| abacus |
frame with balls for calculating |
| abate |
to lessen to subside |
| abdication |
giving up control authority |
| aberration |
straying away from what is normal |
| abet |
help/encourage smb (in doing wrong) |
| abeyance |
suspended action |
| abhor |
to hate to detest |
| abide |
be faithful to endure |
| abjure |
promise or swear to give up |
| abraded |
rubbed off worn away by friction |
| abrogate |
repeal or annul by authority |
| abscond |
to go away suddenly (to avoid arrest) |
| abstruse |
difficult to comprehend obscure |
| abut |
border on |
| abysmal |
bottomless extreme |
| acarpous |
effete no longer fertile worn out |
| acclaimed |
welcomed with shouts and approval |
| accolade |
praise approval |
| accretion |
the growing of separate things into one |
| adamant |
kind of stone inflexible |
| admonitory |
containing warning |
| adorn |
add beauty decorate |
| adulteration |
making unpure poorer in quality |
| affable |
polite and friendly |
| affinity |
close connection relationship |
| aggravate |
make worse irritate |
| agile |
active quick-moving |
| agog |
eager/excited |
| ail |
trouble be ill |
| alacrity |
eager and cheerful readiness |
| alcove |
recess/partially enclosed place |
| allegiance |
duty support loyalty |
| alleviate |
make (pain) easier to bear |
| alloy |
to debase by mixing with something inferior |
| aloof |
reserved indifferent |
| amalgamate |
mix combine unite societies |
| ambidextrous |
able to use the left hand or the right equally well |
| ambiguous |
doubtful uncertain |
| ambivalent |
having both of two contrary meanings |
| ameliorate |
improve make better |
| amortize |
end (a debt) by setting aside money |
| anguish |
severe suffering |
| animosity |
strong dislike |
| antidote |
medicine used against a poison or a disease |
| antithetical |
direct opposing |
| apartheid |
brutal racial discrimination |
| aplomb |
self-confidence |
| apostate |
one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions |
| apotheosis |
deification glorification to godliness |
| appease |
make quiet or calm |
| apprehensive |
grasping understanding fear unhappy feeling about future |
| apprise |
give notice to inform |
| approbation |
approval |
| apropos |
appropriate to the situation apt |
| apt |
well-suited quick-witted |
| arabesque |
a complex ornate design |
| arboreal |
of connected with trees |
| ardor |
enthusiasm |
| arduous |
steep difficult ascent laborious |
| argot |
jargon slang |
| arrant |
in the highest degree |
| arrogance |
proud superior manner of behaviour |
| articulate |
speak distinctly connect by joints |
| ascend |
go or come up |
| ascertain |
get to know |
| ascetic |
practicing self-denial austere stark |
| ascribe |
consider to be the origin of or belonging to |
| aseptic |
surgically clean |
| asperity |
roughness harshness ill temper irritability |
| aspersion |
slander |
| assail |
with attack violently |
| assiduous |
diligent hard-working sedulous |
| assuage |
make smth (pain desire) less |
| asterisk |
the mark * (e.g.. omitted letters) |
| astringent |
substance that shrinks |
| astute |
clever quick at seeing to get an advantage |
| atonement |
repayment death of Jesus |
| attenuate |
make thin. weaken enervate |
| attune |
bring into harmony |
| audacious |
daring foolishly bold impudent |
| augury |
omen sign |
| august |
majestic venerable |
| auspicious |
favorable successful prosperous |
| austere |
severely moral and strict simple and plain |
| auxiliary |
helping supporting |
| aver |
affirm assert prove justify |
| aversion |
strong dislike |
| avid |
eager greedy |
| avow |
admit. Declare openly |
| baleful |
harmful ominous causing evil |
| balk |
obstacle purposely to get on the way of |
| baneful |
causing harm or ruin pernicious destructive |
| barrage |
artificial obstacle built across a river |
| barren |
not good enough unable to have young ones without value |
| bask |
in enjoy warmth and light |
| beatify |
to bless make happy or ascribe a virtue to |
| bedizen |
to adorn especially in a cheap showy manner |
| belabor |
beat hard |
| bellicose |
belligerent pugnacious warlike |
| belligerent |
(person nation) waging war |
| benefactor |
person who has given help |
| benevolence |
wish or activity in doing good |
| benign |
kind and gentle mild (climate) |
| bequest |
arrangement to give smth at death |
| berate |
scold sharply |
| bereft |
rob or dispossess of smth (material) |
| bewilder |
puzzle confuse |
| bigot |
stubborn narrow-minded person |
| bilge |
bulge the protuberance of a cask |
| blandishment |
flattery coaxing |
| blandness |
polite manner comforting uninteresting |
| blatant |
noisy and rough |
| blithe |
cheerful casual carefree |
| bogus |
sham counterfeit not genuine |
| boisterous |
loud noisy rough lacking restraint |
| bolster |
give greatly needed support |
| boorish |
crude offensive rude |
| brash |
hasty rush cheeky saucy |
| brass |
yellow metal (mixing copper and zinc) |
| brazen |
made of brass |
| breach |
opening broken place breaking |
| brittle |
easily broken |
| broach |
bring up announce begin to talk about |
| brook |
to tolerate endure |
| buoyant |
able to float light-hearted |
| burgeon |
grow forth send out buds |
| burnish |
to polish rub to a shine |
| cabal |
a scheme or plot a group of plotters |
| cadge |
to beg to get by begging |
| cajole |
use flattery or deceit to persuade |
| calipers |
metal supports attached to the legs measuring instrument |
| calumny |
slander aspersion |
| candid |
frank straight-forward |
| cant |
insincere talk/jargon |
| cantankerous |
bad-tempered/quarrelsome |
| canvass |
discuss thoroughly sort of touting |
| castigate |
to chastise correct by punishing |
| castigation |
severe punishment |
| catalyst |
substance that causes speeding up |
| caustic |
biting sarcastic |
| censure |
expression of blame or disapproval a rebuke |
| centurion |
leader of a unit of 100 soldiers |
| chary |
cautious wary |
| chastened |
corrected punished |
| chastisement |
punishment |
| chauvinist |
a blindly devoted patriot |
| chicanery |
legal trickery/false argument |
| chisel |
