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 |
fallow (n.) | land left unseeded |
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 |
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 |
animosity | strong dislike; bitter hostility |
apathy | lack of feeling, emotion, or interest |
apprehensive | fearful or anxious, especially about the future |
commend | 1. to praise, express approval; 2. to commit to the care of |
compatible | able to get along or work well together |
condolence | an expression of sympathy |
consecrate | 1. to make sacred, hallow; 2. to set apart for a special purpose |
decrepit | old and feeble; worn-out, ruined |
deride | to ridicule, laugh at with contempt |
ingenuous | innocent, simple; frank, sincere |
multifarious | having great variety; numerous and diverse |
obsolete | out-of-date, no longer in use |
omnivorous | eating every kind of food |
parsimonious | stingy, miserly |
quandary | state of perplexity or doubt |
recalcitrant | stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority |
reprisal | an injury done in return for injury; retaliation |
revel | 1. (v.) to take great pleasure in; 2. (n.) wild celebration |
stultify | to make ineffective or useless |
suave | smoothly agreeable or polite; pleasing to the senses |