SAT Vocab Flashcards
Define the term ‘abase.’
To humiliate, degrade.
Example sentence: After being overthrown and abased, the deposed leader offered to bow down to his conqueror.
Define the term ‘abate.’
To reduce, lessen.
Example sentence: The rain poured down for a while, then abated.
Define the term ‘abdicate.’
To give up a position, usually one of leadership.
Example sentence: When he realized that the revolutionaries would surely win, the king abdicated his throne.
Define the term ‘abduct.’
To kidnap, take by force.
Example sentence: The evildoers abducted the fairy princess from her happy home.
Define the term ‘aberration.’
Something that differs from the norm.
Example sentence: In 1918, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series, but the success turned out to be an aberration, and the Red Sox have not won a World Series since.
Define the term ‘abet.’
To aid, help, encourage.
Example sentence: The spy succeeded only because he had a friend on the inside to abet him.
Define the term ‘abhor.’
To hate, detest.
Example sentence: Because he always wound up kicking himself in the head when he tried to play soccer, Oswald began to abhor the sport.
Define the term ‘abide.’
- To put up with. 2. To remain.
Example sentence: 1. Though he did not agree with the decision, Chuck decided to abide by it. 2. Despite the beating they’ve taken from the weather throughout the millennia, the mountains abide.
Define the term ‘abject.’
Wretched, pitiful.
Example sentence: After losing all her money, falling into a puddle, and breaking her ankle, Eloise was abject.
Define the term ‘abjure.’
To reject, renounce.
Example sentence: To prove his honesty, the President abjured the evil policies of his wicked predecessor.
Define the term ‘abnegation.’
Denial of comfort to oneself.
Example sentence: The holy man slept on the floor, took only cold showers, and generally followed other practices of abnegation.
Define the term ‘abort.’
To give up on a half-finished project or effort.
Example sentence: After they ran out of food, the men, attempting to jump rope around the world, had to abort and go home.
Define the term ‘abridge.’
- To cut down, shorten. 2. Shortened.
Example sentence: 1. The publisher thought the dictionary was too long and abridged it. 2. Moby-Dick is such a long book that even the abridged version is longer than most normal books.
Define the term ‘abrogate.’
To abolish, usually by authority.
Example sentence: The Bill of Rights assures that the government cannot abrogate our right to a free press.
Define the term ‘abscond.’
To sneak away and hide.
Example sentence: In the confusion, the super-spy absconded into the night with the secret plans.
Define the term ‘absolution.’
Freedom from blame, guilt, sin.
Example sentence: Once all the facts were known, the jury gave Angela absolution by giving a verdict of not guilty.
Define the term ‘abstain.’
To freely choose not to commit an action.
Example sentence: Everyone demanded that Angus put on the kilt, but he did not want to do it and abstained.
Define the term ‘abstruse.’
Hard to comprehend.
Example sentence: Everyone else in the class understood geometry easily, but John found the subject abstruse.
Define the term ‘accede’.
to agree
Example sentence: When the class asked the teacher whether they could play baseball instead of learn grammar, they expected him to refuse, but instead he acceded to their request.
Define the term ‘accentuate’.
to stress, highlight
Example sentence: Psychologists agree that those people who are happiest accentuate the positive in life.
Define the term ‘accessible’.
obtainable, reachable
Example sentence: After studying with SparkNotes and getting a great score on the SAT, Marlena happily realized that her goal of getting into an Ivy-League college was accessible.
Define the term ‘acclaim’.
high praise
Example sentence: Greg’s excellent poem won the acclaim of his friends.
Define the term ‘accolade’.
high praise, special distinction
Example sentence: Everyone offered accolades to Sam after he won the Nobel Prize.
Define the term ‘accommodating’.
helpful, obliging, polite
Example sentence: Though the apartment was not big enough for three people, Arnold, Mark, and Zebulon were all friends and were accommodating to each other.
Define the term ‘accord’.
an agreement
Example sentence: After much negotiating, England and Iceland finally came to a mutually beneficial accord about fishing rights off the cost of Greenland.
Define the term ‘accost’.
to confront verbally
Example sentence: Though Antoinette was normally quite calm, when the waiter spilled soup on her for the fourth time in 15 minutes, she stood up and accosted the man.
Define the term ‘accretion’.
slow growth in size or amount
Example sentence: Stalactites are formed by the accretion of minerals from the roofs of caves.
Define the term ‘acerbic’.
biting, bitter in tone or taste
Example sentence: Jill became extremely acerbic and began to cruelly make fun of all her friends.
Define the term ‘acquiesce’.
to agree without protesting
Example sentence: Though Mr. Correlli wanted to stay outside and work in his garage, when his wife told him that he had better come in to dinner, he acquiesced to her demands.
Define the term ‘acrimony’.
bitterness, discord
Example sentence: Though they vowed that no girl would ever come between them, Biff and Trevor could not keep acrimony from overwhelming their friendship after they both fell in love with the lovely Teresa.
Define the term ‘acumen’.
keen insight
Example sentence: Because of his mathematical acumen, Larry was able to figure out in minutes problems that took other students hours.
Define the term ‘acute’.
- sharp, severe; 2. having keen insight
Example sentence: 1. Arnold could not walk because the pain in his foot was so acute. 2. Because she was so acute, Libby instantly figured out how the magician pulled off his ‘magic’.
Define the term ‘adamant’.
impervious, immovable, unyielding
Example sentence: Though public pressure was intense, the President remained adamant about his proposal.
Define the term ‘adept’.
extremely skilled
Example sentence: Tarzan was adept at jumping from tree to tree like a monkey.
Define the term ‘adhere’.
