Princeton Review's "Word Smart"

Ryan S.
List compiled of select words from The Princeton Review's book "Word Smart"
277 words 432 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abash
    cause to be embarrassed
  2. abdicate
    give up power, duties, or obligations
  3. aberration
    a state or condition markedly different from the norm
  4. abhor
    feel hatred or disgust toward
  5. abortive
    failing to accomplish an intended result
  6. absolve
    grant remission of a sin to
  7. abysmal
    exceptionally bad or displeasing
  8. accost
    approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
  9. acumen
    shrewdness shown by keen insight
  10. adamant
    very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem
  11. adherent
    someone who believes and helps to spread a doctrine
  12. adulterate
    make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
  13. affectation
    a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display
  14. affinity
    a natural attraction or feeling of kinship
  15. ambience
    the atmosphere of an environment
  16. amenity
    something that provides value, pleasure, or convenience
  17. amorous
    inclined toward or displaying love
  18. antecedent
    a preceding occurrence or cause or event
  19. antipathy
    a feeling of intense dislike
  20. aphorism
    a short pithy instructive saying
  21. apocalypse
    a cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the powers of evil
  22. apotheosis
    model of excellence or perfection of a kind
  23. aptitude
    inherent ability
  24. arbiter
    someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue
  25. arcane
    requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
  26. arduous
    characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
  27. artifice
    the use of deception or trickery
  28. attrition
    the act of rubbing together
  29. avow
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  30. avuncular
    being or relating to an uncle
  31. awry
    turned or twisted to one side
  32. axiom
    a proposition that is not susceptible of proof or disproof
  33. bastion
    projecting part of a rampart or other fortification
  34. beget
    have children
  35. belabor
    beat soundly
  36. beleaguer
    annoy persistently
  37. bemuse
    cause to be confused emotionally
  38. benefactor
    a person who helps people or institutions
  39. bequest
    a gift of personal property by will
  40. beset
    assail or attack on all sides
  41. blithe
    carefree and happy and lighthearted
  42. bovine
    any of various wild or domestic cattle
  43. broach
    bring up a topic for discussion
  44. bucolic
    devoted to raising sheep or cattle
  45. burgeon
    grow and flourish
  46. burlesque
    a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor
  47. cadence
    the accent in a metrical foot of verse
  48. callow
    young and inexperienced
  49. catalyst
    substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction
  50. categorical
    relating to or included in a class or classes
  51. catharsis
    purging the body to stimulate evacuation of the bowels
  52. catholic
    comprehensive or broad-minded in tastes and interests
  53. cerebral
    of or relating to the brain
  54. chagrin
    strong feelings of embarrassment
  55. chasm
    a deep opening in the earth's surface
  56. chicanery
    the use of tricks to deceive someone
  57. chimera
    a grotesque product of the imagination
  58. choleric
    characterized by anger
  59. circuitous
    deviating from a straight course
  60. clemency
    leniency and compassion shown toward offenders
  61. cogent
    powerfully persuasive
  62. commensurate
    corresponding in size or degree or extent
  63. compendium
    a publication containing a variety of works
  64. complicity
    guilt as a confederate in a crime or offense
  65. condescend
    behave in a patronizing manner
  66. conducive
    tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
  67. congenital
    present at birth but not necessarily hereditary
  68. conjecture
    believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
  69. connoisseur
    an expert able to appreciate a field
  70. construe
    make sense of; assign a meaning to
  71. contentious
    showing an inclination to disagree
  72. contiguous
    having a common boundary or edge
  73. contingent
    determined by conditions or circumstances that follow
  74. contrite
    feeling or expressing pain or sorrow
  75. corollary
    an inference following from the proof of another proposition
  76. cosmopolitan
    composed of people from many parts of the world
  77. covenant
    an agreement between a god and the people
  78. covet
    wish, long, or crave for
  79. criterion
    the ideal in terms of which something can be judged
  80. culpable
    deserving blame or censure as being wrong or injurious
  81. cursory
    hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
  82. daunt
    cause to lose courage
  83. dearth
    an insufficient quantity or number
  84. decadent
    relating to indulgence in something pleasurable
  85. decimate
    kill in large numbers
  86. decorous
    characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste
  87. deduce
    reason from the general to the particular
  88. deluge
    a heavy rain
  89. denizen
    a plant or animal naturalized in a region
  90. desiccate
    lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
  91. destitute
    poor enough to need help from others
