Magoosh GRE Flashcards Basic C

1. unnerve verb: to make nervous or upset

Synonyms : enervate , faze , unsettle

At one time unnerved by math problems, she beganavidly "Magoosh-ing", and soon became adept ateven combinations and permutations questions.

2. candid adjective: a straightforward and honest look atsomething

Synonyms : blunt , forthright , frank , free-spoken ,outspoken , plainspoken , point-blank , straight-from-the-shoulder

Even with a perfect stranger, Charles was alwayscandid and would rarely hold anything back.

3. slapdash adjective: carelessly and hastily put together

Synonyms : haphazard , slipshod , sloppy

The office building had been constructed in aslapdash manner, so it did not surprise officialswhen, during a small earthquake, a large crackemerged on the façade of the building.

4. telltale adjective: revealing

The many telltale signs of chronic smoking includeyellow teeth, and a persistent, hacking cough.

5. insolvent adjective: unable to pay one's bills; bankrupt

With credit card bills skyrocketing, a shockinglylarge number of Americans are truly insolvent.

6. affluent adjective: wealthy

The center of the city had sadly become a pit ofpenury, while, only five miles away, multi-milliondollar homes spoke of affluence.

7. indignant adjective: feeling anger over a perceived injustice

Synonyms : incensed , outraged , umbrageous

When the cyclist swerved into traffic, it forced thedriver to brake and elicited an indignant shout of"Hey, punk, watch where you're going!"

8. tirade noun: an angry speech

Synonyms : broadside , philippic

In terms of political change, a tirade oftentimesdoes little more than make the person speaking redin the face.

9. thrifty adjective: spending money wisely

Synonyms : careful

He was economical, spending his moneythriftily and on items considered essential.

10. summit noun: the peak or highest point

Synonyms : acme , elevation , height , meridian, peak , pinnacle , superlative , tiptop , top, crest, crown

After hiking for two days, the climbers finallyreached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

noun: a meeting of high-level leaders

Since climate change policy has been mired incongressional fighting, this summit should helpset the goals for president's next term.

11. spendthrift noun: one who spends money extravagantly

Synonyms : scattergood , spend-all , spender

Taking weekly trips to Vegas, Megan was aspendthrift whose excesses eventually caught upto her.

12. screed noun: an abusive rant (often tedious)

Joey had difficulty hanging out with his formerbest friend Perry, who, during his entire cup ofcoffee, enumerated all of the government'sdeficiencies--only to break ranks and launchinto some screed against big business.

13. remiss adjective: to be negligent in one's duty

Synonyms : delinquent , derelict , neglectful

Remiss in his duty to keep the schoolfunctioning efficiently, the principal wasrelieved of his position after only three months.

14. embroiled adjective: involved in argument or contention

Synonyms : entangled

These days we are never short of a D.C.politician embroiled in scandal—a welcomephenomenon for those who, having barelyfinished feasting on the sordid details of oneimbroglio, can sink their teeth into a fresh one.

Magoosh GRE Flashcards Basic, Common & Advanced All1000+Study online at quizlet.com/_r32f2

15. pine verb: to yearn for

Synonyms : ache , languish , yearn , yen

Standing forlornly by the window, she pined for herlost love.This word has other definitions but this is the mostimportant one to study

16. demean verb: to insult; to cause someone to lose dignity orrespect

Synonyms : degrade , disgrace , put down , takedown

At first the soccer players bantered back and forth,but as soon as one of the players becamedemeaning, calling the other's mother a waterbuffalo, the ref whipped out a red card.

17. dog verb: to pursue relentlessly; to hound

Synonyms : chase , chase after , give chase , go after, tag , tail , track , trail

Throughout his life, he was dogged by insecuritiesthat inhibited personal growth.

This word has other definitions but this is the mostimportant one to study

18. amiable adjective: friendly

Synonyms : affable , cordial , genial

Amy's name was very apt: she was so amiable thatshe was twice voted class president.

19. err verb: to make an error

Synonyms : mistake , slip

He erred in thinking that "indigent" and "indignant"were synonyms.

20. tender verb: offer up something formally

Synonyms : bid

The government was loath to tender more money inthe fear that it might set off inflation.


21. underwrite verb: to support financially

Synonyms : subvent , subvention

The latest symphony broadcast was madepossible with underwriting from the CarnegieEndowment.

22. vindictive adjective: to have a very strong desire forrevenge

Though the other girl had only lightly pokedfun of Vanessa's choice in attire, Vanessa wasso vindictive that she waited for an entiresemester to get the perfect revenge.

23. indict verb: to formally charge or accuse of wrong-doing

The bankrobber was indicted on several majorcharges, including possession of a firearm.

24. inflammable adjective: extremely controversial, incendiary

It only takes one person to leave aninflammable comment on an Internet threadfor that thread to blow up into pages uponpages of reader indignation.

25. miser noun: a person who doesn't like to spendmoney (because they are greedy)

Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal,wisely spending the little that he earned.

26. acme noun: the highest point of achievement

Synonyms : elevation , height , meridian , peak, pinnacle , summit , superlative , tiptop , top

The new Cessna airplanes will be the acme ofcomfort, offering reclining seats and amplelegroom.

27. stipend noun: a regular allowance (of money)

He was hoping for a monthly allowance loanfrom the government, but after no such stipendwas forthcoming he realized he would have toseek other means of paying for his collegetuition.

28. variance noun: the quality of being different

The cynic quipped, "There is not muchvariance in politicians; they all seem to lie".

29. profuse adjective: plentiful; pouring out in abundance

Synonyms : exuberant , lush , luxuriant , riotous

During mile 20 of the Hawaii Marathon, Dwaynewas sweating so profusely that he stopped to takeoff his shirt, and ran the remaining six mileswearing nothing more than skimpy shorts.

30. pinnacle noun: the highest point

Synonyms : acme , elevation , height , meridian ,peak , summit , superlative , tiptop , top

At its pinnacle, the Roman Empire extended acrossmost of the landmass of Eurasia, a feat notparalleled to the rise of the British Empire in the18th and 19th century.

31. inundate verb: to flood or overwhelm

Synonyms : deluge , submerge, flood , swamp

The newsroom was inundated with false reportsthat only made it more difficult for the newscastersto provide an objective account of the bank robbery.

32. peruse verb: to read very carefully

Instead of perusing important documents, peopleall too often rush to the bottom of the page andplaster their signatures at the bottom.

33. retiring adjective: to be shy, and to be inclined to retractfrom company

Synonyms : reticent , self-effacing

Nelson was always the first to leave soirees - ratherthan mill about with "fashionable" folk, he wasretiring, and preferred the solitude of his garret.


34. censor verb: to examine and remove objectionablematerial

Synonyms : ban

Every fall, high school English teachers areinundated by requests to censor their curriculum byremoving The Catcher in the Rye and Scarlet Letterfrom their reading lists.noun: an official who censors material

The censor insisted that every reference to drugsshould be removed from the manuscript.

35. dupe verb: to trick or swindle

Synonyms : befool , cod , fool , gull , put on , putone across , put one over , slang , take in

Once again a get-rich-fast Internet scheme hadduped Harold into submitting a $5,000 check toa sham operation.

noun: a person who is easily tricked or swindled

Synonyms : victim

The charlatan mistook the crowd for a bunch ofdupes, but the crowd was quickly on to him anddecried his bald-faced attempt to bilk them.

36. macabre adjective: suggesting the horror of death anddecay; gruesome

Synonyms : ghastly , grim , grisly ,sick

Edgar Allen Poe was considered the master ofthe macabre; his stories vividly describe themoment leading up to - and often thosemoments after - a grisly death.

37. telling adjective: significant and revealing of anotherfactor

Her unbecoming dress was very telling when itcame to her sense of fashion.

This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

38. indigenous adjective: originating in a certain area

Synonyms : autochthonal , autochthonic ,autochthonous , endemic

The plants and animals indigenous to Australiaare notably different from those indigenous tothe U.S - one look at a duckbill platypus and youknow you're not dealing with an opossum.

39. hound verb: to pursue relentlessly

Synonyms : hunt , trace

An implacable foe of corruption, Eliot Nesshounded out graft in all forms - he even helpednab Al Capone.


40. mesmerize verb: to spellbind or enthrall

Synonyms : bewitch , magnetise , magnetize, mesmerise

The plot and the characters were so welldeveloped that many viewers weremesmerized, unable to move their eyes fromthe screen for even a single second.

41. affable adjective: likeable; easy to talk to

Synonyms : amiable , cordial , genial

For all his surface affability, Marco wasremarkably glum when he wasn't aroundother people.

42. thoroughgoing adjective: very thorough; complete

Synonyms : exhaustive , thorough

As a thoroughgoing bibliophile, one whohad turned his house into a veritable library,he shocked his friends when he bought aKindle.

43. erratic adjective: unpredictable; strange andunconventional

Synonyms : fickle , mercurial , quicksilver

It came as no surprise to pundits that thePresident's attempt at re-election floundered;even during his term, support for his policieswas erratic, with an approval ratingjumping anywhere from 30 to 60 percent.

44. diabolical adjective: to be extremely wicked like thedevil

Synonyms : demonic , diabolic , fiendish ,hellish , infernal , satanic , unholy,devilish ,diabolic , mephistophelean ,mephistophelian

The conspirators, willing to dispatchanyone who stood in their way, hatched adiabolical plan to take over the city.

45. serendipity noun: the instance in which an accidental,fortunate discovery is made

By pure serendipity, Sarah discovered, at aflea market in Peoria, a matching earring toreplace the one that fell down the stormdrain back home.

46. reprobate noun: a person who is disapproved of

Synonyms : miscreant

Those old reprobates drinking all day downby the river-they are not going to amount tomuch.

47. demure adjective: to be modest and shy

Synonyms : coy , overmodest

The portrait of her in a simple white blousewas sweet and demure.

48. bleak adjective: having a depressing or gloomyoutlook

Synonyms : bare , barren , desolate , stark

Unremitting overcast skies tend to leadpeople to create bleak literature andlugubrious music - compare England's bandRadiohead to any band from SouthernCalifornia.

49. zenith noun: the highest point; culmination

At the zenith of his artistic career, Elvis wasoutselling any other artist on the charts.

50. voracious adjective: very hungry; approaching anactivity with gusto

Synonyms : edacious , esurient , rapacious ,ravening , ravenous , wolfish

Steven was a voracious reader, sometimesfinishing two novels in the same day.

51. start verb: to suddenly move in a particulardirection

All alone in the mansion, Henrietta startedwhen she heard a sound.

This word has other definitions but this isthe most important one to study

52. sanctimonious adjective: making a show of being pious;holier-than-thou

Synonyms : holier-than-thou , pharisaic ,pharisaical , pietistic , pietistical , self-righteous

Even during the quiet sanctity of eveningprayer, she held her chin high, asanctimonious sneer forming on her face asshe eyed those who were attending churchfor the first time.

53. avarice noun: greed (one of the seven deadly sins)

Synonyms : avaritia , covetousness , greed ,rapacity,avariciousness , covetousness ,cupidity

The Spanish conquistadors were known fortheir avarice, plundering Incan land andstealing Incan gold.

54. catalyst noun: something that speeds up an event

Synonyms : accelerator

Rosa Park's refusal to give up her bus seatacted as a catalyst for the Civil RightsMovement, setting into motion historicchanges for African-Americans.

55. unconscionable adjective: unreasonable; unscrupulous;excessive

Synonyms : exorbitant , extortionate ,outrageous , steep , usurious

The lawyer's demands were sounconscionable that rather than pay anexorbitant sum or submit himself to anyother inconveniences, the defendantdecided to find a new lawyer.

56. misanthrope noun: a hater of mankind

Synonyms : misanthropist

Kevin is such a misanthrope that herefused to attend the Christmas party,claiming that everyone's happiness was"fake" and "annoying."

57. stem verb: to hold back or limit the flow orgrowth of something

To stem the tide of applications, theprestigious Ivy requires that each applicantscore at least 330 on the Revised GRE.


58. aboveboard adjective: open and honest

Synonyms : straightforward

The mayor, despite his avuncular faceplastered about the city, was hardlyaboveboard - some concluded that it washis ingratiating smile that allowed him toengage in corrupt behavior and get awaywith it.

59. heyday noun: the pinnacle or top of a time period orcareer

Synonyms : bloom , blossom , efflorescence ,flower , flush , peak , prime

During the heyday of Prohibition, bootlegginghad become such a lucrative business thatmany who had been opposed to the 18thAmendment began to fear it would be repealed.

60. immaterial adjective: not relevant

Synonyms : extraneous , impertinent ,orthogonal, incorporeal

The judge found the defendant's commentsimmaterial to the trial, and summarilydismissed him from the witness stand.

61. scintillating adjective: describes someone who is brilliantand lively

Synonyms : aglitter , coruscant , fulgid ,glinting , glistering , glittering , glittery ,scintillant , sparkly, bubbling , effervescent ,frothy

Richard Feynman was renowned for hisscintillating lectures—the arcana of quantumphysics was made lucid as he wrote animatedlyon the chalkboard.

62. badger verb: to pester

Synonyms : beleaguer , bug , pester , tease

Badgered by his parents to find a job, the 30-year-old loafer instead joined a gang ofitinerant musicians.


63. chauvinist noun: a person who believes in the superiorityof their group

Synonyms : flag-waver , hundred-percenter ,jingo , jingoist , patrioteer

The chauvinist lives on both sides of thepolitical spectrum, outright shunning anybodywhose ideas are not consistent with his own.

64. apex noun: the highest point

Synonyms : acme , peak , vertex

The Ivy League is considered the apex of thesecondary education system.

65. corroborate verb: to confirm or lend support to (usuallyan idea or claim)

Synonyms : affirm , confirm , substantiate ,sustain,bear out , support , underpin

Her claim that frog populations were fallingprecipitously in Central America wascorroborated by locals, who reported thatmany species of frogs had seeminglyvanished overnight.

66. becoming adjective: appropriate, and matches nicely

Synonyms : comely , comme il faut , decent ,decorous , seemly

Her dress was becoming and made her lookeven more beautiful.


67. exhort verb: to strongly urge on; encourage

Synonyms : barrack , cheer , inspire , pep up ,root on , urge , urge on

Nelson's parents exhorted him to studymedicine, urging him to choose a respectableprofession; intransigent, Nelson left home tobecome a graffiti artist.

68. cardinal adjective: of primary importance;fundamental

Synonyms : central , fundamental , key ,primal

Most cultures consider gambling a cardinalsin and thus have outlawed its practice.


69. errant adjective: to be wandering; not sticking to acircumscribed path

Unlike his peers, who spent their hoursstudying in the library, Matthew preferrederrant walks through the university campus.

70. imponderable adjective: impossible to estimate or figure out

According to many lawmakers, the hugevariety of factors affecting society makedevising an efficient healthcare system animponderable task.

71. bellicose adjective: warlike; inclined to quarrel

Synonyms : battleful , combative

Known for their bellicose ways, the Spartanswere once the most feared people fromPeloponnesus to Persia.

72. pugnacious adjective: eager to fight or argue; verballycombative

The comedian told one flat joke after another,and when the audience started booing, hepugnaciously spat back at them, "Hey, you thinkthis is easy - why don't you buffoons give it ashot?"

73. junta noun: an aggressive takeover by a group(usually military)

As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is,some analysts believe that were a juntasuddenly to gain power, it could be even moreunpredictable and bellicose than the currentleadership

74. pittance noun: a small amount (of money)

Vinny's uncle beamed smugly about how he'doffered his nephew fifty dollars for his Harvardtuition; even twice the amount would have beena mere pittance.

75. check verb: to limit (usually modifying the growth ofsomething)

Deserted for six months, the property began tolook more like a jungle and less like a residence- weeds grew unchecked in the front yard

noun: the condition of being held back orlimited

When government abuses are not kept in check,that government is likely to become autocratic.

This word has other definitions but these arethe most important ones to study

76. desecrate verb: to willfully violate or destroy a sacred place

Synonyms : outrage , profane , violate

After desecrating the pharaoh's tomb, thearchaeologist soon fell victim to a horribleillness.

77. amuck adverb: in a frenzied or uncontrolled state

Synonyms : amok , murderously

Wherever the bowl haircut teen-idol went, hislegions of screaming fans ran through thestreets amuck, hoping for a glance at his boyishface.

78. virago noun: an ill-tempered or violent woman

Synonyms : amazon

Poor Billy was the victim of the virago'sinvective - she railed at him for a good 30-minutes about how he is the scum of the earthfor speaking loudly on his cellphone in public.

79. melee noun: a wild, confusing fight or struggle

Synonyms : battle royal , scrimmage

After enduring daily taunts about my name, Ibecame enraged and pummeled the schoolyardbully and his sycophantic friends in a brutalmelee.

80. hodgepodge noun: a confusing mixture or jumble

Synonyms : farrago , gallimaufry , hotchpotch ,melange , mingle-mangle , mishmash ,oddments , odds and ends , omnium-gatherum ,ragbag

Those in attendance represented a hodgepodgeof the city's denizens: chimney sweepers couldbe seen sitting elbow to elbow withstockbrokers.

81. animosity noun: intense hostility

The governor's animosity toward his rival wasonly inflamed when the latter spread false liesregarding the governor's first term.

82. checkered adjective: one that is marked by disreputablehappenings

One by one, the presidential candidatesdropped out of the race, their respectivecheckered pasts - from embezzlement toinfidelity - sabotaging their campaigns.


83. cogent adjective: clear and persuasive

Synonyms : telling , weighty

A cogent argument will change the minds of eventhe most skeptical audience.

84. ferret verb: to search for something persistently

Synonyms : ferret out

Ever the resourceful lexicographer, Fenton wasable to ferret out the word origin of highly obscurewords.


85. moment noun: significant and important value

Synonyms : consequence , import

Despite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of nogreat moment in Hampton's writing career, andwithin a few years the public quickly forgot hisforay into theater arts.


86. flush adjective: to be in abundance

Synonyms : bloom , blossom , efflorescence ,flower , heyday , peak , prime

The exam's passage is flush with difficult words,words that you may have learned only yesterday.


87. replete adjective: completely stocked or furnished withsomething

Only weeks after the hurricane made landfall, thelocal supermarket shelves were replete with goods,so quick was the disaster relief response.

88. vicarious adjective: felt or undergone as if one were takingpart in the experience or feelings of another

The advent of twitter is a celebrity stalker's dream,as he or she can - through hundreds of intimate"tweets" - vicariously live the life of a famousperson.

89. powwow noun: an informal meeting or discussion

Before the team takes the field, the coach alwayscalls for a powwow so that he can make sure allthe players are mentally in the right place.

90. contrite adjective: to be remorseful

Synonyms : remorseful , rueful , ruthful

Though he stole his little sister's licorice stickwith malevolent glee, Chucky soon becamecontrite when his sister wouldn't stop crying.

91. beatific adjective: blissfully happy

Synonyms : angelic , angelical , sainted ,saintlike , saintly

Often we imagine all monks to wear the beatificsmile of the Buddha, but, like any of us, a monkcan have a bad day and not look very happy.

92. preemptive adjective: done before someone else can do it

Just as Martha was about to take the onlycookie left on the table, Noah preemptivelyswiped it.

93. sanguine adjective: cheerful; optimistic

Synonyms : florid , rubicund , ruddy

With the prospect of having to learn 3,000words during the course of the summer, Paulwas anything but sanguine.

94. cadaverous adjective: emaciated; gaunt

Synonyms : bony ,haggard , pinched , skeletal ,wasted

Some actors take challenging roles in whichthey have to lose so much weight that theyappear cadaverous.

95. disparate adjective: two things are fundamentally different

With the advent of machines capable of lookinginside the brain, fields as disparate as religionand biology have been brought together byscientists trying to understand what happens inthe brain when people have a religiousexperience.

96. raft noun: a large number of something

Synonyms : batch , deal , flock , good deal ,great deal , hatful , heap , lot , mass , mess ,mickle , mint , mountain , muckle , passel ,peck , pile , plenty , pot , quite a little , sight ,slew , spate , stack , tidy sum , wad

Despite a raft of city ordinances passed by anoverzealous council, noise pollution continuedunabated in the megalopolis.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

97. adequate adjective: good enough for what you need

Synonyms : decent , enough

A very light jacket will be adequate for LosAngeles's warm winter.

98. extenuating adjective: making less guilty or more forgivable

The jury was hardly moved by the man's pleathat his loneliness was an extenuating factorin his crime of dognapping a prized pooch.

99. fleece verb: to deceive

Synonyms : gazump , hook , overcharge , pluck, plume , rob , soak , surcharge

Many people have been fleeced by Internetscams and never received their money back.


100. paucity noun: a lack of something

Synonyms : dearth

There is a paucity of jobs hiring today thatrequire menial skills, since most jobs haveeither been automated or outsourced.

101. wax verb: to gradually increase in size or intensity

Synonyms : climb , mount , rise

Her enthusiasm for the diva's new album onlywaxed with each song; by the end of thealbum, it was her favorite CD yet.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

102. raffish adjective: marked by a carefreeunconventionality or disreputableness

Synonyms : devil-may-care , rakish

The men found him raffish, but the womenadored his smart clothes and casual attitude.

103. meander verb: to wander aimlessly

Synonyms : thread , wander , weave , wind

A casual observer might have thought thatPeter was meandering through the city, butthat day he was actually seeking out thoseplaces where he and his long lost love hadonce visited.

104. ingenuity noun: the power of creative imagination

Synonyms : cleverness , ingeniousness ,inventiveness

Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; hewas able to fashion his son Icarus with a pairof wings, using wax to hold them together.

105. flounder verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties

Synonyms : stagger

Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, butironically, when she has deal with taxes, sheflounders.

106. consummate adjective: having or revealing suprememastery or skill

Synonyms : masterful , masterly , virtuoso

Tyler was the consummate musician: he wasable to play the guitar, harmonica, and thedrum at the same time.

verb: to make perfect and complete in everyrespect

The restoration of the ancient church wasonly consummated after a twenty years oflabor.


107. disenfranchise verb: deprive of voting rights

Synonyms : disfranchise

The U.S. Constitution disenfranchisedwomen until 1920 when they were giventhe right to vote.

108. robust adjective: sturdy and strong in form,constitution, or construction

Chris preferred bland and mild beers, butBhavin preferred a beer with more robustflavor.

109. degrade verb: reduce in worth or character, usuallyverbally

Synonyms : demean , disgrace , put down ,take down

Jesse had mockingly pointed out all ofNancy's faults in front of their friends,publicly degrading the poor girl.

110. appreciable adjective: large enough to be noticed (usu.refers to an amount)

There is an appreciable difference betweenthose who say they can get the job doneand those who actually get the job done.

111. muted adjective: softened, subdued

Synonyms : hushed , quiet , subdued

Helen preferred muted earth colors, suchas green and brown, to the bright pinksand red her sister liked.


112. elusive adjective: difficult to capture or difficult toremember

Synonyms : baffling , knotty , problematic ,problematical , tough

Many first time skydivers say thatdescribing the act of falling from the sky iselusive.

113. discriminate verb: recognize or perceive the difference

Synonyms : know apart,separate

Sarah couldn't discriminate between a goodwine and a bad wine, so she avoided winetastings.


114. snide adjective: expressive of contempt; derogatoryor mocking in an indirect way

Synonyms : sneering , supercilious

The chairman interpreted Taylor's questionabout promotions as a snide remark, but inall innocence Taylor was trying to figure outthe company's process.

115. quandary noun: state of uncertainty or perplexityespecially as requiring a choice betweenequally unfavorable options

Synonyms : dilemma

Steve certainly is in a quandary: if he doesn'tcall Elaine, she will blame him foreverything, but if he does call her, theevidence of where he currently is could costhim his job.

116. respite noun: a pause from doing something (aswork)

Synonyms : break , recess , time out,relief , rest , rest period

Every afternoon, the small company has arespite in which workers play foosball orboard games.

117. boon noun: a desirable state

Synonyms : blessing

Modern technology has been a boon to thetravel industry.adjective: very close and convivial

He was a boon companion to many, and willbe sadly missed.

118. impermeable adjective: does not allow fluids to passthrough

The sand bags placed on the river formed animpermeable barrier, protecting the townfrom flooding.

119. proponent noun: a person who pleads for a cause orpropounds an idea

Synonyms : advocate , advocator , exponent

Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-EarthTheory flies all over the world in an effort to winmore adherents.

120. moot adjective: open to argument or debate;undecidable in a meaningless or irrelevant way

Synonyms : arguable , debatable , disputable

Since the Board just terminated Steve as theCEO, what the finance committe might havethought of his proposed marketing plan for nextyear is now a moot point.


121. stolid adjective: having or revealing little emotion orsensibility; not easily aroused or excited

Synonyms : impassive

Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers,but they actually have passionate emotionallives.

122. thwart verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, ordesires) of

Synonyms : baffle , bilk , cross , foil , frustrate ,queer , scotch , spoil

I wanted to spend a week in New York thisautumn, but the high costs of travel and lodgingthwarted my plans.

123. avid adjective: marked by active interest andenthusiasm

Synonyms : zealous

Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking longhikes into remote mountains to see some rareeagle.

124. guffaw verb: laugh boisterously

Synonyms : laugh loudly

Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mockpain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow,fang-like teeth.

125. transitory adjective: lasting a very short time

Synonyms : ephemeral , fugacious , passing, short-lived , transient

If we lived forever and life was nottransitory, do you think we would appreciatelife less or more?

126. fete verb: to celebrate a person

Synonyms : celebrate

After World War II, war heroes were feted atfirst but quickly forgotten.

127. disheartened adjective: made less hopeful or enthusiastic

Synonyms : demoralised , demoralized ,discouraged

After the visiting team scored nine times,the home team's fans were disheartened,some leaving the game early.

128. autonomously adverb: In an autonomous or self-governingmanner.

Many of the factory workers are worriedabout being replaced by machines andcomputers that will work completelyautonomously.

129. patronize verb: treat condescendingly

Synonyms : condescend , patronise

She says she genuinely wanted to help me,but instead she patronized me, constantlypointing out how I was inferior to her.This word has other definitions but this isthe most important one to study

130. morose adjective: ill-tempered and not inclined totalk; gloomy

Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum ,moody , saturnine , sour , sullen

After Stanley found out he was no longerable to go on vacation with his friends, hesat in his room morosely.

131. inclement adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy

After a week of inclement weather, we finallyare able to go outside and enjoy the sun.

adjective: used of persons or behavior; showingno mercy

Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, wasinclement to Christians during his reign,persecuting them violently.

132. ornate adjective: marked by elaborate rhetoric andelaborated with decorative details

Synonyms : flowery

The ornate Victorian and Edwardian homesspread throughout San Francisco are myfavorite part of the city.

133. renege verb: fail to fulfill a promise or obligation

Synonyms : go back on , renege on , renegue on

We will no longer work with that vendor sinceit has reneged on nearly every agreement.

