GRE Princeton Vocab List Flashcards
(501 cards)
1
Q
What is the definition of ‘aberrant’?
A
Deviating from the norm
Related noun form: aberration
2
Q
What does ‘abscond’ mean?
A
To depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide
3
Q
Define ‘alacrity’.
A
Eager and enthusiastic willingness
4
Q
What is an ‘anomaly’?
A
Deviation from the normal order, form, or rule; abnormality
Adjective form: anomalous
5
Q
What does ‘approbation’ signify?
A
An expression of approval or praise
6
Q
Define ‘arduous’.
A
Strenuous, taxing; requiring significant effort
7
Q
What does it mean to ‘assuage’?
A
To ease or lessen; to appease or pacify
8
Q
What characterizes something that is ‘audacious’?
A
Daring and fearless; recklessly bold
Related noun form: audacity
9
Q
Define ‘austere’.
A
Without adornment; bare; severely simple; ascetic
Related noun form: austerity
10
Q
What does ‘axiomatic’ mean?
A
Taken as a given; possessing self-evident truth
Related noun form: axiom
11
Q
What is meant by ‘canonical’?
A
Following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standards
Related noun form: canon
12
Q
Define ‘capricious’.
A
Inclined to change one’s mind impulsively; erratic, unpredictable
13
Q
What does it mean to ‘censure’?
A
To criticize severely; to officially rebuke
14
Q
What is ‘chicanery’?
A
Trickery or subterfuge
15
Q
Who is a ‘connoisseur’?
A
An informed and astute judge in matters of taste; expert
16
Q
What does ‘convoluted’ refer to?
A
Complex or complicated
17
Q
What does it mean to ‘disabuse’ someone?
A
To undeceive; to set right
18
Q
Define ‘discordant’.
A
Conflicting; dissonant or harsh in sound
19
Q
What does ‘disparate’ mean?
A
Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar
20
Q
What is ‘effrontery’?
A
Extreme boldness; presumptuousness
21
Q
What characterizes someone who is ‘eloquent’?
A
Well-spoken, expressive, articulate
Related noun form: eloquence
22
Q
What does ‘enervate’ mean?
A
To weaken; to reduce in vitality
23
Q
ennui (noun)
A
dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy
24
Q
equivocate (verb)
A
to use ambiguous language with a deceptive intent
(adj. form: equivocal)
25
erudite (adj.)
very learned; scholarly
## Footnote
(noun form: erudition)
26
exculpate (verb)
to exonerate; to clear of blame
27
exigent (adj.)
urgent, pressing; requiring immediate action or attention
28
extemporaneous (adj.)
improvised; done without preparation
29
filibuster (noun)
intentional obstruction, especially using prolonged speechmaking
30
fulminate (verb)
to loudly attack or denounce
31
ingenuous (adj.)
artless; frank and candid; lacking in sophistication
32
inured (adj.)
accustomed to accepting something undesirable
33
irascible (adj.)
easily angered; prone to temperamental outbursts
34
laud (verb)
to praise highly
## Footnote
(adj. form: laudatory)
35
lucid (adj.)
clear; easily understood
36
magnanimity (noun)
the quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, especially in forgiving
## Footnote
(adj. form: magnanimous)
37
martial (adj.)
associated with war and the armed forces
38
mundane (adj.)
of the world; typical of or concerned with the ordinary
39
nascent (adj.)
coming into being; in early developmental stages
40
nebulous (adj.)
vague; cloudy; lacking clearly defined form
41
neologism (noun)
a new word, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses
42
noxious (adj.)
harmful, injurious
43
obtuse (adj.)
lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression
44
obviate (verb)
to anticipate and make unnecessary
45
onerous (adj.)
troubling; burdensome
46
paean (noun)
a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving
47
parody (noun)
a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, especially in literature and art
48
perennial (adj.)
recurrent through the year or many years; happening repeatedly
49
perfidy (noun)
intentional breach of faith; treachery
## Footnote
(adj. form: perfidious)
50
perfunctory (adj.)
cursory; done without care or interest
51
What does 'perspicacious' mean?