  92. desultory
    marked by lack of definite plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
  93. dexterous
    skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
  94. dialectical
    relating to reasoning by the exchange of logical arguments
  95. dictum
    an authoritative declaration
  96. diffident
    showing modest reserve
  97. dilettante
    an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
  98. discreet
    marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
  99. discrete
    constituting a separate entity or part
  100. distend
    cause to expand as if by internal pressure
  101. docile
    easily handled or managed
  102. doctrinaire
    a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions
  103. eccentric
    conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
  104. edify
    make understand
  105. efface
    remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing
  106. effusion
    an unrestrained expression of emotion
  107. egalitarian
    favoring social equality
  108. egregious
    conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
  109. elicit
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
  110. eminent
    standing above others in quality or position
  111. empirical
    derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
  112. endemic
    native to or confined to a certain region
  113. enormity
    the quality of extreme wickedness
  114. epigram
    a witty saying
  115. epitome
    a standard or typical example
  116. equitable
    fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience
  117. equivocal
    open to two or more interpretations
  118. exasperate
    make furious
  119. exhaustive
    performed comprehensively and completely
  120. exhort
    spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
  121. exigency
    a pressing or urgent situation
  122. existential
    relating to or dealing with the state of being
  123. expatriate
    a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country
  124. extrapolate
    draw from specific cases for more general cases
  125. exult
    feel extreme happiness or elation
  126. fabrication
    the act of making a product from raw materials
  127. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
  128. farcical
    broadly or extravagantly humorous
  129. fatuous
    devoid of intelligence
  130. fecund
    capable of producing offspring or vegetation
  131. felicity
    pleasing and appropriate manner or style
  132. fetter
    a shackle for the ankles or feet
  133. flout
    treat with contemptuous disregard
  134. foible
    a minor weakness or peculiarity in someone's character
  135. foment
    try to stir up
  136. forbear
    refrain from doing
  137. forego
    do without or cease to hold or adhere to
  138. founder
    fail utterly; collapse
  139. frenetic
    fast and energetic in an uncontrolled or wild way
  140. gauche
    lacking social poise or refinement
  141. gesticulate
    show, express, or direct through movement
  142. glut
    supply with an excess of
  143. hapless
    unfortunate and deserving pity
  144. harbinger
    something indicating the approach of something or someone
  145. hegemony
    the dominance or leadership of one social group over others
  146. hermetic
    completely sealed or airtight
  147. histrionic
    overly dramatic or emotional
  148. idyllic
    charmingly simple and serene
  149. imminent
    close in time; about to occur
  150. impartial
    free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
  151. impervious
    not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
  152. inane
    devoid of intelligence
  153. incandescent
    emitting light as a result of being heated
  154. incantation
    a ritual reciting of words believed to have a magical effect
  155. ineffable
    defying expression or description
  156. infatuated
    marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness
  157. innate
    present at birth but not necessarily hereditary
  158. insidious
    working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
  159. intrinsic
    belonging to a thing by its very nature
  160. invective
    abusive language used to express blame or censure
  161. inveterate
    habitual
  162. irascible
    quickly aroused to anger
  163. juxtapose
    place side by side
  164. lampoon
    ridicule with satire
  165. latent
    potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
  166. libel
    a false and malicious publication
  167. litigate
    engage in legal proceedings
  168. lugubrious
    excessively mournful
  169. machination
    a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends
  170. malaise
    a feeling of mild sickness or depression
  171. malfeasance
    wrongful conduct by a public official
  172. malinger
    avoid responsibilities and duties, often by faking illness
  173. marshal
    a military officer of highest rank
  174. matriculate
    enroll as a student
  175. maudlin
    very sentimental or emotional
  176. maverick
    someone who exhibits independence in thought and action
  177. maxim
    a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
  178. mendacious
    given to lying
  179. mendicant
    a pauper who lives by begging
  180. microcosm
    a miniature model of something
  181. milieu
    the environmental condition
  182. misanthropic
    hating mankind in general
  183. monolithic
    imposing in size or bulk or solidity
  184. moribund
    being on the point of death
  185. nebulous
