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Newpoint Learning Center vocab list

most common words seen on SAT tests
498 words 132 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

  1. antagonize
    provoke the hostility of
    Annie antagonized her little brother by knocking over his tower of toy bricks.
  2. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
    The amiable celebrity was known for his willingness to sign autographs and visit with his fans.
  3. aesthetic
    characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
    Alaina chose this church for her wedding because of its aesthetic qualities; it was the most beautiful chapel she had ever seen.
  4. acquire
    gain knowledge or skills
    The captive dolphin has acquired a taste for freshwater perch, a fish not found in its normal habitat
  5. autonomy
    political independence
    The Confederate states fought to gain autonomy from the Union during the Civil War
  6. astute
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
    An astute student figures out his English teacher’s favorite novel and then reads it for his book report.
  7. aspiration
    a will to succeed
    The military medic had aspirations of becoming a doctor after his tour of duty.
  8. arrogant
    having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance
    The arrogant soccer player thought he was too important to waste time meeting his fans.
  9. callous
    emotionally hardened
    The senator’s callous indifference to the suffering of the people in the war-torn country cost him reelection to a second term.
  10. bewilder
    cause to be confused emotionally
    Bea was bewildered by the puzzle; no matter how hard she concentrated, she could not find a solution.
  11. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
    The benevolent nun spent her entire life working with the poor.
  12. avid
    marked by active interest and enthusiasm
    Alvin is an avid baseball card collector, having amassed over ten thousand cards
  13. capricious
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
    Cane’s capricious personality made him a fun friend but a terrible boss; social spontaneity was exciting but workplace unpredictability was frustrating.
  14. cantankerous
    stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
    The cantankerous old man took the little boy’s sucker and refused to give it back, even when the child’s mother threatened to call the police.
  15. candid
    openly straightforward and direct without secretiveness
    Much to my surprise, Candace was quite candid when talking about the private traumas of her childhood.
  16. camaraderie
    the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
    The camaraderie among the soldiers lasted long after the end of the second World War; the men kept in touch and met for reunions for over forty years.
  17. complacent
    contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
    After twenty five years of teaching, Mr. Compton had become complacent, failing to keep up with new trends in education.
  18. collaborate
    work together on a common enterprise or project
    Colleen and Curtis collaborated on the book; Colleen wrote the stories and Curtis illustrated the scenes.
  19. coherent
    capable of thinking in a clear and consistent manner
    Kobe decided to start recycling when his daughter made a coherent argument about the money, energy, and environment he would save.
  20. censure
    harsh criticism or disapproval
    High school teachers voiced their censure of the new novel, citing mature themes as their main reason for leaving it off the summer reading list.
  21. conciliate
    gain the good will of or cause to be more favorably inclined
    The manager was able to conciliate the angry customer by offering her a fifty dollar gift certificate.
  22. concise
    expressing much in few words
    Your essay should be concise; be sure to remove any unnecessary words and sentences.
  23. condescend
    do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
    Constance believed that her wealth permitted her to be rude and arrogant; she refused to condescend to speak to the bell boy at the upscale hotel.
  24. convoluted
    highly complex or intricate
    Connor was unable to finish the seventeenth-century novel due to the convoluted language of the period.
  25. cunning
    crafty artfulness, especially in deception
    The cunning fox slipped into the henhouse when the farmer left the barn and went back to the house.
  26. cynical
    believing the worst of human nature and motives
    Cyndi’s cynical attitude made it hard for her to believe in anyone’s good intentions.
  27. dearth
    an insufficient quantity or number
    During the Second World War, the dearth of male baseball players led to the creation of a women’s baseball league.
  28. diligent
    characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks
    The diligent editor was praised for her ability to find errors in even the most pain-staking text.
  29. diminish
    decrease in size, extent, or range
    The loud music from the party next door diminished after the police showed up.
  30. disillusion
    the act of freeing from false belief
    As a young politician, Dane believed he could stop the corruption that ran through the county government, but he was quickly disillusioned by the extent of the illegal activity.
  31. disingenuous
    not straightforward or candid
    Denise’s disingenuous apology was just an attempt to get out of her punishment; she was not truly sorry for going to the concert without permission.
  32. disparate
    fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
    The mixture of three disparate styles— jazz, rock, and country—created a unique sound and a diverse audience.
  33. dogmatic
    characterized by assertion of unproved principles
    The dogmatic scientist continued to publish his theory, despite the fact that it was unproven.
  34. dubious
    not convinced
    The candidate’s dubious past came back to haunt her in the election.
  35. eccentric
    a person with an unusual or odd personality
    The eccentric woman often wore an angel halo and ballet tutu to the grocery store
  36. elite
    selected as the best
    The elite college only admitted students with the highest SAT scores
  37. eloquent
    expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
    The minister’s eloquent sermon stirred the members of the church
  38. elucidate
    make clear and comprehensible
    The story in the newspaper elucidated some of the details of the mystery that had previously raised questions.
  39. empathy
    understanding and entering into another's feelings
    Emma felt empathy for the victims of the earthquake, having lost her own home to a hurricane last year.
  40. emphatic
    spoken with particular stress
    The teacher was emphatic about the project’s due date; no late assignments would be accepted.
  41. eradicate
    destroy completely, as if down to the roots
    Since 1988, the worldwide effort to eradicate polio has reduced cases of the disease by over ninety-nine percent.
  42. erroneous
    containing or characterized by mistakes
    Since 1988, the worldwide effort to eradicate polio has reduced cases of the disease by over ninety-nine percent.
  43. exacerbate
    make worse
    My headache was exacerbated by the child playing drums on the pots and pans.
  44. exasperate
    make furious
    The airline passenger was exasperated by the last minute cancellation of his flight.
  45. exploit
    use or manipulate to one's advantage
    The company was criticized for exploiting the workers by not paying a fair wage.
  46. flagrant
    conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
    When the referee did not call the flagrant foul, the announcer suggested the ref needed a eye exam
  47. frugal
    avoiding waste
    A frugal shopper will always wait for items to go on sale or clearance before purchasing them.
  48. gullible
    naive and easily deceived or tricked
    The gullible little girl actually believed the magician made the woman disappear
  49. hierarchy
    a series of ordered groupings within a system
    As the company’s newest employee, Hiram was at the bottom of the office hierarchy even though he had many more years of experience than his coworkers.
