adj.; intervention, n.

intolerant, adj.
unwilling to accept or endure; narrow-minded; prejudiced: intolerant of delays; religious intolerance.
intolerable, adj.; intolerance, n.

intractable, adj.
not easily controlled, guided, or treated: an intractable old man; an intractable disease.

intrepid, adj.
(opp.: timorous)
feeling or showing no fear: an intrepid adventurer.
intrepidity, n.

intricate, adj.
having many complexly interrelated parts or aspects: an intricate maze; an intricate defense system.
intricacy, n.

intriguing, adj.
fascinating, engaging, or interesting: an intriguing mystery.
intrigue, v., n.

introspective, adj.
examining one's own inner thoughts or feelings: introspective meditation.

introvert, n.
(opp.: extrovert)
one who tends to pay more attention to his own thoughts and feelings than to those of others; one who holds his
feelings in or back.
introversion, n.

intuition, n.
the power of knowing something directly without thinking it through; insight: Her intuition led her to the
missing child.
intuitive, adj.

inundate, v.
to overspread, overwhelm, or flood: She was inundated with telephone calls.

invalidate, v.
to make void or not valid; deprive of force or effect: He invalidated the check; The new evidence invalidates
this theory.
invalid, adj.
invaluable, adj.
having great value; priceless: an invaluable experience.

invariable, adj.
not subject to change; constant: his invariable custom.

invective, n.
strongly abusive or denunciatory speech or language: the coach's angry invective.

inventory, v., n.
(to make) a detailed list of things; things included on such a list: an inventory of the goods in the store.

invest, v.
to put into use to gain profit or interest; to endow with authority: He invested his money in stocks; The church
invested him with the power to marry people.

inveterate, adj.
persisting in a habit, action, feeling, etc.: an inveterate gossip.

inviolable, adj.
incapable of being violated or harmed: an inviolable agreement.

invulnerable, adj.
secure from attack; incapable of being injured or damaged: an invulnerable alibi.

iota, n.
the smallest possible amount; a tiny bit: He didn't care one iota for the game.

irascible, adj.
easily angered or irritated; short-tempered: The irascible employee was avoided by co-workers.
irate, adj.

irksome, adj.
causing annoyance; bothersome: an irksome chore.
irk, v.

irony, n.
a contrast between what is expected or intended and what occurs; contrast between what is said and what is
really meant: The irony of accidentally shooting himself with his own gun; We saw the irony in his
compliments.
ironic, adj.

irrational, adj.
not reasonable; illogical: an irrational argument; irrational impulses.
irrationality, n.

irrefutable, adj.
impossible to disprove: irrefutable evidence.

irrelevant, adj.
(opp.: pertinent)
not related to or connected with the matter at hand: an irrelevant example.
irrelevance, irrelevancy, n.

irreplaceable, adj.
impossible to replace or duplicate: an irreplaceable work of art.
irreproachable, adj.
not deserving blame or criticism; faultless: irreproachable behavior.

irresolute, adj.
(opp.: determined)
uncertain or wavering: Irresolute, they stood at the edge of the cold lake.
irresolution, n.

irreverent, adj.
not having or showing respect; humorously critical: an irreverent speech about government.

irrevocable, adj.
impossible to take back, undo, or cancel: irrevocable damage.

irrigation, n.
the supplying of water to land by man-made means to aid in growing crops.

** isolate, v.
to set apart or alone; separate: He isolated the children with chicken pox from the others.

issue, v.
to come forth or flow out; to send forth or out; distribute, publish, or circulate: Blood issued from the wound;
issuing a warning.
issuance, n.

issue, n.
something that has come out or forth, such as a point or matter for argument or decision: the issue at hand;
controversial issues.

itinerant, n., adj.

(one who often is) moving or traveling from place to place: an itinerant farm worker.
itinerancy, n.

J
jaded, adj.
dulled by excess; weary and worn; made hard or insensitive: the jaded traveler who has been everywhere; the
jaded views of a long-time prisoner.

jargon, n.
any confusing, technical, or meaningless words or language: the jargon of lawyers.

jaundiced, adj.
feeling or showing jealousy, anger, or prejudice: a jaundiced attitude toward younger brothers.

jeopardy, n.
danger of loss, harm, death, etc.; peril: His job is in jeopardy.
jeopardize, v.

jingoist, n.
one who is extremely patriotic, often to the point of disliking any other countries; chauvinist.
jingo, jingoism, n.

jolly, adj.
(opp.: morose)
cheerful, enthusiastic, and merry; causing pleasure or happiness.
jollity, n.

journal, n.
1. a record, often daily, of events, proceedings, personal experiences, etc. 2. a newspaper or other periodical.
journalism, journalist, n.

jovial, adj.
heartily cheerful, friendly, and merry: a jovial welcome; a jovial emcee.
joviality, n.

jubilant, adj.
(opp.: downcast)
joyful or exultant, as after a victory or other welcome event: a jubilant whoop; the jubilant fans.
jubilance, jubilation, n.; jubilate, v.

judicious, adj.
(opp.: injudicious)
having or using sound judgment; wise; prudent: a judicious use of resources.

juncture, n.
1. a particular point in time, esp. an important or crucial one: a difficult decision at this juncture. 2. a joining,
or the point at which things are joined; junction: the juncture of our land and his.

** justify, v.
1. to show (something) to be true, valid, well-founded, or deserved: He justified the extra expense; The results
justify his actions. 2. to declare free of blame or guilt: That excuse doesn't justify him.
justifiable, adj.; justification, n.

jut, v.
(opp.: recede)
to project or extend sharply outward; protrude: The moose head juts out into the room.
jutting, adj.

L
labyrinth, n.
a complex network of passageways, intended to confuse; maze; anything similarly confusing: a labyrinth of
human motivations.
labyrinthine, adj.

laceration, n.
a rough tear or cut, esp. in flesh: lacerations caused by a bear's claws.

lackluster, adj.
(opp.: scintillating)
lacking brilliance or vitality; dull: a lackluster performance.

laconic, adj.
(opp.: voluble)
using very few words; succinct; terse: the stereotype of the laconic cowboy.

lament, v., n.
(to express) a mournful sorrow or regret: He laments hiring such a loafer.
lamentable, adj.; lamentation, n.

lampoon, v., n.
(to make) an attack through ridicule, as in an essay, cartoon, or comedy; satirize: the comedian lampooned the
politician's indecisiveness.
lampoonery, n.

languid, adj.
without strength, energy, or spirit; listless: a languid creek; languid sunbathers.
languor, n.

languish, v.
1. to lose strength or energy; weaken. 2. to suffer in a state of neglect: languishing in prison.

lapse, v., n.
1. (to undergo) a minor, temporary decline from some standard: a lapse in good manners; his memory lapsed.
2. (to undergo) a passing of time: a lapse of years. 3. (to undergo) an ending, termination, or fall into disuse:
the waiting period has lapsed; the lapse of an insurance policy.

larceny, n.
the stealing of another's personal property; theft.
larcenous, adj.

largess (largesse), n.
(opp.: parsimony)
generosity in giving, esp. money, often with a suggestion of the giver's superiority: the champion's largess with
his followers.

latent, adj.
present, but not yet developed or operative; potential: a latent talent for comedy.
latency, n.

laud, v.
(opp.: reprimand)
to express praise, as in word, song, or prayer: The committee lauded her for her charitable works.
laudable, laudatory, adj.

lavish, v., adj.

(to give or expend in a manner that is) liberal or generous; abundant; extravagant: He lavished attention on us;
a lavish island cruise.

lax, adj.
1. not strict or careful; lenient: lax rules. 2. not compact or taut; slack; loose: a lax string.
laxity, n.

layman, n.
1. a male church member who is not a clergyman. 2. an outsider with respect to a particular profession, esp.
medicine or law: Let's put this in layman's terms.

** learned, adj.
(opp.: untutored)
well-educated; knowledgeable; scholarly; by or for scholars: a learned old man; learned books.

legacy, n.
anything inherited or passed down from ancestors or predecessors: a legacy from her aunt; a legacy of freedom.

legendary, adj.
of, concerning, or described in legends; long-remembered and admired: her legendary beauty; a legendary feat.

legible, adj.
(opp.: illegible)
able to be read, as handwriting.

legislation, n.
the act or process of passing laws, or a bill or proposal made into law: gun-control legislation.
legislate, v.; legislative, adj.; legislator, n.

legitimate, adj.
(opp.: illegitimate)
1. according to the law, or based on accepted standards: legitimate business dealings; legitimate behavior. 2.
worthy of consideration; reasonable: a legitimate question; legitimate contenders.
legitimacy, n.

lenient, adj.
(opp.: strict)
not severe in enforcing restrictions; tolerant; indulgent: a lenient teacher.
leniency, n.

lethargy, n.
a lack of energy; sluggishness; drowsiness; lassitude: Because of his lethargy, I have twice as much work to do.
lethargic, adj.

levity, n.
(opp.: gravity)
lightness, humor, or foolishness in behavior or attitude; frivolity: His levity was inappropriate at the meeting.

liable, adj.
1. held responsible by law: liable for any damage to the car. 2. subject, as to a risk; susceptible: Any human is
liable to error. 3. likely to happen, do, or be: The river is liable to overflow.
liability, n.

libel, v., n.
(to produce) written material that is false and damaging to someone's reputation or well-being; written slander:
He libeled me to get revenge.
libelous, adj.

liberal, adj.
(opp.: conservative, illiberal)
1. freely giving; generous; respectful of individual differences: a liberal allowance; a liberal tolerance. 2.
favoring progressive political changes, esp. government promotion of social change.
liberalism, liberality, n.

liberate, v.
(opp.: incarcerate)
to free or release, esp. from bondage, oppression, or captivity: liberating the human spirit.

limelight, n.
the center of public attention: putting the limelight on the homeless.

listless, adj.
feeling or showing a lack of energy or interest in doing anything; lethargic: listless after a heavy dinner.

lithe, adj.
of light, graceful movements; easy to bend; supple; pliant; a lithe ballet star; lithe birch boughs.

livid, adj.
1. of the color of a bruise: a livid mark. 2. very pale, as from fear or anger. 3. very angry; furious: livid about
the outrageous car-repair bill.
loathe, v.
(opp.: adore)
to dislike extremely; hate; abhor: She loathes tiny mustaches.
loathsome, adj.; loathing, n.

lofty, adj.
(opp.: humble)
1. high or elevated; noble: lofty mountain peaks; lofty ideals. 2. believing oneself superior; arrogant: a lofty
attitude toward the poor.

** logic, n.
(opp.: illogic)
the process of sound reasoning, or the study of its principles: We must use logic to eliminate the innocent
suspects.
logical, adj.; logician, n.

loiter, v.
1. to stand around idly, esp. in a public place; linger. 2. to delay or dawdle.
loiterer, loitering, n.

longevity, n.
(opp.: brevity)
length of life, service, employment, etc.; long lifetime: her longevity as an actress.

loom, v.
(opp.: dwindle)
to rise up, take shape, or appear as an imposing or important thing, event, etc.: Thunderclouds loomed; The
coming battle looms in their minds.
looming, adj.

lubricate, v.
1. to make smooth or slick, as with a coating of oil or grease. 2. to cause to move or progress more smoothly;
reduce friction in.
lubricant, adj., n.

lucid, adj.
1. clear and easy to understand; articulate: a lucid explanation. 2. of full mental abilities; sane: After the blow
on the head, he wasn't lucid for an hour or so.
lucidity, n.

ludicrous, adj.
laughable and ridiculous: a ludicrous attempt at poetry.

lull, v., n.
(opp.: arouse)
(to bring about) a soothed, calm, or relaxed condition: She lulled the baby to sleep; a lull in the fighting.

lumber, v.
to walk or go in a heavy, clumsy manner: The tank lumbered across the rocky terrain.

luminous, adj.
1. giving off light; glowing. 2. clear and easy to understand: luminous prose. 3. intellectually brilliant: a
luminous theory.
luminosity, n.

lush, adj.
(opp.: scanty)
1. full of abundant growth: lush gardens. 2. luxurious, ornate, or abundant: lush praise for her decorations.
luxuriant, adj.
abundant, productive, or ornate; marked by luxury: a luxuriant growth of blossoming plants.
luxuriance, n.

M
magnanimous, adj.
(opp.: petty)
having or showing a generous, forgiving, or noble nature; big-hearted: a magnanimous act.
magnanimity, n.

magnify, v.
(opp.: minimize)
to cause to appear larger, or to actually increase the size of; make (something) seem more important, often
falsely: He magnified his troubles.
magnification, n.

maintain, v.
1. to keep in existence; keep in good condition: We maintained our friendship; the cost of maintaining a boat. 2.
to declare; assert: I maintain that your conclusions are false.
maintenance, n.

malady, n.
an illness, or any disorderly or harmful condition: the malady of homelessness.

malefactor, n.
(opp.: benefactor)
one who commits a crime or does evil.
malefaction, n.; malefic, adj.

malfunction, v.
to fail to operate, or to operate poorly: My car's starter is malfunctioning.
malfunction, n.; malfunctioning, adj.

** malice, n.
(opp.: benevolence)
the wish to harm others; animosity; hostility: his malice toward his ex-wife.
malicious, adj.

malign, v., adj.

(opp.: benign)
(to speak in a way that is) harmful or evil in intention or effect; defame; slander: a malign influence; They
maligned his character.
malignity, n.

malinger, v.
to pretend illness or injury, esp. to avoid duty or work.
malingerer, malingering, n.

mandate, v., n.
(to require or authorize by) an order, directive, vote, etc.: The law mandates paying taxes; a mandate from the
voters to balance the budget.
mandatory, adj.

manipulate, v.
to handle, operate, manage, or influence skillfully to gain a desired result: manipulating the clay;
Advertisements attempt to manipulate viewers to buy.
manipulative, adj.

manuscript, n.
a written piece, often handwritten, prepared by a writer, as for publication.

marathon, n.
any contest or extended activity that calls for prolonged effort or endurance: the marathon of registration week.

marred, adj.
somewhat damaged or defaced: Although marred by one quarrel, the weekend was enjoyable; a marred surface.
mar, v.

martial, adj.
(opp.: pacific)
of, concerning, or resembling war, combat, or the military: a martial attitude; a martial nation.

massive, adj.
(opp.: minute)
large and heavy; impressive in size or scope; imposing: a massive cathedral; a massive army.

matchless, adj.
having no equal or superior; without peer: matchless brilliance.

materialism, n.
an excessive concern with possessions or money, as opposed to spiritual matters: They accused the U.S. of
materialism.
materialistic, adj.

matriarchy, n.
(opp.: patriarchy)
a social system in which the mother is considered head of the family, and ancestry is reckoned by the mother's
side.
matriarch, n.; matriarchal, adj.

maximize, v.
(opp.: minimize)
to increase as much as possible: He worked to maximize the yield of his crops.

maze, n.
a complicated, confusing network of pathways; labyrinth; any similarly confusing situation or problem: The
report was a maze of contradictions.

meager, adj.
(opp.: ample)
low in quantity, extent, or richness; scanty or feeble: a meager diet; meager funds.

meander, v.
to make rambling, wandering turns or movements: We meandered through the woods; His speech meandered
disturbingly.
meandering, adj.

mechanism, n.
1. the structure or assembled parts of a machine or device. 2. the operating process, factor, or part that gets
something done: a mechanism for awarding student scholarships.
mechanistic, adj.; mechanize, v.
media, n.
1. the means of mass communication, including newspapers, radio, and TV. 2. means or materials, as of
artistic expression, such as watercolor, clay, etc.
medium, sing.n.

mediate, v.
to act as a go-between in a dispute; bring about an agreement: The mayor mediated between the school district
and the teachers' union.
mediatory, adj.

medieval, adj.
of or concerning the Middle Ages, or about 500-1400 A.D.

mediocre, adj.
of average to poor quality; ordinary: a mediocre performance.
mediocrity, n.

meditate, v.
to think calmly, deeply, and at length; contemplate; ponder: She often meditates about her future.
meditative, adj.

meek, adj.
(opp.: assertive, bold)
unable or unwilling to assert oneself; lacking spirit; submissive; suffering difficulties humbly: a meek servant.

melancholy, adj., n.
(opp.: elated, elation)
(suffering from or causing) sadness, gloominess, or depression: a melancholy event; the melancholy of
hopelessness.

mellow, adj.
toned down, as light, color, or sound; not easily angered, as one who has acquired knowledge of himself and the
world through experience: a mellow glow; a mellow mood.

melodious, adj.
(opp.: cacophonous, raucous)
of or having a pleasing melody or sound: a melodious voice.

melodramatic, adj.
(opp.: underplayed)
exaggerated or overdone in emotions or actions: She made a weepy, melodramatic exit, slamming the door.
melodrama, n.

memorable, adj.
(opp.: forgettable)
likely to be remembered, or worth remembering; special: a memorable moment.

menace, v., n.
(to present or be) something that threatens harm or injury: He menaced them with a club; a menace to one's
health.
menacingly, adj.

mentor, n.
a guide or counselor in one's intellectual or career pursuits.

mercurial, adj.
very changeable in temper or mood; volatile: the mercurial moods of adolescence.
merge, v.
to combine or cause to be combined; unite; blend: the point where the sea and sky merge; merging with another
corporation.
merger, n.

mesmerize, v.
to hypnotize; hold the attention or compel the obedience of, as if by hypnotism; fascinate: mesmerizing an
audience.
mesmerism, n.

metaphor, n.
an implied comparison between two things, used to describe one of them, as in "drowning in work."
metaphorical, adj.

meteor, n.
a small mass of matter flying through space, or the bright streak seen when it burns in the earth's atmosphere;
shooting star.
meteoric, adj.

methodical, adj.
(opp.: haphazard)
done, arranged, or acting in an orderly, systematic way; sometimes, unimaginative: a methodical procedure;
methodical scientists.

methodology, n.
a body of methods, principles, and rules used for a specific activity or branch of knowledge: the methodology of
scientific polling.