    lacking definite form or limits
  186. neologism
    a newly invented word or phrase
  187. nepotism
    favoritism shown to relatives or friends by those in power
  188. nihilism
    complete denial of established authority and institutions
  189. noxious
    injurious to physical or mental health
  190. obfuscate
    make obscure or unclear
  191. oblique
    slanting or inclined in direction or course or position
  192. ostensible
    appearing as such but not necessarily so
  193. pacify
    ease the anger, agitation, or strong emotion of
  194. panacea
    hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases
  195. paradigm
    a standard or typical example
  196. parsimonious
    excessively unwilling to spend
  197. peccadillo
    a petty misdeed
  198. pejorative
    expressing disapproval
  199. penitent
    feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds
  200. peremptory
    putting an end to all debate or action
  201. perfidy
    an act of deliberate betrayal
  202. perquisite
    an incidental benefit for certain types of employment
  203. peruse
    examine or consider with attention and in detail
  204. philistine
    a person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits
  205. plaintive
    expressing sorrow
  206. portent
    a sign of something about to happen
  207. postulate
    maintain or assert
  208. pragmatic
    concerned with practical matters
  209. precept
    a rule of personal conduct
  210. preeminent
    greatest in importance, degree, or significance
  211. premise
    a statement that is held to be true
  212. prepossess
    cause to be preoccupied
  213. prerogative
    a right reserved exclusively by a person or group
  214. proletariat
    a social class comprising those who do manual labor
  215. promulgate
    state or announce
  216. proprietary
    protected by trademark or patent or copyright
  217. proselytize
    convert or try to convert someone to another religion
  218. purportedly
    allegedly but not definitely true
  219. putative
    purported
  220. quixotic
    not sensible about practical matters
  221. rapacious
    living by preying on other animals
  222. reciprocal
    concerning each of two or more persons or things
  223. recondite
    difficult to understand
  224. recrimination
    mutual accusations
  225. redolent
    having a strong pleasant odor
  226. relinquish
    turn away from; give up
  227. remonstrate
    argue in protest or opposition
  228. reparation
    something done or paid in expiation of a wrong
  229. ruminate
    reflect deeply on a subject
  230. rustic
    characteristic of rural life
  231. saccharine
    overly sweet
  232. sacrilege
    blasphemous behavior
  233. salient
    conspicuous, prominent, or important
  234. salutary
    tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health
  235. sanctimonious
    excessively or hypocritically pious
  236. sanguine
    confidently optimistic and cheerful
  237. scintillate
    emit or reflect light in a flickering manner
  238. sentient
    endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness
  239. serendipity
    good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
  240. slander
    words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another
  241. solicitous
    full of anxiety and concern
  242. solvent
    capable of meeting financial obligations
  243. sordid
    foul and run-down and repulsive
  244. specious
    plausible but false
  245. spurious
    plausible but false
  246. squalor
    sordid dirtiness
  247. squander
    spend thoughtlessly; throw away
  248. stigmatize
    condemn or openly brand as disgraceful
  249. stipulate
    make an express demand or provision in an agreement
  250. stoic
    seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
  251. stratum
    one of several parallel layers of material
  252. stricture
    a principle that restricts the extent of something
  253. stringent
    demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
  254. subjugate
    make subservient; force to submit or subdue
  255. substantive
    having a firm basis in reality and therefore important
  256. synthesis
    the combination of ideas into a complex whole
  257. tacit
    implied by or inferred from actions or statements
  258. tautological
    characterized by unnecessary repetition
  259. temerity
    fearless daring
  260. tenable
    based on sound reasoning or evidence
  261. tenet
    a basic principle or belief that is accepted as true
  262. tenuous
    lacking substance or significance
  263. touchstone
    a basis for comparison
  264. tout
    advertise in strongly positive terms
  265. transgress
    act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
  266. turpitude
    a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice
  267. urbane
    showing a high degree of refinement
  268. utilitarian
    having a useful function
  269. vehement
    marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
  270. verisimilitude
    the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true
  271. vestige
    an indication that something has been present
  272. vex
    disturb, especially by minor irritations
  273. vicarious
    experienced at secondhand
  274. vitiate
    make imperfect
  275. vitriolic
    harsh, bitter, or malicious in tone
  276. wanton
    a lewd or immoral person
  277. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
Created on Sat Aug 04 15:16:06 EDT 2012

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