BILK

to cheat; defraud

NOMINAL

existing in name only; negligible

BLIGHT

to afflict; destroy

BLITHE

joyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought

NUANCE

a subtle expression of meaning or quality

FERVID

intensely emotional; feverish

SPECIOUS

deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious

SOLECISM

grammatical mistake; blunder in speech

JETTISON

to discard; get rid of as unnecessary or encumbering

LAMENT

to express sorrow; to grieve

GULLIBLE

easily deceived

FLORID

excessively decorated or embellished

FANATICAL

acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme unquestioned devotion

EPHEMERAL

lasting a short time

SEDITION

behavior that promotes rebellion or civil disorder against the state

GLIB

fluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual

ABDICATE

to give up a position, right, or power

IRASCIBLE

easily made angry

FLAG

to decline in vigor, strength, or interest

FETID

foul-smelling; putrid

GLOWER

to glare or stare angrily and intensely

MONASTIC

extremely plain or secluded

PEDANT

someone who shows off learning

PATHOGENIC

causing disease

CHAUVINIST

someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he/she belongs

GUILE

deceit; trickery

SOBRIQUET

nickname

NASCENT

starting to develop; coming into existence

BELFRY

bell tower; room in which a bell is hung

BANAL

predictable; cliched; boring

CRESCENDO

steadily increasing in volume or force

FRUGALITY

tending to be thrifty or cheap

CORROBORATE

to support with evidence

AUSTERE

severe or stern in appearance; undecorated

LUMINOUS

bright; brilliant; glowing

GROVEL

to humble oneself in a demeaning way

SANGUINE

ruddy; cheerfully optimistic

STRATAGEM

trick designed to deceive an enemy

EMULATE

to copy; to try to equal or excel

HEGEMONY

the domination of one state or group over its allies

EXPURGATE

to censor

PARLEY

discussion, usually b/w enemies

FECUND

fertile; fruitful; productive

DISSEMBLE

to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character

SPORTIVE

frolicsome; playful

VERDANT

green with vegetation; inexperienced

INIQUITY

sin; evil act

CONDONE

to overlook, pardon, or disregard

FALLOW

dormant; unused

OROTUND

pompous

DOGMATIC

dictatorial in one's opinions

TAWDRY

gaudy, cheap, or showy

SULLY

to tarnish; taint

VERNAL

related to spring; fresh

DROLL

amusing in a wry, subtle way

FURTIVE

secret, stealthy

CIRCUMSPECT

cautious; aware of potential consequences

MALINGER

to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill

ELOQUENT

persuasive and moving, especially in speech

RETICENT

silent; reserved

AUDACIOUS

fearless and daring

DIATRIBE

an abusive, condemnatory speech

SARDONIC

cynical; scornfully mocking

ASSUAGE

to make something unpleasant less severe

DESICCATE

to dry out thoroughly

LAMPOON

to ridicule with satire

SURFEIT

excessive amount

GRIEVOUS

causing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing

FRENETIC

frantic; frenzied

INGENUOUS

showing innocence or childlike simplicity

LAPIDARY

relating to precious stones or the art of cutting them

ZEAL

passion; excitement

INEXORABLE

inflexible; unyielding

MISANTHROPE

a person who dislikes others

ABYSS

an extremely deep hole

PRAGMATIC

practical, as opposed to idealistic

MISSIVE

a written note or letter

NETTLE

to irritate

ABSTAIN

to choose not to do something

SYCOPHANT

a self-serving flatterer; yes-man

LACHRYMOSE

tearful

PASTICHE

piece of literature or music imitating other works

FORD

to cross a body of water by wading

CONTRITE

deeply sorrowful or repentant for a wrong

PULCHRITUDE

beauty

ENUMERATE

to count, list, or itemize

NAIVE

lacking sophistication or experience

JUNCTURE

point of time, especially where two things are joined

CANARD

a lie

GREGARIOUS

outgoing; sociable

WINSOME

charming; happily engaging

VACILLATE

to physically sway or be indecisive

ITINERANT

wandering from place to place; unsettled

SACROSANCT

extremely sacred; beyond criticism

DIURNAL