  50. idiosyncrasy
    a behavioral attribute peculiar to an individual
    Some people found Ida’s idiosyncrasy a source of humor, but I never made fun of her for wearing her shirt backwards
  51. impetuous
    characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
    While at the airshow to see old war planes, Ivan made an impetuous decision to go skydiving
  52. incompetent
    not qualified or suited for a purpose
    The incompetent driver failed to yield, which caused the oncoming car to swerve and crash.
  53. incontrovertible
    impossible to deny or disprove
    Protesters demanded the release of the imprisoned woman, saying there was incontrovertible proof of her innocence
  54. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
    The incredulous car buyer did not believe the dealer’s claim that the car was accident-free; he insisted on seeing a report on the car’s history.
  55. indulgent
    given to yielding to the wishes of someone
    The indulgent mother gave her child everything he wanted.
  56. inherent
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
    The abused dog had an inherent distrust of men, so only female volunteers at the shelter could get close enough to bathe him.
  57. irrelevant
    having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
    The purpose of the staff meeting is to discuss the issues with our health insurance; any other complaints are irrelevant and will not be discussed
  58. liberated
    free from traditional social restraints
    When the farmer accidentally left the stall door open, the liberated horse sprinted for the woods.
  59. meticulous
    marked by precise accordance with details
    Miss Walter demanded meticulous essays; perfect spelling and punctuation were essential for a high grade.
  60. modest
    marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
    Although Moe was a gifted athlete, he was very modest; he felt that his contribution to the team was no more extraordinary than any of his teammates’.
  61. mundane
    found in the ordinary course of events
    While a trip to the beach had once been exciting, we went so often that it had become mundane.
  62. naive
    marked by or showing unaffected simplicity
    Nan was naïve in thinking that no one looked at her online social page except her friends; her father was shocked by the pictures she posted last month.
  63. negligent
    characterized by undue lack of attention or concern
    The negligent babysitter was caught on the videotape ignoring the cries of the helpless infant.
  64. notorious
    known widely and usually unfavorably
    The librarian is notorious for sending students to detention.
  65. obsolete
    no longer in use
    The typewriter became obsolete when the personal computer was made affordable for the general public.
  66. oppress
    come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
    The dictator oppressed the lower classes by stripping them of their rights and depriving them of an income
  67. orthodox
    adhering to what is commonly accepted
    Maria and Bryan chose an orthodox ceremony with the standard wedding vows and the typical progression of events.
  68. overwhelming
    very intense
    The stench of burning popcorn was overwhelming, invading every room in the house and forcing us to evacuate to the porch.
  69. partisan
    a fervent and even militant proponent of something
    Gun control is a partisan issue; one party favors government management while the other party prefers individual authority.
  70. perpetuate
    cause to continue or prevail
    Pacey could stop the rumor by refusing to repeat it, or perpetuate it by passing it on to his best friend.
  71. petty
    small and of little importance
    Pete and I had a petty argument about which way the toilet paper should be put on the holder.
  72. phenomenon
    any state or process known through the senses
    Echolocation is a sensory phenomenon that is used by some animals to locate objects in their environment.
  73. precedent
    an example that is used to justify similar occurrences
    When the supervisor allowed Priscilla to leave early every day, he set a precedent that he could not deny to other employees in her position.
  74. prevalent
    most frequent or common
    Small mouth bass are the most prevalent species of fish in the lake, accounting for more than half of all fish caught by anglers.
  75. prominent
    conspicuous in position or importance
    The senator is a prominent woman who is wellknown for fighting unfair labor practices.
  76. propaganda
    information that is spread to promote some cause
    The brochure about the new high school was propaganda intended to earn the community’s support for the multi-million dollar project.
  77. provincial
    a country person
    The officer judged Prescott by his provincial dress; she assumed he was unsophisticated just because he wore a straw hat and overalls
  78. provocative
    serving or tending to excite or stimulate
    At the press conference, the boxer made provocative remarks intended to anger his opponent.
  79. prudent
    marked by sound judgment
    Perry made a prudent decision when he chose not to ride home with his friend who had been drinking.
  80. reprehensible
    bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
    It’s a harsh punishment, but I do not feel sorry for you; stealing from a charity is a reprehensible crime.
  81. resilient
    recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
    Fire ants are resilient pests; even if you destroy their mound, they’ll quickly rebuild just a few feet away.
  82. reticent
    reluctant to draw attention to yourself
    Ironically, the actor once known for his outspoken behavior actually became reticent in his later years, refusing to grant interviews for the last twenty years of his life.
  83. rhetoric
    study of the technique for using language effectively
    The real estate agent was well-versed in the rhetoric needed to sell the broken-down house.
  84. rigorous
    strict; allowing no deviation from a standard
    Reggie started a rigorous weight loss plan that consisted of a strict diet and intense exercise schedule
  85. scrupulous
    characterized by extreme care and great effort
    The scrupulous executive would not let the advertisement run with the misleading information printed in it.
  86. smug
    marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
    The smug senior thought that she had the homecoming election all wrapped up; however, she was beaten by a junior who was much more polite to the underclassmen.
  87. somber
    serious and gloomy in character
    I could tell by the somber look on my teacher’s face that something had gone terribly wrong.
  88. spontaneous
    said or done without having been planned in advance
    When the soldier exited the airplane, the crowd at the gate broke into spontaneous applause.
  89. superficial
    only concerned with what is apparent or obvious
    The officer was grazed by the bullet but luckily the wound was superficial and didn’t require stitches
  90. temperate
    not extreme
    The plants prefer a temperate climate—not too hot and not too cold.
  91. tenacious
    stubbornly unyielding
    The tenacious defense refused to let the opponent score.
  92. trivial
    (informal) small and of little importance
    The documentary on poverty reminded my that my own financial issues are trivial compared to the concerns of the homeless people featured in the film.
  93. tyranny
    government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator
    The leader ruled by tyranny, threatening to imprison any people who spoke out against the government.
  94. venerate
    regard with feelings of respect and reverence
    The venerated teacher had earned the respect of his students by helping them meet the high expectations he set for them.
  95. vigor
    forceful exertion
    The kitten attacked the ball of paper with vigor, powerfully batting it across the room.
