How to be rich in your Vocabulary Memory in TOEFL

Better your exam score by learning these top/common/complete set of Toefl test vocab words. Proven to increase your Toefl Score.

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ABANDON: To give up completely - abandoned the sinking ship.
Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake
ABASH: To lose self-confidence; to confuse, put to shame – abashed before the assembled dignitaries.
Synonyms: fluster, disconcert, discomfit, discompose
Antonym: (adj.) self-possessed
ABDICATE: To give up claim to - abdicated the throne
Synonyms: renounce, abandon, relinquish
ABET: To encourage -or support - treacherously abetted the enemy.
Synonyms: spur, incite
Antonym: deter
ABRIDGE: To shorten - abridged his lengthy speech.
Synonyms: curtail, diminish, retrench
Anthonyms: protract, elongate, amplify
ABROGATE: To abolish or render void - a treaty abrogated by mutual consent.
Synonyms: annul, nullify, rescind, void
ABSTEMIOUS: Moderate in the use of food or drink - abstemious in his habits.
Synonym: temperate
ACADEMIC: Pertaining to school; theoretical academic interests; an academic discussion, with no practical implications.
Synonym: scholastic
ACCEDE: To agree to -accede to a request.
Synonym: assent
Antonym: demur
ACCELERATE: - To quicken, speed tip - took an accelerated course in order to graduate early.
Synonym: expedite (adj. expeditious)
Antonym: retard
ACCOLADE: An award or salute - a tremendous accolade for a returning hero.
Synonyms: tribute, ovation
ACCORD: Agreement or harmony - in full accord with his view.
Synonyms: concord, concurrence
Antonyms:dissension, discord
ACRIMONIOUS: Sharp or harsh in language or temper - stung by the acrimonious remark.
Synonyms:caustic, acerb, pungent, tart, mordant, acrid; (noun) asperity
Antonyms:suave, affable
ACUMEN: Keenness of mind or insight - showing exceptional business acumen.
Synonyms:perspicacity, discernment, perception
Antonym:obtuseness
ADMONISH (noun: ADMONITION): To warn or find fault gently - admonishing the unruly child.
Synonyms:chide, caution, reprimand, reprehend, reproach
ADVERSARY: (adj.: ADVERSE): An opponent - his adversary in a bitter debate.
Synonym:antagonist
Antonyms:cohort, confederate, ally, accomplice
ADVERSITY: Misfortune - calm in the face of adversity.
Synonyms:affliction, mischance, reverses
AESTHETIC: Pertaining to the beautiful - interested in aesthetic values rather than in purely practical affairs.
AFFABLE: Sociable, courteous, and agreeable in manner a much admired, affable gentleman.
Synonyms: civil, complaisant, benign, gracious, genial, urbane, cordial
Antonyms:curt, brusque, rude, boorish, surly
AFFLUENT: Prosperous, flourishing; copious - a large bequest from an affluent grandfather.
Synonyms:opulent, profuse
Antonyms:destitute, impecunious
AGGRESSIVE (noun: AGGRESSION. an unprovoked attack): self-assertive; attacking, offensive - annoyed people by his aggressive attitude;
Synonyms:bumptious, officious, obtrusive
Antonyms:meek, humble, retiring, diffident
ALACRITY: Eagerness; cheerful promptness - responded to the flattering offer with alacrity.
Synonyms:celerity, briskness, energy, animation
Antonyms:apathy, nonchalance, sluggishness, lethargy, phlegmatism
ALIENATE: To estrange - altenated by his gruff manner.
ALLAY: To calm; to lessen in severity - at ease now that his fears have been allayed.
Synonyms:appease, alleviate, pacify, assuage, abate, mitigate, propitiate, mollify, placate
Antonyms:intensify, aggravate
ALLUDE (noun: ALLUSION): To refer to indirectly - alluded quite subtly to his friend's misfortune.
Synonyms:insinuate, intimate, imply
Antonyms:refer, cite
ALLURE: To tempt by flattery or an attractive offer - allured by the prospect of a new job.
Synonyms:lure, decoy, inveigle, entice, seduce, wheedle, beguile, cajole
Antonym:repel
AMBIGUOUS: Uncertain, vague, capable of being inter- in more than one way - puzzled by the ambiguous statement.
Synonyms:hazy, obscure, equivocal, dubious, nebulous
Antonyms:explicit, unquestionable
AMENABLE: Obedient; willing to submit - amenable to the suggestion.
Synonyms:tractable, docile, responsive
Antonyms:intractable, refractory, recalcitrant
AMIABLE: Good-natured; friendly - attracted friends by his amiable disposition.
Synonym:complaisant
ANACHRONISM: A thing placed or occurring out of its normal time - A machine gun at the Battle of Yorktown would be an anachronism.
ANALOGY (adj.: ANALOGOUS): A relation between two things shown in the resemblance not of the things themselves but of their characteristics- He indicated points of analogy between the two situations.
Synonyms:correspondence, affinity
Antonym: anomaly (a deviation from the general rule)
ANARCHY: State of confusion or lawlessness - a country brought to utter anarchy by civil war.
Synonyms: chaos, pandemonium
ANIMUS: A feeling of hatred-felt no animus, even against the enemy.
Synonyms: enmity, rancor, malevolence, animosity
Antonym: amity
ANNALS: Historical records - in the annals of literature.
ANONYMOUS: Of unknown authorship-an anonymous publication.
ANTHOLOGY: A collection of choice literary works – an anthology of modern poetry.
ANTITHESIS (adj.: ANTITHETICAL): Contrast; the direct opposite - His selfish attitude seemed to me the antithesis o patriotism.
APATHY (adj.: APATHETIC): Lack of feeling, emotion, or interest - attributed his failure to apathy, rather than lack of ability.
Synonyms: torpor, lethargy, sluggishness, listlessness, languor, lassitude, dispassion; (verb) languish
Antonyms:zeal, animation
APPREHENSIVE (verb: APPREHEND): Fearful - Being unprepared, John is apprehensive of the examination.
APPRISE: To inform -apprisedhis lieutenants of the new situation.
APPROBATION: Approval; praise -a plan that met with hearty approbation.
Synonyms:sanction, commendation
Synonyms:sanction, commendation
Antonym:disapprobation
APT (noun: APTITUDE, APTNESS):
(1) Likely; inclined or disposed - apt to succeed. Synonym: prone
(2) Fit, suitable - an apt remark.
Synonyms: appropriate, felicitous
(3) Skillful, expert - apt at woodcarving.
Synonyms: deft, dextrous, adept. Antonym: inept
ARBITER: A person who has authority to decide matters in dispute - a fair decision rendered by the arbiter.
Synonyms: mediator, arbitrator
ARCHETYPE: An original pattern - copies reproduced from the archetype.
Synonym: prototype
Antonyms: Stereotype, facsimile, replica
ARID: Dry; barren - the arid desert land.
Synonyms. jejune, parched
Antonyms: arable, fertile
ARISTOCRACY: Government by the best people; a privileged class -special privileges enjoyed by the aristocracy.
Synonym: oligarchy
Antonym: democracy
ARMISTICE: A temporary suspension of hostilities. The armistice halted the war.
Synonym: truce
ARTFUL: Sly; crafty - attained his mean objective by artful measures.
Synonyms: cunning, wily, adroit, ingenious, guileful
Antonyms: guileless, ingenuous, artless
ARTICULATE (verb): To speak clearly or distinctly - articulated slowly so that he could not be misunderstood.
(adj.): Capable of speech; distinct, clear – an articulate man, always ready to give his views.
ASCETIC: Rigorously self-denying - pursued the ascetic life of a monk.
Synonyms: austere, abstinent
Antonyms: wanton, self-indulgent
ASKANCE: With distrust - looked askance at the forged signature.
ASSEVERATE: To declare positively; to confirm - asseverated his views with conviction.
Synonyms:assert, avouch, aver, avow, allege
Antonyms:gainsay, controvert, recant, rescind, abjure, disavow
ASSIDUOUS: Industrious - an assiduous worker, toiling long hours.
Synonyms:sedulous, attentive, diligent, indefatigable
Antonyms:indolent, slothful
ASYLUM: A place offering shelter and retreat -found asylum from persecution.
Synonyms:sanctuary, refuge
ATHEIST: One who denies that God exists - The atheist declared, "There is no God."
Synonyms:infidel, agnostic, skeptic
ATTRIBUTE (verb): Assign -attributed his success to bard work.
Synonym: ascribe
(noun): An inherent quality -Generosity was his outstanding attribute.
AUGMENT: To increase or enlarge - an army augmented by numerous enlistments.
Synonyms: enhance, amplify - Antonyms: abate, curtail
AUSPICIOUS: Indicating a happy outcome - The prospect for this project appears auspicious.
Synonyms:propitious, fortunate
Antonyms:ominous, foreboding
AUTHENTIC: Genuine -proved to be an authentic document.
Synonyms:veritable, bona fide
Antonyms;apocryphal, counterfeit, spurious, bogus
AUTOCRATIC: Despotic - feared by the masses as an autocratic ruler.
Synonym:tyrannical
Antonym:benevolent
AVARICE: Excessive greed - a fortune accumulated by avarice and miserliness.
Synonyms:covetousness, cupidity, avidity
Antonym:magnanimity
AWRY: Unsymmetrical; not straight - the picture, hanging awry on the wall.
Synonym:askew
BANAL: Lacking in freshness, originality, or vigor-bored by his banal remarks.
Synonyms:commonplace, hackneyed, prosaic, trite, stereotyped, vapid
Antonyms:racy, original, vivid
BANEFUL (noun: BANE: poison; source of harm): Destructive, poisonous - a baneful effect, causing serious injury.
Synonyms: deleterious, pernicious, virulent, noxious, toxic
Antonym:beneficent
BANTER: Good-natured teasing or ridicule-The two wits I exchanged banter, to the amusement of the audience.
Synonyms:raillery, chaff
BATON: A stick or staff - The conductor wielded his baton gracefully.
BELIE: To give a false idea of - His gracious manner belled his. evil purpose.
Synonym:misrepresent
BELLICOSE; Inclined to quarrel; warlike - His bellicose attitude often got John into fights.
Synonyms: pugnacious, contentious, disputatious
Antonyms: pacific, conciliatory
BELLIGERENT: Engaged in war - two belligerent nations warring fiercely.
BENEVOLENT: Kindly; charitable - like a benevolent monarch, bestowing many favors.
Synonyms: benign, benignant, gracious, magnanimous
Antonyms: malevolent, malignant
BEREAVE: To deprive or leave desolate by loss - a widow just bereaved of her husband.
BESMIRCH: To soil or dirty - besmirched his opponent's good name with vile epithets.
Synonyms: stilly, defile, smirch, bespatter
BIASED: Prejudiced - misled by a biased point of view.
Synonyms:bigoted, arbitrary, partial, partisan
Antonyms:disinterested, equitable
BIBLIOPHILE: A lover of books - The bibliophile fingered the old book fondly.
Antonym: bibliophobe
BIZARRE: Queer; unusual in appearance- bizarre clothes, outlandish in the extreme.
Synonyms:odd, fantastic, grotesque, eccentric
BLAND: Gentle; polite; agreeable - a bland diet, without irritating foods.
Synonyms: mild, suave (affable or persuasive in manner), soothing, non-irritating
Antonyms: piquant, tart, racy, caustic, acrid, pungent
BLANDISHMENT: A flattering speech or act - attracted people by his blandishments.
BLEMISH (verb): To scar or spoil - Bad associates blemished his character
(noun): A disfigurement, defect - a character without a blemish.
BLIGHT: To ruin or decay - the rotting wheat-, blighted by incessant rain.
Synonyms:wither, blast
BLITHE: Gay and light-hearted in spirit or mood - spread cheer with her blithe spirit.
Synonyms: jocund, merry, joyous
Antonyms: dejected, forlorn, abject
BOG: A swamp - sank into the spongy bog.
Synonyms: morass, fen, quagmire, mire
BOMBASTIC (noun: BOMBAST): High-sounding; pretentious in language - a bombastic speech, inflated with meaningless high-flown words.
Synonyms: ranting, pompous, fustian
BOORISH: Unrefined in speech or manners - exhibited the boorish manners of a backwoodsman.
Synonyms:churlish, uncouth. uncultured, crass
Antonym: suave
BUCOLIC: Pertaining to the country - a bucolic poem de- the joys of the shepherd.
Synonyms:pastoral, rustic, rural
BUFFOON: A clown - acting like a buffoon, full of ludicrous tricks.
Synonym: harlequin
BULWARK:

1. An embankment used as a fortification - a lofty bulwark for defense.

Synonym: rampart

2. A person, idea, or object serving as a protection - acted as a bulwark in the fight against crime.

BUMPTIOUS: Obnoxiously conceited or self-assertive - a bumptious monitor, puffed up with his own importance,
Synonyms: aggressive, arrogant, contumelious, overbearing
CABAL: A small group of persons engaged in plotting - a cabal of prominent persons united to overthrow the government.
Synonyms: junto, faction
CACOPHONOUS: Unharmonious sounding - a cacophonous blare of trumpets, noisy and discordant.
Synonyms: dissonant, discordant, blatant, strident, raucous Antonyms: mellifluous, euphonious, dulcet
CADAVEROUS: Corpselike; hence, haggard, pale -His face appeared cadaverous from long imprisonment.
Synonyms: ghastly, gaunt, pallid (noun: pallor), wan, ashen
Antonyms: rubicund, florid
CALLOUS: Unfeeling or insensitive - made callous by long suffering.
Synonyms: insensible, obdurate
CALUMNIATE: To accuse falsely or maliciously in order to injure another's reputation; slander - calumniated his political opponent by spreading false rumors.
Synonyms: asperse, vilify, defame, scandalize
CANDID (noun: CANDOR): Frank, outspoken; impartial a candid reply that could hardly be more forthright.
Synonyms: artless, ingenuous, unbiased
Antonyms: guileful, evasive
CANTANKEROUS: Ill-natured; quarrelsome – showed a cantankerous and sullen disposition.
Synonyms:petulant, peevish, contentious, pugnacious, testy, choleric, fretful
Antonyms:amiable, affable, equable
CAPRICIOUS: Inclined, through some whim or fancy change the mind, purpose, or actions suddenly - a capricious person, undependable in mood or temper.
Synonyms:fickle, fitful, changeable, erratic, inconstant, crotchety, whimsical, mercurial
Antonyms:steadfast, constant, even-tempered
CAPTIOUS: Quick to find fault about trifles- a captious critic pouncing on slight laws.
Synonyms:hypercritical, carping, carviling, censorious
CARICATURE: A picture or other description of a person which exaggerates ludicrously one or more of his distinctive features - not a realistic portrait but a malicious caricature.
CASTIGATE: To punish or criticize severely - castigated for using improper language.
Synonyms:reprove, upbraid, reprehend, censure, reprimand, chasten
Antonyms:commend, eulogize, laud
CELESTIAL: Pertaining to the sky; heavenly-a celestial pageant of bright stars.
Synonyms:ethereal; (noun) firmament
CHAUVINIST. An extreme patriot-a chauvinist with most pride in his country.
Synonym:jingoist
CHICANERY: Trickery, deception,- practised chicanery all his shady dealings.
Synonyms:duplicity, craft, stratagem, wile, subterfuge
CHRONIC: Continuing a long time; habitual-a. chronic complaint, persisting for years.
Synonyms:persistent, unremitting, inveterate, incessant, constant
Antonyms:intermittent, sporadic, infrequent
CIRCUMSPECT: Cautious - looked about him circumspectly.
Synonyms:prudent, vigilant, discreet, wary
Antonyms:rash, indiscreet, reckless, precipitate, foothardy, temerarious, headstrong
CIRCUMVENT: To gain an advantage by the use of trick to evade by the use of deception; to go around - circumvented the law by evasive practices.
Synonyms:thwart, balk, outwit, delude
CIVIL:

1. Of or having to do with citizens or the state - We I civil duties as well as civil liberties.
2. Polite, courteous - answered in a civil fashion.

Synonyms: respectful, gracious

CLAMOROUS: Loud and noisy - a clamorous outburst the crowd outside.
Synonyms: vociferous, obstreperous, blatant, raucous, strident
Antonyms: muted, quiet
CLANDESTINE: Secret; stealthy - a clandestine meeting known only to a few.
Synonyms: furtive, covert, surreptitious
Antonyms: overt, manifest, above-board
CLEMENT: Merciful; gentle - a clement judge who tempered justice with leniency.
Synonyms: compassionate, forbearing
Antonyms: relentless, ruthless
COALITION (verb: COALESCE): Alliance; merging of various units into one unit - three parties forming a coalition to rule the country.
Synonyms: amalgamation, consolidation, fusion
COERCION: Compelling a person by physical force or other means to do something against his will - rendered his services without the slightest coercion.
Synonyms: constraint, restraint, impelling
COGENT: Having the force to compel, usually by appealing to reason - persuaded by cogent arguments.
Synonym: persuasive
COLLUSION: Working together secretly for an evil purpose - acted in collusion to overthrow the government.
Synonyms: collaboration, conspiracy, conniving, machination
COMMODIOUS: Roomy - a commodious apartment.
Synonyms: spacious, capacious, ample
COMPATIBLE: Harmonious; able, to get along together parted company because they were not compatible.
Synonyms: congruous, consistent
Antonyms: incongruous, discordant, incompatible
COMPENDIUM (adj.: COMPENDIOUS): A brief summary of the main ideas of a larger work - a compendium of chemistry in a slim volume.
Synonyms: synopsis, digest, precis, abstract, epitome
COMPENSATION: Payment for services - just compensation for his labor.
Synonyms: stipend, remuneration, recompense, emolument
COMPLACENT: Self-satisfied - looked on his own performance with a complacent smile.
Synonym: smug
COMPUNCTION: Regret for wrongdoing - displayed slight compunction for his misdeed.
Synonyms: contrition, penitence, atonement, remorse, qualm
CONCEDE: To yield; to admit as true; to grant - conceded victory to a superior force.
Synonyms: acquiesce, capitulate
CONDIGN: Well-deserved (applied chiefly to punishment) - received condign punishment for his crime.
CONDOLE (noun: CONDOLENCE): To express sympathy with another in sorrow, pain, or misfortune - condoled with each other in their grief.
Synonyms: commiserate, show compassion, solace
CONDONE: To forgive or overlook (an offense) - condoned the deed, in view of the offender's age.
Synonyms: extenuate, palliate, mitigate, gloss
CONFEDERATE (noun): A person allied with others for a special purpose (frequently a bad one) - joined his confederate in secret enterprise.
Synonyms: collaborator, accomplice
(adj.): United or allied in a conspiracy - two confederate groups hurrying to their rendezvous.
CONGENIAL:

(1) Possessing similar interests and tastes; able to get on well with others - congenial people with similar backgrounds.