existing during the day

TACITURN

silent; not talkative

ENDEMIC

belonging to a particular area; inherent

TOADY

one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors

NEOLOGISM

new word or expression

SUPPLANT

to replace (another) by force; to take the place of

DYSPEPTIC

suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable

DOCTRINAIRE

rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic

GESTATION

growth process from conception to birth

EFFICACY

effectiveness

TALON

claw of an animal, especially a bird of prey

TERRESTRIAL

earthly; down-to-earth; commonplace

NEOPHYTE

novice; beginner

ENGENDER

to produce, cause, or bring about

DEFACE

to mar the appearance of; vandalize

OBSTINATE

stubborn; unyielding

LARGESS

generous giving (as of money) to others who may seem inferior

EDIFY

to instruct morally and spiritually

VENERATE

to respect deeply

STENTORIAN

extremely loud

HYPERBOLE

purposeful exaggeration for effect

PLETHORA

excess

OSTENSIBLE

apparent

MALLEABLE

capable of being shaped

OSTENTATION

excessive showiness

WAVER

to fluctuate b/w choices

DIRGE

a funeral hymn or mournful speech

OPAQUE

impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light

DECORUM

appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety

PLACATE

to soothe or pacify

PLASTIC

able to be molded, altered, or bent

OSSIFY

to change into bone; to become hardened or set in a rigidly conventional pattern

TIRADE

long, harsh speech or verbal attack

SERAPHIC

angelic; sweet

LANGUID

lacking energy; indifferent; slow

ARBITRATE

to judge a dispute b/w two opposing parties

SCINTILLA

trace amount

MAR

to damage or deface; spoil

VENERABLE

respected because of age

GAMBOL

to dance or skip around playfully

VERACITY

filled with truth and accuracy

VERBOSE

wordy

VEX

to annoy; irritate; puzzle; confuse

CONTUMACIOUS

rebellious

MULTIFARIOUS

diverse

ETHOS

beliefs or character of a group

REPAST

meal or mealtime

REPLETE

abundantly supplied; complete

JARGON

nonsensical talk; specialized language

FATUOUS

stupid; foolishly self-satisfied

KINDLE

to set fire to or ignite; excite or inspire

EBULLIENT

exhilarated; full of enthusiasm and high spirits

GARRULOUS

tending to talk a lot

INTREPID

fearless; resolutely courageous

FAWN

to grovel

ZEALOT

someone passionately devoted to a cause

CANDID

impartial and honest in speech

SYBARITE

a person devoted to pleasure and luxury

PRISTINE

fresh and clean; uncorrupted

MOLLIFY

to calm or make less severe

PHILANTHROPY

charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness

STOLID

unemotional; lacking sensitivity

PECCADILLO

minor sin or offense

VESTIGE

a trace; remnant

FORTUITOUS

happening by chance; fortunate

POTENTATE

monarch or ruler with great power

SYNCOPATION

temporary irregularity in musical rhythm

AUGUST

dignified; grandiose

PARADOX

a contradiction or dilemma

PERMEATE

to penetrate

PERVADE

to be present throughout; to permeate

ECLECTIC

selecting from or made up from a variety of sources

CACOPHONY

harsh, jarring noise

KUDOS

fame, glory, or honor

AMALGAMATE

to combine; to mix together

BURNISH

to polish

USURY

the practice of lending money at exorbitant rates

DOGMA

a firmly held opinion, especially a religious belief

BIFURCATE

to divide into two parts

CURMUDGEON

cranky person, usually old

EPICURE

person with refined taste in food and wine

SURLY

rude and bad-tempered

TANGENTIAL

digressing; diverting

IGNOBLE

having low moral standards; not noble in character; mean

MIRTH

frivolity; gaiety; laughter

IMPERTURBABLE

not capable of being disturbed

AMELIORATE

to make better; to improve

LAUD

to give praise; to glorify

ANACHRONISM

something out of place in time

SOPORIFIC

causing sleep or lethargy

ANOMALY

deviation from what is normal

DISTEND

to swell, inflate, or bloat

IMPASSE

blocked path; dilemma with no solution

ANTAGONIZE

to annoy or provoke to anger

ESCHEW

to shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful)