steel tool for shaping materials |
| churl |
bad-tempered person |
| clamor |
shout complain with a lot of noise |
| clientele |
customers |
| clinch |
come to grips/settle conclusively |
| cling |
to resist separation |
| clot |
half-solid lump formed from liquid |
| cloture |
closing device (in Parliament) to end a debate by voting |
| coagulation |
change to a thick and solid state |
| coalescing |
coming together and uniting into one substance |
| coax |
get smb to do smth by kindness |
| coda |
passage that completes a piece of music |
| coddle |
treat with care and tenderness |
| coerce |
compel to force to make obedient |
| coeval |
of the same period coexisting |
| cogent |
strong convincing |
| cogitate |
think deeply mediate |
| cognizant |
being fully aware of |
| colander |
bowl-shaped vessel with many holes used to drain off water |
| collusion |
secret agreement for a deceitful purpose |
| combustion |
process of burning |
| commemorate |
keep the memory of |
| commodious |
having plenty of space for what is needed |
| commuter |
person who travels regularly |
| complaisance |
tending to comply obliging willingness to please |
| compunction |
feeling of regret for one's action |
| conceal |
hide keep secret |
| conceit |
over-high opinion of too much pride |
| conciliatory |
reconciling soothing comforting mollifying |
| concord |
agreement or harmony |
| concur |
agree in opinion happen together |
| condense |
increase in density strength make laconic |
| condone |
forgive |
| congeal |
make or become stiff and solid |
| conjoin |
to join together |
| connoisseur |
a person with good judgement (e.g.. in art) |
| connotation |
suggestion in addition to |
| consequential |
pompous self important |
| console |
give comfort or sympathy to |
| conspicuous |
easily seen remarkable |
| consternation |
surprise and fear dismay |
| constrain |
compel |
| constrict |
make tight or smaller |
| consume |
get to the end of |
| consummate |
perfect/make perfect/complete |
| contemn |
to scorn or despise |
| contentious |
argumentative pugnacious combative quarrelsome |
| contiguous |
touching neighboring near |
| contrite |
filled with deep sorrow for wrongdoing |
| contumacious |
insubordinate rebellious |
| conundrum |
a riddle dilemma enigma |
| conviction |
convincing firm belief |
| convoke |
call together summon |
| convoluted |
complicated coiled twisted |
| cordial |
warm and sincere |
| cordon |
line (of police acting as a guard) |
| cornucopia |
abundant supply |
| corporeal |
physical of or for the body |
| correlate |
have a mutual relation |
| corroboration |
additional strengthening evidence |
| countenance |
to favor or approve of |
| counterfeit |
forgery |
| countervail |
counterbalance |
| covert |
disguised |
| covetous |
eagerly desirous |
| cower |
crouch shrink back |
| coy |
shy/modest (esp of a girl) |
| crass |
very great (es. stupidity) |
| cravat |
piece of linen worn as a necktie |
| craven |
cowardly |
| crease |
line made by crushing white line on the ground in cricket |
| credulity |
too great a readiness to believe things |
| credulous |
ready to believe things |
| crush |
press lose shape subdue overwhelm |
| cryptic |
secret with a hidden meaning |
| cumbersome |
burdensome heavy and awkward to carry |
| curmudgeon |
bad-tempered person |
| curriculum |
course of study |
| cursory |
quick hurried |
| curtail |
make shorter then was planned |
| dainty |
pretty/delicate(food)/difficult to please |
| daunt |
intimidate make fearful |
| dawdler |
person who is slow waste of time |
| dearth |
shortage |
| debacle |
a breakup overthrow sudden disaster |
| decorum |
propriety properness |
| decree |
order given by authority |
| decry |
disapprove of |
| defer |
postpone give way (to show respect) |
| deferential |
showing respect |
| defiance |
open disobedience or resistance |
| delineate |
to portray depict sketch out |
| deluge |
great flood heavy rush of water |
| demagogue |
person appealing not to reasons |
| demur |
to hesitate raise objections |
| denigrate |
blacken belittle sully defame |
| denouement |
an outcome or solution the unraveling of a plot |
| deplete |
use until none remains |
| deposition |
dethronement depositing |
| deprave |
make morally bad corrupt |
| deprecate |
protest against express disapproval of |
| dereliction |
deserting and leaving to fall into ruins |
| derision |
ridicule mockery deriding |
| derivative |
unoriginal obtained from another source |
| derogatory |
insulting tending to damage |
| descry |
catch sight of see smth in the distance |
| desiccant |
substance used to absorb moisture |
| desuetude |
cessation of use disuse |
| desultory |
aimless haphazard digressing at random |
| deter |
discourage hinder |
| detraction |
slandering verbal attack aspersion |
| detumescence |
diminishing or lessening of swelling |
| deviance |
being different in moral standards (from normal) |
| dexterity |
skill (esp. in handling) |
| diaphanous |
transparent gauzy |
| diatribe |
bitter and violent attack in words |
| diffidence |
shyness |
| dilate |
speak comprehensively become wider large |
| disallow |
refuse to allow or accept as a correct |
| discern |
see with an effort but clearly |
| discomfit |
confuse embarrass |
| disconcert |
upset the self-possession of |
| discountenance |
refuse to approve of |
| discourse |
speech lecture |
| discredit |
refuse to believe |
| discreet |
careful/prudent |
| discrete |
individually distinct |
| disdain |
look on with contempt |
| disencumber |
free from encumbrance |
| disheveled |
untidy |
| disingenuous |
sophisticated artful trying to deceive cunning |
| disinter |
dig up from the earth |
| dislodge |
move force from the place occupied |
| dismal |
sad gloomy miserable |
| disparate |
essentially different |
| disproof |
proof to the contrary |
| dissemble |
speak or behave so as to hide smth (in mind) |
| disseminate |
distribute (esp. ideas) |
| dissent |
have a different opinion refuse to assent |
| dissolution |
disintegration looseness in morals |
| distraught |
distracted violently upset in mind |
| divergence |
getting farther apart from a point |
| divestiture |
