WORD DEFINITION
1.abridgeTo reduce the length of (a written text); condense, shorten.
2.abstrusehard to understand; recondite; esoteric: abstruse theories.
3.acrimonyBitter, sharp animosity, especially as exhibited in speech or behavior.
4.acumenkeen insight; shrewdness: remarkable acumen in business matters.
5.adept Very skilled.
6.adroit1. expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body.
2. cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious: an adroit debater.
7.adulationExcessive flattery or admiration.
8.adversityA state of hardship or affliction; misfortune.
9.aestheteOne who cultivates an unusually high sensitivity to beauty, as in art or nature.
10.aesthetics1. the branch of philosophy dealing with such notions as the beautiful, the ugly, the sublime, the comic, etc., as applicable to the fine arts, with a view to establishing the meaning and validity of critical judgments concerning works of art, and the principles underlying or justifying such judgments.
2. the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.
11.affable1. Easy and pleasant to speak to; approachable.
2. Gentle and gracious: an affable smile.
12.alacrity1. Cheerful willingness; eagerness.
2. Speed or quickness; celerity.
13.alleviateto make easier to endure; lessen; mitigate: to alleviate sorrow; to alleviate pain.
14.aloofat a distance, esp. in feeling or interest; apart: They always stood aloof from their classmates.
15.altruismthe principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others (opposed to egoism ).
16.ambivalence1. The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings, such as love and hate, toward a person, object, or idea.
2. Uncertainty or indecisiveness as to which course to follow.
17.amicable Characterized by or exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; friendly.
18.anachronismOne that is out of its proper or chronological order, especially a person or practice that belongs to an earlier time: “A new age had plainly dawned, an age that made the institution of a segregated picnic seem an anachronism” (Henry Louis Gates, Jr.).
19.anarchismThe theory or doctrine that all forms of government are oppressive and undesirable and should be abolished.
20.animal adjectivesbovine - cow
ovine - sheep
porcine - pig
avian - bird
canine - dog
feline - cat
equine - horse
21.anomalous1. deviating from or inconsistent with the common order, form, or rule; irregular; abnormal: Advanced forms of life may be anomalous in the universe.
2. not fitting into a common or familiar type, classification, or pattern; unusual: He held an anomalous position in the art world.
22.antagonistic1. acting in opposition; opposing, esp. mutually.
2. hostile; unfriendly.
23.antebellumBelonging to the period before a war, especially the American Civil War.
24.anthologyA collection of literary pieces, such as poems, short stories, or plays.
25.anthropomorphismAttribution of human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena.
26.antipodea direct or exact opposite.
27.antithesis1. opposition; contrast: the antithesis of right and wrong.
2. the direct opposite (usually fol. by of or to): Her behavior was the very antithesis of cowardly.
28.arablecapable of producing crops; suitable for farming; suited to the plow and for tillage: arable land; arable soil.
29.arborealof or pertaining to trees; treelike.
30.arcaneknown or understood by very few; mysterious; secret; obscure; esoteric: She knew a lot about Sanskrit grammar and other arcane matters.
31.ardorStrong enthusiasm or devotion; zeal: “The dazzling conquest of Mexico gave a new impulse to the ardor of discovery” (William Hickling Prescott).
32.asceticA person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline, especially as an act of religious devotion.
33.aspersiona damaging or derogatory remark or criticism; slander: casting aspersions on a campaign rival.
34.assiduousConstant in application or attention; diligent: an assiduous worker who strove for perfection.
35.asylumA place offering protection and safety; a shelter.
36.audacious1. Fearlessly, often recklessly daring; bold.
2. Unrestrained by convention or propriety; insolent.
3. Spirited and original
37.autonomoushaving autonomy; not subject to control from outside; independent: a subsidiary that functioned as an autonomous unit.
38.avid1. Having an ardent desire or unbounded craving; greedy: avid for adventure.
2. Marked by keen interest and enthusiasm: an avid sports fan.
39.avuncularof, pertaining to, or characteristic of an uncle: avuncular affection.
40.baneA source of persistent annoyance or exasperation: “The spellings of foreign names are often the bane of busy copy editors” .
41.bardA poet, especially a lyric poet.
42.barterto trade by exchange of commodities rather than by the use of money.
43.belligerentInclined or eager to fight; hostile or aggressive.
44.benign1. Of a kind and gentle disposition.
2. Showing gentleness and mildness.
3. Tending to exert a beneficial influence; favorable: a policy with benign consequences for the economy.
4. Having little or no detrimental effect; harmless: a chemical additive that is environmentally benign.
45.berateTo rebuke or scold angrily and at length.
46.bereftTo leave desolate or alone, especially by death: “Cry aloud for the man who is dead, for the woman and children bereft” (Alan Paton). same as bereaved
47.bilkTo defraud, cheat, or swindle: made millions bilking wealthy clients on art sales.