Synonym: compatible
(2) Agreeable - congenial to his taste.
CONJECTURE: To guess - Without facts, we can only conjecture about his guilt.
Synonyms: surmise, presume
CONSECRATE:

(1) To set apart as sacred - consecrate the battlefield with a monument to the dead heroes. Synonyms: hallow, sanctify Antonym: desecrate

(2) To devote or dedicate to some aim - consecrated his life to teaching.

CONSENSUS. General agreement - The consensus of the committee was that no action should be taken.

Synonym: accord

CONSTERNATION: Amazement; lack of courage caused by fearful prospect - The threat struck deep consternation into John.

Synonyms: dismay, bewilderment

CONSTRUE (noun: CONSTRUCTION): To interpret, explain the sense of, or analyze - construed the statement to his own advantage.
CONSUMMATE (adj.): Perfect or highly accomplished - achieved with consummate skill.

Antonyms: botched. bungled, inept

(verb): To complete, bring to perfection - consummated the deal without delay.

CONTEMPTUOUS: Expressive of contempt (an emotion involving anger and disgust) - cast a contemptuous look at his subordinate.

Synonyms: supercilious, scornful, disdainful, contumelious

CONVIVIAL: Festive; gay - a convivial party.

Synonyms: jovial, jocund, mirthful

Antonyms: lugubrious, dolorous, mirthless

COPIOUS: Plentiful - shed copious tears at the bad news.

Synonyms. profuse, bountiful, abundant

Antonyms: meager, scant

CORPULENT: Fat - corpulent due to excessive eating.

Synonyms: obese, portly

Antonyms: gaunt, lank, emaciated, peaked

COSMOPOLITAN (noun): One who is at home in all countries - A cosmopolitan can feel at ease anywhere in the world.

(adj.): Free from local prejudices - a world-wide traveler, cosmopolitan in tastes and attitudes.

Synonyms: Catholic

Antonyms: parochial, provincial

COTERIE: A group of people joined by common interests a coterie of select friend.

Synonym: clique

COUNTENANCE (noun): A face - His countenance expressed his complete disgust.

Synonym: visage

(verb): To approve - refused to countenance disrespectful conduct.
Synonym: sanction
CRASS: Coarse and stupid - displayed crass ignorance.

Synonym: gross

CRAVEN (noun): Coward - the deed of a craven, motivated by fear.

Synonym. Poltroon

(adj.): Cowardly - a craven act which shocked the world.

Synonyms: pusillanimous, dastardly.

Antonyms: stalwart, intrepid, valiant, stout-hearted

CREDENCE: Trust or belief - gave little credence to the rumor.

Synonym: conviction

Antonym: skepticism

CREDIBLE: Worthy of belief - a credible story, true to life.

Antonym: incredible

CREDITABLE: Deserving or reflecting Credit or honor - applauded for his creditable performance.

Synonyms: praiseworthy, meritorious, commendable

Antonyms: discreditable, infamous, opprobrious, ignominious

CREDULOUS: Inclined to believe anything; easily imposed upon - a credulous fool whom anyone can dupe.

Synonym: gullible

Antonyms: incredulous, skeptical

CRINGE: To shrink in fear - cringing before superior force.

Synonyms, cower, flinch, fawn, truckle, wince

CRUCIAL: Decisive or critical; difficult - the crucial event that decided the outcome.
CRYPTIC: Containing hidden meaning - a cryptic message, difficult to decipher.

Synonyms: occult, enigmatic

Antonyms: palpable, manifest

CULPABLE: Deserving blame or censure - removed from office for culpable negligence.

Synonyms: censurable, reprehensible

CUMBROUS: Burdensome and clumsy - a cumbrous knapsack, impeding his march.

Synonyms: cumbersome, unwieldy, bulk

CURB: To control, check, or restrain - forcibly curbed the people's protest.

Synonyms: repress, subdue

CURSORY: Hurried; hence, superficial - Time permitted only a cursory examination.

Antonyms: painstaking, meticulous

CURT: Rudely abrupt -offended by the curt response.

Synonyms: blunt, brusque, bluff

Antonyms: affable, civil

CYNICAL: Sneeringly distrustful of the good motives or conduct of others - belittled the hero with a cynical remark.

Synonyms: sarcastic, surly

DEARTH: Scarcity - a dearth of news, brought about by censorship.

Antonyms: plethora, abundance

DEFERENCE: Submitting to the wishes or judgment of another - yielded out of deference to the old man.

Synonyms: respect, complaisance, veneration

Antonym: recalcitrance

DEITY: A god -The sun was a deity to ancient peoples.

Synonym: divinity

DELECTABLE: Very pleasing - a delectable meal, tastefully prepared.
DELETE: To erase or cancel, take out or remove - deletedan offensive phrase.

Synonyms: expunge, censor, efface, eradicate

DELINEATE: To sketch or portray - striking features, delineated by a master artist.
DELINQUENT (noun): An offender - found to be a delinquent by the court.

(adj.): Failing to fulfill an obligation - too many people who are delinquent in meeting their civic duties.

Synonym: derelict

DELUGE: A great flood; downpour - a spring deluge which caused the river to overflow.
DEMAGOGUE: A leader who tries to stir the passions of people for his own purposes - the mob roused by an unprincipled demagogue.
DEMEANOR: Behavior; bearing - carrying himself with a proud demeanor.

Synonyms: deportment, mien

DEMURE: Affectedly or falsely modest or prim; serious demure as a Victorian maiden.

Synonyms: sedate, staid, decorous, prudish, coy

Antonyms: immodest, frivolous

DENOUNCE (noun: DENUNCIATION): To speak against - denounced by the press as a traitor.

Synonyms: stigmatize, censure, reprehend, castigate

Antonyms: laud, eulogize

DEPLETE: To empty or to use up - depleted the public treasury by vast building programs.

Synonyms: exhaust, drain

Antonyms: replenish; (adj.) replete

DEPLORE: To express sorrow or grief over - a lamentable situation deplored by all parties.

Synonyms: lament, decry, grieve

DEPRAVED: Of low morals; corrupt - a depraved mind, devising evil.

Synonyms: debased, wicked, vicious, perverted

DEPRECATE: To plead or argue against a certain course of action - deprecated the proposal severely.

Synonyms: remonstrate, protest, decry, expostulate

Antonym: sanction

DEPRECIATE: To belittle or speak slightingly of - depreciated John's acting ability.

Synonyms: disparage, derogate (adj. derogatory)

Antonyms: enhance, magnify, extol, laud, eulogize

DEVASTATION: Widespread ruin - the city left in utter devastation by war.

Synonyms: destruction, desolation

DEVIOUS:

(1) Winding; indirect - took a devious, rather than the direct way home.