- to stick to something; 2. to follow devoutly
Example sentence: 1. We adhered the poster to the wall with tape. 2. He adhered to the dictates of his religion without question.
Define the term ‘admonish’.
to caution, criticize, reprove
Example sentence: Joe’s mother admonished him not to ruin his appetite by eating cookies before dinner.
Define the term ‘adorn’.
to decorate
Example sentence: We adorned the tree with ornaments.
Define the term ‘adroit’.
skillful, dexterous
Example sentence: The adroit thief could pick someone’s pocket without attracting notice.
Define the term ‘adulation’.
extreme praise
Example sentence: Though the book was pretty good, Marcy did not believe it deserved the adulation it received.
Define the term ‘adumbrate’.
to sketch out in a vague way
Example sentence: The coach adumbrated a game plan, but none of the players knew precisely what to do.
Define the term ‘adverse’.
antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous
Example sentence: Because of adverse conditions, the hikers decided to give up trying to climb the mountain.
Define the term ‘advocate’.
- to argue in favor of something; 2. a person who argues in favor of something
Example sentence: 1. Arnold advocated turning left at the stop sign, even though everyone else thought we should turn right. 2. In addition to wanting to turn left at every stop sign, Arnold was also a great advocate of increasing national defense spending.
Define the term ‘aerial’.
somehow related to the air
Example sentence: We watched as the fighter planes conducted aerial maneuvers.
Define the term ‘aesthetic’.
artistic, related to the appreciation of beauty
Example sentence: We hired Susan as our interior decorator because she has such a fine aesthetic sense.
Define the term ‘affable’.
friendly, amiable
Example sentence: People like to be around George because he is so affable and good-natured.
Define the term ‘affinity’.
a spontaneous feeling of closeness
Example sentence: Jerry didn’t know why, but he felt an incredible affinity for Kramer the first time they met.
Define the term ‘affluent’.
rich, wealthy
Example sentence: Mrs. Grebelski was affluent, owning a huge house, three cars, and an island near Maine.
Define the term ‘affront’.
an insult
Example sentence: Bernardo was very touchy and took any slight as an affront to his honor.
Define the term ‘aggrandize’.
to increase or make greater
Example sentence: Joseph always dropped the names of the famous people his father knew as a way to aggrandize his personal stature.
Define the term ‘aggregate’.
- a whole or total; 2. to gather into a mass
Example sentence: 1. The three branches of the U.S. Government form an aggregate much more powerful than its individual parts. 2. The dictator tried to aggregate as many people into his army as he possibly could.
Define the term ‘aggrieved’.
distressed, wronged, injured
Example sentence: The foreman mercilessly overworked his aggrieved employees.
Define the term ‘agile’.
quick, nimble
Example sentence: The dogs were too slow to catch the agile rabbit.
Define the term ‘agnostic’.
believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven
Example sentence: Joey’s parents are very religious, but he is agnostic.
Define the term ‘agriculture’.
farming
Example sentence: It was a huge step in the progress of civilization when tribes left hunting and gathering and began to develop more sustainable methods of obtaining food, such as agriculture.
Define the term ‘aisle’.
a passageway between rows of seats
Example sentence: Once we got inside the stadium, we walked down the aisle to our seats.
Define the term ‘alacrity’.
eagerness, speed
Example sentence: For some reason, Chuck loved to help his mother whenever he could, so when his mother asked him to set the table, he did so with alacrity.
Define the term ‘alias’.
a false name or identity
Example sentence: He snuck past the guards by using an alias and fake ID.
Define the term ‘allay’.
to soothe, ease
Example sentence: The chairman of the Federal Reserve gave a speech to try to allay investors’ fears about an economic downturn.
Define the term ‘allege’.
to assert, usually without proof
Example sentence: The policeman had alleged that Marshall committed the crime, but after the investigation turned up no evidence, Marshall was set free.
Define the term ‘alleviate.’
To relieve, make more bearable
Example sentence: This drug will alleviate the symptoms of the terrible disease, but only for a while.
Define the term ‘allocate.’
To distribute, set aside
Example sentence: The Mayor allocated 30 percent of the funds for improving the town’s schools.
Define the term ‘aloof.’
Reserved, distant
Example sentence: The scientist could sometimes seem aloof, as if he didn’t care about his friends or family, but really he was just thinking about quantum mechanics.
Define the term ‘altercation.’
A dispute, fight
Example sentence: Jason and Lionel blamed one another for the car accident, leading to an altercation.
Define the term ‘amalgamate.’
To bring together, unite
Example sentence: Because of his great charisma, the presidential candidate was able to amalgamate all Democrats and Republicans under his banner.
Define the term ‘ambiguous.’
Uncertain, variably interpretable
Example sentence: Some people think Caesar married Cleopatra for her power, others believe he was charmed by her beauty. His actual reasons are ambiguous.
Define the term ‘ambivalent.’
Having opposing feelings
Example sentence: My feelings about Calvin are ambivalent because on one hand he is a loyal friend, but on the other, he is a cruel and vicious thief.
Define the term ‘ameliorate.’
To improve
Example sentence: The tense situation was ameliorated when Sam proposed a solution everyone could agree upon.
Define the term ‘amenable.’
Willing, compliant
Example sentence: Our father was amenable when we asked him to drive us to the farm so we could go apple picking.
Define the term ‘amenity.’
An item that increases comfort
Example sentence: Bill Gates’s house is stocked with so many amenities, he never has to do anything for himself.
Define the term ‘amiable.’
Friendly
Example sentence: An amiable fellow, Harry got along with just about everyone.
Define the term ‘amicable.’