134. resolve verb: reach a conclusion after a discussion ordeliberation

Synonyms : conclude

After much thought, Ted resolved not to travelabroad this summer because he didn't havemuch money in his bank account.


135. ascendancy noun: the state that exists when one person orgroup has power over another

Synonyms : ascendance , ascendence ,ascendency , control , dominance

The ascendancy of the Carlsbad water poloteam is clear—they have a decade ofchampionships behind them.

136. incessant adjective: uninterrupted in time andindefinitely long continuing

Synonyms : ceaseless , constant , never-ending, perpetual , unceasing , unremitting

I don't mind small children in brief doses, but Ithink the incessant exposure that their parentshave to them would quickly wear me down.

137. apprehension noun: fearful expectation

Synonyms : apprehensiveness ,dread,misgiving

Test day can be one of pure apprehension,as many students worry about their testscores.

138. dearth noun: a lack or shortage

Synonyms : famine , shortage,paucity

I am surprised by the dearth of fast foodchains; this is America and I assumed theywere on every street.

139. malleable adjective: capable of being shaped or bent ordrawn out

Synonyms : ductile , pliable , pliant , tensile, tractile

The clay became malleable and easy to workwith after a little water was added.

adjective: easily influenced

Synonyms : ductile

My little brother is so malleable that I canconvince him to sneak cookies from thecupboard for me.

140. plodding adjective: (of movement) slow and laborious

Synonyms : leaden

Charlie may seem to run at a plodding pace,but he is an ultramarathoner, meaning heruns distances of up to 100 miles, and canrun for ten hours at a stretch.

141. endemic adjective: native; originating where it isfound

Synonyms : autochthonal , autochthonic ,autochthonous , indigenous

Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes,but ironically, the potato is not endemic toIreland.

142. malady noun: a disease or sickness

Synonyms : illness , sickness , unwellness

The town was struck by a maladythroughout the winter that left most peoplesick in bed for two weeks.

143. impede verb: be a hindrance or obstacle to

Synonyms : hinder,block , close up , jam , obstruct, obturate , occlude

Since the police sergeant had to train the pair ofnew hires, progress in his own case was impeded.

144. advocate verb: speak, plead, or argue in favor of

Synonyms : preach

While the senator privately approved of gaymarriage, he was unwilling to advocate for thecause in a public venue.

noun: a person who pleads for a cause orpropounds an idea

Synonyms : advocator , exponent , proponent

Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate forthe rights of African-Americans in the UnitedStates.

This word has other definitions but these are themost important ones to study

145. obdurate adjective: stubbornly persistent in changing anopinion or action

Synonyms : cussed , obstinate , unrepentant

No number of pleas and bribes would get him tochange his obdurate attitude.

146. deter verb: turn away from by persuasion

Synonyms : dissuade

His mother tried to deter him from joining thearmy, but he was too intoxicated with the idea ofwar to listen.

verb: try to prevent; show opposition to

Synonyms : discourage

The government's primary job should involvedeterring paths to war, not finding ways to startthem.

147. entice verb: get someone to do something through (oftenfalse or exaggerated) promises

Synonyms : lure , tempt

Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on avacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on thebeach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.

148. jocular adjective: characterized by jokes and goodhumor

Synonyms : jesting , jocose , joking

My uncle was always in a jocular mood atfamily gatherings, messing up people's hairand telling knock-knock jokes to anyone whowould listen.

149. archaic adjective: so old as to appear to belong to adifferent period

Synonyms : antediluvian , antiquated

Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke inarchaic English that was right out of JaneAusten's Pride and Prejudice--needless to say,she didn't have many friends.

150. pithy adjective: concise and full of meaning

Synonyms : sententious

I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy andinsightful prose; it always gives me somethingto think about.

151. fledgling adjective: young and inexperienced; describingany new participant in some activity

Synonyms : callow , unfledged,entrant ,fledgeling , freshman , neophyte , newbie ,newcomer , starter,

Murray has years of experience in familypractice, but he is just a fledgling in surgery.

152. euphoria noun: a feeling of great (usually exaggerated)elation

Synonyms : euphory

The euphoria of winning her first gold medal inthe 100 meter dash overwhelmed Shelly-AnnFraser and she wept tears of immense joy.

153. cornucopia noun: an abundant supply of something good

Synonyms : profuseness , profusion , richness

The International Food Expo was a cornucopiaof culinary delights: gourmet foods from everycontinent were under one roof.

154. debase verb: reduce the quality or value ofsomething

Synonyms : adulterate , dilute , load , stretch

The third-rate script so debased the film thatnot even the flawless acting could save itfrom being a flop.

155. lucid adjective: (of language) transparently clear;easily understandable

Synonyms : crystal clear , limpid , luculent ,pellucid , perspicuous

Though Walters writes about physics andtime travel, his writing is always lucid, soreaders with little scientific training canunderstand difficult concepts.

156. commendable adjective: worthy of high praise

Synonyms : applaudable , laudable ,praiseworthy

The efforts of the firefighters running intothe burning building were commendable.

157. tumult noun: a state of chaos, noise and confusion

Synonyms : garboil , tumultuousness ,uproar,commotion , din , ruckus , ruction ,rumpus

Riots broke out just in front of our apartmentbuilding, and the tumult continued late intothe night.

158. vacuous adjective: devoid of intelligence, matter, orsignificance

Synonyms : asinine , fatuous , inane ,mindless,empty , hollow

To the journalist's pointed question, thesenator gave a vacuous response, mixing afew of his overall campaign slogans withplatitudes and completely avoiding thecontroversial subject of the question.

159. facetious adjective: cleverly amusing in tone

Synonyms : bantering , tongue-in-cheek

Facetious behavior will not be toleratedduring sex eduation class; it's time for all ofyou to treat these matters like mature adults.

160. impeccable adjective: without fault or error

Synonyms : faultless , immaculate

He was impeccably dressed in the latest fashionwithout a single crease or stain.

161. benign adjective: kind

I remember my grandfather's face waswrinkled, benign, and calm.

adjective: (medicine) not dangerous to health;not recurrent or progressive

The tumor located in your ear lobe seems to bebenign and should not cause you any trouble.

162. martial adjective: suggesting war or military life

Synonyms : warlike,soldierlike , soldierly ,warriorlike

Americans tend to remember Abraham Lincolnas kindly and wise, not at all martial, despitethe fact that he was involved in the fiercest warAmerica has even fought.

163. credence noun: belief in something

He placed no credence in psychics, claimingthat they offered no special powers beyond theability to make people part with their money.

164. derisive adjective: abusing vocally; expressing contemptor ridicule

Synonyms : gibelike , jeering , mocking ,taunting

I was surprised by her derisive tone; usually,she is sweet, soft spoken, and congenial.

165. banish verb: expel from a community, residence, orlocation; drive away

Synonyms : ban , blackball , cast out , ostracise, ostracize , shun

The most difficult part of the fast was banishingthoughts of food.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

166. precedent noun: an example that is used to justifysimilar occurrences at a later time

Synonyms : case in point

The principal explained that eventhough one student had done modellingwork outside of school, the outfits thatstudent wore in those photographs in noway established a precedent for whatcould be worn at school dances.

167. sentimental adjective: effusively or insincerelyemotional, especially in art, music, andliterature

Synonyms : bathetic , drippy , hokey ,kitschy , maudlin , mawkish , mushy ,schmaltzy , schmalzy , slushy , soppy ,soupy

I don't like romanticism for the samereason I don't like melodramatic actingand soap operas - overly sentimental.

168. perennial adjective: lasting an indefinitely longtime; eternal; everlasting

Even at the old-timers games, StanMusial would get the loudest cheer: hewas a perennial favorite of the fansthere.

This word has other definitions but thisis the most important one to study

169. empathetic adjective: showing understanding andready comprehension of other peoples'states and emotions

Synonyms : empathic

Most discrimination and hatred is basedon a lack of empathetic awareness ofpeople that have the same aspirationsand fears.

170. uncompromising adjective: not making concessions

Synonyms : inflexible , sturdy

The relationship between Bart andHilda ultimately failed because theywere both so uncompromising, neverwanting to change their opinions.

171. illicit adjective: contrary to or forbidden by law

Synonyms : illegitimate , outlaw , outlawed ,unlawful

Though Al Capone was engaged in many illicitactivities, he was finally arrested for incometax evasion, a relatively minor offense.

172. spurn verb: reject with contempt

Synonyms : disdain , freeze off , pooh-pooh ,reject , scorn , turn down

She spurned all his flattery and proposals, andso he walked off embarrassed and sad.

173. conducive adjective: making a situation or outcome morelikely to happen

Studying in a quiet room is conducive tolearning; studying in a noisy environmentmakes learning more difficult.

174. inadvertent adjective: happening by chance orunexpectedly or unintentionally

Synonyms : accidental

Although Prohibition was rooted in nobleideals, the inadvertent and costlyconsequences of making alcohol illegal in theU.S. led its the repeal.

175. detrimental adjective: (sometimes followed by "to") causingharm or injury

Synonyms : damaging , prejudicial ,prejudicious

Many know that smoking is detrimental toyour health, but processed sugar in largequantities is equally bad.

176. smattering noun: a slight or superficial understanding of asubject; a small amount of something

Synonyms : handful

I know only a smattering of German, but Helenis able to read German newspapers andconverse with natives.

177. urbane adjective: showing a high degree of refinementand the assurance that comes from wide socialexperience

Synonyms : polished , refined , svelte

Because of his service as an intelligence officerand his refined tastes, W. Somerset Maughambecame the inspiration for the urbane andsophistcate spy James Bond.

178. augment verb: enlarge or increase; improve

Ideally, the restaurant's augmented menu willexpand its clientele and increase its profits.

179. buck verb: resist

Synonyms : go against

The profits at our firm bucked the generaldownturn that affected the real estate industry.

180. genial adjective: agreeable, conducive to comfort

Synonyms : kind

Betty is a genial young woman: everyone she meetsis put at ease by her elegance and grace.

181. assuage verb: make something intense less severe

Her fear that the new college would be filled withunknown faces was assuaged when sherecognized her childhood friend standing in line.

182. fickle adjective: liable to sudden unpredictable change,esp. in affections or attachments

Synonyms : erratic , mercurial , quicksilver

She was so fickle in her politics, it was hard topinpoint her beliefs; one week she would embracea side, and the next week she would denounce it.

183. elaborate adjective: marked by complexity and richness ofdetail

Synonyms : luxuriant

Thomas, on returning from Morocco, replaced hisdirty gray carpet with an elaborate one he'dbrought back with him.

verb: explain in more detail

Synonyms : dilate , enlarge , expand , expatiate ,exposit , expound , flesh out , lucubrate

Most high school physics teachers findthemselves elaborating the same point over andover again, since many concepts confusestudents.

184. jargon noun: a characteristic language of a particulargroup

Synonyms : argot , cant , lingo , patois , slang ,vernacular

To those with little training in medicine, thejargon of doctors can be very difficult tounderstand.

185. assail verb: attack in speech or writing

Synonyms : assault , attack , lash out , round ,snipe

In the weekly paper, the editor assailed thegovernor for wasting hundreds of thousands ofdollars in public projects that quickly failed.

186. tawdry adjective: tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy

Synonyms : brassy , cheap , flash , flashy , garish, gaudy , gimcrack , loud , meretricious , tacky ,tatty , trashy,cheapjack , shoddy

Carol expected to find New York City magical, theway so many movies had portrayed it, but she wassurprised how often tawdry displays took theplace of genuine elegance.

187. pristine adjective: Unspoiled, untouched (usu. of nature)

The glacial lake was pristine and we filled ourcanteens to drink deeply.

adjective: Immaculately clean and unused

Drill sergeants are known for demanding pristinecabinets, uniforms, and beds, and often makenew recruits clean and clean and clean until theymeet the expected high standards.

188. genteel adjective: marked by refinement in taste andmanners

Synonyms : civilised , civilized , cultivated ,cultured , polite

A live string quartet would provide a moregenteel air to the wedding than would a folksinger.

189. irresolute adjective: uncertain how to act or proceed

He stood irresolute at the split in the trail,not sure which route would lead back to thecamp.

190. contemptuous adjective: scornful, looking down at otherswith a sneering attitude

Synonyms : disdainful , insulting , scornful

Always on the forefront of fashion, Vanessalooked contemptuously at anyone wearingdated clothing.

191. perpetuate verb: cause to continue

If you do not let him do things for himself,you are merely perpetuating bad habits thatwill be even harder to break in the future.

192. grovel verb: show submission or fear

Synonyms : cower , crawl , creep , cringe ,fawn

Every time Susan comes to the office, Frankgrovels as if she were about to fire.

193. glib adjective: (of a person) speaking with easebut without sincerity

Synonyms : pat , slick

I have found that the more glib thesalesman, the worse the product.

194. altruism noun: the quality of unselfish concern forthe welfare of others

Synonyms : selflessness

Albert Schweitzer spent most of his lifedoing missionary work as a doctor inAfrica, seeking no reward, apparentlymotivated only by altruism.

195. whimsical adjective: determined by impulse or whim ratherthan by necessity or reason

Synonyms : capricious , impulsive

Adults look to kids and envy their whimsicalnature at times, wishing that they could actwithout reason and play without limitation.

196. hamstrung verb: made ineffective or powerless

The FBI has made so many restrictions on thelocal police that they are absolutely hamstrung,unable to accomplish anything.

197. unruly adjective: (of persons) noisy and lacking inrestraint or discipline; unwilling to submit toauthority

Synonyms : boisterous , rambunctious ,robustious , rumbustious,disobedient

Walk in to any preschool and I am sure that youwill find an unruly and chaotic scene - unlessit's nap time.

198. rankle verb: gnaw into; make resentful or angry

Synonyms : eat into , fret , grate

His constant whistling would rankle her,sometimes causing her to leave in a huff.

199. surly adjective: inclined to anger or bad feelings withovertones of menace

Synonyms : ugly

Every morning, Bhavin was a surly unhappyperson, but once he ate breakfast, he becameloving, laughing, and a joy to be around.

200. label noun: a name or phrase given to a group ofthings to identify them (often negative)

verb: to give a label to something

Synonyms : mark , tag

The meaning of the label ""punk"" has changedgreatly in the last 30 years.

Children are often unkind and label others wholook different as outsiders.

201. egotist noun: a conceited and self-centered person

Synonyms : egoist , swellhead

An egotist, Natasha had few friends because ofher inability to talk about anything except herdream of becoming the next American Idol.

202. pertinent adjective: having precise or logical relevance tothe matter at hand

Synonyms : apposite , apt

While the salaries of the players might drawattention in the media, such monetary figures arenot pertinent to the question of who plays the beston the field.

203. travail noun: use of physical or mental energy; hardwork; agony or anguish

Synonyms : effort , elbow grease , exertion , sweat

While they experienced nothing but travails inrefinishing the kitchen, they completed themaster bedroom in less than a weekend.

204. rash adjective: marked by defiant disregard for dangeror consequences; imprudently incurring risk

Synonyms : foolhardy , heady , reckless

Although Bruce was able to make the delivery intime with a nightime motorcycle ride in the rain,Susan criticized his actions as rash.


205. embellish verb: make more attractive by adding ornament,colour, etc.; make more beautiful

Synonyms : adorn , beautify , decorate , grace ,ornament , fancify , prettify

McCartney would write relatively straightforwardlyrics, and Lennon would embellish them withpuns and poetic images.

206. savvy noun: a perceptive understanding

Synonyms : apprehension , discernment ,understanding

Although a great CEO, he did not have thepolitical savvy to win the election.

verb: get the meaning of something

Synonyms : apprehend , compass , comprehend, dig , get the picture , grasp , grok

The student savvies the meaning of astrophysicswith little effort.adjective: well-informed or perceptive

With his savvy business partner, the companywas able to turn a profit within a year.

207. aphoristic adjective: something that is concise andinstructive of a general truth or principle

Sometimes I can't stand Nathan because hetries to impress everyone by being aphoristic,but he just states the obvious.

208. exasperate verb: to irritate intensely

Synonyms : aggravate , exacerbate , exacerbate ,worsen, incense , infuriate

As a child, I exasperated my mother withstrings of never-ending questions.

209. devolve verb: pass on or delegate to another

Synonyms : degenerate , deteriorate , drop

The company was full of managers known fordevolving tasks to lower management, but neverdoing much work themselves.verb: grow worse (usually "devolve into")

The dialogue between the two academicsdevolved into a downright bitter argument.

210. perturb verb: disturb in mind or cause to be worried oralarmed

Synonyms : cark , disorder , disquiet , distract ,trouble , unhinge

Now that Henry is recovering from a majorillnesses, he no longer lets the little trivialities,such as late mail, perturb him.

211. impregnable adjective: immune to attack; incapable ofbeing tampered with

Synonyms : inviolable , secure , strong ,unassailable , unattackable

As a child, Amy would build pillow castlesand pretend they were impregnable fotresses.

212. exemplify verb: be characteristic of

Synonyms : represent

Lincoln exemplified the best of not onlyAmerica, but also the potential greatness thatexists within each person.

verb: clarify by giving an example of

Synonyms : illustrate , instance

Please present some case studies thatexemplify the results that you claim in yourpaper.

213. presumption noun: an assumption that is taken forgranted

Synonyms : given , precondition

When Mr. Baker found out the family car wasgone, he acted under the presumption thathis rebellious son had taken the car, callinghis son's phone and yelling at him; only laterdid Mr. Baker realize that Mrs. Baker hadsimply gone out to get her nails done.

noun: audacious (even arrogant) behaviorthat you have no right to

The new neighbor quickly gained areputation for her presumption; she hadinvited herself to several neighbors' homes,often stopping over at inopportune times andasking for a drink.

214. irk verb: irritate or vex

Synonyms : gall

My little sister has a way of irking andannoying me like no other person.

215. tout verb: advertize in strongly positive terms; showoff

Synonyms : blow , bluster , boast , brag , gas ,gasconade , shoot a line , swash , vaunt

At the conference, the CEO touted theextraordinary success of his company'sResearch & Development division.

216. elude verb: escape understanding

Synonyms : bilk , evade

Even a basic understanding of physics can eludemost high schools students.

217. placid adjective: not easily irritated

Synonyms : equable , even-tempered , good-tempered

Doug is normally placid, so we were all shockedto see him yelling at the television when theMets lost the game.

218. foible noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctiveand peculiar to an individual

Synonyms : idiosyncrasy , mannerism

When their new roommate sat staring at an oaktree for an hour, Marcia thought it indicated amental problem, but Jeff assured her it was aharmless foible.

219. smug adjective: marked by excessive complacency orself-satisfaction

Synonyms : self-satisfied

When Phil was dating the model, he had asmug attitude that annoyed his buddies.

220. convoluted adjective: highly complex or intricate

Synonyms : byzantine , involved , knotty ,tangled , tortuous

Instead of solving the math problem in threesimple steps, Kumar used a convoluted solutionrequiring fifteen steps.

221. impending adjective: close in time; about to occur

Synonyms : at hand , close at hand , imminent ,impendent

The impending doom of our world has been adiscussed and debated for 2000 years - maybeeven longer.

222. enmity noun: a state of deep-seated ill-will

Synonyms : antagonism , hostility

Charles rude remark toward Sarah yesterday wasdue to his illness, not due to any real enmitytoward Sarah.

223. steadfast adjective: marked by firm determination orresolution; not shakable

Synonyms : firm , steady , stiff , unbendable ,unfaltering , unshakable , unwavering

A good captain needs to be steadfast, continuingto hold the wheel and stay the course even duringthe most violent storm.

224. leery adjective: openly distrustful and unwilling toconfide

Synonyms : mistrustful , suspicious , untrusting ,wary

Without checking his references and talking toprevious employers, I am leery of hiring thecandidate.

225. destitute adjective: poor enough to need help from others

Synonyms : impoverished , indigent , necessitous ,needy , poverty-stricken

Jean Valjean, is at first destitute, but through thegrace of a priest, he makes something of his life.

adjective: completely wanting or lacking (usually"destitute of")

Synonyms : barren , devoid , free , innocent

Now that the mine is closed, the town is destituteof any economic activity.

226. taxing adjective: use to the limit; exhaust

Synonyms : burdensome , onerous

The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was sotaxing that I could barely speak or stand up.


227. serene adjective: calm and peaceful

Synonyms : tranquil , unagitated

I'd never seen him so serene; usually, he was aknot of stress and anxiety from hours of tradingon the stock exchange.

228. retract verb: pull inward or towards a center; formallyreject or disavow a formerly held belief, usuallyunder pressure

Synonyms : draw in,abjure , forswear , recant ,resile

Email is wonderfully efficient, but oncesomething awkward or damaging has beensent, there is no way to retract it.

229. reservation noun: an unstated doubt that prevents you fromaccepting something wholeheartedly

Synonyms : arriere pensee , mental reservation

I was initially excited by the idea of a trip toWashington, D.C. but now that I have readabout the high crime statistics there, I havesome reservations.


230. quip noun: a witty saying or remark

Synonyms : epigram,crack , sally , wisecrack

In one of the most famous quips about classicalmusic, Mark Twain said: "Wagner's music isbetter than it sounds."

verb: to make a witty remark, to say in jest

Synonyms : gag

When a old English teacher criticized Churchillfor ending a sentence with a preposition, hequipped, "This is the kind of criticism up withwhich we will not put!"

231. complacent adjective: contented to a fault with oneself orone's actions

Synonyms : self-complacent , self-satisfied

After the water polo team won their sixthchampionship, they became complacent anddidn't even make it to the playoffs the next year.

232. candidness noun: the quality of being honest andstraightforward in attitude and speech

Synonyms : candor , candour , directness ,forthrightness , frankness

Although I was unhappy that the relationshipended, I appreciated her candidness about whyshe was ready to move on from therelationship.

233. peevish adjective: easily irritated or annoyed

Synonyms : cranky , fractious , irritable ,nettlesome , peckish , pettish , petulant ,scratchy , techy , testy , tetchy

Our office manager is peevish, so the rest of ustip-toe around him, hoping not to set offanother one of his fits.

234. unseemly adjective: not in keeping with acceptedstandards of what is right or proper in politesociety

Synonyms : indecent , indecorous ,unbecoming , uncomely , untoward

He acted in an unseemly manner, insulting thehostess and then speaking ill of her deceasedhusband.

235. collusion noun: agreement on a secret plot

Synonyms : connivance

Many have argued that Lee Harvey Oswald,JFK's assassin, was in collusion with othercriminals; others maintain that Oswald was alone gunman.

236. maxim noun: a short saying expressing a general truth

Synonyms : axiom

Johnson initially suggests that the secret tobusiness can be summarized in a single maximbut then requires a 300-page book to explainexactly what he means.

237. eke verb: To live off meager resources, to scrape by

Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry wasable to eke out an existence on canned food.

238. obstinate adjective: resistant to guidance ordiscipline; stubbornly persistent

Synonyms : cussed , obdurate ,unrepentant, contrary , perverse , wayward

The coach suggested improvements Sarahmight make on the balance beam, but sheremained obstinate, unwilling to modifyany of the habits that made her successfulin the past.

239. conniving verb: taking part in immoral and unethicalplots

The queen was so conniving that, with thehelp of the prince, she tried to overthrowthe king.

240. discord noun: lack of agreement or harmony

Synonyms : strife

Despite all their talented players, the teamwas filled with discord--some playersrefused to talk to others--and lost most oftheir games.

241. squander verb: spend thoughtlessly; waste time,money, or an opportunity

Synonyms : blow , waste,consume , ware

Fearing his money would be squandered byhis family, he gave all of it to charity whenhe died.

242. malevolent adjective: wishing or appearing to wishevil to others; arising from intense ill willor hatred

Synonyms : evil , malefic , malign

Villians are known for their malevolentnature, oftentimes inflicting cruetly onothers just for enjoyment.

243. unprecedented adjective: having never been done orknown before; novel

When America first created its nationalparks, the idea of setting aside the mostbeautiful land in a country wasunprecedented in the history of mankind.

244. derogative adjective: expressed as worthless or in negativeterms

Synonyms : derogatory , disparaging

Never before have we seen a debate between twopolitical candidates that was so derogative andfilthy.

245. diligent adjective: characterized by care andperseverance in carrying out tasks

Synonyms : persevering

Michael was a diligent gardener, never leaving aleaf on the ground and regularly watering eachplant.

246. credulity noun: tendency to believe readily

Virginia's wide-eyed credulity as a five-year oldwas replaced by suspicion after she learned thatSanta Claus didn't really exist.

247. tact noun: consideration in dealing with others andavoiding giving offense

Synonyms : tactfulness

In a tremendous display of tact, Shelly was ableto maintain a strong friendship with Marcia,even though Marcia's husband, Frank,confessed to finding Shelley more attractive thanMarcia.

248. pastoral adjective: relating to the countryside in apleasant sense

Synonyms : arcadian , bucolic

Those who imagine America's countryside as apastoral region are often disappointed to learnthat much of rural U.S. is filled with cornfieldsextending as far as the eye can see.

249. brusquely adverb: in a blunt, direct manner

Synonyms : bluffly , bluntly , flat out , roundly

Not one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staffwould brusquely ask his subordinates anythinghe wanted, even coffee.

250. goad verb: urge on with unpleasant comments

Synonyms : prick,needle

Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim,through a steady stream of taunts, goaded himinto signing up for it.

251. tarnish verb: make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air;also used metaphorically

Synonyms : defile , maculate , stain , sully

Pete Rose was one of the best baseball playersof his generation, but his involvement withgambling on baseball games has tarnished hisimage in the eyes of many.

252. ploy noun: a clever plan to turn a situation to one'sadvantage

Synonyms : gambit,stratagem

Dennis arranged an elaborate ploy, involving14 different people lying for him in differentsituations, so that it could appear that he wasmeeting Mary completely by chance at thewedding reception.

253. belittle verb: lessen the importance, dignity, orreputation of

Synonyms : diminish,denigrate , derogate ,minimize

A good teacher will never belittle his students,but will instead empower them.

254. tribulation noun: something, especially an event, thatcauses difficulty and suffering

Synonyms : trial , visitation

As of 2013, nearly 1.5 million Syrians have fledtheir country hoping to escape the tribulationsof a civil war tearing their country to pieces.

255. melancholy noun: a deep, long-lasting sadness

Hamlet is a figure of tremendous melancholy:he doesn't have a truly cheerful scenethroughout the entire play.

256. behooves verb: to be one's duty or obligation

The teacher looked down at the student andsaid, "It would behoove you to be in class ontime and complete your homework, so that youdon't repeat freshman English for a thirdstraight year."

257. cavalier adjective: given to haughty disregard of others

Synonyms : high-handed

Percy dismissed the issue with a cavalier waveof his hand.