Synonym: circuitous
(2) Straying from the right course - used devious means to attain his wicked ends.
Synonyms: crooked, erring
DEVOID: Lacking in; not possessing - a speech devoid of even a trace of ill-will.
Synonym: destitute
Antonyms: abounding, prevalent
DEVOUT: Devoted to religious observances - devout in his regularity of attendance at worship.
Synonyms: pious, religious
Antonym: impious
DICTUM: Art authoritative statement; a saying-an imperial dictum demanding instant compliance.
DIDACTIC: Designed to teach, imparting a lesson - a poem with a didactic purpose.
Synonym: pedagogical
DIFFIDENT: Lacking in self-confidence- too diffident to lead a group.
Synonyms: shy, timid, reserved, reticent, retiring
Antonyms: forward, aggressive
DILEMMA: A situation calling for a choice between two equally difficult alternatives; hence, a difficult or perplexing situation - faced with a dilemma defying solution.
Synonyms:predicament, quandary, plight
DILETTANTE: One who dabbles in the fine arts for amusement only and without concentrated study - a doctor by profession, a dilettante in art.
Synonyms:amateur, connoisseur
DISCONCERT: To confuse; to embarrass - disconcerted by his suspicious stare.
Synonyms:perturb, discomfit, discompose, abash, disquiet, fluster
DISCONSOLATE: Depressed; without hope or possibility of consolation - made disconsolate by abject poverty.
Synonyms:inconsolable, dejected
Antonyms:blithesome, carefree
DISCOURSE: To converse or talk; to discuss - discoursed at length on the rise of political parties.
DISCRETE: Separate - two discrete issues, totally unrelated.
DISCURSIVE: Rambling from one subject to another - a discursive letter, covering many topics.
Synonyms:desultory, digressive
DISPARITY (adj.: DISPARATE): Inequality; difference in image, quantity, character, or rank - great disparity between promise and performance.
DISPASSIONATE: Free from feeling or partiality - coldly dispassionate as the chairman of the meeting
Synonyms:palm, impartial
Antonym:partial
DISPATCH (verb): To do speedily; to send off - dispatched with remarkable promptness.
Synonym: expedite
(noun): A speedy performance; the sending off of something - done with all possible dispatch.
Synonyms: celerity, alacrity
DISPEL: To drive away; to scatter - dispelled a doubt that had lingered.
Synonyms:dissipate, disperse, diffuse
DISSENT (noun: DISSENSION): To disagree; to differ in opinion - He dissented violently, rejecting compromise.
DISSOLUTE: Living loosely; unrestrained in conduct or morals - his life wasted by dissolute conduct.
Synonyms:debauched, dissipated, profligate
DISTRAUGHT: Mentally distressed; distracted - distraught by trials and tribulations.
Synonym: harassed
DIVERSE: (verb: DIVERSIFY; noun: DIVISIBILITY): Varied; different - two diverse characters; one candid, the other insincere.
Synonym: multifarious
DIVERTING: Entertaining - a diverting one of the most amusing I've ever seen.
DIVULGE: To make public or reveal - refused to divulge his source of information.
Synonyms: disclose, impart
DOGMATIC: Positive in expressing an opinion; asserting an opinion as though it were an undisputed fact - spoken dogmatically, as if the speaker considered himself infallible.
Synonyms: overbearing, opinionated, peremptory, dictatorial
DOLOROUS: Sorrowful; mournful - a dolorous song full of sorrow for past joys.
Synonyms: doleful, lugubrious, grievous
Antonyms: jocund, blithe, mirthful
DYNAMIC: Forceful - possessed dynamic energy, tireless and powerful.
Synonym: energetic
Antonyms: static, inert, dormant, torpid, sluggish, quiescent
ECCLESIASTIC (adj.): Pertaining to the clergy or the church - recognized as an authority in ecclesiastic matters. Antonyms: secular, lay
(noun): A clergyman - an ecclesiastic of liberal views.
EDICT: A public command or proclamation issued by an authority - proclaimed by royal edict.
Synonym: decree
EDIFY: To instruct or uplift, particularly in morals or religion - a story that edifiesthe reader, as well as entertains him
EFFETE: No longer productive; hence, lacking in or, worn out - powerful in ancient days, now an effete civilization.
EGOTISTIC: Conceited - an egotisticperson, flourishing on praise.
Synonyms: egocentric, vain
Antonym: altruistic
EGREGIOUS: Outstandingly bad an egregiousmistake with serious implications.
EJACULATE: To exclaim or utter suddenly - ejaculateda cry of horror.
ELICIT: To draw out - elicitedno response from the audience.
Synonyms: evoke, extract, extort
ELUCIDATE: To make clear; to explain - elucidatedhis theory so that even a schoolboy could understand it.
Synonym: clarify
EMISSARY: A person sent on an errand or mission - delegated his emissary to conclude a pact.
ENGENDER: To cause, produce, or stir up-an act that engenderedgood will.
ENNUI: Boredom; weariness of mind-fell asleep at the meeting from sheer ennui.
ENSUE: To follow or result-Silence ensuedwhen the leader arose to speak.
ENTREAT: To beg earnestly - entreatedthe judge to show mercy.
Synonyms: solicit, supplicate, beseech, implore, importune;
(adj.) importunate, mendicant, suppliant
EPHEMERAL: Very short-lived - an ephemeraljoy, lasting but a day.
Synonyms: fleeting, transitory, transient, evanescent
Antonym: eternal
EPICUREAN (noun): A person devoted to luxurious living and pleasure - an epicurean, seeking to enjoy every meal.
(adj.): Pleasure-loving - His entire existence demonstrated his epicureantastes.
EPIGRAM: A brief pointed saying - a speech full of original epigrams.
Synonyms: maxim proverb, adage
EPITAPH: A tombstone inscription - an epitaphengraved on marble.
EPITHET: A phrase that describes a quality (good or bad) in a person or thing - "Glaring" error is a commonly used epithet.
Synonyms: characterization , appellation
EQUANIMITY (adj.: EQUABLE): Evenness of temper or mind - suffered his cruel fate with equanimity.
Synonyms: serenity, composure, imperturbability, aplomb
ERR (noun: ERRATUM): To be mistaken or go astray - To err is human, to forgive divine.
Synonyms: stray, blunder
ERRATIC: Irresponsible, eccentric; lacking a fixed purpose erratic behavior, reflecting his queer ideas.
ERUDITE: Learned - an erudite person, an editor of many books.
Synonyms: scholarly , knowing
ESOTERIC: Understood by only a select few - an esoteric subject, discussed only by scholars.
Synonyms: abstruse, recondite
EXCEPTIONABLE: Objectionable - exceptionable behavior, universally criticized.
Synonyms: questionable, reprehensible, censurable
Antonym: laudable
EXCULPATE: To free from blame - exculpated by a jury.
Synonyms: vindicate, exonerate, absolve, acquit
Antonyms: arraign, indict, inculpate
EXEMPLARY (noun: EXEMPLAR): Serving as a model; commendable - exemplary conduct approved by all.
Synonyms: illustrative, typical; praiseworthy, laudable
EXODUS: Departure, emigration - the pathetic exodus of refugees from their homeland.
EXOTIC: Strange and foreign - an exotic costume imported from Asia.
EXPATIATE: To speak or write at great length - He expatiated on the subject for two hours.
Synonym: dilate
EXPATRIATE (verb): To banish or exile; to withdraw from one's country - expatriated for treachery to his country.
(noun): An expatriated person - expatriates who left the United States to live in Paris.
EXPEDIENT (adj.): Convenient in helping to attain some purpose - found it expedient to maintain silence at that moment.
Synonyms: opportune, seasonable
(noun): A means to accomplish something - tried all expedients to achieve a quick result.
EXPLOIT (verb): To use for one's selfish purpose – refugees exploited by unscrupulous employers.
(noun): A brilliant deed - lauded for his exploits in science.
Synonym: feat
EXPOUND (noun: EXPOSITION): To set forth in detail; to explain - expounded his theory in a learned article.
EXPURGATE: To purify (usually a piece of writing) of offensive material - expurgate all obscenities before the book could be sold.
Synonyms: purge, delete
EXTEMPORANEOUS: Done or spoken on the spur of the moment or without preparation - an extemporaneous speech.
Synonyms: impromptu, offhand
EXTINCT: No longer existing or active - the extinct dinosaur, alive only in history.
Synonym: defunct
Antonym: extant
EXTIRPATE: To root out, destroy totally - extirpated the cause of trouble.
Synonyms: eradicate, exterminate, efface, obliterate
EXTRANEOUS. Not essential; foreign; irrelevant - excluded material extraneous to the subject.
Synonyms: extrinsic, adventitious
Antonyms: germane, intrinsic, inherent, relevant, pertinent
EXULTATION: Great rejoicing - received the good news with exultation.
Synonym: jubilation
FACADE: Front or face, especially of a building - a facade of marble.
FACETIOUS: Given to joking or inappropriate gaiety; said in fun - brightened the evening with his facetious remarks.
Synonyms: jocose, droll, flippant, frivolous
Antonyms: solemn, grave, saturnine
FALLACIOUS (noun: FALLACY): Unsound; misleading; deceptive - led astray by fallacious reasoning and plans.
FALLIBLE: Liable to make mistakes or be deceived - Being human, Tom was naturally fallible.
Antonyms: infallible, unerring
FATHOM: To penetrate and understand - difficult to fathom his mysterious actions.
FATUOUS: Foolish; silly - a fatuous suggestion that struck us as stupid.
Synonyms: inane, vacuous, puerile
Antonyms: judicious, sagacious, sage