taking off getting rid of giving up |
| divulge |
make known smth secret |
| doggerel |
trivial poorly constructed verse |
| dogmatic |
positive certain arbitrary without room for discussion |
| dolt |
stupid fellow |
| dormant |
in a state of inactivity but awaiting development |
| dote |
show much fondness center one's attention |
| drawl |
slow way of speaking |
| droll |
jesting |
| drone |
male bee person who isn't self-employed |
| drowsiness |
feeling sleepy half asleep |
| dubious |
feeling doubt |
| dud |
no use person smth that fails |
| dulcet |
melodious harmonious |
| dupe |
cheat make a fool of |
| duplicity |
deliberate deception |
| duress |
threats to compel smb |
| dwarf |
person or smb much below the usual size |
| dynamo |
a generator something that produces electric current |
| earthenware |
dishes made of baked clay |
| ebullience |
exuberance outburst of feeling |
| ebullient |
overflowing with enthusiasm showing excitement |
| ecumenical |
representing the whole Christian world |
| edacious |
voracious devouring |
| eddy |
circular or spiral movement (e.g.. of wind) |
| edible |
fit to be eaten/not poisonous |
| effete |
infertile worn out weak |
| efficacy |
production of a desired result |
| effluvia |
outflow in a stream of particles a noxious odor or vapor |
| effrontery |
boldness impudence arrogance |
| egress |
way out exit |
| elaborate |
worked out with much care in great detail |
| elegy |
a lament a melancholy composition |
| elicit |
draw out |
| eloquence |
fluent speaking skillful use of language |
| emaciate |
make thin and weak |
| embellish |
make beautiful |
| embezzle |
use in a wrong way for one's own benefit |
| emote |
stir up excite |
| empirical |
relying on experiment |
| encapsulate |
enclose in capsule |
| encomium |
warm or glowing praise eulogy panegyric |
| encumbrance |
burden things that get on the way of |
| endearing |
making dear or liked |
| endemic |
epidemic |
| endorse |
write one's name on the back of |
| enduring |
lasting |
| enervate |
weaken deprive of strength attenuate |
| engender |
cause produce give rise to |
| engrave |
impress deeply |
| engrossing |
taken up all the time or attention writing in large or formal |
| engulf |
swallow up |
| enigma |
smth that is puzzling |
| enmity |
hatred being an enemy |
| ensign |
flag/badge |
| entangle |
put into difficulties |
| enthral |
please greatly/enslave (fig) |
| entice |
tempt or persuade |
| entreat |
ask earnestly |
| enunciate |
pronounce (words)/express a theory |
| enzyme |
catalyst |
| epicurean |
devoted to pleasure (sensuous enjoyment) |
| epistle |
letter |
| epithet |
adjective |
| epitome |
brief summary representative example a typical model |
| equable |
steady regular |
| equanimity |
calmness of temperament |
| equilibrium |
state of being balanced |
| equipoise |
equal distribution of weight equilibrium |
| equivocal |
having a double or doubtful meaning suspicious |
| equivocate |
try to deceive by equivocal language |
| eradicate |
get rid of pull up by the roots |
| erratic |
irregular in behaviour or opinion |
| erudite |
learned scholarly |
| eschew |
avoid |
| esoteric |
abstruse intended only for a small circle of |
| espouse |
marry give one's support to |
| eulogy |
formal praise panegyric |
| euphoria |
elation state of pleasant excitement |
| euthanasia |
easy and painless death |
| evasive |
tending to evade |
| evince |
to show clearly to indicate |
| evoke |
call up bring out |
| excoriation |
severe criticism |
| exculpate |
to clear from a charge of guilt |
| exhaustive |
complete thorough |
| exigency |
emergency an urgent situation |
| exoneration |
set smb clear free (e.g.. from blame) |
| exorbitant |
much too high or great |
| expatiate |
to roam wander freely |
| expedient |
likely to be useful for a purpose |
| expiation |
ending expiring |
| exploit |
brilliant achievement develop use selfishly |
| expostulate |
argue earnestly to dissuade correct or protest |
| expurgate |
to remove obscenity purify censor |
| exscind |
to cut out cut away |
| extant |
still in existence |
| extempore |
without previous thought or preparation |
| extenuate |
reduce the strength of lessen seriousness partially excuse |
| extinct |
no longer active |
| extinguish |
end the existence of/wipe or put out |
| extirpate |
to destroy exterminate cut out exscind |
| extol |
praise highly |
| extort |
obtain by threats violence |
| extralegal |
outside the law |
| extricable |
that can be freed |
| extrovert |
cheerful person |
| exuberance |
state of growing vigorously being full of life |
| facetious |
humorous funny jocular |
| facile |
easily done |
| fallacious |
based on error |
| falter |
waver/move in an uncertain manner |
| fatuous |
without sense foolish self-satisfaction |
| fawn |
young deer try to win smb's favor |
| feckless |
lacking purpose or vitality ineffective careless |
| fecund |
fertile |
| feint |
pretend |
| felicitous |
apt suitably expressed well chosen apropos |
| felon |
person guilty of murder |
| ferment |
substance become excited |
| ferocity |
savage cruelty |
| ferret |
discover by searching search |
| fervid |
showing earnest feeling |
| fervor |
warmth of feelings earnestness |
| fetid |
stinking |
| fetter |
to shackle put in chains |
| feud |
bitter quarrel over a long period of time |
| fidelity |
loyalty accuracy |
| fidget |
move restlessly make nervous |
| figurehead |
carved image on the prow of a ship |
| finesse |
delicate way of dealing with a situation |
| finical |
too fussy about food clothing etc. |
| finicky |
finical |
| fission |
splitting or division (esp. of cells) |
| fixate |
stare at |
| flak |
criticism/anti-aircraft guns |
| flamboyant |
brightly colored florid |
| flaunting |
show off complacently |
| flax |
pale yellow (hair) a plant |
| fledged |
able to fly trained experienced |
| fleet |
number of ships quick-moving |
| flinch |
draw move back wince |
| flop |
fail/move/fall clumsily |
| florid |
very much ornamented naturally red (e.g.. of face) |
| flout |
reject mock to go against (as in going against tradition) |
| fluke |
lucky stroke |
| fluster |