48.bombastichigh-sounding; high-flown; inflated; pretentious.
49.brevity 1. The quality or state of being brief in duration.
2. Concise expression; terseness.
50.bucolicof or pertaining to shepherds; pastoral.
2. of, pertaining to, or suggesting an idyllic rural life.
51.bureaucracyadministration characterized by excessive red tape and routine.
52.byzantine 1. Of, relating to, or characterized by intrigue; scheming or devious: "a fine hand for Byzantine deals and cozy arrangements" (New York).
2. Highly complicated; intricate and involved: a bill to simplify the byzantine tax structure.
53.cacophonyharsh discordance of sound; dissonance: a cacophony of hoots, cackles, and wails.
54.cajoleTo urge with gentle and repeated appeals, teasing, or flattery; wheedle.
55.calumnyA false statement maliciously made to injure another's reputation.
56.candidfrank; outspoken; open and sincere: a candid critic.
57.cantankerousIll-tempered and quarrelsome; disagreeable: disliked her cantankerous landlord.
58.capriciousCharacterized by or subject to whim; impulsive and unpredictable.
59.cartographyThe art or technique of making maps or charts.
60.censureAn expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism.
61.chicanerytrickery or deception by quibbling or sophistry: He resorted to the worst flattery and chicanery to win the job.
62.circumlocution1. a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.
2. a roundabout expression.
63.clairvoyantHaving the supposed power to see objects or events that cannot be perceived by the senses.
64.cloyingTo cause distaste or disgust by supplying with too much of something originally pleasant, especially something rich or sweet; surfeit.
65.colloquialCharacteristic of or appropriate to the spoken language or to writing that seeks the effect of speech; informal.
66.collusionA secret agreement between two or more parties for a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful purpose.
67.commemorateto serve as a memorial or reminder of: The monument commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
68.compendiousof or like a compendium; containing the substance of a subject, often an exclusive subject, in a brief form; concise: a compendious history of the world.
69.conciliatory1. To regain or try to regain (friendship or goodwill) by pleasant behavior.
2. To make or attempt to make compatible; reconcile.
70.conciliatory 1. To overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease.
2. To regain or try to regain (friendship or goodwill) by pleasant behavior.
3. To make or attempt to make compatible; reconcile.
71.condemn1.to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on; indicate strong disapproval of; censure.
2.to pronounce to be guilty; sentence to punishment: to condemn a murderer to life imprisonment.
3.to give grounds or reason for convicting or censuring: His acts condemn him.
4.to judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service: to condemn an old building.
72.conflagrationA large destructive fire.
73.congealTo solidify by or as if by freezing.
74.conservatism1. the disposition to preserve or restore what is established and traditional and to limit change.
2. the principles and practices of political conservatives.
75.consummate1. To bring to completion or fruition; conclude: consummate a business transaction.
2. To realize or achieve; fulfill: a dream that was finally consummated with the publication of her first book.
76.contemporaries1. Belonging to the same period of time: a fact documented by two contemporary sources.
2. Of about the same age.
77.contentious1. tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome: a contentious crew.
2. causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy: contentious issues.
78.contriteFeeling regret and sorrow for one's sins or offenses; penitent.
79.conundrum1. A riddle in which a fanciful question is answered by a pun.
2. A paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma: “the conundrum, thus far unanswered, of achieving full employment without inflation” (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.).
80.convivial 1. Fond of feasting, drinking, and good company; sociable.
2. Merry; festive: a convivial atmosphere at the reunion.
81.corroborateTo strengthen or support with other evidence; make more certain.
82.cosmopolitanbelonging to all the world; not limited to just one part of the world.
83.crassSo crude and unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility.
84.curativeserving to cure or heal; pertaining to curing or remedial treatment; remedial.
85.cynicismAn attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others: the public cynicism aroused by governmental scandals.
86.debaseTo lower in character, quality, or value; degrade.
87.debunkTo expose or ridicule the falseness, sham, or exaggerated claims of: debunk a supposed miracle drug.
88.decipher1. to make out the meaning of (poor or partially obliterated writing, etc.): to decipher a hastily scribbled note.
2. to discover the meaning of (anything obscure or difficult to trace or understand): to decipher hieroglyphics.
3. to interpret by the use of a key, as something written in cipher: to decipher a secret message.
89.decorA decorative style or scheme, as of a room.
90.deferencerespectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another.
91.deficit1. the amount by which a sum of money falls short of the required amount.
2. the amount by which expenditures or liabilities exceed income or assets.
3. a lack or shortage; deficiency.
4. a disadvantage, impairment, or handicap: The team's major deficit is its poor pitching.
5. a loss, as in the operation of a business.
92.deleteriousHaving a harmful effect; injurious: the deleterious effects of smoking.
93.demagogueA leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
94.denunciateto denounce; condemn openly.