  96. abstract
    consider apart from a particular case or instance
    Even though Abby never mentioned her childhood, John abstracted from the conversation that she had a strict upbringing.
  97. adversary
    someone who offers opposition
    The character’s adversary plotted to embarrass her during the homecoming dance.
  98. advocate
    a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
    Adam advocated for longer lunch hours when he was elected class president
  99. allege
    report or maintain
    The teacher alleged that Allie cheated on the test, even though he had no proof.
  100. alleviate
    provide physical relief, as from pain
    The medicine was created to alleviate headaches.
  101. allude
    make an indirect reference to
    Mrs. Alvarez alluded to a pop quiz on Monday, but would not confirm or deny its occurrence.
  102. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
    Amber’s ambiguous reply left me wondering where she had been all night.
  103. ambivalent
    uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
    Ambrose is ambivalent about attending college, which is why his applications still aren’t completed.
  104. analogous
    similar or equivalent in some respects
    The analogous relationship between the brain and a computer has been the subject of many movies.
  105. anecdote
    short account of an incident
    The speaker used a anecdote about his dog to humorously illustrate why loyalty is important.
  106. anthropology
    science of the origins and social relationships of humans
    In my anthropology class we studied the development of culture in ancient Egypt.
  107. archeology
    the branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people and their cultures
    His interest in Native American archaeology led to a large collection of arrowheads.
  108. articulate
    express or state clearly
    The articulate carpenter clearly expressed his concerns to the architect.
  109. ascertain
    learn or discover with confidence
    The detective was able to ascertain the suspect’s whereabouts on the night of the burglary through surveillance video.
  110. assert
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
    Sam asserted his innocence when interviewed by the principal, swearing that he had nothing to do with the senior prank.
  111. assume
    take to be the case or to be true
    “Putting the pieces together, I’m assuming they’re going to appeal,” said Judy Waxman, Vice President, Health and Reproductive Rights at the National Women’s Law Center. Salon (May 1, 2013)
  112. augment
    enlarge or increase
    In an effort to augment her paper on William Faulkner, Audry added three pages about the author’s childhood.
  113. belie
    represent falsely
    Her soft voice belies her aggressive demeanor
  114. bolster
    support and strengthen
    The manager hoped to bolster the morale of his sales team by creating an incentive program.
  115. commend
    present as worthy of regard, kindness, or confidence
    Corey was commended for returning the wallet he found at the mall.
  116. condemn
    express strong disapproval of
    By 1800, slavery was condemned in many of the northern states.
  117. condone
    excuse, overlook, or make allowances for
    The honor code states that you condone cheating by not reporting it to a teacher.
  118. constrain
    hold back
    The size of the small aquarium will constrain the growth of the turtle.
  119. contempt
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    Connie was looked upon with contempt by her peers when she was discovered spreading rumors about them.
  120. conventional
    following accepted customs and proprieties
    Consuelo favored conventional wedding vows, while Callie wanted to break tradition and write her own.
  121. corroborate
    give evidence for
    Coral’s thesis was corroborated by three supporting paragraphs, each of which presented an example that proved her main idea.
  122. debunk
    expose while ridiculing
    The reporter debunked the urban legend about the witch in the woods by revealing wild goats as the sources of the strange noises.
  123. decry
    express strong disapproval of
    The politician decried the injustices suffered by the people of the nation.
  124. deject
    cause to feel dispirited, sad, or downhearted
    The news of her father’s declining condition dejected Denise, as she had been sure his health was finally starting to improve.
  125. denounce
    speak out against
    The sports reporter denounced the professional football team for raising ticket prices again.
  126. depict
    give a description of
    The author depicts the historical figure as a charming but manipulative woman.
  127. deride
    treat or speak of with contempt
    The unsupportive team captain derided Desiree’s attempts to make the volleyball squad.
  128. differentiate
    acquire a distinct character
    It is easy to differentiate between the twins; Daisy has blond hair and Daphne has red hair.
  129. digress
    wander from a direct or straight course
    When Diane was describing the floats in yesterday’s parade, she digressed into a story from her childhood.
  130. discern
    perceive, recognize, or detect
    The captain discerned another ship in the fog.
  131. disclose
    make known to the public information previously kept secret
    The teacher disclosed to her class the winner of the Homecoming contest before the announcement was made to the student body.
  132. disdain
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    The suspect was looked upon with disdain by the detectives who investigated the terrible crime.
  133. disparage
    express a negative opinion of
    My mom’s feelings were hurt when I disparaged her cooking skills.
  134. dispute
    the act of coming into conflict
    The church disputes the theory of evolution, instead citing religious sources of creation
  135. elicit
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
    The woman elicits sympathy from her audience by telling the story of her difficult childhood.
  136. embellish
    make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color
    When he saw the crowd losing interest in his tale, Emilio embellished the story by adding an adventure in a cave
  137. emulate
    strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
    Emily hoped to emulate her older sister’s success on the tennis court.
  138. endure
    undergo or be subjected to
    Enzo endured Mr. Smith’s extremely boring lecture on photosynthesis
  139. epitome
    a standard or typical example
    Paula is the epitome of a politician, with her good looks, bright smile, and charming personality
  140. equivocal
    open to two or more interpretations
    The politician’s equivocal statement about the environment could support either side of the issue.
  141. evoke
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
    Evan’s stirring speech evoked a standing ovation from the audience
  142. exemplary
    worthy of imitation
    The student’s exemplary attendance record was recognized at the awards ceremony.
  143. explicit
    precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
    Mr. Jones left explicit directions for the substitute so he was surprised when they were not followed
  144. extol
    praise, glorify, or honor
    The critic extolled the works of Shakespeare, citing them as the most important contribution to the English language.
  145. foster
    help develop or grow
    The arts foundation hopes to foster art education in the schools by donating supplies and materials.
  146. fundamental
    being or involving basic facts or principles
    The fundamental principle of the educational theory is that all students can learn.
  147. futile
    producing no result or effect
    Forcing the students to abide by the dress code is futile; they will continue to wear whatever they want
  148. generalization
    reasoning from detailed facts to broad principles
    Saying that freshmen are younger than sophomores is a generalization that is usually—but not always— true.
  149. hostile
    characterized by enmity or ill will
    Several hostile threats against the suspect’s lawyer were made by unidentified callers.
  150. illuminate
    make lighter or brighter
    The presentation on the artist was illuminating; I did not know that he was originally from China.