** meticulous, adj.
(opp.: perfunctory)
carefully attentive to every small detail; painstaking: a meticulous search for evidence.

mettle, n.
toughness of character; courage: He showed his mettle in close games.
mettlesome, adj.

microbe, n.
any microscopic life form, esp. as a cause of infection or disease.

microcosm, n.
(opp.: macrocosm)
a small, complete whole; tiny world; small example of a larger system: Santa Barbara is a microcosm of
California.
microcosmic, adj.

** migrate, v.
to move from one region to another, often periodically in response to weather, employment opportunities, etc.
migrant, migratory, adj.

mimic, n., v.
(one who has the ability) to copy or imitate the behavior, speech, etc. of others, as in playfulness or sarcasm: He
mimicked my every move.
mimicry, n.

** minimize, v.
(opp.: maximize)
1. to make as small as possible in amount, degree, or size: minimizing the sun's harmful rays. 2. to undervalue
or understate: They minimized the need for better health care.
minuscule, adj.
(opp.: monumental)
so small as to be almost negligible; tiny: Forget the minuscule details!

mired, adj.
stuck in mud or swampy ground; caught in difficulties or delays: Mired in regulations, the committee felt
helpless.
mire, n., v.

mischief, n.
behavior that teases, provokes, annoys, or damages; troublemaking: childish mischief; political mischief.
mischievous, adj.

misconception, n.
an error in understanding; wrong notion or idea: common misconceptions about snakes.
misconceive, v.

misconstrue, v.
to fail to correctly understand the meaning of; misinterpret: She misconstrued my offer of help.
misconstruction, n.

** miser, n.
a person who greedily hoards money and resists spending any.
miserly, adj.

misgiving, n.
(opp.: certitude)
a feeling of doubt, regret, or apprehension: the mother's misgivings about her child's safety.

mishap, n.
an unfortunate happening; unlucky accident: unavoidable mishaps along the way.

mislead, v.
to guide in a wrong direction; cause to think or act wrongly: The ad misleads most readers; They misled their
followers.
misleading, adj.

misplace, v.
to put (something) where it doesn't belong; lose; apply or give inappropriately: He misplaced his trust in a con
man.
misplaced, adj.

mitigate, v.
to lessen or become less forceful or severe: The fact he stole to feed his children mitigates his crime.

moat, n.
a deep trench, usu. filled with water, as around a castle for defense.

** mobile, adj.
(opp.: immobile)
1. able to move or be moved from place to place: a mobile home. 2. changing or moving rapidly or easily from
one state, mood, social class, etc. to another: a mobile mouth; an upwardly mobile person.
mobility, n.

** mobile, n.
a piece of sculpture that has carefully balanced moving pieces that respond to air movement.
mobilize, v.
(opp.: demobilize, immobilize)
to assemble, organize, and prepare for action or service: mobilizing troops for war; mobilize the nation's
resources.

moderate, v., adj.

(opp.: immoderate)
(to cause to be) kept within reasonable limits; not extreme or excessive: a moderate drinker; They moderated
their demands; moderate weather.

** modest, adj.
(opp.: immodest)
1. having or expressing a fairly low opinion of one's abilities, importance, etc. 2. humble in appearance; not
extravagant: a modest little church. 3. moderate in size, value, etc.; not extreme: a modest income.
modesty, n.

modicum, n.
a small or modest amount: Anyone with a modicum of common sense would have left.

** modify, v.
to make changes or alterations in the form or qualities of (something): modifying the bicycle to make it safer;
The candidate has modified his position on abortion.
modifiable, modified, adj.; modification, n.

molecule, n.
a tiny bit or particle; atom or small bonded cluster of atoms.
molecular, adj.

momentous, adj.
(opp.: inconsequential)
of very great significance or importance: a momentous turn of events.

momentum, n.
strength or speed of movement; impetus: the momentum of his leap; Our campaign gains momentum.

monarch, n.
a single, often hereditary ruler, as a king, queen, or emperor.
monarchical, adj.; monarchy, n.

** monotonous, adj.
(opp.: varied)
lacking variation; uniform; tedious: a monotonous job; a monotonous tune.
monotone, monotony, n.

** morality, n.
(opp.: immorality)
living or acting according to standards of right behavior; a particular set of beliefs about right conduct:
according to Puritan morality.

moratorium, n.
a temporary ban on, or delaying of, some action or obligation: a moratorium on testing of nuclear explosives.

morbid, adj.
(opp.: wholesome)
having an unhealthy, gloomy mental state; preoccupied with sickness, abnormality, or death; gruesome: a
morbid fascination; a morbid movie.
morbidity, morbidness, n.
moribund, adj.
(opp.: vital)
near death or extinction; not growing or advancing; dying: a moribund tradition.

morose, adj.
(opp.: vivacious)
gloomy or sullen: He lapsed into a morose silence.

mortify, v.
to subject (someone) to extreme embarrassment or humiliation: I was so mortified I could have died!
mortification, n.; mortified, adj.

mosaic, n.
1. a pattern or picture made with many small tiles, stones, etc. 2. any assemblage of many independent pieces
that make a whole: A school is a mosaic of personalities.

** motivation, n.
(opp.: inhibition)
something that causes a desire or need to act in a particular way; incentive; such a desire or need itself: Fear
can be a strong motivation; his high level of motivation.

mundane, adj.
common and everyday; ordinary; banal: a mundane cops-and-robbers show.

munificent, adj.
(opp.: parsimonious)
having or showing great generosity: She received a munificent sum for her services.
munificence, n.

mural, n.
a usu. large picture painted on a wall or ceiling.

murky, adj.
(opp.: limpid)
dark, gloomy, or muddied: difficult to understand; obscure: a murky stream; only a murky notion of what to do.
murk, n.

muse, v.
to think or wonder about or meditate on: He mused on the wondrous variety in nature.

muse, n.
that which inspires creative thought or action: That poet's muse has deserted him.

muster, v.
to gather up or call forth or together: all the strength he could muster; mustering support for the legislation.

mutation, n.
the act of changing, or an alteration, esp. in a genetically determined structure.
mutable, mutational, adj.

mute, v., adj.

(opp.: vocal)
(to cause to be less loud or forceful or to be) silent; not speaking or making sound: the mute sands of the desert;
They muted their protests; a mute appeal for help.
muted, adj.

mutinous, adj.
inclined to revolt or disobey; rebellious: a mutinous son; a mutinous grumbling.
mutiny, n., v.

mutual, adj.
felt, experienced, possessed, or shared equally by each, relative to the other or others: mutual distrust; mutual
admiration; mutual interests.
mutuality, n.

myriad, adj., n.
(composed of or making up) a great number: her myriad duties as a teacher; a myriad of doubts about the
future.

** myth, n.
1. a story or belief, or a group of such, that has no factual basis but is accepted as true: the myth of Western
cultural superiority. 2. an old legend, usu. of supernatural beings.
mythic, mythical, adj.

mythology, n.
1. a body of myths, as of a particular society. 2. the search for and study of myths.
mythological, adj.

N
naive, adj.
simple, innocent, and unsophisticated; lacking knowledge or experience; ingenuous: his naive trust in
salesmen.
naiveness, naivete, n.

narrate, v.
to tell the story of or give a running commentary on: The slides were narrated by the host.
narrative, adj., n.

nefarious, adj.
(opp.: virtuous)
very wicked; evil: the nefarious pirate; a nefarious plot.

negate, v.
to cause to be ineffective or invalid; nullify: Improper use negates the medicine's effect.
negation, n.

negative, adj.
(opp.: positive)
expressing a denial; lacking positive qualities; pessimistic; opposed or resistant: a negative attitude; a negative
reply; a negative evaluation.
negativity, n.

negligent, adj.
(opp.: assiduous, dutiful)
disregarding or failing to do something necessary; habitually careless; lax: negligent of his duties; a negligent
parent.
negligence, n.; negligible, adj.

** negotiate, v.
1. to bargain or settle the terms of a contract, etc. by discussion; to accomplish, cope with, or go over or through
successfully: He negotiated the tricky turn carefully.
negotiable, adj.
neurology, n.
the branch of medicine that deals with the nervous system and diseases that affect it.
neurological, adj.; neurologist, n.

neurotic, adj.
afflicted with a psychological disorder that results in depression, delusions, anxiety, irrational fears, etc.
neurosis, n.

newfangled, adj.
of a new type or fashion, sometimes undesirably so: some newfangled $40 can opener.

newsworthy, adj.
important, interesting, or unusual enough to be reported as news: a newsworthy scientific advance.

niche, n.
1. a crevice or recessed area, as in a wall. 2. a situation, activity, or part of a system into which a person,
organization, or organism fits well: He found his niche in chemical engineering; the niche of earthworms in an
ecosystem.

nimble, adj.
quick and agile in movement, thought, or understanding: a nimble old man; a nimble mind.

nominal, adj.
in name; often, in name only; ostensible: The nominal chief is the president, but the executive secretary makes
all the decisions.

nonchalant, adj.
(opp.: flustered)
not showing excitement or anxiety; coolly confident: a nonchalant greeting; trying to look nonchalant.
nonchalance, n.

nonentity, n.
(opp.: notable)
an insignificant, unimportant person or thing; a nobody: four years as a nonentity in the movie business.

nook, n.
a corner or small recessed area, as in a room.

nostalgic, adj.
of or causing a sentimental looking back at or longing for the past: a nostalgic song; feeling nostalgic about her
youth.
nostalgia, n.

notable, adj.
(opp.: obscure)
receiving or deserving notice; striking; eminent; prominent; important: a notable difference; a notable expert on
the atmosphere.
notable, n.

notorious, adj.
widely known or spoken of, esp. for something bad: a notorious liar; his notoriety for throwing at batters' heads.
notoriety, n.

nourish, v.
to supply with food; maintain, support, or provide for; encourage the development of: We are nourishing our
new relationship with China.
nourishing, adj.; nourishment, n.
**novel, adj.
of a new or unusual kind; original: a novel decorating idea.
novelty, n.

novice, n.
a person with little or no experience; beginner; tyro: a novice at chess.

noxious, adj.
(opp.: salutary)
harmful or destructive, as to health or moral character: noxious chemicals; The drug addict exerted a noxious
influence on the child.

nuance, n.
a slight varying, as of shade, tone, or meaning: The nuances of voice often betray a liar; the nuances of a word
such as "fair."

nullify, v.
to cause to have no value, consequence, or legal force; invalidate: Our extra effort nullified their advantage.
nullification, nullity, n.

O
obedient, adj.
(opp.: disobedient)
obeying, or willing to obey, rules, commands, etc.: The particle was obedient to the laws of physics.
obedience, n.; obey, v.

obese, adj.
excessively, unhealthily fat; corpulent.
obesity, n.

**objective, adj.
(opp.: subjective)
influenced by reality and provable facts rather than personal feelings: an objective style of writing.
objectivity, n.

obligatory, adj.
(opp.: voluntary)
binding one legally or morally; required; compulsory: an obligatory blood test.
obligate, v.; obligation, n.

oblique, adj.
not direct or straightforward; indirect or devious: an oblique reference to my brother in prison; an oblique
approach.

obliterate, v.
to erase or make unrecognizable; destroy completely: Acid rain obliterated the inscriptions; obliterating a whole
species of insects.

oblivious, adj.
not conscious or paying attention; unknowing or unaware: She was oblivious to their suffering; oblivious of the
truth.
oblivion, n.

obnoxious, adj.
extremely unpleasant or offensive: an obnoxious odor; rude, obnoxious behavior.
**obscure, v., adj.
(opp.: clarify, illuminate)
1. (to cause to become) darkened or difficult to see; (to make) unclear in meaning: an obscure figure in the fog;
an obscure writing style. 2. (to cause to become) little known or insignificant: Time obscured his fame.
obscurity, n.

observatory, n.
a building containing equipment for astronomy, or for other scientific observations.

obsession, n.
something that excessively or abnormally occupies one's mind or feelings; the state of being so preoccupied:
Neatness was his obsession; an obsession for puns.
obsess, v.; obsessed, obsessive, adj.

obsolete, adj.
(opp.: current)
no longer in use or style; outdated; outmoded: an obsolete word; obsolete recording techniques.
obsolescence, n.; obsolescent, adj.

obstacle, n.
something that slows or prevents forward movement or progress; obstruction: a series of obstacles; an obstacle
to world peace.

obstinate, adj.
(opp.: tractable)
unwilling to change; stubborn; difficult to overcome: obstinate in his determination to leave; an obstinate
backache.
obstinacy, n.

obstruct, v.
to block, slow down, or impede (a passage, action, view, etc.): Boulders obstructed our climb.
obstructive, adj.

obtuse, adj.
(opp.: acute)
1. slow to comprehend; dull-witted: I tried to warn him subtly, but he's so obtuse that he didn't get it. 2. not
sharp or pointed; blunt: the obtuse angle at the roof peak.

obviate, v.
to prevent or eliminate in advance; render unnecessary: The new law obviates any need to amend the
Constitution.

occult, adj.
beyond human understanding; mysterious; supernatural: The fortune teller claimed occult powers.

odious, adj.
(opp.: sublime)
deserving hatred; disgusting; repulsive: an odious disposition; an odious stink.
odium, n.

offhand, adj.
(opp.: studied)
done without previous thought or preparation; casual; abrupt: an offhand remark.

officious, adj.
overly aggressive in offering unwanted service or advice: Her officious ways became a burden to the whole
family.
ointment, n.
a semisolid preparation made to be rubbed onto the skin for medicinal or cosmetic purposes.

omen, n.
a happening supposed to be a supernatural sign of future good or evil: They saw the rainbow as an omen of
blessing.

ominous, adj.
(opp.: auspicious)
indicating or threatening future evil or unpleasantness: an ominous warning; ominous clouds.

omit, v.
to neglect or refuse to include; leave out: Let's omit the next paragraph.
omission, n.

omnipotent, adj.
having infinite power; all-powerful: omnipotent God.
omnipotence, n.

omniscient, adj.
infinite in knowledge; all-knowing: the seemingly omniscient wizard.
omniscience, n.

opaque, adj.
(opp.: transparent)
1. not allowing the passage of light. 2. not easily understood; unclear: an opaque explanation. 3. stupid; dense,
as a person.
opacity, n.

open-minded, adj.
not having pre-formed opinions; impartial; tolerant: an open-minded attitude toward other cultures.

opiate, n.
a drug or anything else that causes calmness, relaxation, or sleep: TV is an opiate for some people.

opportunist, n.
one who makes use of opportunities, often without considering moral right and wrong.
opportunistic, adj.

