Manhattan GRE Essential 500 Flashcards
mariagre (499 cards)
1
Q
abate
A
(v) reduce, diminish
2
Q
abdicate
A
(v) formally give up the throne (or some other power or responsibility)
3
Q
aberrant
A
(adj) abnormal, deviant
4
Q
abhor
A
(v) detest, regard with disgust
5
Q
abjure
A
(v) give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath)
6
Q
abrasive
A
(adj) rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance
7
Q
abridge
A
(v) reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while retaining the main idea
8
Q
abstain
A
(v) hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy); decline to vote
9
Q
acme
A
(n) summit, peak, highest point
10
Q
activism
A
(n) the practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous action, often including protests and demonstrations
11
Q
adhere
A
(v) stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief
12
Q
admonish
A
(v) mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to do something
13
Q
adverse
A
(adj) opposing, harmful
14
Q
advocate
A
(v, n) speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a cause or on behalf of another person (noun)
15
Q
aesthetic
A
(adj, n) concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste, pertaining to the science of what is beautiful (adj); a sense of beauty and taste of a particular time and place (noun)
16
Q
affable
A
(adj) warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable
17
Q
affectation
A
(n) fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to give a certain impression
18
Q
aggrandize
A
(v) make greater; exaggerate
19
Q
aggregate
A
(v, adj) gather together, amount to (verb); constituting a whole made up of constituent parts (adj)
20
Q
alacrity
A
(n) cheerful or speedy willingness
21
Q
alienate
A
(v) cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or distant
22
Q
alleviate
A
(v) lessen, make easier to endure
23
Q
ambiguous
A
(adj) not clear, hard to understand, open to having several meanings or interpretations
24
Q
ambivalent
A
(adj) uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at once
25
analogous
(adj) comparable, corresponding in some particular way (making a good analogy)
26
anarchy
(n) absence of law or government; chaos, disorder
27
anoint
(v) rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by ceremony that includes applying oil to someone
28
anomaly
(n) deviation from what is common; inconsistency
29
antagonize
(v) make hostile or unfriendly
30
antipathy (n.)
deep dislike, aversion, or repugnance, somtimes without reason
31
apathy
(n) not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interest or concern
32
apocryphal
(adj) of questionable authenticity; false
33
appease (v.)
pacify, satisfy, relieve; concede to be belligerent demands, sometimes at the expense of principles
34
appreciable (adj.)
enough to be perceived, considerable
35
arbitrary (adj.)
based entirely on one's discretion; capricious, unreasonable, or having no basis
36
arcane
(adj) known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret
37
archaic
(adj) characteristic of an earlier period, ancient, primitive
38
arduous
(adj) very difficult, strenuous; severe, hard to endure
39
articulate
(adj, verb) using language in a clear, fluent way (adj); speak distinctly or give clarity to an idea (verb)
40
artifact
(n) any object made by humans, especially those from an earlier time, such as those excavated by archaeologists
41
artless
(adj) free of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine; lacking skill or knowledge, crude, uncultured
42
ascertain
(v) find out with certainty
43
ascetic
(adj, n) abstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj); a person who leads an austere and simple like without material pleasures, esp. someone who does this for religious reasons
44
assuage
(v) make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm
45
audacious
(adj) very bold or brave, often in a rude or reckless way; extremely original
46
augment
(v) make larger
47
austere
(adj) severe in manner or appearance; very self-disciplined, ascetic; without luxury or ease; sober or serious
48
autonomous
(adj) self-governing, independent
49
aver
(v) declare or affirm with confidence
50
avid
(adj) enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous
51
balk
(v) refuse to proceed or to do something
52
base
(adj) morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little or no value; crude and unrefined; counterfeit
53
belie
(v) contradict or misrepresent
54
benign
(adj) harmless; favorable; kindly, gentle, or beneficial; not cancerous
55
bogus
(adj) fake, fraudulent
56
bolster
(v) strengthen or support
57
boor
(n) rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a peasant or country bumpkin
58
buffer
(n) something that shields, protects, absorbs shock, or cushions
59
bureaucracy
(n) government characterized by many bureaus and petty administrators or by excessive, seemingly meaningless requirements
60
burgeon
(v) grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or shoots (of a plant)
61
buttress
(v, n) support or encourage (verb); a support or prop, esp. projecting from and supporting the wall of a building (noun)
62
bygone
(adj, n) past, former (adj); that which is in the past (usually plural noun)
63
cacophony
(n) harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds
64
candid
(adj) open, sincere, honest
65
canonical
(adj) authorized, recognized; pertaining to the canon, or body of accepted rules, standards or artistic works
66
capricious
(adj) acting on impulse, erratic
67
cartography
(n) mapmaking
68
castigate
(v) criticize severely; punish in order to correct
69
catalyst
(n) causer of change
70
caustic
(adj) capable of corroding metal or burning the skin; very critical or sarcastic
71
censure
(n, v) strong disapproval or official reprimand (noun); to issue such disapproval or reprimand (verb)
72
chauvinism
(n) fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc.