Acutely perceptive; having keen discernment.
## Footnote
(noun form: perspicacity)
52
What does 'prattle' mean?
To babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner.
53
What does 'precipitate' mean when used as an adjective?
Acting with excessive haste or impulse.
54
What does 'precipitate' mean when used as a verb?
To cause or happen before anticipated or required.
55
What is 'predilection'?
A disposition in favor of something; preference.
56
What does 'prescience' mean?
Foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring.
## Footnote
(adj. form: prescient)
57
What does 'prevaricate' mean?
To deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead.
58
What are 'qualms'?
Misgivings; reservations; causes for hesitancy.
59
What does 'recant' mean?
To retract, especially a previously held belief.
60
What does 'refute' mean?
To disprove; to successfully argue against.
61
What does 'relegate' mean?
To forcibly assign, especially to a lower place or position.
62
What does 'reticent' mean?
Quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings.
63
What does 'solicitous' mean?
Concerned and attentive; eager.
64
What does 'sordid' mean?
Characterized by filth, grime, or squalor; foul.
65
What does 'sporadic' mean?
Occurring only occasionally, or in scattered instances.
66
What does 'squander' mean?
To waste by spending or using irresponsibly.
67
What does 'static' mean?
Not moving, active, or in motion; at rest.
68
What does 'stupefy' mean?
To stun, baffle, or amaze.
69
What does 'stymie' mean?
To block; to thwart.
70
What is 'synthesis'?
The combination of parts to make a whole.
## Footnote
(verb form: synthesise)
71
What is 'torque'?
A force that causes rotation.
72
What does 'tortuous' mean?
Winding, twisting; excessively complicated.
73
What does 'truculent' mean?
Fierce and cruel; eager to fight.
74
What is 'veracity'?
Truthfulness; honesty.
75
What does 'virulent' mean?
Extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic.
76
What does 'voracious' mean?
Having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; ravenous.
77
What does 'waver' mean?
To move to and fro; to sway; to be unsettled in opinion.
78
What does 'abate' mean?
To lessen in intensity or degree.
79
What is an 'accolade'?
An expression of praise.
80
What does 'adulation' refer to?
Excessive praise; intense adoration.
81
What does 'aesthetic' describe?
Dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful.
82
What does 'ameliorate' mean?
To make better or more tolerable.
83
Who is an 'ascetic'?
One who practices rigid self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion.
84
What is 'avarice'?
Greed, especially for wealth.
## Footnote
(adj. form: avaricious)
85
What does 'burgeon' mean?
To grow rapidly or flourish.
86
What does 'bucolic' describe?
Rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants.
87
What is 'cacophony'?
Harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance.
## Footnote
(adj. form: cacophonous)
88
What is a 'canon'?
An established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature.
## Footnote
(adj. form: canonical)
89
What does 'castigation' mean?
Severe criticism or punishment.
## Footnote
(verb form: castigate)
90
What is a 'catalyst'?
A substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that causes change.
91
What does 'caustic' mean?
Burning or stinging; causing corrosion.
92
What does 'chary' mean?
Wary; cautious; sparing.
93
What does 'cogent' mean?
Appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing.
94
What is 'complaisance'?
The willingness to comply with the wishes of others.
## Footnote
Adjective form: complaisant.
95
What does 'contentious' mean?
Argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement.
96
What does 'contrite' mean?
Regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness.
## Footnote
Noun form: contrition.
97
What does 'culpable' mean?
Deserving blame.
## Footnote
Noun form: culpability.
98
What is 'dearth'?
Smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack.
99
What does 'demur' mean?
To question or oppose.
100
What does 'didactic' mean?
Intended to teach or instruct.
101
What is 'discretion'?
Cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions.
## Footnote
Adjective form: discreet.
102
What does 'disinterested' mean?