Friendly
Example sentence: Claudia and Jimmy got divorced, but amicably and without hard feelings.
Define the term ‘amorous.’
Showing love, particularly sexual
Example sentence: Whenever Albert saw Mariah wear her slinky red dress, he began to feel quite amorous.
Define the term ‘amorphous.’
Without definite shape or type
Example sentence: The effort was doomed from the start because the reasons behind it were so amorphous and hard to pin down.
Define the term ‘anachronistic.’
Being out of correct chronological order
Example sentence: In this book you’re writing, you say that the Pyramids were built after the Titanic sank, which is anachronistic.
Define the term ‘analgesic.’
Something that reduces pain
Example sentence: Put this analgesic on the wound so that the poor man at least feels a little better.
Define the term ‘analogous.’
Similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn
Example sentence: Though they are unrelated genetically, the bone structure of whales and fish is quite analogous.
Define the term ‘anarchist.’
One who wants to eliminate all government
Example sentence: An anarchist, Carmine wanted to dissolve every government everywhere.
Define the term ‘anathema.’
A cursed, detested person
Example sentence: I never want to see that murderer. He is an anathema to me.
Define the term ‘anecdote.’
A short, humorous account
Example sentence: After dinner, Marlon told an anecdote about the time he got his nose stuck in a toaster.
Define the term ‘anesthesia.’
Loss of sensation
Example sentence: When the nerves in his spine were damaged, Mr. Hollins suffered anesthesia in his legs.
Define the term ‘anguish.’
Extreme sadness, torment
Example sentence: Angelos suffered terrible anguish when he learned that Buffy had died while combating a strange mystical force of evil.
Define the term ‘animated.’
Lively
Example sentence: When he begins to talk about drama, which is his true passion, he becomes very animated.
Define the term ‘annex.’
- To incorporate territory or space. 2. A room attached to a larger room or space.
Example sentence: 1. After defeating them in battle, the Russians annexed Poland. 2. He likes to do his studying in a little annex attached to the main reading room in the library.
Define the term ‘annul.’
To make void or invalid
Example sentence: After seeing its unforeseen and catastrophic effects, Congress sought to annul the law.
Define the term ‘anomaly.’
Something that does not fit into the normal order
Example sentence: ‘That rip in the space-time continuum is certainly a spatial anomaly,’ said Spock to Captain Kirk.
Define the term ‘anonymous.’
Being unknown, unrecognized
Example sentence: Mary received a love poem from an anonymous admirer.
Define the term ‘antagonism.’
Hostility
Example sentence: Superman and Bizarro Superman shared a mutual antagonism and often fought.
Define the term ‘antecedent.’
Something that came before
Example sentence: The great tradition of Western culture had its antecedent in the culture of Ancient Greece.
Define the term ‘antediluvian.’
Ancient
Example sentence: The antediluvian man still believed that Eisenhower was president of the United States and that hot dogs cost a nickel.
What does the term ‘anthology’ mean?
a selected collection of writings, songs, etc.
Example sentence: The new anthology of Bob Dylan songs contains all his greatest hits and a few songs that you might never have heard before.
What does the term ‘antipathy’ mean?
a strong dislike, repugnance
Example sentence: I know you love me, but because you are a liar and a thief, I feel nothing but antipathy for you.
What does the term ‘antiquated’ mean?
old, out of date
Example sentence: That antiquated car has none of the features, like power windows and steering, that make modern cars so great.
What does the term ‘antiseptic’ mean?
clean, sterile
Example sentence: The antiseptic hospital was very bare, but its cleanliness helped to keep patients healthy.
What does the term ‘antithesis’ mean?
the absolute opposite
Example sentence: Your values, which hold war and violence in the highest esteem, are the antithesis of my pacifist beliefs.
What does the term ‘anxiety’ mean?
intense uneasiness
Example sentence: When he heard about the car crash, he felt anxiety because he knew that his girlfriend had been driving on the road where the accident occurred.
What does the term ‘apathetic’ mean?
lacking concern, emotion
Example sentence: Uninterested in politics, Bruno was apathetic about whether he lived under a capitalist or communist regime.
What does the term ‘apocryphal’ mean?
fictitious, false, wrong
Example sentence: Because I am standing before you, it seems obvious that the stories circulating about my demise were apocryphal.
What does the term ‘appalling’ mean?
inspiring shock, horror, disgust
Example sentence: The judge found the murderer’s crimes and lack of remorse appalling.
What does the term ‘appease’ mean?
to calm, satisfy
Example sentence: When the child cries, the mother gives him candy to appease him.
What does the term ‘appraise’ mean?
to assess the worth or value of
Example sentence: A realtor will come over tonight to appraise our house.
What are the two meanings of the term ‘apprehend’?
- to seize, arrest
- to perceive, understand, grasp
Example sentence (meaning 1): The criminal was apprehended at the scene.
Example sentence (meaning 2): The student has trouble apprehending concepts in math and science.
What does the term ‘approbation’ mean?
praise
Example sentence: The crowd welcomed the heroes with approbation.
What does the term ‘appropriate’ mean?
to take, make use of
Example sentence: The government appropriated the farmer’s land without justification.
What does the term ‘aquatic’ mean?
relating to water
Example sentence: The marine biologist studies starfish and other aquatic creatures.
What does the term ‘arable’ mean?
suitable for growing crops
Example sentence: The farmer purchased a plot of arable land on which he will grow corn and sprouts.
What does the term ‘arbiter’ mean?
one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision
Example sentence: The divorce court judge will serve as the arbiter between the estranged husband and wife.
What does the term ‘arbitrary’ mean?
based on factors that appear random
Example sentence: The boy’s decision to choose one college over another seems arbitrary.