73
chronological
(adj) arranged in or relating to time order
74
clamor
(v) noisy uproar or protest, as from a crowd; a loud, continuous noise
75
clinch
(v) make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together
76
coalesce
(v) come together, unite; fuse together
77
cogent
(adj) very convincing, logical
78
commensurate
(adj) the same in size, extent, etc., equivalent; proportional
79
complacent
(adj) self-satisfied, smug; overly content (and therefore lazy, neglectful, or some other bad quality)
80
complementary
(adj) completing; fitting together well; filling mutual needs
81
compliant
(adj) obeying, submissive; following the requirements
82
concede
(v) give in, admit, yield; acknowledge reluctantly; grant or give up (such as giving up land after losing a war)
83
conciliatory
(adj) reconciling, appeasing, attempting to make the peace
84
concur
(v) approve, agree
85
condone
(v) overlook, tolerate, regard as harmless
86
confer
(v) consult, compare views; bestow or give
87
connoisseur
(n) expert, especially in the fine arts; person of educated, refined tastes
88
console
(v, n) lessen the suffering or grief of (verb); a control panel, or small table or cabinet (noun)
89
consolidate
(v) unite, combine, solidify, make coherent
90
constrict
(v) squeeze, compress; restrict the freedom of
91
construe
(v) interpret or translate
92
contentious
(adj) controversial; prone to causing arguments, especially gratuitous or petty ones
93
contextualize
(v) place in context, such as by giving the background or circumstances
94
conundrum
(n) riddle, the answer to which involves a play on words; any mystery
95
converge
(v) move towards one another or towards a point; unite
96
conversant
(adj) knowledgeable about or experienced with
97
conversely
(adv) in an opposite way; on the other hand
98
convoluted
(adj) twisted; very complicated
99
copious
(adj) plentiful, bountiful
100
corroborate
(v) support, add evidence to
101
cosmopolitan
(adj) belonging to the entire world, at home globally; free from local or national prejudices or attachments
102
countenance
(n, v) facial expression or face (noun); approve or tolerate (verb)
103
counterintuitive
(adj) against what one would intuitively expect
104
counterpoint
(n) contrasting item, opposite; a complement; the use of contrast or interplay in a work of art
105
counterproductive
(adj) defeating the purpose; preventing the intended goal
106
covert
(adj) secret, veiled, undercover
107
crafty
(adj) cunning, skillful in deception or underhanded schemes
108
craven
(adj) very cowardly, lacking courage
109
credibility
(n) believability, trustworthiness
110
credulous
(adj) gullible; prone to believing or trusting too easily or without enough evidence
111
culminate
(v) reach the highest point or final stage
112
cynical
(adj) thinking the worst of others' motivations; bitterly pessimistic
113
daunt
(v) discourage, dishearten, lessen the courage of
114
debase
(v) degrade; lower in quality, value, rank, etc.; lower in moral quality
115
debunk
(v) expose, ridicule, or disprove false or exaggerated claims
116
decorous
(adj) behaving with propriety and good taste; polite
117
deem
(v) judge; consider
118
deface
(v) vandalize, mar the appearance of
119
defamatory (adj.)
slanderous, injurious to someone's reputation
120
default
(n, v) failure to act, neglect (noun); fail to fulfill an obligation, esp. a financial one (verb)
121
deference
(n) respectful submission; yielding to the authority or opinion of another
122
deflect
(v) cause to curve; turn aside, esp. from a straight course; avoid
123
deleterious
(adj) harmful, unhealthy
124
delineate
(v) mark the outline of; sketch; describe in detail
125
denigrate
(v) belittle, attack the reputation of
126
denote
(v) be a name or symbol for
127
deride
(v) mock, scoff at, laugh at contemptuously
128
derivative
(adj) derived from something else; not original
129
desiccate
(v) thoroughly dried up, dehydrated
130
detached
(adj) impartial, disinterested; unconcerned, distant, aloof
131
deterrent
(n) something that restrains or discourages
132
diatribe
(n) bitter, abusive attack or criticism; rant
133
didactic
(adj) intended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson
134
digress
(v) go off-topic when speaking or writing
135
din
(n) loud, confused noise, esp. for a long period of time
136
disabuse
(v) free someone from a mistake in thinking
137
discerning
(adj) having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish mentally
138
discredit
(v) injure the reputation of, destroy credibility of or confidence in
139
discrepancy
(n) difference or inconsistency
140
discriminating
(adj) judicious, discerning, having good judgment or insight
141
disingenuous
(adj) insincere, not genuine
142
disinterested
(adj) unbiased, impartial; not interested
143
disjointed
(adj) disconnected, not coherent, jerky; having the joints separated
144
dismiss
(v) allow to disperse or leave; fire from a job; put aside or reject, esp. after only a brief consideration
145
dispassionate
(adj) unbiased, not having a selfish or personal motivation; calm, lacking emotion
146
dispatch
(n, v) speed, promptness; send off or deal with in a speedy way
147
disperse
(v) scatter, spread widely, cause to vanish
148
disposition
(n) a person's general or natural mood; tendency
149
disquieting
(adj) disturbing, causing anxiety
150
disseminate
(v) scatter, spread about, broadcast
151
dissent
(v, n) disagree or take an opposing view, esp. in relation to a formal body such as a government, political party, or church; such a view
152
dissonance
(n) harsh, inharmonious sound; cacophony; disagreement
153
distill
(v) purify; extract the essential elements of
154
diverge
(v) differ, deviate; branch off or turn aside, as from a path
155
Divest
(v) deprive or strip of rank, title, etc., or of clothing or gear; to sell off holdings (opposite of invest)
156
Divine
(v) discover through divination or supernatural means; perceive by insight
157
Document
(v) support with evidence, cite sources in a detailed way, create documentary evidence of
158
Dogma
(n) a system of principles laid down by an authority; established belief
159
Dormant
(adj) asleep, inactive, on a break
160
Dubious
(adj) doubtful, questionable, suspect
161
e.g.
