ameliorate v. to improve; make or become better
approbation n. approval; sanction
avarice n. greed for wealth
depravity n. behaving as if morally unsound or corrupt
effrontery n. impudent boldness; audacity
embroider v. to embellish (a narrative)
euphonious (euphony) - adj. agreeable sound, esp. in the phonetic quality of words
fathom v. to determine the depth of ; sound; to understand
indigence n. state of lacking the means of subsistence; impoverishment; quality of being needy
nadir n. a point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith; the lowest point
obsequious adj. full of servile compliance, fawning
perfunctory adj. done or acting routinely with little interest or care
repast n. a meal or the food eaten or provided at a meal
sequester v. to remove or set apart; to withdraw into seclusion
sycophant n. (kiss up) one who tries to win favor or advance self by flattering persons of influence
ubiquitous adj. being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time
zenith n. point on a celestial sphere directly above the observer; any culmination or high point
apocryphal adj. of questionable authority or authorship; false, counterfeit
assuage v. to make less severe; to satisfy, appraise
blithe adj. cheerful, carefree
discrete adj. constituting a separate thing; individual
egregious adj. outstandingly bad; blatant, outrageous
esoteric adj. intended for or understood only by a few, private; confidential*
exacerbate v. to increase severity of; aggravate
fetid adj. foul smelling; stinking
malinger v. to feign illness to avoid duty or work
nefarious adj. evil, wicked
parsimony n. excessive frugality, extreme economy, stinginess
potable adj. fit to drink
sardonic adj. scornful; cynical
strident adj. loud and harsh; shrill
tensile adj. of or involving a force that involves stretching
toadying being a servile flatterer; acting like a sycophant
torpid adj. in a sluggish, benumbed or lethargic state
zealot n. one who is fanatically committed to a cause
apathy n. lack of emotion; indifference
augment v. increase; enlarge
bastion n. any fortified place
deride v. to ridicule; to laugh at contemptuously or mock
diffidence n. lack of confidence in oneself
elusive adj. tending to evade; hard to grasp mentally, baffling
ephemeral adj. lasting for a brief time (only one day)
extraneous adj. existing outside or beyond; not pertaining to the issue under consideration
hackneyed adj. overused, trite
idiom n. a phrase or expression peculiar to a language
mitigate v. to lessen in force or intensity; to alleviate
prodigal adj. presumptuous and arrogant; exceedingly wasteful
prodigious adj. extraordinary; huge; enormous
provincial adj. narrow outlook; a narrow, uncultured province
relegate v. to assign to an obscure place or position
aural adj. having to do with, or perceived by, the ear
capricious adj. whimsical; likely to change without reason
defame v. to attack someones good name by libel or slander
esoteric adj. intended for or understood only by a small group *
exemplary adj. serving as an example, instance or illustration
fastidious adj. careful in all details
guile - n. deceit, cunning, craftiness
indolent adj. lazy
lucid adj. shining (clear); transparent; bright
paucity n. scarcity
pragmatic - adj. practical; having to do with the affairs of state or community
preclude v. to make impossible; shut out
pretentious adj. given to outward show, especially of wealth
repudiate v. to refuse to recognize, acknowledge or pay; to reject the validity of
rescind v. to revoke, repeal or invalidate
virulent adj. extremely bitter in enmity; venomous
acerbic adj. Sharp or biting in temper, mood, or tone
amiable adj. Generally agreeable; friendly
anachronism n. the placing of persons or things out of their time setting (too early or too late)
cajole v. to coax or persuade especially by flattery or false promises
capricious adj. Whimsical; apt to change suddenly
charlatan n. one claiming knowledge or skill that he does not have
encroachment n. the act of gradually intruding on the rights or property of another
enigma n. something hard to understand or explain; a puzzle
eulogize v. to speak or write in high praise; extol
felicity n. great happiness; something that causes or produces happiness
laconic adj. Sparing of words; terse
lucrative adj. Producing wealth
malefactor n. one guilty of a crime or offense
misanthropy n. dislike or hatred of other people
paucity n. smallness of number or quantity
prosaic adj. Unimaginative in style or expression; belonging to the everyday world
reprehensible adj. Worthy of or deserving censure or blame
venerable adj. Impressive by reason of age, character or attainments
virulent adj. extremely poisonous or venomous *
vociferous adj. Making a loud outcry; noisy, clamorous
accolade n. an embrace of greeting or salutation; praise; approval.
archaic adj. Of , relating to, or characteristic of an earlier or more primitive time; antiquated
auspicious adj. Promising success; favorable
callow adj. Lacking adult sophistication
canard n. a false or unfounded story
clemency n. mercy; leniency
despot n. an autocratic ruler or tyrant
encomium n. lofty praise; a eulogy
ethereal adj. (i-thir-ē-əl) heavenly or delicate *
facetious adj. Joking or jesting, often inappropriately
feasible adj. Suitable; plausible
hedonism n. pursuit of or devotion to pleasure
heretic n. one who holds controversial opinions, esp. one who publicly dissents from the officially
accepted dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.