95.depreciate1. to reduce the purchasing value of (money).
2. to lessen the value or price of.
3. to claim depreciation on (a property) for tax purposes.
4. to represent as of little value or merit; belittle.
96.desolationdreariness, barrenness, deprivation of companionship, loneliness, sorrow, grief, woe.
97.devoidCompletely lacking; destitute or empty: a novel devoid of wit and inventiveness.
98.diaphanous very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent.
99.digressTo turn aside, especially from the main subject in writing or speaking; stray.
100.dilatory1. Intended to delay.
2. Tending to postpone or delay: dilatory in his work habits.
101.dilettante a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, esp. in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.
102.dingy1.Darkened with smoke and grime; dirty or discolored.
2. Shabby, drab, or squalid.
103.dirge1. a funeral song or tune, or one expressing mourning in commemoration of the dead.
2. any composition resembling such a song or tune in character, as a poem of lament for the dead or solemn, mournful music: Tennyson's dirge for the Duke of Wellington.
104.discern1. To perceive with the eyes or intellect; detect.
2. To recognize or comprehend mentally.
3. To perceive or recognize as being different or distinct; distinguish.
105.disconcert1. To upset the self-possession of; ruffle.
2. To frustrate (plans, for example) by throwing into disorder; disarrange.
106.discrepancy an instance of difference or inconsistency: There are certain discrepancies between the two versions of the story.
107.discriminating1. noting differences or distinctions with nicety; discerning; perspicacious: a discriminating interpreter of events.
2. having excellent taste or judgment: a discriminating interior designer.
108.disingenuousNot straightforward or candid; insincere or calculating: “an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who... exemplified... the most disagreeable traits of his time” (David Cannadine).
109.disparage1. to speak of or treat slightingly; depreciate; belittle: Do not disparage good manners.
2. to bring reproach or discredit upon; lower the estimation of: Your behavior will disparage the whole family.
110.dispelTo rid one's mind of: managed to dispel my doubts.
111.distend1.to expand by stretching, as something hollow or elastic: Habitual overeating had distended his stomach.
2.to spread in all directions; expand; swell: The sea distended about them.
112.distort1. to twist awry or out of shape; make crooked or deformed: Arthritis had distorted his fingers.
2. to give a false, perverted, or disproportionate meaning to; misrepresent: to distort the facts.
113.diversionSomething that distracts the mind and relaxes or entertains.
114.divert1. To turn aside from a course or direction: Traffic was diverted around the scene of the accident.
2. To distract: My attention was diverted by an argument between motorists.
3. To entertain by distracting the attention from worrisome thoughts or cares; amuse.
115.docilemanageable, malleable; obedient.
116.dogmaticCharacterized by an authoritative, arrogant assertion of unproved or unprovable principles.
117.dowager1. a woman who holds some title or property from her deceased husband, esp. the widow of a king, duke, etc. (often used as an additional title to differentiate her from the wife of the present king, duke, etc.): a queen dowager; an empress dowager.
2. an elderly woman of stately dignity, esp. one of elevated social position: a wealthy dowager.
118.drub1. To thrash with a stick.
2. To instill forcefully: drubbed the lesson into my head.
119.dubious1. Fraught with uncertainty or doubt; undecided.
2. Arousing doubt; doubtful: a dubious distinction.
3. Of questionable character: dubious profits.
120.ebullientoverflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited: The award winner was in an ebullient mood at the dinner in her honor.
121.edifice1. a building, esp. one of large size or imposing appearance.
2. any large, complex system or organization.
122.egregiousConspicuously bad or offensive.
123.elandash; impetuous ardor: to dance with great élan.
124.empathyIdentification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives.
125.enervatedTo weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of.
126.enfranchise1. To endow with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote.
2. To free, as from bondage.
127.engenderTo bring into existence; give rise to: “Every cloud engenders not a storm” (Shakespeare).
128.enigma1. One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable.
2. A perplexing speech or text; a riddle.
129.entrepreneurA person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture.
130.ephemeralLasting for a markedly brief time: “There remain some truths too ephemeral to be captured in the cold pages of a court transcript”.
131.epitomizeto contain or represent in small compass; serve as a typical example of; typify: This meadow epitomizes the beauty of the whole area.
132.eruditionknowledge acquired by study, research, etc.; learning; scholarship.
133.esoteric1. understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite: poetry full of esoteric allusions.
2. belonging to the select few.
3.private; secret; confidential.
4. (of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group: the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras.
134.ethosThe disposition, character, or fundamental values peculiar to a specific person, people, culture, or movement: “They cultivated a subversive alternative ethos” (Anthony Burgess).
135.exasperate To make very angry or impatient; annoy greatly.
136.exemplifyTo illustrate by example: exemplify an argument.
137.expediteTo speed up the progress of; accelerate.