**oppress, v.
to treat brutally or unfairly, esp. when acting in authority; cause (someone) to be burdened or depressed: an
oppressive dictatorship; The heat oppressed us.
oppression, n.; oppressed, oppressive, adj.

optic, adj.
of or concerning the eyes, sight, or the science of optics; optical: optic nerves.
optician, n.

**optimism, n.
(opp.: pessimism)
the belief that things will turn out well and that good is the dominant force in the universe: In his optimism, he
invested heavily in stocks.
optimist, n.; optimistic, adj.

opulent, adj.
(opp.: meager)
wealthy or rich; esp. abundant: an opulent wedding feast; the opulence of the cherry blossoms.
opulence, n.

oration, n.
a formal, usu. long speech, as on an important occasion; sometimes an unnecessarily formal one: the funeral
oration for Caesar.
orate, v.; orator, oratory, n.

orbit, n.
1. the curved path of a planet, satellite, etc. 2. a sphere or area of experience, knowledge, power, etc.: within
the orbit of the cult leader.
orbit, v; orbital, adj.

ordain, v.
to give a command or order; proclaim; decree: God ordained a great flood; He was ordained a minister.
ordainment, n.

organic, adj.
(opp.: inorganic)
pertaining to or coming from living sources; developing in a manner like living things; containing carbon: the
organic structure of his poem.

orthodox, adj.
(opp.: heterodox, unorthodox)
customary or generally approved; conventional: orthodox methods of schooling.
orthodoxy, n.

oscillate, v.
to swing, vibrate, waver, or vary rapidly back and forth; vacillate.
oscillatory, adj.

ossify, v.
to make into or similar to bone; make inflexible or rigid, as in thought or behavior: Habit can ossify us.
ossification, n.

ostensible, adj.
apparent or stated, but often not true: He was ostensibly a tourist, but really a spy; the ostensible motive for the
shooting.

ostentatious, adj.
(opp.: modest, reserved)
shown or done to impress others; showy; pretentious: an ostentatious display of wealth.
ostentation, n.

ostracize, v.
to exclude or shun by general agreement: She was ostracized by most of her classmates.
ostracism, n.

outcast, n., adj.

(one who is) cast out or rejected by a society or group.

outstripped, adj.
outdone, outrun, or surpassed, as in a race or competition: Outstripped by the younger man, the salesman
became worried.
outstrip, v.

overbearing, adj.
(opp.: submissive, subservient)
arrogantly dominating; dictatorial; bossy: Her overbearing manner offends her co-workers.
overbear, v.

overrate, v.
(opp.: underrate)
to rate or esteem too highly; overvalue: You overrate his ability.
overrated, adj.

overstate, v.
(opp.: understate)
to inflate the importance of; exaggerate: He overstated the dangers we faced.
overstated, adj.; overstatement, n.

overwrought, adj.
disturbed by excessive worry or agitation: an overwrought parent at two A.M.

P
pacify, v.
to calm or restore peace of mind to; satisfy; appease: The mayor's speech pacified the angry crowd.
pacific, adj.; pacification, n.

painstaking, adj.
involving or taking great care and detailed attention: a painstaking search.

palatable, adj.
(opp.: distasteful, unpalatable)
pleasing to the taste, mind, or emotions: Staying here is a palatable idea.
palatability, n.

palliate, v.
(opp.: aggravate, intensify)
to lessen the effect of; make less severe; try to cause (an offense) to seem less severe, as by excuses: Her
sympathy palliated his pain; He palliates his crimes by pleading ignorance of the law.

pallor, n.
(opp.: flush, ruddiness)
unnatural paleness, esp. of the face: an unhealthy pallor.
pallid, adj.

palpable, adj.
(opp.: impalpable)
able to be sensed, felt, or handled: a palpable change in temperature; her palpable nervousness.
palpability, n.

panacea, n.
a remedy or solution for all diseases, ills, or difficulties; cure-all: There is no panacea for our crime problems.

panegyric, n.
(opp.: tirade)
a speech or piece of writing expressing formal praise: a panegyric for the Constitution.

parable, n.
a brief story told as a moral or religious lesson, esp. one using allegory or symbolism: the parable of the good
Samaritan.

paradox, n.
a self-contradicting, or apparently self-contradicting statement or situation, such as "Less is more": the paradox
of going deeply in debt to buy symbols of wealth.
paradoxical, adj.

**parallel, v., n.
(opp.: contrast)
1. (to be or serve as) something that has the same character or tendency as something else; equal: The
economic growth of Germany parallels that of Japan. 2. (to make) a comparison or correspondence between
people, things, etc.: the parallel between his career and Mozart's.

**parallel, adj.
(opp.: contrasting, opposite)
having the same character or tendency: parallel developments in physics and chemistry.
parallelism, n.

paranoia, n.
unrealistic suspicion and mistrust of others: In his paranoia, he claimed I was spying on him.
paranoiac, paranoid, adj., n.

parasite, n.
(opp.: host)
1. an animal or plant that lives on or in another organism and draws food from it. 2. a person who gets benefits
from others but returns little or nothing.
parasitic, adj.; parasitize, v.

parch, v.
(opp.: drench)
to make very dry or thirsty, as by sunlight or heat: The hot wind parches the landscape.
parched, parching, adj.

pariah, n.
(opp.: favorite, idol)
a despised or socially outcast person: After being censured, the senator became a pariah.

parochial, adj.
(opp.: catholic, extensive)
narrow or limited in scope or viewpoint; provincial: only a parochial interest in the arts.
parochialism, n.

parody, v., n.
1. (to create or perform) a humorous imitation of a serious person, work of art, or publication, or of the style of
one of these: a parody of Shakespeare. 2. a poor or ridiculous attempt at something serious; travesty: a parody
of religious dedication.

parry, v., n.
(to make) a movement, answer, etc. that blocks or turns aside a blow, thrust, or other attack: He skillfully
parried the reporters' questions.

parsimony, n.
(opp.: prodigality)
excessive unwillingness to spend money or use resources; stinginess: He is notorious for his parsimony.
parsimonious, adj.

partial, adj.
(opp.: impartial)
having prejudice; biased; being favorably inclined: The judge was partial to the prosecution; partial to
chocolate.
partiality, n.
partisan, n., adj.
(opp.: neutral)
(one who is) devoted to a particular cause, idea, group, or person: partisan politics; a partisan of the pro-choice
movement.
partisanship, n.

passable, adj.
acceptable without being exceptional; adequate: a passable performance.

**passion, n.
(opp.: dispassion)
any strong or intense feeling or emotion, esp. love, sexual desire, or hatred; an object of such a feeling;
enthusiasm: a passion for reform; golf is his passion.
passionate, passionless, adj.

passive, adj.
(opp.: active)
not responding or taking an active part; inactive: a passive role in the committee's work; a passive personality.
passiveness, passivity, n.

paternalism, n.
controlling or managing people in a nation, corporation, etc. by taking care of their needs but giving them no
responsibility, in the manner of some parents.
paternal, paternalistic, adj.

patronize, v.
1. to be a regular customer of: He patronizes local businesses. 2. to act offensively superior toward: He
patronized all who spoke with accents.
patronizing, adj.

paucity, n.
(opp.: plethora, superfluity)
smallness of amount; scarcity: a paucity of resources.

pauper, n.
(opp.: plutocrat)
a extremely poor person, esp. one who must live on charity.
pauper, pauperize, v.

peccadillo, n.
a minor sin or offense: laughing about his youthful peccadillos.

pecuniary, adj.
relating to money; financial: His interests are political rather than pecuniary.

pedantry, n.
making too big a show of learnedness, or being too fussy about how to achieve scholarship: I dislike her
pedantic nagging about my few mispronunciations.
pedantic, adj.; pedant, pedanticism, n.

pedestal, n.
1. a support or base for a column, statue, lamp, etc. 2. a high position, as in one's regard or estimation: from
his pedestal at the top of the movie industry.

pedestrian, adj.
unimaginative or commonplace; plodding: pedestrian literature such as most romance novels.
peer, n.
a person of the same rank, status, age group, ability, etc. as another: He had no peer as a playwright; a jury of
one's peers.
peerless, adj.

peevish, adj.
easily annoyed; ill-tempered: a peevish neighbor.
peeve, v., n.; peeved, adj.

pejorative, adj.
creating a negative impression; disparaging; demeaning: "Juvenile" is often a pejorative term.
pejoration, pejorative, n.

penchant, n.
(opp.: aversion)
a strong liking for or inclination toward: a penchant for tall blondes; her penchant for insulting people.

peninsula, n.
an area of land surrounded on nearly all sides by water and connected to a mainland by a usu. narrow strip of
land.
peninsular, adj.

penitent, adj.
(opp.: impenitent, obdurate)
feeling or showing sorrow or regret for one's wrongdoing; repentant: a penitent sinner.
penitence, n.; penitential, adj.

pensive, adj.
deep in a sad, melancholy, or dreamy thoughtfulness: Thoughts of his dead wife put him in a pensive mood.

penury, n.
(opp.: luxury)
severe poverty, scarcity, or dearth: the penury of the refugees.
penurious, adj.

**perceive, v.
1. to become aware of through the senses: We can perceive an action, but not a motive. 2. to grasp mentally;
understand: I perceived a contradiction in their stories.
perceptible, perceptive, adj.; perception, n.

perennial, adj.
(opp.: ephemeral, transitory)
recurring year after year, or constantly; lasting: a perennial problem with overcrowding; her perennial beauty.

perfunctory, adj.
(opp.: assiduous, meticulous)
done quickly and routinely; careless; showing little thought or interest: a perfunctory cleaning; a perfunctory
remark.

periphery, n.
(opp.: center, crux)
1. the area of or near an outer edge. 2. the nonessential part or aspect of something: on the periphery of
science.
peripheral, adj.

perjure, v.
to make (oneself) guilty of perjury; give false testimony under oath: He perjured himself in three statements.
perjury, n.
permeate, v.
to pass or diffuse through; pervade: Fear of the test permeated his thoughts; Dye permeates wool.
permeable, permeative, adj.

perpetrate, v.
to commit or carry out, usu. a crime: perpetrating a fraud.

perpetuate, v.
(opp.: discontinue)
to cause to last or be remembered: perpetuating a tradition.
perpetual, adj.

perplex, v.
to puzzle, confuse, or cause uncertainty in (someone): The instructions perplexed me.
perplexed, adj.; perplexity, n.

persecute, v.
to subject (usu. a despised person or group) to persistent harassment, punishment, or ill-treatment: Early
Christians were persecuted.

persist, v.
(opp.: desist)
to go on firmly in a task or course of action: The cold weather persisted for weeks; Her persistence made her a
good salesperson.
persistence, persistency, n.; persistent, adj.

perspective, n.
a visual or mental view of a scene or subject, esp. of the interrelationships of its parts or elements; point of
view: I want to get your perspective on this issue.

perspicacious, adj.
(opp.: imperceptive)
keenly perceptive or understanding; discerning: a perspicacious comment.
perspicacity, n.

pertinent, adj.
(opp.: irrelevant)
of, concerning, or connected to a subject: all the pertinent evidence.
pertain, v.; pertinence, n.

perturb, v.
(opp.: reassure)
to cause great disturbance in (the mind, etc.); agitate; worry: The fresh evidence perturbed the detective.
perturbation, n.

peruse, v.
to read or examine attentively in detail: Please peruse this contract.
perusal, n.

pervade, v.
to spread or be present everywhere in; permeate: Determination pervaded the team.
pervasion, n.; pervasive, adj.

perverse, adj.
(opp.: amenable)
stubbornly opposed to what is expected or asked; contrary; stubbornly devoted to evil: a perverse change in the
weather; a perverse resistance to bathing.
pervert, v.

pessimism, n.
(opp.: optimism)
the tendency to expect the worst; believing that the universe is mostly evil: His constant pessimism is
depressing.
pessimist, n.; pessimistic, adj.

petty, adj.
of little importance, interest, or consequence; trivial; narrow in mind or attitude: petty differences; a petty
desire for revenge.

petulant, adj.
(opp.: amiable)
unreasonably irritated or ill-tempered; sulky: a petulant refusal to try any new foods.
petulance, n.

**phenomenon, n.
1. a perceivable occurrence or fact, esp. an unusual one; marvel: the phenomenon of the northern lights. 2. an
extraordinary person: a phenomenon in sports.
phenomena, pl.n.; phenomenal, adj.

philanthropy, n.
(opp.: misanthropy)
good will toward humankind, esp. shown by charitable works and gifts: selfless philanthropy.
philanthropic, adj.; philanthropist, n.

**philosophy, n.
the study of the nature and principles of knowledge, truth, existence, and moral and aesthetic values; a
particular set of such ideas and theories.
philosopher, n.; philosophical, adj.; philosophize, n.

piety, n.
(opp.: impiety)
deep devotion to a god, religion, or morality, or a false appearance of being thus devoted: the monk's simple
piety; the annoying piety with which she passes judgment on others.
pious, adj.

pilgrimage, n.
a trip made to a holy or honored place, or to seek something important: his yearly pilgrimage to Civil War
battlefields.
pilgrim, n.

pillage, v.
to forcefully seize goods, etc., as during a war: The troops pillaged the village.

pinnacle, n.
(opp.: nadir)
the highest point or part of something; apex; summit: the pinnacle of the boxing world.

pique, v., n.
(opp.: allay)
1. (to cause) a feeling of resentment or hostility: a fit of pique; She was piqued by his coldness. 2. to arouse or
incite (interest, curiosity, etc.): The lecture piqued my interest in astronomy.

pithy, adj.
(opp.: prolix)
full of meaning or important facts or ideas; brief but forceful; succinct: a pithy statement on the editorial page.
pith, n.

pivotal, adj.
of extreme importance; critical or crucial: a pivotal decision.

placate, v.
(opp.: agitate)
to calm down; appease; pacify: The apology placated her.
placatory, adj.

placid, adj.
(opp.: tempestuous)
smooth or calm; tranquil: Her placid manner calms the children; a placid lake.
placidity, n.

plagiarize, v.
to wrongfully and purposely claim someone else's ideas, words, etc. as one's own: She plagiarized from a
history text.
plagiarism, plagiarist, n.

plaintive, adj.
(opp.: exuberant)
expressing sadness or sorrow: the child's plaintive look.

plateau, n.
1. an elevated, fairly level area of land. 2. a period or state of stability or little change: She made quick
progress and then hit a plateau.

plausible, adj.
(opp.: implausible)
seeming to be truthful, worthy, or acceptable; credible: a plausible explanation for the missing funds.

plethora, n.
(opp.: dearth)
too great an amount; overabundance: a plethora of suggestions from well-wishers.

pliant, adj.
(opp.: rigid)
easily bent; flexible; easily influenced; pliable: a pliant twig; a pliant personality.
pliancy, n.

plunder, v., n.
1. to steal goods, often by force: Thieves plundered the opened tomb. 2. the act of stealing, or the goods thus
taken: examining their plunder.
plunderous, adj.

poignant, adj.
arousing strong emotion, esp. sympathy or sadness; deeply touching: a poignant appeal for mercy; a poignant
moment.
poignancy, n.

poise, n.
(opp.: instability)
1. a state or position of balance; equilibrium. 2. ability to remain confident and comfortable: He lost his poise.

poise, v.
1. to put, hold, or be in a balanced position: He poised the spear and waited. 2. to be in position and at rest
before use or change: The countries poised on the brink of war.
polarize, v.
to cause or undergo concentration around opposite points: The contrasting candidates polarized the voters.
polarization, n.

poll, v., n.
(to conduct) the gathering of votes, information, opinions, etc. from a usu. large number of people: a public
opinion poll; We polled the members as to their preference.

pompous, adj.
(opp.: humble)
showing an exaggerated sense of self-importance; overly showy: a pompous attitude because of his wealth.
pomp, pomposity, n.

ponder, v.
to think about deeply and carefully; meditate: He pondered all that had brought him to this point.

ponderous, adj.
(opp.: buoyant)
heavy or weighty; heavily labored and dull: a ponderous log; a ponderous speech.

pontificate, v.
to speak or behave with exaggerated authority: He is always pontificating about "the Russian mentality."

portal, n.
a doorway or entrance, esp. a large one: the portals of the cathedral.

portent, n.
a sign of something about to occur, esp. important or disastrous; something extraordinary: a portent of this
firm's collapse; His visit is a portentous occasion.
portend, v., portentous, adj.

posthumous, adj.
after one's death: a posthumous publishing of works; a posthumous tribute.

postpone, v.
to put off until a later time; defer.
postponement, n.

postulate, v., n.
(to put forth) an idea, principle, assumption, etc. that is given or accepted without proof, esp. as a basis for
reasoning: He postulated new principles of physics.

potable, adj.
fit for drinking: potable water.

potent, adj.
(opp.: impotent, ineffectual)
having strength; powerful; exerting a strong effect; persuasive: a potent army; a potent argument.
potence, potency, n.

potential, adj., n.
1. capable of coming into existence; latent: potential problems. 2. (having) the ability to develop certain skills
or traits: a lot of potential as a golfer.

pragmatic, adj.
(opp.: idealistic, theoretical)
practical rather than abstract or theoretical in viewing things: a pragmatic approach to governing the country.
pragmatism, pragmatist, n.

prattle, v., n.
(to talk in) a foolish or childish chatter; babble: They were prattling about some nonsense.

precarious, adj.
unstable or unsteady; lacking a solid basis; risky: in a precarious position; a precarious assumption.

precede, v.
(opp.: succeed)
to occur or come before in time or in order, importance, etc.: We preceded you by two hours.
precedence, precedent, n.; preceding, adj.

precept, n.
a basic rule, principle, etc. that guides action, moral conduct, or thought.

precipice, n.
a steep cliff, or the verge of danger: at the precipice of war.