  151. implausible
    highly imaginative but unlikely
    The teacher did not believe his implausible excuse for not completing the assignment.
  152. implicit
    suggested though not directly expressed
    Although we never mentioned the fight, there seemed to be an implicit agreement not to talk about it.
  153. imply
    express or state indirectly
    Even your choice of words can imply bias.
  154. improvise
    manage in a makeshift way; do with whatever is at hand
    The recipe called for molasses, but because I didn’t have any I had to improvise with honey.
  155. indifferent
    marked by a lack of interest
    The writer produced an indifferent article about the two candidates by successfully suppressing her preference for one or the other.
  156. indignant
    angered at something unjust or wrong
    The seniors were indignant over their disqualification in the homecoming contest, claiming that the decision was unfair
  157. induce
    cause to act in a specified manner
    The presence of the washed up jellyfish induced a panic in the beachgoers, few of whom dared to venture into the water.
  158. infer
    conclude by reasoning
    Entrepreneurs get in the mindset of growth and infer that bigger must be better.
  159. insight
    clear or deep perception of a situation
    Jane’s insight into the computer problem was the result of years of working with the computer system
  160. invoke
    summon into action or bring into existence
    The psychic claimed that he could invoke the spirits in the house through an old-fashioned séance.
  161. lament
    a cry of sorrow and grief
    When Lamont left for college, his little sister lamented his absence for weeks
  162. mar
    cause to become imperfect
    My nearly-perfect report card was marred by a low grade in speech class
  163. nostalgia
    a longing for something past
    When I revisited my childhood home, I was surprised by the nostalgia that I felt.
  164. objective
    the goal intended to be attained
    It is important for a judge to be objective; he cannot let his personal beliefs affect his rulings.
  165. obscure
    not clearly understood or expressed
    Most of the movie audience did not understand the obscure reference to the other movie
  166. parenthetical
    qualifying or explaining
    A remark in parenthesis is called a parenthetical remark, which is usually used to qualify or explain the preceding part of the sentence
  167. perplex
    be a mystery or bewildering to
    Percy was perplexed by the complex puzzle and distressed that he could not find a solution
  168. pertinent
    being of striking appropriateness
    The professor distributed a list of articles and books that were pertinent to the discussions in his course.
  169. pragmatic
    concerned with practical matters
    When her bobby pin broke, Penelope found a pragmatic solution; she used a paper clip to hold back her stray hair
  170. presume
    take to be the case or to be true
    I presume that you are tired after your long drive today.
  171. pretense
    the act of giving a false appearance
    He secured an interview using the pretense that he had a doctorate from Yale, but the hiring committee quickly discovered that this was not true. Word Forms: pretenseful, pretension, pretentious,
  172. profound
    situated at or extending to great depth
    Her profound knowledge of electricity was showcased at the science fair, where she won first place for her project.
  173. quell
    suppress or crush completely
    The coach quelled the rumor that he was taking another job by signing an extension of his current contract.
  174. query
    an instance of questioning
    The reporter queried the mayor about his role in the embezzlement scandal
  175. rebut
    overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
    The lawyer rebutted the witness’s testimony by providing contrary evidence.
  176. reconcile
    accept as inevitable
    After years of separation due to an argument, the sisters reconciled when they both apologized.
  177. refute
    overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
    The senator refuted claims that he was arrested for careless driving by publishing his flawless driving record in the state’s largest newspaper.
  178. reiterate
    say, state, or perform again
    Since you didn’t hear me the first time, let me reiterate the rules of the game
  179. renounce
    turn away from; give up
    The king renounced the thrown when he married a woman who was not accepted by the royal family
  180. revere
    regard with feelings of respect
    Paul Revere was one of many colonists who revered freedom and democracy.
  181. sarcasm
    witty language used to convey insults or scorn
    When Sara said she liked Blake’s car, he knew she meant the exact opposite; her sarcasm was meant to make fun of his inexpensive automobile.
  182. satire
    witty language used to convey insults or scorn
    The movie is a satire, making fun of all the teenage horror movies that came before it.
  183. scorn
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    Steve knew that he deserved the scorn of his teammates after he was caught cheating, but their reaction still saddened him.
  184. scrutinize
    examine carefully for accuracy
    Ruth scrutinized the classified ads, carefully reading each of the posted jobs.
  185. skeptical
    marked by or given to doubt
    Skip was skeptical of the car dealer’s promise of free oil changes, so he asked for the offer in writing.
  186. subjective
    taking place within the mind and modified by individual bias
    Suzanne felt that her evaluation was unfairly subjective because it was clear her supervisor had a grudge against her.
  187. subsequent
    following in time or order
    You will need to remember this basic arithmetic formula for subsequent assignments later this year.
  188. substantiate
    establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
    Her case against the insurance company was substantiated by other plaintiffs who suffered the same injustice.
  189. subtle
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
    The subtle irony throughout the novel is missed by most readers.
  190. supplant
    take the place or move into the position of
    In the early 1990s, compact discs supplanted longplaying records.
  191. suppress
    put down by force or authority
    The news anchor suppressed a smile when the reporter fell down, but laughed hysterically as soon as they went off the air.
  192. sustain
    lengthen or extend in duration or space
    The critic sustained that the performance was superb, even though his peers thought it fell short of expectations.
  193. undermine
    weaken or impair, especially gradually
    My argument for a soda machine in school was undermined by the ill-timed report on teenage obesity
  194. underscore
    give extra weight to
    The recent dorm room fire underscores the need for fire extinguishers in every room.
  195. vindicate
    show to be right by providing justification or proof
    Vinnie’s victory in court vindicated his actions; it proved that he was allowed to build a privacy fence between the two houses.
  196. vulnerable
    capable of being wounded or hurt
    Without their mother’s protection, the baby rabbits are vulnerable to attack by birds, rodents, and other small mammals.
  197. wary
    marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    The children were taught to be wary of strangers
  198. whimsical
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
    The babysitter’s whimsical personality meant that the kids were never bored; one minute they were making peanut butter cookies, and the next they were reenacting a scene from a famous play.
  199. zealous
    marked by active interest and enthusiasm
    The zealous sports fan had a tattoo of his favorite team’s logo on his ankle.
  200. abhor
    feel hatred or disgust toward
    Abigail loves to garden, but she abhors snakes so she has given up her passion for fear of finding a snake while weeding.