Free of bias or self-interest; impartial.
103
What does 'dogmatic' mean?
Expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles.
## Footnote
Noun form: dogma.
104
What is 'ebullience'?
The quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings.
## Footnote
Adjective form: ebullient.
105
What does 'eclectic' mean?
Composed of elements drawn from various sources.
106
What is an 'elegy'?
A mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead.
## Footnote
Adjective form: elegiac.
107
What does 'emollient' mean?
Soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens or smoothes the skin.
108
What does 'empirical' mean?
Based on observation or experiment.
109
What does 'enigmatic' mean?
Mysterious; obscure; difficult to understand.
## Footnote
Noun form: enigma.
110
What does 'ephemeral' mean?
Brief; fleeting.
111
What does 'esoteric' mean?
Intended for or understood by a small, specific group.
112
What is a 'eulogy'?
A speech honoring the dead.
## Footnote
Verb form: eulogize.
113
What does 'exonerate' mean?
To remove blame.
114
What does 'facetious' mean?
Playful; humorous.
115
What is a 'fallacy'?
An invalid or incorrect notion; a mistaken belief.
## Footnote
Adjective form: fallacious.
116
What does 'furtive' mean?
Marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious.
117
What does 'gregarious' mean?
Sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people.
118
What does 'harangue' mean?
To deliver a forceful or angry speech; ranting speech or writing.
119
What does 'heretical' mean?
Violating accepted dogma or convention.
## Footnote
(noun form: heresy)
120
What does 'hyperbole' mean?
An exaggerated statement, often used as a figure of speech.
## Footnote
(adj. form: hyperbolic)
121
What does 'impecunious' mean?
Lacking funds; without money.
122
What does 'incipient' mean?
Beginning to come into being or to become apparent.
123
What does 'inert' mean?
Unmoving; lethargic; sluggish.
124
What does 'innocuous' mean?
Harmless; causing no damage.
125
What does 'intransigent' mean?
Refusing to compromise.
## Footnote
(noun form: intransigence)
126
What does 'inveigle' mean?
To obtain by deception or flattery.
127
What does 'morose' mean?
Sad; sullen; melancholy.
128
What does 'odious' mean?
Evoking intense aversion or dislike.
129
What does 'opaque' mean?
Impenetrable by light; not reflecting light.
130
What does 'oscillation' mean?
The act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm.
## Footnote
(verb form: oscillate)
131
What does 'penurious' mean?
Penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous.
132
What does 'pernicious' mean?
Extremely harmful in a way that is not easily seen or noticed.
133
What does 'peruse' mean?
To examine with great care.
## Footnote
(noun form: perusal)
134
What does 'pious' mean?
Extremely reverent or devout; showing strong religious devotion.
## Footnote
(noun form: piety)
135
What does 'precursor' mean?
One that precedes and indicates or announces another.
136
What does 'preen' mean?
To dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care.
137
What does 'prodigious' mean?
Abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary.
138
What does 'prolific' mean?
Producing large volumes or amounts; productive.
139
What does 'putrefy' mean?
To rot; to decay and give off a foul odor.
## Footnote
(adj. form: putrid)
140
What does 'quaff' mean?
To drink deeply.
141
What does 'quiescence' mean?
Stillness; motionlessness; quality of being at rest.
## Footnote
(adj. form: quiescent)
142
acumen
Keen, accurate judgment or insight.
143
adulterate
To reduce purity by combining with inferior ingredients.
144
amalgamate
To combine several elements into a whole.
145
archaic
Outdated; associated with an earlier, primitive time.
146
aver
To state as a fact; to declare or assert.
147
bolster
To provide support or reinforcement.
148
bombastic
Pompous or grandiloquent in speech.
149
diatribe
A harsh denunciation.
150
dissemble
To disguise or conceal; to mislead.
151
eccentric
Departing from norms or conventions.
152
endemic
Characteristic of a particular region or people.
153
evanescent
Tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing.