**precise, adj.
(opp.: imprecise)
clearly stated; indicated exactly; distinct: a precise direction; precise amounts; precise speech.
precision, n.

preclude, v.
(opp.: ensure)
to prevent from happening; eliminate the possibility of: That requirement precluded my being accepted.
preclusive, adj.; preclusion, n.

precocious, adj.
(opp.: retarded)
having or showing the skills or mental capacity of a much older person: a precocious child; precocious musical
ability.
precocity, n.

preconceived, adj.
formed beforehand, as an idea or opinion; biased: a preconceived fear of the ocean.
preconception, n.

predator, n.
(opp.: prey)
an animal that catches and eats other animals; a person who victimizes others.
predation, n.; predatory, adj.

predecessor, n.
(opp.: successor)
one that has come before another, in a job, position, etc.; an earlier form of something: the predecessor of the
jet plane.

predetermined, adj.
decided, settled, or agreed upon beforehand: They met at a predetermined time and place.
predeterminate, adj.; predetermination, n.

predicament, n.
a difficult or dangerous situation with no obvious solution: The loss of his job created quite a predicament for
his family.

predilection, n.
(opp.: aversion)
an inclination to favor something; preference: a predilection for violent sports.

predominate, v.
to be of great importance or have control over: Sugar content predominates in many youngsters' choice of
cereal.
predominate, adj.

**prejudice, v., n.
(opp.: openmindedness)
(to cause in a person) a judgment or preference formed before or without knowing or examining facts.
prejudge, v.; prejudiced, prejudicial, adj.

prelude, n.
(opp.: epilogue)
an introductory event or act; preliminary: His sarcastic remark was the prelude to a long, bitter quarrel.

premature, adj.
(opp.: tardy)
done, happening, or born before the required or unexpected time; too soon.
prematurity, prematureness, n.

premeditate, v.
to consider, plan, or arrange in advance: The question is whether the defendant premeditated this killing.
premeditated, adj.

premise, v., n.
(opp.: conclusion)
(to make or present) a statement or idea that forms the basis for an argument, conclusion, or other mental
construction: A false premise may lead to a false conclusion; He premised his argument on the inevitability of
change.

preoccupy, v.
to absorb the entire time or attention of someone: She has been preoccupied with her business.
preoccupation, n.; preoccupied, adj.

preposterous, adj.
(opp.: credible, plausible)
totally unlikely, unbelievable, or senseless; absurd.

prerogative, n.
an exclusive right or privilege that one has because of one's office, position, age, etc., or that a government has:
the President's prerogative to veto legislation.

presage, v.
to be a sign or warning of; foretell: The sky seemed to presage a storm.

prescribe, v.
1. to set down as a rule or guide: The Constitution prescribes certain powers of the Congress. 2. to order or
recommend as a medical remedy: The doctor prescribed a course of exercise.
prescription, n.; prescriptive, adj.

**prestige, n.
importance, influence, or the having of respect and admiration, based on one's achievements, wealth,
associations, or the like: the prestige of being a lawyer for the President.
prestigious, adj.

presumptuous, adj.
(opp.: diffident)
excessively bold or forward; rudely daring, as in taking some liberty: He presumptuously called the judge by his
first name.
presume, v.; presumption, n.

pretentious, adj.
(opp.: self-effacing)
making or presenting false or showy claims of importance, wealth, achievement, etc.; ostentatious: a huge,
pretentious house.
pretension, n.

**prevail, v.
1. to emerge as dominant: prevailing over difficulties. 2. to successfully encourage: I prevailed on him to be
more merciful. 3. to exist widely or generally, or be currently in effect: the crime that is so prevalent today;
Silence prevailed in the city.

prevailing, prevalent, adj.; prevalence, n.

prevarication, n.
a lie, or lying.
prevaricate, v.

primary, adj.
most essential or common; most important; most basic; first or earliest: His primary goal is to support himself;
the primary stages of development.

prime, adj.
first in importance, rank, quality, value, time, or order: the prime cause; prime real estate.
primacy, primeness, n.

prime, n.
the most vigorous or best stage, condition, or quality: in the prime of her life.

prime, v.
to make ready, or prepare: He was primed for the test.

primordial, adj.
first or original; basic or primary; in the earliest stages, as of biological development:a primordial ancestor of
the horse.

**principle, n.
1. a law, doctrine, or assumption on which action or behavior is based; personal rule of behavior or morality: a
principle of justice; her high moral principles. 2. a presupposed or scientifically proven law or rule: the
principles of internal combustion.

priority, n.
the fact, need, or status of being placed first or before, in time, importance, etc., or something that is so placed:
His health takes priority over his entertainment; We have established our priorities.
prior, adj.; prioritize, v.

privation, n.
(opp.: abundance, luxury)
lack of necessities or common comforts of life; deprivation.

probe, v., n.
1. (to conduct) a deep or thorough examination or investigation: The IRS probed the boss's tax records. 2. (to
use) an instrument for conducting such an examination, as in surgery.
probing, adj.
proclamation, n.
a formal or public announcement: a peace proclamation.
proclaim, v.

procrastinate, v.
to put off taking an action or doing a task; delay.
procrastinator, n.

**prodigal, n., adj.

(opp.: frugal, miserly)
(one who is) foolish and excessive in spending or giving; extravagant; squandering: He was prodigal with his
new fortune.
prodigality, n.

prodigious, adj.
of great size, amount, extent, etc.; wondrous: a prodigious knowledge of astronomy; a prodigious feat of
strength.
prodigy, n.

profane, adj.
1. vulgar or obscene, as language. 2. irreverent or anti-religious; violating what is considered sacred: a profane
worship of money.
profanation, profanity, n.

profess, v.
(opp.: deny)
1. to claim insincerely: She professed sympathy but felt none. 2. to acknowledge openly: He professed his love.
professed, adj; profession, n.

proficient, adj.
(opp.: deficient, inept)
skilled, usu. as a result of study or practice: a proficient cook.
proficiency, n.

profound, adj.
(opp.: superficial)
of great depth; having intellectual insight; complete or pervasive; deep: a profound thought; a profound gloom.
profundity, n.

profuse, adj.
(opp.: scant)
1. abundant or numerous; plentiful: profuse growth. 2. giving generously or to excess; lavish: profuse in his
praise.
profusion, n.; profusive, adj.

progeny, n.
one or more descendants; offspring; anything one creates or produces: These three champion horses are the
progeny of the same sire.
progenitor, n.

proliferate, v.
to multiply, grow, spread, or increase quickly: the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
prolific, adj.

promontory, n.
a high cliff projecting into a body of water, or any prominent or projecting structure.
propensity, n.
(opp.: aversion)
a natural or inborn tendency, ability, or preference: a propensity for physical rather than mental activity.

prophet, n.
one who predicts the future, esp. one considered to be expressing a divine will.
prophecy, n.; prophesy, v.; prophetic, adj.

proponent, n.
(opp.: opponent)
one who proposes or favors an idea, doctrine, course of action, etc.: a proponent of capital punishment.
propose, v.

proposition, n.
a plan of action, idea, statement, etc. proposed or presented for discussion or evaluation; proposal: the
proposition that all people are created equal.
propose, v.

propound, v.
to put forth or propose for discussion or consideration: He propounded a new theory.

propriety, n.
(opp.: impropriety)
the quality of being suited to the circumstances; proper or appropriate behavior: the propriety of introducing
strangers to the group.

prosaic, adj.
straightforward and plain; unimaginative; commonplace: prosaic conversation.

prose, n.
all written and spoken expression that is not poetry.
prosy, adj.

proselytize, v.
to convert or try to convert others to one's own beliefs or religion: Some religions proselytize aggressively.

prosperity, n.
(opp.: destitution, penury)
the condition of succeeding or doing very well, esp. financially: Her prosperity was a surprise to her former
classmates.
prosper, v.; prosperous, n.

prostrate, v., adj.

(to lie or throw oneself) flat on the ground; overcome or exhausted: They prostrated themselves before the
emperor; the prostrate man was still breathing.

protocol, n.
the rules pertaining to etiquette and ceremonies, as among diplomats, heads of state, or the military: According
to protocol, the two flags should be at the same height.

prototype, n.
an original model, early form, or example on which later ones are based: a prototype for a new kind of airplane.
prototypical, adj.

proverb, n.
a short saying in popular use that expresses a common truth or wisdom, as "The race is not always to the swift."
proverbial, adj.
provincial, n., adj.
(opp.: cosmopolitan, urbane)
(someone) having limited interests or outlook; unworldly; narrow-minded; unsophisticated: a provincial
attitude toward marriage and divorce; a provincial idea of theater.
provincialism, provinciality, n.

provocative, adj.
serving to stimulate, excite, or arouse: a provocative remark about my mother; a provocative belly dance.
provocation, n.; provoke, v.

proximity, n.
(opp.: remoteness)
the condition of being near or close; nearness: the proximity of the mountains to our city.

prudent, adj.
(opp.: imprudent, rash)
showing wisdom and caution; sensible and aware in behavior or planning: prudent moves to insure one's future
security.
prudence, n.; prudential, adj.

pseudonym, n.
a false name, esp. one used by an author: She writes under a pseudonym.
pseudonymity, n.; pseudonymous, adj.

pulverize, v.
to crush into powder; demolish or annihilate: The glass was pulverized as part of its recycling.

punctual, adj.
on time; prompt, often habitually: a punctual arrival; a punctual friend.
punctuality, n.

pungent, adj.
(opp.: bland)
1. sharp in taste or smell; acrid: a pungent sauce. 1. penetrating or keen: pungent criticism,
pungency, n.

punitive, adj.
concerning, imposed as, or imposing punishment: a punitive attack.

purported, adj.
claimed, often falsely; alleged: purported to be the illegitimate son of a rock star.
purport, v., n.

pyromania, n.
the overpowering desire to set fires.
pyromaniac, n.

Q
quagmire, n.
1. a marsh-like area; bog. 2. a situation hard to get out of: The war was a quagmire.

quail, v.
to be overcome or cower fearfully; lose heart: She quailed as the dog lunged again.

qualify, v.
1. to modify, esp. to limit by restating in more restricted terms; make more moderate: He qualified his offer
with three "ifs"; a qualified yes. 2. to make or show oneself competent, as for a job.
qualification, n.; qualified, adj.

qualitative, adj.
(opp.: quantitative)
concerning the nature or attributes of something, rather than the amount: qualitatively superior work.

qualm, n.
a feeling of guilt or doubt: some qualms about the vehicle's safety; a slight qualm about having lied.

quandary, n.
a situation of uncertainty or puzzlement; dilemma: in a quandary about which school to choose.

quantitative, adj.
(opp.: qualitative)
concerning the amount or quantity of something, rather than its nature or qualities: needing a quantitative gain.

quarry, n.
(opp.: pursuer)
someone or something hunted, chased, sought, etc.: Tax-dodgers are the IRS's quarry.

queasy, adj.
nauseated; ill at ease; unsure: a queasy stomach; queasy about making the first move.

quench, v.
to satisfy (a desire, thirst, etc.), put out (a fire, etc.) or suppress or overcome (a strong emotion, etc.).

query, v., n.
(to ask someone) a question: Did you answer her queries about the job?; We queried him about his past.

querulous, adj.
habitually complaining; whiny: the child's querulous "Are we there yet?"

quibble, v., n.
(to make) an unimportant, petty, or trivial disagreement or objection: He quibbled about whose turn it was to
drive.

quiescent, adj.
inactive or resting; quiet; dormant: a quiescent volcano.

quixotic, adj.
very idealistic, but foolish; excessively chivalrous: the reformer's quixotic idea of changing human nature.

R
radical, adj.
(opp.: moderate)
1. extreme or complete, as an action or behavior: a radical change in her health. 2. favoring very basic changes
in politics or society: a radical economist.
radical, n.

rampant, adj.
raging out of control; unrestrained; violent: rampant corruption; a rampant forest fire.

rancid, adj.
having a bad smell or taste because of spoilage; unpleasant or offensive: rancid meat.
rancidity, rancidness, n.

rancor, n.
bitter, continuing resentment; hatred: I have no rancor toward my opponent.
rancorous, adj.

random, adj.
(opp.: systematic)
occurring or chosen in a manner without apparent reason, purpose, or pattern: the random scattering of stars; a
random sample of teenagers.

rant, v.
to speak or complain loudly and violently: Our boss rants at us occasionally.

rapacious, adj.
extremely greedy or ravenous; predatory: a rapacious lust for power; a rapacious jungle beast.
rapacity, n.

rash, adj.
(opp.: judicious, sagacious)
reckless, hasty, or not thought through; ill-considered: a rash decision; a rash impulse.

ratify, v.
to confirm or establish (something) by giving formal approval or consent: He ratified his assistant's decision.
ratification, n.

**rational, adj.
(opp.: irrational)
capable of logical thought; in control of one's mental powers; not insane or out of one's mind; sensible or
reasoned out: man, the rational creature; too rational to yield to prejudice; a rational choice.
rationality, n.

raucous, adj.
loud, sharp, and rasping, as a voice or laugh; loud and disorderly: a raucous crow; a raucous convention.

ravage, v., n.
(to bring about) destruction or ruin, as by violence: The villages were ravaged by invaders; a ravaging disease.
ravagement, n.; ravaging, adj.

ravenous, adj.
(opp.: sated)
extremely hungry; famished; desirous of satisfaction: a ravenous stray dog; a ravenous appetite for praise and
recognition.
ravening, adj.

raze, v.
to knock or tear down; level: They razed the abandoned building.