make nervous or confused |
| foible |
defect of character (a person is wrongly proud) |
| foil |
prevent from carrying out contrast |
| foment |
put smth warm (to lessen the pain) |
| foolproof |
incapable of failure or error |
| foppish |
like a man who pays too much attention to his clothes |
| forage |
food for horses and cattle |
| forbear |
refrain from be patient ancestor |
| forbearance |
patience willingness to wait |
| ford |
shallow place in a river (to cross) |
| forestall |
prevent by taking action in advance preempt |
| forfeit |
suffer the loss of smth |
| forge |
workshop for the shaping of metal to shape metal lead |
| forgery |
counterfeit |
| forswear |
renounce disallow repudiate |
| foster |
nurture care for |
| fracas |
noisy quarrel |
| fragile |
easily injured broken or destroyed |
| fragrant |
sweet-smelling |
| frantic |
wildly excited with joy pain anxiety |
| frenetic |
frantic frenzied |
| fret |
worry irritation wear away |
| fringe |
edge ornamental border part of hair over the forehead |
| froward |
intractable not willing to yield or comply stubborn |
| frugal |
careful economical |
| fulmination |
bitter protest |
| fulsome |
disgusting offensive due to excessiveness |
| gainsay |
to deny to oppose |
| garble |
make unfair selection from facts |
| garment |
article of clothing |
| garner |
to gather and save to store up |
| garrulity |
talkativeness |
| garrulous |
too talkative |
| gaucherie |
socially awkward tactless behavior |
| germane |
relevant pertinent to |
| gist |
the point general sense |
| glean |
gather facts in small quantities |
| glib |
ready and smooth but not sincere |
| glimmer |
weak/unsteady light |
| gloat |
over look at with selfish delight |
| glut |
supply to much fill to excess |
| gnaw |
waste away bite steadily |
| goad |
smth urging a person to action |
| gorge |
eat greedily/narrow opening with a stream |
| gossamer |
soft light delicate material |
| gouge |
tool for cutting grooves in wood |
| grandiloquent |
using pompous words |
| grave |
serious requiring consideration |
| graze |
touch or scrape lightly in passing |
| gregarious |
living in societies liking the company |
| grievous |
causing grief or pain serious dire grave |
| grovel |
crawl humble oneself |
| guile |
deceit cunning |
| gullible |
easily gulled |
| gush |
burst out suddenly/talk ardently |
| gust |
outburst of feeling sudden rain wind fire etc. |
| hack |
cut roughly hired horse |
| halcyon |
calm and peaceful |
| hallow |
to make holy consecrate |
| harangue |
a long passionate speech |
| harbinger |
smth or smb that foretells the coming of |
| harrow |
to distress create stress or torment |
| haughty |
arrogant conceited |
| heed |
attention/give notice to |
| heinous |
odious (of crime) |
| heresy |
belief contrary to what is generally accepted |
| hermetic |
sealed by fusion |
| heterogeneous |
made up of different kinds |
| hew |
make by hard work cut (by striking) |
| highbrow |
(person) with superior tastes |
| hirsute |
hairy shaggy |
| hoax |
mischievous trick played on smb for a joke |
| hoi |
polloi the masses the rabble |
| hollow |
not soled with hole |
| holster |
leather case for a pistol |
| homiletics |
act of preaching |
| hone |
stone used for sharpening tools |
| hoodwink |
trick mislead |
| hospitable |
liking to give hospitality |
| hubris |
arrogant pride |
| hush |
make or become silent |
| husk |
worthless outside part of anything |
| hypocrisy |
falsely making oneself appear to be good |
| iconoclast |
person who attacks popular beliefs |
| idiosyncrasy |
personal mannerism |
| idolatry |
excessive admiration of |
| idyll |
a carefree episode or experience |
| ignoble |
dishonorable common undignified |
| ignominious |
shameful dishonorable undignified disgraceful |
| illicit |
unlawful forbidden |
| imbroglio |
complicated and embarrassing situation |
| immaculate |
pure faultless |
| imminent |
likely to come or happen soon |
| immutable |
that cannot be changed |
| impair |
worsen diminish in value |
| impassive |
unmoved feeling no sign of passion |
| impecunious |
having little or no money |
| impede |
hinder get in the way of |
| impediment |
smth that hinders (e.g. stammer) |
| impending |
imminent being about to happen expected |
| imperative |
urgent essential |
| imperious |
commanding haughty arrogant |
| impermeable |
that cannot be permeated |
| imperturbable |
calm not capable of being excited |
| impervious |
not allowing to pass through (of materials) |
| imperviousness |
haughty arrogant commanding |
| impetuous |
having sudden energy impulsive thrusting ahead forceful |
| impiety |
lack of reverence or dutifulness |
| implacable |
incapable of being placated unpleasable |
| implicate |
show that smb has a share |
| implicit |
implied though not plainly expressed |
| implosion |
collapse bursting inward |
| importune |
beg urgently solicit (of a prostitute) |
| imprecation |
an invocation of evil a curse |
| impromptu |
without preparation |
| impudent |
rash indiscreet |
| impugned |
challenged to be doubted |
| impute |
to attribute to a cause or source ascribe |
| inadvertent |
not paying proper attention |
| inane |
silly senseless |
| inasmuch |
since because |
| incense |
make angry |
| incessant |
often repeated continual |
| inchoate |
not yet fully formed rudimentary elementary |
| incipient |
beginning |
| incise |
engrave make a cut in |
| incite |
stir up rouse |
| inclined |
directing the mind in a certain direction |
| incongruous |
out of place not in harmony or agreement |
| incorrigibility |
cannot be cured or corrected |
| incredulous |
skeptical unwilling to believe |
| inculcate |
fix firmly by repetition |
| incumbents |
official duties |
| incursion |
a raid a sudden attack |
| indefatigability |
not easily exhaustible tirelessness |
| indelible |
that cannot be rubbed out |
| indigence |
poverty |
| indigenous |
native |
| indistinct |
not easily heard seen clearly marked |
| indolence |
laziness |
| indomitable |
not easily discouraged or subdued |
| indulge |
gratify give way to satisfy allow oneself |
| indulgent |
inclined to indulge |
| ineffable |