EXIGENT

urgent; requiring immediate action

CATALYST

something that brings about a change in something else

DIVINE

to foretell or know by inspiration

IDIOSYNCRASY

peculiarity of temperament; eccentricity

EXCULPATE

to clear from blame; prove innocent

DUPE

to deceive; a person who is easily deceived

CHAOS

great disorder or confused situation

EUPHONY

pleasant, harmonious sound

CONNOISSEUR

a person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes

LARCENY

theft of property

EUPHEMISM

use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one

LASSITUDE

a state of diminished energy

JOCULAR

playful; humorous

APATHY

lack of interest or emotion

ARBITRARY

determined by chance or impulse

METICULOUS

extremely careful; fastidious; painstaking

ENERVATE

to reduce in strength

RUSTIC

rural

DILATE

to make larger; expand

XENOPHOBIA

a fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers

ZEPHYR

a gentle breeze; something airy or insubstantial

NOISOME

stinking; putrid

METAPHOR

figure of speech comparing two different things

ELEGY

a sorrowful poem or speech

PROFLIGATE

corrupt; degenerate

CALUMNY

a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation

SAGACIOUS

shrewd; wise

PROPITIATE

to conciliate; to appease

HAPLESS

unfortunate; having bad luck

PALATIAL

relating to a palace; magnificent

GARNER

to gather and store

POLYGLOT

a speaker of many languages

LUCID

clear and easily understood

EMBELLISH

to add ornamental or fictitious details

PUNGENT

sharp and irritating to the senses

ABERRANT

deviating from what is normal or expected

BOMBASTIC

pompous in speech and manner

BOLSTER

to support; prop up

BEVY

group

VISCOUS

thick and adhesive, like a slow-flowing fluid

GRADATION

process occurring by regular degrees or stages; variation in color

MORES

fixed customs or manners; moral attitudes

VOLATILE

easily arouse or changeable; lively or explosive

ADVOCATE

to speak in favor of

MITIGATE

to soften; to lessen

ALLEVIATE

to make more bearable

PARRY

to ward off or deflect, especially by a quick-witted answer

TACIT

done without using words

MONOTONY

no variation; tediously the same

MOLT

to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically

ACME

highest point; summit; the highest level or degree attainable

ADULTERATE

to make impure

SLAKE

to calm down or moderate

FRACTIOUS

unruly; rebellious

ENCOMIUM

warm praise

INVECTIVE

abusive language

SALUBRIOUS

healthful

EFFIGY

stuffed doll; likeness of a person

ARCHAIC

ancient; old-fashioned

SENTIENT

aware; conscious; able to perceive

DISTAFF

the female branch of a family

SINECURE

a well-paying job or office that requires little or no work

PUSILLANIMOUS

cowardly; without courage

DEFERENCE

respect; courtesy

ARTICULATE

able to speak clearly and expressively

SATIATE

to satisfy fully or overindulge

REPOSE

relaxation; leisure

REPUDIATE

to reject the validity of

REQUITE

to return or repay

PUERILE

childish, immature, or silly

INTRACTABLE

not easily managed or manipulated

PARIAH

an outcast

POSIT

to assume as real or conceded; propose as an explanation

PALLIATE

to make less serious; ease

ESOTERIC

known or understood only by a few

PROPRIETY

the quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs

PROLIFERATE

to increase in number quickly

INTERREGNUM

period between reigns

PRODIGAL

lavish; wasteful

MILITATE

to operate against; work against

MYOPIC

lacking foresight; having a narrow view or lang-range perspective

ENIGMA

a puzzle; a mystery

AMBIGUOUS

doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways

DICTUM

authoritative statement

OVERWROUGHT

agitated; overdone

ABATE

to reduce in amount, degree, or severity

ERRATIC

wandering and unpredictable

INUNDATE

to overwhelm; to cover with water

HOMOGENEOUS

of a similar kind

SUBLIME

lofty or grand

INNOCUOUS

harmless

IMPLACABLE

unable to be calmed down or made peaceful

STIGMA

a mark of shame or discredit

IMPETUOUS

quick to act without thinking

HETEROGENEOUS

composed of unlike parts; different; diverse

CAPRICIOUS

changing one's mind quickly and often

EULOGY

speech in praise of someone

LOQUACIOUS

talkative

LETHARGIC

acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner

DISSONANCE

a harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds

SYMBIOSIS

cooperation; mutual helpfulness

FORESTALL

to prevent or delay; anticipate