**realism, n.
(opp.: idealism)
seeing or presenting things as they actually are; concern for what is real or true rather than abstract or
theoretical: realism in fiction and painting.
realistic, adj.

realm, n.
area that something or someone occurs in or controls; domain; sphere; kingdom: the realm of imagination; the
woodsman's realm.
reap, v.
to gather or obtain (a benefit) as a result of something: She reaped the rewards of her hard work.

reassure, v.
to give back confidence to: It reassured him to know he had another chance; She reassured the terrified child.
reassurance, n.; reassuring, adj.

rebuff, v., n.
(to reject or repel with) an abrupt refusal or setting back, as of an approach or attempt: They rebuffed our offer;
The mountain rebuffed the climbers' efforts.

rebuke, v., n.
(to give) a sharp criticism or reprimand: Dad rebuked me for abusing his car.

rebut, v.
to argue against; prove false by evidence or logic; refute: rebutting his critics.
rebuttal, n.

recalcitrant, adj.
(opp.: manageable, tractable)
stubbornly resisting authority, rules, attempts to control, etc.: a recalcitrant child; a recalcitrant problem.

recant, v.
(opp.: maintain)
to withdraw from commitment to (a position or statement); retract: Galileo was forced to recant his views.
recantation, n.

recapitulate, v.
to review or present the main points of: He recapitulated the terms of the contract.

receptacle, n.
a container, esp. for storing something.

recipient, n.
(opp.: donor)
one who receives or is eligible to receive something: the recipient of the award.

reciprocal, adj.
(opp.: unilateral)
involving a mutual exchange: reciprocal trade; reciprocal affections.
reciprocate, v., reciprocity, n.

reckless, adj.
(opp.: prudent)
foolishly ignoring dangers or consequences; heedless; rash: a reckless eagerness.

recline, v.
to lie comfortably; tip back into a resting position: She reclined on the sofa.
reclining, adj.

recluse, n.
one who by choice lives in isolation from others: the mysterious old recluse.
reclusive, adj.

recoil, v.
1. to draw or start back, as in disgust or horror: I recoiled at the horrid sight. 2. to kick back, as a gun when
fired.
reconcile, v.
to bring back into agreement or harmony; correct or overcome differences or disagreements between:
reconciling the warring groups; She reconciled her check book and the bank statement.
reconcilable, adj.; reconciliation, n.

recondite, adj.
involving deep or hidden knowledge or complexities; obscure: Medieval English is too recondite for me.

reconnaissance, n.
examination of an area, esp. to gain militarily useful information.
reconnoiter, v.

rectify, v.
to put right or correct; remedy: I try to rectify my mistakes.
rectifiable, adj.; rectification, n.

recumbent, adj.
lying down; in repose or at rest: a recumbent figure on the lawn.

recuperate, v.
to regain one's health or financial wellbeing after an illness or loss.
recuperative, adj.

recurrent, adj.
happening again or repeatedly; returning to one's mind or attention: recurrent headaches.
recur, v.; recurrence, n.

redolent, adj.
(opp.: odorless)
giving off a strong, usu. pleasant odor; suggesting or recalling: redolent with apple blossoms; a scene redolent
of happy times.
redolence, n.

redress, v., n.
(to make) a correction or adjustment esp. of a wrong done: We'll redress the fact of our overcharge promptly.

redundant, adj.
(opp.: concise)
unnecessarily repetitive; excessive or superfluous: redundant details; a redundant expression such as "old
antiques."
redundance, redundancy, n.

**refine, v.
to purify of all coarse or low elements; make subtle distinctions in language or thought: a refined gentleman;
We must refine our analysis of the situation.
refined, adj.; refinement, n.

reflect, v.
1. to throw back light, heat, etc. 2. to ponder or think about: He reflected on the problem. 3. to show forth: His
action reflected his state of mind.
reflective, adj.

reflex, adj., n.
(of or concerning) an involuntary or habitual response to a stimulus; ability to react quickly: His jumpiness is a
reflex, not guilt; fast reflexes.
reflexive, adj.
refrain, v.
(opp.: indulge)
to hold oneself back from doing something; forbear: I refrained from arguing.

refrain, n.
a line or verse that repeats throughout a song or poem; chorus.

refuge, n.
a place, person, belief, etc. that acts as a shelter from danger or as a comfort or help: a refuge from the storm;
Religion was her refuge from sorrow.

**refute, v.
(opp.: substantiate)
to demonstrate the error of; disprove: refuting the false testimony.
refutable, adj.; refutation, n.

regenerate, v.
(opp.: degenerate)
1. to re-create, grow, or make new or better: A lizard can regenerate a tail. 2. to cause or experience a moral
reform or rebirth: AA regenerated him.
regenerative, adj.

regime, n.
a system or pattern of ruling, governing, or managing; a ruling or managing group: the current regime at the
White House.

regress, v.
(opp.: progress)
to go back or backward, as to an earlier form or stage: He regressed to childish behavior.
regression, n.; regressive, v.

rehabilitate, v.
to restore to good health, status, good reputation, etc.: to rehabilitate wounded veterans.
rehabilitative, adj.

reign, v., n.
(opp.: servitude)
(to exert or have) absolute rule or complete dominance: the reign of a queen; Fear reigned during the
earthquake.

reinstate, v.
to put back into a former position, condition, etc., reestablish: She was reinstated as a party leader.
reinstatement, n.

reiterate, v.
to say again: He reiterated his thankfulness to us.
reiterative, adj.

rejuvenate, v.
to restore to health, vigor, or youthful appearance: The diet rejuvenated her; the rejuvenated political party.
rejuvenated, adj.

relegate, v.
1. to place in a position of lesser importance or esteem; consign: He was relegated to being a mere messenger.
2. to classify or assign to someone: The task was relegated to me.

relent, v.
to become milder, more sympathetic, less severe, or less punishing: Mother relented and let me go skiing; The
icy wind finally relented.

relevant, adj.
(opp.: irrelevant)
connected with the present matter; pertinent: a relevant piece of evidence.
relevance, relevancy, n.

relinquish, v.
to let go of, release, or surrender; give up: He relinquished his claim to the mine.
relinquishment, n.

relish, v., n.
(to take or experience) great pleasure or enjoyment: He always ate with relish; I would relish an opportunity to
work abroad.

**reluctant, adj.
unenthusiastic or unwilling; disinclined: a reluctant participant; reluctant to commit oneself.
reluctance, reluctancy, n.

reminisce, v.
to recall past experiences, usu. with pleasure.
reminiscence, n., reminiscent, adj.

remission, n.
1. a condition of lessening or abating, as the symptoms of a disease: His cancer was in remission. 2. a pardon
or forgiveness, as for sins.
remissive, adj.

remit, v.
1. to send (money) in return to someone: Please remit $50 immediately. 2. to refrain from carrying out; cancel:
The punishment was remitted. 3. to allow (one's interest or effort) to lessen or relax: He remitted the pressure
he was putting on us.
remittance, n.

remorse, n.
a sincere, painful sense of regret for misdeeds; penitence: his remorse for his cruelties to his brother.
remorseful, remorseless, adj.

remote, adj.
1. distant in space or time; far; removed or aloof from others: a remote island; a cold, remote personality. 2.
slight: a remote possibility.

render, v.
to present, give, or pronounce: a bill rendered for the materials; rendering help to accident victims; He rendered
his official judgment.

renegade, n.
one who deserts a group or cause or rejects its common beliefs; traitor: We arrested a renegade from the
opposing army.
renege, v.

renounce, v.
(opp.: adopt)
1. to give up (a right, claim, etc. or a habit, practice, etc.); reject, disown: The king renounced his throne;
renouncing violence as a tactic.
renouncement, renunciation, n.

renovate, v.
to put in good condition by repairing, remodeling, etc,; refurbish.
renovative, adj.

renowned, adj.
(opp.: obscure)
widely known and admired; famous: a renowned authority.
renown, n.

repent, v.
to be sorry for or regret past actions, esp. sins; decide to change for the better: I repent my hasty words.
repentance, n.; repentant, adj.

repertoire, n.
the collection of skills, abilities, or things known or mastered by a person or group: her repertoire of folk songs;
their repertoire of construction skills.

replica, n.
(opp.: original)
a copy or duplication, often smaller than the original: a replica of the White House.
replicate, v.

repose, v., n.
1. (to be or lie at) rest, peace, calmness, or stillness: She reposes in bed till ten; My repose was shattered by a
loud noise. 2. to put or place: I repose great trust in him.
reposeful, adj.

repository, n.
a storage area, burial chamber, etc. where something may be kept; something or someone considered as having
a large stored amount: He was a repository of sensitive information.

reprehensible, adj.
(opp.: praiseworthy)
deserving of blame; condemnable: reprehensible cruelty to animals.

repress, v.
(opp.: express)
1. to hold back the expression or memory of (feelings, emotions, etc.): She repressed her fears. 2. to put a stop
to; subdue: The dictator repressed the uprising.
repressible, adj.; repression, n.; repressive, adj.

reprieve, n.
a temporary or permanent release as from punishment: The governor granted a month's reprieve of his death
sentence.

reprimand, v., n.
(opp.: commend)
(to make) a strong, usu. formal statement of disapproval; rebuke.

reproach, v., n.
(to express) disapproval of or disappointment with; censure: She reproached him for neglecting her.
reproachable, adj.

reprobate, n., adj.

(one who is) evil, corrupt, or lawless, often hopelessly so: Huck Finn's father was a shameless reprobate.

reprove, v.
(opp.: approve)
to criticize, usu. mildly, for wrongdoing: He was reproved for his sloppy table manners.
reproof, n.

**repudiate, v.
(opp.: acknowledge)
to reject as untrue or invalid; separate oneself from or refuse to be associated with; disown: He repudiated the
false testimony; She repudiated her former associates when she ran for office.
repudiative, adj.

repugnant, adj.
extremely distasteful to one's senses or principles; disgusting: a repugnant clammy handshake; Being pleasant
to rude customers was repugnant to her.
repugnance, repugnancy, n.

repulse, v.
to force backward or repel; reject coldly or rudely: The invaders were repulsed; He repulsed all efforts to help.
repulsion, n.; repulsive, v.

**repute, n.
a reputation, or a good reputation: a person of low repute; an actor of considerable repute.
reputable, reputed, adj.; reputation, n.

rescind, v.
(opp.: authorize, validate)
to take back or make invalid; revoke: Certain rights must never be rescinded.
rescindable, adj., rescindment, n.

residual, adj.
remaining behind as a residue; left over: a residual fear of heights after her terrifying fall.
residue, n.

resigned, adj.
(opp.: defiant, unyielding)
passively accepting; unresisting: Be resigned to your fate; Resigned, he sighed, "All right, I'll do it."
resign, v.; resignation, n.

resolution, n.
(opp.: irresolution)
1. mental firmness; determination. 2. satisfactory solution of a conflict, dispute, etc.
resolute, adj.; resolve, v., n.

resonant, adj.
full and deep in sound; echoing; reverberating: a commanding, resonant voice.
resonance, n.; resound, v.; resounding, adj.

resourceful, adj.
(opp.: incompetent, unimaginative)
capable of dealing with difficult situations quickly and imaginatively: a clever, resourceful spy.

respiration, n.
(opp.: asphyxiation)
the act of breathing taking in air and releasing it in altered composition.
respiratory, adj.; respire, v.

respite, n.
a period of rest, esp. from something difficult: a respite from her week-long studies.

resplendent, adj.
(opp.: gloomy, squalid)
shining or radiant; full of splendor: the palace's resplendent ballroom.

**restraint, n.
1. an influence or object that holds back or controls, or a condition of being confined or held back: several legal
restraints on free speech. 2. being emotionally reserved; a holding back in expressing one's feelings; freedom
from exaggeration: He should use restraint in pointing out their faults.
restrain, v.; restrained, adj.

resurgence, n.
the act of returning or reviving strongly; rising again: the resurgence of West Germany's economy.
resurgent, adj.

retain, v.
1. to keep possession or use of: Despite setbacks, he retains a sense of humor. 2. to keep in mind, place,
position, etc. 3. to have in one's service: We must retain a lawyer.
retainer, retention, n.

retaliate, v.
to strike back in kind; take revenge: He retaliates for any insult.
retaliatory, adj.

reticent, adj.
(opp.: bold, uninhibited)
reluctant to speak or act; restrained; shy: He felt too reticent to protest.
reticence, n.

retrace, v.
1. to follow back, esp. to a starting point: We retraced our steps. 2. to go back over, esp. with memory, attention,
etc.: retracing the history of the cannon.
retraceable, adj.; retracement, n.

retract, v.
(opp.: extend)
1. to pull back in: A cat can retract it claws. 2. to withdraw as incorrect or inappropriate: He retracted his
unjustified criticisms.
retractable, adj.; retraction, n.

retroactive, adj.
effective as of a previous date or in regard to past events: a retroactive raise in salary; a retroactive law.

retrospect, n.
(opp: prospect)
thinking about past events, achievements, etc.: In retrospect, historians rank Truman higher than his
contemporaries did.
retrospection, n.; retrospective, adj.

revelation, n.
the act of revealing, or something revealed, esp. something not realized or understood before: The Senate
hearing produced some startling revelations.
reveal, v.; revelatory, adj.

revel, v., n.
(to feel or engage in) great pleasure or a boisterous celebration; rejoicing: I revel in your success; Let the revels
begin!
reveler, revelry, n.

revere, v.
to respect or cherish with awe; honor; venerate: The child revered his grandfather.
reverence, n., v.; reverent, reverential, adj.

revert, v.
(opp.: progress)
to return to or show signs of a previous state, practice, belief, etc.: In the novel, the children reverted to savage
behavior.
reversion, n.

revitalize, v.
to give fresh life, vigor, or vitality to: We will revitalize the old downtown area.
revitalized, adj.; revitalization, n.

revive, v.
to restore or return to consciousness, use, new health and vigor, etc.: reviving old dances; The picture revived
my memory of him.
revival, n.

rhapsodize, v.
to praise someone or something with intense or exaggerated enthusiasm: He rhapsodized about his youth in
Alaska.
rhapsodic, adj.; rhapsody, n.

ribald, adj.
(opp.: genteel, tasteful)
of rude, coarse, or vulgar language or humor: His ribald jokes offended those present.
ribaldry, n.

rife, adj.
common or frequent; abundant; widespread: Cheating is rife in that school.

rigid, adj.
(opp.: lax, pliable)
1. difficult or impossible to bend; firmly set or established; unchangeable; inflexible: rigid pipe; rigid social
conventions. 2. extremely exact; stringent: a racing boat built to rigid specifications.
rigidity, n.

rigor, n.
strictness, harshness, or thoroughness, as of circumstances or requirements: the rigors of military training; a
rigorous scientific testing program.
rigorous, adj.

ritual, adj., n.
(of or concerning) a pattern of behavior repeated in a fixed form, often as prescribed for a ceremony: my
morning ritual; her ritual Sunday car-washing.
rite, n.; ritualistic, adj.

rival, v., n.
(opp.: ally, cohort)
(to act as) one who competes or is capable of competing with someone else: our team's crosstown rivals; He has
few rivals as an actor; No other game can rival chess in complexity.
rivaled, adj.; rivalry, n.

robust, adj.
(opp.: debilitated, frail)
strong, healthy, and energetic; sturdy; hearty; full-flavored: a robust build; a robust clap on the shoulder; a
robust coffee.

roster, n.
any list or register, as of member's names: The roster grew as the group's reputation spread.

rotund, adj.
(opp.: gaunt)
round or full in shape or tone; plump; stout; sonorous: a rotund ex-football player; the rotund notes of a bass
viol.
rotundity, n.

rudiment, n.
1. a basic element, idea, skill, etc. in a complex subject or activity: I know only the rudiments of carpentry. 2.
something incompletely developed: the rudiments of a civilization.
rude, rudimentary, adj.

ruffle, v.
to disturb the smoothness, evenness, or calmness of (something or someone); fluster: The wind ruffles the
pond's surface; The three missed shots ruffled him.

ruminate, v.
to think about at length; meditate; ponder: ruminating on what had brought him this far.
ruminative, adj.

rural, adj.
(opp.: urban)
of the countryside, country life, or farming.

rustic, adj.
(opp.: polished, urban)
of, concerning, or living in the country, as opposed to a city; simple, crude, or unsophisticated: a rustic lifestyle;
a rustic cabin.

ruthless, adj.
(opp.: compassionate)
without mercy; cruel: the ruthless terrorist; ruthless plans to destroy their hopes.

