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Becoming a WordSmith

341 words 26 learners

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  1. profess
    confess one's faith in, or allegiance to
    Truth must be searched, loved and professed by all men; nor must any mens authority, old or new, hold us from it. The Invention of Science
  2. deter
    try to prevent; show opposition to
  3. contingency
    a possible event or occurrence or result
  4. preemptive
    designed to prevent an anticipated situation or occurrence
  5. afflict
    cause physical pain or suffering in
  6. visceral
    coming from deep inward feelings rather than from reasoning
  7. acute
    of critical importance and consequence
  8. preside
    act as executive officer
  9. stigma
    a symbol of disgrace or infamy
  10. oblivious
    lacking conscious awareness of
  11. perpetuate
    cause to continue or prevail
  12. inhibit
    limit the range or extent of
  13. impede
    be a hindrance or obstacle to
  14. relegate
    assign to a lower position
  15. delegate
    a person appointed or elected to represent others
  16. elusive
    skillful at evading capture
  17. profuse
    produced or growing in extreme abundance
  18. adamant
    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
  19. dissipate
    cause to separate and go in different directions
  20. debilitate
    make weak
  21. fester
    gnaw into; make resentful or angry
  22. purge
    rid of impurities
  23. conducive
    tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
  24. adept
    having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
  25. erudite
    having or showing profound knowledge
  26. pragmatic
    concerned with practical matters
  27. assimilate
    take up mentally
  28. imbibe
    take in, also metaphorically
  29. substantiate
    make real or concrete; give reality or substance to
  30. propel
    cause to move forward with force
  31. pertinent
    having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand
  32. pertain
    be relevant to
  33. sprawling
    spreading out in different directions
  34. toil
    work hard
  35. akin
    related by blood
  36. catapult
    shoot forth or launch
  37. callous
    make insensitive; deaden feelings or morals
    Mr. Wallake called the selfie “vulnerable”; to many others, it seemed callous to highlight his own feelings when his employees were suffering. New York Times (Nov 10, 2022)
  38. citadel
    a stronghold for shelter during a battle
  39. futile
    unproductive of success
  40. inexplicable
    incapable of being explained or accounted for
  41. momentous
    of very great significance
  42. despicable
    morally reprehensible
  43. despise
    look down on with disdain or disgust
  44. concise
    expressing much in few words
  45. succinct
    briefly giving the gist of something
    “A brief summary and succinct explanation, the theoretical ideal, if you will, behind the project topic.” Liar, Liar
  46. fruition
    the condition of producing seed-bearing structures
  47. imply
    express or state indirectly
  48. stringent
    demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
  49. instigate
    provoke or stir up
  50. embrace
    a close affectionate and protective acceptance
  51. efficacy
    capacity or power to produce a desired result
  52. disheartening
    causing someone to lose spirit, morale, or hope
  53. agility
    the gracefulness of a quick and nimble person or animal
  54. connotation
    an idea that is implied or suggested
  55. constraint
    the state of being physically limited
  56. curb
    lessen the intensity of
  57. alleviate
    make easier
  58. repercussion
    a remote or indirect consequence of some action
  59. ramification
    a consequence, especially one that causes complications
  60. aftermath
    the consequences of an event, especially a catastrophic one
  61. aftereffect
    any result that follows its cause after an interval
  62. adversary
    someone who offers opposition
  63. adversity
    a state of misfortune or affliction
  64. courteous
    characterized by politeness and gracious good manners
  65. exaggerate
    enlarge beyond bounds or the truth
  66. plummet
    drop sharply
  67. deviate
    turn aside; turn away from
  68. diverge
    move or draw apart
  69. discrepancy
    a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions
  70. disparity
    inequality or difference in some respect
  71. delve
    consider in detail in order to discover essential features
  72. indulge
    yield to; give satisfaction to
  73. perceive
    become aware of through the senses
  74. conscience
    conformity to one's own sense of right conduct
  75. conspicuous
    obvious to the eye or mind
  76. consensus
    agreement in the judgment reached by a group as a whole
  77. sturdy
    having rugged physical strength
  78. prone
    having a tendency
  79. susceptible
    yielding readily to or capable of undergoing a process
  80. vandalism
    willful and malicious destruction of the property of others
  81. egalitarianism
    the doctrine of the equality of mankind
  82. altruism
    the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
  83. deliberate
    think about carefully; weigh
  84. optimist
    a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
  85. pessimist
    a person who expects the worst
  86. earnestly
    in a sincere and serious manner
  87. contempt
    a manner that is generally disrespectful
  88. disdain
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
  89. scorn
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
  90. eminent
    having an illustrious reputation; respected
  91. confine
    place limits on
  92. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
  93. bewilder
    be a mystery to
  94. inscrutable
    difficult or impossible to understand
  95. henceforth
    from this time forth; from now on
  96. condense
    cause a gas or vapor to change into a liquid
  97. revere
    regard with feelings of respect
  98. reverence
    a feeling of profound respect for someone or something