to great to be described in words |
| ineluctable |
certain inevitable |
| inept |
unskillful said or done at the wrong time |
| ineptitude |
quality of being unskillful |
| inferno |
hell |
| infuriate |
fill with fury or rage |
| infuse |
put pour fill |
| ingenuous |
naive young artless frank honest sincere |
| ingest |
take in by swallowing |
| inimical |
harmful or friendly |
| inimitable |
defying imitation unmatchable |
| innocuous |
causing no harm |
| inscrutable |
incapable of being discovered or understood |
| insensible |
unconscious unresponsive unaffected |
| insinuate |
suggest unpleasantly make a way for smth gently |
| insipid |
without taste or flavor |
| insouciant |
unconcerned carefree |
| insularity |
narrow-mindedness isolated |
| insurrection |
rising of people to open resistance to |
| interdict |
prohibit forbid |
| interim |
as an installment |
| intersperse |
place here and there |
| intransigence |
unwillingness to compromise stubbornness intractability |
| intransigent |
uncompromising |
| intrepid |
fearless brave undaunted |
| introspection |
examining one's own thoughts and feelings |
| inundate |
flood cover by overflowing |
| inured |
accustomed to adapted |
| invective |
abusive language curses |
| inveigh |
to attack verbally denounce deprecate |
| inveterate |
deep-rooted. long-established |
| invincible |
too strong to be defeated |
| involute |
complex |
| irascible |
irritable easily angered |
| irate |
angry |
| ire |
anger |
| irksome |
tiresome |
| irresolute |
hesitating undecided |
| irrevocable |
final and unalterable |
| itinerate |
to travel from place to place to peregrinate |
| jabber |
talk excitedly utter rapidly |
| jibe |
gibe make fun of |
| jocular |
meant as a joke |
| judicious |
sound in judgment wise |
| knit |
draw together unite firmly |
| labyrinthine |
to entangle the state of affairs |
| lachrymose |
causing tears tearful |
| lackluster |
(of eyes) dull |
| lament |
show feel great sorrow |
| lassitude |
weariness tiredness |
| latent |
present but not yet active developed or visible |
| laudatory |
expressing or giving praise |
| lavish |
giving or producing freely liberally or generously |
| legacy |
smth handed down from ancestors |
| levee |
formal reception/embankment |
| levity |
lack of seriousness |
| libel |
statement that damages reputation |
| liberality |
free giving generosity |
| libertine |
immoral person |
| lien |
legal claim until a debt on it is repaid |
| limn |
paint portray |
| limp |
lacking strength walking unevenly |
| lionize |
treat as a famous person |
| lithe |
bending twisting |
| loll |
rest to sit or stand in a lazy way hang (dog's tongue) |
| lope |
move along with long strides |
| loquacious |
talkative garrulous |
| lucubrate |
write in scholarly fashion |
| luculent |
easily understood lucid clear |
| lugubrious |
mournful excessively sad |
| lull |
become quiet or less active |
| lumber |
move in a clumsy/noisy way |
| luminary |
star light-giving body |
| lurk |
be out of view ready to attack |
| lustrous |
being bright polished |
| macabre |
gruesome suggesting death |
| macerate |
make or become soft by soaking in water |
| machination |
plot scheme (esp. evil) |
| maladroit |
tactless clumsy |
| malapropism |
misuse of a word (for one that resembles it) |
| malevolence |
wishing to do evil |
| malign |
injurious speak ill of smb tell lie |
| malinger |
to fake illness or injury in order to shirk a duty |
| malleable |
yielding easily shaped moldable adapting |
| manacle |
chains for the hands or feet |
| massacre |
cruel killing of a large number of people |
| matriculation |
be admitted enter a university as a student |
| maudlin |
sentimental in a silly or tearful way |
| maul |
hurt by rough handling |
| maverick |
rebel nonconformist |
| mellifluous |
sweetly flowing |
| mendacity |
dishonesty |
| mendicant |
a beggar |
| mercurial |
quick changeable in character fleeting |
| meretricious |
attractive on the surface but of little value |
| mesmerize |
hypnotize |
| meticulous |
giving great attention to details |
| mettle |
quality of endurance or courage |
| mettlesome |
courageous high-spirited |
| middling |
fairly good but not very good |
| minatory |
menacing threatening |
| mince |
pronounce or speak affectedly euphemize |
| misanthrope |
person who hates mankind |
| mischievous |
harmful causing mischief |
| miser |
person who loves wealth and spends little |
| misogynist |
one who hates women/females |
| moderation |
quality of being limited not extreme |
| mollify |
make calmer or quieter |
| molt |
moult lose hair feathers before new growing |
| morbid |
diseased unhealthy (e.g.. about ideas) |
| morose |
ill-tempered unsocial |
| muffler |
cloth worn round the neck/silencer |
| multifarious |
varied motley greatly diversified |
| mundane |
worldly as opposed to spiritual commonplace everyday |
| myriad |
very great number |
| nadir |
lowest weakest point |
| nascent |
coming into existence emerging |
| nebulous |
cloud-like hazy vague indistinct |
| negligent |
taking too little care |
| neophyte |
person who has been converted to a belief |
| nexus |
a connection tie or link |
| nibble |
show some inclination to accept (an offer) |
| noisome |
offensive disgusting (smell) |
| nonchalant |
not having interest |
| nonplused |
greatly surprised |
| nostrum |
a quack remedy an untested cure |
| noxious |
harmful |
| nugatory |
trifling/worthless |
| obdurate |
hardened and unrepenting stubborn inflexible |
| obfuscate |
to darken make obscure muddle |
| oblivious |
unaware having no memory |
| obloquy |
abusively detractive language sharp criticism vituperation |
| obsequious |
too eager to obey or serve |
| obstreperous |
noisy loud |
| obtain |
to be established accepted or customary |
| obtrusive |
projecting prominent undesirably noticeable |
| obtuse |
blunt/stupid |
| obviate |
to make unnecessary get rid of |
| occluded |
blocked up |
| odious |
repulsive hateful |
| odium |
contempt dislike aversion |
| odor |
smell favor reputation |
| officious |
too eager or ready to help offer advice |
| ominous |
threatening |
| onerous |