S
sabotage, v., n.
(to carry out) a secret operation or act, esp. one by an insider, to damage property, obstruct operations,
undermine negotiations, etc.
saboteur, n.

saccharine, adj.
excessively or falsely sweet in manner; over-sentimental; cloying: a saccharine greeting from the hostess.
saccharinity, n.

saga, n.
(opp.: anecdote)
a long detailed story, esp. one involving the generations of a family or group; epic.

sagacious, adj.
(opp.: asinine, injudicious)
of good judgment and common sense; wise: a sagacious judge.
sagacity, n.

sage, n., adj.

(opp.: imbecile, ninny)
(one who is) characterized by good judgment; prudent; wise: sage advice; a famous sage such as Socrates.

salutary, adj.
(opp.: detrimental, unwholesome)
having a good or helpful effect; healthful: salutary advice; salutary exercise.

salutation, n.
a gesture or expression of greeting or courtesy: His usual salutation is "Glad to see you."
salute, v., n.

salvation, n.
(opp.: damnation, downfall)
the act of saving, something that saves, or the condition of being saved from evil, harm, or trouble; deliverance:
The new job was my salvation.

sanction, v., n.
(opp.: disapprove)
(to give) official, public or personal approval, esp. of some action or proposal: Congress sanctioned the
President's plan; I cannot sanction such rudeness.
sanctionable, adj.

sanctity, n.
sacredness, holiness, or saintliness: the sanctity of human life.
sanctify, v.

saturate, v.
(opp.: deplete)
to fill or soak completely; oversupply: He felt saturated with new words.
saturated, adj.; saturation, n.

savanna (savannah), n.
a grassy plain with few trees, esp. in a warm region.

savant, n.
(opp.: ignoramus)
a person of deep learning; scholar.

savor, v.
to enjoy a taste, smell, feeling, etc.: He waited a moment to savor the victory.

savory, adj.
(opp.: unsavory)
having a pleasant spicy or salty taste; pleasing or socially acceptable: He was not an entirely savory character.

scalpel, n.
a small light thin-bladed knife used in surgery.

**scanty, adj.
(opp.: lavish)
small or barely adequate; meager; minimal: a scanty meal; a scanty growth of trees; scant satisfaction.
scant, adj., v.

scapegoat, n.
one made to bear the blame for the wrongs or misfortunes of others.

scent, v., n.
(to smell) a distinctive or characteristic odor, often a pleasant one; to sense the presence of something wanted:
We scented victory in the news reports.
scented, adj.

**scholar, n
a learned person, esp. one who is engaged in research or study.
scholarly, adj.; scholarship, n.

scoff, v.
to speak scornfully; express derision: They scoffed at my ambition of becoming an astronaut.

scope, n.
the width or range of one's view, thoughts, operations, etc.; chance to act freely: the scope of her ambitions;
giving one's imagination full scope.

scorn, v., n.
(opp.: admiration)
(to feel or express) an angry disgust and rejection; derision; contempt; disdain: He scorned the easy way; her
scorn for all liars.
scornful, adj.

scoundrel, n.
(opp.: paragon)
one who disregards morals or laws; villain: The scoundrel has swindled eleven women.

scrupulous, adj.
(opp.: unscrupulous)
holding strictly to ethical standards; precisely fair or accurate: scrupulous in his business dealings; a scrupulous
count.
scruple, v., n.; scrupulosity, n.

**scrutinize, v.
to look at carefully, with attention to detail; examine: We scrutinized the patient's x-rays.
scrutiny, n.

sculptor, n.
an artist who, by carving, modeling, welding, etc., creates three-dimensional works.
sculpt, v.; sculpture, n.

seclusion, n.
the condition of being isolated, hidden away, or remote: I work best in seclusion.
seclude, v.; secluded, adj.

sectarian, adj.
(opp.: universal)
concerning a separate group, division, or sect; overly insistent on one's group's beliefs: The church has suffered
from sectarian rivalries.
sect, n.

secular, adj.
(opp.: ecclesiastical, religious)
of or concerning worldly or material matters, rather than religious or spiritual ones; temporal: secular
authorities; a secular concern such as raising money.
secularity, n.; secularize, v.

sedate, adj.
(opp.: frantic, jittery)
showing little excitability or strong emotion; composed: a sedate young lady.

sedate, v.
to give a drug to, so as to tranquilize: She was sedated following the accident.
sedation, n.

sedative, n., adj.

(a drug or other substance) causing calmness or tranquillity.

sedition, n.
speech or actions that encourage rebellion against a government.
seditious, adj.

segregate, v.
(opp.: combine, congregate, unite)
to separate from the majority of a group: Certain prisoners were segregated from the others.

**sentiment, n.
(opp.: pragmatism, rationality)
emotional feeling, esp. a tender emotion; attitude or point of view: Sentiment should not enter into business, he
believes; I asked about their sentiments on the proposal.
sentimental, adj.

sentinel, n.
one that stands guard or watches: a sharp-eyed sentinel.

sequence, n.
an arrangement or process in which one thing follows another; connected series; order; succession: the proper
sequence of commands; a sequence of failures.
sequential, adj.

sequester, v.
to remove or take away and place in protection and isolation: the widow has been sequestered from reporters.
sequestration, n.

serene, adj.
(opp.: turbulent)
free from trouble or disturbance; tranquil; clear; calm: a serene peace on the man's face; a serene stillness in the
air.
serenity, n.

sermon, n.
a talk delivered during a church service to instruct or inspire, or any speech to guide or scold: a sermon on our
duties as Americans.
sermonize, v.

servile, adj.
(opp.: autocratic, domineering)
very submissive to another's authority; slavish: a servile anxiety to please.
servility, n.

sever, n.
to cut or become cut away or apart; destroy or put an end to: The machine severed his thumb; You must sever
all connections with these criminals.
severance, n.

shiftless, adj.
(opp.: industrious)
having little or no purpose or ambition; lazy: a shiftless school dropout.

shortcoming, n.
(opp.: forte)
a lacking in character, ability, behavior, etc.; flaw: a shortcoming in leadership ability.

shrewd, adj.
(opp.: asinine, naive)
showing good judgment and foresight; cunning; astute: He is shrewd in business matters.

shrine, n.
a holy place or object, such as a tomb; place or object honored as a memorial of an important person or event:
The old immigrant considered the Statue of Liberty a shrine.

shrivel, v.
to reduce in size and wrinkle, as by drying; lessen in strength, vigor, etc.: shriveled leaves; Failure shriveled
their enthusiasm.
shriveled, adj.

shun, v.
to keep away from; avoid, esp. purposely and always: He has shunned his brother; She shuns exercise.

simplistic, adj.
too simplified, and thus unrealistic: simplistic solutions to complex problems.

simultaneous, adj.
existing or happening at the same general time or moment: My friend and I yawned simultaneously.
simultaneity, n.

singular, adj.
(opp.: commonplace)
unusual, extraordinary, exceptional, or peculiar; being one; unique: a singular talent for whistling; a singular
occurrence brought to my attention.
singularity, n.

sinister, adj.
(opp.: auspicious)
threatening or foreshadowing evil or danger; showing evil intentions: a sinister plot.

**skepticism, n.
(opp.: credulity, naivete)
doubt or disbelief, or the tendency thereto, as to values, the character or motives of others, plans, religion, etc.:
His skepticism makes him a good interrogator.
skeptic, n.; skeptical, adj.

slander, v., n.
(opp.: eulogize)
(to utter) false statements that injure someone's reputation or wellbeing: The judge ruled that the TV program
had slandered the minister.
slanderous, adj.

slight, v., n.
(to ignore or treat with) disinterest or discourtesy; (give) little attention: He has slighted me and favored my
brother; She considered his brief answer a slight.

slogan, n.
a short phrase used to sum up a principle or political message, or to advertise: "I like Ike" was a slogan of the
1950's.

slothful, adj.
(opp.: energetic)
slow-moving; lazy: slothful in all her duties.
sloth, n.

slouch, v.
to sit, stand, or move with a bent, careless posture: She slouched in a chair, reading.

slough, n.
a swamp or marshy area.

slough, v.
to cast off or shed; get rid of: She sloughed her old friends when she became rich.

slovenly, adj.
(opp.: immaculate, meticulous)
careless or disgustingly dirty: slovenly work habits; His room was in slovenly disarray.

**sluggish, adj.
(opp.: dynamic, vibrant)
moving slowly; lazy or without energy: a sluggish river; sluggish ticket sales.
sluggard, n.

smug, adj.
(opp.: humble, self-effacing)
offensively confident of or satisfied with oneself: He was smug about his recent successes.

snub, v.
to ignore, or to stop or reject with a hurtful reply, esp. as a way of showing dislike or contempt: She snubs
everyone who isn't as rich as she,
snub, n.

sobriety, n.
(opp.: frivolity, giddiness)
1. not being intoxicated; refraining from drinking alcohol. 2. seriousness of manner; solemnity: the sobriety of
a judge.
sober, adj., v., sobering, adj., soberness, n.

socialism, n.
(opp.: capitalism)
a political or economic theory or system in which community members own all property, resources, and means
of production and control the distribution of goods.
socialist, n., socialistic, adj.

solar, adj.
of, concerning, produced by, or powered by the sun.

solemn, adj.
(opp.: jovial)
1. serious or grave; impressive because of ceremony: a solemn observance of Veteran's Day. 2. deeply sincere: a
solemn oath to his dying father.
solemnity, n.; solemnize, v.

**solicit, v.
(opp.: proffer)
to ask for or try to get; persuade to do something: soliciting donations for charity; He solicited a minor to steal
for him.
solicitation, solicitor, n.

solitary, adj.
(opp.: gregarious)
1. being, living, or done apart from others; alone; unaccompanied: a solitary wolf; a solitary pastime. 2. single
or only; lone: a solitary reason for working.

**solitude, n.
living or being alone; remoteness from people; isolation: the solitude of the deep forest.
solitudinous, adj.

solo, n., adj.

(a performance, feat, etc.) done by one person alone and unaided.

somber, adj.
(opp.: jubilant, mirthful)
gloomy, melancholy, or dismal; dark: a somber meeting for the reading of the will; a somber brown robe.

somnambulist, n.
one who sleepwalks.
somnambulate, v.; somnambulism, n.

sonnet, n.
a fourteen-line poem that usu. rhymes and usu. follows one of certain traditional patterns.
sonneteer, n.

sophisticated, adj.
1. having or revealing subtle or extensive knowledge or experience; not naive or simple; worldly-wise. 2. very
complicated or complex: sophisticated machinery.
sophisticate, n., v.

soporific, adj.
(opp.: invigorating, stimulating)
causing sleep or sleepiness; sleepy or drowsy: a slow-moving, soporific late movie.

sovereign, adj., n.
(opp.: subordinate)
1. (having the power of) an emperor, queen, or other royal ruler; self-governing, as a state or country. 2. most
important or significant; supreme: our sovereign responsibility as citizens.
sovereignty, n.

sparse, adj.
(opp.: dense)
thinly scattered; scanty: sparse hair; a sparse population.

spectrum, n.
a range or series of various but related subjects or things in a continuous sequence: the whole spectrum of
political opinion; the color spectrum.

speculate, v.
1. to think or make guesses about something: We speculated about our future. 2. to engage in a risky investment
that may offer great rewards.
speculative, adj.

sphinx, n.
a person or thing that seems mysterious and difficult to understand.

**spiritual, adj.
(opp.: secular, temporal)
1. of or concerning the spirit or soul, rather than the physical body or world: a poem of spiritual love; a spiritual
quality in music. 2. of or concerning religion: a spiritual leader.
spirit, spirituality, n.

spontaneous, adj.
happening or done freely or by impulse; not forced or outwardly caused: spontaneous generosity; spontaneous
regrowth of tissue.
spontaneity, n.

sporadic, adj.
(opp.: concentrated, periodic)
occurring irregularly or in a thinly scattered manner: sporadic gunfire; sporadic outbreaks of flu.

spurious, adj.
not authentic, genuine, or valid; false: spurious reasoning; a spurious signature.

spurn, v.
to reject, refuse, or treat with scorn; disdain: He spurned my offers of help; a spurned lover.
spurned, adj.

squalid, adj.
1. dirty or foul, as from neglect or poverty: a squalid hut. 2. morally disgusting; sordid: a squalid story of greed
and corruption.
squalor, n.

squander, v.
to spend or expend (money, time, or effort) wastefully: He squandered thousands at the casino.

squelch, v.
to intimidate or silence, as with a crushing reply: The success of his plan squelched his critics.

**stabilize, v.
(opp.: destabilize)
to make firm, steady, or stable; hold or keep at a particular level, degree, etc.: stabilizing the room temperature.
stability, stabilization, n.; stable, adj.

**stagnate, v.
to be or become motionless, fouled, or lacking in energy, originality, or development: water that has stagnated;
the economy stagnated for six months.
stagnancy, n.; stagnant, adv.

staid, adj.
formal, serious, and reserved in manner: a staid minister.

stance, n.
the physical position of the body, esp. while standing; one's stand on, or attitude toward something: an awkward
batting stance; his stance on abortion.

stanza, n.
a set-apart group of related lines in a poem, usu. one of several of the same length: This stanza is the most
difficult in the poem.
stanzaic, adj.

stately, adj.
(opp.: inelegant)
grand or majestic; dignified: stately mansions; a stately manner.

**static, adj.
(opp.: dynamic)
without motion or change; fixed; unvarying: a static income since retirement.
stasis, n.

statistics, n.
information in the form of numbers, esp. partial information about a population that is used to make general
conclusions about the whole population; the study and use of such information.
statistical, adj.; statistician, n.

status, n.
1. a person's rank or position in relation to others: A car can be a symbol of status. 2. state of affairs; stage of
progress: the status of his job application.

staunch, adj.
(opp.: irresolute)
firm, strong, or loyal: a staunch supporter; a staunch defense.

steadfast, adj.
(opp.: undependable)
not likely to change; reliable; loyal: a steadfast course; a steadfast friend.

stealth, n.
secretive movement or procedure; sneakiness; furtiveness: the stealth of a burglar.
stealthy, adj.

stereotype, v., n.
(opp.: individualize)
(to hold or express) a mental image of a group, usu. of people; belief that they are all the same: Don't stereotype
athletes as being dumb; the stereotype of the sexy, sophisticated French person.
stereotyped, stereotypical, adj.

stern, adj.
(opp.: lenient)
firm and uncompromising; grim or forbidding; harsh; severe: a stern will; a stern expression; a stern program
of reform.

stifle, v.
(opp.: allow, promote)
1. to hold back, end or put down by force; crush; quell: He stifled his laughter during the ceremony; the stifling
of free expression. 2. to deprive of air; suffocate: a stifling atmosphere.
stifling, adj.

stigma, n.
a long-lasting mark or sign of shame or disgrace: the stigma of having been impeached.
stigmatic, adj.; stigmatize, v.

stilted, adj.
artificially or stiffly formal; affected; pompous: stilted prose; a stilted greeting.

**stimulate, v.
(opp.: repress, restrain)
to act on or influence so as to cause activity or increased action; rouse; incite; animate: medicine to stimulate
the heart; His questions stimulate discussion.
stimulant, n.; stimulating, stimulative, adj.

stimulus, n.
(opp.: constraint)
something that excites action, feeling, thought or response: His skill is a stimulus for us to practice more; Fear
is a powerful stimulus.
stimuli, pl.n.
stipend, n.
a periodic payment, such as a salary or allowance.

stoic, n., adj.