258. lethargic adjective: lacking energy

Synonyms : unenrgetic

Nothing can make a person more lethargicthan a big turkey dinner.

259. insipid adjective: dull and uninteresting

Synonyms : bland , flat , flavorless ,flavourless , savorless , savourless , vapid

The movie director was known for hiringbeautiful actors in order to deflect attentionaway from the insipid scripts he wouldtypically use.

260. cerebral adjective: involving intelligence rather thanemotions or instinct

Synonyms : intellectual

A cerebral analysis of most pop music finds itto be simple and childish, but that ignores thepoint--the music's effect on the listener.


261. piquant adjective: having an agreeably pungent taste

Synonyms : savory , savoury , spicy , zesty

The chef, with a mere flick of the salt shaker,turned the bland tomato soup into a piquantmeal.

262. evenhanded adjective: without partiality

Teachers often have trouble being evenhandedto all of their varied students.

263. implicate verb: convey a meaning; imply

Synonyms : entail

By saying that some of the guests wereuncomfortable, the manager implicated to thehotel staff that it needed to be more dilligent.

verb: to indicate in wrongdoing, usually acrime

The crime boss was implicated for a long listof crimes, ranging from murder to disturbingthe peace.

264. preempt verb: take the place of or have precedence over

Synonyms : displace

A governmental warning about an imminentterrorist attack would preempt ordinary networkprogramming on television.

265. uncanny adjective: suggesting the operation ofsupernatural influences; surpassing the ordinaryor normal

Synonyms : eldritch , unearthly ,weird,preternatural

Reggie has an uncanny ability to connect withanimals: feral cats will readily approach him,and sometimes even wild birds will land on hisfinger.

266. deride verb: treat or speak of with contempt

The nun derided the students for trying to sneakinsects and worms into the classroom.

267. analogous adjective: similar in some respects but otherwisedifferent

Synonyms : correspondent

In many ways, the Internet's transformativeeffect on society has been analogous to that ofthe printing press.

268. forthright adjective: characterized by directness in manneror speech; without subtlety or evasion

Synonyms : blunt , candid , frank , free-spoken ,outspoken , plainspoken , point-blank , straight-from-the-shoulder

I did not expect the insurance agent to give usany straight answers, but I was pleasantlysurprised by how forthright he was.

269. finagle verb: achieve something by means of trickery ordevious methods

Synonyms : manage , wangle

Steven was able to finagle one of the last seats onthe train by convincing the conductor that historn stub was actually a valid ticket.

270. cohesive adjective: well integrated, forming a unitedwhole

A well-written, cohesive essay will keep on topicat all times, never losing sight of the mainargument.

271. profusion noun: the property of being extremelyabundant

Synonyms : cornucopia , profuseness ,richness

When Maria reported that she had beenvisited by Jesus Christ and had proof, aprofusion of reporters and journalistsdescended on the town.

272. clemency noun: leniency and compassion showntoward offenders by a person or agencycharged with administering justice

Synonyms : mercifulness , mercy

In the final moments of the trial, during hisclosing speech, Phillips was nearly beggingthe judge for clemency.

273. incense verb: make furious

Synonyms : exasperate , infuriate

When Herb bought football tickets for a gameon the day of their wedding anniversary, Jillwas incensed.


274. intermittent adjective: stopping and starting at irregularintervals

The intermittent thunder continued and thenight was punctuated by cracks of lightning -a surreal sleepless night.

275. delegate verb: give an assignment to (a person)

Synonyms : assign , depute , designate

Since the senior manager had to go on manyinternational business trips, she was forced todelegate many of her responsibilities to twolower-level managers.


276. besmirch verb: damage the good name and reputation ofsomeone

Synonyms : asperse , calumniate , defame ,denigrate , slander , smear , smirch , sully

The prince's distasteful choice of wordsbesmirched not only his own name, but thereputation of the entire royal family.

277. ascribe verb: attribute or credit to

Synonyms : assign , attribute , impute

History ascribes The Odyssey and The Iliad toHomer, but scholars now debate whether hewas a historical figure or a fictitious name.

278. conundrum noun: a difficult problem

Synonyms : brain-teaser , enigma , riddle

Computers have helped solve some of themathematical conundrums which havepuzzled man for many centuries.

279. industrious adjective: characterized by hard work andperseverance

Synonyms : hardworking , tireless , untiring

Pete was an industrious student, completingevery assignment thoroughly and on time.

280. foolhardy adjective: marked by defiant disregard fordanger or consequences

Synonyms : heady , rash , reckless

The police regularly face dangerous situations,so for a police officer not to wear his bullet-proof vest is foolhardy.

281. precarious adjective: fraught with danger

Synonyms : parlous , perilous , touch-and-go

People smoke to relax and forget their cares,but ironically, in terms of health risks,smoking is far more precarious than eithermountain-climbing or skydiving.

282. coalesce verb: fuse or cause to grow together

Synonyms : blend , combine , commingle ,conflate , flux , fuse , immix , meld , merge ,mix

Over time, the various tribes coalesced into asingle common culture with one universallanguage.

283. antedate verb: precede in time

Synonyms : antecede , forego , forgo , precede ,predate, foredate

Harry was so unknowledgable that he wasunaware the Egyptian pharaohs antedated theAmerican Revolution.

284. begrudge verb: to envy someone for possessing orenjoying something

Synonyms : resent

Sitting all alone in his room, Harvey begrudgedthe happiness of the other children playingoutside his window.verb: to give reluctantly

We never begrudge money spent on ourselves.

285. eccentric adjective: highly unconventional or unusual(usually describes a person)

Synonyms : eccentric person , flake , geek ,oddball

Mozart was well-known for his eccentricities,often speaking words backward to confuse thosearound him.

286. rakish adjective: marked by a carefreeunconventionality or disreputableness

Synonyms : devil-may-care , raffish

As soon as he arrived in the city, the rakishyoung man bought some drugs and headedstraight for the seedy parts of town.

287. veneer noun: covering consisting of a thin superficiallayer that hides the underlying substance

Mark Twain referred to the Victorian Period inAmerica as the "Gilded Age", implying theample moral corruption that lay beneath a mereveneer of respectability

288. consecrate verb: to make holy or set apart for a highpurpose

Synonyms : bless , hallow , sanctify

At the church of Notre Dame in France, the newHigh Altar was consecrated in 1182.

289. humdrum adjective: dull and lacking excitement

Synonyms : commonplace , prosaic ,unglamorous , unglamourous,monotonous

Having grown up in a humdrum suburb, Jacobrelished life in New York City after moving.

290. emulate verb: strive to equal or match, especially byimitating; compete with successfully

To really become fluent in a new language,emulate the speech patterns and intonation ofpeople who speak the language.

291. fawn verb: try to gain favor by extreme flattery

Synonyms : bootlick , kotow , kowtow , suck up ,toady , truckle

The media fawned over the handsome new CEO,praising his impeccable sense of style instead ofasking more pointed questions.

292. glean verb: collect information bit by bit

Synonyms : harvest , reap

Herb has given us no formal statement about hisbackground, but from various hints, I havegleaned that he grew up in difficult circumstances

293. wanton adjective: without check or limitation; showing nomoral restraints to one's anger, desire, or appetites

Synonyms : easy , light , loose , promiscuous ,sluttish

Due to wanton behavior and crude language, thedrunk man was thrown out of the bar and asked tonever return.

294. docile adjective: easily handled or managed; willing to betaught or led or supervised or directed

Synonyms : gentle

Barnyard animals are considerably more docilethan the wild animals.

295. buttress verb: make stronger or defensible

China's economy has been buttressed by a globaldemand for the electronic parts the countrymanufactures.

296. irascible adjective: quickly aroused to anger

Synonyms : choleric , hot-tempered , hotheaded ,quick-tempered , short-tempered

If Arthur's dog is not fed adequately, he becameshighly irascible, even growling at his ownshadow.

297. prevail verb: be widespread in a particular area at aparticular time; be current:

During the labor negotiations, an air ofhostility prevailed in the office.

verb: prove superior

Before the cricket match, Australia washeavily favored, but India prevailed

298. incumbent adjective: necessary (for someone) as a dutyor responsibility

Middle managers at times make importantdecisions, but real responsibility for thefinancial well-being of the corporation isultimately incumbent on the CEO.

299. avert verb: turn away

Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash,I averted my eyes as we drove by.

verb: ward off or prevent

Synonyms : avoid , debar , deflect , fend off ,forefend , forfend , head off , obviate , staveoff , ward off

The struggling videogame company put allof its finances into one final, desperateproject to avert bankruptcy.

300. presumptuous adjective: excessively forward

Synonyms : assuming , assumptive

Many felt that Barney was presumptuous inmoving into the large office before themanagement even made any officialannouncement of his promotion

301. rile verb: cause annoyance in; disturb,especially by minor irritations

Synonyms : annoy , bother , chafe , devil ,get at , get to , gravel , irritate , nark , nettle, rag , vex

Dan is usually calm and balanced, but ittakes only one intense glare from Sabrinato rile him.

302. redress noun: an act of making something right

Synonyms : remediation , remedy

Barry forgot his wife's birthday two years in arow, and was only able to redress his oversightby surprising his wife with a trip to Tahiti.

303. qualm noun: uneasiness about the fitness of an action

Synonyms : misgiving , scruple

While he could articulate no clear reason whyHarkner's plan would fail, he neverless feltqualms about committing any resources to it.

304. futile adjective: producing no result or effect;unproductive of success

Synonyms : ineffectual , otiose ,unavailing,bootless , fruitless , sleeveless , vain

I thought I could repair the car myself, but aftertwo days of work with no success, I have toadmit that my efforts were futile.

305. colossal adjective: so great in size or force or extent as toelicit awe

Synonyms : prodigious , stupendous

Few appreciate the colossal scale of the sun: ifhollow, it could contain a million Earths.

306. compound verb: make more intense, stronger, or moremarked

Synonyms : deepen , heighten , intensify

Her headache was compounded by theconstruction crew outside, which had sixjackhammers going at the same time.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

307. aphorism noun: a short instructive saying about a generaltruth

Synonyms : apophthegm , apothegm

Nietzsche was known for using aphorisms,sometimes encapsulating a complexphilosophical thought in a mere sentence.

308. balk verb: refuse to comply

Synonyms : baulk , jib , resist

The students were willing to clean up thebroken glass, but when the teacher askedthem to mop the entire floor, they balked,citing reasons why they needed to leave.

309. malodorous adjective: having an unpleasant smell

Synonyms : ill-smelling , malodourous ,stinky , unpleasant-smelling

Some thermally active fountains spew sulfurfumes--the air around them is sometimes somalodorous that many have to plug theirnoses.

310. paradoxical adjective: seemingly contradictory butnonetheless possibly true

Synonyms : self-contradictory

That light could be both a particle and a waveseems paradoxical, but nonetheless, it is true.

311. chivalrous adjective: being attentive to women like anideal knight

Synonyms : gallant , knightly

Marco's chivalrous ways, like opening doorsand pulling out chairs, was much appreciatedby his date.

312. discreet adjective: careful to protect one's speech oractions in order to avoid offense or gain anadvantage

The professor thought that he was discreet,subtly wiping the stain off of his shirt, but assoon as he stepped off the podium a memberof the audience pointed out the large ketchupstain.

313. excruciating adjective: extremely painful

Synonyms : agonising , agonizing ,harrowing , torturesome , torturing , torturous

After the boulder rolled a couple of feet,pinning my friend's arm, he experiencedexcruciating pain.

314. differentiate verb: be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait(sometimes in positive sense)

Synonyms : distinguish , mark

Mozart's long melodic lines differentiate hiscompositions from other works of late 18thcentury music.

verb: evolve so as to lead to a new species ordevelop in a way most suited to theenvironment

Synonyms : specialise , specialize , speciate

Animals on Madagascar differentiated fromother similar animal species due to manyyears of isolation on the island.

315. besiege verb: harass, as with questions or requests;cause to feel distressed or worried

Synonyms : beleaguer , circumvent , hem in ,surround

After discovering a priceless artifact in herbackyard, Jane was besieged by phone calls,emails, and reporters all trying to buy, hold orsee the rare piece of history.

316. decimation noun: destroying or killing a large part of thepopulation

The decimation after atomic bombs weredropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki isincomprehensible.

317. constraint noun: something that limits or restricts

Synonyms : restraint

We don't have many resources, so we'll haveto work with some very tight constraints.

318. provisional adjective: under terms not final or fullyworked out or agreed upon

Synonyms : probationary , provisionary ,tentative

Until the corporate office hands down adefinitive decision on use of the extra offices,we will share their use in a provisionalarrangement.

319. abysmal adjective: extremely bad

Synonyms : abyssal , unfathomable

Coach Ramsey took his newest player off thefield after watching a few painful minutes ofher abysmal performance.

320. antiquated adjective: old-fashioned; belonging to anearlier period in time

Synonyms : antediluvian , archaic

Aunt Betty had antiquated notions aboutmarriage, believing that a man should court awoman for at least a year before receiving akiss.

321. perquisite noun: a right reserved exclusively by aparticular person or group (especially ahereditary or official right)

Synonyms : exclusive right , prerogative ,privilege

Even as the dishwasher at the Frenchrestaurant, Josh quickly learned that he hadthe perquisite of being able to eat terrific foodfor half the price diners would pay.

322. snub verb: refuse to acknowledge; reject outrightand bluntly

Synonyms :cut , disregard , ignore, rebuff ,repel

Wheeler was completely qualified for thecommittee, but the board snubbed him,choosing an obviously lesser qualifiedcandidate instead.

323. cumbersome adjective: difficult to handle or use especiallybecause of size or weight

Synonyms : cumbrous

Only ten years ago, being an avid reader anda traveler meant carrying a cumbersomebackpack stuffed with books--these days weneed only an e-reader.

324. stymie verb: hinder or prevent the progress oraccomplishment of

Synonyms : block , blockade , embarrass ,hinder , obstruct , stymy

The engineers found their plans stymied atevery turn and were ultimately able to makealmost no progress on the project.

325. dilapidated adjective: in terrible condition

Synonyms : bedraggled , broken-down ,derelict , ramshackle , tatterdemalion , tumble-down

The main house has been restored but thegazebo is still dilapidated and unuseable.

326. champion verb: to fight for a cause

Synonyms : defend

Martin Luther King Jr. championed civil rightsfiercely throughout his short life.


327. enumerate verb: determine the number or amount of

Synonyms : count , number , numerate

The survey enumerates the number of happyworkers and the number of unhappy workers.

verb: specify individually, one by one

Synonyms : itemise , itemize , recite

I sat and listened as she enumerated all of thethings she did not like about the past threemonths.

328. staid adjective: characterized by dignity andpropriety

Synonyms : sedate

Frank came from a staid environment, so hewas shocked that his college roommate soldnarcotics.

329. inarticulate adjective: without or deprived of the use ofspeech or words

Synonyms : unarticulate

Although a brilliant economist, ProfessorBlack was completely inarticulate, a terriblelecturer.

330. vanquish verb: come out better in a competition, race, orconflict

Synonyms : beat , beat out , crush , shell , trounce

For years, Argentina would dominate in WorldCup qualifying matches, only to be vanquished byone of the European countries during the latestages of the tournament.

331. evasive adjective: avoiding or escaping from difficulty ordanger or commitment

His responses were clearly evasive; he obviouslydid not want to take on any responsibility or anynew work.

adjective: deliberately vague or ambiguous

Every time I call the bank, I receive the sameevasive answers about our mortgage and never geta clear response.

332. inkling noun: a slight suggestion or vague understanding

Synonyms : glimmer , glimmering , intimation

Lynne speaks four Romance languages, but shedoesn't have an inkling about how East Asianlanguages are structured.

333. carping adjective: persistently petty and unjustifiedcriticism

Synonyms : faultfinding

What seemed like incessant nagging and carpingabout my behavior from my mother turned out tobe wise and useful advice that has served me well.

334. vie verb: compete for something

Synonyms : compete , contend

While the other teams in the division actively viefor the championship, this team seems contentsimply to go through the motions of playing.

335. morph verb: To undergo dramatic change in a seamlessand barely noticeable fashion.

The earnestness of the daytime talk shows of the1970's has morphed into something far moresensational and vulgar: today guests actuallystandup and threaten to take swings at oneanother.

336. deliberate verb: think about carefully; weigh the prosand cons of an issue

Synonyms : consider , debate , moot , turnover

Emergency situations such as this call forimmediate action and leave no room todeliberate over options.


337. laborious adjective: characterized by effort to thepoint of exhaustion; especially physicaleffort

Synonyms : arduous , backbreaking ,grueling , gruelling , hard , heavy , operose, punishing , toilsome

The most laborious job I've had wasworking 20 hours a day as a fisherman inKing Salmon, Alaska.

338. convivial adjective: describing a lively atmosphere

The wedding reception was convivial;friends who hadn't seen each other forages drank and ate together beforeheading to the dance floor.

339. complementary adjective: enhancing each other's qualities(for two things or more).

Synonyms : complemental , completing

The head waiter was careful to tell theamateur diners that red wine wascomplementary with beef, each bringingout subtle taste notes in the other.

340. dispatch noun: the property of being prompt and efficient

Synonyms : despatch , expedition ,expeditiousness

She finished her thesis with dispatch, amazingher advisors who couldn't believe she hadn'twritten 60 scholarly pages so quickly.

verb: dispose of rapidly and without delay andefficiently

As soon as the angry peasants stormed the castle,they caught the king and swiftly dispatched him.


341. boorish adjective: ill-mannered and coarse or contemptiblein behavior or appearance

Synonyms : loutish , neandertal , neanderthal ,oafish , swinish

Bukowski was known for being a boorish drunkand alienating close friends and family.

342. sordid adjective: involving ignoble actions and motives;arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul andrun-down and repulsive

Synonyms : seamy , seedy , sleazy ,squalid,flyblown

The nightly news simply announced that thesenator had had an affair, but the tabloidpublished all the sordid details of the interaction.


343. amply adverb: more than is adequate

Synonyms : fully

The boat was amply supplied for its year at sea -no man would go hungry or thirst.

344. debunk verb: expose as false ideas and claims, especiallywhile ridiculing

Synonyms : expose

Richard Dawkins tries to debunk religious belief,but his ridicule tends to push people away from hispoints rather than convince them.

345. cosmopolitan adjective: comprising many cultures; globalin reach and outlook

Synonyms : ecumenical , general ,oecumenical , universal , world-wide ,worldwide

There are few cities in the world as diverseand cosmopolitan as New York.

346. miscreant noun: a person who breaks the law

Synonyms : reprobate

"Come back you miscreant!" yelled thewoman who just had her purse stolen.

347. creditable adjective: deserving of praise but not thatamazing

Critics agreed the movie was creditable, butfew gave it more than three out of five stars.

348. hamper verb: prevent the progress or free movementof

Synonyms : cramp , halter , strangle

As the rain water began to collect in pools onthe highway, it began to hamper the flow oftraffic.


349. misogynist noun: a person who dislikes women inparticular

Synonyms : woman hater

Many have accused Hemingway of being aquiet misogynist, but recently unearthedletters argue against this belief.

350. obliging adjective: showing a cheerful willingness todo favors for others

Synonyms : complaisant

Even after all his success, I found him to beaccommodating and obliging, sharing withme his "secret tips" on how to gain wealthand make friends.

351. resignation noun: the acceptance of something unpleasantthat can't be avoided

Synonyms : surrender

Since Jack could not think of a convincingreason why he had to miss the seminar, heattended it with a sense of resignation.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

352. relegate verb: assign to a lower position

Synonyms : break , bump , demote , kickdownstairs

When Dexter was unable to fulfill his basicduties, instead of firing him, the boss relegatedhim to kitchen cleanup.

353. egregious adjective: standing out in negative way;shockingly bad

Synonyms : crying , flagrant , glaring , gross ,rank

The dictator's abuse of human rights was soegregious that many world leaders demandedthat he be tried in an international court forgenocide.

354. restive adjective: restless

Synonyms : edgy , high-strung , highly strung ,jittery , jumpy , nervy , overstrung , uptight

The crowd grew restive as the comedian'sopening jokes fell flat.

355. calumny noun: making of a false statement meant toinjure a person's reputation

Synonyms : calumniation , defamation ,hatchet job , obloquy , aspersion , slander ,denigration , traducement

With the presidential primaries well underway, the air is thick with calumny, and the mudalready waist-high.

356. parochial adjective: narrowly restricted in scope or outlook

Synonyms : insular

Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledglingrelationship with Jacob did not work out becausehis culinary tastes were simply too parochial;"After all," she quipped on her blog, "heconsidered Chef Boyardee ethnic food."

357. harangue noun: a long pompous speech; a tirade

Synonyms : rant , ranting

Dinner at Billy's was more a punishment than areward, since anyone who sat at the dinner tablewould have to listen to Billy's father'sinterminable harangues against the government.

verb: to deliver a long pompous speech or tirade

Tired of his parents haranguing him about hislaziness and lack of initiative, Tyler finally movedout of home at the age of thirty-five.

358. qualify verb: to be eligible for a role, status, or benefit bymeeting specific requirements

Synonyms : measure up

If James had made more than $50,000 last year,then he wouldn't have qualified for the low-income scholarship.

verb: to make less severe; to limit (a statement)

Synonyms : restrict

Chris qualified his love for San Francisco, addingthat he didn't like the weather as much as theweather in Los Angeles.

359. venerate verb: to respect deeply

Synonyms : fear , revere , reverence

The professor, despite his sleep-inducinglectures, was venerated amongst his colleagues,publishing more papers yearly than all of hispeers combined.

360. maintain verb: to assert

Synonyms : defend

The scientist maintained that the extinctionof dinosaurs was most likely brought aboutby a drastic change in climate.


361. amenable adjective: easily persuaded

Synonyms : conformable , tractable

Even though she did not like the outdoors,Shirley was generally amenable and so herbrother was able to persuade her to gocamping.

362. belie verb: to give a false representation to;misrepresent

Synonyms : contradict , negate

The smile on her face belies the pain shemust feel after the death of her husband.

363. relevant adjective: closely connected to the topic andtherefore important

I think Professor McGarry can give you somerelevant books to help you write that essay.

364. iconoclast noun: somebody who attacks cherishedbeliefs or institutions

Lady Gaga, in challenging what it means tobe clothed, is an iconoclast for wearing a"meat dress" to a prominent awards show.

365. undermine adjective: to weaken (usually paired with anabstract term)

The student undermined the teacher'sauthority by questioning the teacher'sjudgment on numerous occasions.

366. disinterested adjective: unbiased; neutral

The potential juror knew the defendant, andtherefore could not serve on the jury, whichmust consist only of disinterested members.

367. involved adjective: complicated, and difficult tocomprehend

Synonyms : byzantine , convoluted , knotty ,tangled , tortuous

The physics lecture became so involved thatthe undergraduate's eyes glazed over.

368. wanting adjective: lacking

Synonyms : deficient , lacking

She did not think her vocabulary was wanting,yet there were so many words that inevitablyshe found a few she didn't know.

369. galvanize verb: to excite or inspire (someone) to action

Synonyms : galvanise , startle

At mile 23 of his first marathon, Kyle had allbut given up, until he noticed his friends andfamily holding a banner that read, "Go Kyle";galvanized, he broke into a gallop, finishingthe last three miles in less than 20 minutes.

370. equivocal adjective: confusing or ambiguous

The findings of the study were equivocal - thetwo researchers had different opinions onwhat the results signified.

371. acrimony noun: bitterness and ill will

Synonyms : acerbity , bitterness , jaundice ,tartness , thorniness

The acrimonious dispute between thepresident and vice-president sent a clearsignal to voters: the health of the currentadministration was imperiled.

372. impertinent adjective: being disrespectful; improperlyforward or bold

Synonyms : fresh , impudent , overbold , sassy, saucy , smart , wise

Dexter, distraught over losing his petdachshund, Madeline, found the policeofficer's questions impertinent - after all, hethought, did she have to pry into such detailsas to what Madeline's favorite snack was?

(adj) not pertinent to the matter underconsideration

Synonyms : extraneous , immaterial ,orthogonal

373. anomalous adjective: not normal

According to those who do not believe inclimate change, the extreme weather over thelast five years is simply anomalous - dailytemperatures should return to their oldaverages, they believe.

374. frugal adjective: not spending much money (butspending wisely)

Synonyms : economical , scotch , sparing ,stinting

Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal,wisely spending the little that he earned.

375. intimate verb: to suggest something subtly

Synonyms : adumbrate , insinuate

At first Manfred's teachers intimated to hisparents that he was not suited to skip a grade;when his parents protested, teachers explicitlytold them that, notwithstanding the boy'sprecocity, he was simply too immature to jumpto the 6th grade.


376. vindicate verb: to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, ordoubt with supporting arguments or proof

Synonyms : justify

Even seven Tour de France wins cannotvindicate Lance Armstrong in the eyes of thepublic--that the athlete used performanceenhancing drugs invalidates all those wins.

377. aberration noun: a deviation from what is normal orexpected

Synonyms : aberrance , aberrancy , deviance

Aberrations in climate have become the norm:rarely a week goes by without somemeteorological phenomenon making headlines.

378. enervate verb: to sap energy from

Synonyms : faze , unnerve , unsettle

John preferred to avoid equatorial countries; theintense sun would always leave him enervatedafter he'd spent the day sightseeing.

379. censure verb: to express strong disapproval

Synonyms : animadversion

After being caught in bed with a mistress, themayor was quickly censured by the city council.

380. auspicious adjective: favorable, the opposite of sinister

Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike's roadtrip became a series of mishaps, and he wassoon stranded and penniless, leaning againsthis wrecked automobile.

381. amorphous adjective: shapeless

Synonyms : formless , shapeless , unstructured

His study plan for the GRE was at bestamorphous; he would do questions fromrandom pages in any one of seven test prepbooks.

382. ambiguous adjective: open to more than one interpretation

Synonyms : equivocal

The coach told his team, "Move towards thatside of the field"; because he did not point, hisdirections were ambiguous, and the team hadno idea to which side he was referring.

383. profligate adjective: spending resources recklessly orwastefully

Synonyms : extravagant , prodigal , spendthrift

The composer Wagner, while living on alimited salary, was so profligate as to line allthe walls of his apartment with pure silk.noun: someone who spends resourcesrecklessly or wastefullyMost lottery winners go from beingconservative, frugal types to outrightprofligates who blow millions on fast cars,lavish homes, and giant yachts.

384. chastise verb: to reprimand harshly

Synonyms : castigate , chasten , correct ,objurgate

Though chastised for eating the snacks for theparty, Lawrence shrugged off his mother'sharsh words, and continued to plow throughjars of cookies and boxes of donuts.

385. ingenuous adjective: to be naïve and innocent

Synonyms : innocent

Two-years in Manhattan had changed Jennafrom an ingenuous girl from the suburbs to ajaded urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse,regardless of how elaborate.