What does the term ‘arbitration’ mean?
the process or act of resolving a dispute
Example sentence: The employee sought official arbitration when he could not resolve a disagreement with his supervisor.
What does the term ‘arboreal’ mean?
of or relating to trees
Example sentence: Leaves, roots, and bark are a few arboreal traits.
What does the term ‘arcane’ mean?
obscure, secret, known only by a few
Example sentence: The professor is an expert in arcane Lithuanian literature.
What does the term ‘archaic’ mean?
of or relating to an earlier period in time, outdated
Example sentence: In a few select regions of Western Mongolian, an archaic Chinese dialect is still spoken.
What does the term ‘archetypal’ mean?
the most representative or typical example of something
Example sentence: Some believe George Washington, with his flowing white hair and commanding stature, was the archetypal politician.
What does the term ‘ardor’ mean?
extreme vigor, energy, enthusiasm
Example sentence: The soldiers conveyed their ardor with impassioned battle cries.
What does the term ‘arid’ mean?
excessively dry
Example sentence: Little other than palm trees and cacti grow successfully in arid environments.
What does the term ‘arrogate’ mean?
to take without justification
Example sentence: The king arrogated the right to order executions to himself exclusively.
What does the term ‘artifact’ mean?
a remaining piece from an extinct culture or place
Example sentence: The scientists spent all day searching the cave for artifacts from the ancient Mayan civilization.
What does the term ‘artisan’ mean?
a craftsman
Example sentence: The artisan uses wood to make walking sticks.
What does the term ‘ascertain’ mean?
to perceive, learn
Example sentence: With a bit of research, the student ascertained that some plants can live for weeks without water.
What does the term ‘ascetic’ mean?
practicing restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious
Example sentence: The priest lives an ascetic life devoid of television, savory foods, and other pleasures.
What does the term ‘ascribe’ mean?
to assign, credit, attribute to
Example sentence: Some ascribe the invention of fireworks and dynamite to the Chinese.
What does the term ‘aspersion’ mean?
a curse, expression of ill-will
Example sentence: The rival politicians repeatedly cast aspersions on each other’s integrity.
What does the term ‘aspire’ mean?
to long for, aim toward
Example sentence: The young poet aspires to publish a book of verse someday.
What does the term ‘assail’ mean?
to attack
Example sentence: At dawn, the war planes assailed the boats in the harbor.
Define the term ‘assess (v.).
to evaluate
Example sentence: A crew arrived to assess the damage after the crash.
Define the term ‘assiduous (adj.).
hard-working, diligent
Example sentence: The construction workers erected the skyscraper during two years of assiduous labor.
Define the term ‘assuage (v.).
to ease, pacify
Example sentence: The mother held the baby to assuage its fears.
Define the term ‘astute (adj.).
very clever, crafty
Example sentence: Much of Roger’s success in politics results from his ability to provide astute answers to reporters’ questions.
Define the term ‘asylum (n.)’ (definition 1).
a place of refuge, protection, a sanctuary
Example sentence: For Thoreau, the forest served as an asylum from the pressures of urban life.
Define the term ‘asylum (n.)’ (definition 2).
an institution in which the insane are kept
Example sentence: Once diagnosed by a certified psychiatrist, the man was put in an asylum.
Define the term ‘atone (v.).
to repent, make amends
Example sentence: The man atoned for forgetting his wife’s birthday by buying her five dozen roses.
Define the term ‘atrophy (v.).
to wither away, decay
Example sentence: If muscles do not receive enough blood, they will soon atrophy and die.
Define the term ‘attain (v.).
to achieve, arrive at
Example sentence: The athletes strived to attain their best times in competition.
Define the term ‘attribute (v.)’ (definition 1).
to credit, assign
Example sentence: He attributes all of his success to his mother’s undying encouragement.
Define the term ‘attribute (n.)’ (definition 2).
a facet or trait
Example sentence: Among the beetle’s most peculiar attributes is its thorny protruding eyes.
Define the term ‘atypical (adj.).
not typical, unusual
Example sentence: Screaming and crying is atypical adult behavior.
Define the term ‘audacious (adj.).
excessively bold
Example sentence: The security guard was shocked by the fan’s audacious attempt to offer him a bribe.
Define the term ‘audible (adj.).
able to be heard
Example sentence: The missing person’s shouts were unfortunately not audible.
Define the term ‘augment (v.).
to add to, expand
Example sentence: The eager student seeks to augment his knowledge of French vocabulary by reading French literature.
Define the term ‘auspicious (adj.).
favorable, indicative of good things
Example sentence: The tennis player considered the sunny forecast an auspicious sign that she would win her match.
Define the term ‘austere (adj.).
very bare, bleak
Example sentence: The austere furniture inside the abandoned house made the place feel haunted.
Define the term ‘avarice (n.).
excessive greed
Example sentence: The banker’s avarice led him to amass a tremendous personal fortune.
Define the term ‘avenge (v.).
to seek revenge
Example sentence: The victims will take justice into their own hands and strive to avenge themselves against the men who robbed them.
Define the term ‘aversion (n.).
a particular dislike for something
Example sentence: Because he’s from Hawaii, Ben has an aversion to autumn, winter, and cold climates in general.
Define the term ‘balk (v.).
to stop, block abruptly
Example sentence: Edna’s boss balked at her request for another raise.
Define the term ‘ballad (n.).
a love song
Example sentence: Greta’s boyfriend played her a ballad on the guitar during their walk through the dark woods.
Define the term ‘banal (adj.).
dull, commonplace
Example sentence: The client rejected our proposal because they found our presentation banal and unimpressive.