(opp.: demonstrative)
(a person) showing little or no reaction to painful or pleasant experiences; impassive: He was stoic throughout
his trial.
stoical, adj.; stoicism, n.

stolid, adj.
(opp.: expressive)
neither feeling nor showing much emotion; impassive: a stolid bodyguard.
stolidity, n.

straightforward, adj.
(opp.: devious)
direct and honest; frank; open: a straightforward answer.

stratify, v.
to form or arrange into layers or strata; classify (a society) according to social or economic levels: Some
societies are more stratified than others.
strata (pl.), stratum, stratification, n.; stratified, adj.

strident, adj.
(opp.: dulcet)
harsh-sounding and loud; raucous: strident booing from the angry fans.
stridence, stridency, n.

strife, n.
conflict or hostility; a clashing, as in combat: strife between parents and children; the strife of battle.

stringent, adj.
(opp.: lax, lenient)
strict or demanding; exacting: stringent requirements for graduate school entry.
stringency, n.

strive, v.
to try or work hard; exert oneself; struggle: He is striving to master calculus; They strove to outdo each other.
striving, adj.

stupefy, v.
1. to put into a daze or stupor, as with heat or drugs. 2. to astound or bedazzle: We were stupefied by his
amazing stunts on the trapeze.
stupefaction, n.; stupefying, adj.

stupor, n.
a state of unconsciousness, unawareness, or sleepiness; extreme confusion or shock: In a stupor, he couldn't
decide what to do after his house burned down.
stuporous, adj.

suave, adj.
(opp.: uncouth)
smoothly polite, charming, or engaging; polished; urbane: a suave man of the world.
suavity, n.

subdue, v.
1. to overcome or conquer; bring under control: The cowboy subdued the half-wild horse; She subdued her
anger. 2. to lessen the strength or intensity of: a subdued light in the restaurant.
subdued, adj.

subjective, adj.
(opp.: objective)
formed or existing in a person's mind rather than in the world outside: The grading of essays is partly
subjective.
subjectivity, n.

subjugate, v.
to win mastery over; force into submission: Caesar's armies subjugated many people.

sublimate, v.
to divert the expression of a crude impulse or desire into a socially acceptable or higher form: He sublimated
his greed by becoming a charity fund-raiser.

sublime, adj.
(opp.: abysmal)
noble or exalted; lofty; supremely admirable or satisfying: a sublime goal; a sublime performance.

submissive, adj.
(opp.: dominating)
inclined or ready to give up or yield to another's power; very obedient; humble: submissive to the will of God.
submission, n.; submit, v.

subordinate, v., adj.

(opp.: sovereign)
(to make) secondary, or of less importance, as to a superior; (to place) in a lower rank or in a dependent
position: She subordinated her interests to her children's upbringing; I am subordinate to Mr. Casey in the
organization.
subordinate, n.

subsist, v.
(opp.: perish)
to exist or continue to exist; stay alive: They subsisted on roots and berries.
subsistence, n.; subsistent, adj.

substantiate, v.
(opp.: controvert, undermine)
1. to establish or support by giving proof or evidence: He couldn't substantiate his argument. 2. to give
substance to; make stronger; affirm: Working together substantiated their relationship.

subterranean, adj.
below the earth's surface; underground; secret or hidden, as motives, some feelings, etc.

**subtle, adj.
(opp.: blatant, flagrant)
difficult to detect; not obvious; requiring fine distinctions: a subtle change in her expression; a subtle
interpretation of the poem.
subtlety, n.

subvert, v.
to overthrow or destroy; undermine the loyalty, principles, etc. of a person, institution, etc.: He has subverted all
that this club stands for.
subversion, n.; subversive, adj.

succulent, adj.
(opp.: desiccated, withered)
full of juice; holding rich or nourishing qualities: a succulent pear; a succulent novel.
succulence, n.

succumb, v.
(opp.: prevail)
to give in or yield to a fatal illness, superior force, temptation, etc.: He succumbed to the desire for a high-
calorie dessert.

sullen, adj.
1. displaying silent or habitual resentment or bad temper; morose: sullen when asked to help. 2. dark or
gloomy: a sullen sky before a storm.

sumptuous, adj.
(opp.: austere, frugal)
large or splendid, esp. when expensive; lavish: a sumptuous dinner; a sumptuous room.

superb, adj.
(opp.: inferior)
of the finest kind or quality; excellent; magnificent.

supercilious, adj.
having an arrogant disregard: The professor was often supercilious toward the uneducated.

**superficial, adj.
(opp.: profound)
on the surface, or outward; shallow; trivial: a superficial scratch; a superficial resemblance; a superficial
understanding of love.
superficiality, n.

superlative, adj.
topmost in kind, degree, etc.; supreme; exaggerated or overdone: superlative automotive design; superlative in
his compliments.

supersede, v.
to take over the position or influence of; cause to be set aside; replace: The new directions supersede the
previous ones.

supplant, v.
to take the place of, esp. by dishonesty or force: He shrewdly supplanted the king's favorite advisor.

**supplement, v., n.
(to add) something needed to make complete or something additional: He supplemented his teaching with
personal anecdotes; a supplemental directory with the book.
supplemental, supplementary, adj.

supposition, n.
something that is supposed or assumed: the supposition that the murderer is still around.
suppose, v.; supposed, adj.

suppress, v.
(opp.: encourage, permit)
to stop the activities of; keep or hold back or down; prevent expansion of: The dictatorship suppresses all
criticism; He suppressed a smile.
suppression, n.; suppressive, adj.

surfeit, v., n.
(opp.: deficit, insufficiency)
(to supply) an extra or excessive amount; a feeling of being too full: a surfeit of praise; the feast surfeited him.
surly, adj.
ill-tempered and rude; unfriendly: a surly snarl.

surmise, v., n.
(to form or express) an opinion based on slight evidence; supposition; inference: His whereabouts can only be
surmised.

surmount, v.
(opp.: succumb)
to get onto, over, or past; overcome: They couldn't surmount their problems.
surmountable, adj.

surpass, v.
to go past or beyond; exceed; outdo: He surpassed his goals; This moment surpasses all others.

surreptitious, adj.
(opp.: straightforward)
done or gotten in secret or by stealth: a surreptitious inquiry; surreptitious entry into a building.

susceptible, adj.
(opp.: immune)
1. easily influenced, impressed, or affected; likely to be afflicted: susceptible to the power of suggestion;
susceptible to colds or flu. 2. allowing or accepting a particular action or treatment: The poem is susceptible to
various interpretations.

sustain, v.
1. to provide for, keep in existence, or support: This will sustain life; Her courage sustains her. 2. to endure or
suffer; undergo: They sustained severe injuries.
sustenance, n.; sustained, sustaining, adj.

swindle, v.
to cheat or dupe; to obtain by deceit or fraud: Some con men try to swindle rich old ladies.

sycophant, n.
one who flatters superiors to get favors or advantages; toady: She was known by co-workers as a sycophant.
sycophancy, n.; sycophantic, adj.

**symbol, n.
something that stands for something else, esp. a physical object or sign that represents something abstract: The
rose is a symbol for secrecy.
symbolic, adj.; symbolism, n.; symbolize, v.

**symmetry, n.
(opp.: asymmetry)
sameness of form or arrangement on either side of a line or about a point; balance: That tree has nearly perfect
symmetry,
symmetrical, adj.

symptom, n.
an indication or sign of something, as disease: symptoms of public dissatisfaction; a symptom of infection.
symptomatic, adj.; symptomize, v.

synchronize, v.
to cause (two or more things) to indicate, or happen at, the same time: They synchronized their attack.
synchronization, n.

synonym, n.
(opp.: antonym)
a word having nearly the same meaning as another: "Trite" is a synonym for "hackneyed;" Success and hard
work are usually synonymous.
synonymy, n.; synonymous, adj.

synthesis, n.
(opp.: analysis)
the combining of various parts or elements into a whole, as in forming a thesis or a manmade chemical
product.
syntheses, pl.n.; synthesize, v.; synthetic, adj.

systematic, adj.
(opp.: random)
based on a method or plan; orderly: a systematic crime investigation.

T
taciturn, adj.
(opp.: loquacious)
habitually silent and uncommunicative: Many years spent alone made him taciturn.
taciturnity, n.

tactic, n.
a plan or method for achieving a goal; maneuver: Napoleon's battle tactics.
tactical, adj.; tactician, n.

tactless, adj.
(opp.: tactful)
lacking a sense of the appropriate thing to say or do; offensive; inconsiderate: a tactless question about his
boss's income.
tact, n.

tamper, v.
to meddle or interfere with so as to cause harm or damage: Don't tamper with that dial.

tangible, adj.
(opp.: intangible)
able to be touched or otherwise perceived: tangible evidence of his guilt; tangible advantages of taking the new
job.
tangibility, n.

tawdry, adj.
falsely showy; cheap and gaudy: a tawdry rhinestone-spangled dress; a tawdry scandal.

technique, n.
the specific method of doing or performing something; skill in methods: his own technique for getting rid of
mice; a tennis player with great technique.
technical, adj.

**technology, n.
the application of scientific knowledge to the carrying out of practical tasks: the technology of making better
computer chips.
technological, adj.; technologist, n.

tedious, adj.
long and tiring; dull; wearisome: tedious factory work.
tedium, n.

teeming, adj.
being or swarming in great numbers: the teeming millions of New York City.
teem, v.

temperate, adj.
(opp.: extreme, intemperate)
showing moderation or self-control; not excessive; restrained: temperate in his expression of opinions;
temperate weather,
temper, v.; temperance, n.

tempered, adj.
1. caused to be moderate; softened; toned down; mixed with something else: His aggressiveness is tempered by
a sense of humor. 2. made strong and tough, like steel: Tempered by war, the nation was ready for new
challenges.
temper, v.

temporal, adj.
short-lived; transitory; of worldly affairs: Buying a new outfit gives only temporal joy; Temporal matters
seemed easier to deal with than spiritual ones.
temporality, n.

tenacious, adj.
holding on strongly or persistently: the octopus's tenacious grip; a tenacious faith in human nature.
tenacity, n.

tenet, n.
any opinion, belief, doctrine, etc. held to be true by a person, group, or organization: the basic tenets of our
democracy.

tensile, adj.
relating to tension or capability of being stretched: tensile pressures; tensile wire.
tensility, n.

tentative, adj.
1. not yet definite; provisional: a tentative solution to the problem. 2. hesitant or unsure: The newcomer gave a
tentative grin as he was introduced.

tenure, n.
the fact or right, or a period, of holding or possessing something: during his tenure as President.

**terminate, v.
(opp.: initiate)
to put an end to; bring a stop to; be at the end of; come to an end: We terminated our marriage; A prayer
terminated the service; Our project will terminate tomorrow.
terminal, adj., n., terminus, n.

terminology, n.
the specialized language or set of terms used in a particular field or subject: the terminology of economics.
terminological, adj.

terrestrial, adj.
(opp.: celestial, marine)
of or relating to the earth, or to the land as opposed to air or water: a terrestrial animal.

theology, n.
the study of religion, esp. the relationship between God and the universe, or a particular system of belief and
doctrine: Protestant theology.
theologian, theologist, n.; theological, adj.

**theoretical, adj.
(opp.: pragmatic)
proposed as an explanation, rather than proved by fact; of or based on theory; hypothetical: a theoretical model
of the universe.
theoretician, theory, n.

therapeutic, adj.
capable of healing; curative: This fresh, clean air is therapeutic.
therapist, therapy, n.

thesis, n.
a statement or idea put forward and supported by fact or argument; a paper that does this, submitted as a
requirement for an advanced degree: Her thesis was that economic cycles are a major cause of wars.
theses, pl.n.

threadbare, adj.
1. poor and shabby, as a garment or a person's appearance or way of living. 2. uninteresting or unpersuasive
because of frequent use, as a story plot or argument.

thrive, v.
(opp.: deteriorate, languish)
to progress or grow well; stay healthy; prosper: a thriving business; He thrives on a diet of vegetables.
thriving, adj.

thwart, v.
(opp.: promote)
to hinder, oppose, or block; frustrate: Bad weather thwarted our plans; a thwarted ambition.
thwarted, adj.

tidings, n.
news or information: Have you had any tidings of your brother?

tilled, adj.
of soil, prepared for planting, as by plowing, harrowing, etc.
till, v.; tillage, n.

tinge, v., n.
(to give or add) a slight trace of some color, feeling, etc.: a faint tinge of regret in her voice.
tinged, adj.

tirade, n.
a long forceful or angry speech, often to denounce something or someone; harangue: a tirade against inhumane
employers.

**tolerate, v.
to accept or permit; not attack or oppose; endure or withstand: This government tolerates criticism; She
tolerates cold weather well.
tolerable, tolerant, adj.; tolerance, n.

tome, n.
a large thick book; large scholarly work: his tome on the Civil War.

tonic, adj., n.
(acting as) a medicine or other substance that refreshes or restores one's strength: The good news was tonic to
the weary soldiers.
topical, adj.
having to do with topics of current interest: topical remarks on today's job market.
topicality, n.

torpid, adj.
(opp.: energetic)
inactive or sleepy; slow-moving; lethargic.
torpidity, torpor, n.

**toxic, adj.
acting as or like a poison; injurious or deadly: toxic fumes from the fire.
toxicity, toxin, n.

tractable, adj.
(opp.: adamant, intractable)
easy to manage, guide, or influence; docile: He is so tractable because he has no opinions of his own.

trajectory, n.
the actual or expected path of a thrown ball, missile, spacecraft, etc.

tranquil, adj.
(opp.: perturbed, turbulent)
free from disruption, noise, or agitation; calm, steady, or peaceful: a tranquil country scene; a tranquil
personality.
tranquilize, v.; tranquillity, n.

transgress, v.
to violate a law, religious commandment, etc.; commit a crime or sin; go beyond a boundary.
transgressor, n.

transient, adj.
(opp.: permanent)
lasting or staying briefly; temporary; transitory: a transient smile; a transient population.
transience, transiency, n.

transition, n.
change from one position, stage, or situation to another: the transition from boyhood to manhood.
transitional, adj.

transmutation, n.
change from one form or nature to another: the transmutation from a agricultural to an industrial economy.
transmutable, adj.; transmutational, adj.; transmute, v.

transparent, adj.
(opp.: opaque, subtle)
1. allowing the passage of light or a clear view. 2. easily seen through or detected; obvious: transparent flattery;
her transparent motives.
transparence, transparency, n.

transpose, v.
to exchange the position or order of (two things): In typing, he often transposes the "t" and the "i."
transposable, adj.; transposition, n.

treatise, n.
a formal, detailed written work, usu. on a single theme or subject: her treatise on Shakespeare's childhood.

trek, v., n.
(to go on) a long, difficult journey.

tremor, n.
a shaking or quivering; disturbance that causes anxiety: a tremor in his chin; the tremors of approaching war.
tremorous, adj.

trepidation, n.
(opp.: intrepidness)
feeling of anxiety or fear; alarm: She awoke from the nightmare with a sense of trepidation.

tributary, adj., n.
(opp.: mainstream)
(of or being) a stream that flows into a larger body of water, or anything that contributes to something more
important: a tributary cause of the revolution.

trite, adj.
(opp.: original)
ineffective or stale because of frequent repetition; commonplace; hackneyed: a trite expression; trite plot ideas.
triteness, n.

**trivial, adj.
(opp.: crucial)
of little importance; insignificant: a few trivial complaints.
trivia, triviality, n.

troupe, n.
a theatrical or musical company, esp. one that travels.

truism, n.
a rather obvious truth; platitude: the truism that nothing lasts forever.

truncate, v., adj.

(to cause to be) cut off at one end, or shortened as if cut off: a rhombus looks like a truncated triangle.
truncated, adj.

**turbulent, adj.
(opp.: serene, tranquil)
in a state of unrest, agitation, or turmoil; violent; unsettled: turbulent water; a turbulent period in history.
turbulence, n.

turmoil, n.
(opp.: tranquillity)
great agitation, disturbance, or confused excitement: the turmoil of sudden war.

turpitude, n.
(opp.: virtue)
moral lowness or degradedness; depravity.

**tyranny, n.
the abusive use of power to oppress others, or a government that rules this way; unnecessary harshness and
cruelty: the tyranny of an overbearing parent; The Third Reich was a short-lived tyranny.
tyrannical, tyrannous, adj.; tyrannize, v.; tyrant, n.