(abbre.) for example, such as
162
eccentric
(adj) peculiar, odd, deviating from the norm esp. in a whimsical way
163
Eclectic
(adj) selecting the best of everything or from many diverse sources
164
Eclipse
(n, v) the obscuring of one thing by another, such as the sun by the moon or a person by a more famous or talented person (noun); to obscure, darken, make less important (verb)
165
Efficacy
(n) the quality of being able to produce the intended effect
166
Egalitarian
(adj) related to the belief in the equality of all people, esp. in political, economic, or social spheres
167
Egregious
(adj) extraordinarily or conspicuously bad; glaring
168
Elated
(adj) very happy, in high spirits
169
Elevate
(v) raise, lift up; lift the spirits of; move up to a higher rank or status or raise up to a higher spiritual or intellectual plane
170
Elicit
(v) call forth, bring out, evoke
171
Eloquent
(adj) marked by forceful, fluid, apt speech; expressive, emotionally moving
172
Embellish
(v) decorate, add ornamentation; enhance (a story) with fictional or fanciful details
173
Eminent
(adj) prominent, distinguished, of high rank
174
Empirical
(adj) coming from, based on, or able to be verified by experience or experimentation; not purely based on theory
175
Emulate
(v) copy in an attempt to equal or be better than
176
Enervate
(v) weaken, tire
177
Enhance
(v) raise to a higher value, desirability, etc.
178
Enigma
(n) puzzle, mystery, riddle; mysterious or contradictory person
179
Entitlement
(n) having the right to certain privileges; believing, sometimes without cause, that one deserves or has a right to certain privileges
180
Enumerate
(v) count or list; specify one-by-one
181
Ephemeral
(adj) lasting only a short time, fleeting
182
Equitable
(adj) fair, equal, just
183
Erratic
(adj) inconsistent, wandering, having no fixed course
184
Erroneous
(adj) mistaken, in error; improper, morally incorrect
185
Erudite
(adj) scholarly, knowledgeable; possessing a deep, often systematic, knowledge
186
Eschew
(v) shun, avoid, abstain from
187
Esoteric
(adj) understood by or intended for only a few; secret
188
Estimable
(adj) worthy of esteem, admirable; able to be estimated
189
Eulogy
(n) speech of praise or written work of praise, esp. a speech given at a funeral
190
Exacerbate
(v) make worse (more violent, severe, etc.), inflame; irritate or embitter (a person)
191
Exacting
(adj) very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention
192
Exculpate
(v) clear from guilt or blame
193
Exhaustive
(adj) comprehensive, thorough, exhausting a topic or subject, accounting for all possibilities; draining, tending to exhaust
194
Explicit
(adj) direct, clear, fully revealed; clearly depicting sex or nudity
195
Exponent
(n) person who expounds or explains; champion, advocate, or representative
196
Extraneous
(adj) irrelevant; foreign, coming from without, not belonging
197
Extrapolate
(v) conjecture about an unknown by projecting information about something known; predict by projecting past experience
198
Facetious
(adj) joking, humorous, esp. inappropriately; not serious, concerned with frivolous things
199
Facilitate
(v) make easier, help the progress of
200
Fallacious
(ad) containing a fallacy, or mistake in logic; logically unsound; deceptive
201
Fanatical
(adj) excessively devoted, enthusiastic, or zealous in an uncritical way
202
Fanciful
(adj) whimsical, capricious; imaginary; freely imaginative rather than based on reason or reality
203
Fathom
(v) measure the depth of (usually of water) as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand
204
Feasible
(adj) possible; logical or likely; suitable
205
Fidelity
(n) faithful, loyalty; strict observance of duty; accuracy in reproducing a sound or image
206
Figurative
(adj) metaphorical, based on figures of speech; containing many figures of speech (as fancy-sounding writing); related to portraying human or animals figures
207
Finesse
(n, v) extreme delicacy, subtlety, or diplomacy in handling a sensitive situation or in a performance or skill (noun); use tact or diplomacy; employ a deceptive strategy (verb)
208
Flag
(v) get tired, lose enthusiasm; hang limply or droop
209
Fleeting
(adj) passing quickly, transitory
210
Foment
(v) incite, instigate, stir up, promote the growth of; apply medicated liquid to a body part
211
Foreshadow
(v) indicate or suggest beforehand, presage
212
Forfeit
(v) surrender or lose as a result of an error, crime, or failure to fulfill an obligation
213
Fortify
(v) strengthen, invigorate, encourage
214
Fringe
(n, adj) on the margin, periphery (adj); the people in a group who hold the most extreme views (noun)
215
Frugal
