-
abate
become less in amount or intensity
-
chicanery
the use of tricks to deceive someone
-
disseminate
cause to become widely known
-
gainsay
take exception to
-
latent
potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
-
aberrant
markedly different from an accepted norm
-
coagulate
change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state
-
dissolution
separation into component parts
-
garrulous
full of trivial conversation
-
laud
praise, glorify, or honor
-
abeyance
temporary cessation or suspension
-
coda
the closing section of a musical composition
-
dissonance
disagreeable sounds
-
goad
stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick
-
lethargic
deficient in alertness or activity
-
abscond
run away, often taking something or somebody along
-
cogent
powerfully persuasive
-
distend
cause to expand as if by internal pressure
-
gouge
an impression in a surface, as made by a blow
-
levee
an embankment built to prevent a river from overflowing
-
abstemious
marked by temperance in indulgence
-
commensurate
corresponding in size or degree or extent
-
distill
undergo condensation
-
grandiloquent
lofty in style
-
levity
a manner lacking seriousness
-
admonish
scold or reprimand; take to task
-
compendium
a publication containing a variety of works
-
diverge
move or draw apart
-
gregarious
temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
-
log
a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
-
adulterate
make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
-
complaisant
showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
-
divest
take away possessions from someone
-
guileless
free of deceit
-
loquacious
full of trivial conversation
-
aesthetic
characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
-
compliant
disposed to act in accordance with someone's wishes
-
document
a representation of a person's thinking with symbolic marks
-
gullible
naive and easily deceived or tricked
-
lucid
transparently clear; easily understandable
-
aggregate
a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together
-
conciliatory
making or willing to make concessions
-
dogmatic
pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
-
harangue
a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion
-
luminous
softly bright or radiant
-
alacrity
liveliness and eagerness
-
condone
excuse, overlook, or make allowances for
-
dormant
inactive but capable of becoming active
-
homogeneous
all of the same or similar kind or nature
-
magnanimity
liberality in bestowing gifts
-
alleviate
provide physical relief, as from pain
-
confound
be confusing or perplexing to
-
dupe
fool or hoax
-
hyperbole
extravagant exaggeration
-
malingerer
someone shirking duty by feigning illness or incapacity
-
amalgamate
bring or combine together or with something else
-
connoisseur
an expert able to appreciate a field
-
ebullient
joyously unrestrained
-
iconoclastic
characterized by attack on established beliefs
-
malleable
capable of being shaped or bent
-
ambiguous
having more than one possible meaning
-
contention
the act of competing as for profit or a prize
-
eclectic
selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
-
idolatry
the worship of idols or images that are not God
-
maverick
someone who exhibits independence in thought and action
-
ambivalence
mixed feelings or emotions
-
contentious
showing an inclination to disagree
-
efficacy
capacity or power to produce a desired effect
-
immutable
not subject or susceptible to change or variation
-
mendacious
given to lying
-
ameliorate
to make better
-
contrite
feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
-
effrontery
audacious behavior that you have no right to
-
impair
make worse or less effective
-
metamorphosis
striking change in appearance or character or circumstances
-
anachronism
something located at a time when it could not have existed
-
conundrum
a difficult problem
-
elegy
a mournful poem; a lament for the dead
-
impassive
having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
-
meticulous
marked by precise accordance with details
-
analogous
similar or equivalent in some respects
-
converge
be adjacent or come together
-
elicit
call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
-
impede
be a hindrance or obstacle to
-
misanthrope
someone who dislikes people in general
-
anarchy
a state of lawlessness and disorder
-
convoluted
highly complex or intricate
-
embellish
make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color
-
impermeable
preventing especially liquids to pass or diffuse through
-
mitigate
lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
-
anomalous
deviating from the general or common order or type
-
craven
lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
-
empirical
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
-
imperturbable
marked by extreme calm and composure
-
mollify
cause to be more favorably inclined
-
antipathy
a feeling of intense dislike
-
daunt
cause to lose courage
-
emulate
strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
-
impervious
not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
-
morose
showing a brooding ill humor
-
apathy
an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
-
decorum
propriety in manners and conduct
-
endemic
native to or confined to a certain region
-
implacable
incapable of being appeased or pacified
-
mundane
found in the ordinary course of events
-
appease
make peace with
-
default
an option that is selected automatically
-
enervate
weaken mentally or morally
-
implicit
suggested though not directly expressed
-
negate