138.expeditiouscharacterized by promptness; quick: an expeditious answer to an inquiry.
139.expurgatedTo remove erroneous, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material from (a book, for example) before publication.
140.extolTo praise highly; exalt.
141.extortionthe crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority or by threat.
142.extricateTo release from an entanglement or difficulty; disengage.
143.facile1. Done or achieved with little effort or difficulty; easy.
2. Working, acting, or speaking with effortless ease and fluency.
3. Arrived at without due care, effort, or examination; superficial: proposed a facile solution to a complex problem.
4. Readily manifested, together with an aura of insincerity and lack of depth: a facile slogan devised by politicians.
144.fastidiousexcessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please: a fastidious eater.
145.ferventhaving or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm, etc.; ardent: a fervent admirer; a fervent plea.
146.fetterTo put handcuffs on; shackle, to restrict the freedom of.
147.fetter1. To put fetters on; shackle.
2. To restrict the freedom of.
148.filialof, pertaining to, or befitting a son or daughter: filial obedience.
149.finagleto get or achieve (something) by guile, trickery, or manipulation: to finagle an assignment to the Membership Committee.
150.firebrandA person who stirs up trouble or kindles a revolt.
151.flippancyMarked by disrespectful levity or casualness; pert.
152.flippantMarked by disrespectful levity or casualness; pert.
153.florid1. Flushed with rosy color; ruddy.
2.Very ornate; flowery: a florid prose style.
154.flotsam1. the part of the wreckage of a ship and its cargo found floating on the water.
2. material or refuse floating on water.
3. useless or unimportant items; odds and ends.
155.forewordA preface or an introductory note, as for a book, especially by a person other than the author.
156.fraudulent1.characterized by, involving, or proceeding from fraud, as actions, enterprise, methods, or gains: a fraudulent scheme to evade taxes.
2.given to or using fraud, as a person; cheating; dishonest.
157.freight Goods carried by a vessel or vehicle, especially by a commercial carrier; cargo.
158.frivolous1. Unworthy of serious attention; trivial: a frivolous novel.
2. Inappropriately silly: a frivolous purchase.
159.garish1. Marked by strident color or excessive ornamentation; gaudy.
2. Loud and flashy: garish makeup.
160.garrulousexcessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner, esp. about trivial matters.
161.gerrymanderTo divide (a geographic area) into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections.
162.gibbering1. To prattle and chatter unintelligibly.
2. Unintelligible or foolish talk.
163.goad1. A long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals.
2. An agent or means of prodding or urging; a stimulus.
164.gratuitousbeing without apparent reason, cause, or justification: a gratuitous insult.
165.gullibleeasily deceived or cheated.
166.hail1. To salute or greet.
2. To greet or acclaim enthusiastically: The crowds hailed the boxing champion.
3. To call out or yell in order to catch the attention of: hail a cabdriver.
167.halt 1. To proceed or act with uncertainty or indecision; waver.
2. To be defective or proceed poorly, as in the development of an argument in logic or in the rhythmic structure of verse.
3. To limp or hobble.
168.harangue1. a scolding or a long or intense verbal attack; diatribe.
2. a long, passionate, and vehement speech, esp. one delivered before a public gathering.
3. any long, pompous speech or writing of a tediously hortatory or didactic nature; sermonizing lecture or discourse.
169.haughtydisdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant; supercilious: haughty aristocrats; a haughty salesclerk.
170.hedonismPursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.
171.heedTo pay attention to; listen to and consider.
172.hereticanyone who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle.
173.histrionicExcessively dramatic or emotional; affected.
174.hubrisexcessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.
175.hue1. The property of colors by which they can be perceived as ranging from red through yellow, green, and blue, as determined by the dominant wavelength of the light.
2. A particular gradation of color; a shade or tint.
3. Color: all the hues of the rainbow.
176.humanity1. The condition or quality of being human.
2. The quality of being humane; benevolence.
177.husbandryCareful management or conservation of resources; economy.
178.iconoclast a person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, etc., as being based on error or superstition.
179.idiosyncrasya characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the like, that is peculiar to an individual.
180.imperious1 Arrogantly domineering or overbearing. See Synonyms at dictatorial.
2 Urgent; pressing
181.imperious1. domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious manner; an imperious person.
2. urgent; imperative: imperious need.
182.impetuousof, pertaining to, or characterized by sudden or rash action, emotion, etc.; impulsive: an impetuous decision; an impetuous person.
183.impugnto challenge as false (another's statements, motives, etc.); cast doubt upon.
184.incantationA formula used in ritual recitation; a verbal charm or spell
185.incriminate1. To accuse of a crime or other wrongful act.
2. To cause to appear guilty of a crime or fault; implicate.
186.incumbent1. Imposed as an obligation or duty; obligatory: felt it was incumbent on us all to help.