(adj) economically, thrifty, not wasteful with money; inexpensive
216
Futile
(adj) producing no useful result, ineffective; trivial unimportant
217
Gainsay
(v) declare false, deny; oppose
218
Garrulous
(adj) talkative, wordy, rambling
219
Gauche
(adj) tactless, lacking social grace, awkward, crude
220
Gawky
(adj) physically awkward (esp. of a tall, skinny person, often used to describe teenagers)
221
Germane
(adj) relevant and appropriate, on topic
222
Gist
(n) main idea, essence
223
Glib
(adj) fluent and easy in a way that suggests superficiality or insincerity
224
Goosebumps
(n) the bumps created by hairs standing up on the skin in response to cold, fear, etc.
225
Gradation
(n) a progression, a process taking place gradually, in stages; one of these stages
226
Gregarious
(adj) sociable, pertaining to a flock or crowd
227
Guile
(n) clever deceit, cunning, craftiness
228
Hackneyed
(adj) so commonplace as to be stale; not fresh or original
229
Hardy
(adj) bold, brave, capable of enduring hardship, fatigue, cold, etc.
230
Haven
(adj) harbor or port; refuge, safe place
231
Hearken
(v) listen, pay attention to
232
Hedonist
(n) person devoted to pleasure
233
Heterogeneous
(adj) different in type, incongruous; composed of different types of elements
234
Hierarchy
(n) a ranked series; a classification of people according to rank, ability, etc.; a ruling body
235
Hodgepodge
(n) mixture of different kinds of things, jumble
236
Homogeneous
(adj) of the same kind; uniform throughout
237
Hyperbole
(n) deliberate exaggeration for effect
238
Idiosyncrasy
(n) characteristic or habit peculiar to an individual; peculiar quality, quirk
239
illiberality
(n) narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of generosity
240
imminent
(adj) ready to occur, impending
241
Impair
(v) make worse, weaken
242
Impartial
(adj) unbiased, fair
243
Impede
(v) hold back, obstruct the progress of
244
Implication
(n) act of implying or that which is implied; close connection, esp. in an incriminating way
245
Implicit
(adj) implied, not stated directly; involved in the very essence of something, unquestionable
246
Implode
(v) burst inward
247
Inadvertent
(adj) unintentional; characterized by a lack of attention, careless
248
Inasmuch
(adv) in like manner, considering that (contradiction of "in as much," generally followed by "as")
249
Incendiary
(adj) setting on fire, pertaining to arson; arousing strife, rebellion, etc.; "inflaming" the senses
250
Incentive
(n) something that encourages greater action or effort, such as a reward
251
Inchoate
(adj) just begun, undeveloped, unorganized
252
Incipient
(adj) just beginning; in a very early stage
253
Incongruous
(adj) out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious
254
Inconsequential
(adj) insignificant, unimportant; illogical
255
Incorporate
(v) combine, unite; form a legal corporation; embody, give physical form to
256
Indeterminate
(adj) not fixed or determined, indefinite; vague
257
Indifferent
(adj) not caring, having no interest; unbiased, impartial
258
Inform
(v) inspire, animate; give substance, essence, or context to; be the characteristic quality of
259
Ingenuous
(adj) genuine, sincere, not holding back; naive
260
Ingrained
(adj) deep-rooted, forming part of the very essence; worked into the fiber
261
Inherent
(adj) existing as a permanent, essential quality; intrinsic
262
Innocuous
(adj) harmless, inoffensive
263
Intelligible
(adj) able to understood, clear
264
Intractable
(adj) difficult to control, manage, or manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn
265
Intrepid
(adj) fearless, brave, enduring in the face of adversity
266
Intrinsic
(adj) belonging to the essential nature of a thing
267
Jargon
(n) vocabulary specific to a group or occupation; convoluted or unintelligible language
268
Jocular
(adj) joking or given to joking all the time; jolly, playful
269
Judicious
(adj) using good judgment; wise, sensible
270
Juncture
(n) critical point in time, such as a crisis or a time when a decision is necessary; a place where two things are joined together
271
Keen
(adj) sharp, piercing; very perceptive or mentally sharp; intense (of a feeling)
272
Kudos
(n) praise, honor, congratulations
273
Lackluster
(adj) not shiny; dull, mediocre, lacking brilliance or vitality
274
Laconic
(adj) using few words, concise
275
Lament
(v, n) mourn; express grief, sorrow, or regret (verb); an expression of grief, esp. as a song or poem (noun)
276
Lampoon
(n, v) a harsh satire (noun); ridicule or satirize (verb)
277
Landmark
(n, adj) object (such as a building) that stands out and can be used to navigate by; very important place, event, etc.