154
exacerbate
To make worse or more severe.
155
fervent
Greatly emotional or zealous.
156
fortuitous
Happening by accident or chance.
157
germane
Relevant to the subject at hand.
158
grandiloquence
Pompous speech or expression.
159
hackneyed
Rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage.
160
halcyon
Calm and peaceful.
161
hedonism
Devotion to pleasure, especially of the senses.
162
hegemony
The consistent dominance of one state over others.
163
iconoclast
One who attacks traditional conventions.
164
idolatrous
Given to intense devotion to something.
165
impassive
Revealing no emotion.
166
imperturbable
Marked by extreme calm and steadiness.
167
implacable
Not capable of being appeased or changed.
168
impunity
Immunity from punishment or penalty.
169
inchoate
In an initial stage; not fully formed.
170
infelicitous
Unfortunate; inappropriate.
171
insipid
Lacking qualities that interest or stimulate.
172
loquacious
Extremely talkative.
173
luminous
Characterized by brightness and light.
174
malevolent
Having or showing vicious ill will or hatred.
175
malleable
Capable of being shaped or formed; pliable.
176
mendacity
Condition of being untruthful; dishonesty.
177
meticulous
Characterized by extreme care and precision.
178
misanthrope
One who hates all humans.
179
mitigate
To make less severe or intense.
180
obdurate
Unyielding; intractable.
181
obsequious
Exhibiting fawning attentiveness.
182
occlude
To obstruct or block.
183
opprobrium
Disgrace; contempt.
184
pedagogy
The principles of teaching or instructing.
185
pedantic
Overly concerned with trivial details of learning.
186
penury
Poverty; destitution.
187
pervasive
Tendency to permeate or spread throughout.
188
pine
To yearn intensely; to languish.
189
pirate
To illegally use or reproduce.
190
pith
The essential or central part.
191
pithy
Precise and brief.
192
placate
To appease or calm.
193
platitude
A superficial remark often offered as meaningful.
194
plummet
To plunge or drop straight down.
195
polemical
Controversial; argumentative.
196
prodigal
Recklessly wasteful; extravagant.
197
profuse
Given in large amounts; extravagant.
198
proliferate
To grow or increase swiftly.
199
redoubtable
awe-inspiring; worthy of honor
200
sanction
authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance; to give permission or authority
201
satire
a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision
202
squalid
sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect
203
stoic
indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; steadfast
204
supplant
to take the place of; to supersede
205
torpid
lethargic; sluggish; dormant
206
ubiquitous
existing everywhere at the same time; constantly encountered; widespread
207
urbane
sophisticated; refined; elegant
208
vilify
to defame; to characterize harshly
209
viscous
thick; sticky
210
queries
questions; inquiries; doubts in the mind; reservations
211
querulous
prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish
212
rancorous
characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
213
recalcitrant
obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage
214
repudiate
to refuse to have anything to do with; to disown
215
rescind
to invalidate; to repeal; to retract
216
reverent
marked by, feeling, or expressing a feeling of profound awe and respect
217
rhetoric
the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion
218
salubrious
promoting health or well-being
219
solvent
able to meet financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance
220
specious
seeming true, but actually being fallacious; misleadingly attractive; plausible but false
221
spurious
lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit
222
subpoena
a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony
223
succinct
brief; concise
224
superfluous
exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
225
surfeit
an overabundant supply; excess; to feed or supply to excess
226
tenacity
the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued; persistent determination
227
tenuous
having little substance or strength; flimsy; weak
228
tirade
a long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation
229
transient
fleeting; passing quickly; brief
230
zealous
fervent; ardent; impassioned, devoted to a cause
231
acerbic
having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting
232
aggrandize
to increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige
233
alchemy
a medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals, especially base metals into gold
234
amenable
agreeable; responsive to suggestion
235
anachronism
something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
236
astringent
having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe; something with a tightening effect on tissue
237
contiguous
sharing a border; touching; adjacent
238
convention
a generally agreed-upon practice or attitude
239
credulous
tending to believe too readily; gullible
240
cynicism
an attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
241
decorum
polite or appropriate conduct or behavior
242
derision
scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment
243
desiccate
to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull
244
dilettante
one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge
245
disparage
to slight or belittle
246
divulge
to disclose something secret
247
fawn
to flatter or praise excessively
248
flout
to show contempt for, as in a rule or convention
249
garrulous
pointlessly talkative; talking too much
250
glib
marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial
251
hubris
overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance
252
imminent
about to happen; impending
253
immutable
not capable of change
254
impetuous
hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
255
indifferent
having no interest or concern; showing no bias or prejudice
256
inimical
damaging; harmful; injurious
257
intractable
not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate
258
intrepid
steadfast and courageous
259
laconic
using few words; terse
260
maverick
an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party
261
mercurial
characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood
262
mollify
to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity
263
neophyte
a recent convert; a beginner; a novice
264
obfuscate
to deliberately obscure; to make confusing
265
obstinate
stubborn; hard-headed; uncompromising
266
ostentatious
characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy
267
pervade
to permeate throughout
268
phlegmatic
calm; sluggish; unemotional
269
plethora
an overabundance; a surplus
270
pragmatic
practical rather than idealistic
271
presumptuous
overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
272
pristine
pure; uncorrupted; clean
273
probity
adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
274
proclivity
a natural predisposition or inclination
275
profligate
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
276
propensity
a natural inclination or tendency; penchant
277
prosaic
dull; lacking in spirit or imagination
278
pungent
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
279
quixotic
foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
280
quotidian
occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
281
rarefy
to make or become thin, less dense; to refine
282
recondite
hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
283
refulgent
radiant; shiny; brilliant
284
renege
to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise
285
sedulous
diligent; persistent; hard-working
286
shard
a piece of broken pottery or glass
287
soporific
causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
288
sparse
thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals
289
spendthrift
one who spends money wastefully
290
subtle
not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
291
tacit
implied; not explicitly stated
292
terse
brief and concise in wording
293
tout
to publicly praise or promote
294
trenchant
sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating
295
unfeigned
genuine; not false or hypocritical
296
untenable
indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable
297
vacillate
to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another
298
variegated
multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color
299
vexation
annoyance; irritation
300
vigilant
alertly watchful
301
vituperate
to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate
302
volatile
readily changing to a vapor; changeable; fickle; explosive
303
alloy
to commingle; to debase by mixing with something inferior
304
appropriate
to take for one's own use; to confiscate
305
arrest
to suspend; to engage; holding one's attention
306
august
majestic; venerable
307
bent
leaning, inclination, proclivity, tendency
308
broach
to bring up; to announce; to begin to talk about
309
brook
to tolerate; to endure; to countenance
310
cardinal
major, as in cardinal sin
311
chauvinist
a blindly devoted patriot
312
color
to change as if by dyeing, i.e., to distort, gloss, or affect
313
consequential
pompous, self-important
314
damp
to diminish the intensity or check the vibration of a sound
315
die
a tool used for shaping, as in a tool-and-die shop
316
essay
to test or try; to attempt; to experiment
317
exact
to demand; to call for; to require; to take
318
fell
to cause to fall by striking; inhumanly cruel
319
flag
to sag or droop; to become spiritless; to decline
320
flip
sarcastic, impertinent, as in flippant
321
ford
to wade across the shallow part of a river or stream
322
abjure
323
adumbrate
324
anathema
325
anodyne
/(noun)
326
apogee
327
apostate
328
apotheosis
329
asperity
330
asseverate
331
augury
332
bellicose
333
calumniate
334
captious
335
cavil
336
celerity
337
chimera
338
contumacious
339
debacle
340
denouement
341
descry
342
desuetude
343
desultory
344
diaphanous
345
diffident
346
a solemn or ecclesiastical
curse; accursed orth
347
grouse
348
guy
/(verb)
349
imate
350
list
351
lumber
352
meet
353
milk
354
mince
355
nice
356
occult
357
pedestrian
358
pied
359
pine
360
plastic
361
ft
/ (noun) torn (past te tense zof rend an opening. or tear ed es such,
362
steady or reinforce using a guy: think guide.