  201. acute
    ending in a sharp point
    The patient complained of acute pain in his lower right abdomen, leading the doctor to test for appendicitis.
  202. adept
    having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
    The adept juggler was able to juggle a golf ball, an orange, a volleyball, and a bowling ball all at the same time.
  203. adroit
    quick or skillful or adept in action or thought
    The adroit mechanic was able to fix Addy’s old car, even though six other mechanics said it couldn’t be repaired.
  204. affable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
    In the fable, the affable princess was adored by everyone except for her three mean stepsisters who were angered by her friendliness
  205. agile
    moving quickly and lightly
    The agile monkey entertained the onlookers by effortlessly swinging from tree to tree in the enclosure.
  206. apathy
    an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
    The teacher was disappointed in the students’ apathy toward the field trip; she had mistakenly believed that this trip would finally excite them about learning.
  207. archaic
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
    The college cannot have sorority or fraternity houses because of an archaic town law that does not allow unmarried people to live together.
  208. ardor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
    Mrs. Armstrong, my English teacher, is known for her ardor for the literature William Faulkner; last summer she even visited his hometown in Mississippi in order to better visualize the settings of his books.
  209. arid
    lacking sufficient water or rainfall
    My grandmother claims that Arizona’s arid climate helps her arthritis, while Alabama’s humidity makes her hands swell.
  210. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
    The belligerent student seemed to enjoy arguing with the teacher.
  211. cajole
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
    Caleb cajoled his mother into letting him borrow the car by telling her how young and pretty she looked today
  212. caustic
    capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
    Cathy’s caustic remark stung Kent; he could handle criticism about his job performance, but her bitter words were personal and offensive.
  213. cerebral
    of or relating to the brain
    Although Sarah was so angry that she wanted to quit the club, she decided to take a cerebral approach and weigh the costs before making a decision.
  214. concession
    the act of yielding
    When the principal revoked our privilege to eat lunch off campus, she made a concession and allowed pizza to be delivered to the school once a week.
  215. confound
    be confusing or perplexing to
    Conan was confounded by the difficult SAT question
  216. conspicuous
    obvious to the eye or mind
    The realtor put the “For Sale” sign in a conspicuous spot in the front yard so that traffic in both directions could easily see it
  217. conspire
    act in agreement and in secret towards a deceitful purpose
    A small group of students conspired to steal the rival school’s mascot, but their plan was foiled by the police.
  218. consummate
    having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
    Constantine is the consummate host; he greets his guest, makes sure they are comfortable and enjoying themselves, and introduces new friends to everyone.
  219. cordial
    politely warm and friendly
    When I met Cordell, he was very cordial; he properly introduced himself and politely asked questions about my family and schooling
  220. curtail
    terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end
    The public service message is intended to curtail drinking and driving.
  221. debilitate
    make weak
    Don had finally worked up the courage to ride the roller coaster when he was daunted by the pale faces of the riders who had just completed the ride.
  222. decimate
    kill in large numbers
    In the fourteenth century, the plague decimated the population of Europe.
  223. delineate
    represented accurately or precisely
    In her speech, Delilah clearly delineated her plans for changing several school policies should she be elected class president
  224. despondent
    without or almost without hope
    Dessa became despondent when she received her rejection letter from the college.
  225. destitute
    poor enough to need help from others
    The homeless man wasn’t always destitute; he once owned a large home and had a good-paying job, but poor money management led to bankruptcy.
  226. discord
    lack of agreement or harmony
    The school board’s refusal to accept the terms of the teacher’s contract created discord among the administrators and teachers
  227. dissent
    a difference of opinion
    Most of the class agreed that dogs could feel sadness, but Dionne dissented; she believed that dogs did not experience human emotions.
  228. docile
    easily handled or managed
    Although the tiger cub is now cuddly and docile, he will grow into a 600 pound beast that is difficult to manage and impossible to trust.
  229. doctrine
    a belief accepted as authoritative by some group or school
    The religion’s doctrine teaches that the good of the community is a higher personal priority than self satisfaction.
  230. earnest
    characterized by a firm, sincere belief in one's opinions
    The earnest student took the SAT seriously; he enrolled in a prep class, bought several study guides, and dedicated two hours a day to his preparation
  231. effusive
    uttered with unrestrained enthusiasm
    Effie’s effusive praise was so excessive and over-thetop that it almost seemed insincere.
  232. embroil
    force into some kind of situation or course of action
    Emory is embroiled in a lawsuit with his former landlord over the condition of the apartment when he moved out.
  233. erratic
    liable to sudden unpredictable change
    Ericka’s attendance was erratic; there was no clear pattern between the days she went to school and the days she missed.
  234. expedient
    appropriate to a purpose
    It was expedient to flatter Mrs. Jameson; it was rumored that the more compliments you paid her, the higher your semester grade would be.
  235. extraneous
    not belonging to that in which it is contained
    When studying for the SAT, be sure to ignore the extraneous information in the book, such as the history of the test.
  236. fallacy
    a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning
    Many textbooks erroneously teach the fallacy that George Washington cut down a cherry tree; it is widely believed that an author made up that story to increase the sales of his book.
  237. flippant
    showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
    Floyd was grounded for making flippant remarks about the new rules his father set for him.
  238. florid
    elaborately or excessively ornamented
    Flora’s penmanship is florid; she uses a lot of swirls and waves to decorate each letter.
  239. flourish
    grow vigorously
    When I moved the plants to the windowsill, they suddenly began to flourish; the lack of direct sunlight must have really inhibited their growth
  240. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
    Forrest is a formidable opponent on the tennis court; he has not lost a set in his last twenty games.
  241. frivolous
    not serious in content, attitude, or behavior
    The author’s new novel is a frivolous look at life in the city; although it lacks the serious tones of his previous novels, it’s a fun and enjoyable story.
  242. furtive
    secret and sly
    Frank devised a furtive plan in which he would sneak onto the rival’s campus and steal their school flag.
  243. genial
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
    It’s important for a kindergarten teacher to be genial and welcoming; young children respond positively to a friendly adult.
  244. guile
    shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
    The sneaky woman used guile to get close to the withdrawn millionaire; she pretended to have known his brother who died in the war.