2. Lying, leaning, or resting on something else: incumbent rock strata.
3.Currently holding a specified office: the incumbent mayor.
187.indigenousoriginating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native (often fol. by to): the plants indigenous to Canada; the indigenous peoples of southern Africa.
188.indigentlacking food, clothing, and other necessities of life because of poverty; needy; poor; impoverished.
189.indignantfeeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base: indignant remarks; an indignant expression on his face.
190.indiscretion1. Lack of discretion; injudiciousness.
2. An indiscreet act or remark.
191.indomitablethat cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable: an indomitable warrior.
192.ineffableIncapable of being expressed; indescribable or unutterable
193.inefficaciousNot capable of producing a desired effect or result; ineffective.
194.inevitableunable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped; certain; necessary: an inevitable conclusion.
195.inexorableNot capable of being persuaded by entreaty; relentless: an inexorable opponent; a feeling of inexorable doom.
196.innate1. Possessed at birth; inborn.
2. Possessed as an essential characteristic; inherent.
197.innocuous1.not harmful or injurious; harmless: an innocuous home remedy.
2.not likely to irritate or offend; inoffensive; an innocuous remark.
3.not interesting, stimulating, or significant; pallid; insipid: an innocuous novel.
198.inquireto seek information by questioning; ask: to inquire about a person.
199.inscrutableDifficult to fathom or understand; impenetrable.
200.insolvent1.not solvent; unable to satisfy creditors or discharge liabilities, either because liabilities exceed assets or because of inability to pay debts as they mature.
2.pertaining to bankrupt persons or bankruptcy.
201.integrity1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
2. the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
3. a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship's hull.
202.intemperate1. given to or characterized by excessive or immoderate indulgence in alcoholic beverages.
2. immoderate in indulgence of appetite or passion.
3. not temperate; unrestrained; unbridled.
4. extreme in temperature, as climate.
203.interminableBeing or seeming to be without an end; endless
204.intransigentRefusing to moderate a position, especially an extreme position; uncompromising.
205.intrepidresolutely fearless; dauntless: an intrepid explorer.
206.invaluablebeyond calculable or appraisable value; of inestimable worth; priceless: an invaluable art collection; her invaluable assistance.
207.irresoluteUnsure of how to act or proceed; undecided.
208.irrigateTo supply (dry land) with water by means of ditches, pipes, or streams; water artificially.
209.jaded1. Worn out; wearied: “My father's words had left me jaded and depressed” (William Styron).
2. Dulled by surfeit; sated: “the sickeningly sweet life of the amoral, jaded, bored upper classes” (John Simon).
3. Cynically or pretentiously callous.
210.jingoa person who professes his or her patriotism loudly and excessively, favoring vigilant preparedness for war and an aggressive foreign policy; bellicose chauvinist.
211.jubilation1. The act of rejoicing.
2. The condition or feeling of being jubilant.
3. A celebration or other expression of joy.
212.juxtaposeTo place side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.
213.lackadaisical1.without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic: a lackadaisical attempt.
2.lazy; indolent: a lackadaisical fellow.
214.lamentableInspiring or deserving of lament or regret; deplorable or pitiable, pathetic.
215.legionA large number; a multitude.
216.levitylightness of mind, character, or behavior; lack of appropriate seriousness or earnestness.
217.linchpinA central cohesive or central element: Reduced spending is the linchpin of their economic program.
218.lithe1. Readily bent; supple: lithe birch branches.
2. Marked by effortless grace: a lithe ballet dancer.
219.litigious1. of or pertaining to litigation.
2. excessively or readily inclined to litigate: a litigious person.
3. inclined to dispute or disagree; argumentative.
220.loquacious1. talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest.
2. characterized by excessive talk; wordy: easily the most loquacious play of the season.
221.lugubriousmournful, dismal, or gloomy, esp. in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner: lugubrious songs of lost love.
222.lullTo deceive into trustfulness: “that honeyed charm that he used so effectively to lull his victims” (S.J. Perelman).
223.lummoxA clumsy or stupid person.
224.luridCausing shock or horror; gruesome.
225.machinationThe act of plotting.
226.malingerTo feign illness or other incapacity in order to avoid duty or work.
227.manifestoA public declaration of principles, policies, or intentions, especially of a political nature.
228.matriarchA woman who rules a family, clan, or tribe.
229.mawkishcharacterized by sickly sentimentality; weakly emotional; maudlin.
230.medleyAn arrangement made from a series of melodies, often from various sources.
231.mercenaryworking or acting merely for money or other reward; venal.
232.mercurialchangeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic: a mercurial nature.
233.miffedPut into an irritable mood, esp. by an offending incident: I was miffed when they didn't invite me to the party.
234.mitigateto lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate.
235.modest1. having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one's merits, importance, etc.; free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions.
2. free from ostentation or showy extravagance: a modest house.