SPARTAN

highly self-disciplined; frugal; austere

EFFRONTERY

impudent boldness; audacity

AXIOM

premise; postulate; self-evident truth

EXACERBATE

to make worse

EXONERATE

to clear of blame

PUGILISM

boxing

CHICANERY

deception by means of craft or guile

DITHER

to act confusedly or without clear purpose

PROBITY

complete honesty and integriity

NADIR

lowest point

ESTIMABLE

admirable

PRUDENCE

wisdom, caution, restraint

CARTOGRAPHY

science or art of making maps

EXPLICIT

clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression

STASIS

a state of static balance or equilibrium; stagnation

FOMENT

to arouse or incite

VARIEGATED

varied; marked with different colors

INGRATE

ungrateful person

VICISSITUDE

a change or variation; ups and downs

VIM

vitality and energy

VITUPERATE

to abuse verbally; berate

VOLUBLE

talkative; speaking easily; glib

WAN

sickly pale

WANTON

undisciplined; unrestrained; reckless

ABJURE

to reject; abandon formally

ABASE

to humble; disgrace

ACIDULOUS

sour in taste or manner

ALACRITY

speed or quickness

TOME

book, usually large and academic

QUERULOUS

inclined to complain; irritable

QUIESCENT

motionless

PEREGRINATE

to wander from place to place; to travel, especially on foot

DESULTORY

jumping from one thing to another; disconnected

AMORTIZE

to diminish by installment payments

PERFIDIOUS

willing to betray one's trust

QUIXOTIC

overly idealistic; impractical

PERFUNCTORY

done in a routine way; indifferent

AMULET

ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits

QUOTIDIAN

occurring daily; commonplace

DIAPHANOUS

allowing light to show through; delicate

TORPOR

extreme mental and physical sluggishness

TRANSITORY

temporary; lasting a brief time

PROCLIVITY

a natural inclination or predisposition

ANALGESIA

a lessening or pain without loss of consciousness

ABSCOND

to leave secretly

ANALOGOUS

similar or alike in some way; equivalent to

ANODYNE

something that calms or soothes pain

ANTIPATHY

extreme dislike

TRENCHANT

acute, sharp, or incisive; forceful; effective

APOCRYPHAL

of questionable authority or authenticity

APOSTATE

one who renounces a religious faith

ABSTEMIOUS

moderate in appetite

APPROBATION

approval and praise

TURGID

swollen as from a fluid; bloated

ACCRETION

a growth in size; an increase in amount

AERIE

a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling

TYRO

beginner; novice

UMBRAGE

offense; resentment

ARDOR

intense and passionate feeling

ARROGATE

to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right

ASSAIL

to attack; assault

UNCONSCIONABLE

unscrupulous; shockingly unfair or unjust

UNEQUIVOCAL

absolute; certain

UPBRAID

to scold sharply

HERMETIC

tightly sealed

HOARY

very old; whitish or gray from age

AESTHETIC

concerning the appreciation of beauty

ATTENUATE

to reduce in force or degree; weaken

AUGURY

prophecy; prediction of events

AFFECTED

phony; artificial

AGGRANDIZE

to increase in power, influence, and reputation

DECLIVITY

downward slope

HUSBAND

to manage economically; to use sparingly

EQUIVOCATE

to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead

DECOROUS

proper; tasteful; socially correct

DELETERIOUS

subtly or unexpectedly harmful

DEMAGOGUE

a leader or rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice

DEMUR

to express doubts or objection

RACONTEUR

witty, skillful storyteller

ERSATZ

fake

ERUDITE

learned; scholarly; bookish

PEJORATIVE

having bad connotations; disparaging

PENURY

an oppressive lack of resource (as money); severe poverty

DERIDE

to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock

RAREFY

to make thinner or sparser

REDRESS

relief from wrong or injury

REJOINDER

response

DIFFIDENT

lacking self-confidence

DILATORY

intended to delay

EXPONENT

one who champions or advocates

PERIPATETIC

wandering from place to place, especially on foot

NUMISMATICS

coin collecting

PERSPICACIOUS

shrewd, astute, or keen-witted

OBDURATE

hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion

DILETTANTE

someone with an amateurish or superficial interest in a topic

RESTIVE

impatient, uneasy, or restless

PHALANX

a compact or close-knit body of people, animals, or things

DISABUSE

to set right; free from error

DISCERN

to perceive or recognize

PHILISTINE

a person who is guided by materialism and is disdainful of intellectual or artistic values