  99. convoluted
    highly complex or intricate
  100. mitigate
    lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
  101. extravagant
    recklessly wasteful
  102. exorbitant
    greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
  103. preferable
    more desirable than another
  104. accrue
    grow by addition
  105. assert
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  106. concur
    happen simultaneously
  107. conscientious
    characterized by extreme care and great effort
  108. elicit
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
  109. evoke
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
  110. conjure
    summon into action or bring into existence
  111. reckon
    expect, believe, or suppose
  112. aggravate
    make worse
  113. exacerbate
    make worse
    The ongoing hypoxia, coupled with my profound fatigue, exacerbated the sense of chaos and despair. Into Thin Air
  114. peculiar
    beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
  115. prudent
    marked by sound judgment
  116. immaculate
    completely neat and clean
  117. pristine
    immaculately clean and unused
  118. exposition
    a collection of things for public display
  119. intrusive
    tending to enter uninvited
  120. conform
    be similar, be in line with
  121. comply
    act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
  122. granular
    made up of or resembling a collection of small particles
  123. hitherto
    up to this point; until the present time
  124. discord
    lack of agreement or harmony
  125. ambivalent
    uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
  126. nevertheless
    despite anything to the contrary
  127. nonetheless
    despite anything to the contrary
  128. notwithstanding
    despite anything to the contrary
  129. dissuade
    turn away from by persuasion
  130. viable
    capable of life or normal growth and development
  131. plausible
    apparently reasonable, valid, or truthful
  132. feasible
    capable of being done with means at hand
  133. prowess
    a superior skill learned by study and practice
  134. complacent
    contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
  135. discern
    perceive, recognize, or detect
  136. intricate
    having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
  137. meticulous
    marked by precise accordance with details
  138. propensity
    a natural inclination
  139. condemn
    express strong disapproval of
  140. venerable
    profoundly honored
  141. abstinence
    the trait of refraining from something, especially alcohol
  142. extricate
    release from entanglement or difficulty
  143. despondent
    without or almost without hope
  144. deject
    cause to feel dispirited, sad, or downhearted
  145. sterling
    highest in quality
  146. vindicate
    show to be right by providing justification or proof
  147. sentient
    endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness
  148. retribution
    a justly deserved penalty
  149. excursion
    a journey taken for pleasure
  150. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  151. pervasive
    spreading or spread throughout
  152. culminate
    end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage
  153. anecdote
    short account of an incident
  154. refute
    overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
  155. relinquish
    turn away from; give up
  156. imperative
    requiring attention or action
  157. vital
    performing an essential function in the living body
  158. crucial
    of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
  159. significant
    rich in implication
  160. inevitable
    incapable of being avoided or prevented
  161. requisite
    necessary for relief or supply
  162. delineate
    represented accurately or precisely
  163. irrepressible
    impossible to control
  164. inoculate
    inject or treat with the germ of a disease to render immune
  165. fathom
    a linear unit of measurement for water depth
  166. distinguish
    mark as different
  167. indelible
    not able to be forgotten, removed, or erased
  168. scatter
    cause to separate and go in different directions
  169. remorse
    a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed
  170. induce
    cause to act in a specified manner
  171. entrenched
    dug in
  172. ingrained
    deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
  173. fallacy
    a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning
  174. permeate
    spread or diffuse through
  175. enigma
    something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
  176. adorn
    make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color
  177. prevalent
    most frequent or common
  178. transmute
    change or alter in form, appearance, or nature
  179. verity
    conformity to reality or actuality
  180. regurgitate
    pour or rush back
  181. concurrently
    overlapping in duration
  182. fortify
    make strong or stronger
  183. resonate
    produce a deep, clear sound
  184. proliferate
    grow rapidly
  185. irreparable
    impossible to rectify or amend
  186. aforementioned
    being the one previously spoken of
  187. habitat
    the type of environment in which an organism normally lives
  188. expedite
    process fast and efficiently
  189. cater
    give what is desired or needed
  190. rudimentary
    being in the earliest stages of development
  191. distinct
    constituting a separate entity or part
  192. indigenous
    originating where it is found
  193. obscure
    not clearly understood or expressed
  194. speculate
    reflect deeply on a subject
  195. perhaps
    by chance
    There would be hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of them. Salt to the Sea
  196. insinuate
    suggest in an indirect or covert way; give to understand
  197. indeed
    in truth (often tends to intensify)
  198. solace
    comfort offered to one who is disappointed or miserable
  199. ameliorate
    make better
  200. reprimand
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
  201. affluent