make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of
-
apprise
inform somebody of something
-
deference
courteous regard for people's feelings
-
engender
call forth
-
implode
burst inward
-
neophyte
any new participant in some activity
-
approbation
official approval
-
delineate
represented accurately or precisely
-
enhance
increase
-
inadvertently
without knowledge or intention
-
obdurate
stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
-
appropriate
suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
-
denigrate
charge falsely or with malicious intent
-
ephemeral
anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day
-
inchoate
only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
-
obsequious
attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
-
arduous
characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
-
deride
treat or speak of with contempt
-
equanimity
steadiness of mind under stress
-
incongruity
the quality of disagreeing
-
obviate
do away with
-
artless
simple and natural; without cunning or deceit
-
derivative
a compound obtained from another compound
-
equivocate
be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
-
inconsequential
lacking worth or importance
-
occlude
block passage through
-
ascetic
someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
-
desiccate
lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
-
erudite
having or showing profound knowledge
-
incorporate
make into a whole or make part of a whole
-
officious
intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
-
assiduous
marked by care and persistent effort
-
desultory
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose
-
esoteric
understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
-
indeterminate
not fixed or known in advance
-
onerous
not easily borne; wearing
-
assuage
provide physical relief, as from pain
-
deterrent
something immaterial that interferes with action or progress
-
eulogy
a formal expression of praise for someone who has died
-
indigence
a state of extreme poverty or destitution
-
opprobrium
a state of extreme dishonor
-
attenuate
become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude
-
diatribe
thunderous verbal attack
-
euphemism
an inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one
-
indolent
disinclined to work or exertion
-
oscillate
move or swing from side to side regularly
-
audacious
disposed to venture or take risks
-
dichotomy
a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses
-
exacerbate
make worse
-
inert
unable to move or resist motion
-
ostentatious
intended to attract notice and impress others
-
austere
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
-
diffidence
lack of self-assurance
-
exculpate
pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
-
pate
liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned
-
ingenuous
lacking in sophistication or worldliness
-
paragon
a perfect embodiment of a concept
-
autonomous
existing as an independent entity
-
diffuse
spread out; not concentrated in one place
-
exigency
a pressing or urgent situation
-
inherent
existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
-
partisan
a fervent and even militant proponent of something
-
aver
declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
-
digression
a message that departs from the main subject
-
extrapolation
an inference about the future based on known facts
-
innocuous
not injurious to physical or mental health
-
pathological
relating to the study of diseases
-
banal
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
-
dirge
a song or hymn of mourning as a memorial to a dead person
-
facetious
cleverly amusing in tone
-
insensible
barely able to be perceived
-
paucity
an insufficient quantity or number
-
belie
be in contradiction with
-
disabuse
free somebody from an erroneous belief
-
facilitate
make easier
-
insinuate
suggest in an indirect or covert way; give to understand
-
pedantic
marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
-
beneficent
doing or producing good
-
discerning
having or revealing keen insight and good judgment
-
fallacious
containing or based on incorrect reasoning
-
insipid
lacking interest or significance or impact
-
penchant
a strong liking
-
bolster
support and strengthen
-
discordant
not in agreement or harmony
-
fatuous
devoid of intelligence
-
insularity
the state of being isolated or detached
-
penury
a state of extreme poverty or destitution
-
bombastic
ostentatiously lofty in style
-
discredit
the state of being held in low esteem
-
fawning
attempting to win favor by flattery
-
intractable
difficult to manage or mold
-
perennial
lasting an indefinitely long time
-
boorish
ill-mannered and coarse in behavior or appearance
-
discrepancy
a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions
-
felicitous
exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style
-
intransigence
stubborn refusal to compromise or change
-
perfidious
tending to betray
-
burgeon
grow and flourish
-
discrete
constituting a separate entity or part
-
fervor
feelings of great warmth and intensity
-
inundate
fill or cover completely, usually with water
-
perfunctory
hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
-
burnish
polish and make shiny
-
disingenuous
not straightforward or candid
-
flag
a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
-
inured
made tough by habitual exposure
-
permeable
allowing fluids or gases to pass or diffuse through
-
buttress
a support usually of stone or brick
-
disinterested
unaffected by concern for one's own welfare
-
fledgling
young bird that has just fledged or become capable of flying
