adulterate | to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value |
| ambidextrous | 1. able to use both hands equally well; 2. very skillful; 3. hypocritical |
| augment | to make larger, increase |
| bereft | 1. deprived of; made unhappy through a loss |
| deploy | 1. to position or arrange; 2. to utilize |
| dour | stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored |
| fortitude | courage in facing difficulties |
| gape | to stare with open mouth; to open wide |
| gibe | (v.) to utter taunting words; (n.) an expression of scorn |
| guise | an external appearance, cover, mask |
| insidious | intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous |
| intimation | a hint, indirect suggestion |
| opulent | wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose |
| pliable | 1. easily bent, flexible; 2. easily influenced |
| reiterate | to say again, repeat |
| stolid | not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive |
| tentative | experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant |
| unkempt | 1. not combed; untidy; 2. rude, unpolished |
| verbatim | word for word; exactly as written or spoken |
| warily | cautiously, with great care. |
| adroit | skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind |
| amicable | friendly, neighborly |
| averse | opposed, unwilling; having a deep-seated distaste |
| belligerent | given to fighting, warlike; aggressive |
| benevolent | well-meaning, charitable, kindly |
| cursory | hasty, not thorough |
| duplicity | treachery, deceitfulness, fraud |
| extol | to praise excessively |
| feasible | possible, able to be done |
| grimace | faical distortion, pained expression |
| holocaust | a large-scale destruction, especially by fire |
| impervious | resistant; not affected or hurt by |
| impetus | impulse, stimulus, incentive |
| jeopardy | danger |
| meticulous | extremely careful; particular about details |
| nostalgia | desire for something in the past |
| quintessence | the most typical example |
| retrogress | to return to an earlier condition |
| scrutinize | to examine closely |
| tepid | lukewarm; unenthusiastic |
| adversary | an enemy, opponent |
| alienate | to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile |
| artifice | 1. a skillful or ingenious device; 2. clever trick; 3. clever skill |
| coerce | to compel, force |
| craven | 1. (adj.) cowardly; 2. (n). coward |
| culinary | of or related to cooking or the kitchen |
| delete | to erase, wipe out |
| demise | a death, especially of a person in a high position |
| exhilarate | to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to |
| fallow (adj.) | 1. plowed but not seeded; 2. inactive; 3. reddish-yellow |
| harass | 1. to disturb, worry; 2. to trouble by repeated attacks |
| inclement | 1. stormy, harsh; 2. severe in attitude or action |
| muse | to think about in a dreamy way, ponder |
| negligible | so unimportant that it can be disregarded |
| perpetuate | to make permanent or long lasting |
| precedent | an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action |
| punitive | infliclicting or aiming at punishment |
| redress | 1. (v.) to set right, remedy; 2. (n.) relief from wrong or injury |
| sojourn | 1. (n.) a temporary stay; 2. (v.) to stay for a time |
| urbane | refined in manner or style, suave |
| affiliated | associated, connected |
| ascertain | to find out |
| attainment | an accomplishment, the act of achieving |
| bequeath | to give or pass on as an inheritance |
| cogent | relevant, to the point; convincing |
| converge | move toward one point |
| disperse | to scatter, spread far and wide |
| esteem | to regard highly |
| expunge | to erase, obliterate, destroy |
| finite | 1. having limits; 2. lasting for a limited time. |
| invulnerable | 1. not able to be wounded or hurt; 2. shielded against attack |
| malevolent | spiteful, showing ill will |
| nonchalant | cool and confident, unconcerned |
| omniscient | knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding |
| panacea | a remedy for all ills; cure all |
| scrupulous | 1. exact, careful, meticulous; 2. having high moral standards, principled |
| skulk | 1. to move about stealthily; 2. to lie in hiding |
| supercilious | 1. proud and contemptuous; 2. showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority |
| uncanny | strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanation |
| venial | easily excused; pardonable |
| altruistic | unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others |
| assent | 1. (v.) to express agreement; 2. (n.) agreement |
| benefactor | one who does good to others |
| chivalrous | marked by honor, courtesy, and courage |
| clemency | mercy, humaneness |
| dearth | a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply |
| diffident | shy, lacking self-confidence |
| discrepancy | 1. a difference; 2. lack of agreement |
| embark | 1. to make a start; 2. to go aboard |
| facile | 1. easily done or attained, effortless; 2. fluent; 3. superficial |
| indomitable | unconquerable, unbeatable |
| infallible | free from error, perfect |
| plod | to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly |
| pungent | causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting |
| remiss | neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless |
| repose | 1. (v.) to rest; 2. (n.) relaxation, peace of mind |
| temerity | boldness, rashness |
| truculent | fierce and cruel; aggressive |
| unfeigned | sincere, real, without pretense |
| virulent | 1. extremely infectious, malignant, or poisonous; 2. hateful, spiteful |
| accede | 1. to agree or assent; 2. submit or yield to another's wish or opinion; 3. to assume an office |
| brandish | To wave or flourish (a weapon, for example) menacingly |
| comprise | to include; contain |
| deft | skillful, nimble |
| destitute | deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in |
| explicit | definite, clearly stated |
| extirpate | 1. to destroy totally; 2. to tear up by the roots |
| inopportune | coming at a bad time; not appropriate |
| ironic | contrary to what was expected or intended; sarcastic |
| musty | stale, moldy; out-of-date |
| officious | meddling; excessively forward in offering services |
| ominous | unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen |
| pinnacle | a high peak or point |
| premeditated | considered beforehand, deliberately planned |
| rampant | growing without check, running wild |
| solace | comfort, relief |
| stately | dignified, majestic |
| supple | 1. bending easily; 2. adaptable; 3. servile |
| suppress | to stop by force, put down |
| venal | open to or marked by bribery or corruption |
| abhor | to hate deeply |
| amend | to change for the better |
| buffet | 1. (v.) to slap or cuff; 2. (v.) to drive or force with blows; 3 (n.) a slap, blow |
| chaos | great confusion, disorder |
| commodious | roomy, spacious |
| corrosive | 1. eating away gradually, acidlike; 2. bitterly sarcastic |
| discern | to see clearly, recognize |
| extant | still existing; not exterminated, destroyed or lost |
| implicate | to involve in; to connect with or be related to |
| inter | to bury |
| martinet | a strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules |
| obviate | to anticipate and prevent; to remove, dispose of |
| renegade | one who leaves a group; deserter, outlaw |
| reprehensible | deserving blame or punishment |
| somber | dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit |
| squalid | filthy, wretched, debased |
| turbulent | disorderly, riotous, violent; stormy |
| vociferous | loud and noisy |
| voluminous | 1. of great size; numerous; 2. writing or speaking at great length |
| waive | to do without, give up voluntarily |