278
Languid
(adj) drooping from exhaustion, sluggish, slow; lacking in spirit
279
Lassitude
(n) tiredness, weariness; lazy indifference
280
Laudable
(adj) worthy of praise
281
Lavish
(adj, v) abundant or giving in abundance; marked by excess (adj); give very generously (verb)
282
Layperson
(n) a person who is not a member of the clergy or not a member of a particular profession (such as medicine, law, etc.)
283
Levity
(n) lightness (of mind, spirit, or mood) or lack of seriousness, sometimes in an inappropriate way
284
Levy
(v, n) collect tax from, wage war on, or enlist for military service (verb); act of collecting tax or amount owed, or the drafting of troops into military service (noun)
285
Liberal
(adj, n) favorable to progress or reform; believing in maximum possible individual freedom; tolerant, open-minded; generous (adj); a person with such beliefs or practices (noun)
286
Libertine
(n) morally or sexually unrestrained person; freethinker (regarding religion)
287
Likewise
(adv) also, in addition to; similarly, in the same way
288
Log
(v, n) keep a record of, write down; travel for or at a certain distance or speed (verb); a written record (noun)
289
Loquacious
(adj) talkative, wordy
290
Lucid
(adj) clear, easy to understand; rational, sane
291
Lull
(n, v) soothe or cause to fall asleep (as in a lullaby); quiet down; make to feel secure, sometimes falsely (verb); a period of calm or quiet (noun)
292
Makeshift
(n, adj) a temporary, often improvised, substitute (noun); improvised for temporary use (adj)
293
Malleable
(adj) able to be bent, shaped, or adapted
294
Maverick
(n) rebel, individualist, dissenter
295
Mendacious
(adj) lying, habitually dishonest
296
Mercurial
(adj) quickly unpredictably changing moods; fickle, flighty
297
Metamorphosis
(n) a complete change or transformer (in biology, a change such as a caterpillar becoming a pupa and then a butterfly)
298
Meticulous
(adj) taking extreme care in regards to details; precise, fussy
299
Mitigate
(v) make less severe; lessen or moderate (damage, grief, pain, etc.)
300
Modest
(adj) humble; simple rather than showy; decent (esp. "covering up" in terms of dress); small, limited
301
Mollify
(v) calm or soothe (an angry person); lessen or soften
302
Monotony
(n) sameness or repetitiousness to the point of being boring; lack of variation, uniformity, esp. repetition in sound
303
Moreover
(adv) besides; in addition to what was just stated
304
Mores
(n) customs, manners, or morals of a particular group
305
Mundane
(adj) common, ordinary, everyday
306
Naive
(adj) simple and unsophisticated, unsuspecting, lacking worldly experience and critical judgment
307
Nascent
(adj) coming into existence, still developing
308
Negate
(v) deny or refute; make void or cause to be ineffective
309
Net
(adj, v) remaining after expenses or other factors have been deducted; ultimate (adj); to bring in as profit or to catch as in a net (verb)
310
Nevertheless/Nonetheless
(adv) however, even so, despite that
311
Notoriety
(n) ill fame; the state of being well-known for a disgraceful reason
312
Novel
(adj) new, fresh, original
313
Nuance
(n) a subtle difference in tone, meaning, and expression
314
Objective
(adj) factual, related to reality or physical objects; not influenced by emotions, unbiased
315
Obsequious
(adj) servile, very compliant, fawning
316
Obsolete
(adj) out of date, no longer in use
317
Obstinate
(adj) stubborn or hard to control
318
Obviate
(v) prevent, eliminate, or make unnecessary
319
Occult
(n, adj, v) the supernatural (noun); pertaining to magic, astrology, etc.; mysterious, secret or hidden (adj); to hide, to shut off from view
320
Offhand
(adj) casual, informal; done without preparation or forethought; rude in a short way, brusque
321
Officious
(adj) excessively eager in giving unwanted advice or intruding where one is not wanted; meddlesome, pushy
322
Offset
(v, n) counteract, compensate for (verb); a counterbalance (noun)
323
Onerous
(adj) burdensome, oppressive, hard to endure
324
Opaque
(adj) not translucent; not allowing light, hear, etc. to pass through; dark, dull, unclear or stupid
325
Optimal/Optimum
(adj) best, most desirable or favorable
326
Orthodox
(adj) adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to anything customary or commonly accepted
327
Oscillate
(v) swing back and forth; waver, change one's mind
328
Outstrip
(v) surpass, exceed; be larger or better than; leave behind
329
Overshadow
(v) cast a shadow over, darken; dominate, make to seem less important
330
Paradigm
(n) model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc.