-
invective
abusive language used to express blame or censure
-
pervasive
spreading or spread throughout
-
cacophonous
having an unpleasant sound
-
disjointed
taken apart at the points of connection
-
flout
treat with contemptuous disregard
-
irascible
quickly aroused to anger
-
phlegmatic
showing little emotion
-
capricious
determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
-
dismiss
stop associating with
-
foment
try to stir up
-
irresolute
uncertain how to act or proceed
-
piety
righteousness by virtue of being pious
-
castigation
verbal punishment
-
disparage
express a negative opinion of
-
forestall
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
-
itinerary
an established line of travel or access
-
placate
cause to be more favorably inclined
-
catalyst
substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction
-
disparate
fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
-
frugality
prudence in avoiding waste
-
laconic
brief and to the point
-
plasticity
the property of being physically malleable
-
caustic
capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
-
dissemble
behave unnaturally or affectedly
-
futile
producing no result or effect
-
lassitude
a feeling of lack of interest or energy
-
platitude
a trite or obvious remark
-
plethora
extreme excess
-
propitiate
make peace with
-
rescind
cancel officially
-
sporadic
recurring in scattered or unpredictable instances
-
tractable
easily managed
-
plummet
drop sharply
-
propriety
correct behavior
-
resolution
a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner
-
stigma
a symbol of disgrace or infamy
-
transgression
the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle
-
porous
full of holes
-
proscribe
command against
-
resolve
find a solution or answer
-
stint
supply sparingly and with restricted quantities
-
truculence
obstreperous and defiant aggressiveness
-
pragmatic
concerned with practical matters
-
pungent
strong and sharp to the sense of taste
-
reticent
reluctant to draw attention to yourself
-
stipulate
make an express demand or provision in an agreement
-
vacillate
be undecided about something
-
preamble
a preliminary introduction to a statute or constitution
-
qualified
meeting the proper standards and requirements for a task
-
reverent
feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
-
stolid
having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
-
venerate
regard with feelings of respect and reverence
-
precarious
not secure; beset with difficulties
-
quibble
evade the truth of a point by raising irrelevant objections
-
sage
a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics
-
striate
marked with stripes
-
veracious
habitually speaking the truth
-
precipitate
bring about abruptly
-
quiescent
being quiet or still or inactive
-
salubrious
promoting health
-
strut
walk with a lofty proud gait
-
verbose
using or containing too many words
-
precursor
something indicating the approach of something or someone
-
rarefied
of high moral or intellectual value
-
sanction
official permission or approval
-
subpoena
a writ issued to compel the attendance of a witness
-
viable
capable of life or normal growth and development
-
presumptuous
going beyond what is appropriate, permitted, or courteous
-
recalcitrant
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
-
satiate
fill to satisfaction
-
subside
wear off or die down
-
viscous
having a relatively high resistance to flow
-
prevaricate
be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
-
recant
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
-
saturate
infuse or fill completely
-
substantiate
establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
-
vituperative
marked by harshly abusive criticism
-
pristine
immaculately clean and unused
-
recluse
one who lives in solitude
-
savor
a particular taste or smell, especially an appealing one
-
supersede
take the place or move into the position of
-
volatile
liable to lead to sudden change or violence
-
probity
complete and confirmed integrity
-
recondite
difficult to penetrate
-
secrete
generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
-
supposition
the cognitive process of conjecturing
-
unwarranted
incapable of being justified or explained
-
problematic
making great mental demands
-
refractory
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
-
shard
a broken piece of a brittle artifact
-
tacit
implied by or inferred from actions or statements
-
wary
marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
-
prodigal
recklessly wasteful
-
refute
overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
-
skeptic
someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs
-
tangential
of superficial relevance if any
-
welter
a confused multitude of things
-
profound
situated at or extending to great depth
-
relegate
assign to a lower position
-
solicitous
full of anxiety and concern
-
tenuous
very thin in gauge or diameter
-
whimsical
determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
-
prohibitive
tending to discourage, especially of prices
-
reproach
express criticism towards
-
soporific
inducing sleep
-
tirade
a speech of violent denunciation
-
zealot
a fervent and even militant proponent of something
-
proliferate
grow rapidly
-
reprobate
a person without moral scruples
-
specious
plausible but false
-
torpor
a state of motor and mental inactivity
-
propensity
a natural inclination
-
repudiate
refuse to acknowledge, ratify, or recognize as valid
-
spectrum
a broad range of related objects or values or qualities
-
tortuous
marked by repeated turns and bends