inordinate adj. Exceeding reasonable limits; excessive
lassitude n. a state of listless weakness or exhaustion
pejorative adj. Tending to disparage or belittle; depreciatory
pious (pī-Əs) adj. Reverently observant of religion; devout.
repudiate v. to reject the validity of; to refuse to recognize, acknowledge or pay
soporific adj. inducing sleep
spurious adj. Counterfeit; false
acquiesce v. to accept the conclusions or arrangements of others; to give consent by keeping silent
chimerical adj. absurd; wildly fanciful
circumspect adj. careful
conciliatory adj. tending to soothe or reconcile
copious adj. abundant
debilitate v. to weaken
disparity n. lack of equality; difference
gratuitous adj. freely given; unnecessary; uncalled for
indefatigable adj. tireless
innocuous adj. harmless
insipid adj. lacking interest or spirit
insurgent n. one who rises in revolt (also an adj.: insurgent forces)
listless adj. indifferent; marked by a lack of energy or enthusiasm
nomenclature n. a systematic naming in an art or science
obsolete adj. out-of-date
relegate v. to put in a less important position; to assign; to banish
resilient adj. getting back strength or spirits quickly; springing back into shape or position
reticent adj. not saying much, especially about ones thoughts
trepidation n. a trembling; apprehension; a state of alarm and dread
unequivocal adj. plain; very clear in meaning
ambivalence n. condition of having conflicting attitudes
catharsis n. an emotional purification or relief
garrulous adj. talkative
immutable adj. never changing
impartial adj. fair;; just; showing no favoritism
labyrinth n. a maze; a complicated, perplexing arrangement or course of affairs
malicious adj. spiteful; intentionally mischievous or harmful
meticulous adj. very careful about details; fussy
nonchalance n. carelessness; lack of interest or concern
peruse v. to study; to read
quixotic idealistic and utterly impractical
sagacious adj. very wise or shrewd (from a sage)
saturate v. to soak through and through; to fill completely
supercilious adj. proud and scornful; haughty; looking down on others
surreptitious adj. sly; stealthy; done in a quiet or secret way
taciturn adj. habitually untalkative; laconic; uncommunicative
temerity n. rashness; foolish or reckless boldness
tenet n. a principle, doctrine, or belief held as a truth by a group
urbane adj. courteous; suave; polished
utopian adj. excellent, but existing only in fancy or theory; given to the dreams or schemes of perfection
atrophy v. to waste away
aversion n. strong or fixed dislike; antipathy
bombastic adj. high-sounding; marked by use of language without much real meaning
cacophony n. discord; harsh sound
capitulate v. to surrender; to cease resisting
dismantle v. to pull down; to take apart
dogmatic adj. positive and emphatic in asserting opinions
ebb to decline
eccentric adj. unique, deviating from a set pattern
evanescent adj. gradually disappearing; fleeting
expedient adj. useful; advantageous; based on self-interest
expedient n. a means of bringing about a desired result
indigent adj. poverty-stricken (n. = someone who is poor or impoverished)
meager thin; lean; of poor quality or small amount
pique v. to hurt the feelings or make resentful; to arouse or excite
platitude n. a thought or remark that is dull, trite, flat or weak
recalcitrant adj. refusing to obey rules or follow orders; unmanageably resistant
virtuoso n. one interested in the pursuit of knowledge; one with masterly technique in any field, esp. arts
vitriolic adj. extremely biting or caustic; sharp and bitter
whet v. to sharpen; to make stronger; to stimulate
aberration n. an oddity
affable adj. friendly; easy to get along with
coalesce v. to merge to form one whole
commiserate v. to sympathize; express compassion
congenital adj. existing from birth
dearth n. a scarcity, a lack
diatribe n. a bitter, abusively critical speech or piece of writing
effervescent adj. bubbling with high spirits; exhilarated
enmity n. hatred
heist n. a theft
inscrutable adj. difficult to interpret or understand; puzzling
loquacious adj. very talkative
paragon n. a model of excellence or perfection
precocious adj. showing unusually early maturity or ability
querulous adj. complaining; whining
torpor n. a state of mental or physical inactivity; sluggishness
unassailable adj. impossible to deny
untenable adj. unable to be held or defended; insupportable
vacillate v. to sway indecisively between two opinions
writhe v. to twist and turn, as in pain or discomfort
abstemious adj. self-denying
assiduous adj. careful, hardworking, and thorough; diligent
brusque adj. rudely abrupt; curt
contiguous adj. adjoining; sharing an edge or boundary
desultory adj. moving from one thing to another in an unplanned way; random
discerning adj. having keen insight; perceptive; clear-eyed
elucidate v. to explain, clarify
enervate v. to weaken rob of strength or energy
ethereal adj. (i-thir-ē-al) heavenly or delicate *
iconoclast n. someone who attacks traditional ideas; someone who considers nothing sacred
irascible adj. easily angered; irritable
obtuse slow to understand; dull