  245. imperceptible
    impossible or difficult to sense
    The differences between the real money and the counterfeit money are imperceptible, so it was no surprise that the cashier did not notice the fake bill.
  246. indictment
    an accusation of wrongdoing
    Ingrid made an indictment against Tony, claiming that he purposely miscounted the votes for Prom Queen.
  247. insular
    relating to or characteristic of or situated on an island
    The culture is criticized for its insular ideas about women, such as the belief that women should not be allowed to attend school.
  248. inundate
    fill or cover completely, usually with water
    After the newspaper ran the controversial story, the editor was inundated with phone calls from hundreds of angry subscribers.
  249. circumvent
    surround so as to force to give up
    I circumvented the construction on the highway by taking the bypass that goes around the city.
  250. itinerant
    traveling from place to place to work
    The itinerant pastor was transferred to our church from a ministry in Ohio; he will stay with us for six months before going to New Hampshire.
  251. jaded
    exhausted
    Jackson had become jaded throughout his travels as a child; he had visited so many countries that new cultures no longer seemed interesting.
  252. laud
    praise, glorify, or honor
    Landon was lauded for his achievements at the autism research laboratory; he had made more progress in a year than most scientists had made in a decade.
  253. lavish
    given or giving freely, generously, or without restriction
    The lavish wedding reception had a steak and lobster dinner, several intricate ice sculptures, a six-tiered cake, and a famous jazz ensemble band.
  254. lucid
    transparently clear; easily understandable
    If your directions had been more lucid, I might have made it to the party on time.
  255. malice
    the desire to see others suffer
    Malika’s sharp comment was delivered with malice; she knew that her words would hurt her mother’s feelings.
  256. mitigate
    lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
    Mitch was grounded for a week when he broke curfew, but his mom mitigated his punishment by several days when she learned that he had been late because he was taking a sick friend to the hospital.
  257. monotony
    the quality of wearisome constancy and lack of variety
    Monica was bored with the monotony of her job; every day was the same, from the emails she sent to the data she inputted.
  258. nuance
    a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
    The nuances between the two fonts are often missed by the untrained graphic designer.
  259. obstinate
    refusing to change one's mind or ways; difficult to convince
    Mr. O’Brien was obstinate about eating at the bistro; he refused to eat anywhere else, even though his family asked him to try another restaurant.
  260. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    The dark clouds in the distance were ominous and threatened to ruin the picnic.
  261. oration
    an instance of formal speaking
    The political candidate delivered an oration about the benefits of her universal health care plan
  262. ornate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
    The ornate palace had colorful paintings and intricate wood carvings in every room.
  263. overt
    open and observable; not secret or hidden
    The candidate’s overt support of stem cell research was unusual; he made it clear that if elected, he would work to increase research efforts.
  264. paradox
    a statement that contradicts itself
    Parker said, “I always lie,” but this is a paradox; if the statement is true, then he must be lying.
  265. paragon
    a perfect embodiment of a concept
    Parmida is a paragon of professionalism; she arrives to work on time, treats co-workers with respect, and refrains from joining in office gossip
  266. parody
    a composition that imitates or misrepresents a style
    The awards show opened with a parody of a movie; all of the main characters were played by monkeys who were dressed like the human actors.
  267. patronize
    provide support for
    Patrick was constantly patronizing me during the movie; he kept pausing it to explain what happened in a scene, even though I understood it as well as he did.
  268. penchant
    a strong liking or preference
    Penny has a penchant for poetry; she has filled two notebooks with poems and poetic lines.
  269. penitent
    feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds
    The penitent criminal asked for forgiveness from the family he had robbed.
  270. peril
    a state of danger involving risk
    Our planet is in peril of running out of certain natural resources if something is not done to conserve them.
  271. pervasive
    spreading or spread throughout
    The pervasive odor of garlic quickly spread throughout the entire house
  272. placid
    calm and free from disturbance
    When the wind died down, the lake became placid, with hardly a ripple disturbing the surface.
  273. pliant
    capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
    The pliant plastic can be easily molded into any shape, size, or design.
  274. precipitate
    bring about abruptly
    Prescott’s sudden decision to move to a smaller apartment was precipitated by the loss of his job.
  275. prolific
    intellectually productive
    The prolific author had written over 60 books during her career
  276. propensity
    a natural inclination
    Mrs. Petty loved to talk to friends and neighbors, so it was no surprise that she had a propensity to gossip.
  277. raze
    tear down so as to make flat with the ground
    The old abandoned buildings were razed in preparation for the construction of the new baseball stadium.
  278. rebuke
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
    The principal rebuked the three students who wandered away from their chaperone on the field trip; few students had ever seen him so angry.
  279. remiss
    failing in what duty requires
    Rebekkah was criticized for being remiss in her work; she had made more careless mistakes this week than all of the other employees put together.
  280. reproach
    express criticism towards
    The board of directors reproached the company president for falling profits and decreased revenue.
  281. sanction
    official permission or approval
    The school board sanctioned the new elementary school playground, so construction will begin next week.
  282. scoff
    laugh at with contempt and derision
    Scott scoffed at the skate park rules; after the park closed, he hopped the fence and continued to skate until dark.
  283. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    Saul was angry that his cousin would make jokes at such a solemn event as their grandmother’s memorial service
  284. stagnant
    not growing or changing; without force or vitality
    When the feeder creek ran dry, the small pond became stagnant; algae began to thrive in the motionless water.
  285. stymie
    hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
    The warden was stymied by how the prisoners had escaped; their cell doors were still locked, and there were no obvious holes in the walls of the cell.
  286. subversive
    in opposition to an established system or government
    The subversive group was arrested when one of the members turned himself in and told of the group’s plot to overthrow the king
  287. sully
    make dirty or spotty
    Mrs. Sullivan’s reputation was sullied by accusations that she was embezzling money from the PTA.
  288. tact
    consideration in dealing with others
    When breaking a personal commitment, such as a date or a dinner party, it is important to use tact to avoid hurting the feelings of others involved.
  289. tactile
    of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch
    Unlike Morse code, which relies on auditory interpretation, braille is a tactile code; you must touch it in order to decipher it.
  290. transcend
    go beyond the scope or limits of
    Having gone deaf in his early twenties, Beethoven transcended his disability to become one of the most famous composers of all time.