3. having or showing regard for the decencies of behavior, speech, dress, etc.; decent: a modest neckline on a dress.
4. limited or moderate in amount, extent, etc.: a modest increase in salary.
236.modicumA small, moderate, or token amount: “England still expects a modicum of eccentricity in its artists” .
237.mollify1.to soften in feeling or temper, as a person; pacify; appease.
2. to mitigate or reduce; soften: to mollify one's demands.
238.multifarious1. having many different parts, elements, forms, etc.
2. numerous and varied; greatly diverse or manifold: multifarious activities.
239.munificent1. Very liberal in giving; generous.
2. Showing great generosity: a munificent gift.
240.naiveShowing or characterized by a lack of sophistication and critical judgment.
241.naivetethe quality or state of being naive; natural or artless simplicity.
242.nativeBeing one's own because of the place or circumstances of one's birth: our native land.
243.nihilismAn extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence, a doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.
244.noviceA person new to a field or activity; a beginner.
245.obdurate1. Hardened in wrongdoing or wickedness; stubbornly impenitent: “obdurate conscience of the old sinner” (Sir Walter Scott).
2. Hardened against feeling; hardhearted: an obdurate miser.
3. Not giving in to persuasion; intractable.
246.obsequiousFull of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning.
247.openhandedgenerous; liberal: openhanded hospitality.
248.opportune1. appropriate, favorable, or suitable: an opportune phrase for the occasion.
2. occurring or coming at an appropriate time; well-timed: an opportune warning.
249.opprobriumDisgrace arising from exceedingly shameful conduct; ignominy.
250.oracle1. a person who delivers authoritative, wise, or highly regarded and influential pronouncements.
2. a divine communication or revelation.
3. any person or thing serving as an agency of divine communication.
251.ornate1. Elaborately, heavily, and often excessively ornamented.
2. Flashy, showy, or florid in style or manner; flowery.
252.ossifyto convert into or cause to harden like bone.
253.ostentatiouscharacterized by or given to pretentious or conspicuous show in an attempt to impress others: an ostentatious dresser.
254.palliate1. to relieve or lessen without curing; mitigate; alleviate.
2. to try to mitigate or conceal the gravity of (an offense) by excuses, apologies, etc.; extenuate.
255.pallid1. Having an abnormally pale or wan complexion: the pallid face of the invalid.
2. Lacking intensity of color or luminousness.
3. Lacking in radiance or vitality; dull: pallid prose.
256.palpable1. readily or plainly seen, heard, perceived, etc.; obvious; evident: a palpable lie; palpable absurdity.
2. capable of being touched or felt; tangible.
257.panacea1. a remedy for all disease or ills; cure-all.
2. an answer or solution for all problems or difficulties: His economic philosophy is a good one, but he tries to use it as a panacea.
258.parch1. To make extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat: The midsummer sun parched the earth.
2. To make thirsty.
259.pariahA social outcast: “Shortly Tom came upon the juvenile pariah of the village, Huckleberry Finn, son of the town drunkard” (Mark Twain).
260.partisanA fervent, sometimes militant supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.
261.pedagogicalintended to be instructive
262.penchanta strong inclination, taste, or liking for something: a penchant for outdoor sports.
263.penurious1. Unwilling to spend money; stingy.
2. Yielding little; barren: a penurious land.
3. Poverty-stricken; destitute.
264.perfidiousOf, relating to, or marked by treachery.
265.perfidy 1. Deliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust; treachery: “the fink, whose perfidy was equaled only by his gall” (Gilbert Millstein).
2. The act or an instance of treachery.
266.perfunctoryDone routinely and with little interest or care: The operator answered the phone with a perfunctory greeting.
267.perjuryThe deliberate, willful giving of false, misleading, or incomplete testimony under oath.
268.perquisitean incidental payment, benefit, privilege, or advantage over and above regular income, salary, or wages: Among the president's perquisites were free use of a company car and paid membership in a country club.
269.perspicacityAcuteness of perception, discernment, or understanding.
270.pettyof little or no importance or consequence: petty grievances.
271.petulantMoved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, esp. over some trifling annoyance: a petulant toss of the head.
272.petulantmoved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, esp. over some trifling annoyance: a petulant toss of the head.
273.philanthropyThe effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind, as by charitable aid or donations.
274.phlegmaticHaving or suggesting a calm, sluggish temperament; unemotional.
275.pilferto steal, esp. in small quantities.
276.pinion1. To restrain or immobilize (a person) by binding the arms.
2. To bind (a person's arms).
277.pithybrief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning; terse; forcible: a pithy observation.
278.poetryA quality that suggests poetry, as in grace, beauty, or harmony: the poetry of the dancer's movements.
279.potentateOne who has the power and position to rule over others; a monarch.
280.pragmatismA practical, matter-of-fact way of approaching or assessing situations or of solving problems.