U
unabashed, adj.
(opp.: ashamed, intimidated)
not embarrassed or made uneasy: Unabashed, he went to the lingerie department for his wife's present.

unalloyed, adj.
(opp.: adulterated)
pure; not combined with anything else: unalloyed hatred.

unaltered, adj.
(opp.: modified)
not changed; same: an unaltered answer; their unaltered love.
unalterable, adj.

unanimous, adj.
being in or showing complete agreement, as a group of people: a unanimous sigh of relief.
unanimity, n.

unaspiring, adj.
(opp.: ambitious)
not having any high or higher goals: an unaspiring gas station attendant.

unassailable, adj.
(opp.: vulnerable)
not open to attack, doubt, or denial: an unassailable fortress; unassailable logic.

unassuming, adj.
(opp.: pretentious)
without put-on airs or pretensions; modest; reserved: She's so unassuming you'd never know she's a champion
skater.

unbiased, adj.
(opp.: partial, prejudiced)
not having already formed a judgment or preference; open-minded: an unbiased examination of two different
cultures.

unceremonious, adj.
without normal courtesy or consideration; abrupt or rude: their unceremonious entrance at the party.

uncommitted, adj.
not pledged or bound to a particular position, course of action, person, etc.: I am uncommitted to any political
party.

unconcern, n.
lack of concern or interest; freedom from anxiety or worry; indifference: his apparent unconcern about his
grades; Unconcerned, he bounded along the edge of the cliff.
unconcerned, adj.

unconventional, adj.
not conforming to the usual or accepted ways, rules, or customs: an unconventional design for a bicycle;
Wearing a hat on your foot is unconventional.
unconventionality, n.

uncouth, adj.
(opp.: refined, urbane)
lacking manners or refinement; rude, vulgar, or crude.

**underlying, adj.
1. basic or fundamental: the underlying cause of inflation. 2. present but not obvious; implicit: the underlying
fears that caused his insanity.
undermine, v.
to gradually weaken and destroy, esp. by attacking the foundations or support of: He undermined my
relationship with my boss; Water is undermining the structure.

underplay, v.
(opp.: exaggerate)
to downplay or de-emphasize; speak of with restraint: She underplayed her account of her victory. 2. to play a
theatrical role with restraint; not overact.

undertaking, n.
a task or project that is taken on: The membership drive was a very successful undertaking.

unduly, adv.
unjustifiably or inappropriately; excessively: unduly worried about public opinion; She unduly influenced a jury
member.
undue, adj.

unethical, adj.
not following or according to a group's or person's standards of right and wrong: It is unethical for a lawyer to
reveal confidential information about his client.

unfathomable, adj.
not able to be understood or seen clearly: My taste in music seems unfathomable to my father.

unfit, adj.
not suitable or appropriate for some purpose; not meeting a standard; in poor condition: unfit to drink; unfit for
public office.

unflinching, adj.
(opp.: irresolute)
not hesitating or drawing back; resolute; steadfast: unflinching support for an unpopular cause.

ungainly, adj.
lacking gracefulness or ease of movement; clumsy; awkward: an old, ungainly horse.

unimpeachable, adj.
above doubt or accusations of wrongness; unquestionable: an unimpeachable source of information.

**unique, adj.
(opp.: commonplace)
being the only one of its type; having no equal or equivalent; sole: a unique necklace made with a stone from
the moon; uniquely qualified for this job.

**universal, adj.
1. world-wide or affecting everyone: universal peace; a universal need for security. 2. concerning all in a group
of persons, subjects, things, etc.: a trait that is universal among men.
universality, n.

unkempt, adj.
not tidy; not groomed; messed up: unkempt hair; an unkempt apartment.

unmoved, adj.
(opp.: touched)
not affected by emotion; not feeling pity, sympathy, forgiveness, etc.: He was unmoved by the child's suffering.

unorthodox, adj.
not according to the usual or accepted methods, beliefs, customs, etc.; unconventional: an unorthodox batting
style; an unorthodox approach to healing bone breaks.

unprecedented, adj.
never before observed or experienced; unparalleled: Unprecedented numbers of soldiers deserted during that
war.

unquenchable, adj.
not able to be satisfied or relieved, as a thirst or desire: an unquenchable need to know and understand.

unrealistic, adj.
1. not according to what is real, practical, or possible: an unrealistic notion of what causes weather changes;
setting unrealistic goals. 2. not showing things as they actually are: an unrealistic painting style.

unremitting, adj.
not stopping or lessening; persistent; unceasing: the unremitting roar of traffic.

unscathed, adj.
not hurt or harmed; completely uninjured: He emerged unscathed from the accident.

unseemly, adj.
socially unacceptable; improper; indecorous: unseemly manners at the head table.

untutored, adj.
(opp.: erudite, scholarly)
not formally educated; unschooled: untutored in the sciences.

unwary, adj.
(opp.: vigilant)
unmindful of possibly being harmed or deceived; incautious: unwary prey; an unwary consumer.

unwholesome, adj.
1. harmful to one's physical or emotional health; morally objectionable: unwholesome junk food; an
unwholesome interest in violence. 2. looking unhealthy or diseased: an unwholesome paleness.
unwieldy, adj.
difficult to carry, handle, or use because of size, shape, design, etc.; an unwieldy packing crate; an unwieldy
computer system.

unwitting, adj.
not aware; unknowing; not intentional; inadvertent: an unwitting accomplice to the crime; He unwittingly
sawed off the cord of his electric saw.

upbraid, v.
to criticize or reproach severely; reprimand; scold: They were upbraided for their rudeness.

upshot, n.
the most important issue, result, or conclusion: the upshot of the argument; the upshot of their hard work.

upstart, n.
one who has an exaggerated high opinion of himself, esp. one such who has risen swiftly to power, wealth, etc.

**urban, adj.
(opp.: rural)
of, concerning, or in a large city or town: an urban lifestyle; urban unemployment.
urbanite, n.; urbanize, v.

urbane, adj.
(opp.: uncouth)
refined in manner; polished; elegant: He spoke to the headwaiter in a confident, urbane manner.
urbanity, n.

utensil, n.
a device, instrument, or container, esp. one used in a kitchen.

utilize, v.
to put to a particular use; use: A chimp can utilize certain objects as tools; He utilizes his knowledge of human
nature.
utility, n.; utilization, n.

utopian, adj.
concerning a desirable but not practical perfection in political and social life, or concerning an imaginary place
where such perfection exists: Marxism's utopian dream that eventually government will not be necessary.
utopia, n.

V
vacillate, v.
to hesitate or waver, as between choices or opinions: vacillating on whom to vote for.

vagrant, n., adj.

1. (one who is) without a permanent home or means of support; beggarly. 2. stray or wandering: the ivy's
vagrant tendrils; my vagrant thoughts of the past.
vagrancy, n.

vague, adj.
(opp.: distinct)
not clearly expressed, understood, or sensed; inexact; uncertain: a vague idea; a vague odor of sweat; She was
vague about the rules of the game.

vain, adj.
1. not leading to a desirable or lasting result; lacking significance or value; futile; trivial: a vain attempt to
reach the top; vain chatter. 2. excessively admiring of oneself; conceited: vain about her long blond hair.
vanity, n.

valiant, adj.
(opp.: timorous)
courageous in spirit or action; brave; heroic; determined or praiseworthy: a valiant warrior; a valiant effort.

valid, adj.
(opp.: invalid)
1. based on truth or logic; justifiable: a valid objection to the proposed law. 2. legally authorized: a valid
driver's license.
validate, validify, v.; validity, n.

vane, n.
a flattened part or device, often blade-like or wing-like, designed to respond to or direct a flow of air, water,
etc., as a weather vane or the vanes that help stabilize a rocket in flight.

vapid, adj.
(opp.: dynamic)
lacking spirit, life, or flavor; dull; uninteresting: a vapid love story.
vapidity, n.

variable, adj.
(opp.: constant)
capable of changing, or likely to change; alterable; flexible: variable weather; a variable interest rate.
variation, n.; vary, v.; varying, adj.

variegated, adj.
showing variety or diversity, esp. in having a mixture of colors: a variegated autumn landscape.

vehement, adj.
(opp.: subdued)
intensely emotional; extremely forceful; impassioned; vigorous: her vehement refusal to answer the question.
vehemence, n.

venal, adj.
(opp.: incorruptible)
acting or likely to act dishonestly or wrongly in exchange for money, such as a bribe; corrupt: a venal public
official.
venality, n.

vendetta, n.
a long fierce or bitter feud or rivalry, involving revenge.

venerate, v.
to treat or regard with great respect, honor, or reverence: The boy venerated his wise old grandfather.
venerable, adj.; veneration, n.

venom, n.
1. poisonous fluid produced by some snakes, spiders, etc. 2. something resembling or suggesting this, such as
envy, hatred, etc., esp. when spoken or written: the venom in his review of the movie.
venomous, adj.

verbose, adj.
(opp.: laconic, taciturn)
using too many or superfluous words; prolix: His verbose speech bored us.
verbosity, n.

verdant, adj.
(opp.: brown, sere)
green with many plants, as a landscape.
verdancy, n.

**verify, v.
to check or prove the truth or accuracy of something; substantiate: The agency verified their financial records;
Can you verify your identity?
verifiable, adj.; verification, n.

versatile, adj.
having numerous skills, abilities, or uses; able to do many different things: a versatile performer; a versatile
tool.
versatility, n.

vertical, adj.
(opp.: horizontal)
standing upright; perpendicular to level ground: a vertical column; a vertical leap.

vestige, n.
a visible trace or sign of something no longer present or existing; remaining bit: the last vestiges of the ancient
city.
vestigial, adj.
viable, adj.
(opp.: unviable)
1. capable of surviving, living, or developing, as a fetus, other organism, or social organization. 2. capable of
being put into effect; practicable: a viable strategy.
viability, n.

vibrant, adj.
1. vibrating or resonating, as an object or voice. 2. stimulating or full of life; lively: a vibrant wit.
vibrance, vibrancy, n.

vicarious, adj.
experienced through imagined participation in someone else's actions, sufferings, etc.: a vicarious adventure in
space travel.

vigilant, adj.
(opp.: unwary)
alert and watchful, esp. for danger: a vigilant lioness with cubs.
vigil, vigilance, n.

vilify, v.
(opp.: eulogize)
to speak ill of; denounce; disparage: Some people enjoy hearing others vilified.
vile, adj.; vilification, n.

vindicate, v.
to free from an accusation, suspicion, or doubt by proof; justify: The new evidence vindicated the apparently
guilty man; The experiment vindicated her theory.

vindictive, adj.
(opp.: forgiving)
feeling or expressing a desire for revenge; vengeful: Her vindictive ex-husband spread nasty rumors about her.

**virtue, n.
(opp.: flaw, vice)
1. moral excellence; righteousness. 2. an admirable trait or quality: the virtue of promptness; the virtues of our
plan.
virtuous, adj.

virtuoso, n.
one who demonstrates exceptional ability, esp. in music or the arts: That ballet dancer is a true virtuoso.
virtuosity, n.

virulent, adj.
1. highly poisonous, aggressively malignant, or disease-producing: virulent cancer cells. 2. fiercely hateful or
antagonistic; rancorous: virulent accusations against his opponent's integrity.
virulence, n.

vista, n.
a view or scene, esp. one seen through an opening, or one encompassing past or future as well as present:
through the trees, a vista of the lake; a vista of war scenes.

**vital, adj.
(opp.: fatal)
1. necessary for, or full of, life and energy: vital nutrients; a vital entertainer. 2. of critical importance;
essential: vital to a successful launch.
vitality, n.; vitalize, n.

vitriolic, adj.
severely harsh and biting, esp. verbally: a vitriolic argument.
vitriol, n.

vivacious, adj.
(opp.: dispirited, morose)
full of life and spirit; animated: Her vivacious personality always made others cheerful.
vivacity, n.

vivid, adj.
(opp.: subdued)
full of life and freshness; bright; brilliant: a vivid imagination; vivid colors.

vociferous, adj.
(opp.: taciturn)
crying out, esp. in protest; vocal; clamorous; a vociferous objection; a vociferous crowd.
vociferate, n.

vogue, n.
general popularity, approval, or acceptance, or some thing, fashion, etc. that has such popularity: What was in
vogue two years ago is out now; The miniskirt is once again vogue.

void, n., adj.

(a space, place, or condition) containing nothing; having no effect; empty; devoid; lacking: He felt void of
emotion.

void, v.
1. to empty; remove the contents of. 2. to cancel; nullify; make invalid: She voided the check because she had
made a mistake.

volatile, adj.
(opp.: stable)
1. rapidly changing, inconsistent; tending to violence: a volatile housing market; a volatile temper. 2.
evaporating rapidly: a volatile chemical.
volatility, n.

volubility, n.
(opp.: taciturnity)
the ability to produce a steady flow of talk; talkativeness; fluency: His volubility makes him a natural talk-show
host.
voluble, adj.

voluminous, adj.
(opp.: minuscule)
having great size, quantity, or volume; copious.
volume, n.

voluptuous, adj.
full of, or desiring, sensual pleasures; having a full and alluring shape: a voluptuous kiss; a voluptuous figure.
voluptuary, n.

**vulnerable, adj.
(opp.: invulnerable)
lacking defenses against hurt, attack, criticism, etc.: The west wall of the fort is vulnerable; his vulnerability to
his boss's criticisms.
W
waive, n.
to give up (a right, claim, privilege, etc.); suspend or refrain from enforcing (a rule, law, etc.): He waived his
right to a jury trial; The entrance committee will waive the usual requirement.
waiver, n.

wanton, adj.
disregarding what is considered right and humane; unrestricted in brutality, pleasure-seeking, etc.: wanton
bombing of civilians; a wild, wanton lover.

warranty, n.
a guarantee, as of quality, performance, etc.: This watch has a five-year warranty.
warrant, v.

waver, v.
to show indecision or uncertainty; become unsteady or weaken; flutter back and forth; vacillate: She wavers on
the issue of abortion; I was wavering in my determination; The candle flame wavered.
wavering, adj.

whereas, conj.
1. while in contrast: She is kind, whereas her brother is cruel. 2. it being the case that; because: Whereas the
accused is of sound mind, he may be tried in court.

whet, v.
to make keener or sharper, as a knife, curiosity, desire, etc.: His first novel whetted my appetite for his next one.

whimsical, adj.
characterized by sudden or odd ideas, notions, jokes, etc.; capricious: a whimsical, entertaining musical.
whim, whimsicality, whimsy, n.

willful, adj.
(opp.: unintentional, tractable)
1. according to one's will or intentions; deliberate: a willful act of vengeance. 2. obstinate; stubborn: a willful
child.

wince, v.
to suddenly shrink back or away, as from pain or distress; flinch: I winced at the terrible pain.

wistful, adj.
sad and wishful: wistful thoughts of lost opportunities.

wither, v.
(opp.: flourish)
to lose or cause to lose freshness, vitality, etc.; dry up; shrivel: The leaves withered in the drought; The losses
withered his enthusiasm; a withering look of scorn.
withered, withering, adj.

wreak, v.
to inflict or carry out (punishment, destruction, revenge, etc.): The storm wreaked terrible damage on the
coastline.

wretched, adj.
1. miserable, unhappy, or unfortunate, or causing misery: a wretched soul; wretched living conditions. 2.
deserving contempt; low; of poor quality: a wretched scoundrel; a wretched job of building.
wretch, n.
Z
zany, adj.
(opp.: grave, somber)
crazily silly or comical: a zany dash through the middle of the parade.

**zeal, n.
(opp.: apathy)
intense enthusiasm for a person, cause, ideal, etc.: His zeal for physical fitness caused him to overdo in
exercising.
zealot, zealotry, n.; zealous, adj.

zest, n.
great pleasure; keen enjoyment; relish: The old woman's zest for living made her seem younger.
zestful, zesty, adj.

zoology, n.
the science and study of animals.
zoological, adj.; zoologist, n.