needing effort burdensome |
| opaqueness |
dullness/not allowing light to pass through |
| opprobrious |
showing scorn or reproach |
| ossify |
to turn to bone to settle rigidly into an idea |
| ostensible |
seeming appearing as such professed |
| ostentation |
display to obtain admiration or envy |
| ostracism |
shut out from society refuse to meet talk |
| overhaul |
examine thoroughly to learn about the condition |
| overweening |
presumptuously arrogant overbearing immoderate being a jerk |
| paean |
song of praise or triumph |
| palate |
roof of the mouth sense of taste |
| palatial |
magnificent |
| palliate |
lessen the severity of |
| palpability |
can be felt touched understood |
| palpitate |
tremble beat rapidly and irregularly |
| panegyric |
formal praise eulogy |
| paradigm |
a model example or pattern |
| parenthesis |
sentence within another one smth separated |
| pariah |
an outcast a rejected and despised person |
| parsimonious |
too economical miserly |
| partisan |
one-sided committed to a party biased or prejudiced |
| patron |
regular customer person who gives support |
| paucity |
scarcity a lacking of |
| peccadillo |
small sin small weakness in one's character |
| pedantic |
bookish showing off learning |
| pedestrian |
commonplace trite unremarkable |
| pellucid |
transparent easy to understand |
| penchant |
strong inclination a liking |
| penitent |
feeling or showing regret |
| penurious |
poor/stingy |
| penury |
extreme poverty |
| peregrination |
traveling about wandering |
| peremptory |
urgent imperative unchallengeable ending debate |
| perfidious |
treacherous faithless |
| perfidy |
treachery breaking of faith |
| perfunctory |
done as a duty without care |
| perilous |
dangerous |
| peripatetic |
wandering |
| perish |
be destroyed decay |
| perjury |
willful FALSE statement unlawful act |
| permeate |
spread into every part of |
| pernicious |
harmful injurious |
| perpetrate |
be guilty commit (a crime) |
| personable |
pleasing in appearance attractive |
| perspicacity |
quick judging and understanding |
| pertain |
belong as a part have reference |
| pest |
destructive thing or a person who is nuisance |
| petrified |
taken away power (to think feel act) |
| petrify |
to make hard rocklike |
| petrous |
like a rock hard stony |
| petulant |
unreasonably impatient |
| philistine |
a smug ignorant person one who lacks knowledge |
| phlegmatic |
calm sluggish temperament unemotional |
| picaresque |
involving clever rogues or adventurers |
| pied |
of mixed colors |
| pinch |
be too tight take between the thumb and finger |
| pine |
waste away through sorrow or illness |
| pious |
dutiful to parents devoted to religion |
| piquant |
agreeably pungent stimulating |
| pique |
hurt the pride or self-respect stir (curiosity) |
| pitfall |
covered hole as a trap unsuspected danger |
| pith |
essential part force soft liquid substance |
| pivotal |
of great importance (others depend on it) |
| placate |
soothe pacify calm |
| plaintive |
mournful melancholy sorrowful |
| plaque |
flat metal on a wall as a memorial |
| platitude |
a trite or banal statement unoriginality |
| plea |
request |
| plead |
address a court of law as an advocate |
| plethora |
glut |
| pliant |
pliable easily bent shaped or twisted |
| plod |
continue doing smth without resting |
| pluck |
pull the feathers off pick (e.g.. flowers) |
| plumb |
get to the root of |
| plummet |
fall plunge steeply |
| plunge |
move quickly suddenly and with force |
| poignant |
deeply moving keen |
| poncho |
large piece of cloth |
| ponderous |
heavy bulky dull |
| portent |
omen marvelous threatening |
| precarious |
uncertain risky dangerous |
| precepts |
rules establishing standards of conduct |
| preclude |
prevent make impossible |
| precursory |
preliminary anticipating |
| predilection |
special liking mental preference |
| predominate |
have more power than others |
| preen |
tidy/show self-satisfaction |
| premature |
doing or happening smth before the right time |
| preponderance |
greatness in number strength weight |
| presage |
warning sign |
| presumption |
arrogance |
| preternatural |
not normal or usual |
| prevalent |
common |
| prevaricate |
to equivocate to stray from the truth |
| prim |
neat formal |
| pristine |
primitive unspoiled pure as in earlier times unadulterated |
| probity |
uprightness incorruptibility principle |
| proclivity |
inclination |
| procrastination |
keeping on putting off |
| prodigal |
wasteful reckless with money |
| prodigious |
enormous wonderful |
| profane |
worldly having contempt for God |
| profligacy |
shameless immorality |
| profligate |
wasteful prodigal licentious extravagant |
| profundity |
depth |
| profuse |
abundant/lavish |
| proliferate |
grow reproduce by rapid multification |
| prolix |
tiring because too long |
| prone |
prostrate inclined to (undesirable things) |
| propagation |
increasing the number spreading extending |
| propinquity |
nearness in time or place affinity of nature |
| propitiatory |
conciliatory appeasing mitigating |
| propitious |
auspicious presenting favorable circumstances |
| prosaic |
everyday mundane commonplace trite pedestrian |
| proscribe |
denounce as dangerous |
| protracted |
prolonged |
| provident |
frugal looking to the future |
| provisional |
of the present time only |
| provoke |
make angry vax |
| prudence |
careful forethought |
| prudish |
easily shocked excessively modest |
| prune |
dried plum silly person |
| pry |
get smth inquire too curiously |
| pucker |
wrinkle |
| pugnacious |
fond of in the habit of fighting |
| puissance |
strength |
| punctilious |
precise paying attention to trivialities |
| pundit |
pedant authority on a subject |
| pungency |
sharpness stinging quality |
| purvey |
provide supply |
| pusillanimous |
cowardly craven |
| putrefaction |
becoming rotten |
| pyre |
large pile of wood for burning |
| quack |
person dishonestly claiming to smth |
| quaff |
drink deeply |
| quail |
lose courage turn frightened |
| qualm |
feeling of doubt temporary feeling of sickness |
| quandary |
state of doubt or perplexity |
| quell |
suppress subdue |