Define the term ‘bane (n.).
a burden
Example sentence: Advanced physics is the bane of many students’ academic lives.
Define the term ‘bard (n.).
a poet, often a singer as well
Example sentence: Shakespeare is often considered the greatest bard in the history of the English language.
Define the term ‘bashful (adj.).
shy, excessively timid
Example sentence: Frankie’s mother told him not to be bashful when he refused to attend the birthday party.
Define the term ‘battery (n.)’ (definition 1).
a device that supplies power
Example sentence: Most cars run on a combination of power from a battery and gasoline.
Define the term ‘battery (n.)’ (definition 2).
assault, beating
Example sentence: Her husband was accused of assault and battery after he attacked a man on the sidewalk.
Define the term ‘beguile (v.).
to trick, deceive
Example sentence: The thief beguiled his partners into surrendering all of their money to him.
Define the term ‘behemoth (n.).
something of tremendous power or size
Example sentence: The new aircraft carrier is among several behemoths that the Air Force has added to its fleet.
Define the term ‘benevolent (adj.).
marked by goodness or doing good
Example sentence: Police officers should be commended for their benevolent service to the community.
Define the term ‘benign (adj.).
favorable, not threatening, mild
Example sentence: We were all relieved to hear that the medical tests determined her tumor to be benign.
Define the term ‘bequeath (v.).
to pass on, give
Example sentence: Jon’s father bequeathed his entire estate to his mother.
Define the term ‘berate (v.).
to scold vehemently
Example sentence: The angry boss berated his employees for failing to meet their deadline.
Define the term ‘bereft (adj.).
devoid of, without
Example sentence: His family was bereft of food and shelter following the tornado.
Define the term ‘beseech (v.).
to beg, plead, implore
Example sentence: The servant beseeched the king for food to feed his starving family.
Define the term ‘bias (n.).
a tendency, inclination, prejudice
Example sentence: The judge’s hidden bias against smokers led him to make an unfair decision.
Define the term ‘bilk (v.).
cheat, defraud
Example sentence: The lawyer discovered that this firm had bilked several clients out of thousands of dollars.
Define the term ‘blandish (v.).
to coax by using flattery
Example sentence: Rachel’s assistant tried to blandish her into accepting the deal.
Define the term ‘blemish (n.).
an imperfection, flaw
Example sentence: The dealer agreed to lower the price because of the many blemishes on the surface of the wooden furniture.
Define the term ‘blight (n.)’ (definition 1).
a plague, disease
Example sentence: The potato blight destroyed the harvest and bankrupted many families.
Define the term ‘blight (n.)’ (definition 2).
something that destroys hope
Example sentence: His bad morale is a blight upon this entire operation.
Define the term ‘boisterous (adj.).
loud and full of energy
Example sentence: The candidate won the vote after giving several boisterous speeches on television.
Define the term ‘bombastic (adj.).
excessively confident, pompous
Example sentence: The singer’s bombastic performance disgusted the crowd.
Define the term ‘boon (n.).
a gift or blessing
Example sentence: The good weather has been a boon for many businesses located near the beach.
Define the term ‘bourgeois (n.).
a middle-class person, capitalist
Example sentence: Many businessmen receive criticism for their bourgeois approach to life.
Define the term ‘brazen (adj.).
excessively bold, brash
Example sentence: Critics condemned the novelist’s brazen attempt to plagiarize Hemingway’s story.
Define the term ‘brusque (adj.).
short, abrupt, dismissive
Example sentence: The captain’s brusque manner offended the passengers.
Define the term ‘buffet (v.)’ (definition 1).
to strike with force
Example sentence: The strong winds buffeted the ships, threatening to capsize them.
Define the term ‘buffet (n.)’ (definition 2).
an arrangement of food set out on a table
Example sentence: Rather than sitting around a table, the guests took food from our buffet and ate standing up.
Define the term ‘burnish (v.).
to polish, shine
Example sentence: His mother asked him to burnish the silverware before setting the table.
Define the term ‘buttress.’
- (v.) to support, hold up (The column buttresses the roof above the statue.) 2. (n.) something that offers support (The buttress supports the roof above the statues.)
Example sentence: The column buttresses the roof above the statue.
Define the term ‘cacophony.’
(n.) tremendous noise, disharmonious sound (The elementary school orchestra created a cacophony at the recital.)
Example sentence: The sounds coming from the construction site created a cacophony in the neighborhood.
Define the term ‘cadence.’
(n.) a rhythm, progression of sound (The pianist used the foot pedal to emphasize the cadence of the sonata.)
Example sentence: The poet carefully crafted the cadence of the poem to create a melodic flow.
Define the term ‘cajole.’
(v.) to urge, coax (Fred’s buddies cajoled him into attending the bachelor party.)
Example sentence: She cajoled her parents to let her go to the concert by promising to finish all her homework beforehand.
Define the term ‘calamity.’
(n.) an event with disastrous consequences (The earthquake in San Francisco was a calamity worse than any other natural disaster in history.)
Example sentence: The sudden failure of the computer system was a calamity for the company, resulting in a loss of important data.
Define the term ‘calibrate.’
(v.) to set, standardize (The mechanic calibrated the car’s transmission to make the motor run most efficiently.)
Example sentence: The scientist calibrated the instrument to ensure accurate measurements.
Define the term ‘callous.’
(adj.) harsh, cold, unfeeling (The murderer’s callous lack of remorse shocked the jury.)
Example sentence: The boss’s callous behavior towards his employees contributed to low morale in the workplace.
Define the term ‘calumny.’
(n.) an attempt to spoil someone else’s reputation by spreading lies (The local official’s calumny ended up ruining his opponent’s prospect of winning the election.)