FEALTY: Faithfulness - The soldiers were pledged to fealty to their ruler.
Synonyms: allegiance, constancy, fidelity
Antonyms: disloyalty; infidelity, treachery
FEASIBLE: Workable - a feasible plan, proved practical by - previous experience.
Antonym: impracticable
245 FEIGN (noun: FEINT): To pretend - He feigned to be angry, but we saw through his pretense.
Synonyms: dissemble, sham, dissimulate, affect
FELICITY (adj.: FELICITOUS):
(1) A state of happiness - promoted felicity in the nation.
Synonym: bliss
(2) A high ability - lie has a felicity of language, mastery of the well-chosen phrase.
FERVID: Spirited; ardent - a fervid debater, full of emotion.
Synonyms: perfervid, impassioned, zealous, fervent, vehement
FESTOON (noun): A garland of flowers, leaves, etc. hung between two points - the room bright with festoons of Thanksgiving decorations.
(verb): To hang with festoons - a room festooned with spring flowers.
FETISH.
(1) Something that is believed to have magical powers - savages worshipping the fetish in a ceremonial dance.
Synonym: charm, talisman, amulet
(2) An object of unreasoning devotion and worship – Photography, begun as a hobby, became a fetish.
FIASCO: A ludicrous and complete failure - all his glorious plans ending in a fiasco.
Synonym: debacle
FICTITIOUS: Unreal; made-up - used a fictitious name to avoid being recognized.
Synonym: fabricated
FLACCID: Lacking firmness - muscles grown flaccid after the illness.
Synonyms: flabby, limp
FLAGRANT: Outstandingly bad - condemned for his flagrant abuse of power.
Synonyms: glaring, scandalous, notorious, conspicuous, gross
FLAMBOYANT: Elaborately showy - written in a flamboyant, style, full of highly decorative imagery.
Synonyms: florid, ornate, resplendent, embellished, garish, gaudy, gorgeous, rococo
Antonym: somber
FLAUNT: Display or wave boastfully - flaunted the excellent report before his delighted parents.
FLEETING: Passing swiftly -the fleeting hours of happiness
Synonyms: transitory, fugitive
FLUCTUATE: To waver from one course to another; to vary irregularly - his mood fluctuating with every hour.
Synonyms: oscillate, vacillate, undulate, sway
FORBEAR (noun: FORBEARANCE): To exercise self control; to keep from - forbearing to shoot the animal despite temptation.
Synonyms: restrain, abstain
FORENSIC: Pertaining to public discussion or law courts - a lawyer gifted in forensic debate.
Synonyms: rhetorical, oratorical
FORTUITOUS: Accidental - a fortuitous meeting with a friend in need.
Synonyms: casual, incidental, adventitious, random
FRACAS: A disorderly quarrel - A fracas broke up the meeting.
Synonyms: brawl, altercation, fray, wrangle, imbroglio
FRUSTRATE: To prevent (the attainment of an object); to defeat or render ineffectual - His scholastic progress was frustrated by a serious illness.
Synonyms: balk, thwart, foil, baffle, obstruct, discomfit
Antonym: abet
FULSOME: Disgustingly excessive - nauseated by fulsome praise.
GARNISH: To trim or decorate - dishes garnished attractively with greens.
Synonyms: adorn, deck
GENEALOGY: A record of a person's or a family's ancestors or relatives - an interesting genealogy, including saints and sinners.
Synonym: lineage
GENESIS: Origin - chemistry, which had its genesis in alchemy.
Synonym: inception
GESTICULATE: To make gestures, or indicate feelings by. motions - gesticulated wildly to show his distress.
GHASTLY: Horrible, deathlike - a ghastly disaster which shocked the world.
Synonyms: gruesome, grisly, pallid, macabre, grim, lurid
GIBE (variant spelling: JIBE): To laugh at; to utter with scorn - gibed at his enemy mercilessly.
Synonyms: mock, sneer, jeer, scoff, flout, deride (adj.: derisive), rail, taunt
GLIB: Smooth-spoken, fluent - a glib liar, distorting the truth effortlessly.
GLUTTONOUS (noun. GLUTTON; verb: GLUT): Inclined to cat to excess - gulped down his food in gluttonous fashion.
Synonyms:voracious, intemperate
GOSSAMER (noun): A very thin gauzelike fabric or structure - a poem so delicate that it seemed an unreal gossamer.
(adj.): Thin and light - the gossamer wings of a dragon fly.
Synonyms: diaphanous, flimsy, gauzelike Antonyms: substantial, ponderous
GREGARIOUS: Habitually fond of associating in a company or herd - gregarious sheep; that gregarious animal, man.
Antonyms:lone, aloof
GRIMACE: A distortion of the face to express an attitude or feeling - a grimace that was more expressive than words.
HAIL: To greet - The crowd hailed the returning hero.
Synonyms: accost, salute
HARANGUE (verb): To deliver a long. noisy speech- harangued the multitude.
Synonyms: rant, declaim
(noun): A loud, tiresome speech - an empty harangue which bored his audience.
Synonym: tirade
HARBINGER, A forerunner; ail announcer - the robin, harbinger of spring.
Synonyms:precursor, herald
HAUGHTY: Proud; looking down with contempt on others - dismissed the messenger in a haughty manner.
HEEDLESS: Thoughtless; taking little care - rushed into battle, heedless of the danger.
Synonyms: inadvertent, rash, incautious
Antonyms: prudent, circumspect, mindful, wary
HEINOUS: Wicked; hateful - committed a heinous crime.
Synonyms: atrocious, outrageous, monstrous, odious, nefarious, abominable
HERESY: An opinion held in opposition to the traditional view - a view condemned as heresy.
Synonym: heterodoxy
Antonym: orthodoxy
HIATUS: A gap or vacancy; break -left a hiatus on the page where he erased a sentence.
Synonym:breach
HISTRIONIC: Pertaining to the theater; designed for show - broke into histrionic laughter, hollow and insincere.
Synonyms: dramatic, theatrical
HOAX (noun): A trick or deception; a practical joke - played a hoax upon the credulous public.
Synonym: canard
(verb): To play a trick on; to deceive - He hoaxed the crowd completely with his disguise.
HOMONYM: Two words having the same sound but different meanings - confusing such homonyms as mail add male.
HOVEL: A dirty or wretched dwelling - born in a hovel, died in a mansion.
HYPERBOLE: Extravagant exaggeration for effect - An example of hyperbole: "There are a million objections to the project."
Synonym: overstatement
Antonym: understatement
HYPOTHESIS: An assumption made for the sake of argument - worked from a fantastic hypothesis.
Synonym: supposition
IDIOSYNCRASY: A. personal peculiarity - Wearing white was one of Whistler's idiosyncrasies.
Synonyms: eccentricity, foible, mannerism, crotchet, aberration, quirk, singularity
IGNOMINIOUS (noun: IGNOMINY): Incurring public disgrace - suffered an ignominious descent from political power.
Synonyms: infamous, degrading, opprobrious, odious
Antonyms: illustrious, renowned, preeminent
IMMACULATE: Spotless; pure - an immaculate reputation.
Synonyms: undefiled, unsullied, unblemished, untarnished
Antonyms: defiled, sullied, blemished
IMMINENT: Likely to occur soon - stood in imminent peril.
Synonym: impending
IMMUNE (verb: IMMUNIZE): Exempt from; protected from - immune from taxation.
Synonym : unsusceptible
IMPALE: To pierce through with a pointed instrument - impaled a spider to the wall.
IMPEACH:
(1) To accuse (a public official) of wrongdoing - impeached the judge for accepting a bribe.
Synonym: arraign
(2) To cast discredit upon - impeached his motives.
Synonyms: call in question, discredit
IMPECCABLE: Faultless - performed with impeccable skill.
Synonyms: consummate, irreproachable, unerring, infallible
Antonyms: culpable, fallible
IMPERVIOUS: Incapable of being penetrated - a mind impervious to new ideas.
Synonyms: impermeable, impenetrable
Antonyms: permeable, pervasive
IMPLACABLE: Incapable of being soothed, made peaceful, or forgiving - implacable resentment.
Synonyms: unrelenting, inexorable, unappeasable
Antonyms: placable, forbearing
IMPLICIT:
(1) Implied but not clearly expressed - an implicit agreement.
(2) Unquestioning - implicit confidence.
Synonyms: tacit, implied
Antonym: explicit
IMPORT (noun): Meaning; significance or importance - a matter of great import.
Synonyms: purport, moment, consequence
IMPOSTOR (noun: IMPOSTURE): One who pretends to be what he is notunmasked as an impostor.
Synonyms: quack, mountebank, charlatan, bogus, fraud
IMPRECATION: A curse - hurled imprecations at those who would not listen to him.
Synonyms: execration, malediction, anathema
Antonyms: benediction, benison
IMPREGNABLE: Unconquerable - an impregnable fortress.
Synonym: invincible
Antonym: vulnerable
IMPROPRIETY: Improper act, manners, or expression - guilty of impropriety in public office.
Synonyms: indecency, indecorum
Antonym: amenity
IMPROVIDENT: Lacking in thrift; not providing for future needs - an improvident spender.
Synonyms: prodigal, shiftless
IMPUGN: To attack or criticize as false; to call in question - impugned his honesty.
INCARCERATE: To imprison - crushed his opponents by incarcerating them.
Synonyms: intern, immure
Antonyms: emancipate, enfranchise
INCISIVE: Cutting, penetrating - incisive criticism.
Synonyms: sarcastic, mordant, trenchant, acute
INCOGNITO. With one's identity concealed - traveled incognito.
INCONTROVERTIBLE: Indisputable - incontrovertible evidence.
Synonyms: irrefutable, -indubitable
INCREMENT: An increase - a salary increment.
Synonym: accrual
INCUMBENT (noun): An officeholder - the incumbent in an election.
(adj.): Obligatory - felt it incumbent to reply.
Synonyms: - mandatory, imperative
INDEFATIGABLE: Untiring - an indefatigable worker.