363
to lose vigor
; to yearn
364
excoriate
365
execrate
366
exegesis
367
expiate
368
extirpate
369
fatuous
370
fractious
371
gainsay
372
heterodox
373
imbroglio
374
indefatigable
375
ineluctable
376
inimitable
377
insouciant
378
inveterate
379
jejune
380
lubricious
381
mendicant
382
meretricious
383
minatory
384
nadir
385
nonplussed
386
obstreperous
387
ossified
388
palliate
389
Panegyric
390
Parsimonious
391
Pellucid
392
Peroration
393
grouse (verb)
to complain or grumble
394
guy (noun)/(verb)
a rope, cord, or cable attached to something as a brace or guide; to steady or reinforce using a guy; think guide. (verb form: guyed, guying)
395
intimate (verb)
to imply, suggest, or insinuate
396
list (verb)
to tilt or lean to one side
397
lumber (verb)
to move heavily and clumsily
398
meet (adj.)
fitting, proper
399
milk (verb)
to exploit; to squeeze every last ounce of
400
mince (verb)
to pronounce or speak affectedly; to euphemize, to speak too carefully; to take tiny steps, to tiptoe
401
nice (adj.)
exacting, fastidious, extremely precise
402
occult (adj.)
hidden, concealed, beyond comprehension
403
pedestrian (adj.)
commonplace, trite, unremarkable, quotidian
404
pied (adj.)
multicolored, usually in blotches
405
pine (verb)
to lose vigor (as through grief); to yearn
406
plastic (adj.)
moldable, pliable, not rigid
407
pluck (noun)
courage, spunk, fortitude
408
prize (verb)
to pry, to press or force with a lever; something taken by force, spoils
409
rail (verb)
to complain about bitterly
410
rent (verb)/(noun)
torn (past tense of rend); an opening or tear caused by such
411
quail (verb)
to lose courage; to turn frightened
412
qualify (verb)
to limit
413
sap (verb)
to enervate or weaken the vitality of
414
sap (noun)
a fool or nitwit
415
scurvy (adj.)
contemptible, despicable
416
singular (adj.)
exceptional, unusual, odd
417
stand (noun)
a group of trees
418
steep (verb)
to saturate or completely soak, as in to let a tea bag steep
419
strut (noun)
the supporting structural cross-part of a wing
420
table (verb)
to remove (as a parliamentary motion) from consideration
421
tender (verb)
to proffer or offer
422
waffle (verb)
to equivocate; to change one's position
423
wag (noun)
wit, joker
424
abjure (verb)
to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant; to avoid
425
adumbrate (verb)
to foreshadow vaguely or intimate; to suggest or outline sketchily; to obscure or overshadow
426
anathema (noun)
a solemn or ecclesiastical (religious) curse; accursed or thoroughly loathed person or thing
427
anodyne (adj.)/(noun)
soothing; something that assuages or allays pain or comforts
428
apogee (noun)
farthest or highest point; culmination; zenith
429
apostate (noun)
one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions
430
apotheosis (noun)
deification; glorification to godliness; an exalted example; a model of excellence or perfection
431
asperity (noun)
severity, rigor; roughness, harshness; acrimony, irritability
432
asseverate (verb)
to aver, allege, or assert
433
assiduous (adj.)
diligent, hard-working, sedulous
434
augury (noun)
omen, portent
435
bellicose (adj.)
belligerent, pugnacious, warlike
436
calumniate (verb)
to slander, to make a false accusation; calumny means slander, aspersion
437
captious (adj.)