331
Paradox
(n) contradiction, or seeming contradiction that is actually true
332
Pariah
(n) social outcast, untouchable
333
Partial
(adj) biased, prejudiced, favoring one over the others; having a special liking for something or someone (usually partial to)
334
Partisan
(adj, n) devoted to a particular group, cause, etc. (adj); fervent supporter of a group, party, idea, etc.; guerilla fighter (noun)
335
Patent
(adj, n) obvious, apparent, plain to see (adj); a letter from the government guaranteeing an inventor rights to his or her invention (noun)
336
Pathological
(adj) relating to or caused by disease; relating to compulsive bad behavior
337
Patronizing
(adj) condescending, having a superior manner, treating as an inferior
338
Paucity
(n) scarcity, the state of being small in number
339
Peccadillo
(n) small sin or fault
340
Pedestrian
(adj) ordinary, dull, commonplace
341
Penchant
(n) liking or inclination
342
Perfidious
(adj) disloyal, treacherous, violating one's trust
343
Peripheral
(adj) relating to or making up an outer boundary or region; not of primary importance
344
Permeate
(v) spread or penetrate throughout
345
Pervasive
(adj) tending to spread throughout
346
Philanthropy
(n) efforts to improve the well-being of humankind, generally through giving money
347
Phony
(adj) fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine
348
Pious
(adj) devout; religiously reverent and dutiful
349
Pith
(n) core, essence; significance or weight
350
Placate
(v) satisfy or calm down (angry or dissatisfied person), esp. by conciliatory gestures
351
Placid
(adj) peaceful, calm, tranquil
352
Plastic
(adj) able to be shaped or formed; easily influenced
353
Plausible
(n) believable; having the appearance of truth
354
Plummet
(v) plunge, fall straight down
355
Polarized
(adj) divided into sharply opposed groups
356
Ponderous
(adj) heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull, labored
357
Posthumous
(adj) happening or continuing after death
358
Potentate
(n) ruler, person of great power
359
Pragmatic
(adj) practical; dealing with actual facts and reality
360
Pre-empt
(v) prevent; take the place of, supplant; take before someone else can
361
Preamble
(n) introductory statement, preface
362
Precarious
(adj) unstable, insecure, dangerous
363
Precursor
(n) something that comes before, esp. something that also announces or suggests something on its way
364
Predisposed
(adj) having an inclination or tendency beforehand; susceptible
365
Presumptive
(adj) based on inference or assumption; providing reasonable grounds for belief
366
Presumptuous
(adj) too bold or forward; going beyond that which is proper
367
Pretentious
(adj) claiming or demanding a position of importance or dignity, esp. when unjustified; showing off creating deceptive, false show of worth
368
Principled
(adj) having high moral standards
369
Pristine
(adj) in an original, pure state; uncorrupted
370
Probity
(n) honesty, integrity
371
Prodigal
(adj) wasteful, extravagant; giving abundantly, lavish
372
Prodigious
(adj) extraordinarily large, impressive, etc.
373
Profligate
(adj) completely and shamelessly immoral, or extremely wasteful
374
Profound
(adj) very insightful, penetrating deeply into a subject; pervasive intense, "down to the very bottom;" at the very bottom
375
Profuse
(adj) abundant, extravagant, giving or given freely
376
Prohibitive
(adj) tending to forbid something, or serving to prevent something
377
Proliferate
(v) increase or spread rapidly or excessively
378
Prologue
(n) introductory part to a book, play, etc.