Synonyms:unflagging, unremitting, persevering
INDIGENOUS: Native - Rice is indigenous to China.
Synonyms:innate, inborn
INDOOMITABLE: Stubborn in determination not to be subdued - indomitable courage.
Synonyms:insuperable, irrepressible, invincible, unyielding
Antonyms:tractable, amenable, docile, submissive
INFERENCE: A conclusion reached by reasoning from data or premises - an inference drawn from his remarks.
Synonyms:deduction, implication
INGENIOUS: Demonstrating originality, skill, or resourcefulness - an ingenious device.
Synonyms:dextrous, inventive, adroit
Antonyms:maladroit, gauche
INGENUOUS: Simple and straightforward; concealing nothing - an ingenuous plan that anyone could see through.
Synonyms: unsophisticated, naive, candid
Antonym: sophisticated
INGRATIATE: To win another's favor or good opinion tried to ingratiate himself with the politician.
INHIBIT: To check or hinder - inhibited his friend from a foolhardy course.
Synonyms:restrain, curb
Antonym: promote
INNOCUOUS: Harmless; inoffensive - an innocuous remark, but it enraged him.
INNUENDO: An indirect reference or suggestion (frequently derogatory) - conveyed his idea by innuendo.
Synonyms: (verb) intimate, insinuate
INORDINATE: Excessive - spoiled by inordinate praise.
Synonyms: immoderate, intemperate, extravagant
INSATIABLE: Unable to be satisfied - insatiable greed
Synonyms. unappeasable, unquenchable, insatiate
INSCRUTABLE: Incapable of interpretation or understanding - the inscrutable smile of the Mona Lisa.
Synonyms: unfathomable, cryptic, enigmatic
INSIDIOUS: Working secretly or slyly - that insidious disease, cancer.
Synonyms: wily, crafty, furtive, treacherous, artful, guileful perfidious
INSTIGATE: To stir tip - instigated discontent among the soldiers.
Synonyms: foment, incite
INTEGRITY: Honesty, moral soundness - a man of proved integrity.
Synonyms: probity, uprightness, incorruptibility
INVEIGH (noun-. INVECTIVE): To speak angrily or bitterly-inveighed against economic discrimination.
Synonyms: rail, denounce, fulminate, vituperate
IRASCIBLE: Easily angered - Even petty things made Peter irascible.
Synonyms: choleric, petulant, testy, peevish, splenetic, touchy
Antonyms: placid, equable
IRE: Anger -aroused his ire.
Synonyms: resentment; (adj.) irate, incensed
IRKSOME: Tedious, monotonous - an irksome chore that no one liked.
ITINERANT: Traveling about; wandering - an itinerant salesman.
Synonym: nomadic
JARGON: Confused, unintelligible, meaningless talk; special vocabulary used only by members of a group or trade - Variety, a newspaper written in theatrical jargon.
Synonyms: gibberish, argot, cant
JAUNTY: Having an air of easy carelessness or liveliness - walked with a jaunty step.
Synonyms: sprightly, airy, gay, nonchalant, debonair
Antonyms: somber, staid
JEOPARDY: Danger - His life was in jeopardy.
Synonyms: hazard, peril
JETTISON: To throw overboard (as cargo); to throw off (as a burden or something in the way )- jettisoned their old candidate as a political liability.
JUDICIOUS: Wise; using or exhibiting good judgment - a well-chosen plan, termed judicious by all.
Synonyms:discreet, politic, discerning
KALEIDOSCOPIC: Constantly changing or varying in pattern or scenes - kaleidoscopic views of New York.
KEN: Range of sight or understanding - something beyond our ken.
Synonym: insight
LABYRINTH (adj.: LABYRINTHINE): A structure or intricate passage out of which it is difficult to find one's way (also applied to spiritual and intellectual complexities) - confused by a labyrinth of intellectual discussions.
Synonym:maze
LACHRYMOSE: Causing or given to shedding tears - a lachrymose tragedy.
LACONIC: Saying much in few words - a laconic reply that spoke volumes.
Synonyms:concise, pithy, terse, succinct, taciturn, reticent
Antonyms:verbose, prolix, redundant, diffuse, tautological, turgid, garrulous, voluble
LARCENY: Theft - indicted for grand larceny.
LATENT: Hidden; present but not fully developed - latent talent that time will reveal.
Synonyms:dormant, quiescent, covert, potential
Antonyms:apparent, patent
LAVISH:
(1) Profuse or generous - lavish in praise.
Synonyms: ample, superabundant
(2) Given to extravagance - a lavish spender.
Synonyms: prodigal, munificent, magnanimous.
Antonyms: parsimonious, niggardly, frugal, penurious
LETHAL: Deadly - a lethal weapon.
Synonyms: mortal, fatal
LONGEVITY: Prolonged duration of life - a country remarkable for the longevity of its inhabitants.
LOW: To bellow softly like cattle - the lowing herd in the meadow.
Synonym: moo
LUCID: Clear; transparent; easily understood - a lucid explanation of a difficult text.
Synonyms: pellucid, perspicuous, intelligible, limpid, luminous, translucent
Antonyms: abstruse, obscure
LUDICROUS: Ridiculous; producing laughter - a ludicrous remark that set them all to roaring.
Synonyms: mirthful, droll, comical, absurd
Antonyms: doleful, lugubrious, dismal
LUMINARY: An eminent person; a celestial body - the platform graced by a number of luminaries.
MACHIAVELLIAN: Sacrificing moral principles in order to attain power; politically cunning; crafty - a machiavellian design, wickedly contrived.
Synonym: unscrupulous
MALICIOUS (noun: MALICE): Bearing, or acting with, deliberate ill-will or spite - hurting with malicious intent.
Synonyms:rancorous, malignant, malevolent, virulent, vindictive
Antonym: benign
MASQUERADE (verb): To assume a deceptive appearance or character - a thief masquerading as an honest man.
Synonyms: dissemble, feign
(noun): A disguise; a group of people in disguise or fancy costumes - a masquerade so perfect no one could guess his identity.
MAUDLIN: Sentimental to the point of tears - turned maudlin at the mention of his lost dog.
Synonym : mawkish, lachrymose
MEANDER: To walk about (or talk) aimlessly; to wind about (as a stream) - meandered through the town, looking into shop windows.
Synonym: ramble
MEDIOCRE: Average in quality - a mediocre performance, unworthy of his talents.
MERCENARY: Acting solely from a consideration of reward or profit - actuated by a mercenary motive.
Synonym: venal
MERETRICIOUS: Attracting in a false, cheap, or showy manner- a meretricious beauty that is too flashy to be real.
Synonyms:tawdry, specious
METICULOUS: Fussy about minute details - took meticulous pains with his composition.
Synonyms:fastidious, punctilious, overscrupulous, finical, methodical
Antonyms:desultory, perfunctory, slovenly
METTLE (adj.: METTLESOME: high-spirited ): Disposition; spirit; courage - His mettle was tried in battle.
Idiom: to be on one's mettle (meaning, “ready to do one's best”)
Synonyms:temperament, ardor
MICROCOSM: A little world, or a universe in miniature this village, a microcosm of the great outside world.
Antonym:macrocosm (world on a large scale)
MIMIC: To make fun of or copy by imitating - mimicked the comedian's gestures.
MISANTHROPIC (noun: MISANTHROPE): Hating or distrusting mankind - condemned for his misanthropic views.
Antonyms: philanthropic, altruistic
MISNOMER: A name or term that describes wrongly - To call him a brave man is really a misnomer.
MONOLOGUE: A speech by one person - The actor gave his views in a dramatic monologue.
Synonym:soliloquy
Antonyms:colloquy (adj. colloquial): conversation between two or more persons; dialogue: conversation between two persons
MOROSE: Gloomy; ill-humored - shunned because of his morose temper.
Synonyms: sulky, crabbed, sullen, splenetic, saturnine
Antonyms: blithe, genial
MOTLEY: Of various colors; of mixed ingredients - a motley costume; a motley crowd.
Synonyms: checkered (referring to a varied career), piebald, variegated, diverse, heterogeneous
Antonym: homogeneous
MOTTLED: Spotted or streaked with varied colors - a mottled pony.
Synonyms:blotched, dappled
MUNDANE: Of, or pertaining to, the world, as contrasted with the spirit - mundane affairs.
Synonyms:earthly, terrestrial, secular, temporal
MURKY: Dark; cloudy - a murky cavern.
Synonyms:dismal, tenebrous, fuliginous
Antonyms:resplendent, glowing, lustrous, luminous, fulgent, coruscating
MUTABLE: Given to frequent change in nature, mood, or form - mutable in mood as a spring wind.
Synonyms:vacillating, fickle, inconstant, fitful, mercurial, wavering, capricious
Antonyms:constant, steady
MYRIAD: Innumerable - the myriad stars in the heavens.
NAUTICAL: Pertaining to ships or navigation - a nautical career.
Synonyms: marine, naval, maritime
NETTLE: To irritate or provoke - nettled by his critics.
Synonyms: vex, pique, goad
NOCTURNAL: Pertaining to, or occurring in, the night - awakened by the sounds of a nocturnal prowler.
Antonym: diurnal
NOISOME: Foul-smelling; harmful-the swamp gave off a noisome odor.
Synonyms: malodorous, fetid, disgusting; noxious, deleterious
Antonym: salubrious
NONCHALANT: Unmoved or indifferent; casual - reacted to the news in a nonchalant manner.
Synonym: apathetic
Antonyms: enthusiastic, zealous
NOSTALGIA: Homesickness - felt nostalgia for the old homestead.
NOTORIOUS: Widely known (in a bad sense) - a notorious gambler.
NOVICE: A beginner - conducted himself in politics like a novice.
Synonyms:tyro, neophyte
Antonym:virtuoso
OBDURATE: Hard-hearted; stubborn - an obdurate, unrepentant criminal.
Synonyms:adamant, unyielding, inflexible
Antonyms:submissive, docile, compliant