    having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
  202. opulent
    rich and superior in quality
  203. eccentric
    conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
  204. conundrum
    a difficult problem
  205. deduce
    reason from the general to the particular
  206. infer
    conclude by reasoning
  207. auspicious
    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
  208. colossal
    so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
  209. negate
    make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of
  210. torrential
    relating to or resulting from the action of a downpour
  211. ineffable
    defying expression or description
  212. appalling
    causing shock, dismay, or horror
  213. inadvertent
    happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally
  214. ingenious
    showing inventiveness and skill
  215. exuberant
    joyously unrestrained
  216. prompt
    according to schedule or without delay
  217. collude
    act in unison and in secret towards a deceitful purpose
  218. epitome
    a standard or typical example
  219. quintessential
    representing the perfect example of a class or quality
  220. cognizant
    having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization
  221. rationale
    an explanation of the fundamental reasons
  222. effectuate
    bring about or cause to happen
  223. deleterious
    harmful to living things
  224. dwindle
    become smaller or lose substance
  225. entail
    have as a logical consequence
  226. accustomed
    commonly used or practiced; usual
  227. quandary
    state of uncertainty in a choice between unfavorable options
  228. amalgamation
    the combination of two or more commercial companies
  229. reminisce
    recall the past
  230. herculean
    extremely difficult; requiring great strength
  231. arduous
    characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
  232. contemplate
    think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes
  233. ruminate
    reflect deeply on a subject
    He spent the whole evening absorbed in thought, ruminating on the story of the fox and the hens, and perhaps that was the night the boy began to become a man. The House of the Spirits: A Novel
  234. ostracise
    expel from a community or group
  235. advent
    arrival that has been awaited
  236. radical
    far beyond the norm
  237. proactive
    causing something to happen rather than waiting to respond
  238. ineradicable
    not able to be destroyed or rooted out
  239. ineffaceable
    not able to be forgotten, removed, or erased
  240. appalled
    struck with dread, shock, or dismay
  241. corpulent
    excessively large
  242. plight
    a situation from which extrication is difficult
  243. stern
    serious and harsh in manner or behavior
  244. congregate
    come together, usually for a purpose
  245. infallible
    incapable of failure or error
    Priority disputes are an infallible indicator that knowledge has become public, progressive and discovery oriented. The Invention of Science
  246. perpetrator
    someone who commits wrongdoing
    Ernest comforted Mollie, whispering, “Lie still,” as the perpetrator roared away in the stolen vehicle. Killers of the Flower Moon
  247. geriatric
    of or relating to the aged
    “Well”—he looks at me—“you’re not quite old enough for geriatric psychiatric.” It’s Kind of a Funny Story
  248. acumen
    shrewdness shown by keen insight
    He showed his business acumen by selling the compasses relatively cheaply and charging a healthy tuition fee to anyone who wanted to know how to use it. The Scientists
  249. ravenous
    extremely hungry
    He was ravenous, but he couldn’t let her go hungry. Gregor the Overlander
  250. complacent
    contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
    The sun has about five billion years of fuel left, but don’t let that make you complacent. Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea
  251. rectify
    make right or correct
    Now that they were in the same room, Cora was compelled to rectify her months of silence. The Underground Railroad: A Novel
  252. treacherous
    dangerously unstable and unpredictable
    It was a treacherous descent and Dumbledore, hampered slightly by his withered hand, moved slowly. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  253. obsolete
    no longer in use
    He argues that modern war is becoming obsolete, leaving primitive, undisciplined warfare as the major kind of war remaining in the world today. The Sense of Style
  254. relentlessly
    in a relentless manner
    Because she felt attacked, relentlessly clobbered, by loss. Half of a Yellow Sun
  255. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
    At the front of the hall, Professor Ghering holds his hands up for attention, a benevolent smile on his face. Dread Nation
  256. foster
    providing nurture though not related by blood or legal ties
  257. facet
    a distinct feature or element in a problem
    Like every facet of my life would finally shape up and become clear. From Twinkle, with Love
  258. usher
    someone employed to conduct others
    Still, such a ruling could usher in similar laws in other states, and it is technically complicated to accurately restrict access to a website based on location. New York Times (Feb 25, 2024)
  259. myriad
    a large indefinite number
    This was the reality, and one could deal with it in a myriad of ways. Long Walk to Freedom
  260. corroborate
    give evidence for
    Knowing that Cluny was smarter than either of them, she wished she didn’t have this big dumb rat to corroborate the story. Redwall
  261. hindsight
    understanding the nature of an event after it has happened
    For when I look back over his career, I can see with hindsight that he must have striven throughout his years somehow to become that butler of his story. The Remains of the Day
  262. pernicious
    exceedingly harmful
    One of the most pernicious examples of this is the Population Registration Act, which defined that inequality. Long Walk to Freedom
  263. rampant