281.prattleto talk in a foolish or simple-minded way; chatter; babble.
282.prescriptiveSanctioned or authorized by long-standing custom or usage. Making or giving injunctions, directions, laws, or rules.
283.pretentiousMaking or marked by an extravagant outward show; ostentatious.
284.prolificproducing offspring, young, fruit, etc., abundantly; highly fruitful: a prolific pear tree.
285.promulgate1. To make known (a decree, for example) by public declaration; announce officially.
2. To put (a law) into effect by formal public announcement.
286.prosaiccommonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative: a prosaic mind.
287.prose1. Ordinary speech or writing, without metrical structure.
2. Commonplace expression or quality.
288.proximitynearness in place, time, order, occurrence, or relation.
289.pugnacious1. Combative in nature; belligerent.
2. Inclined or eager to fight; hostile or aggressive.
290.purveyorOne that furnishes provisions, especially food.
291.querulous1. Given to complaining; peevish.
2. Expressing a complaint or grievance; grumbling: a querulous voice; querulous comments.
292.raimentclothing; apparel; attire.
293.rancorBitter, long-lasting resentment; deep-seated ill will.
294.raucous1. Rough-sounding and harsh: raucous laughter.
2. Boisterous and disorderly: “the raucous give and take of American democracy” (Charles Kuralt).
295.razeTo level to the ground; demolish.
296.recriminationThe act of recriminating; an accusation brought by the accused against the accuser; a counter accusation. Accusations and recriminations passed backward and forward between the contending parties. --Macaulay.
297.regaleTo provide with great enjoyment; entertain.
298.regressTo go back; move backward.
299.relinquishto renounce or surrender (a possession, right, etc.): to relinquish the throne.
300.remunerate1. To pay (a person) a suitable equivalent in return for goods provided, services rendered, or losses incurred; recompense.
2. To compensate for; make payment for: remunerated his efforts.
301.reprehensibleDeserving blame, rebuke or censure; blameworthy.
302.revelTo take great pleasure or delight: She reveled in her unaccustomed leisure. reveler - a person who revels
303.robust 1. Full of health and strength; vigorous.
2. Powerfully built; sturdy. See Synonyms at healthy.
3. Requiring or suited to physical strength or endurance: robust labor.
4. Rough or crude; boisterous: a robust tale.
5. Marked by richness and fullness; full-bodied: a robust wine.
304.sagaciousHaving or showing keen discernment, sound judgment, and farsightedness.
305.salutary1. favorable to or promoting health; healthful.
2. promoting or conducive to some beneficial purpose; wholesome.
306.salveSomething that soothes or heals; a balm, an analgesic or medicinal ointment.
307.sanctimoniousFeigning piety or righteousness: “a solemn, unsmiling, sanctimonious old iceberg that looked like he was waiting for a vacancy in the Trinity” (Mark Twain).
308.satirethe use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.
309.scourge a cause of affliction or calamity: Disease and famine are scourges of humanity.
310.scrutinizeto examine in detail with careful or critical attention.
311.sedentary1. Characterized by or requiring much sitting: a sedentary job.
2. Accustomed to sitting or to taking little exercise.
3. Remaining or living in one area, as certain birds; not migratory.
4. Attached to a surface and not moving freely, as a barnacle.
312.sedulousdiligent in application or attention; persevering; assiduous.
313.shroud1. a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial.
2. something that covers or conceals like a garment: a shroud of rain.
314.slapstickbroad comedy characterized by boisterous action, as the throwing of pies in actors' faces, mugging, and obvious farcical situations and jokes.
315.solicit 1. To seek to obtain by persuasion, entreaty, or formal application: a candidate who solicited votes among the factory workers.
2. To petition persistently; importune:
solicited the neighbors for donations. 3. To entice or incite to evil or illegal action.
4. To approach or accost (a person) with an offer of sexual services.
316.solicitous 1. a. Anxious or concerned: a solicitous parent. b. Expressing care or concern: made solicitous inquiries about our family.
2. Full of desire; eager.
3. Marked by or given to anxious care and often hovering attentiveness.
4. Extremely careful; meticulous: solicitous in matters of behavior.
317.solicitudeThe state of being solicitous; care or concern, as for the well-being of another.
318.sootheto tranquilize or calm, as a person or the feelings; relieve, comfort, or refresh: soothing someone's anger; to soothe someone with a hot drink.
319.sophistrya subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning.
320.spurious Lacking authenticity or validity in essence or origin; not genuine; false.
321.squanderto spend or use (money, time, etc.) extravagantly or wastefully (often fol. by away).
322.stoicOne who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain.
323.subsidizeTo assist or support with a subsidy (financial support).
324.subsist1. To maintain or support with provisions.
2. To maintain life; live: subsisted on one meal a day.
325.succinctCharacterized by clear, precise expression in few words; concise and terse: a succinct reply; a succinct style.