386. gregarious adjective: to be likely to socialize with others

Often we think that great leaders are thosewho are gregarious, always in the middle ofa large group of people; yet, as MahatmaGandhi and many others have shown us,leaders can also be introverted.

387. betray verb: to reveal or make known something,usually unintentionally

Synonyms : bewray

With the gold medal at stake, the gymnastawaited his turn, his quivering lip betrayinghis intense emotions.

388. parsimonious adjective: extremely frugal; miserly

Synonyms : penurious

Katie is so parsimonious that she only buysa pair of socks if all of her other socks haveholes in them.

389. mercurial adjective: (of a person) prone to unexpectedand unpredictable changes in mood

Synonyms : erratic , fickle , quicksilver

The fact that Ella's moods were as mercurialas the weather was problematic for herrelationships - it didn't help that she lived inChicago.

390. upbraid verb: to reproach; to scold

Bob took a risk walking into the "StudentsBarbershop" - in the end he had to upbraidthe apparently drunk barber for giving himan uneven bowl cut.

391. innocuous adjective: harmless and doesn't produce anyill effects

Synonyms : innocent

Everyone found Nancy's banter innocuous -except for Mike, who felt like she wasintentionally picking on him.

392. amalgam noun: a mixture of multiple things

The band's music was an amalgam of hip-hop, flamenco and jazz, blending the threestyles with surprising results.

393. demur verb: to object or show reluctance

Wallace disliked the cold, so he demurredwhen his friends suggested they goingskiing in the Alps.

394. prodigal adjective: rashly or wastefully extravagant

Synonyms : extravagant , profligate ,spendthrift

Successful professional athletes who do notfall prey to prodigality seem to be theexception - most live decadent lives.

395. laconic adjective: one who says very few words

Synonyms : crisp , curt , terse

While Martha always swooned over thehunky, laconic types in romantic comedies,her boyfriends inevitably were verytalkative - and not very hunky.

396. commensurate adjective: to be in proportion orcorresponding in degree or amount

The convicted felon's life sentence wascommensurate to the heinousness of hiscrime.

397. venality noun: the condition of being susceptible tobribes or corruption

Even some of the most sacred sportingevents are not immune to venality, as manyof the officials have received substantialbribes to make biased calls.

398. ambivalent adjective: mixed or conflicting emotionsabout something

Sam was ambivalent about studying for theexam because doing so ate up a lot of histime, yet he was able to improve hisanalytical skills.

399. extant adjective: still in existence (usually refers todocuments).

Despite many bookstores closing, expertspredict that some form of book dealing willstill be extant generations from now.

400. veracious adjective: truthful

Synonyms : right

While we elect our leaders in the hope thatevery word they speak will be veracious,history has shown that such a hope isnaive.

401. artful adjective: exhibiting artistic skill

Picasso is generally considered the mostartful member of the Cubist movement.

adjective: clever in a cunning way

Bernie Madoff's artful Ponzi scheme stolebillions of dollars from investors and isconsidered the largest financial fraud in U.S.history.

402. prevaricate verb: to speak in an evasive way

Synonyms : beat around the bush , equivocate, palter , tergiversate

The cynic quipped, "There is not muchvariance in politicians; they all seem toprevaricate".

403. castigate verb: to reprimand harshly

Synonyms : chasten , chastise , correct ,objurgate

Drill sergeants are known to castigate newrecruits so mercilessly that the latter oftenbreak down during their first week intraining.

404. imperil transitive verb. to put at risk; endanger;synonyms: endanger, hazard, jeopardize

405. frivolous adjective: not serious in content or attitude orbehavior

Compared to Juliet's passionate concern forhuman rights, Jake's non-stop concern aboutfootball seems somewhat frivolous.

406. conspicuous adjective: without any attempt atconcealment; completely obviousSynonyms : blatant , blazing

American basketball players are alwaysconspicuous when they go abroad-not onlyare they American, but some are over sevenfeet tall.

407. dogmatic adjective: highly opinionated, not acceptingthat your belief may not be correct

Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earthis flat, claiming that all pictures of a sphericalearth are computer generated.

408. cryptic adjective: mysterious or vague, usuallyintentionally

Synonyms : cabalistic , cryptical , kabbalistic ,qabalistic , sibylline

Since Sarah did not want her husband toguess the Christmas present she had boughthim, she only answered cryptically when hewould ask her questions about it.

409. meticulous adjective: marked by extreme care in treatmentof details

The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous inmaking his noodles and would never letanother person take over the task.

410. banal adjective: repeated too often; overfamiliarthrough overuse

Synonyms : commonplace , hackneyed , old-hat , shopworn , stock , threadbare , timeworn, tired , trite , well-worn

The professor used such banal expression thatmany students in the class either fell asleepfrom bordeom or stayed awake to complete hissentences and humor friends.

411. predilection noun: a strong liking

Synonyms : penchant , preference , taste

Monte had a predilection for the fine things inlife: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine,and trips to the French Riviera.

412. volubility noun: the quality of talking or writing easilyand continuously

Synonyms : articulateness , fluency

The professor's volubility knows no bounds;he could talk through a hurricane andelaborate a point from one St. Patrick's Day tothe next.

413. gossamer adjective: characterized by unusual lightnessand delicacy

Synonyms : ethereal

The gossamer wings of a butterfly, whichallow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate thatthey are often damaged.

414. preclude verb: keep from happening or arising; makeimpossible

Synonyms : forbid , foreclose , forestall , prevent

The manager specified that all other gates belocked, to preclude the possibility of personswithout tickets entering the arena undetected.

415. mitigate verb: make less severe or harsh

Synonyms : extenuate , palliate

I can only spend so much time mitigating yourdisagreements with your wife, and at certainpoint, you need to do it on your own.verb: lessen the severity of an offense

If it weren't for the mitigating circumstances, hewould have certainly lost his job.

416. resource noun: some saved material that can be used for apurpose (especially money, anything used to makeenergy such as oil, or information sources such asbooks)

Many of the richest countries have surprisinglyfew natural resources and must buy oil or gas fromother countries.

Never forget to make use of the library during yourstudies; it's full of great resources.

417. concede verb: acknowledge defeat

I concede. You win!

verb: admit (to a wrongdoing)

Synonyms : confess , profess

After a long, stern lecture from her father, Oliviaconceded to having broken the window.

verb: give over; surrender or relinquish to thephysical control of another

Synonyms : cede , grant , yield

The Spanish were forced to concede much of theterritory they had previously conquered.

418. lambast verb: criticize severely or angrily

Synonyms : bawl out , berate , call down , callon the carpet , chew out , chew up , chide , dressdown , have words , jaw , lambaste , lecture , rag, rebuke , remonstrate , reprimand , reproof ,scold , take to task , trounce

Showing no patience, the manager utterlylambasted the sales team that lost the bigaccount.

419. platitude noun: a trite or obvious remark

Synonyms : banality , bromide , cliche ,commonplace

The professor argued that many statementsregarded as wise in previous times, such as theGolden Rule, are now regarded as mereplatitudes.

420. incisive adjective: having or demonstrating ability torecognize or draw fine distinctions

Synonyms : acute , discriminating , keen ,knifelike , penetrating , penetrative , piercing ,sharp

The lawyer had an incisive mind, able in a flashto dissect a hopelessly tangled issue and isolatethe essential laws at play.

421. apathetic adjective: marked by a lack of interest

Synonyms : indifferent

Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching maththat even normally apathetic students tookinterest.

422. dictatorial adjective: expecting unquestioning obedience;characteristic of an absolute ruler

Synonyms : authoritarian ,overbearing,authoritarian , autocratic , despotic, tyrannic , tyrannical

The coach was dictatorial in his approach: noplayers could ever argue or question hisapproach.

423. fortuitous adjective: occurring by happy chance; having nocause or apparent causeSynonyms : causeless, uncaused, يفداصت

While the real objects are vastly different sizesin space, the sun and the moon seem to have thesame fortuitous size in the sky.

424. didactic adjective: instructive (especially excessively)

Synonyms : didactical

Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illyich is adidactic novel, instructing the reader on howto live a good life.

425. exacerbate verb: make worse

Synonyms : aggravate , exasperate , worsen

Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold--whenshe woke up the next day, her sinuses werecompletely blocked.

426. prescience noun: the power to foresee the futureSynonyms : prevision, بيغلا ملع

Baxter's warnings about investing intechnology stocks seemed like an act ofprescience after the whole market declinedsignificantly.

427. superfluous adjective: serving no useful purpose

Synonyms : otiose , pointless , purposeless ,senseless , wasted

How can we hope to stay open if we don'teliminate all superfluous spending, likecatered meetings and free acupucture Tuesday?

adjective: more than is needed, desired, orrequired

Synonyms : excess , extra , redundant , spare ,supererogatory , supernumerary , surplus

The third paragraph in your essay issuperfluous and can be deleted.

428. perfidy noun: an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach ofa trust

Synonyms : betrayal , treachery ,treason,perfidiousness , treachery

The lowest circles in Dante's Inferno were forthose who had practiced perfidy, and amongthese, the very lowest was for those, such asJudas, who had been treacherous to one oftheir benefactors.

429. gall noun: the trait of being rude and impertinent

Synonyms : cheekiness , crust , freshness ,impertinence , impudence , insolence

Even though Carly was only recently hired, shehad the gall to question her boss's judgment infront of the office.

noun: feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will

Synonyms : bitterness , rancor , rancour ,resentment

In an act of gall, Leah sent compromisingphotos of her ex-boyfriend to all his co-workersand professional contacts.

430. inexorable adjective: impossible to stop or prevent

Synonyms : adamant , adamantine ,intransigent

The rise of the computer was an inexorable shiftin technology and culture.

431. decorous adjective: characterized by good taste inmanners and conduct

Sally's parties are decorous affairs, and insteadof the usual beer and music, there is tea andintellectual conversation.

432. vociferous adjective: conspicuously and offensively loud;given to vehement outcry

Synonyms : blatant , clamant , clamorous ,strident

In giving Marcia a particular vociferousresponse, Paul caused people at every other tablein the restaurant to turn around an look at themangrily.

433. torpor noun: inactivity resulting from lethargy and lackof vigor or energy

Synonyms : listlessness , torpidity , torpidness

After work, I was expecting my colleagues to beenthusiastic about the outing, but I found themin a state of complete torpor.

434. culminate verb: reach the highest or most decisive point

Synonyms : climax

Beethoven's musical genius culminated in the9th Symphony, which many consider hisgreatest work.

435. culpability noun: a state of guilt

Synonyms : blameworthiness , culpableness

Since John had left his banana peel at the top ofthe stairwell, he accepted culpability forMartha's broken leg.

436. bucolic adjective: relating to the pleasant aspects of thecountry

Synonyms : peasant , provincial

The noble families of England once owned vastexpanses of beautiful, bucolic land.

437. reticent adjective: reluctant to draw attention to yourself;temperamentally disinclined to talk

Synonyms : untalkative, retiring , self-effacing

When asked about her father, Helen lost heroutward enthusiasm and became rather reticent.

438. impudent adjective: improperly forward or bold

Synonyms : fresh , impertinent , overbold , sassy, saucy , smart , wise

In an impudent move, the defendant spoke out oforder to say terribly insulting things to thejudge.

439. aesthete noun: one who professes great sensitivity to thebeauty of art and nature

Synonyms : esthete

A true aesthete, Marty would spend hours at theGuggenheim Museum, staring at the samePicasso.

440. obscure verb: make unclear

Synonyms : becloud , befog , cloud , fog , haze over, mist , obnubilate

On the Smith's drive through the Grand Canyon,Mr. Smith's big head obscured much of Mrs.Robinson's view, so that she only saw momentarypatches of red rock.

adjective: known by only a few

Synonyms : unknown , unsung

Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscureactors who got only bit roles in long forgottenfilms.


441. diffident adjective: showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence

Synonyms : shy , timid , unsure

As a young girl she was diffident and reserved, butnow as an adult, she is confident and assertive.

442. germane adjective: relevant and appropriate

The professor wanted to tell the jury in detailabout his new book, but the lawyer said it wasn'tgermane to the charges in the cases.

443. gainsay verb: deny or contradict; speak against or oppose

Synonyms : challenge , dispute

I can't gainsay a single piece of evidence Jameshas presented, but I still don't trust hisconclusion.

444. mawkish adjective: overly sentimental to the point that it isdisgusting

Synonyms : bathetic , drippy , hokey , kitschy ,maudlin , mushy , schmaltzy , schmalzy ,sentimental , slushy , soppy , soupy

The film was incredibly mawkish, introducinghighly likeable characters only to have themsuccumb to a devastating illnesses by the end ofthe movie.

445. glut noun: an excessive supply

Synonyms : oversupply , surfeit

The Internet offers such a glut of news relatedstories that many find it difficult to know whichstory to read first.

verb: supply with an excess of

Synonyms : flood , oversupply

In the middle of economic crises, hiringmanagers find their inboxes glutted withresumes.

446. eschew verb: avoid and stay away from deliberately;stay clear of

Synonyms : shun

Politicians are the masters of eschewingmorals; academics are the masters ofeschewing clarity.

447. querulous adjective: habitually complaining

Synonyms : fretful , whiney , whiny

The querulous old woman was begining towear down even the happier members of thestaff with her ceaseless complaining.

448. rustic adjective: characteristic of rural life; awkwardlysimple and provincial

Synonyms : countrified , countryfied,bumpkinly, hick , unsophisticated

The vacation cabin had no electricity and noindoor plumbing, but despite theseinconveniences, Nigel adored its rustic charm.

449. engender verb: give rise to

Synonyms : beget , bring forth , father ,generate , get , mother , sire

The restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles wereso severe that they engendered deep hatred andresentment in the German people.

450. entrenched adjective: fixed firmly or securely

By the time we reach 60-years old, most of ourhabits are so entrenched that it is difficult for usto change.

451. recondite adjective: difficult to penetrate;incomprehensible to one of ordinaryunderstanding or knowledge

Synonyms : abstruse , deep

I found Ulysses recondite and never finished thebook, waiting instead to read it with someoneelse so we could penetrate its meaning together.

452. chortle verb: to chuckle, laugh merrily

Synonyms : chuckle , laugh softly

Walking past the bar, I could hear happy,chortling people and the blast of horns from ajazz band.

453. audacious adjective: willing to be bold in social situationsor to take risks

Synonyms : brave , dauntless , fearless , hardy ,intrepid , unfearing

As all of the other campers cowered in theirtents, Bill, armed only with a flashlight,audaciously tracked down the bear that hadraided their food.

454. aesthetic adjective: concerned with the appreciation ofbeauty

Synonyms : aesthetical , esthetic , esthetical

The director, not known for his aestheticsensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all,and put on the play in everyday clothing.

noun: a set of principles underlying and guidingthe work of a particular artist or artisticmovement.

The artist operated according to a peculiaraesthetic, not considering any photograph to beworth publishing unless it contained a marinemammal.

455. deferential adjective: showing respect

Synonyms : deferent , regardful

If you ever have the chance to meet thepresident, stand up straight and be deferential.

456. eclectic adjective: comprised of a variety of styles

Joey was known for his eclectic tastes in music,one moment dancing to disco the next "airconducting" along to Beethoven's 9thsymphony.

457. precocious adjective: characterized by or characteristic ofexceptionally early development or maturity(especially in mental aptitude)

Though only seven years old, she was aprecocious chess prodigy, able to beat playerstwice her age.

458. denote verb: be a sign or indication of; have as ameaning

Synonyms : refer

Even if the text is not visible, the red octagondenotes "stop" to all motorists in America.

459. jingoism noun: fanatical patriotism

Synonyms : chauvinism , superpatriotism ,ultranationalism

North Korea maintains intense control over itspopulation through a combination of jingoismand cult of personality.

460. insidious adjective: working in a subtle but destructiveway

Synonyms : pernicious , subtle

Plaque is insidious: we cannot see it, but eachday it eats away at our enamel, causing cavitiesand other dental problems.

461. jubilant adjective: full of high-spirited delight because oftriumph or success

Synonyms : exultant , exulting , prideful ,rejoicing , triumphal , triumphant,elated ,gleeful , joyful

My hardwork paid off, and I was jubilant toreceive a perfect score on the GRE.

462. immutable adjective: not able to be changed

Synonyms : changeless

Taxes are one of the immutable laws of theland, so there is no use arguing about payingthem.

463. avaricious adjective: excessively greedy

Synonyms : covetous , grabby , grasping ,greedy , prehensile

Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony orlust--sins of excess-it was listed as one of theseven deadly sins by the Catholic church.

464. languid adjective: not inclined towards physicalexertion or effort; slow and relaxed

Synonyms : dreamy , lackadaisical ,languorous

As the sun beat down and the temperatureclimbed higher, we spent a languid week lyingaround the house.

465. perceive verb: to be aware of, to sense or feel

Synonyms : comprehend

If hunters are skilled, the animals will notperceive their presence.

466. refractory adjective: stubbornly resistant to authority orcontrol

Synonyms : fractious , recalcitrant

Used to studious high school students, Marthawas unprepared for the refractoryKindgergarteners who neither sat still norlistened to a single word she said.


467. ephemeral adjective: lasting a very short time

Synonyms : fugacious , passing , short-lived ,transient , transitory

The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral, lastingfrom a few hours to a couple of days.

468. treacherous adjective: tending to betray

Synonyms : perfidious , punic

Even though Jesse James was an outlaw, hiskiller, Robert Ford, is remembered more for histreacherous actions than for eliminating acriminal and murder.

adjective: dangerously unstable andunpredictable

Synonyms : unreliable

The bridge built from twine and vine istreacherous to walk across, and so I think Iwill stay put right here.

469. mollify verb: to make someone angry less angry;placate

Synonyms : season , temper

In the morning, Harriat was unable to mollifyHarry, if he happened to become angry,unless he had his cup of coffee.

470. ameliorate verb: make something bad better

Synonyms : amend , better , improve ,meliorate

"Three Cups of Tea" tells the story of westernman who hopes to ameliorate poverty and thelack of education in Afghanistan.

471. fallacious adjective: of a belief that is based on faultyreasoning

Synonyms : unsound,Synonyms,deceitful , fraudulent

The widespread belief that Eskimos have fortydifferent words for snow is fallacious, basedon one false report.

472. subsume verb: contain or include

The rogue wave quickly subsumed the pierand boardwalk, destroying everything in itspath.

verb: consider (an instance of something) aspart of a general rule or principle

Synonyms : colligate

Don Quixote of La Mancha subsumes allother modern novels, demonstrating modernliterary devices and predating even the idea ofa postmodern, metanarrative.

473. incongruous adjective: lacking in harmony orcompatibility or appropriateness

The vast economic inequality of modernsociety is incongruous with America's ideals.

474. rudimentary adjective: being in the earliest stages ofdevelopment; being or involving basic facts orprinciples

Synonyms : fundamental , underlying

I would love to be able to present a fullypolished proposal to the board, but right now,our plans for the product are still in the mostrudimentary stages.

475. tantamount adjective: being essentially equal to something

Synonyms : equivalent

In many situations, remaining silent istantamount to admitting guilt, so speak toprove your innocence.

476. frustrate verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, ordesires) of

Synonyms : baffle , bilk , cross , foil , queer ,scotch , spoil , thwart,

I thought I would finish writing the paper bylunchtime, but a number of urgentinterruptions served to frustrate my plan.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

477. derive verb: come from; be connected by arelationship of blood, for example

Synonyms : come , descend

Many words in the English language arederived from Latin, including the word"derive."

verb: reason by deduction; establish bydeduction

Synonyms : deduce , deduct , infer

From the multiple set of footprints in the livingroom, the investigator derived an importantclue: Sheila was not alone in the room at thetime of the murder.

478. disaffected adjective: discontented as toward authority

Synonyms : ill-affected , malcontent ,rebellious

After watching his superior take rations fromthe soliders, he quickly became disaffected andrebeled.

479. spurious adjective: plausible but false

Synonyms : specious

When listening to a politician speak, it is hardto distinguish the spurious claims from theauthentic ones.

480. quotidian adjective: found in the ordinary course ofevents

Synonyms : everyday , mundane , routine ,unremarkable , workaday

Phil gets so involved thinking about Aristotle'sarguments that he totally forgets quotidianconcerns, such as exercising and eatingregularly.

481. unequivocal adjective: admitting of no doubt ormisunderstanding; having only one meaningor interpretation and leading to only oneconclusion

Synonyms : unambiguous , univocal

The President's first statement on the subjectwas vague and open to competinginterpretations, so when he spoke to Congressabout the same subject later, he was cafeful tomake his position completely unequivocal.

482. guileless adjective: free of deceit

Synonyms : transparent

At first I thought my niece was guileless, but Ithen found myself buying her ice cream everytime we passed a shop.

483. travesty noun: an absurd presentation of something; amockery

Synonyms : farce , farce comedy,burlesque ,charade , lampoon , mockery , parody ,pasquinade , put-on , sendup , spoof , takeoff

What I expected to be an intelligent, nuancedhistorical documentary turned out to be apoorly-produced travesty of the form.

484. register verb: to put your name or other information ina list for something

verb: to identify and show on a tool formeasuring

Synonyms : read , record , show

If you'd like to buy a meal plan, you canregister at the student affairs office.

The bomb was so strong that far away weatherballoons registered the heat.

485. elucidate verb: make clearer and easier to understand

Synonyms : clear , clear up , crystalise ,crystalize , crystallise , crystallize , enlighten ,illuminate , shed light on , sort out , straightenout

Youtube is great place to learn just aboutanything-an expert elucidates finer points sothat even a complete novice can learn.

486. forlorn adjective: marked by or showing hopelessness

After her third pet dog died, Marcia was simplyforlorn: this time even the possibility of buyinga new dog no longer held any joy.

487. derivative adjective: (or a creative product, e.g. music,writing, etc.) not original but drawing on thework of another person

Because the movies were utterly derivative ofother popular movies, they did well at the boxoffice.


488. apathy noun: an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

Synonyms : indifference , numbness ,spiritlessness

Widespread apathy among voters led to a verysmall turnout on election day.

489. circumvent verb: cleverly find a way out of one's duties orobligations

Synonyms : dodge , duck , elude , evade , fudge ,hedge , parry , put off , sidestep , skirt

One way of circumventing the GRE is to applyto a grad school that does not require GREscores.

490. juxtapose verb: place side by side

The appeal of her paintings comes from aclassical style which is juxtaposed with modernthemes.

491. panache noun: distinctive and stylish elegance

Synonyms : dash , elan , flair , style

Jim, with his typical panache, came to thewedding reception with a top hat, a cane, and along cape covered in sequins.

492. contrive verb: to pull off a plan or scheme, usually throughskill or trickery

Synonyms : devise , excogitate , forge , formulate ,invent

Despite a low GPA, he contrived to get intocollege, going so far as to write his own glowingletters of recommendation.


493. access noun: the ability to go into (when somebody orsomething must allow you to enter)

Synonyms : accession , admission , admittance ,entree

verb: to go into something when allowed to enter

Only students have access to the universitylibrary.

There is a large amount of oil under the ice, butwe have not be able to access it.

494. abstain verb: choose not to consume or take part in(particularly something enjoyable)

Synonyms : desist , refrain

Considered a health nut, Jessica abstained fromanything containing sugar-even chocolate.

495. delineate verb: describe in detail

After a brief summary of proper swimmingtechnique, the coach delineated the specifics ofeach stroke, spending 30 minutes alone on thebackstroke.

496. vehement adjective: marked by extreme intensity ofemotions or convictions

Synonyms : fierce , tearing , trigger-happy ,violent

While the other employees responded to the badnews in a measured way, Andrew responded in avehement manner, tipping over his desk andshouting at the top of his lungs.

497. supplant verb: take the place or move into the position of

Synonyms : replace , supercede , supersede ,supervene upon

For many, a cell phone has supplanted atraditional phone; in fact, most 20-somethingsdon't even have a traditional phone anymore.

498. vilify verb: spread negative information about

Synonyms : rail , revile , vituperate

Todd was noble after the divorce, choosing to sayonly complimentary things about Barbara, butBarbara did not hesitate to vilify Todd.

499. itinerant adjective: traveling from place to place to work

Synonyms : gipsy , gypsy

Doctors used to be itinerant, traveling betweenpatients' homes.

500. eminent adjective: standing above others in quality orposition

Synonyms : lofty , soaring , towering

Shakespeare is an eminent author in the Englishlanguage, but I find his writing uninteresting andmelodramatic.

501. heretic noun: a person who holds unorthodox opinionsin any field (not merely religion)

Synonyms : misbeliever , religious outcast

Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to docardio before weights, Mikey was a heretic andalways did the reverse.

502. tenacious adjective: stubbornly unyielding

Synonyms : dogged , dour , persistent ,pertinacious , unyielding

Even the most tenacious advocates for gunownership must admit some of the dangers thatfirearms present.

503. negligible adjective: so small as to be meaningless;insignificant

Synonyms : paltry , trifling

The GRE tests cumulative knowledge, so if youcram the night before it is, at best, likely to onlyhave a negligible impact on your score.

504. belligerent adjective: characteristic of one eager to fight

Synonyms : aggressive

Tom said that he was arguing the matterpurely for philosophical reasons, but hisbelligerent tone indicated an underlyinganger about the issue.

505. magnanimous adjective: noble and generous in spirit,especially towards a rival or someone lesspowerful, ردصلا بحر Synonyms : greatheartedHe was a great sportsman: in defeat he wascomplementary and in victory he wasmagnanimous.

506. haughty adjective: having or showing arrogantsuperiority to and disdain of those oneviews as unworthySynonyms : disdainful , imperious , lordly ,overbearing , prideful , sniffy , supercilious ,swaggeringThe haughty manager didn't believe thatany of his subordinates could ever have aninsight as brilliant his own.

507. staunch adjective: firm and dependable especially inloyalty

Synonyms : steadfast , unswerving

No longer a staunch supporter of themovement, Todd now will openly questionwhether its goals are worthwhile.

508. ascetic adjective: practicing self-denial

Synonyms : ascetical , austere , spartan

His ascetic life is the main reason heinspired so many followers, especially sincehe gave up wealth and power to live inpoverty.

noun: one who practices great self-denial

Synonyms : abstainer

Historically, ascetics like Ghandi are oftenconsidered wise men partially because oftheir restraint.

509. ignoble adjective: dishonorable

Synonyms : ungentle , untitled

In the 1920s, the World Series was rigged--an ignoble act which baseball took decadesto recover from.

510. adamant adjective: refusing to change one's mind

Synonyms : adamantine , inexorable ,intransigent

Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever beremembered for adamantly refusing to giveup her seat on a public bus--even after thebus driver insisted, she remained rooted inplace.