DISPARATE

fundamentally different; entirely unalike

JINGOISM

belligerent support of one's country

INQUEST

an investigation; an inquiry

KEEN

having a sharp edge; intellectually sharp; perceptive

LATENT

potential that is not readily apparent

INCULCATE

to teach; impress in the mind

OBLIQUE

indirect or evasive; misleading or devious

LAVISH

extremely generous or extravagant; giving unsparingly

OBSEQUIOUS

overly submissive and eager to please

KINETIC

relating to motion; characterized by movement

LEERY

suspicious

OBVIATE

to prevent; to make unnecessary

LEGERDEMAIN

trickery

KNELL

sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure

LEVITY

an inappropriate lack of seriousness; overly casual

OCCLUDE

to stop up; prevent the passage of

OFFICIOUS

too helpful; meddlesome

LIBERAL

tolerant or broad-minded; generous or lavish

LACONIC

using few words

INIMICAL

hostile; unfriendly

INCHOATE

not fully formed; disorganized

ONEROUS

troublesome and oppressive; burdensome

OPINE

to express an opinion

PHLEGMATIC

calm and unemotional in temperament

LIBERTINE

a free thinker, usually used disparagingly; one without moral restraint

PITHY

profound or substantial yet concise succinct, and to the point

LICENTIOUS

immoral; unrestrained by society

PLEBEIAN

crude or coarse; characteristic of commoners

LIMPID

clear; transparent

PLUCKY

courageous; spunky

LIONIZE

to treat as a celebrity

LISSOME

easily flexed; limber; agile

POLEMIC

controversy; argument; verbal attack

OPPROBRIUM

public disgrace

LISTLESS

lacking energy and enthusiasm

POLITIC

shrewd and practical in managing or dealing with things; diplomatic

RHETORIC

effective writing or speaking

LIVID

discolored from a bruise; reddened with anger

LUGUBRIOUS

sorrowful; mournful; dismal

LUMBER

to move slowly and awkwardly

MACHINATION

plot or scheme

CLOYING

sickly sweet; excessive

RIBALD

humorous in a vulgar way

ROCOCO

very highly ornamented

IMPUGN

to call into question; to attack verbally

COALESCE

to grow together to form a single whole

COFFER

strongbox; large chest for money

COGENT

convincing and well-reasoned

WHIMSICAL

lightly acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable

WILY

clever; deceptive

COLLUSION

collaboration; complicity; conspiracy

WIZENED

shriveled; withered; wrinkled

WRAITH

a ghost or specter; a ghost of a living person seen just before his/her death

YOKE

to join together

ZENITH

the point of culmination; peak

ICONOCLAST

one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions

CONVOLUTED

intricate and complicated

COSSET

to pamper; treat with great care

COTERIE

an intimate group of persons with a similar purpose

CREDULOUS

too trusting; gullible

CRAVEN

lacking courage

CUPIDITY

greed; strong desire

DEBUTANTE

young woman making debut in high society

SALIENT

prominent; of notable significance

PRATTLE

meaningless; foolish talk

PRECIPITATE

to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation

PRECIS

short summary of facts

JUDICIOUS

sensible; showing good judgement

INTRANSIGENT

uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled

INSIPID

lacking interest or flavor

INVIDIOUS

envious, obnoxious, or offensive; likely to promote ill-will

INVESTITURE

ceremony conferring authority

INURE

to harden; accustom become used to

IMPRECATION

a curse

PALLID

lacking color or liveliness

PANACHE

flamboyance or dash in style and action; verve

ABEYANCE

temporary suppression or suspension

PANEGYRIC

elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise

CASTIGATE

to punish or criticize harshly

PANOPLY

impressive array

BONHOMIE

good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer

PARAGON

model of excellence or perfection

BOOR

crude person, one lacking manners or taste

BURGEON

to grow and flourish

MAELSTROM

whirlpool; turmoil; agitated state of mind

MAGNATE

powerful or influential person

MALEDICTION

a curse; a wish of evil upon another

MANNERED

artificial or stilted in character

MARTINET

strict disciplinarian; one who rigidly follows rules

CATHOLIC

universal; broad and comprehensive

PARE

to trim off excess; reduce

CAUSTIC

biting in wit

CABAL

a secret group seeking to overturn something

MAUDLIN

overly sentimental

MENDACIOUS

dishonest

MENDICANT

beggar

MERCURIAL

quick, shrewd, and unpredictable

MERETRICIOUS

gaudy; falsely attractive

INGRATIATE

to gain favor with another by deliberate effort; to seek to please somebody so as to gain an advantage

INSURRECTION

rebellion

PRESCIENT

having foresight

PREVARICATE

to lie or deviate from the truth

INTER

to bury

IMBUE

to infuse, dye, wet, or moisten

IMPECUNIOUS

poor; having no money

IMPERVIOUS

impossible to penetrate

IMPIOUS

not devout in religion

INCARNADINE

blood-red in color

INDOLENT

habitually lazy or idle