| quibble |
try to avoid by sophistication |
| quiescence |
state of being passive/motionless |
| quiescent |
at rest dormant torpid |
| quirk |
habit or action peculiar to smb or smth |
| quixotic |
generous unselfish |
| quotidian |
banal everyday |
| rabble |
mob crowd the lower classes of populace |
| raconteur |
person who tells anecdotes |
| raffish |
low vulgar base tawdry |
| ramify |
to be divided or subdivided to branch out |
| rancorous |
feeling bitterness spitefulness |
| rant |
use extravagant language |
| rapacious |
greedy (esp for money) |
| rarefy |
to make thin to make less dense to purify or refine |
| rave |
act with excessive enthusiasm |
| reactionary |
opposing progress |
| rebuff |
snub |
| recalcitrant |
disobedient |
| recant |
take back as being FALSE give up |
| recast |
cast or fashion anew |
| recidivism |
relapse into antisocial or criminal behavior |
| reciprocity |
granting of privileges in return for similar |
| recitals |
a number of performance of music |
| recluse |
person who lives alone and avoids people |
| recompense |
make payment to reward punish |
| reconcile |
settle a quarrel restore peace |
| recondite |
little known abstruse |
| recreancy |
cowardice a cowardly giving up |
| recuperate |
become strong after illness loss exhaustion |
| redeem |
get back by payment compensate |
| redoubtable |
formidable causing fear |
| refine |
make or become pure cultural |
| refractory |
stubborn unmanageable untractable |
| refulgent |
shining brilliant |
| regale |
to delight or entertain to feast |
| regicide |
crime of killing a king |
| reiterate |
say or do again several times |
| rejuvenation |
becoming young in nature or appearance |
| relapse |
fall back again |
| remonstrate |
to protest object |
| render |
deliver provide represent |
| renovate |
restore smth to better condition |
| renowned |
celebrated famous |
| repast |
meal |
| repel |
refuse to accept/cause dislike |
| repine |
at be discontented with |
| reproach |
scold upbraid |
| reprobate |
person hardened in sin one devoid of decency |
| repudiate |
disown refuse to accept or pay |
| repulsive |
causing a feeling of disgust |
| requite |
repay give in return |
| rescind |
repeal/annul/cancel |
| resigned |
unresisting submissive |
| resilience |
quality of quickly recovering the original shape |
| resort |
to frequently visit |
| restive |
refusing to move reluctant to be controlled |
| resuscitation |
coming back to consciousness |
| retard |
check hinder |
| reticent |
reserved untalkative silent taciturn |
| revere |
have deep respect for |
| reverent |
feeling or showing deep respect |
| riddle |
puzzling person or thing |
| rift |
split crack dissension |
| rivet |
fix take up secure metal pin |
| roll |
call calling of names |
| rotund |
rich and deep plump and round |
| ruffian |
violent cruel man |
| rumple |
make rough |
| sagacious |
having sound judgment perceptive wise like a sage |
| salacious |
obscene |
| salubrious |
healthful |
| salutary |
remedial wholesome causing improvement |
| sanctimony |
self-righteousness hypocritical with FALSE piety |
| sanction |
approval (by authority) penalty |
| sanguine |
cheerful confident optimistic |
| sanity |
health of mind soundness of judgement |
| sash |
long strip worn round the waist |
| satiate |
satisfy fully |
| saturnine |
gloomy dark sullen morose |
| savant |
person of great learning |
| savor |
taste flavor smth |
| sawdust |
tiny bits of wood |
| scabbard |
sheath for the blade |
| scent |
smell (esp pleasant) |
| scorch |
become discolored/dry up/go at high speed |
| scribble |
write hastily |
| scurvy |
mean contemptible |
| secular |
material (not spiritual) living outside monasteries |
| sedulous |
persevering |
| seminal |
like a seed constituting a source originative |
| sententious |
short and pithy full of maxims/proverbs |
| sequence |
succession connected line of |
| sere |
make hard and without feeling |
| sermon |
reproving a person for his faults |
| serrated |
having a toothed edge |
| serration |
having a toothed edge |
| servile |
like a slave lacking independence |
| sever |
break off |
| severance |
severing |
| shallow |
little depth not earnest |
| shard |
piece of broken earthenware |
| sheath |
cover for the blade of a weapon or a tool |
| shrewd |
astute showing sound judgement |
| shrill |
sharp piercing |
| shun |
keep away from avoid |
| shunt |
send from one track to another lay aside evade discussion |
| sidestep |
step to one side |
| simper |
(give a) silly/self-conscious smile |
| sinuous |
winding undulating serpentine |
| skiff |
small boat |
| skit |
short piece of humorous writing |
| slack |
sluggish dull not tight |
| slake |
to assuage to satisfy allay |
| slate |
king of blue-grey stone propose criticize |
| sluggard |
lazy slow-moving person |
| slur |
join sounds/words (indistinct) |
| smolder |
burn slowly without flame |
| snare |
trap |
| snub |
treat with contempt |
| soar |
rise fly high |
| sober |
self-controlled |
| sobriety |
quality or condition of being sober |
| sodden |
soaked saturated |
| soggy |
heavy with water |
| solvent |
of the power of forming a solution |
| somatic |
of the body |
| soot |
black powder in smoke |
| sophisticated |
complex subtle refined |
| sophistry |
fallacious reasoning faulty logic |
| sophomoric |
self-assured though immature affected bombastic overblown |
| soporific |
producing sleep |
| sordid |
wretched comfortless contemptible |
| spear |
weapon with a metal point on a long shaft |
| specious |
illogical of questionable truth or merit |
| splenetic |
bad-tempered irritable |
| splice |
join (two ends) |
| sponge |
porous rubber for washing live at once expense |
| spurious |
FALSE counterfeit |
| spurn |
have nothing to do reject or refuse |
| squalid |
foul filthy |
| squander |
spend wastefully |
| squat |
crouch/settle without permission |
| stanch |
to stop the flow of a fluid |
| steeply |
rising or falling sharply |
| stentorian |
extremely loud and powerful |
| stickler |
person who insists on importance of smth |
| stigma |
mark of shame or disgrace |
| stigmatize |
describe smb scornfully |