511. underscore verb: give extra weight to (acommunication)

Synonyms : emphasise , emphasize ,underline

While the hiking instructor agreed thatcarrying a first aid kit could be a good ideaunder certain circumstances, heunderscored the importance of carryingenough water.

512. indifference noun: the trait of seeming not to care

Synonyms : apathy , numbness ,spiritlessness, emotionlessness ,impassiveness , impassivity , phlegm ,stolidity , unemotionality

In an effort to fight indifference, thepresident of the college introduced a new,stricter grading system.

513. eradicate verb: to completely destroy

Synonyms : exterminate , extirpate , root out, uproot, annihilate , carry off , decimate ,eliminate , extinguish , wipe out

I tried eradicating the mosquitos in myapartment with a rolled up newspaper, butthere were too many of them.

514. unscrupulous adjective: without scruples or principles

In the courtroom, the lawyer wasunscrupulous, using every manner of deceitand manipulation to secure a victory forhimself.

515. construe verb: interpreted in a particular way

Synonyms : interpret , see

The author's inability to take a side on theissue was construed by both his opponentsand supporters as a sign of weakness.

516. pundit noun: someone who has been admitted tomembership in a scholarly field

Synonyms : initiate , learned person , savant

Steven Pinker's credentials are unquestionedas a pundit; he has taught at MIT andStanford, teaches at Harvard, and haspublished a number of influential books oncognition, language, and psychology.

517. temperance noun: the trait of avoiding excesses

Synonyms : moderation,sobriety

Welles wasn't known for his temperance--heusually ate enough for two and drank enoughfor three.

518. refute verb: prove to be false or incorrect

Synonyms : controvert , rebut

No one could refute his theories orpropositions, and that is why he wasesteemed by all his colleagues in thephilosophy department.

519. ingratiate verb: gain favor with somebody by deliberateefforts

Even though Tom didn't like his new boss, hedecided to ingratiate himself to her in order toadvance his career.

520. reconcile verb: make (one thing) compatible with(another), نيب قفو Synonyms : accommodate , conciliatePeggy was unable to reconcile her kind friendJane with the cruel and merciless characterJane played on television.

521. idiosyncrasy noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctiveand peculiar to an individual

Synonyms : foible , mannerism

Peggy's numerous idiosyncrasies includewearing mismatched shoes, laughing loudlyto herself, and owning a pet aardvark.

522. petulant adjective: easily irritated or annoyed

Synonyms : cranky , fractious , irritable ,nettlesome , peckish , peevish , pettish , scratchy ,techy , testy , tetchy

When Ed first met Ruth, he didn't realize she wasso petulant, but now that they are three monthsinto their relationship, Ed feels a day doesn't goby in which she isn't whining about some minorissue.

523. aberrant adjective: markedly different from an acceptednorm

Synonyms : deviant , deviate

When the financial director started screamingand throwing food at his co-workers, the policehad to come in to deal with his aberrant behavior.

524. tortuous adjective: marked by repeated turns and bends;not straightforward

Synonyms : twisting , twisty , voluminous ,winding

Because the logic behind McMahon's side of thedebate was so tortuous, his audience came outeither completely confused or, worse, feelingthey'd been tricked.

525. bumbling adjective: lacking physical movement skills,especially with the hands

Synonyms : bungling , butterfingered , ham-fisted, ham-handed , handless , heavy-handed , left-handed

Within a week of starting, the bumbling newwaiter was unceremoniously fired.

526. copious adjective: in abundant supply

Synonyms : ample , plenteous , plentiful , rich,voluminous

In midsummer, there are copious popiscle standsat the beach; in the winter, there are none.

527. largess noun: extreme generosity and giving

Synonyms : largesse , magnanimity , munificence, openhandedness

Uncle Frank was known for his largess, so hisnephew was sad when he did not receive apresent for his birthday.

528. myopic adjective: lacking foresight or imagination

Synonyms : short , shortsighted , unforesightful

The company ultimately went out of businessbecause the myopic managers couldn't predictthe changes in their industry.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

529. confound verb: be confusing or perplexing to

Synonyms : bedevil , befuddle , confuse ,discombobulate , fox , fuddle , throw

Though Harry loved numbers, he found calculusconfounding.

verb: mistake one thing for another

Synonyms : confuse

Americans often confound sweet potatoes withyams, and refer to both vegetables by the samename.

530. implacable adjective: incapable of making less angry orhostile

Win or lose, the coach was always implacable,never giving the athletes an easy practice or abreak.

531. laudable adjective: worthy of high praise

Synonyms : applaudable , commendable ,praiseworthy

To say that Gandhi's actions were laudable isthe greatest understatement; he overthrew anempire without violence.

532. blatant adjective: without any attempt at concealment;completely obvious

Synonyms : blazing , conspicuous

Allen was often punished in school for blatantlydisrespecting teachers.

533. denigrate verb: charge falsely or with malicious intent;attack the good name and reputation ofsomeone

Synonyms : asperse , besmirch , calumniate ,defame , slander , smear , smirch , sully

Count Rumford denigrated the new theory ofheat, demonstrating that it was whollyinadequate to explain the observations.

534. apocryphal adjective: being of questionable authenticity

The web is notorious for sandwichingapocryphal stories between actual news.

535. pragmatic adjective: guided by practical experience andobservation rather than theory

Synonyms : hard-nosed , hardheaded ,practical

Rather than make a philosophical appeal tothe Congressmen, the Speaker decided to takea far more pragmatic approach, making smallside-deals that would add votes to his bill.

536. forthcoming adjective: available when required or aspromised

Synonyms : approaching , coming , upcoming

The President announced that the senatorswere about to reach a compromise, and thathe was eager to read the forthcoming detailsof the bill.

adjective: at ease in talking to others

Synonyms : extroverted , outgoing

As a husband, Larry was not forthcoming: ifJill didn't demand to know details, Larrywould never share them with her.

537. soporific adjective: inducing mental lethargy; sleepinducing

Synonyms : hypnagogic , hypnogogic ,somniferous , somnific , soporiferous,narcotic

Although the professor is brilliant, his blandmonotone gives his lectures a soporific effect.

538. provincial adjective: characteristic of the a limitedperspective; not fashionable or sophisticated

Maggie's enthusiasm about her high schoolteams seemed provincial to her collegeclassmates, all of whom were following anationally ranked college team.

539. intransigent adjective: unwilling to change one's beliefs orcourse of action

Synonyms : adamant , adamantine ,inexorable

Despite many calls for mercy, the judgeremained intransigent, citing strict legalprecedence.

540. pedantic adjective: marked by a narrow focus on ordisplay of learning especially its trivial aspects

Synonyms : academic , donnish

Professor Thompson was regarded as anexpert in his field, but his lectures were utterlypedantic, focused on rigorous details of themost trivial conventions in the field.

541. exacting adjective: requiring and demanding accuracy

Synonyms : exigent,stern , strict

Though his childhood piano teacher was soexacting, Max is thankful now, as aprofessional pianist.

542. abstruse adjective: difficult to understand;incomprehensible

Synonyms : deep , recondite

Physics textbooks can seem so abstruse to theuninitiated that readers feel as though they arelooking at hieroglyphics.

543. expound verb: add details or explanation; clarify themeaning; state in depth

Synonyms : dilate , elaborate , enlarge , expand, expatiate , exposit , flesh out , lucubrate

The CEO refused to expound on the decision tomerge our department with another one, andso I quit.

544. discrete adjective: constituting a separate entity or part

Synonyms : distinct

What was once known as Czechoslovakia hassince split into two discrete, independentnations.

545. exalt verb: praise or glorify

Synonyms : extol , glorify , laud , proclaim

The teenagers exalted the rock star, coveringtheir bedrooms with posters of him.

546. incorrigible adjective: impervious to correction bypunishment

Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youthuntil Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyercan't match his fierce individual spirit.

547. hackneyed adjective: lacking significance through havingbeen overused

Synonyms : banal , commonplace , old-hat ,shopworn , stock , threadbare , timeworn ,tired , trite , well-worn

Cheryl rolled her eyes when she heard thelecturer's hackneyed advice to "be true toyourself."

548. iconoclastic adjective: defying tradition or convention

Jackson Pollack was an iconoclastic artist,totally breaking with tradition by splashingpaint on a blank canvas.

549. opaque adjective: not clearly understood or expressed

Synonyms : unintelligible

The meaning of the professor's new researchwas opaque to most people, so no one askedany questions.


550. burgeon verb: grow and flourish

China's housing market is burgeoning, butsome predict that the growth is merely a bubbleand will burst much like the U.S. real estatebubble of 2008.

551. admonitory adjective: serving to warn; expressing reproofor reproach especially as a corrective

Synonyms : cautionary , exemplary , monitory ,warning

At the assembly, the high school vice-principalgave the students an admonitory speech,warning them of the many risks and dangersof prom night.

552. contingent noun: a gathering of persons representative ofsome larger group

A small contingent of those loyal to the kinghave gathered around the castle to defend it.

adjective: possible but not certain to occur

Whether the former world champions can winagain this year is contingent upon none of itsstar players getting injured.

553. acerbic adjective: harsh in tone

Synonyms : acerb , acid , acrid , bitter ,blistering , caustic , sulfurous , sulphurous ,virulent , vitriolic

Most movie critics are acerbic towardssummer blockbusters, often referring to themas garbage.

554. implausible adjective: describing a statement that is notbelievable

Synonyms : farfetched

The teacher found it implausible that thestudent was late to school because he hadbeen kidnapped by outlaws on horseback.

555. espouse verb: to adopt or support an idea or cause

Synonyms : adopt , embrace , sweep up

As a college student, Charlie espousedMarxism, growing his beard out and railingagainst the evils of the free-market.

556. exonerate verb: pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

Synonyms : acquit , assoil , clear , discharge ,exculpate

The document clearly indicated that Nick wasout of the state at the time of the crime, and soserved to exonerate him of any charges.

557. decorum noun: propriety in manners and conduct

Synonyms : decorousness

"You will obey the rules of decorum for thiscourtroom or spend the night in a jail cell,"said the judge to the prosecutor.

558. capacity noun noun: the amount or volume somethingcan hold ability (especially mental)

The hotel is full to maximum capacity; thereare no empty rooms. Few birds have the capacity to recognizethemselves when looking in a mirror; most actas though there is a second bird behind theglass.

559. ostentatious adjective: intended to attract notice andimpress others; tawdry or vulgarSynonyms : pretentious, هابتمMatt wanted to buy stone lions for front of thehouse, but Cynthia convinced him that such adisplay would be too ostentatious for a modesthouse in an unassuming neighborhood.

560. gauche adjective: lacking social polish

Synonyms : graceless , unpolished

Sylvester says the most gauche things, such astelling a girl he liked that she was much prettierwhen she wore makeup.

561. austere adjective: practicing self-denial

Synonyms : ascetic , ascetical , spartan

His lifestyle of revelry and luxurious excess couldhardly be called austere.

adjective: unadorned in style or appearance

Late Soviet architecture, although remaininglargely austere, moved into experimentalterritory that employed previously unused shapesand structures.

adjective: harsh in manner of temperament

The principal of my elementary school was acold, austere woman; I could never understandwhy she chose to work with children.

562. sycophant noun: a person who tries to please someone inorder to gain a personal advantage

Synonyms : ass-kisser , crawler , lackey , toady

The CEO was unaware of the damagingconsequences of his choices, largely because hesurrounded himself with sycophants who wouldnever dare criticize him.

563. accolade noun: an award or praise granted as a specialhonor

Synonyms : award , honor , honour , laurels

Jean Paul-Sartre was not a fan of accolades, andas such, he refused to accept the Nobel Prize forLiterature in 1964.

564. taciturn adjective: habitually reserved anduncommunicative

While the CEO enthusiastically shares his plansand agenda with all who will listen, the CFO isfar more taciturn, rarely revealing hisperspective.

565. insolent adjective: rude and arrogant

Lilian could not help herself from beinginsolent, commenting that the Queen's shoeswere showing too much toe.

566. obsequious adjective: attentive in an ingratiating or servilemanner; attempting to win favor frominfluential people by flattery

Synonyms : bootlicking , fawning , sycophantic, toadyish

The obsequious waiter did not give the couple amoment's peace all through the meal,constantly returning to their table to refill theirwater glasses and to tell them what ahandsome pair they made.

567. inveterate adjective: habitual

Synonyms : chronic

He is an inveterate smoker and has told hisfamily and friends that there is no way he willever quit.

568. dilettante noun: an amateur who engages in an activitywithout serious intentions and who pretends tohave knowledge

Synonyms : dabbler , sciolist,dilettanteish ,dilettantish , sciolistic

Fred has no formal medical training; while helikes to claim authority on medical issues, he islittle more than a dilettante

569. arcane adjective: requiring secret or mysteriousknowledge

Most college fraternities are known for arcanerituals that those hoping to the join thefraterntiy must learn.

570. inimical adjective: hostile (usually describes conditionsor environments)

Synonyms : unfriendly

Venus, with a surface temperature that wouldturn rubber to liquid, is inimical to any form oflife.

571. ravenous adjective: extremely hungry; devouring orcraving food in great quantities

Synonyms : esurient , famished , sharp-set ,starved,edacious , esurient , rapacious ,ravening , voracious , wolfish

John didn't eat much at all during the week hehad the flu, so now that he is regaining hishealth, it's not surprising that he has aravenous appetite.

572. reverent adjective: feeling or showing profound respector veneration

Synonyms : godly , worshipful

The professor could speak objectively about theother composers, but he always lectured aboutBrahms with a particularly reverent air, unableto offer a single criticism of his compositions.

573. foment verb: try to stir up public opinion

Synonyms : agitate , stir up

After having his pay cut, Phil spread viciousrumors about his boss, hoping to foment ageneral feeling of discontent.

574. tempered adjective: moderated in effect

Synonyms : hardened , toughened , treated

The wide-eyed optimism of her youth was nowtempered after she had worked many years inthe criminal justice system.

575. scrupulous adjective: characterized by extreme care andgreat effort

Synonyms : conscientious , painstaking

Because of his scrupulous nature, Mary put himin charge of numbering and cataloging theentire collection of rare stamps.adjective: having a sense of right and wrong;principledEveryone trusted what he said and followed hisexample because he was scrupulous andhonest.

576. hegemony adjective: dominance over a certain area

Until the Spanish Armada was defeated in1587, Spain had hegemony over the seas,controlling waters stretching as far as theAmericas.

577. munificent adjective: very generous

Synonyms : lavish , overgenerous , too-generous , unsparing , unstinted , unstinting

Uncle Charley was known for his munificence,giving all seven of his nephews lavishChristmas presents each year.

578. lionize verb: assign great social importance to

Synonyms : celebrate , lionise

Students in the U.S. learn to lionize Jefferson,Franklin, and Washington because they arethe founding fathers of the nation.

579. prolific adjective: intellectually productive

Synonyms : fecund , fertile

Schubert was the most prolific composer,producing hundreds of hours of music before hedied at the age of 31.

580. antithetical adjective: sharply contrasted in character orpurpose

Synonyms : antithetic

His deep emotional involvement with theseideas is, in fact, antithetical to thedisattachment Buddhism preaches.

581. myriad noun: a large indefinite number

Synonyms : countless , infinite , innumerable ,innumerous , multitudinous , numberless ,uncounted , unnumberable , unnumbered ,unnumerable

There are a myriad of internet sites hawkingpills that claim to boost energy for hours onend.

582. intrepid adjective: fearless

Synonyms : audacious , brave , dauntless ,fearless , hardy , unfearing

Captain Ahab was an intrepid captain whosereckless and fearless style ultimate leads to hisdownfall.

583. winsome adjective: charming in a childlike or naive way

She was winsome by nature, and many peoplewere drawn to this free and playful spirit.

584. audacity noun: aggressive boldness in social situations

Synonyms : audaciousness , temerity

She surprised her colleagues by having theaudacity to publically criticize the findings ofan distinguished scientist.

585. trite adjective: repeated too often; overfamiliarthrough overuse

Synonyms : banal , commonplace ,hackneyed , old-hat , shopworn , stock ,threadbare , timeworn , tired , well-worn

Many style guides recommend not usingidioms in writing because these triteexpressions are uninteresting and show alack of imagination on the part of the writer.

586. circumscribe verb: restrict or confine

Synonyms : confine , limit

Their tour of South America wascircumscribed so that they saw only populardestinations and avoided the dangerous partsof cities.


587. vacillate verb: be undecided about something; waverbetween conflicting positions or courses ofaction

Synonyms : hover , oscillate ,vibrate,fluctuate , waver

Some students vacillate between schoolswhen deciding which to attend, while othersfocus only on one school.


588. inscrutable adjective: not easily understood;unfathomable

Synonyms : cryptic , cryptical , deep ,mysterious , mystifying

His speech was so dense and confusing thatmany in the audience found it inscrutable.

589. rescind verb: cancel officially

Synonyms : annul , countermand , lift ,overturn , repeal , reverse , revoke , vacate

The man's driver's license was rescindedafter his tenth car accident, which meant hewould never be allowed to legally drive again.

590. propitious adjective: presenting favorable circumstances;likely to result in or show signs of success

The child's heartbeat is still weak, but I amseeing many propitious signs and I think thatshe may be healing.

591. constituent noun: a citizen who is represented in agovernment by officials for whom he or shevotes

The mayor's constituents are no longer happywith her performance and plan to vote foranother candidate in the upcoming election.

noun: an abstract part of something

Synonyms : component , element , factor ,ingredient

The constituents of the metal alloy are nickel,copper, and tin.

592. ostracize verb: exclude from a community or group

Synonyms : ban , banish , blackball , cast out ,ostracise , shun

Later in his life, Leo Tolstoy was ostracizedfrom the Russian Orthodox Church for hiswritings that contradicted church doctrine.

593. brazen adjective: unrestrained by convention orpropriety

Synonyms : audacious , bald-faced , barefaced ,bodacious , brassy , brazen-faced , insolent

Their large "donations" to the local policedepartment gave the drug cartel the brazenconfidence to do their business out in the open.

594. admonish verb: to warn strongly, even to the point ofreprimanding

Synonyms : caution , monish

Before the concert began, security personeladmonished the crowd not to come up on stageduring the performance.

595. sporadic adjective: recurring in scattered and irregular orunpredictable instances

The signals were at first sporadic, but now wedetect a clear, consistent pattern ofelectromagnetic radiation eminating from deepspace.

596. pedestrian adjective: lacking imagination

Synonyms : earthbound , prosaic , prosy

While Nan was always engaged inphilosophical speculation, her brother wasoccupied with far more pedestrian concerns:how to earn a salary and run a household.


597. subversive adjective: in opposition to a civil authority orgovernment

Synonyms : insurgent , seditious

The ruling political party has begun a campaignto shut down subversive websites that it deemsas a threat to "national safety."

598. pernicious adjective: exceedingly harmful; working orspreading in a hidden and injurious way

Synonyms : baneful , deadly ,pestilent,insidious , subtle

The most successful viruses are pernicious: aninfected person may feel perfectly healthy forseveral months while incubating and spreadingthe virus.

599. prodigious adjective: so great in size or force or extent as toelicit awe

Synonyms : colossal , stupendous

After the relatively small homerun totals in the"dead ball" era, Babe Ruth's homerun totalswere truly prodigious: every year, he set a newall-time record.

600. repudiate verb: reject as untrue or unfounded

Many in the public believed the rumors of aUFO crash outside town, so the chief of policedid everything he could to repudiate the rumors.

601. arbitrary adjective: based on a random, groundlessdecision

One of the arbitrary decrees in place during theemperor's rule is that all citizens pay himweekly homage at his palace.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

602. garrulous adjective: full of trivial conversation

Synonyms : chatty , gabby , loquacious ,talkative , talky

Lynne was garrulous: once, she had a fifteenminute conversation with a stranger before sherealized the woman didn't speak English.

603. precipitous adjective: done with very great haste andwithout due deliberation

Synonyms : hasty , overhasty , precipitant ,precipitate

He was expecting a precipitous rise in the valueof a "hot" tech stock, so he was disappointedwhen it only inched up a dollar or two eachday.

604. irrevocable adjective: incapable of being retracted orrevoked

Synonyms : irrevokable

Once you enter your plea to the court, it isirrevocable so think carefully about what youwill say.

605. resurgent adjective: rising again as to new life and vigor

Synonyms : renascent

The team sank to fourth place in June, but isnow resurgent and about to win the division.

606. haphazard adjective: marked by great carelessness;dependent upon or characterized by chance

Synonyms : slapdash , slipshod , sloppy, hit-or-miss

Many golf courses are designed with greatcare, but the greens on the county golf courseseem entirely haphazard.

607. sanction verb: give authority or permission to

Synonyms :approve , o.k. , okay

The authorities have sanctioned the use of thewilderness reserve for public use; many expectto see hikers an campers enjoying the park inthe coming months.

noun: a legal penalty for a forbidden action

International sanctions have been placed oncertain shipping lanes that were thought to beinvolved in human trafficking.

608. despite preposition: even with (when an event issurprising because of some difficulty)

We enjoyed our vacation despite the rain.

609. tractable adjective: readily reacting to suggestions andinfluences; easily managed (controlled ortaught or molded)

Synonyms : amenable,manipulable

Compared to middle school students, who havean untamed wildness about them, high schoolstudents are somewhat more tractable.

610. poignant adjective: emotionally touching

Synonyms : affecting , touching

After the Montagues and Capulets discover thedead bodies of Romeo and Juliet, in the play'smost poignant moment, the two griefstrickenfamiles agree to end their feud once and for all.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

611. deleterious adjective: harmful to living things

Synonyms : hurtful , injurious

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico wasdeleterious to the fishing industry in thesouthern states.

612. economical adjective: avoiding waste, efficient

Synonyms : frugal , scotch , sparing , stinting

Journalists favor an economical style ofwriting, in which no unnecessary words areused and every sentence is as short as possible.

613. harried adjective: troubled persistently especially withpetty annoyances

Synonyms : annoyed , harassed , pestered ,vexed

With a team of new hires to train, Martha wasconstantly harried with little questions andcould not focus on her projects.

614. antipathy noun: an intense feeling of dislike or aversion

Synonyms : aversion , distaste

Maria had an antipathy for tour groups, oftenbolting to the other side of the museum as soonas she saw a chaperone leading a group ofwide-eyed tourists.

615. mendacity noun: the tendency to be untruthful.I can forgive her for her mendacity but onlybecause she is a child and is seeing what shecan get away with.

616. dilatory adjective: wasting time

Synonyms : laggard , pokey , poky

Lawyers use dilatory tactics so that it takes yearsbefore the case is actually decided.

617. appease verb: pacify by acceding to the demands of

Synonyms : assuage , conciliate , gentle , gruntle, lenify , mollify , pacify , placate

Neville Chamberlain, the British prime ministerduring WWII, tried to appease Hitler and indoing so sent a clear message: you can walk allover us.

618. erudite adjective: having or showing profoundknowledge

Synonyms : learned

Before the Internet, the library was typicallywere you would find erudite readers.

619. specious adjective: based on pretense; deceptivelypleasing, رهظملا نسح Synonyms : gilded , meretriciousAlmost every image on TV is specious and not tobe trusted.

adjective: plausible but false, فيزمSynonyms : spuriousHe made a career out of specious arguments andfictional lab results, but lost his job andreputation when his lies were exposed by anarticle in The New York Times.

620. duress noun: compulsory force or threat

The witness said he signed the contract underduress and argued that the court should cancelthe agreement.

621. craven adjective: pathetically cowardly

Synonyms : recreant

Though the man could have at least alerted thepolice, he crouched cravenly in the corner as theold woman was mugged.

622. flux noun: a state of uncertainty about whatshould be done (usually following someimportant event)

Ever since Elvira resigned as the head ofmarketing, everything about our sales strategyhas been in a state of flux.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

623. stringent adjective: demanding strict attention to rulesand procedures

Synonyms : rigorous , tight

Most of the students disliked the teacherbecause of his stringent homework policy, butmany students would later thank him fordemanding so much from them.

624. misconstrue verb: interpret in the wrong way

Synonyms : be amiss , misapprehend ,misconceive , misinterpret , misunderstand

The politician never trusted journalistsbecause he though that they misconstrue hiswords and misrepresent his positions.

625. maladroit adjective: clumsySyn: bumbling, gauche, unskillfulAs a child she was quite maladroit, but as anadult, she has become an adept dancer.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

626. rebuke verb: criticize severely or angrily; censure

Synonyms : bawl out , berate , call down , callon the carpet , chew out , chew up , chide ,dress down , have words , jaw , lambast ,lambaste , lecture , rag , remonstrate ,reprimand , reproof , scold , take to task ,trounce

The police chief rebuked the two officerswhose irresponsible decisions almost led tothe deaths of seven innocent by-standers.

627. contrition noun: the feeling of remorse or guilt thatcomes from doing something bad

Synonyms : attrition , contriteness

Those who show contrition during theirprison terms--especially when under reviewby a parole board--often get shortenedsentences.

628. nonplussed verb: unsure how to act or respond

Shirley was totally nonplussed when theangry motorist cut her off and then stuck hisfinger out the window.

629. transient adjective: lasting a very short time

Synonyms : ephemeral , fugacious , passing ,short-lived , transitory

The unpredictable and transient nature ofdeja vu makes it a very difficult phenomenonto study properly.

630. truncate verb: reduce the length of somethingSynonym: abridgeThe soccer game was truncated when themonsoon rain began to fall.

631. sullen adjective: showing a brooding ill humor

Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum ,moody , morose , saturnine , sour

Herbert took board games too seriously, oftenappearing sullen after losing.

632. imprudent adjective: not wise

Hitler, like Napoleon, made the imprudentmove of invading Russia in winter, sufferingeven more casualties than Napoleon had.

633. ignominious adjective: (used of conduct or character)deserving or bringing disgrace or shame

Synonyms : black , disgraceful , inglorious ,opprobrious , shameful

Since the politician preached ethics andmorality, his texting of revealing photographswas ignominious, bringing shame on bothhimself and his party.

634. capricious adjective: determined by chance or impulse orwhim rather than by necessity or reason

Synonyms : impulsive , whimsical

Nearly every month our capricious CEO had anew plan to turn the company around, andnone of them worked because we never gavethem the time they needed to succeed.

635. anomaly noun: something that is not normal,standard, or expected

After finding an anomaly in the data, sheknew that she would have to conduct herexperiment again.

636. arduous adjective: demanding considerable mentaleffort and skill; testing powers of endurance

Synonyms : straining , strenuous

In order to deal with the arduous cross-country journey, truck drivers often surviveon a string of caffeinated drinks, stayingawake for up to 30 hours at a time.

637. edifying adjective: enlightening or uplifting so as toencourage intellectual or moralimprovement

Synonyms : enlightening

I recently read an article in the Times aboutwhether good literature is edifying or not;specifically, does reading more make aperson more moral.