officious adj. offering unwanted advice; meddlesome
parochial adj. restricted to a narrow scope or outlook; narrow-minded
placid adj. peaceful; calm
prerogative n. a special right or privilege
progeny n. children; descendants
raze v. to tear down completely; demolish
recapitulate v. to summarize or repeat briefly
wanton adj. senseless
abstruse adj. difficult to understand; deep
aesthetic adj. having a sense of beauty; giving an impression of beauty
ascetic adj. practicing self denial; austere
astute adj. clever; perceptive
blasphemy n. disrespect toward something sacred or important; irreverence
deprecate v. to express disapproval of
didactic adj. designed to teach; educational
engender v. to cause or produce, to bring into existence
equanimity n. the quality of staying calm and even-tempered
erudite adj. having or showing wide knowledge
garner - v. to collect
hypocrisy n. a pretense of having beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not actually possess
incipient adj. beginning; early
inexorable adj. not capable of being influenced; relentless
irresolute adj. uncertain how to think or act; undecided
mollify v. to soothe the temper of
placate v. to soothe or pacify, especially by making concessions
pugnacious adj. eager and ready to fight
reverent adj. feeling or expressing respect or awe
tawdry adj. tastelessly showy; cheap and gaudy; vulgar
usurp - v. to seize power or position by force
attrition n. a gradual natural decrease in number; becoming fewer in number
aggrandizement n. an increase in rank or wealth; growth in power
austere - adj. without decoration or luxury; severely simple
connoisseur - n. an expert in fine art or in matters of taste
corroborate - v. to confirm
dissident - n. a person opposed to established ideas or beliefs, especially in politics or religion
exonerate - v. to clear of an accusation or charge; prove innocent
equivocate - v. to be deliberately vague in order to mislead
germane - adj. having to do with the issue at hand; relevant
inundate - v. to cover as by flooding; overwhelm with a large number or amount
levity - adj. lightness; lack of seriousness; fickleness
magnanimous - noble in mind and spirit; especially generous in forgiving
maudlin - tearfully sentimental; overly emotional
panacea - n. something supposed to cure all diseases, evils or difficulties; cure-all
philistine - adj. narrow-minded; smugly conventional
(n. a dull, often priggish, person guided by material rather than intellectual or artistic values)
repugnant - adj. offensive; distasteful; repulsive
salutary - adj. healthful; useful or helpful, remedial
scrupulous - adj. very honest and conscientious; careful about details; exact
stultifying - adj. rendering useless or ineffectual; causing to appear stupid or ridiculous
travesty - n. a crude, exaggerated or ridiculous representation; a mockery
buttress n. or v. anything that serves to
support
culpable adj. blameworthy
deleterious adj. injurious; harmful
eclectic adj. choosing or consisting of what appears to be the best from
diverse sources
gaffe n. a clumsy social error; a faux pas
harangue n. a long pompous speech; a speech characterized by strong feeling
or vehement expression.
inchoate adj. in an initial or early stage; incipient; lacking order or
form
innate adj. possessed at birth; inborn
lachrymose adj. weeping or inclined to weep; tearful
lugubrious adj. mournful, esp. to a ludicrous degree
mendacious adj. lying; untruthful
mundane adj. typical of or concerned with the ordinary
nebulous adj. lacking definite form or limits; unclearly established
obdurate adj. stubborn
obfuscate v. to confuse or becloud
onerous adj. troublesome or oppressive; burdensome
proliferate v. to reproduce or increase rapidly and repeatedly
remuneration n. payment for goods or services
tenuous adj. unsubstantial; flimsy
veracity n. conformity to fact; accuracy; true
alacrity n.
promptness or eager and speedy readiness
anomaly n. a derivation from the common rule, type, arrangement or form; an
incongruity or inconsistency
convivial adj. friendly; agreeable; merry; festive
demagogue n. a leader who attains power by appealing to the emotions and
prejudices of the populace
epicure n. a person with refined taste in food and wine
exculpate v. to clear of a charge; exonerate
filial adj. of, pertaining to, or befitting a son or daughter
impetus n. a moving force; an impulse
inculcate v. to teach or impress by frequent instruction or repetition; to
instill
insidious beguiling but in a harmful way
juggernaut n. an overwhelming advancing force that crushes everything in its
path
laudable adj. praiseworthy; commendable
pastoral adj. relating to the countryside or to rural life
perfidy n. deliberate breach of faith; treachery
pernicious adj. destructive or deadly
philanthropy n. the effort to increase the well-being of mankind, as by
charitable donations. precipitous adj. extremely steep; dangerous
sacrosanct adj. regarded as inviolably sacred
segue (sěg wā) v. to move smoothly from one situation or element to
another.
voluble adj. characterized by ready, fluent speech; garrulous