Example sentence: The tabloid published a calumny about the celebrity to damage her reputation.
Define the term ‘camaraderie.’
(n.) brotherhood, jovial unity (Camaraderie among employees usually leads to success in business.)
Example sentence: The sports team developed a strong camaraderie, which helped them perform well together on the field.
Define the term ‘candor.’
(n.) honesty, frankness (We were surprised by the candor of the mayor’s speech because he is usually rather evasive.)
Example sentence: She appreciated his candor in sharing his true feelings about the situation.
Define the term ‘canny.’
(adj.) shrewd, careful (The canny runner hung at the back of the pack through much of the race to watch the other runners, and then sprinted past them at the end.)
Example sentence: The canny investor always makes smart financial decisions.
Define the term ‘canvas.’
- (n.) a piece of cloth on which an artist paints (Picasso liked to work on canvas rather than on bare cement.) 2. (v.) to cover, inspect (We canvassed the neighborhood looking for clues.)
Example sentence: The artist used a large canvas to create a mural on the side of the building.
Define the term ‘capacious.’
(adj.) very spacious (The workers delighted in their new capacious office space.)
Example sentence: The house had a capacious living room that was perfect for hosting parties.
Define the term ‘capitulate.’
(v.) to surrender (The army finally capitulated after fighting a long costly battle.)
Example sentence: The hostage takers capitulated when their demands were met by the authorities.
Define the term ‘capricious.’
(adj.) subject to whim, fickle (The young girl’s capricious tendencies made it difficult for her to focus on achieving her goals.)
Example sentence: The weather in this region is notoriously capricious.
Define the term ‘captivate.’
(v.) to get the attention of, hold (The fireworks captivated the young boy, who had never seen such things before.)
Example sentence: The author’s new novel has captivated readers around the world.
Define the term ‘carouse.’
(v.) to party, celebrate (We caroused all night after getting married.)
Example sentence: The friends caroused at the local pub to celebrate their team’s victory.
Define the term ‘carp.’
(v.) to annoy, pester (The husband divorced his wife after listening to her carping voice for decades.)
Example sentence: Please stop carping about the small details and focus on the bigger picture.
Define the term ‘catalog.’
- (v.) to list, enter into a list (The judge cataloged the victim’s injuries before calculating how much money he would award.) 2. (n.) a list or collection (We received a catalog from J. Crew that displayed all of their new items.)
Example sentence: The librarian cataloged the books according to their genres.
Define the term ‘catalyze.’
(v.) to charge, inspire (The president’s speech catalyzed the nation and resuscitated the economy.)
Example sentence: The team’s victory catalyzed a renewed sense of confidence and determination.
Define the term ‘caucus.’
(n.) a meeting usually held by people working toward the same goal (The ironworkers held a caucus to determine how much of a pay increase they would request.)
Example sentence: The political party held a caucus to select their candidate for the upcoming election.
Define the term ‘caustic.’
(adj.) bitter, biting, acidic (The politicians exchanged caustic insults for over an hour during the debate.)
Example sentence: His caustic remarks offended many people in the audience.
Define the term ‘cavort.’
(v.) to leap about, behave boisterously (The adults ate their dinners on the patio, while the children cavorted around the pool.)
Example sentence: The puppies cavorted in the meadow, chasing each other and playing.
Define the term ‘censure.’
- (n.) harsh criticism (The frustrated teenager could not put up with anymore of her critical mother’s censure.) 2. (v.) to rebuke formally (The principal censured the head of the English Department for forcing students to learn esoteric vocabulary.)
Example sentence: The politician faced censure from the public after his controversial comments.
Define the term ‘cerebral.’
(adj.) related to the intellect (The books we read in this class are too cerebral—they don’t engage my emotions at all.)
Example sentence: The professor’s lectures are often cerebral and require critical thinking.
Define the term ‘chaos.’
(n.) absolute disorder (Mr. Thornton’s sudden departure for the lavatory plunged his classroom into chaos.)
Example sentence: The traffic jam caused chaos on the roads, making it difficult for everyone to reach their destinations.
Define the term ‘chastise.’
(v.) to criticize severely (After being chastised by her peers for mimicking Britney Spears, Miranda dyed her hair black and affected a Gothic style.)
Example sentence: The coach chastised the players for their poor performance in the game.
Define the term ‘cherish.’
(v.) to feel or show affection toward something (She continued to cherish her red plaid trousers, even though they had gone out of style and no longer fit her.)
Example sentence: He deeply cherished the memories of his childhood spent at his grandparents’ house.
Define the term ‘chide.’
(v.) to voice disapproval (Lucy chided Russell for his vulgar habits and sloppy appearance.)
Example sentence: The teacher chided the students for talking during the lecture.
Define the term ‘choreography.’
(n.) the arrangement of dances (The plot of the musical was banal, but the choreography was stunning.)
Example sentence: The choreography of the ballet performance was intricate and mesmerizing.
Define the term ‘chronicle.’
- (n.) a written history (The library featured the newly updated chronicle of World War II.) 2. (v.) to write a history (Albert’s diary chronicled the day-to-day growth of his obsession with Cynthia.)
Example sentence: The historian chronicled the events leading up to the revolution in his book.
Define the term ‘chronological.’
(adj.) arranged in order of time (Lionel carefully arranged the snapshots of his former girlfriends in chronological order, and then set fire to them.)
Example sentence: The timeline displayed the events in a chronological order for easy understanding.
Define the term ‘circuitous.’
(adj.) roundabout (The bus’s circuitous route took us through numerous outlying suburbs.)