638. disseminate verb: cause to become widely known

Synonyms : broadcast , circularise ,circularize , circulate , diffuse , disperse ,distribute , pass around , propagate , spread

Before the effects of anaethesia weredisseminated, patients had to experience thefull pain of a surgery.

639. esoteric adjective: confined to and understandable byonly an enlightened inner circle

Map collecting is an esoteric hobby to most,but to geography geeks it is a highlyenjoyable pasttime.

640. dispassionate adjective: unaffected by strong emotion orprejudice

Synonyms : cold-eyed

A good scientist should be dispassionate,focusing purely on what the evidence says,without personal attachment.

641. posit verb: assume as fact

Synonyms : postulate

Initially, Einstein posited a repulsive force tobalance Gravity, but then rejected that ideaas a blunder.

642. indecorous adjective: not in keeping with acceptedstandards of what is right or proper in politesociety

Synonyms : indecent , unbecoming , uncomely ,unseemly , untoward

Eating with elbows on the table is consideredindecorous in refined circles.

643. bolster verb: support and strengthen

The case for the suspect's innocence wasbolstered considerably by the fact that neitherfingerprints nor DNA were found at the scene.

Synonyms : bolster up


644. polemic noun: a strong verbal or written attack onsomeone or something.

The professor launched into a polemic,claiming that Freudian theory was a pack oflies that absolutely destroyed European literarytheory.


645. opulence noun: wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living

Synonyms : luxuriousness , luxury ,sumptuousness

Russian oligarchs are famous for theiropulence, living in fancy homes and dining onexpensive cavier.

646. mundane adjective: repetitive and boring; not spiritual

Nancy found doing dishes a thorouglymundane task, although Peter found a kind ofZen pleasure in the chore.

adjective: relating to the ordinary world

Synonyms : terrene

Though we think of the pope as someonealways dealing in holy matters, he is alsoconcerned with mundane events, such asdeciding when to set his alarm each morning.

647. elicit verb: call forth (emotions, feelings, andresponses)

Synonyms : arouse , enkindle , evoke , fire ,kindle , provoke , raise

Just smiling-even if you are depressed--can elicitfeelings of pleasure and happiness.

648. timorous adjective: timid by nature or revealing fear andnervousness

Synonyms : fearful , trepid

Since this was her first time debating on stageand before an audience, Di's voice was timorousand quiet for the first 10 minutes.

649. impartial adjective: free from undue bias or preconceivedopinions

Synonyms : unprejudiced

The judge was not impartial since he had beenbribed by the witness's family.

650. reproach verb: to express criticism towards

Synonyms : upbraid

At first, Sarah was going to yell at the boy, butshe didn't want to reproach him for telling thetruth about the situation.

651. nuance noun: a subtle difference in meaning or opinionor attitude

Synonyms : nicety , refinement , shade , subtlety

Because of the nuances involved in this case, Ihired an outside consultant to advice us andhelp.

652. pejorative adjective: expressing disapproval (usu. refers to aterm)

Synonyms : dislogistic , dyslogistic

Most psychologists object to the pejorative term"shrink", believing that they expand the humanmind, not limit it.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

653. askance adverb: with a look of suspicion or disapproval

The old couple looked askance on the teenagersseated next to them, whispering to each other,"They've got rings through their noses andpurple hair!"

654. efficacious adjective: producing the intended result

Synonyms : effective , effectual

Since Maggie's cough syrup, which had expiredfive years back, was no longer efficacious, shecoughed through the night.

655. placate verb: cause to be more favorably inclined; gainthe good will of

Synonyms : appease , assuage , conciliate ,gentle , gruntle , lenify , mollify , pacify

I was able to placate the angry mob of studentsby promising to bring cookies on Monday.

656. banality noun: a trite or obvious remark

Synonyms : bromide , cliche , commonplace ,platitude

Herbert regarded the minister's remark as amere banality until Sharon pointed out profoundimplications to the seemingly obvious words.

657. maverick noun: someone who exhibits greatindependence in thought and action

Synonyms : rebel

Officer Kelly was a maverick, rarely followingpolice protocols or adopting the conventions forspeech common among his fellow officers.

658. furtive adjective: marked by quiet and caution andsecrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed

Synonyms : sneak , sneaky , stealthy ,surreptitious

While at work, George and his boss Regina feltthe need to be as furtive as possible about theirromantic relationship.

659. jovial adjective: full of or showing high-spiritedmerriment, i.e. happinessSynonyms : gay , jocund , jolly , merry , mirthfulThe political candidate and his supporters werejovial once it was clear that she had won.

660. fastidious adjective: overly concerned with details; fussy

Synonyms : exacting

Whitney is fastidious about her shoes,arranging them on a shelf in a specific order,each pair evenly spaced.

661. base adjective: the lowest, class were without anymoral principles

Synonyms : foot , foundation , fundament ,groundwork , substructure , understructure

She was not so base as to begrudge the beggarthe unwanted crumbs from her dinner plate.


662. sedulous adjective: done diligently and carefully

Synonyms : assiduous

An avid numismatist, Harold sedulouslyamassed a collection of coins from over 100countries - an endeavor that took over fifteenyears, and to five continents.

663. fractious adjective: irritable and is likely to causedisruption

Synonyms : cranky , irritable , nettlesome ,peckish , peevish , pettish , petulant , scratchy ,techy , testy , tetchy

We rarely invite my fractious Uncle over fordinner; he always complains about the food,and usually launches into a tirade on sometouchy subject.

664. contentious adjective: likely to argue

Synonyms : combative , disputatious ,disputative , litigious

Since old grandpa Harry became verycontentious during the summer when onlyreruns were on T.V., the grandkids learned tohide from him at every opportunity.

665. choleric adjective: prone to outbursts of temper; easilyangered

Synonyms : hot-tempered , hotheaded ,irascible , quick-tempered , short-tempered

While a brilliant lecturer, Mr. Dawson cameacross as choleric and unapproachable - veryrarely did students come to his office hours.

666. beg verb: to evade or dodge (a question)

By assuming that Charlie was headed tocollege - which he was not - Maggie beggedthe question when she asked him to whichschool he was headed in the Fall.


667. malfeasance adjective: misconduct or wrongdoing(especially by a public official)

Not even the mayor's trademark pearly-toothed grin could save him from charges ofmalfeasance: while in power, he'd beenrunning an illegal gambling rink in the roombehind his office.

668. overweening adjective: arrogant; presumptuous

Synonyms : excessive , extravagant ,exuberant,uppity

Mark was so convinced of his basketballskills that in his overweening pride he couldnot fathom that his name was not on thevarsity list; he walked up to the basketballcoach and told her she had forgotten to addhis name.

669. lascivious adjective: lecherous; sexually perverted

Synonyms : lewd , libidinous , lustful

Lolita is a challenging novel for many, notnecessarily because of the elevated prose stylebut because of the depravity of the maincharacter, Humbert Humbert, who, as an old,lascivious man, falls in love with a girl.

670. jingoist noun: a person who thinks that their countryshould be at war

Synonyms : chauvinist , flag-waver , hundred-percenter , jingo , patrioteer

In the days leading up to war, a nationtypically breaks up into the two opposingcamps: doves, who do their best to avoid war,and jingoists, who are only too eager to wavenational flags from their vehicles andvehemently denounce those who do not do thesame.

671. factious adjective: produced by, or characterized byinternal dissension

Synonyms : dissentious , divisive

The controversial bill proved factious, asdissension even within parties resulted

672. kowtow verb: to bow or act in a subservient manner

Synonyms : bootlick , fawn , kotow , suck up ,toady , truckle

Paul kowtowed to his boss so often the bossherself became nauseated by his sycophancy.

673. chary adjective: cautious, suspiciously reluctant to dosomething

Synonyms : cagey , cagy

Having received three speeding tickets in thelast two months, Jack was chary of driving atall above the speed limit, even on a straightstretch of highway that looked empty for milesahead.

674. expansive adjective: communicative, and prone to talkingin a sociable manner

Synonyms : talkative

After a few sips of cognac, the octogenarianshed his irascible demeanor and becameexpansive, speaking fondly of the "good olddays".


675. insufferable adjective: intolerable, difficult to endure

Synonyms : impossible , unacceptable ,unsufferable

Chester always tried to find some area inwhich he excelled above others;unsurprisingly, his co-workers found himinsufferable and chose to exclude him fromdaily luncheons out.

676. arrant adjective: complete and wholly (usuallymodifying a noun with negative connotation)

Synonyms : complete , consummate , double-dyed , everlasting , gross , perfect , pure ,sodding , staring , stark , thoroughgoing ,unadulterated , utter

An arrant fool, Lawrence surprised nobodywhen he lost all his money in a pyramidscheme that was every bit as transparent as itwas corrupt.

677. feckless adjective: lazy and irresponsible

Synonyms : inept

Two years after graduation, Charlie still livedwith his parents and had no job, becomingmore feckless with each passing day.

678. perfunctory adjective: done routinely and with little interestor care

Synonyms : casual , cursory , passing

The short film examines modern perfunctorycleaning rituals such as washing dishes,doing laundry and tooth-brushing.

679. byzantine adjective: intricate and complex

Synonyms : convoluted , involved , knotty ,tangled , tortuous

Getting a driver's license is not simply a matterof taking a test; the regulations and proceduresare so byzantine that many have foundthemselves at the mercy of the Department ofMotor Vehicles.

680. indigent adjective: poor; having very little

Synonyms : destitute , impoverished ,necessitous , needy , poverty-stricken

In the so-called Third World, many areindigent and only a privileged few have theresources to enjoy material luxuries.

noun: a poor or needy person

The indigents, huddled under the overpass,tried to start a small bonfire in the hope ofstaying warm.

681. attenuate verb: to weaken (in terms of intensity); to taperoff/become thinner.

Synonyms : rarefy

Her animosity towards Bob attenuated over theyears, and she even went so far as to invite himto her party.

682. apostate noun: a person who has abandoned a religiousfaith or cause

Synonyms : deserter , ratter , recreant , renegade, turncoat

An apostate of the Republican Party, Sheldonhas yet to become affiliated with any party anddubs himself an independent.

683. precipitate adjective: hasty or rash

Synonyms : hasty , overhasty , precipitant ,precipitous

Instead of conducting a thorough investigationafter the city hall break-in, the governor actedprecipitately, accusing his staff of aiding andabetting the criminals.

verb: to cause to happen

The government's mishandling the hurricane'saftermath precipitated a widespread outbreak oflooting and other criminal activity.


684. turpitude noun: depravity; a depraved act

During his reign, Caligula indulged inunspeakable sexual practices, so it notsurprising that he will forever be rememberedfor his turpitude.

685. expunge verb: to eliminate completely

Synonyms : excise , scratch , strike

When I turned 18, all of the shoplifting andjaywalking charges were expunged from mycriminal record.

686. defray verb: to help pay the cost of, either in part of full

In order for Sean to attend the prestigiouscollege, his generous uncle helped defray theexcessive tuition with a monthly donation.

687. penurious adjective: lacking money; poor

Synonyms : hard up , impecunious , in straitenedcircumstances , penniless , pinched

Truly penurious, Mary had nothing more than ajar full of pennies.

adjective: miserly

Synonyms : parsimonious

Warren Buffett, famous multi-billionaire, stilldrives a cheap sedan, not because he ispenurious, but because luxury cars are gaudyand impractical.

688. truculent adjective: having a fierce, savage nature

Standing in line for six hours, she becameprogressively truculent, yelling at DMVemployees and elbowing other people waiting inline.

689. artless adjective: without cunning or deceit

Synonyms : uncultivated , uncultured

Despite the president's seemingly artlessspeeches, he was a skilled and ruthlessnegotiator.

690. alacrity noun: an eager willingness to do something

Synonyms : briskness , smartness

The first three weeks at his new job, Markworked with such alacrity that uppermanagement knew it would be giving him apromotion.

691. diatribe noun: a strong verbal attack against a person orinstitution

Synonyms : fulmination

Steve's mom launched into a diatribe during thePTA meeting, contending that the school waslittle more than a daycare in which studentsstare at the wall and teachers stare at thechalkboard.

692. cow verb: to intimidate

Synonyms : overawe

Do not be cowed by a 3,000-word vocabulary list:turn that list into a deck of flashcards!


693. untoward adjective: unfavorable; inconvenient

Synonyms : indecent , indecorous , unbecoming ,uncomely , unseemly,adverse , inauspicious

Some professors find teaching untoward ashaving to prepare for lectures and conduct officehours prevents them from focusing on theirresearch.

694. pariah noun: an outcast

Synonyms : castaway , ishmael

The once eminent scientist, upon being foundguilty of faking his data, has become a pariah inthe research community.

695. exegesis noun: critical explanation or analysis, especiallyof a text

The Bible is fertile ground for exegesis - over thepast five centuries there have been as manyinterpretations as there are pages in the OldTestament.

696. conciliate verb: to make peace with

Synonyms : appease , assuage , gentle , gruntle ,lenify , mollify , pacify , placate

His opponents believed his gesture to beconciliatory, yet as soon as they put down theirweapons, he unsheathed a hidden sword.

697. churlish adjective: lacking manners or refinement

The manager was unnecessarily churlish to hissubordinates, rarely deigning to say hello, butalways quick with a sartorial jab if someonehappened to be wearing anything even slightlymismatching.

698. imbibe verb: to drink or absorb as if drinking

Synonyms : absorb , draw , soak up , sop up ,suck , suck up , take in , take up

Plato imbibed Socrates' teachings to such anextent that he was able to write volumes of workthat he directly attributed, sometimes word forword, to Socrates.

699. vicissitude noun: change in one's circumstances, usuallyfor the worse

Even great rulers have their vicissitudes -massive kingdoms have diminished overnight,and once beloved kings have faced the scorn ofangry masses.

700. equivocate verb: to speak vaguely, usually with theintention to mislead or deceive

Synonyms : beat around the bush , palter ,prevaricate , tergiversate

After Sharon brought the car home an hour afterher curfew, she equivocated when her parentspointedly asked her where she had been.

701. zeitgeist noun: spirit of the times

Each decade has its own zeitgeist - the 1990'swas a prosperous time in which the promise ofthe American Dream never seemed morepalpable.

702. prosaic adjective: dull and lacking imagination

Synonyms : earthbound , pedestrian ,prosy,commonplace , humdrum , unglamorous ,unglamourous

Unlike the talented artists in his workshop,Paul had no such bent for the visual medium, sowhen it was time for him to make a stainedglass painting, he ended up with a prosaicmosaic.

703. ponderous adjective: weighed-down; moving slowly

Synonyms : heavy , lumbering

Laden with 20 kilograms of college text books,the freshman moved ponderously across thecampus.

704. apogee noun: the highest point

Synonyms : culmination

The apogee of the Viennese style of music,Mozart's music continues to mesmerizeaudiences well into the 21st century.

705. nadir noun: the lowest point

Synonyms : low-water mark

For many pop music fans, the rap andalternative-rock dominated 90s were the nadirof musical expression.

706. anathema noun: a detested person; the source ofsomebody's hate

Synonyms : bete noire

Hundreds of years ago, Galileo was anathemato the church; today the church is anathemato some on the left side of the politicalspectrum.

707. saturnine adjective: morose or gloomy

Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum ,moody , morose , sour , sullen

Deprived of sunlight, humans becomesaturnine; that's why in very northerlyterritories people are encouraged to sit underan extremely powerful lamp, lest they becomemorose.

708. supercilious adjective: haughty and disdainful; lookingdown on others

Synonyms : disdainful , haughty , imperious ,lordly , overbearing , prideful , sniffy ,swaggering

Nelly felt the Quiz Bowl director actedsuperciliously towards the underclassmen;really, she fumed, must he act sopreternaturally omniscient each time heintones some obscure fact - as thougheverybody knows that Mt. Aconcagua is thehighest peak in South America.

709. catholic adjective: of broad scope; universal

Jonah's friends said that Jonah's taste inmusic was eclectic; Jonah was quick to pointout that not only was his taste eclectic but itwas also catholic: he enjoyed music fromcountries as far-flung as Mali and Mongolia.

710. hector verb: to bully or intimidate

Synonyms : ballyrag , boss around , browbeat ,bully , bullyrag , push around , strong-arm

The boss's hectoring manner put off manyemployees, some of whom quit as soon as theyfound new jobs.

711. quisling noun: a traitor

Synonyms : collaborationist , collaborator

History looks unfavorably upon quislings;indeed they are accorded about the samefondness as Nero—he who watched his cityburn down while playing the violin.

712. bilious adjective: irritable; always angry

Synonyms : atrabilious , dyspeptic , liverish

Rex was bilious all morning, and his facewould only take on a look of contentednesswhen he'd had his morning cup of coffee.

713. excoriate verb: to criticize very harshly

Synonyms : condemn , decry , objurgate ,reprobate

Entrusted with the prototype to his company'slatest smartphone, Larry, during a late nightkaraoke bout, let the prototype slip into thehands of a rival company - the next day Larrywas excoriated, and then fired.

714. venial adjective: easily excused or forgiven;pardonable

Synonyms : excusable , forgivable

His traffic violations ran the gamut from thevenial to the egregious - on one occasion hesimply did not come to a complete stop; anothertime he tried to escape across state lines atspeeds in excess of 140 mph.

715. mettlesome adjective: filled with courage or valor

Synonyms : game , gamey , gamy , gritty ,spirited , spunky

For its raid on the Bin Laden's compound inAbbottabad, Seal Team Six has become, formany Americans, the embodiment of mettle.

716. arch adjective: to be deliberately teasing

Synonyms : condescending , patronising ,patronizing

The baroness was arch, making playfulasides to the townspeople; yet because theycouldn't pick up on her dry humor, theythought her supercilious.


717. parvenu noun: a person who has suddenly becomewealthy, but not socially accepted as part of ahigher class

Synonyms : arriviste , nouveau-riche , upstart

The theater was full of parvenus who eachthought that they were surrounded by truearistocrats.

718. limpid adjective: clarity in terms of expression

Synonyms : crystal clear , crystalline , lucid ,pellucid , transparent,perspicuous

Her limpid prose made even the mostrecondite subjects accessible to all.

719. curmudgeon noun: a grouchy, surly person

Since Uncle Mike was the familycurmudgeon, each Thanksgiving he was pliedwith copious amounts of wine, in the hopethat he would become less grouchy.

720. jaundice adjective: to be biased against due to envy orprejudice

Shelly was jaundiced towards Olivia; thoughthe two had once been best friends, Olivia hadbecome class president, prom queen, and, tomake matters worse, the girlfriend of the oneboy Shelly liked.

721. apotheosis noun: exaltation to divine status; the highestpoint of development

Synonyms : ideal , nonesuch , nonpareil ,nonsuch , paragon , saint,deification ,exaltation

As difficult as it is to imagine, the apotheosisof Mark Zuckerberg's career, many believe, isyet to come.

722. tendentious adjective: likely to lean towards acontroversial view

Synonyms : tendencious

Because political mudslinging has become astaple of the 24-hour media cycle, most of us,despite protestations to the contrary, aretendentious on many of today's pressingissues.

723. sartorial adjective: related to fashion or clothes

Monte was astute at navigating the world offinance; sartorially, however, he was foundwanting - he typically would attempt tocomplement his beige tie with a gray suit andwhite pants.

724. maudlin adjective: overly emotional and sad

Synonyms : bathetic , drippy , hokey , kitschy ,mawkish , mushy , schmaltzy , schmalzy ,sentimental , slushy , soppy , soupy

Just as those who were alive during the 70'sare mortified that they once cavorted about inbellbottoms, many who lived during the 80'sare now aghast at the maudlin pop songs theyused to enjoy - really, just what exactly is atotal eclipse of the heart?

725. peremptory adjective: bossy and domineering

Synonyms : autocratic , bossy , dominating ,high-and-mighty , magisterial

My sister used to peremptorily tell me to do thedishes, a chore I would either do perfunctorilyor avoid doing altogether.

726. remonstrate verb: to make objections while pleading

Synonyms : bawl out , berate , call down , callon the carpet , chew out , chew up , chide ,dress down , have words , jaw , lambast ,lambaste , lecture , rag , rebuke , reprimand ,reproof , scold , take to task , trounce

The mothers of the kidnapped victimsremonstrated to the rogue government torelease their children, claiming that thedetention violated human rights.

727. mellifluous adjective: smooth and sweet-sounding

Synonyms : dulcet , honeyed , mellisonant ,sweet

Chelsea's grandmother thought FranzSchubert's music to be the most mellifluous everwritten; Chelsea demurred, and to hergrandmother's chagrin, would blast Rihannaon the home stereo speakers.

728. fell adjective: terribly evil

Synonyms : barbarous , brutal , cruel ,roughshod , savage , vicious

For fans of the Harry Potter series, the fell LordVoldemort, who terrorized poor Harry for sevenlengthy installments, has finally beenvanquished by the forces of good - unless, thatis, JK Rowling decides to come out ofretirement.


729. histrionic adjective: to be overly theatrical

Synonyms : melodramatic

Though she received a B- on the test, she hadsuch a histrionic outburst that one would havethought that she'd been handed a deathsentence.

730. picayune adjective: trifling or petty (a person)

Synonyms : fiddling , footling , lilliputian , little, niggling , petty , piddling , piffling , trivial

English teachers are notorious for beingpicayune; however, the English language is sonuanced and sophisticated that often suchteachers are not being contrary but are onlyadhering to the rules.

731. quixotic adjective: wildly idealistic; impractical

Synonyms : romantic , wild-eyed

For every thousand startups with quixotic plansto be the next big name in e-commerce, only ahandful ever become profitable.

732. hedge verb: to limit or qualify a statement; to avoidmaking a direct statement

Synonyms : circumvent , dodge , duck , elude ,evade , fudge , parry , put off , sidestep , skirt

When asked why he had decided to buymillions of shares at the very moment the techcompanies stock soared, the CEO hedged,mentioning something vague about gutinstinct.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

733. factitious adjective: artificial; not natural

The defendant's story was largely factitiousand did not accord with eyewitness testimonies

734. sententious adjective: to be moralizing, usually in apompous sense

The old man, casting his nose up in the air atthe group of adolescents, intonedsententiously, "Youth is wasted on the young."

735. pyrrhic adjective: describing a victory that comes atsuch a great cost that the victory is notworthwhile

George W. Bush's win in the 2000 election wasin many ways a pyrrhic victory: thecircumstances of his win alienated half of theU.S. population.

736. martinet noun: a strict disciplinarian

Synonyms : disciplinarian , moralist

The job seemed perfect to Rebecca, until shefound out that her boss was a total martinet;after each project the boss would come by toscrutinize - and inevitably criticize - every littledetail of the work Rebecca had done.

737. execrate verb: to curse and hiss at

Synonyms : accurse , anathematise ,anathematize , anathemise , anathemize ,comminate

Though the new sitcom did decently in theratings, Nelson railed against the show,saying that it was nothing more than anexecrable pastiche of tired cliché's and cannedlaughter.

738. palimpsest noun: something that has been changednumerous times but on which traces offormer iterations can still be seen

The downtown was a palimpsest of the city'scheckered past: a new Starbucks had openedup next to an abandoned, shuttered building,and a freshly asphalted road was inchesaway from a pothole large enough to swallowa small dog.

739. gerrymander verb: to manipulate voting districts in order tofavor a particular political party

Years ago, savvy politicians hadgerrymandered the city center to ensure theirre-election.

740. jejune adjective: dull; lacking flavor

Synonyms : insubstantial,insipid

Although many top chefs have securedculinary foam's popularity in haute cuisine,Waters criticizes it for being jejune andunfilling.

adjective: immature; childish

Synonyms : adolescent , juvenile , puerile

Her boss further cemented his reuptation forbeing jejune after throwing a fit when thewater cooler wasn't refilled.

741. invective noun: abusive or denunciatory language

Synonyms : vitriol , vituperation

The Internet has unleashed the invectives inmany of us; many people post stingingcriticism on the comments sectionunderneath newspaper articles or YouTubevideos.

742. imbroglio noun: a confusing and potentiallyembarrassing situation

Synonyms : embroilment

The chef cook-off featured one gourmandwho had the unfortunate distinction ofmixing the wrong broths, creating animbroglio that diners would not soon forget.

743. sangfroid noun: calmness or poise in difficult situations

The hostage negotiator exhibited a sangfroid thatoftentimes was more menacing than the sword athis throat, or the gun at his head.

744. cupidity noun: greed for money

Synonyms : avarice , avariciousness ,covetousness

Some believe people that amassing as muchwealth as possible is the meaning to life - yet theyoften realize that cupidity brings anything buthappiness.

745. sybarite noun: a person who indulges in luxury

Synonyms : voluptuary

Despite the fact that he'd maxed out fifteen creditcards, Max was still a sybarite at heart: when thepolice found him, he was at a $1,000 an hour spain Manhattan, getting a facial treatment.

746. arriviste noun: a person who has recently reached aposition of power; a social climber

Synonyms : nouveau-riche , parvenu , upstart

The city center was aflutter with arrivistes whoeach tried to outdo one another with theirostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress.

747. disabuse verb: to persuade somebody that his/her belief isnot valid

As a child, I was quickly disabused of the notionthat Santa Claus was a rotund benefactor ofinfinite largess - one night I saw my motherdiligently wrapping presents and storing themunder our Christmas tree.

748. mulct verb: to defraud or swindle

Synonyms : bunco , con , defraud , diddle , gip ,goldbrick , gyp , hornswoggle , nobble , rook ,scam , short-change , swindle , victimize

The so-called magical diet cure simply ended upmulcting Maria out of hundreds of dollars, butdid nothing for her weight.

749. Pollyannaish adjective: extremely optimistic

Synonyms : cheerful , upbeat

Even in the midst of a lousy sales quarter,Debbie remained Pollyannaish, neverlosing her shrill voice and wide smile, evenwhen prospective customers hung up onher.

750. blinkered adjective: to have a limited outlook orunderstanding

In gambling, the addict is easily blinkeredby past successes and/or past failures,forgetting that the outcome of any onegame is independent of the games thatpreceded it.

751. impecunious adjective: lacking money; poor

Synonyms : hard up , in straitenedcircumstances , penniless , penurious ,pinched

In extremely trying times, even themoderately wealthy, after a few turns of ill-fortune, can become impecunious.

752. propitiate verb: to placate or appease

The two sons, plying their angry fatherwith cheesy neckties for Christmas, werehardly able to propitiate him - the fatheralready had a drawer full of ones he hadnever worn before or ever planned to.

753. schadenfreude noun: joy from watching the suffering ofothers

From his warm apartment window, Stanleyreveled in schadenfreude as he laughed atthe figures below, huddled together in thearctic chill.

754. protean adjective: readily taking on different roles;versatile

Peter Sellers was truly a protean actor - inDoctor Strangelove he played three verydifferent roles: a jingoist general, a sedatePresident and a deranged scientist.