326.sundryvarious or diverse: sundry persons.
327.supercilioushaughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression.
328.supple1. Readily bent; pliant.
2. Moving and bending with agility; limber.
329.surfeitAn excessive amount.
330.surly1. churlishly rude or bad-tempered: a surly waiter.
2. unfriendly or hostile; menacingly irritable: a surly old lion.
331.surreptitious1. Obtained, done, or made by clandestine or stealthy means.
2. Acting with or marked by stealth.
332.sycophanta self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite. synonym to toady.
333.table1. To put or place on a table.
2. To postpone consideration of (a piece of legislation, for example); shelve.
334.tacitunderstood without being openly expressed; implied: tacit approval.
335.tactileOf, relating to, or proceeding from the sense of touch; tactual: a tactile reflex.
336.talisman1. An object marked with magic signs and believed to confer on its bearer supernatural powers or protection.
2. Something that apparently has magic power.
337.temporizeto be indecisive or evasive to gain time or delay acting.
338.tenaciousHolding or tending to hold persistently to something, such as a point of view.
339.testimonyA declaration by a witness under oath, as that given before a court or deliberative body.
340.thicket A dense growth of shrubs or underbrush; a copse.
341.throngA large group of people gathered or crowded closely together; a multitude.
342.timewornshowing the effects of age or antiquity; antiquated: timeworn farming methods.
343.toady A person who flatters or defers to others for self-serving reasons; a sycophant.
344.torpidLethargic; apathetic.
345.tourniquetA device, typically a tightly encircling bandage, used to check bleeding by temporarily stopping the flow of blood through a large artery in a limb.
346.transient1. Passing with time; transitory: “the transient beauty of youth” (Lydia M. Child).
2. Remaining in a place only a brief time: transient laborers.
347.transitoryExisting or lasting only a short time; short-lived or temporary: “the disorder of his life: the succession of cities, of transitory loves” (Carson McCullers).
348.treaclyOverly sweet, contrived or unrestrained sentimentality: a movie plot of the most shameless treacle.
349.tremulous1. Marked by trembling, quivering, or shaking.
2. Timid or fearful; timorous.
350.truculent1. Disposed to fight; pugnacious.
2. Expressing bitter opposition; scathing: a truculent speech against the new government.
3. Disposed to or exhibiting violence or destructiveness; fierce.
351.tumultviolent and noisy commotion or disturbance of a crowd or mob; uproar: The tumult reached its height during the premier's speech.
352.uncanny1. having or seeming to have a supernatural or inexplicable basis; beyond the ordinary or normal; extraordinary: uncanny accuracy; an uncanny knack of foreseeing trouble.
2. mysterious; arousing superstitious fear or dread; uncomfortably strange: Uncanny sounds filled the house.
353.undermineTo weaken, injure, or impair, often by degrees or imperceptibly; sap: Late hours can undermine one's health.
354.unscrupulousnot scrupulous; unrestrained by scruples; conscienceless; unprincipled.
355.unswervingConstant; steady: unswerving allegiance; unswerving devotion.
356.usurpto seize and hold (a position, office, power, etc.) by force or without legal right: The pretender tried to usurp the throne.
357.utilitarian1. Of, relating to, or in the interests of utility: utilitarian considerations in industrial design.
2. Exhibiting or stressing utility over other values; practical: plain, utilitarian kitchenware.
358.utopia An ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects.
359.vacuity1.the state of being vacuous or without contents; vacancy; emptiness: the vacuity of the open sea.
2. absence of thought or intelligence; inanity; blankness: a mind of undeniable vacuity.
360.variegateTo change the appearance of, especially by marking with different colors; streak.
361.venerableCommanding respect by virtue of age, dignity, character, or position.
362.verbosecharacterized by the use of many or too many words; wordy: a verbose report.
363.verdantGreen with vegetation; covered with green growth.
364.versatilecapable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.: a versatile writer.
365.vicariousFelt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another: read about mountain climbing and experienced vicarious thrills.
366.vindictivedisposed or inclined to revenge; vengeful: a vindictive person.
367.virtuoso1. A musician with masterly ability, technique, or personal style.
2. A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.
368.visceralcharacterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect: a visceral reaction.
369.viscous Having relatively high resistance to flow, thick, as honey is thick and slow to pour.
370.wane1. To decrease gradually in size, amount, intensity, or degree; decline.
2. To exhibit a decreasing illuminated area from full moon to new moon.
3. To approach an end.
371.warpTo become bent or twisted out of shape.
372.winnow1. to free (grain) from the lighter particles of chaff, dirt, etc., esp. by throwing it into the air and allowing the wind or a forced current of air to blow away impurities.
2. to separate or distinguish (valuable from worthless parts) (sometimes fol. by out): to winnow falsehood from truth.

Back to main page