disposed to point out trivial faults; calculated to confuse or entrap in argument
438
cavil (verb)
to find fault without good reason
439
celerity (noun)
speed, alacrity; think accelerate
440
chimera (noun)
an illusion; originally, an imaginary fire-breathing she-monster
441
contumacious (adj.)
intransigent, obstinate, stubborn
442
debacle (noun)
a sudden collapse, defeat, or overwhelming failure
443
denouement (noun)
the resolution or conclusion of a narrative
444
descry (verb)
to catch sight of something
445
desuetude (noun)
a state of disuse
446
desultory (adj.)
lacking a plan or purpose; unmethodical
447
diaphanous (adj.)
light, delicate, and translucent
448
diffident (adj.)
modest or shy due to a lack of self-confidence
449
dirge (noun)
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
450
encomium (noun)
a formal expression of praise
451
eschew (verb)
to deliberately avoid or abstain from something
452
excoriate
to censure scathingly, to upbraid
453
execrate
to denounce, to feel loathing for, to curse, to declare to be evil
454
exegesis
critical examination, explication
455
expiate
to atone or make amends for
456
extirpate
to destroy, to exterminate, to cut out, to excise
457
fatuous
silly, inanely foolish
458
fractious
quarrelsome, rebellious, unruly, refractory, irritable
459
gainsay
to deny, to dispute, to contradict, to oppose
460
heterodox
unorthodox, heretical, iconoclastic
461
imbroglio
difficult or embarrassing situation
462
indefatigable
not easily exhaustible, tireless, dogged
463
ineluctable
certain, inevitable
464
inimitable
one-of-a-kind, peerless
465
insouciant
unconcerned, carefree, heedless
466
inveterate
deep rooted, ingrained, habitual
467
jejune
vapid, uninteresting, nugatory, childish, immature, puerile
468
lubricious
lewd, wanton, greasy, slippery
469
mendicant
a beggar, supplicant
470
meretricious
cheap, gaudy, tawdry, flashy, showy, attracting by false show
471
minatory
menacing, threatening
472
nadir
low point, perigee
473
nonplussed
baffled, bewildered, at a loss for what to do or think
474
obstreperous
noisily and stubbornly defiant, aggressively boisterous
475
ossified
tending to become more rigid, conventional, sterile, and reactionary with age, literally turned into bone
476
palliate
to make something seem less serious, to gloss over, to make less severe or intense
477
panegyric
formal praise, eulogy, encomium; panegyrical means expressing elaborate praise
478
parsimonious
cheap, miserly
479
pellucid
transparent, easy to understand, limpid
480
peroration
the concluding part of a speech; flowery, rhetorical speech
481
plangent
pounding, thundering, resounding
482
prolix (adj.)
long-winded, verbose; prolixity means verbosity
483
propitiate (verb)
to appease; to conciliate; propitious means auspicious, favorable
484
puerile (adj.)
childish, immature, jejune, nugatory
485
puissance (noun)
power, strength; puissant means powerful, strong
486
pusillanimous (adj.)
cowardly, craven
487
remonstrate (verb)
to protest, to object
488
sagacious (adj.)
having sound judgment; perceptive, wise; like a sage
489
salacious (adj.)
lustful, lascivious, bawdy
490
salutary (adj.)
remedial, causing improvement; wholesome
491
sanguine (adj.)
cheerful, confident, optimistic
492
saturnine (adj.)
gloomy, dark, sullen, morose
493
sententious (adj.)
aphoristic or moralistic; epigrammatic; tending to moralize excessively
494
stentorian (adj.)
extremely loud and powerful
495
stygian (adj.)
gloomy, dark
496
sycophant (noun)
toady; servile, self-seeking flatterer; parasite
497
tendentious (adj.)
biased; showing marked tendencies
498
timorous (adj.)
timid, fearful, diffident
499
tyro (noun)
novice, greenhorn, rank amateur
500
vitiate (verb)
to corrupt, to debase, to spoil, to make ineffective
501
voluble (adj.)
fluent, verbal, having easy use of spoken language