379
Pronounced
(adj) distinct, strong, clearly indicated
380
Propriety
(n) conforming to good manners or appropriate behavior; justness
381
Prosaic
(adj) dull, ordinary
382
Proscribe
(v) prohibit, outlaw; denounce; exile or banish
383
Prospective
(adj) potential, in the future
384
Prudent
(adj) wise in practical matters, carefully providing for the future
385
Pugnacious
(adj) inclined to fight, combative
386
Qualified
(adj) modified, limited, conditional on something else
387
Quandary
(n) uncertainty or confusion about what to do, dilemma
388
Quibble
(v) make trivial arguments or criticisms, find faults in a petty way, esp. to evade something more important
389
Quotidian
(adj) daily; everyday, ordinary
390
Ranks
(n) personnel; a group of people considered all together
391
Reap
(v) harvest, such as by cutting; gather; get as a result of one's effort
392
Recluse
(n) person who lives in seclusion
393
Refute
(v) prove to be false
394
Relegate
(v) send or commit to an inferior place, rank, condition, etc.; exile, banish; assign (a task) to someone else
395
Remedial
(adj) providing a remedy, curative; correcting a deficient skill
396
Render
(v) give, submit, surrender; translate; declare formally; cause to become
397
Replete
(adj) supplied in abundance, filled, gorged (used with with)
398
Reproach
(n, v) blame, disgrace (noun); criticize, express disappointment in (verb)
399
Repudiate
(v) reject, cast off, deny that something has authority
400
Requite
(v) reciprocate, repay, or revenge
401
Rescind
(v) annul, repeal, make void
402
Resolution
(n) the quality of being firmly determined; resolving to do something; a formal judgment, esp. decided by a vote
403
Resolve
(v, n) find a solution to; firmly decide to do something; decide by formal vote (verb); firmness of purpose (noun)
404
Respectively
(adv) in the order given
405
Restive
(adj) impatient or uneasy under the control of another; resisting being controlled
406
Reticent
(adj) not talking much; private (of a person), restrained, reserved
407
Retrospective
(adj, n) looking to the past or backward; applying to the past, retroactive (adj); an art exhibit of an artist's work over a long period of time (n)
408
Reverent
(adj) feeling or expressing very deep respect and awe
409
Rhetoric
(n) the art or study of persuasion through speaking or writing; language that is elaborate or pretentious but actually empty, meaning little
410
Rife
(adj) happening frequently, abundant, currently being reported
411
Rudimentary
(adj) elementary, relating to the basics; undeveloped, primitive
412
Rustic
(adj, n) relating to country life, unsophisticated; primitive; made of rough wood (adj); a rural or uncultured person (noun)
413
Sacrosanct
(adj) sacred, inviolable, not to be trespassed on or violated; above any criticism
414
Sagacious
(adj) wise; showing good judgment and foresight
415
Salubrious
(adj) healthful, promoting health
416
Sanction
(n, v) permission or approval, something that gives support or authority to something else (noun); to allow, confirm, ratify (verb); OR a legal action against another country to get it to comply (noun); to place sanctions or penalties on (verb)
417
Sanguine
(adj) cheerfully optimistic, hopeful; reddish, ruddy (as in rosy-red cheeks indicating health or vitality)
418
Sap
(n, v) the inner fluid of a plant or any essential body fluid; energy, vitality; a person taken advantage of (noun); undermine, weaken, tire out (verb)
419
Satiate or Sate
(v) to fully satisfy; to go beyond satisfying to the point of excess (possibly inducing disgust, tiredness, etc.)
420
Saturate
(v) soak or imbue thoroughly; cause a substance to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance
421
Savor
(v) appreciate fully, taste or smell with pleasure
422
Scant
(adj) not enough or barely enough
423
Scathing
(adj) severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or critical (as a remark)
424
Secular
(adj) not religious or holy; pertaining to worldly things
425
Sedulous
(adj) persevering, persistent, diligent in one's efforts
426
Sentient
(adj) conscious; experiencing sensation or perceiving with the senses
427
Simultaneous
(adj) at the same time
428
Skeptic
(adj) person inclined to doubting or questioning generally accepted beliefs
429
Skirt
(v) border, lie along the edge of , go around; evade
430
Slack
(adj, v, n) loose, negligent, lazy, weak (adj); neglect to so one's duties; loosen up, relax (verb); period of little work (noun)
431
Slew
(n) a large number or quantity
432
Slight
(adj, v, n) small, not very important, slender or delicate (adj); treat as though not very important; snub, ignore (verb); an act of treating in this way, a discourtesy (noun)
433
Solicitous
(adj) concerned or anxious (about another person), expressing care; eager or desirous; very careful
434
Soporific
(adj, n) causing sleep; sleepy, drowsy (adj); something that causes sleep (noun)
435
Sound
(v) measure the depth of (usually water) as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand (usually as sound the depths)
436
Spartan
(adj) very disciplined and stern; frugal, living simply, austere; suggestive of the ancient Spartans
437
Spate
(n) sudden outpouring or rush; flood