Example sentence: The hiker took a circuitous path up the mountain, exploring various trails along the way.
Define the term ‘circumlocution.’
(n.) indirect and wordy language (The professor’s habit of speaking in circumlocutions made it difficult to follow his lectures.)
Example sentence: The politician used circumlocution to avoid directly answering the question.
Define the term ‘circumscribed.’
(adj.) marked off, bounded (The children were permitted to play tag only within a carefully circumscribed area of the lawn.)
Example sentence: The pilot was required to fly within a circumscribed airspace.
Define the term ‘circumspect.’
(adj.) cautious (Though I promised Rachel’s father I would bring her home promptly by midnight, it would have been more circumspect not to have specified a time.)
Example sentence: The detective approached the crime scene with a circumspect manner, careful not to disturb any potential evidence.
Define the term ‘circumvent.’
(v.) to get around (The school’s dress code forbidding navel-baring jeans was circumvented by the determined students, who were careful to cover up with long coats when administrators were nearby.)
Example sentence: The hacker found a way to circumvent the security system and gain access to the confidential data.
Define the term ‘clairvoyant.’
(adj.) able to perceive things that normal people cannot (Zelda’s uncanny ability to detect my lies was nothing short of clairvoyant.)
Example sentence: The clairvoyant predicted the outcome of the game with surprising accuracy.
Define the term ‘clamor.’
- (n.) loud noise (Each morning the birds outside my window make such a clamor that they wake me up.) 2. (v.) to loudly insist (Neville’s fans clamored for him to appear on stage, but he had passed out on the floor of his dressing room.)
Example sentence: The protesters’ clamor echoed through the streets, demanding justice.
Define the term ‘clandestine.’
(adj.) secret (Announcing to her boyfriend that she was going to the gym, Sophie actually went to meet Joseph for a clandestine liaison.)
Example sentence: The spies met in a clandestine location to exchange classified information.
Define the term ‘cleave.’
- (v.) to divide into parts (Following the scandalous disgrace of their leader, the entire political party cleaved into warring factions.) 2. (v.) to stick together firmly (After resolving their marital problems, Junior and Rosa cleaved to one another all the more tightly.)
Example sentence: The lumberjack skillfully used his axe to cleave the log into smaller pieces.
Define the term ‘clemency.’
(n.) mercy (After he forgot their anniversary, Martin could only beg Maria for clemency.)
Example sentence: The judge granted clemency to the defendant after considering the extenuating circumstances.
Define the term ‘clergy’.
Members of Christian holy orders.
Though the villagers viewed the church rectory as quaint and charming, the clergy who lived there regarded it as a mildewy and dusty place that aggravated their allergies.
Define the term ‘cloying’.
Sickeningly sweet.
Though Ronald was physically attractive, Maud found his constant compliments and solicitous remarks cloying.
Define the term ‘coagulate’.
To thicken or clot.
The top layer of the pudding had coagulated into a thick skin.
Define the term ‘coalesce’.
To fuse into a whole.
Gordon’s ensemble of thrift-shop garments coalesced into a surprisingly handsome outfit.
Define the term ‘cobbler’.
A person who makes or repairs shoes.
I had my neighborhood cobbler replace my worn-out leather soles with new ones.
Define the term ‘coerce’.
To make somebody do something by force or threat.
The court decided that Vanilla Ice did not have to honor the contract because he had been coerced into signing it.
Define the term ‘cogent’.
Intellectually convincing.
Irene’s arguments in favor of abstinence were so cogent that I could not resist them.
Define the term ‘cognizant’.
Aware, mindful.
Jake avoided speaking to women in bars because he was cognizant of the fact that drinking impairs his judgment.
Define the term ‘coherent’.
Logically consistent, intelligible.
Renee could not figure out what Monroe had seen because he was too distraught to deliver a coherent statement.
Define the term ‘collateral’.
- Secondary
- Security for a debt.
- Divorcing my wife had the collateral effect of making me poor, as she was the only one of us with a job or money.
- Jacob left his watch as collateral for the $500 loan.
Define the term ‘colloquial’.
Characteristic of informal conversation.
Adam’s essay on sexual response in primates was marked down because it contained too many colloquial expressions.
Define the term ‘collusion’.
Secret agreement, conspiracy.
The three law students worked in collusion to steal the final exam.
Define the term ‘colossus’.
A gigantic statue or thing.
For 56 years, the ancient city of Rhodes featured a colossus standing astride its harbor.
Define the term ‘combustion’.
The act or process of burning.
The unexpected combustion of the prosecution’s evidence forced the judge to dismiss the case against Ramirez.
Define the term ‘commendation’.
A notice of approval or recognition.
Jared received a commendation from Linda, his supervisor, for his stellar performance.
Define the term ‘commensurate’.
Corresponding in size or amount.
Ahab selected a very long roll and proceeded to prepare a tuna salad sandwich commensurate with his enormous appetite.
Define the term ‘commodious’.
Roomy.
Holden invited the three women to join him in the back seat of the taxicab, assuring them that the car was quite commodious.
Define the term ‘compelling’.
Forceful, demanding attention.
Eliot’s speech was so compelling that Lenore accepted his proposal on the spot.
Define the term ‘compensate’.
To make an appropriate payment for something.
Reginald bought Sharona a new dress to compensate her for the one he spilled his ice cream on.
Define the term ‘complacency’.
Self-satisfied ignorance of danger.
Colin tried to shock his friends out of their complacency by painting a frightening picture of what might happen to them.
Define the term ‘complement’.
To complete, make perfect.
Ann’s scarf complements her blouse beautifully, making her seem fully dressed even though she isn’t wearing a coat.
Define the term ‘compliant’.