OBLIVIOUS (noun: OBLIVION): Forgetful; absent-minded - walking oblivious of his surroundings.
Synonyms:unmindful, heedless, abstracted
OBSESSION: A persistent feeling, idea, activity, etc., which dominates a person; the state of being exclusively preoccupied by a fixed idea - Now that he has learned bowling, it has become his obsession.
Synonyms:mania, infatuation (a foolish passion), monomania
OBSOLETE: No longer in use - an obsolete word, not even included by most dictionaries.
Synonyms:archaic, antiquated
OBTRUSIVE (verb: OBTRUDE): Thrusting oneself or itself into undue prominence - made himself obnoxiously obtrusive.
Synonyms:intrusive, aggressive
OBVIATE: To prevent, dispose of, or make unnecessary by appropriate actions - an act which obviated all objections.
Synonyms:preclude, forestall
OMNIPOTENT: All-powerful - an omnipotent despot.
ONUS: Burden; duty; obligation - bore the onus of his difficult office creditably.
OSTENSIBLE: Apparent; pretended - his ostensible, though not actual, purpose.
Synonyms:professed, plausible (that is, appearing true, reasonable, or fair), specious
OSTRACIZE: To banish; to exclude from public favor or privileges - a former premier ostracized by popular vote.
Synonym: outlaw
PANACEA: A remedy for all ills - seeking a panacea to cure our social troubles.
Synonym: nostrum
PANEGYRIC: A speech or writing of extravagant praise - delivered a panegyric at his friend's testimonial dinner.
Synonyms:eulogy, adulation, tribute, laudation (adj. laudatory), encomium
Antonyms:censure, disparagement, derogation, castigation, depreciation
PARADOX: A self -contradictory statement; something 'that appears to be absurd and yet may be true -"Life is too important a matter to he taken seriously." - a paradox by Oscar Wilde.
Synonym: anomaly
PARAPHRASE: To restate the meaning of a passage in other words - paraphrased the poem in a few lines of prose.
PARODY (noun): A humorous imitation of an author's style and mannerisms - wrote a parody on Kipling's "Gunga Din."
Synonym: burlesque
(verb): To write a parody - parodied the popular authors of the (lay to his audience's amusement.
Synonym: Mimic
PECCADILLO: A petty fault-possesses one peccadillo among his many virtues.
Synonyms: frailty, foible, flaw, blemish
PECUNIARY: Pertaining to money - involved in pecuniary difficulties.
Synonyms; financial, fiscal, monetary
PEDANT (adj.: PEDANTIC): One who proudly shows off his learning or who overrates his knowledge - like a pedant glorying in his scholarly trifles.
PENSIVE: Sadly thoughtful - softly sang his pensive song.
Synonyms: reflective, meditative, contemplative, musing
PEREMPTORY: Positive in expressing an opinion - gave a peremptory judgment.
Synonyms:decisive, resolute, imperious, positive, dogmatic
Antonyms:indecisive, tentative
PERTINACIOUS: Clinging doggedly to an opinion or purpose - pertinacious in his efforts.
Synonyms:obdurate, tenacious, persistent, persevering, intractable, inflexible
PERUSE: To read carefully - perused the important letter.
PERVERSE: Willfully bent on doing the wrong thing - a perverse lad, always disobeying his parents.
Synonyms:headstrong, froward, refractory, wayward, fractious
PETRIFY: To paralyze with horror, fear, or surprise - petrified by the enemy bombardment.
Synonyms:stupefy, stun, bewilder, amaze
PLAGIARISM. Adopting and reproducing, without acknowledgment, the writings or ideas of another and passing them off as one's own - denied the charge of deliberate plagiarism.
PLATITUDE: A dull and commonplace remark - bored people by his pompous phrases and platitudes.
Synonyms:bromide, truism, axiom
PLEBEIAN: Pertaining to the common people; hence, common or vulgar - plebeian in his tastes and outlook.
Antonyms:patrician, aristocratic
PLEBISCITE. A direct vote by the people - The decision to confederate was ratified by plebiscite.
POIGNANT:
(1) Gripping and moving the feelings powerfully - a poignant grief.
(2) Piercing, biting, pointed - a poignant cry; poignant wit.
PONDEROUS: Very heavy; clumsy; dull - a ponderous speech, extremely boring.
PRECARIOUS: Uncertain or risky - earning a precarious livelihood, providing no luxuries.
PRECIPITOUS:
(1) Very steep - a precipitous cliff.
(2) Descending rapidly - a precipitous decline in popularity.
PRECOCIOUS: Remarkable for early mental development a precocious genius.
PREDATORY:
(1) Inclined to plunder or rob; - predatory bands roaming the countryside.
(2) Preying on, others - predatory animals prowling about.
Synonyms: predacious, looting, pillaging
PREDILECTION: Partiality or preference for; a favorable opinion arrived at beforehand - a predilection for theatricals.
Synonyms: prepossession, proclivity, predisposition, penchant
Antonyms: aversion, antipathy, repugnance
PRELUDE: An introduction, forerunner, or preliminary step - a short prelude to the play.
Synonyms: preface, prologue, preamble.
Antonym: epilogue
PREROGATIVE: A privilege or power attaching to a position - It is a woman's prerogative to refuse to tell her age.
Synonym: license
PRESTIGE: Esteem or influence accorded for recognized achievements or reputation - As Senator he enjoyed great prestige.
Synonym: distinction
415, PRECOCIOUS: Remarkable for early mental development a precocious genius.
PREDATORY:
(1) Inclined to plunder or rob; - predatory bands roaming the countryside.
(2) Preying on, others - predatory animals prowling about.
Synonyms: predacious, looting, pillaging
PREDILECTION: Partiality or pr eference for; a favorable opinion arrived at beforehand - a predilection for theatricals.
Synonyms: prepossession, proclivity, predisposition, penchant
Antonyms: aversion, antipathy, repugnance
PRELUDE: An introduction, forerunner, or preliminary step - a short prelude to the play.
Synonyms: Preface, prologue. Preamble
Antonym: epilogue
PREROGATIVE: A privilege or power attaching to a position - It is a woman's prerogative to refuse to tell her age.
Synonym: license
PRESTIGE: Esteem or influence accorded for recognized achievements or reputation - As Senator he enjoyed great prestige.
Synonym: distinction
PRESUMPTION:
(1) Something taken for granted - acted on a reasonable presumption.
(2) Going beyond proper bounds; impudent boldness - His question was downright presumption.
Synonyms: effrontery, forwardness, arrogance
PREVARICATE: To disguise or conceal the truth to lie - prevaricated in order to avoid detection.
Synonyms: quibble, equivocate; (adj.) mendacious
Antonyms: (noun) veracity, verity; (adj.) forthright
PROCRASTINATE: To postpone or put off to another time - missed his opportunity by procrastinating too long.
Synonyms: defer, delay
PROGNOSTICATE (noun: PROGNOSIS): To forecast - The Weather Bureau prognosticates daily.
Synonyms:presage, portend, augur, forebode
PROLETARIAT: The wage-earning class - a truckman, humble member of the proletariat.
PROMONTORY: A cliff - an imposing promontory along the coast.
Synonyms:headland, precipice
PROMULGATE: To publish or proclaim; to spread abroad The President promulgated a decree.
Synonym:disseminate
PROTUBERANT: Bulging or swelling out - a protuberant jaw.
Antonyms:receding, recessive
PROVISIONAL: Temporary; for the time being - a provisional plan until a permanent decision is reached.
Synonym:tentative
PROXIMITY: Nearness-worked in close proximity to his home.
Synonyms :propinquity, vicinity
Antonym:remoteness
PSEUDONYM: A false name assumed by a writer - concealed his identity by a pseudonym.
Synonyms:alias, pen name, nom de plume
PUNITIVE: Inflicting, or concerned with, punishment - took punitive measures against deserters.
QUASH: To crush; to render void - quashed a rebellion; quashed an indictment.
Synonyms:suppress, extinguish, quell; annul
QUERULOUS: Given to fault-finding and complaining - Her querulous nature estranged many people.
Synonyms:fretful, whining, captious, carping, peevish, petulant
Antonym: affable
QUIXOTIC: Extravagantly romantic or idealistic; highly impractical - a quixotic scheme that can never materialize.
Synonyms:utopian, visionary, fantastic
RACONTEUR: A skilled storyteller - held spellbound by a superb raconteur.
RADICAL (noun): One who advocates extreme basic changes - The reform movement was led by a radical.
(adj.): Thorough, extreme - radical measures adopted to meet the emergency.
Antonym:(noun and adj.) conservative
RAMIFICATION: A branching; sub-division - studied the subject in all its ramifications.
RAZE: To tear down completely- razed the old building.
Synonyms:level
Antonym:rear
RECAPITULATE: To restate in a brief, concise form; to sum up - recapitulated the main ideas.
RECIPROCAL: Mutual; done in return for something received - held each other in reciprocal esteem.
RECUMBENT: Lying down; leaning back or down - resting in a recumbent position.
REDOLENT:
(1) Fragrant - a room redolent of roses.
Synonym: aromatic
(2) Reminiscent of - redolent of olden times.
REDOUBTABLE: Commanding fear or respect - cringing before a redoubtable enemy.
Synonym:formidable
REFUTE: To prove incorrect or false-refuted his opponent's argument.
Synonyms:rebut, confute
Antonyms: substantiate, confirm, corroborate
REITERATE: Repeat (several times) - reiterated his story once more.
REMUNERATIVE: Profitable - a remunerative job.
Synonyms: lucrative, gainful
RENEGADE: One who forsakes political or party principles or his religious faith - a renegade from his former allegiance.