438
Spearhead
(v) be the leader of
439
Specious
(adj) seemingly true but actually false; deceptively attractive
440
Spectrum
(n) a broad range of nevertheless related qualities or ideas, esp. those that overlap to create a continuous series (as in a color spectrum, where each color blends into the next in a continuous way)
441
Speculate
(v) contemplate; make a guess or educated guess about; engage in a risky business transaction, gamble
442
Sporadic
(adj) occasional, happening irregularly or in scattered locations
443
Sportive
(adj) playful, merry, joking around, done "in sport" (rather than intended seriously)
444
Standing
(n, adj) status, rank, reputation (noun); existing indefinitely, not movable (adj)
445
Stark
(adj) complete, total, utter; harsh or grim; extremely simple, severe, blunt, or plain
446
Static
(adj) fixed, not moving or changing, lacking vitality
447
Status Quo
(n) existing state or condition
448
Stingy
(adj) not generous with money, reluctant to spend or give
449
Stoic or Stoical
(adj, n) indifferent to pleasure or pain, enduring without complaint (adj); person indifferent to pleasure or pain (noun)
450
Stolid
(adj) unemotional, showing little emotion, not easily moved
451
Stymie or Stymy
(v, n) block, hinder, or thwart (verb); an obstacle (noun)
452
Subjective
(adj) existing in the mind or relating to one's own thoughts, opinions, emotions, etc.; personal, individual, based on feelings
453
Subside
(v) sink, settle down, become less active; return to a normal level
454
Substantiate
(v) support with evidence or proof; give a material existence to
455
Succeeding
(adj) coming after or following
456
Supersede
(v) replace, take the position of, cause to be disregarded as void or obsolete
457
Supplicate
(v) pray humbly; ask, beg, or seek in a humble way
458
Surfeit
(n) excess, excessive amount, overindulgence
459
Surmise
(v) guess, infer, think, or make an opinion with incomplete information
460
Sycophant
(n) servile flatterer, parasitic person, one who fawns in order to get ahead
461
Synchronous
(adj) happening at the same time; occurring at the same rate and thus happening together repeatedly
462
Table
(v) lay aside to discuss later, often as a way to postpone discussion indefinitely
463
Tacit
(adj) understood without being said; implied, not stated directly; silent
464
Taciturn
(adj) not talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation
465
Tangential
(adj) only slightly relevant, going off topic
466
Temperance
(n) moderation, self-control, esp. regarding alcohol or other desires or pleasures; total abstinence from alcohol
467
Tenuous
(adj) long and thin, slender; flimsy, having little substance
468
Timely
(adj) well-timed, happening at a suitable time
469
Timorous
(adj) fearful, timid
470
Tirade
(n) bitter, abusive criticism or verbal attack
471
Torpor
(n) sluggishness, lethargy, or apathy; a period of inactivity
472
Torrid
(adj) very hot, parching, burning; passionate
473
Tractable
(adj) easily controlled or managed, docile; easily shaped or molded
474
Transitory
(adj) temporary, short-lived, not lasting
475
Trifling
(adj) trivial, not very important; so small as to be unimportant; frivolous, shallow
476
Trite
(adj) lacking freshness or originality, lacking effectiveness due to overuse, cliche
477
Ubiquitous
(adj) existing everywhere at the same time
478
Undermine
(v) weaken cause to collapse by digging away at the foundation (of a building or an argument); injure or attack in a secretive or underhanded way
479
Underscore
(v) emphasize (or, literally, to underline text)
480
Unearth
(v) dig up, uncover, expose
481
Unequivocal
(adj) unambiguous, clear, absolute; having only one possible meaning
482
Unprecedented
(adj) never before known or seen, without having happened previously
483
Unseemly
(adj) improper, inappropriate, against the rules of taste or politeness
484
Vacillate
(v) waver in one's mind or opinions, be indecisive
485
Venerate
(v) revere, regard with deep respect and awe
486
Veracity
(n) truthfulness, accuracy; habitual adherence to the truth
487
Verbose
(adj) wordy
488
Viable
(adj) capable of living (or growing, developing, etc.); practical, workable
489
Vintage
(adj, n) related to items of high quality from a previous era, old-fashioned, antique (adj); the wine of a particular year (noun)
490
Virtual
(adj) existing only in the mind or by means of a computer network; existing in results or in essence but not officially or in name
491
Vituperate
(v) verbally abuse, rebuke or criticize harshly
492
Volatile
(adj) varying, inconstant, fleeting; tending to violence, explosive
493
Warranted
(adj) justified, authorized (warrant can mean to justify or a justification, but can also mean to vouch for or guarantee)
494
Wary
(adj) watchful, motivated by caution, on guard against danger
495
Whereas
(conjunction) while on the contrary, considering that
496
Whimsical
(adj) marked or motivated by whims (odd, fanciful ideas); erratic, unpredictable
497
Wily
(adj) crafty, cunning, characterized by tricks or artifice
498
Zeal
(n) great fervor or enthusiasm for a cause, person, etc.; tireless diligence in furthering that cause; passion, ardor
499
zenith
(n) high point, culmination