  291. transient
    lasting a very short time
    The most transient years of your life are those spent in high school; someday when you realize how quickly your time there passed, you’ll wish you had spent more time enjoying your youth.
  292. trite
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
    Be sure to avoid trite expressions in your essay; instead of writing clichés like “I learned my lesson the hard way,” choose original sentences such as “It was a difficult lesson to learn.”
  293. vacillate
    be undecided about something
    Vanessa vacillated between the two universities; one minute she was attending the in-state school, and the next she was going to the college three states away.
  294. vanquish
    defeat in a competition, race, or conflict
    In the debate, Vanna vanquished her opponent by successfully defending her argument and pointing out the weaknesses in the other girl’s examples
  295. verbose
    using or containing too many words
    At the graduation ceremony, the valedictorian gave a verbose speech that caused many people to fall asleep by the time it was finished.
  296. vicarious
    experienced at secondhand
    Although Vicki had never been on a roller coaster, she experienced a vicarious thrill when Zach described the descent down the big hill.
  297. wane
    a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)
    Wayne’s interest in basketball began to wane after he discovered hockey; he even sold his basketball shoes to buy hockey skates.
  298. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
    Willie gave the car one last wistful look before he left the dealership; if only he had the money to buy it, he’d never have to ask for a ride again.
  299. agnostic
    a person who claims the existence of God is unknowable
    Agatha is an agnostic; she doesn’t deny the existence of a god, but she doesn’t believe in one, either.
  300. amateur
    someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
    Amos was a great golfer, but he was still just an amateur; he had no interest in pursuing the sport professionally.
  301. anarchist
    an advocate of the abolition of governments
    On campus, the anarchist preached against the university’s government, advocating revolt by the students.
  302. aristocrat
    a member of the nobility
    As an aristocrat, Ari was used to preferential treatment in the most expensive hotels and restaurants in the city.
  303. ascetic
    someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
    To prove his devotion to the religion, the ascetic did not own anything that might provide comfort or pleasure, such as a mattress or television set.
  304. authoritarian
    characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule
    The timid girl’s father was an authoritarian; she was expected to obey his every order without question or hesitation.
  305. autocrat
    a cruel and oppressive dictator
    The autocrat was an oppressive ruler, dictating all laws and rules for the citizens of the nation.
  306. avenger
    someone who takes action in return for an injury or offense
    Ava saw herself as an avenger, the only person who could find justice for the little boy injured in the fire.
  307. bard
    a lyric poet
    The bard recited several of his poems at the book signing.
  308. belittle
    cause to seem lesser or inferior
    Bella is using her natural tendency as a belittler to win the science fair; by criticizing the other projects, she hopes to draw attention to her own.
  309. benefactor
    a person who helps people or institutions
    The museum was supported by an anonymous benefactor who donated money for its upkeep.
  310. beneficiary
    the recipient of funds or other advantages
    The old man selected his alma mater as the beneficiary of his estate; someday the university will inherit millions of dollars through his will
  311. boor
    a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking refinement
    Boris was a boor at the dinner party; after telling the host that her house was cheaply decorated, he ate his steak with his fingers and burped during the meal.
  312. bourgeois
    being of the property-owning class
    Brody considered himself a bourgeois, with middle class values and goals, even though his promotion qualified him for membership in the upper class.
  313. buffoon
    a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior
    In the movie, the buffoon lightens the more serious scenes by making jokes about the main character’s predicament.
  314. bureaucrat
    a nonelective government official
    Although I told the clerk I was in a hurry, she was a bureaucrat and insisted I complete every field on the form, even though she already had my information.
  315. cartographer
    a person who makes maps
    Amerigo Vespucci was one of the first cartographers to create a map of North America.
  316. cavalier
    showing a lack of concern or seriousness
    The young cavalier was rewarded for his gallant behavior when he was chosen to escort the princess to the ball.
  317. charlatan
    a flamboyant deceiver
    The charlatan tricked the unsuspecting customers out of money by pretending to be able to predict the future
  318. chronicler
    someone who records past events in the order that they occurred
    The reporter was hired by the army to serve as a chronicler during the war; without his employment, we would never have known the true order of events during the conflict.
  319. clairvoyant
    someone who can perceive things not present to the senses
    The carnival had a clairvoyant, who predicted that I would marry a red-head and have three red-headed children.
  320. colleague
    an associate that one works with
  321. combatant
    someone who fights or is fighting
  322. compatriot
    a person from your own country
  323. connoisseur
    an expert able to appreciate a field
  324. constituent
    one of the individual parts making up a composite entity
  325. courtier
    an attendant for a monarch
  326. curator
    the custodian of a collection, as a museum or library
  327. defector
    a person who abandons their duty, country, or cause
  328. demagogue
    a leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions
  329. derelict
    a person without a home, job, or property
  330. despoiler
    someone who takes spoils or plunder (as in war)
  331. despot
    a cruel and oppressive dictator
  332. devotee
    an ardent follower and admirer
  333. dignitary
    an important or influential person
  334. dilettante
    an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
  335. dissembler
    a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives
  336. egoist
    a conceited and self-centered person
  337. emancipator
    someone who frees others from bondage
  338. emissary
    someone sent to represent another's interests
  339. entrepreneur
    someone who organizes a business venture
  340. expatriate
    a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country
  341. explicate
    elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses
  342. glutton
    a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
  343. gourmand
    a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
  344. hedonist
    someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures
  345. iconoclast
    someone who attacks cherished ideas or institutions
  346. ingenue
    an artless innocent young girl
  347. insinuate
    suggest in an indirect or covert way; give to understand
  348. interlocutor
    a person who takes part in a conversation
  349. layperson
    someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person
  350. lobbyist
    someone who is employed to persuade how legislators vote
  351. martinet
    someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms
  352. matriarch
    a female head of a family or tribe
  353. maverick
    someone who exhibits independence in thought and action
  354. mediator
    a negotiator who acts as a link between parties
  355. mercenary
    a person hired to fight for another country than their own
  356. misanthrope
    someone who dislikes people in general
  357. miscreant
    a person without moral scruples
  358. miser
    a stingy hoarder of money and possessions
  359. missionary
    someone sent to a foreign country to spread a religion
  360. mogul
    a very wealthy or powerful businessperson
  361. muse
    reflect deeply on a subject
  362. narcissist
    someone who is excessively self-centered