Synonyms: turncoat, apostate, recreant, traitor
REPRISAL: Injury inflicted in turn for one received - took action in reprisal against his neighbor.
Synonym: retaliation
RESENTMENT: Feeling of displeasure or indignation resulting from mistreatment or abuse - showed resentment at what he considered an unwarranted insult.
Synonyms: umbrage, dudgeon, animosity
RESILIENT: Elastic; light-hearted; possessing power of recovery - a resilient Spirit, refusing to admit defeat.
Synonyms: flexible, pliable, supple, limber
RESPITE:
(1) Temporary deferment or cessation of work or pain - a brief respite from labor.
Synonym: surcease
(2) A temporary delay in the execution of -a sentence - granted the doom man a temporary respite.
Synonym: reprieve
RETRIBUTION: The reward or punishment exacted for an injury, wickedness, or other action - suffered just retribution for his folly.
Synonyms: requital, nemesis
RETRIEVE:
(1) To make good -retrieved a mistake.
(2) To recover -retrieved the suitcase left at the station.
(3) To restore - retrieved his lost fortunes.
REVERBERATE: To echo - a shot reverberating through the valley.
Synonym: resound
RUDIMENTARY: In an early stage of development - possessing only a rudimentary, knowledge of physics.
Synonym: incipient
RUE (adj.: RUEFUL): To be sorry for-He will rue the day he left home.
Synonyms: regret, repent
SACROSANCT: Very holy - a shrine. regarded as sacrosanct.
Synonyms: consecrated, inviolable, hallowed
SAGACIOUS (noun: SAGACITY): Wise; shrewd - proved to be sagacious in his judgment.
Synonyms: perspicacious, astute, sapient, discerning, sage
SALLOW: Sick - a sallow complexion.
Synonym: pallid
Antonyms: rubicund, ruddy, florid
SALLY: (verb): To rush forth suddenly - sallied out to meet the enemy.
(noun): A Witty remark - amused the audience with his sallies against his opponent.
Synonyms: quip, banter
SANCTIMONIOUS: Pretending to be religious - showed his hypocrisy in a sanctimonious display of piety.
SANGUINARY: Bloody - a sanguinary battle.
Synonym: gory
SANGUINE: Of a hopeful disposition; blood-red in color - a perennial optimist, sanguine in temperament.
Synonyms: buoyant, ardent
SARTORIAL: Pertaining to a tailor or clothes - a picture of sartorial perfection.
SATELLITE:
(1) An attentive or flattering follower - a prince surrounded by many satellites.
Synonyms: lackey, toady, disciple, adherent; adj., fawning, obsequious, partisan
(2) A country influenced or controlled by another - Freedom is conspicuously absent ,in the Soviet satellites.
(3) A body (natural or artificial) which revolves around a larger body, generally a planet - The moon is the only natural satellite of the earth, but in recent years it has been joined by many artificial satellites.
SCINTILLA: A trace; a particle - not a scintilla of convincing evidence.
Synonyms: iota; vestige
SCOURGE (verb): To punish severely; to afflict; to whip - a disease that scourged the country.
Synonyms: excoriate, flay
(noun). A whip or other means of punishment; a cause of affliction - The Black Plague was a dreadful scourge of the Middle Ages.
Synonym: tribulation
SCRUTINIZE: To examine carefully -scrutinized the contents of the letter.
SHIBBOLETH: A party slogan - a shibboleth designed to attract votes.
SIMPER (verb): To smile in a silly or affected way simpered as he greeted each guest.
(noun): An affected or silly smile - stood nervously, a simper on his face.
Synonym: (verb and noun) smirk
SINECURE: Employment entailing little or no responsibility or labor - His job was a sinecure.
SINISTER: Threatening or showing evil; dishonest - the sinisterlook of a gangster.
SLEAZY: Flimsy and cheap - sleazy cloth which is used only in cheap garments.
Synonym: unsubstantial
SLOVENLY: Untidy-severely criticized the student's slovenly appearance.
Synonyms: slipshod, slatternly, frowzy
SOPORIFIC: Tending to induce sleep - a poorly written novel, soporific in effect.
SORDID: Mean and base; filthy - Sordid motives breed selfish actions.
Synonyms: degraded, vile, ignoble
SOVEREIGN: Supreme m power and authority; independent of the control of any other government - possessing sovereign powers; a sovereign state.
Synonyms: autonomous, imperial, majestic, paramount
SPORADIC: Occurring singly, at irregular intervals; scattered - sporadic cases of illness.
SPURN: To refuse or reject with contempt - an offer that was spurned instantly.
Synonyms: repel, snub
STOIC: Indifferent, calm in bearing pain or pleasure; practising remarkable self-control over emotions - maintained a stoic attitude despite all his trials.
Synonyms: stolid, impassive
STRINGENT: Strict; compelling, constraining stringent regulations; stringent requirements.
Synonyms: exacting, rigid
Antonym: lax
STUPENDOUS: Amazing by, virtue of its immense size, force, or any quality in exceptional degree - The circus is a stupendous spectacle.
Synonyms: astounding, prodigious, monstrous, marvelous, colossal, awful
SUCCULENT: juicy - a succulent steak.
Antonyms; desiccated, vapid
SULTRY: Close, hot, and moist - sultry tropical weather.
SUPINE:
(1) Lying flat on the back - resting in a supine position.
Antonym: erect
(2) Inert, inactive, averse to taking action - a supine, ineffective administrator.
Synonyms: listless, torpid
TANGIBLE: Real; actual - tangible gains which may be seen. and counted.
Synonyms: material, veritable, perceptible, substantial
TANTAMOUNT: Equivalent - an act that is tantamount to treason.
TAUNT (verb). To reproach with contempt - taunted him with the charge of failure to act promptly.
Synonyms: mock, twit, gibe, sneer, deride
(noun): An insulting, jeering, or bitter remark - hurled taunts at his foes.
TEEMING: In abundance, fertile, highly productive - the teeming tropics, rank with vegetation.
Synonyms: swarming, fruitful, fecund, abounding
TEMERITY: Unwise or reckless boldness - leaped into battle with thoughtless temerity.
Synonyms: audacity, presumptuousness, effrontery, rashness;
(adj.) temerarious, foolhardy, venturesome
Antonyms: prudence, circumspection, wariness
TEMPORAL: Worldly, as opposed to spiritual; existing for a time only - a man preoccupied with temporal matters.
Synonyms: mundane, secular, civil
TEMPORIZE: To delay or refuse to commit oneself in order to gain time - temporized while his friends hurried to his aid.
Synonym: equivocate
TENET: A principle of belief held as true - a tenet of religion which be maintained loyally.
Synonyms: creed, doctrine, dogma
TENUOUS: Slender; not substantial; of slight importance - clung desperately to his tenuous hope.
TRANQUIL: Calm; peaceful - a tranquil summer night.
Synonyms: placid, serene
Antonyms: perturbed, ruffled, turbulent
TRANSGRESS: To break a law or command; to violate a moral principle; to overstep a moral bound or limit - transgressed the bounds of decency; transgressed the law.
TREMULOUS: Trembling - tremulous with fright.
Synonym: quivering
TRIVIAL: Of little - importance - a trivial offense.
Synonym: paltry
Antonyms: gross, momentous
TRUCULENT (noun: TRUCULENCE): Cruel, fierce; harsh; threatening or intimidating savagely - a dispute marked by a truculent attitude on both sides.
TURGID:
(1) Swollen, inflated - turgid rivers overflowing their banks.
Synonyms: bloated, distended
(2) Using big or high-sounding words - a turgid prose style.
Synonyms: pompous, bombastic, prolix
UBIQUITOUS: Existing everywhere - The common cold is a ubiquitous complaint.
Synonyms: omnipresent, universal
UNTENABLE: Incapable of being defended or held - withdrew the argument as untenable.
UTILITARIAN (adj.): Materially or practically useful - beautiful, but not utilitarian.
VANQUISH: To subdue or conquer -an army vanquished with heavy losses.
VAUNT: To boast - proudly vaunted his strength.
Synonyms: brag (noun: braggadocio, braggart), proclaim
VENEER: A superficial appearance or show designed to impress one with superiority - pierced beneath his thin veneer of elegance.
Synonym: gloss
VENERABLE: Deserving respect or reverence because of age - a venerable leader.
VERNAL: Pertaining to spring-an array of vernal flowers.
Antonym: hibernal (wintry)
VERSATILE: Able to do many things skillfully - versatile in all the arts.
VICARIOUS: Taking the place of another; felt, received, or done in place of another - took vicarious pleasure in his brother's victory.
VICISSITUDE: A change from one condition to another, often unexpected - suffered many vicissitudes of fortune.
VIRAGO: A scolding or ill-tempered woman - My neighbor's wife is a virago.
Synonyms: shrew, termagant, vixen
VITUPERATE (noun: VITUPERATION; adj.: VITUPERATIVE): To scold or blame loudly, find fault with in abusive language - an angry man, vituperating the world.
Synonyms: berate, revile
WAIVE: To give up (privileges, etc.); to do without - waived his rights to the property.
Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake
WHIM (adj.: WHIMSICAL): A sudden notion or passing fancy -frequently acted on the whim of the moment.
Synonyms: caprice, vagary, crotchet
WRITHE: To twist about (usually with pain) - writhed in agony on the floor.
Synonyms: contort, squirm
ZEALOUS (noun: ZEALOT: fanatic): Full of enthusiasm or eagerness -a zealous student, first in his class.
Antonym: perfunctory
ZENITH: The highest point - the zenith of his career.
Synonyms: acme, apex, culmination, summit
Antonym: nadir