    occurring or increasing in an unrestrained way
    And they don’t give you new lungs when you have an antibiotic-resistant bacteria running rampant inside of you. Five Feet Apart
  264. culmination
    a concluding action
    It is the culmination of every eye that has witnessed my life and passed judgment. Challenger Deep
  265. curtail
    place restrictions on
    I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone who looked like I did. Long Walk to Freedom
  266. penultimate
    next to the last
    The squares on the board in front of me are filling up: I’m making my penultimate play of the night. The Handmaid's Tale
  267. abate
    become less in amount or intensity
  268. aesthetic
    characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
  269. bolster
    support and strengthen
  270. brevity
    the attribute of being short or fleeting
  271. castigate
    inflict severe punishment on
  272. catalyst
    substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction
  273. cathartic
    emotionally purging
  274. coalesce
    fuse or cause to come together
  275. cogent
    powerfully persuasive
  276. commensurate
    corresponding in size or degree or extent
  277. compendium
    a publication containing a variety of works
  278. copious
    large in number or quantity
  279. credence
    the mental attitude that something is believable
  280. decadent
    relating to indulgence in something pleasurable
  281. deride
    treat or speak of with contempt
  282. disparate
    fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
  283. disseminate
    cause to become widely known
  284. dogmatic
    pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
  285. eclectic
    selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
  286. embellish
    make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color
  287. emulate
    strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
  288. esoteric
    understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
  289. fortuitous
    lucky; occurring by happy chance
  290. frugal
    avoiding waste
  291. galvanize
    stimulate (muscles) by administering a shock
  292. gregarious
    temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
  293. impassive
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
  294. impervious
    not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
  295. impetuous
    characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
  296. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
  297. incisive
    demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
  298. congruent
    corresponding in character or kind
  299. indolent
    disinclined to work or exertion
  300. inexorable
    impossible to prevent, resist, or stop
  301. innocuous
    not injurious to physical or mental health
  302. intrepid
    invulnerable to fear or intimidation
  303. inveterate
    habitual
  304. judicious
    marked by the exercise of common sense in practical matters
  305. laudable
    worthy of high praise
  306. lethargic
    deficient in alertness or activity
  307. lucid
    transparently clear; easily understandable
  308. magnanimous
    noble and generous in spirit
  309. malevolent
    wishing or appearing to wish evil to others
  310. malleable
    capable of being shaped or bent
  311. mendacious
    given to lying
  312. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
  313. ostensible
    appearing as such but not necessarily so
  314. paradigm
    a standard or typical example
  315. pedantic
    marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
  316. prodigious
    great in size, force, extent, or degree
  317. prosaic
    lacking wit or imagination
  318. recondite
    difficult to understand
  319. reprehensible
    bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
  320. serendipity
    good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
  321. spurious
    plausible but false
  322. strident
    unpleasantly loud and harsh
  323. sublime
    of high moral or intellectual value
  324. surreptitious
    marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
  325. tangential
    of superficial relevance if any
  326. tenacious
    stubbornly unyielding
  327. transitory
    lasting a very short time
  328. trenchant
    having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought
  329. ubiquitous
    being present everywhere at once
  330. unassailable
    impossible to attack
  331. vicarious
    experienced at secondhand
  332. vindictive
    disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
  333. whimsical
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
  334. zealous
    marked by active interest and enthusiasm
  335. enamour
    attract; cause to be enamored
    “Me, I am convinced it is the truth,” said M. Bouc, becoming more and more enamoured of his theory. Murder on the Orient Express
  336. strife
    bitter conflict; heated or violent dissension
    I did not understand these scenes of strife. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party
  337. strive
    attempt by employing effort
    She strived to maintain a link with outside reform work to avoid being “wholly absorbed in a narrow family selfishness.” Votes for Women!
  338. frantic
    marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion
  339. ephemeral
    anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day
    Isn’t that prominence just an ephemeral phenomenon of the last few centuries, now fading behind the prominence of Japan and Southeast Asia? Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
  340. transience
    the attribute of being brief or fleeting
    It’s a comment that speaks volumes about both a cultural moment and its transience. The Guardian (Oct 13, 2016)
  341. domineer
    rule or exercise power over in a cruel and autocratic manner
    Is not he," they cried, "a man like ourselves, who wishes to domineer over us? Nicholson, Reynold
Created on Mon Mar 04 22:11:49 EST 2024 (updated Sun May 03 02:16:42 EDT 2026)

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