| sting |
smth sharp |
| stingy |
spending using unwillingly |
| stint |
to be thrifty to set limits |
| stipple |
paint with dots |
| stipulate |
state or put forward as a necessary condition |
| stolid |
showing no emotion impassive |
| stray |
wander lose one's way |
| streak |
long thin move very fast |
| striated |
striped grooved or banded |
| stride |
walk with long steps |
| strut |
a supporting bar |
| stygian |
hence dark gloomy |
| stymie |
to hinder obstruct or block |
| subdue |
overcome bring under control |
| sublime |
extreme astounding |
| submerge |
put under water liquid sink out of sight |
| suborn |
induce by bribery or smth to commit perjury |
| subpoena |
written order requiring a person to appear in a low court |
| substantiation |
giving facts to support (statement) |
| subsume |
include under a rule |
| succor |
assistance relief in time of distress |
| suffice |
be enough |
| suffocate |
cause or have difficulty in breathing |
| sullied |
to be stained or discredited |
| summarily |
briefly without delay |
| sumptuous |
magnificent |
| sundry |
various miscellaneous separate |
| supercilious |
disdainful characterized by haughty scorn |
| superfluous |
more then is needed or wanted |
| superimpose |
put smth on the top |
| supersede |
take the place of |
| supine |
lying on the back slow to act passive |
| suppliant |
asking humbly beseeching |
| supplicate |
make a humble petition to |
| suppress |
prevent from being known put an end to |
| surcharge |
additional load/charge |
| surfeit |
satiate feed to fulness or to excess |
| susceptibility |
sensitiveness |
| swerve |
change direction suddenly |
| sycophant |
person who flatter to the rich and powerful |
| synopsis |
summary or outline |
| taciturn |
untalkative silent |
| tadpole |
form of a frog when it leaves the egg |
| talon |
claw of a bird of prey |
| tamp |
tap or drive down by repeated light blows |
| tamper |
interfere with |
| tangential |
suddenly changeable |
| tarnished |
lost brightness |
| tassel |
bunch of threads |
| taunt |
contemptuous reproach hurtful remark |
| taut |
tightly stretched |
| tautology |
a repetition a redundancy |
| tawdry |
cheap gaudy showy tacky |
| teetotal |
oppose to alcohol |
| temerity |
boldness brashness intrepidness |
| temperance |
abstinence from alcohol self-control moderation |
| temperate |
showing self-control |
| tenacity |
firmness persistency adhesiveness tending to hang on |
| tenuous |
insubstantial flimsy weak |
| tepid |
lukewarm |
| terse |
brief and to the point |
| testiness |
witness/evidence |
| thrift |
care economy thriving prosperous |
| thwart |
obstruct/frustrate |
| timid |
shy easily frightened |
| timorous |
fearful timid afraid |
| toady |
obsequious flatterer |
| tonic |
smth giving strength or energy |
| topple |
be unsteady and overturn |
| torment |
severe pain or suffering |
| torpid |
sleeping sluggish lethargic dormant |
| torque |
twisting force causing rotation |
| tortuous |
devious/not straightforward |
| tout |
person who worries others to buy smth to use his service |
| tractable |
easily controlled or guided |
| transgress |
break go beyond (a limit) |
| transient |
temporary fleeting |
| transitory |
brief |
| travesty |
parody/imitation |
| trenchant |
forceful effective vigorous extremely perceptive incisive |
| trepidation |
alarm excited state of mind |
| trickle |
flow in drops |
| trifling |
unimportant |
| trite |
not new |
| truce |
(agreement) stop of fighting for a time |
| truculence |
aggressiveness ferocity |
| trudge |
walk heavily |
| turbid |
muddy having the sediment stirred up |
| turbulence |
being uncontrolled violent |
| turgid |
excessively ornate swollen or bloated |
| turmoil |
trouble disturbance |
| turpitude |
wickedness shamefulness |
| turquoise |
greenish-blue precious stone |
| tyro |
tiro beginner |
| ubiquitous |
present everywhere |
| ulterior |
situated beyond |
| umbrage |
offense resentment |
| uncouth |
rough awkward |
| underbid |
make a lower bid then smb else |
| undermine |
weaken gradually at the base make smth under |
| undulate |
to move in wavelike fashion fluctuate |
| unearth |
discover and bring to light |
| unencumbered |
easy-going trifle |
| unfeigned |
not pretended sincere |
| unscathed |
unharmed unhurt |
| untoward |
unfortunate inconvenient |
| upbraid |
scold reproach |
| urbane |
elegant refined in manners |
| vacillation |
being uncertain hesitating |
| vagary |
strange act or idea |
| vain |
without use result conceited |
| valiant |
brave |
| valorous |
brave |
| vanquish |
conquer |
| veer |
change direction |
| venal |
ready to do smth dishonest |
| veneer |
surface appearance covering the TRUE nature |
| veneration |
regard with deep respect |
| veracity |
truth |
| verdant |
fresh and green |
| verisimilitude |
appearing TRUE or real |
| veritable |
real rightly named |
| verve |
spirit vigor enthusiasm |
| vestige |
trace or sign |
| vex |
annoy distress trouble |
| vigilance |
watchfulness self-appointed group who maintain order |
| vigilant |
member of a vigilance committee |
| vigorous |
strong energetic |
| vilify |
slander say evil things |
| vindictive |
having a desire to revenge |
| virago |
a loud domineering woman a scold or nag |
| visceral |
of the internal organs of the body |
| viscous |
sticky/semi-fluid |
| vitiate |
lower the quality weaken the strength |
| vituperate |
curse abuse in words |
| vivacious |
lively high-spirited |
| volatile |
changeable inconstant fickle unstable explosive |
| volubility |
fluency verbosity easy use of spoken language |
| voluble |
fluent |
| waffle |
talk vaguely and without much result |
| waft |
scent waving movement carry lightly through |
| wag |
merry person |
| warmonger |
person who stirs up war |
| warrant |
authority written order guarantee |
| wean |
to turn away (from a habit) |
| weigh |
measure hoe heavy smth is |
| welter |
turmoil a bewildering jumble |
| wend |
to go proceed |
| whimsical |
full of odd and fanciful ideas |
| wince |
show bodily or mental pain |
| woo |
try to win |
| writ |
written order |
| yarn |
tale story fibers for knitting |