  363. naysayer
    someone with an aggressively negative attitude
  364. nomad
    a member of a people who have no permanent home
  365. obstructionist
    someone who systematically obstructs some action that others want to take
  366. oracle
    a shrine where a prophet is consulted
  367. pariah
    a person who is rejected from society or home
  368. patriarch
    the male head of family or tribe
  369. patron
    someone who supports or champions something
  370. philanthropist
    someone who makes charitable donations
  371. popularizer
    someone who makes attractive to the general public
  372. populist
    an advocate of democratic principles
  373. prig
    a person regarded as arrogant and annoying
  374. prodigy
    an unusually gifted or intelligent person
  375. proponent
    a person who argues for a cause or puts forward an idea
  376. proprietor
    someone who owns a business
  377. protege
    a person who receives support from an influential patron
  378. prude
    a person excessively concerned about propriety and decorum
  379. pugilist
    someone who fights with fists for sport
  380. pundit
    an expert who publicly gives opinions via mass media
  381. reactionary
    extremely conservative or resistant to change
  382. recluse
    one who lives in solitude
  383. reformist
    someone who pushes to improve something by changing it
  384. revile
    spread negative information about
  385. ruffian
    a cruel and brutal fellow
  386. rumormonger
    a person given to gossiping and divulging personal information about others
  387. sage
    a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics
  388. savant
    a learned person
  389. scribe
    someone employed to make written copies of documents
  390. sycophant
    a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage
  391. toady
    a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage
  392. totalitarian
    of a government with an authority exerting absolute control
  393. troubadour
    a singer of folk songs
  394. understudy
    an actor able to replace a regular performer when required
  395. usurper
    one who wrongfully seizes and holds the place of another
  396. utilitarian
    having a useful function
  397. utopian
    pertaining to or resembling an ideally perfect state
  398. virtuoso
    someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
  399. abstruse
    difficult to understand
  400. adulation
    exaggerated flattery or praise
  401. alacrity
    liveliness and eagerness
  402. ameliorate
    make better
  403. anachronistic
    chronologically misplaced
  404. arboreal
    of or relating to or formed by trees
  405. assiduous
    marked by care and persistent effort
  406. auspicious
    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
  407. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
  408. avarice
    reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth
  409. banal
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  410. bombast
    pompous or pretentious talk or writing
  411. castigate
    inflict severe punishment on
  412. cataclysm
    a sudden violent change in the earth's surface
  413. cathartic
    emotionally purging
  414. clandestine
    conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
  415. conflagration
    a very intense and uncontrolled fire
  416. conscientious
    characterized by extreme care and great effort
  417. contrite
    feeling or expressing pain or sorrow
  418. dalliance
    the act of delaying and playing instead of working
  419. decorous
    characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste
  420. deleterious
    harmful to living things
  421. denigrate
    attack the good name and reputation of someone
  422. didactic
    instructive, especially excessively
  423. dilatory
    wasting time
  424. disseminate
    cause to become widely known
  425. ebullient
    joyously unrestrained
  426. eclectic
    selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
  427. efficacious
    giving the power to produce an intended result
  428. eminent
    standing above others in quality or position
  429. empirical
    derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
  430. enervated
    lacking strength or vigor
  431. enigma
    something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
  432. equanimity
    steadiness of mind under stress
  433. equivocate
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
  434. esoteric
    understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
  435. espouse
    choose and follow a theory, idea, policy, etc.
  436. evanescent
    short-lived; tending to vanish or disappear
  437. exonerate
    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
  438. exorbitant
    greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
  439. exuberant
    joyously unrestrained
  440. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
  441. fastidious
    giving careful attention to detail
  442. felicity
    pleasing and appropriate manner or style
  443. garrulous
    full of trivial conversation
  444. gratuitous
    unnecessary and unwarranted
  445. gregarious
    temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
  446. hackneyed
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  447. harangue
    a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion
  448. impervious
    not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
  449. impugn
    attack as false or wrong
  450. incongruity
    the quality of disagreeing
  451. incorrigible
    impervious to correction by punishment
  452. indigenous
    originating where it is found
  453. ineffable
    defying expression or description
  454. innocuous
    not injurious to physical or mental health
  455. insipid
    lacking interest or significance or impact
  456. insolence
    the trait of being rude and impertinent
  457. intransigent
    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
  458. juxtapose
    place side by side
  459. machination
    a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends
  460. magnanimous
    noble and generous in spirit
  461. malevolent
    wishing or appearing to wish evil to others
  462. malleable
    capable of being shaped or bent
  463. mendacious
    given to lying
  464. meritocracy
    a social system in which power goes to superior intellects
  465. morose
    showing a brooding ill humor
  466. nefarious
    extremely wicked
  467. obdurate
    stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
  468. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  469. opulent
    rich and superior in quality
  470. ostensible
    appearing as such but not necessarily so
  471. pedagogical
    relating to the study of teaching
  472. pedantic
    marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
  473. perspicacity
    the ability to assess situations or circumstances shrewdly
  474. petulant
    easily irritated or annoyed
  475. precocious
    characterized by exceptionally early development
  476. pristine
    immaculately clean and unused
  477. proliferate
    grow rapidly
  478. prosaic
    lacking wit or imagination
  479. querulous
    habitually complaining
  480. quiescent
    being quiet or still or inactive
  481. rancorous
    showing deep-seated resentment
  482. raucous
    unpleasantly loud and harsh
  483. repudiate
    refuse to acknowledge, ratify, or recognize as valid
  484. repugnant
    offensive to the mind
  485. sagacious
    acutely insightful and wise
  486. sanctimonious
    excessively or hypocritically pious
  487. sanguine
    confidently optimistic and cheerful
  488. scintillating
    having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
  489. sedulous
    marked by care and persistent effort
  490. solicitous
    full of anxiety and concern
  491. spurious
    plausible but false
  492. subterfuge
    something intended to misrepresent the nature of an activity
  493. surreptitious
    marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
  494. tacit
    implied by or inferred from actions or statements
  495. tenuous
    lacking substance or significance
  496. truculence
    stubborn and defiant aggressiveness
  497. tumultuous
    characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
  498. vociferous
    conspicuously and offensively loud
Created on Wed May 01 14:13:56 EDT 2013 (updated Thu May 30 18:11:18 EDT 2013)

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