755. benighted adjective: fallen into a state of ignorance

Synonyms : nighted,dark

Far from being a period of utterbenightedness, The Medieval Agesproduced some great works of theologicalspeculation.

756. malapropism noun: the confusion of a word withanother word that sounds similar

Synonyms : malaprop

Whenever I looked glum, my motherwould offer to share "an amusingantidote" with me - an endearingmalapropism of "anecdote" that neverfailed to cheer me up.

757. vituperate adjective: to criticize harshly; to berate

Synonyms : rail , revile , vilify

Jason had dealt with disciplinariansbefore, but nothing prepared him forthe first week of boot camp, as drillsergeants vituperated him for pettyoversights such as forgetting to doubleknot the laces on his boots.

758. phantasmagorical adjective: illusive; unreal

Synonyms : phantasmagoric , surreal ,surrealistic

Those suffering from malaria fall into afeverish sleep, their world a whirligigof phantasmagoria; if they recover, theyare unsure of what actually took placeand what was simply a product of theirfebrile imaginations.

759. juggernaut noun: a force that cannot be stopped

Synonyms : steamroller

Napoleon was considered a juggernautuntil he decided to invade Russia inwinter; after which, his onceindomitable army was decimated bycold and famine.

760. expurgate verb: to remove objectionable material

Synonyms : bowdlerise , bowdlerize ,castrate , shorten

The censor expurgated every referenceto sex and drugs, converting therapper's raunchy flow into a series ofbleeps.

761. insouciance noun: lack of concern

Synonyms : carefreeness ,lightheartedness , lightsomeness

Surprisingly, Hank had become a high-powered CEO; his high school friendsremembered him as "Hanky Panky", whoshrugged off each failed class withinsouciance.

762. derelict adjective: (of a person) not doing one'sduties

Synonyms : delinquent , neglectful ,remiss

The teacher was derelict in her dutiesbecause she hadn't graded a singlestudent paper in three weeks.

noun: (of a building) abandoned

At one time the waterfront factories werebusy and productive, but now they standderelict and will be torn down.

763. prognostication noun: a statement made about the future

Synonyms : forecasting , foretelling ,prediction

When the Senator was asked about wherethe negotiations would lead, he said thatany guess he could make would be anunreliable prognostication.

764. prolixity noun: boring verbosity

Synonyms : long-windedness , prolixness, windiness , wordiness

I loved my grandfather dearly, but hisprolixity would put me to sleep, regardlessof the topic.

765. enthrall verb: hold spellbound

Synonyms : delight , enchant , enrapture ,enthral , ravish , transport

She was so enthralled by the movie thatshe never heard people screaming, "Fire!Fire!" in the neighboring theater.

766. raconteur noun: a person skilled in telling anecdotes

Synonyms : anecdotist

Jude is entertaining, but he is no raconteur:beyond the handful of amusing stories hehas memorized, he has absolutely nospontaneous story-telling ability.

767. hail verb: enthusiastically acclaim or celebratesomething

Synonyms : herald

Many college superstar athletes are hailedas the next big thing, but then flop at theprofessional level.


768. mordant adjective: biting and caustic in thought,manner, or style

Synonyms : caustic , corrosive , erosive ,vitriolic,black , grim

While Phil frequently made mordantremarks about company policy overall, healways was considerably gentler indiscussing any person in particular.

769. recapitulation noun: a summary (think of recap)

Synonyms : recap , review

Every point of the professors lesson was soclear that the students felt his concludingrecapitulation was not necessary.

770. gaffe noun: a socially awkward or tactless act

Synonyms : faux pas , gaucherie , slip ,solecism

In a famous gaffe, Vice President Quayleattempted to correct the spelling of a gradeschool student, only to find that the childwas correct.

771. umbrage noun: a feeling of anger caused by beingoffended

Synonyms : offence , offense

Since he was so in love with her, he tookumbrage at her comments, even though shehad only meant to gently tease him.

772. temerity noun: fearless daring

Synonyms : audaciousness , audacity

No child has the temerity to go in the rundownhouse at the end of the street and see if it ishaunted.

773. cede verb: relinquish possession or control ove

Synonyms : deliver , give up , surrenderr

Eventually, all parents must cede control of theirgrowing childrens' educations and allow theiroffspring some autonomy.

774. duplicity noun: deceitfulness, pretending to want onething but interested in something else

Synonyms : fraudulence

A life of espionage is one of duplicity: an agentmust pretend to be a totally different person thanwho she or he actually is.

775. flummox verb: be a mystery or bewildering to

Synonyms : amaze , baffle , beat , bewilder ,dumbfound , get , gravel , mystify , nonplus ,perplex , pose , puzzle , stick , stupefy , vex

Mary's behavior completely flummoxes me: Inever have any idea what her motivations mightbe.

776. plucky adjective: marked by courage and determination

Synonyms : gutsy,feisty , spunky

Some scouts initially doubted Pedroia because ofhis short stature, but he is a plucky player,surprising everyone with his boundless energyand fierce determination.

777. anemic adjective: lacking energy and vigor

Synonyms : anaemic

After three straight shows, the lead actress gavean anemic performance the fourth night, barelyspeaking loudly enough for those in the backrows to hear.

778. provident adjective: careful in regard to your own interests;providing carefully for the future

In a move that hardly could be described asprovident, Bert spend his entire savings on aluxurious cruise, knowing that other bills wouldcome due a couple months later.

779. anodyne noun: something that soothes or relievespain

Synonyms : analgesic , pain pill , painkiller

Muzak, which is played in departmentstores, is intended to be an anodyne, but isoften so cheesy and over-the-top thatcustomers become irritated.

adjective: inoffensive

Synonyms : analgesic , analgetic

Wilbur enjoyed a spicy Mexican breakfast,but Jill preferred a far more anodyne meal inthe mornings.

780. lugubrious adjective: excessively mournful

At the funeral, lugubrious songs filled thesmall church.

781. epiphany noun: a sudden revelation or moment ofinsight

Gary one day had an epiphany that he was apeople person; he prompty quit his factoryjob and began working as a salesman.

782. portentous adjective: ominously prophetic

Synonyms : fateful , foreboding

When the captain and more than half theofficers were sick on the very first night ofthe voyage, many of the passengers felt thiswas portentous, but the rest of the voyagecontinued without any problems.

783. grandiloquent adjective: puffed up with vanity

Synonyms : overblown , pompous ,pontifical , portentous

The dictator was known for hisgrandiloquent speeches, puffing his chestout and using big, important-soundingwords.

784. redoubtable adjective: inspiring fear or awe

Synonyms : formidable , unnerving

On television basketball players don't lookthat tall, but when you stand in front of aseven-foot tall NBA player, he is trulyredoubtable.

785. semblance noun: an outward or token appearance or formthat is deliberately misleading

Synonyms : color , colour , gloss

While the banker maintained a semblance ofrespectability in public, those who knew himwell were familiar with his many crimes.

786. litany noun: any long and tedious account ofsomething

Mr. Rogers spoke to a Senate committee and didnot give a litany of reasons to keep funding theprogram, but instead, appealed to the basichuman decency of all present.

787. enjoin verb: give instructions to or direct somebody todo something with authority

Synonyms : order , say , tell

The government agency enjoined the chemicalcompany to clean up the hazardous dump it hadcreated over the years.

788. moribund adjective: being on the point of death; decliningrapidly losing all momentum in progress

Synonyms : stagnant

Whether you like it or not, jazz as a genre ismoribund at best, possibly already dead.

789. lampoon verb: ridicule with satire

Synonyms : satirise , satirize

Mark Twain understood that lampooning a badidea with humor was the most effective criticism.

790. effrontery noun: audacious (even arrogant) behavior thatyou have no right to

Synonyms : assumption , presumption ,presumptuousness

The skateboarders acted with effrontery, skatingthrough the church grounds and spray-paintingsigns warning trespassers.

791. quail verb: draw back, as with fear or pain

Synonyms : cringe , flinch , funk , recoil ,shrink , squinch , wince

Craig always claimed to be a fearlessoutdoorsman, but when the thunderstormengulfed the valley, he quailed at thethought of leaving the safety of his cabin.


792. approbatory adjective: expressing praise or approval

Synonyms : affirmative , approbative ,approving , plausive

Although it might not be her best work,Hunter's new novel has received generallyapprobatory reviews.

793. perspicacious adjective: acutely insightful and wise

Synonyms : sagacious , sapient

Many modern observers regard Eisenhoweras perspicacious, particularly in hisaccurate prediction of the growth of themilitary.

794. charlatan noun: a flamboyant deceiver; one whoattracts customers with tricks or jokes

Synonyms : mountebank

You may call him a "motivational speaker,"but I call him a charlatan--he doesn't haveany idea what he's really talking about.

795. probity noun: integrity, strong moral principles

The ideal politician would have the probityto lead, but reality gravely falls short of theideal of morally upright leaders.

796. bowdlerize verb: edit by omitting or modifying partsconsidered indelicate

Synonyms : bowdlerise , castrate , expurgate, shorten

To receive an R rating, the entire movie wasbowdlerized because it contained so muchviolence and grotesque subject matter.

797. sagacious adjective: having good judgement andacute insight

Synonyms : perspicacious , sapient

Steve Jobs is surely one of the mostsagacious CEOs, making Apple the mostrecognizable and valuable companies inthe world.

798. unforthcoming adjective: uncooperative, not willing to giveup information

The teacher demanded to know who brokethe window while he was out of the room,but the students understandably wereunforthcoming.

799. artlessness noun: the quality of innocence

Synonyms : ingenuousness , innocence ,naturalness

I, personally, found the artlessness of herspeech charming.

800. solecism noun: a socially awkward or tactless act

Synonyms : faux pas , gaffe , gaucherie ,slip

Mother Anna was always on guard againstany solecism from her children andscolded them immediately if any of themtalked out of place in public.


801. illustrious adjective: widely known and esteemed;having or conferring glory

Synonyms : celebrated , famed , famous ,far-famed , notable , noted , renowned

Einstein was possibly the most illustriousscientist in recent history.

802. vitriolic adjective: harsh or corrosive in tone

Synonyms : acerb , acerbic , acid , acrid ,bitter , blistering , caustic , sulfurous ,sulphurous , virulent

While the teacher was more moderate inher criticism of the other student's papers,she was vitriolic toward Peter's paper,casting every flaw in the harshest light.

803. maunder verb: wander aimlessly

Max liked to maunder down by the seasideand pick up whatever sea shells he wouldstumble upon.

verb: speak (about unimportant matters)rapidly and incessantly

Synonyms : blab , blabber , chatter , clack ,gabble , gibber , palaver , piffle , prate ,prattle , tattle , tittle-tattle , twaddle

After drinking two espressos each, theanimated couple would maunder loudly,annoying the other patrons in the coffeeshop.

804. sinecure noun: an office that involves minimal duties

The position of Research Director is asinecure: the job entails almost noresponsibilities, nor does the person in thatposition have to answer to anyone.

805. pecuniary adjective: relating to or involving money

Synonyms : monetary

The defendent was found guilty and had toserve a period of community service as wellas pay pecuniary damages to the client.

806. punctilious adjective: marked by precise accordance withdetails

Synonyms : meticulous

The colonel was so punctilious aboutenforcing regulations that men feelcompelled to polish even the soles of theirshoes.

807. hagiographic adjective: excessively flattering towardsomeone's life or work

Most accounts of Tiger Woods life werehagiographic, until, that is, his affairs madeheadlines.

808. primacy noun: the state of being first in importance

The primacy of Apple Computers is notguaranteed, as seen in the recent lawsuitsand weak growth.

809. impute verb: attribute (responsibility or fault) tosomething

Synonyms : ascribe , assign , attribute

He imputed his subpar performance on the testto a combination of stress and poor sleep.

810. importuned verb: beg persistently and urgently

After weeks of importuning the star to meet fora five-minute interview, the journalist finallygot what she wanted.

811. hobble verb: to hold back the progress of something

Synonyms : gimp , hitch , limp

Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts,making it difficult for crews to find bodies inthe wreckage.

812. dovetail verb: fit together tightly, as if by means of ainterlocking joint

Synonyms : dovetail joint

Although Darwin's evolution and Mendel'sgenetics were developed in isolation from oneanother, they dovetail very well.

813. asperity noun: harshness of manner

Synonyms : sharpness

The editor was known for his asperity, oftensending severe letters of rejection to amateurwriters.

814. lacerate verb: deeply hurt the feelings of; distress

The teacher was fired for lacerating a studentwho wrote a poor essay.


815. inviolate adjective: must be kept sacred

Synonyms : inviolable , sacrosanct

While the literary critic subjected most of theclassics to the harshest reviews, he regardedCervantes as inviolate, and had nothing butpraise for him.

816. crestfallen adjective: brought low in spirit

Synonyms : chapfallen , chopfallen , deflated

I asked Maria on a date and she refusedwithout a moment's thought; I was crestfallen.

817. firebrand noun: someone who deliberately creates trouble

Synonyms : inciter , instigant , instigator ,provoker

Freddie is a firebrand: every time he walks intothe office, he winds up at the center of heatedargument.

818. magisterial adjective: offensively self-assured or given toexercising unwarranted power

Synonyms : autocratic , bossy , dominating ,high-and-mighty , peremptory

Though she was only a third grade teacher, Ms.Martinet was magisterial in dealing with herclass, lording over them like a queen.


819. patent adjective: glaringly obvious

Synonyms : apparent , evident , manifest , plain, unmistakable

Since the book had been through no fewer thansix proof runs, the staff was shocked to seesuch a patent spelling mistake remaining, rightin the middle of the front cover!


820. corollary noun: a practical consequence that followsnaturally

A corollary of Hurricane Sandy, which ravagedthe east coast of the U.S., is a push to buildhigher sea walls to protect against futurehurricanes.

821. intimation noun: an indirect suggestion

Synonyms : breath , hint

At first the hostess tried intimation, praisingthe benefits of cutlery; when Cecil continuedeating with his hands, the hostess told him touse a fork at dinner.

822. decry verb: express strong disapproval of

Synonyms : condemn , excoriate , objurgate ,reprobate

The entire audience erupted in shouts andcurses, decrying the penalty card issued by thereferee.

823. flippant adjective: showing inappropriate levity

Synonyms : light-minded

Although Sam was trying to honor Mark'ssense of humor, many found it quiteflippant that he wore a comic nose andglasses mask to Mark's funeral.

824. imperious adjective: having or showing arrogantsuperiority to and disdain of those oneviews as unworthy

Synonyms : disdainful , haughty , lordly ,overbearing , prideful , sniffy ,supercilious , swaggering

Children are imperious with each otherbefore they learn that earning someone'srespect is better than demanding.

825. incontrovertible adjective: necessarily or demonstrablytrue; impossible to deny or disprove

Synonyms : demonstrable,irrefutable ,positive

Unless you can provide incontrovertibleevidence, I will remain skeptical.

826. hubris noun: overbearing pride or presumption

Bill Clinton was criticized for his hubris,since he believed he could get away withanything once in the White House.

827. ossify verb: make rigid and set into aconventional pattern

Synonyms : petrify , rigidify

Even as a young man, Bob had some biasagainst poor people, but during his yearsin social services, his bad opinionsossified into unshiftable views.


828. celerity noun: speed, rapidity

Synonyms : quickness , rapidity ,rapidness , speediness

We aim to respond to customers'questions with celerity and accuracy, withno longer than a 24 hour wait time.

829. ribald adjective: humorously vulgar

Synonyms : bawdy , off-color

The speaker was famous for his ribaldhumor, but the high school principal askedhim to keep the talk G-rated when he spoketo the student body.

830. irrefutable adjective: impossible to deny or disprove

Synonyms : incontrovertible , positive

The existence of life on earth is irrefutable;the existence of intelligent life on earth isstill hotly debated.

831. inure verb: to make accustomed to somethingunpleasant

Synonyms : harden , indurate

Three years of Manhattan living has inuredher to the sound of wailing sirens; she couldprobably sleep through the apocalypse.

832. rarefied verb: make more subtle or refined

Jack's vulgar jokes were not so successful inthe rarefied environment of collegeprofessors.

833. recrimination noun: mutual accusations

The two brothers sat and cried, pointingfingers and making elaboraterecriminations of the other's guilt

834. invidious adjective: likely to cause resentment

At a time when many others in the officewere about to be laid off, many consideredCheryl's fine clothes that day an invidiousdisplay.


835. presentiment noun: a feeling of evil to come

Synonyms : boding , foreboding ,premonition

On the night that Lincoln would be fatallyshot, his wife had a presentiment aboutgoing to Ford's Theater, but Lincolnpersuaded her that everything would be fine.

836. crystallize verb: cause to take on a definite and clearshape

Synonyms : crystalise , crystalize , crystallise

Only after fifteen minutes of brainstormingdid Samantha's ideas for the essaycrystallize.


837. dispensation noun: an exemption from a rule or obligation

Since her father is a billionaire, she is givendispensation from many of the school'spolicies.


838. tempestuous adjective: as if driven by turbulent orconflicting emotions; highly energetic andwildly changing or fluctuating

Synonyms : angry , furious , raging , wild

Chuck and Kathy had always been stable andagreeable people on their own, but when theygot involved, it was a tempestuousrelationship.

839. encumber verb: hold back

Synonyms : constrain , cumber , restrain

The costume encumbered all my movementsand caused me to sweat profusely.

840. equitable adjective: fair to all parties as dictated byreason and conscience

Synonyms : just

The equitable distribution of ice cream to agroup of 5 year olds will ensure little to nofighting - at least until the ice cream is gone.

841. subterfuge noun: something intended to misrepresentthe true nature of an activity

Synonyms : blind

Finally deciding to abandon all subterfuge,Arthur revealed to Cindy everything about hissecret affair over the past two years.

842. spartan adjective: unsparing and uncompromising indiscipline or judgment; practicing great self-denial

Synonyms : severe

After losing everything in a fire, Tim decidedto live in spartan conditions, sleeping on thefloor and owning as little furniture as apossible.

843. inimitable adjective: defying imitation; matchless

Mozart's music follows a clear pattern that,anyone could imitate, but his music gives anoverall sense of effortlessness that isinimitable.

844. unpropitious adjective: (of a circumstance) with littlechance of success

With only a bottle of water and a sandwich,the hikers faced an unpropitious task:ascending a huge mountain that took mosttwo days to climb.

845. denouement noun: the final resolution of the manystrands of a literary or dramatic work; theoutcome of a complex sequence of events

At the denouement of the movie, allquestions were answered, and the trueidentity of the robber was revealed.

846. puissant adjective: powerful

Over the years of service, and quite to hissurprise, he became a puissant advisor to thecommunity.

847. surreptitious adjective: stealthy, taking pains not to becaught or detected

Synonyms : furtive , sneak , sneaky , stealthy

Since his mom was a light sleeper, Timmyhad to tiptoe surreptitiously through theentire house, careful to not make the floorscreak, until he at last was able to enjoy hisplunder: a box of chocolate chip cookies.

848. immure verb: to enclose, usually in walls

Synonyms : gaol , imprison , incarcerate ,jail , jug , lag , put away , put behind bars ,remand

The modern supermarket experience makesmany feel claustrophobic, as they areimmured in walls upon walls of products.

849. untenable adjective: (of theories etc) incapable of beingdefended or justified

Synonyms : indefensible

With the combination of Kepler's brillianttheories and Galileo's telescopicobservations, the old geocentric theorybecame untenable to most of the educatedpeople in Europe.

850. machinate verb: engage in plotting or enter into aconspiracy, swear together

Synonyms : cabal , complot , conjure ,conspire

The rebels met at night in an abandonedbarn to machinate.

851. stalwart adjective: dependable; inured to fatigue orhardships

Synonyms : stout,hardy ,sturdy

Despite all the criticism directed at thePresident during this scandal, Lisa hasremained his stalwart supporter.

852. obstreperous adjective: noisily and stubbornly defiant;willfully difficult to control

Synonyms : casual , insouciant

When the teacher asked the obstreperousstudent simply to bus his tray, the studentthrew the entire tray on the floor, shouted anepithet, and walked out.

853. nonchalant adjective: coming across as uninterested orunconcerned; overly casual

Synonyms : casual , insouciant

The twenty-somethings at the coffee shopalways irked Sheldon, especially the way inwhich they acted nonchalantly towardseverything, not even caring when Sheldononce spilled his mocha on them.

854. puerile adjective: of or characteristic of a child;displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity

Synonyms : adolescent , jejune , juvenile

Helen enjoyed blowing soap bubbles, but Jimregarded this as puerile, totally unworthy of awoman with a Ph.D.

855. unflappable adjective: not easily perturbed or excited orupset; marked by extreme calm andcomposure

Synonyms : imperturbable

The house shook and the ground quaked, butmy dad was unflappable and comforted thefamily.

856. improvident adjective: not given careful consideration

Synonyms : ill-considered , ill-judged ,shortsighted

Marty was improvident, never putting moneyaside for the future but spending it ondecorating the interior of his home.

857. impetuous adjective: characterized by undue haste andlack of thought or deliberation

Synonyms : brainish , hotheaded , impulsive ,madcap , tearaway

Herbert is rarely impetuous, but on the spur ofthe moment, he spent thousands of dollars ona motorcycle today.

858. peripatetic adjective: traveling by foot

Synonyms : wayfaring

Jim always preferred a peripatetic approach todiscovering a city: he felt that he could see somany more details while walking.

859. cosseted verb: treat with excessive indulgence

The king and queen cosseted the youngprince, giving him a prized miniature pony forhis fifth birthday.

860. unviable adjective: not able to work, survive, or succeed(also spelled inviable).

The plan was obviously unviable consideringthat it lead to complete environmentaldestruction in the river valley.

861. atavism noun: a reappearance of an earliercharacteristic; throwback

Synonyms : reversion , throwback

Much of the modern art movement was anatavism to a style of art found only in smallvillages through Africa and South America.

862. apothegm noun: a short, pithy instructive saying

Synonyms : aphorism , apophthegm

Winston Churchill is famous for manyapothegms, but this might be his most famous:"It has been said that democracy is the worstform of government except all the others thathave been tried."

863. objurgate verb: express strong disapproval of

Synonyms : condemn , decry , excoriate ,reprobate

The manager spent an hour objurgating theemployee in the hopes that he would not makethese mistakes again.

864. pith noun: the most essential part of something

Synonyms : center , centre , core , essence , gist, heart , heart and soul , inwardness , kernel ,marrow , meat , nitty-gritty , nub , substance ,sum

When Cynthia hears a speaker presenting acomplex argument, she is always able todiscard the irrelevant details and extract thepith of what the speaker is trying to convey.


865. percipient adjective: highly perceptive

Synonyms : clear

Even the most percipient editor will make anoccasional error when proofreading.

866. recrudesce verb: to break out or happen again

Synonyms : break , develop, erupt

After years of gamblers anonymous, Tonythought he'd broken his compulsive slotmachine playing, but it took only one trip to theAtlantic City for a full recrudescence--he lost$5k on the one armed bandit.

867. rapprochement noun: the reestablishing of cordialrelations

Synonyms : reconciliation

Although Ann hoped that her mother andher aunt would have a rapprochement,each one's bitter accusations against theother made any reconciliation unlikely.

868. debonair adjective: having a sophisticated charm

Synonyms : debonaire , debonnaire , suave

James Bond is known for his good looks,high tech gadgets, and debonair manner.

869. philistine adjective: smug and ignorant towardsartistic and cultural values

Synonyms : anti-intellectual

Jane considered Al completely philistine,because he talked almost exclusive aboutvideo games; she was entirely unaware ofhow well read he really was.


870. deign verb: do something that one considers tobe below one's dignity

Synonyms : condescend , descend

The master of the house never deigned toanswer questions from the servants.

871. chagrin noun: strong feelings of embarrassment

Synonyms : humiliation , mortification

Much to the timid writer's chagrin, theaudience chanted his name until he cameback on the stage.

verb: cause to feel shame; hurt the pride o

Synonyms : abase , humble , humiliate ,mortifyf

She never cared what others said abouther appearance but was chagrined by thesmallest comment from her mother.

872. broadside noun: a strong verbal attack

Synonyms : bill , broadsheet , circular , flier ,flyer , handbill , throwaway

Political broadsides are usually strongest inthe weeks leading up to a national election.

873. brook verb: put up with something or somebodyunpleasant

Synonyms : abide , bear , digest , endure , putup , stand , stick out , stomach , suffer ,support , tolerate

While she was at the chalkboard, the teacherdid not brook any form of talking--even atiny peep resulted in afternoon detention.This word has other definitions but this isthe most important one to study

874. nettlesome adjective: causing irritation or annoyance

Synonyms : annoying , bothersome , galling, irritating , pesky , pestering , pestiferous ,plaguey , plaguy , teasing , vexatious , vexing

Maria found her coworker's cell phonenettlesome, because every few minutes itwould buzz to life with another text message.

875. phlegmatic adjective: showing little emotion

Synonyms : phlegmatical

Arnold is truly noble, remaining reserveduntil an issue of significance arises, butWalter is simply phlegmatic: he doesn't havethe energy or inclination to care aboutanything.

876. solicitude noun: a feeling of excessive concern

Synonyms : solicitousness

I walked to his house in the rain to makesure he had enough to eat while he was sick,but he seemed not to appreciate mysolicitude.

877. disingenuous adjective: not straightforward; giving a falseappearance of frankness

Synonyms : artful

Many adults think that they can lie tochildren, but kids are smart and know whenpeople are disingenuous.

878. unstinting adjective: very generous

Synonyms : lavish , munificent ,overgenerous , too-generous , unsparing, unstinted

Helen is unstinting with her time, oftenspending hours at the house of a sickfriend.

879. truculence noun: defiant aggressiveness

Synonyms : truculency

When the boss confronted Aaron abouthis earlier remarks, Aaron respondedwith utter truculence, simply throwing aglass of water in the boss' face andwalking away.

880. anachronism noun: something that is inappropriatefor the given time period (usuallysomething old).

Synonyms : misdating , mistiming

Dressed in 15th century clothing eachday, Edward was a walkinganachronism.

881. unprepossessing adjective: creating an unfavorable orneutral first impression

Synonyms : unpresentable

World leaders coming to meet Gandhiwould expect a towering sage, and oftenwould be surprised by theunprepossessing little man dressed onlyin a loincloth and shawl.

882. chimera noun: something desired or wished forbut is only an illusion and impossible toachieve

Many believe that a world free of war is achimera—a dream that ignoreshumanity's violent tendencies.

883. bristle verb: react in an offended or angrymanner

Synonyms : abound , burst

As we discussed the painting, I noticedthe artist's wife bristling at ourcriticisms, ready to defend her husband'swork.

884. embryonic adjective: in an early stage of development

Synonyms : embryotic, embryologic , embryonal

The Board of Directors is hoping to launch anew product soon, but planning for the Z7 is inan embryonic stages.


