abase
(v.) to humiliate, degrade
abate
(v.) to reduce, lessen
abdicate
(v.) to give up a position, usually one of leadership
abduct
(v.) to kidnap, take by force
aberration
(n.) something that differs from the norm
abet
(v.) to aid, help, encourage
abhor
(v.) to hate completely, to detest
abide
(v.) to put up with; tolerate
abject
(adj.) wretched, pitiful
abjure
(v.) to reject, renounce
abnegation
(n.) denial of comfort to oneself
abort
(v.) to give up on a half-finished project or effort
abridge
1.(v.) to cut down, shorten 2. (adj.) shortened
abrogate
(v.) to abolish, usually by authority
balk
(v.) to stop, block abruptly
ballad
(n.) a love song
banal
(adj.) dull, commonplace
cacophony
(n.) tremendous noise, disharmonious loud sound
cadence
(n.) a rhythm, progression of sound
cajole
(v.) to urge, coax
calamity
(n.) an event with disastrous consequences
calibrate
(v.) to set, standardize
callous
(adj.) harsh, cold, unfeeling
calumny
(n.) an attempt to spoil a reputation by spreading lies
camaraderie
(n.) brotherhood, jovial unity
candor
(n.) honesty, frankness
canny
(adj.) shrewd, careful
canvas
- (n.) a piece of cloth on which an artist paints 2. (v.) to cover, inspect
capacious
(adj.) very spacious
capitulate
(v.) to surrender
daunting
(adj.) intimidating, causing one to lose courage
dearth
(n.) a lack, scarcity
debacle
(n.) a disastrous failure, disruption
debase
(v.) to lower the quality or esteem of something
debauch
(v.) to corrupt by means of sensual pleasures
debunk
(v.) to expose the falseness of something
decorous
(adj.) socially proper, appropriate
decry
(v.) to criticize openly
deface
(v.) to ruin or injure to the appearance of something
defamatory
(adj.) harmful toward the reputation of another
ebullient
(adj.) extremely lively, enthusiastic
eclectic
(adj.) consisting of a diverse variety of elements
ecstatic
(adj.) intensely and overpoweringly happy
edict
(n.) an order, decree
efface
(v.) to wipe out, obliterate, rub away
effervescent
(adj.) bubbly, lively
efficacious
(adj.) effective
fabricate
(v.) to make up, invent
facade
- (n.) the wall of a building 2. (n.) a deceptive appearance or attitude
facile
- (adj.) easy, requiring little effort 2. (adj.) superficial, achieved with minimal thought or care, insincere
garish
(adj.) gaudy, in bad taste
hackneyed
(adj.) unoriginal, trite
iconoclast
(n.) one who attacks common beliefs or institutions
idiosyncratic
(adj.) peculiar to one person; highly individualized
idolatrous
(adj.) excessively worshipping one object or person
ignominious
(adj.) humiliating, disgracing
illicit
(adj.) forbidden, not permitted
immerse
(v.) to absorb, deeply involve, engross
immutable
(adj.) not changeable
impassive
(adj.) stoic, not susceptible to suffering
laceration
(n.) a cut, tear
laconic
(adj.) terse in speech or writing
maelstrom
(n.) a destructive whirlpool which rapidly sucks in objects
magnanimous
(adj.) noble, generous
malediction
(n.) a curse
nadir
(n.) the lowest point of something
nascent
(adj.) in the process of being born or coming into existence
obdurate
(adj.) unyielding to persuasion or moral influences
obfuscate
(v.) to render incomprehensible
pacific
(adj.) soothing
palatable
(adj.) agreeable to the taste or sensibilities
palette
(adj.) a range of colors or qualities
palliate
(v.) to reduce the severity of
pallid
(adj.) lacking color
panacea
(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties
paradigm
(n.) an example that is a perfect pattern or model
paradox
(n.) an apparently contradictory statement that is perhaps true
paragon
(n.) a model of excellence or perfection
paramount
(adj.) greatest in importance, rank, character
quagmire
(n.) a difficult situation
rail
(v.) to scold, protest
rancid
(adj.) having a terrible taste or smell
rancor
(n.) deep, bitter resentment
rapport
(n.) mutual understanding and harmony
rash
(adj.) hasty, incautious
saccharine
(adj.) sickeningly sweet
sacrosanct
(adj.) holy, something that should not be criticized
sagacity
(n.) shrewdness, soundness of perspective
salient
(adj.) significant, conspicuous
salutation
(n.) a greeting
tacit
(adj.) expressed without words
taciturn
(adj.) not inclined to talk
tangential
adj.) incidental, peripheral, divergent
tantamount
adj.) equivalent in value or significance
ubiquitous
adj.) existing everywhere, widespread
vacillate
(v.) to fluctuate, hesitate
vacuous
(adj.) lack of content or ideas, stupid
wallow
(v.) to roll oneself indolently; to become or remain helpless
yoke
(v.) to join, link
zealous
(adj.) fervent, filled with eagerness in pursuit of something