885. vitriol noun: abusive or venomous language used toexpress blame or bitter deep-seated ill will

Synonyms : invective , vituperation

His vitriol spewed forth from a deep-seatedracism that consumed his whole life.

886. artifice noun: cunning tricks used to deceive others

Synonyms : ruse

The mayoral candidates both spent much of thecampaign accusing each other of artificesdesigned to mislead the voting public.

887. browbeat verb: be bossy towards; discourage or frightenwith threats or a domineering manner

Synonyms : ballyrag , boss around , bully ,bullyrag , hector , push around , strong-arm

During the interrogation, the suspect wasbrowbeaten into signing a false confession.

888. doleful adjective: filled with or evoking sadness

Synonyms : mournful

No event is more doleful than the passing of mymother; she was a shining star in my life, and itbrings me great sadness to think that she is nowgone.

889. besotted adjective: strongly affectionate towards

Even though her father did not approve, Julietbecame besotted with the young Romeo.

adjective: very drunk

Synonyms : blind drunk , blotto , cockeyed ,crocked , fuddled , loaded , pie-eyed , pissed ,pixilated , plastered , slopped , sloshed , smashed ,soaked , soused , sozzled , squiffy , stiff , tight , wet

Never before have I seen my mom so besotted, andhonestly, I hope it's the last time she drinks somuch.

890. epigram noun: a witty saying

Synonyms : quip

My favorite epigram from Mark Twain is "A manwho carries a cat by the tail learns something hecan learn no other way."

891. arrogate verb: seize and control without authority

Synonyms : assume , seize , take over , usurp

Arriving at the small town, the outlaw arrogatedthe privileges of a lord, asking the frightenedcitizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.

892. baleful adjective: threatening or foreshadowing evil ortragic developments

Synonyms : forbidding , menacing , minacious ,minatory , ominous , sinister , threatening

Movies often use storms or rain clouds as a balefulomen of evil events that will soon befall the maincharacter.

893. ersatz adjective: not real or genuine; phony

Synonyms : substitute

The car dealer's ersatz laughter was immediatelyfollowed by a price quote, one that Shelley foundhighly inflated.

894. languish verb: become feeble

Synonyms : fade

Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the hikerlanguished, eating protein bars and nuts.

895. reprisal noun: a retaliatory action against an enemy inwartime

The Old Testament doctrine of an eye for aneye is not the kind of retaliation practiced inwar; rather, an arm, a leg, and both ears arethe reprisal for the smallest scratch.

896. effervescent adjective: marked by high spirits or excitement

Synonyms : bubbling , frothy , scintillating ,sparkly

After the sales result, the manager was in aneffervescent mood, letting several employeesleave work early that day.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

897. exemplar noun: something to be imitated

Synonyms : example , good example , model

Lena's homework is on the wall because it isan exemplar of clean, neat, and thoughtfulwork.

898. ineffable adjective: too sacred to be uttered; defyingexpression or description

Synonyms : unnameable , unspeakable ,unutterable,indefinable , indescribable ,unspeakable , untellable

While art critics can occasionally pinpoint awork's greatness, much of why a piececaptures our imaginations is completelyineffable.

899. paragon noun: model of excellence or perfection of akind; one having no equal

Synonyms : apotheosis , ideal , nonesuch ,nonpareil , nonsuch , saint

Even with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many stillbelieve that Michael Jordon is the paragon forbasketball players.

noun: an ideal instance; a perfect embodimentof a concept

Synonyms : beau ideal , idol , perfection

Some say that Athens was the paragon ofdemocracy, but these people often forget thatslaves and women were still not allowed tovote.

900. meteoric adjective: like a meteor in speed or brillianceor transience

The early spectacular successes propelled thepitcher to meteoric stardom, but a terriblyinjury tragically cut short his career.

901. appurtenant adjective: supply added support

Synonyms : accessory , adjunct , adjuvant ,ancillary , auxiliary

In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas areappurtenant, helping climbers both carry gearand navigate treacherous paths.

902. inchoate adjective: only partly in existence; imperfectlyformed

Synonyms : incipient

Inchoate ideas about the relation of humansto other animals had been discussed since theMiddle Ages but the modern theory reallybegan with Darwin.

903. inanity noun: total lack of meaning or ideas

Synonyms : mindlessness , pointlessness ,senselessness , vacuity

Bill's poem was nothing more than a list ofimpressive sounding words, so there was nopoint in trying to take meaning from theinanity.

904. hoary adjective: ancient

Synonyms : rusty

Most workout gurus are young, fit people,whereas most yoga gurus are hoary men withlong white beards.

905. bemoan verb: express discontent or a strong regret

Synonyms : bewail , deplore , lament

While the CFO carefully explained all thereasons for the cuts in benefits, after themeeting employees bemoaned the cuts asfurther evidence that management wasagainst them.

906. antic adjective: ludicrously odd

Synonyms : fantastic , fantastical , grotesque

The clown's antic act was too extreme for theyoungest children, who left the room intears.


907. untrammeled adjective: not confined or limited

Synonyms : untrammelled

The whole notion of living untrammeledinspired the American Revolution and wasenshrined in the Declaration ofIndependence and the Constitution.

908. gambit noun: a maneuver or risk in a game orconversation, designed to secure anadvantage

Synonyms : ploy , stratagem

Randy played a gambit, telling his boss thathe would leave at the end of the week if hedidn't get a raise.

909. empiricism noun: any method that derives knowledgefrom experience, used in experimentalscience as a way to gain insight andknowledge

Synonyms : empiricist philosophy ,sensationalism

Empiricism does not always lead toknowledge; an experience or experiment mayraise more questions than it answers.

910. squelch verb: suppress or crush completely

Synonyms : quell , quench

After the dictator consolidated his power, hetook steps to squelch all criticism, oftenarresting any journalist who said anythingthat could be interpreted as negative abouthis regime.

911. obtuse adjective: slow to learn or understand; lackingintellectual acuity; lacking in insight ordiscernment

Synonyms : dense , dim , dull , dumb , slow

Jackson was the most obtuse member of theteam: the manager's subtle ironies were alwayslost on him.


912. mendicant noun: a pauper who lives by begging

Synonyms : beggar

Tolstoy was an aristocrat, but he strove tounderstand the Christianity of the Russianpeasants by wandering among them as amendicant.

913. autocratic adjective: characteristic of an absolute ruler orabsolute rule; having absolute sovereignty

Synonyms : authoritarian , despotic , dictatorial, tyrannic , tyrannical

The last true autocratic country is certainlyNorth Korea; nowhere does a leader exercise theabsolute control over all aspects of a people theway that Kim Jong-un does.

adjective: offensively self-assured or given toexercising usually unwarranted power

Synonyms : bossy , dominating , high-and-mighty , magisterial , peremptory

The manager was finally fired for his autocraticleadership, which often bordered on rude andoffensive.

914. callow adjective: young and inexperienced

Synonyms : fledgling , unfledged

Both Los Angeles and New York are known forcallow out-of-towners hoping to make it big.

915. stultify verb: cause one, through routine, to lose energyand enthusiasm

Synonyms : cripple

As an undergraduate Mark felt stultified byclasses outside his area of study; only in gradschool, in which he could focus solely onliterary analysis, did he regain his scholarlyedge.

916. doughty adjective: brave; bold; courageous

I enjoy films in which a doughty group comestogether to battle a force of evil.

917. abjure verb: formally reject or give up (as a belief)

Synonyms : forswear , recant , resile , retract

While the church believed that Galileo abjuredthe heliocentric theory under threat of torture, helater wrote a book clearly supporting the theory.

918. inviolable adjective: never to be broken, infringed, ordishonored

Synonyms : impregnable , secure , strong ,unassailable , unattackable

To many the grass at Wimbledon is inviolableand only greater tennis players are able to enjoy agame there.

919. self-effacing

adjective: reluctant to draw attention to yourself

Synonyms : reticent , retiring

The most admirable teachers and respectedleaders are those who are self-effacing, directingattention and praise to their students andworkers.

920. vaunted adjective: highly or widely praised or boastedabout

For years, they had heard of New York City'svaunted skyline, and when they finally saw it, thespectacular cityscape did not disappoint them inthe least.

921. panegyric noun: a formal expression of praise

Synonyms : encomium , eulogy , paean , pean

Dave asked Andrew to do just a simple toast, butAndrew launched into a full panegyric,enumerating a complete list of Dave'sachievements and admirable qualities.

922. gumption noun: resourcefulness and determination

Synonyms : backbone , grit , guts , moxie , sand

Wallace Stegner lamented the lack of gumptionin the U.S. during the sixties, claiming that noyoung person knew the value of work.

923. complicit adjective: Associated with or participating inan activity, especially one of a questionablenature.

While the grand jury cleared the senator of allcriminal charges, in the public mind he wasstill complicit in the corruption.

924. bridle verb: the act of restraining power or action orlimiting excess

Synonyms : check , curb

New curfew laws have bridled people'stendency to go out at night.

verb: anger or take offense

The hostess bridled at the tactless dinnerguests who insisted on eating beforeeverybody had gotten their food.

925. coterminous adjective: being of equal extent or scope orduration

Synonyms : coextensive , conterminous

The border of the state is coterminous withgeographic limits on travel; the east andnorth are surrounded by a nearly uncrossableriver and the south by a desert.

926. dolorous adjective: showing sorrow

Synonyms : dolourous , lachrymose , tearful ,weeping

Chopin's ballades are filled with sharpchanges in moods--a dolorous melody cangive way to a lighthearted tempo.

927. transmute verb: change or alter in form, appearance, ornature

Synonyms : metamorphose ,transform,transubstantiate

One of the goals of alchemy was to find thesubstance or process that would transmutelead into gold.

928. desiccated adjective: uninteresting, lacking vitality

Synonyms : arid , desiccate

Few novelists over 80 are able to produceanything more than desiccated works-boring shadows of former books.


929. impugn verb: attack as false or wrong

Though many initially tried to impugnDarwin's theory, in scientific circles today,the is idea taken as truth.

930. pellucid adjective: transparently clear; easilyunderstandable

Synonyms : crystal clear , limpid , lucid ,luculent , perspicuous

The professor had a remarkable abilitymake even the most difficult concepts seempellucid.

931. impervious adjective: not admitting of passage orcapable of being affected

Synonyms : imperviable

I am not impervious to your insults; theycause me great pain.

932. unimpeachable adjective: free of guilt; not subject toblame; beyond doubt or reproach

Synonyms : blameless , inculpable ,irreproachable

After his long and unimpeachable serviceto the company, Sharat felt that a goldwatch was a slap in the face rather thanan honor.

933. pontificate verb: talk in a dogmatic and pompousmanner

The vice-president would often pontificateabout economic theory, as if no one else inthe room were qualified to speak on thetopic.


934. bromide noun: a trite or obvious remark

Synonyms : banality , cliche , commonplace ,platitude

Instead of sharing his umbrella, the cheekystranger offered Martha the followingbromide: "Looks like it's raining."

935. conflagration noun: a very intense and uncontrolled fire

Synonyms : inferno

In the summer months, conflagrations arenot uncommon in the southwest, do to theheat and lack of rain.

936. solicitous adjective: showing hovering attentiveness

Our neighbors are constantly knocking onour door to make sure we are ok, and I don'tknow how to ask them to stop being sosolicitous about our health.


937. internecine adjective: (of conflict) within a group ororganization

The guerilla group, which had become sopowerful as to own the state police, wasfinally destroyed by an internecine conflict.

938. malingerer noun: someone shirking their duty bypretending to be sick or incapacitated

Synonyms : shammer , skulker

At one time, our country was full ofhardworking respectful people, but now itseems that everyone is a malingerer withlittle inclination to work.

939. desideratum noun: something desired as a necessity

The desideratum of the environmental groupis that motorists should rely on carpooling.

940. facile adjective: arrived at without due care oreffort; lacking depth

Many news shows provide facileexplanations to complex politics, so I preferto read the in-depth reporting of The NewYork Times.

941. unassailable adjective: immune to attack; without flaws

Synonyms : impregnable , inviolable , secure ,strong , unattackable,bulletproof , unshakable, watertight

Professor Williams is so self-assured as toseem arrogant, presenting each and everyopinion as an unassailable fact.

942. ethereal adjective: characterized by lightness andinsubstantiality

Synonyms : aerial , aeriform , aery , airy

Because she dances with an ethereal style,ballet critics have called her MadameButterfly.

943. afford verb: provide with an opportunity

The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro affords apanoramic view that encompasses bothTanzania and Kenya.


944. hauteur noun: overbearing pride evidenced by asuperior manner toward inferiors

Synonyms : arrogance , haughtiness , high-handedness , lordliness

As soon as she won the lottery, Alice begindisplaying a hauteur to her friends, callingthem dirty-clothed peasants behind theirbacks.

945. discursive adjective: (of e.g. speech and writing) tendingto depart from the main point

Synonyms : digressive , excursive , rambling

Many readers find it tough to read Moby Dicksince the author is discursive, often cuttingthe action short to spend 20 pages on thehistory of a whale.

946. aplomb noun: great coolness and composure understrain

Synonyms : assuredness , cool , poise , sang-froid

Nancy acted with aplomb during dangeroussituations--she once calmly climbed up anoak tree to save a cat.

947. appropriate verb: to give or take something by force

Synonyms : allow , earmark , reserve , setaside,capture , conquer , seize

The government appropriated land that wasoccupied by squatters, sending them scurryingfor another place to live.verb: to allocate

The committe appropriated the funds to itsvarious members.This word has other definitions but these arethe most important ones to study

948. palatable adjective: acceptable to the taste or mind

Synonyms : toothsome

MIkey didn't partake much in his friends'conversations, but found their presencepalatable.


949. fecund adjective: intellectually productive

Synonyms : fertile , prolific

The artist had entered a fecund period,producing three masterpieces in the span oftwo months.

950. turgid adjective: (of language) pompous and tedious

Synonyms : bombastic , declamatory , large ,orotund , tumid

The amount of GRE vocabulary he usedincreased with his years--by the time he was60, his novels were so turgid that even hisdiehard fans refused to read them.

951. conflate verb: mix together different elements orconcepts

Synonyms : blend , coalesce , combine ,commingle , flux , fuse , immix , meld , merge ,mix

In her recent book, the author conflatesseveral genres--the detective story, the teenthriller, and the vampire romance--to create amemorable read.

952. inequity noun: injustice by virtue of not conformingwith rules or standards

Synonyms : unfairness

After decades of racial inequity, the "separatebut equal" doctrine was successfullyoverturned.

953. enormity noun: an act of extreme wickedness

Synonyms : outrageousness

The enormity of Pol Pot's regime is hard tocapture in words--within months hundreds ofthousands of Cambodians lost their lives.


954. assiduously adverb: with care and persistence

The top college football program recruits newtalent assiduously, only choosing those whowere the top in their county.

955. proselytize verb: convert to another religion, philosophy,or perspective

Synonyms : proselytise

Lisa loves her Mac but says little about it; bycontrast, Jake will proselytize, interrogatinganyone with an Android about why she didn'tpurchase an iPhone.

956. elegiac adjective: expressing sorrow

Few can listen to the elegiac opening bars ofthe Moonlight sonata without feeling the urgeto cry.

957. tyro noun: someone new to a field or activity

Synonyms : beginner , initiate , novice , tiro

All great writers, athletes, and artists weretyros at one time—unknown, clumsy, andunskilled with much to learn.

958. complaisant adjective: showing a cheerful willingness todo favors for others

Synonyms : obliging

On her first day at the job, Annie wascomplaisant, fulfilling every request of hernew employee and anticipating futurerequests.

959. proscribe verb: command against

Synonyms : disallow , forbid , interdict , nix, prohibit , veto

My doctor proscribes that I not eat donutswith chocolate sauce and hamburger pattiesfor breakfast.

960. noisome adjective: having an extremely bad smell

Synonyms : fetid , foetid , foul , foul-smelling , funky , ill-scented , smelly ,stinking

Each August, when the winds moved in asouth easterly direction, the garbage dumpwould spread noisome vapors through thesmall town.

961. concomitant adjective: describing an event or situationthat happens at the same time as or inconnection with another

Synonyms : accompaniment , attendant ,co-occurrence

Concomitant with his desire for nature wasa desire for the culture and energy of a bigcity.

962. demonstrative adjective: given to or marked by the openexpression of emotion

When Sally told James that she wanted tobreak up with him, she expected he wouldreact demonstratively, but he quietly noddedhis head and left without saying a word.

963. dissipate verb: squander or spend money frivolously

Synonyms : fool , fool away , fritter , fritteraway , frivol away , shoot

The recent graduates dissipated theirearnings on trips to Las Vegas and cruisesin Mexico.

verb: to disperse or scatter

Synonyms : break up , dispel , disperse ,scatter,spread out

Kathleen's perfume was overwhelming inthe cramped apartment, but once westepped outside the smell dissipated and wecould breathe once again.

964. raillery noun: light teasing

Synonyms : backchat , banter , give-and-take

The new recruit was not bothered by theraillery, finding most of it light-hearted andgood-natured.

965. diminutive noun: to indicate smallness

He prefers to be called a diminutive of his name:"Bill" instead of "John William."

adjective: very small

Synonyms : bantam , flyspeck , lilliputian ,midget , petite , tiny

When he put on his father's suit and shoes, hisappearance was that of a diminutive youth.

966. surfeit noun: an excessive amount of something

Synonyms : excess , overabundance

There was no such thing as a surfeit ofshopping for Nancy--she could stay at the outletstores from opening to closing time.

967. cataclysm noun: an event resulting in great loss andmisfortune

Synonyms : calamity , catastrophe , disaster ,tragedy

The introduction of smallpox was a cataclysmfor Native Americans, killing off more than halfof their population.

968. capitulate noun: to surrender (usually under agreedconditions)

Paul, losing 19-0 in a ping-pong match againsthis nimble friend, basically capitulated when heplayed the last two points with his eyes closed.

969. trenchant adjective: characterized by or full of force andvigor; having keenness and forcefulness andpenetration in thought, expression, or intellect

Synonyms : hard-hitting,searching

Jill presented a rather superficial treatment ofsales in Asia, but her trenchant analysis ofsales in Europe inspired a number of insightsinto how to proceed in that market.

970. infelicitous adjective: inappropriate

Synonyms:defective

During the executive meeting, themarketing director continued to makeinfelicitous comments about the CEO'sgambling habit.

971. bastardization noun: an act that debases or corrupts

Synonyms : bastardisation

The movie World War Z is a completebastardization of the book with little morein common than zombies and a title.

972. countermand verb: a contrary command cancelling orreversing a previous command

By the time the colonel countermanded hissoldiers not to land in enemy territory, afew helicopters had already touched downamid heavy gunfire.

973. halcyon adjective: idyllically calm and peaceful;suggesting happy tranquillity; marked bypeace and prosperity

Synonyms : golden , prosperous

The first decade after WWI was a halcyonperiod in America with new-found wealthand rapidly improving technology.

974. panacea noun: hypothetical remedy for all ills ordiseases; a universal solution

Synonyms : catholicon , cure-all , nostrum

While the company credit card has mademost large purchases easier, it is nopanacea: some smaller basic transactionsstill must be conducted in cash.

975. adjudicate verb: to serve as a judge in a competition; toarrive at a judgment or conclusion

Synonyms : decide , resolve , settle,judge ,try

Only those with the most refined palateswere able to adjudicate during the barbequecompetition.

976. graft noun: corruption, usually through bribery

In countries with rampant graft, getting adriver's license can require no more thanpaying an official.


977. chauvinism noun: fanatical patriotism; belief that one'sgroup/cause is superior to all othergroups/causes

Synonyms : jingoism , superpatriotism ,ultranationalism

Vegetarians argue that man is chauvinistic inhis belief that animals do not consciously feelthe pain we humans do.


978. pillory verb: ridicule or expose to public scorn

Synonyms : gibbet

After the candidate confessed, the press of theopposing party took the opportunity to pilloryhim, printing editorials with the most blatantlyexaggerated accusations.


979. promulgate verb: state or announce

Synonyms : exclaim , proclaim

The President wanted to promulgate thesuccess of the treaty negotiations, but he had towait until Congress formally approved theagreement.

980. abrogate verb: revoke formally

As part of the agreement between the laborunion and the company, the workers abrogatedtheir right to strike for four years in exchangefor better health insurance.

981. veritable adjective: truthfully, without a doubt

Synonyms : authentic , bona fide ,unquestionable

Frank is a veritable life-saver - last year, ontwo different occasions, he revived peopleusing CPR.

982. despot noun: a cruel and oppressive dictator

Synonyms : autocrat , tyrant

The Emperor Claudius was regarded as afair-minded leader; his successor, Nero,was an absolute despot.

983. misattribute verb: To erroneously attribute; to falselyascribe; used especially of authorship.

I made a mistake; I misattributed "Crimeand Punishment" to Leo Tolstoy when itwas actually written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

984. ebullient adjective: joyously unrestrained

Synonyms : exuberant , high-spirited

Can you blame him for his ebullient mood?He just graduated from medical school.

985. obtain adjective: be valid, applicable, or true

Synonyms : hold , prevail

The custom of waiting your turn in line doesnot obtain in some countries, in whichmany people try to rush to front of the line atthe same time.


986. verisimilitude noun: the appearance of truth

All bad novels are bad for numerousreasons; all good novels are good for theirverisimilitude of reality, placing the readersin a world that resembles the one theyknow.

987. evanescent adjective: tending to vanish like vapor

The storm flashed into existence above usand lasted only a short time - an evanescentturbulence of wind and cloud.

988. officious adjective: intrusive in a meddling oroffensive manner

Synonyms : busy , busybodied , interfering ,meddlesome , meddling

The professor had trouble concentrating onher new theorem, because her officioussecretary would barge in frequentlyreminding her of some trivial detailinvolving departmental paperwork.

989. estimable adjective: deserving of esteem and respect

Synonyms : good , honorable , respectable

After serving thirty years, in which he selflesslyserved the community, Judge Harper was oneof the more estimable people in town.

990. bereft adjective: unhappy in love; suffering fromunrequited love

Synonyms : lovelorn , unbeloved

After 64 years of marriage, William was bereftafter the death of his wife.

adjective: sorrowful through loss or deprivation

Synonyms : bereaved , grief-stricken , grieving ,mourning , sorrowing

"You are not bereft if you haven't played on yourXbox in the past week," his mother said.

991. lachrymose adjective: showing sorrow

Synonyms : dolorous , dolourous , tearful ,weeping

Lachrymose and depressed, AlexeiAlexandrovich walked two miles home in therain after learning that his wife was having anaffair.

992. flag verb: droop, sink, or settle from or as if frompressure or loss of tautness; become lessintense

Synonyms : droop , sag , swag

After the three crushing defeats in the last threegames, the team's enthusiasm began to flag.


993. dissemble verb: conceal one's true motives, usuallythrough deceit

Synonyms : affect , feign , pretend , sham

To get close to the senator, the assassindissembled his intentions, convincing manypeople that he was a reporter for a well-knownnewspaper.

994. extrapolate verb: draw from specific cases for more generalcases

Synonyms : generalise , generalize , infer

By extrapolating from the data on the past threemonths, we can predict a 5% increase in trafficto our website.

995. oblique adjective: not straightforward; indirect

Synonyms : devious

Herbert never explicitly revealed anythingnegative about Tom's past, but at times hewould obliquely suggest that Tom was not asinnocent as he seemed.


996. palaver verb: speak (about unimportant matters)rapidly and incessantly

Synonyms : blab , blabber , chatter , clack ,gabble , gibber , maunder , piffle , prate , prattle, tattle , tittle-tattle , twaddle

During the rain delay, many who had come tosee the game palavered, probably hoping thatidle chatter would make the time go by faster.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

997. row noun: an angry dispute

Synonyms : dustup , quarrel , run-in , words ,wrangle

The Prime Minister looked very foolish after hisrow with the foreign dignitary was caught onvideo and posted on youtube.


998. canard noun: a deliberately misleading fabrication

The public will always be fooled by the media'scanards.

999. exiguity noun: the quality of being meager

Synonyms : leanness , meagerness ,meagreness , poorness , scantiness , scantness

After two months at sea, the exiguity of theship's supplies forced them to search for freshwater and food.

1000. loath adjective: unwillingness to do somethingcontrary to your custom (usually followed by'to')

Synonyms : loth , reluctant, antipathetic ,antipathetical , averse , indisposed

I was loath to leave the concert before myfavorite band finished playing.

1001. enamor verb: attraction or feeling of love

Synonyms : becharm , beguile , bewitch ,captivate , capture , catch , charm , enamour ,enchant , entrance , fascinate , trance

She is completely enamored with JustinBieber, and goes to all his concerts on the Eastcoast.

1002. eponym noun: the name derived from a person (real orimaginary); the person for whom something isnamed

Alexandria, Egypt is an eponym because it isnamed after Alexander the Great.

1003. modicum noun: a small or moderate or token amount

If my sister had even a modicum of sense, shewouldn't be engaged to that barbarian.

1004. dissolution noun: a living full of debauchery andindulgence in sensual pleasure

Synonyms : dissipation , licentiousness ,looseness , profligacy

Many Roman emperors were known for theirdissolution, indulging in unspeakable desiresof the flesh.

1005. ineluctable adjective: impossible to avoid or evade:

Synonyms : inescapable , unavoidable

For those who smoke cigarettes for years, amajor health crisis brought on by smoking isineluctable.

1006. sardonic adjective: disdainfully or ironically humorous;scornful and mocking

A stand-up comedian walks a fine line whenmaking jokes about members of the audience;such fun and joking can quickly becomesardonic and cutting.

1007. splenetic adjective: very irritable

Synonyms : bristly , prickly , waspish

Ever since the car accident, Frank has beenunable to walk without a cane, and so he hasbecome splenetic and unpleasant to bearound.

1008. exorbitant adjective: greatly exceeding bounds of reasonor moderation

Synonyms : extortionate , outrageous , steep ,unconscionable , usurious

Shelley made one exorbitant purchase afteranother, buying new clothes and takingvacations even though she earned a limitedsalary.

1009. simulacrum noun: a representation of a person (especiallyin the form of sculpture)

Synonyms : effigy , image

The Shanghai Urban Planning ExhibitionCenter showcases a simulacrum of all thepresent and approved buildings in the city ofShanghai.

noun: a bad imitation

The early days of computer graphics madereal people into a simulacrum that now seemscomical.

1010. hoodwink verb: to deceive or trick someone

Synonyms : bamboozle , lead by the nose ,play false , pull the wool over someone's eyes, snow

Someone tried to hoodwink Marty with anemail telling him that his uncle had justpassed away, and to collect the inheritancehe should send his credit card information.

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Magoosh GRE Flashcards Basic C