Ready to adapt oneself to another’s wishes.
Sue had very strong opinions about what to do on a first date, and Ted was absolutely compliant.
Define the term ‘complicit’.
Being an accomplice in a wrongful act.
By keeping her daughter’s affair a secret, Maddie became complicit in it.
Define the term ‘compliment’.
An expression of esteem or approval.
I blushed crimson when Emma gave me a compliment on my new haircut.
Define the term ‘compound’.
- To combine parts
- A combination of different parts
- A walled area containing a group of buildings.
- The difficulty of finding a fire escape amid the smoke was compounded with the dangers posed by the panicking crowds.
- My attraction to Donna was a compound of curiosity about the unknown, physical desire, and intellectual admiration.
- When the fighting started, Joseph rushed into the family compound because it was safe and well defended.
Define the term ‘comprehensive’.
Including everything.
She sent me a comprehensive list of the ingredients needed to cook rabbit soufflé.
Define the term ‘compress’.
To apply pressure, squeeze together.
Lynn compressed her lips into a frown.
Define the term ‘compunction’.
Distress caused by feeling guilty.
He felt compunction for the shabby way he’d treated her.
Define the term ‘concede’.
To accept as valid.
Andrew had to concede that what his mother said about Diana made sense.
Define the term ‘conciliatory’.
Friendly, agreeable.
I took Amanda’s invitation to dinner as a very conciliatory gesture.
Define the term ‘concise’.
Brief and direct in expression.
Gordon did not like to waste time, and his instructions to Brenda were nothing if not concise.
Define the term ‘concoct’.
To fabricate, make up.
She concocted the most ridiculous story to explain her absence.
Define the term ‘concomitant’.
Accompanying in a subordinate fashion.
His dislike of hard work carried with it a concomitant lack of funds.
Define the term ‘concord’.
Harmonious agreement.
Julie and Harold began the evening with a disagreement, but ended it in a state of perfect concord.
Define the term ‘condolence’.
An expression of sympathy in sorrow.
Brian lamely offered his condolences on the loss of his sister’s roommate’s cat.
Define the term ‘condone’.
To pardon, deliberately overlook.
He refused to condone his brother’s crime.
Define the term ‘conduit’.
A pipe or channel through which something passes.
The water flowed through the conduit into the container.
Define the term ‘confection’.
A sweet, fancy food.
We went to the mall food court and purchased a delicious confection.
Define the term ‘confidant’.
A person entrusted with secrets.
Shortly after we met, she became my chief confidant.
Define the term ‘conflagration’.
Great fire.
The conflagration consumed the entire building.
Define the term ‘confluence’.
A gathering together.
A confluence of different factors made tonight the perfect night.
Define the term ‘conformist’.
One who behaves the same as others.
Julian was such a conformist that he had to wait and see if his friends would do something before he would commit.
Define the term ‘confound’.
To frustrate, confuse.
MacGuyver confounded the policemen pursuing him by covering his tracks.
Define the term ‘congeal’.
To thicken into a solid.
The sauce had congealed into a thick paste.
Define the term ‘congenial (adj.).’
Pleasantly agreeable
Example sentence: His congenial manner made him popular wherever he went.
Define the term ‘congregation (n.).’
A gathering of people, especially for religious services
Example sentence: The priest told the congregation that he would be retiring.
Define the term ‘congruity (n.).’
The quality of being in agreement
Example sentence: Bill and Veronica achieved a perfect congruity of opinion.
Define the term ‘connive (v.).’
To plot, scheme
Example sentence: She connived to get me to give up my vacation plans.
Define the term ‘consecrate (v.).’
To dedicate something to a holy purpose
Example sentence: Arvin consecrated his spare bedroom as a shrine to Christina.
Define the term ‘consensus (n.).’
An agreement of opinion
Example sentence: The jury was able to reach a consensus only after days of deliberation.
Define the term ‘consign (v.).’
To give something over to another’s care
Example sentence: Unwillingly, he consigned his mother to a nursing home.
Define the term ‘consolation (n.).’
An act of comforting
Example sentence: Darren found Alexandra’s presence to be a consolation for his suffering.
Define the term ‘consonant (adj.).’
In harmony
Example sentence: The singers’ consonant voices were beautiful.
Define the term ‘constituent (n.).’
An essential part
Example sentence: The most important constituent of her perfume is something called ambergris.
Define the term ‘constrain (v.).’
To forcibly restrict
Example sentence: His belief in nonviolence constrained him from taking revenge on his attackers.
Define the term ‘construe (v.).’
To interpret
Example sentence: He construed her throwing his clothes out the window as a signal that she wanted him to leave.
Define the term ‘consummate (v.).’
To complete a deal; to complete a marriage ceremony through sexual intercourse
Example sentence: Erica and Donald consummated their agreement in the executive boardroom.
Define the term ‘consumption (n.).’
The act of consuming
Example sentence: Consumption of intoxicating beverages is not permitted on these premises.
Define the term ‘contemporaneous (adj.).’
Existing during the same time
Example sentence: Though her novels do not feature the themes of Romanticism, Jane Austen’s work was contemporaneous with that of Wordsworth and Byron.
Define the term ‘contentious (adj.).’
Having a tendency to quarrel or dispute
Example sentence: George’s contentious personality made him unpopular with his classmates.
Define the term ‘contravene (v.).’
To contradict, oppose, violate
Example sentence: Edwidge contravened his landlady’s rule against overnight guests.
Define the term ‘contrite (adj.).’
Penitent, eager to be forgiven
Example sentence: Blake’s contrite behavior made it impossible to stay angry at him.
Define the term ‘contusion (n.).’
Bruise, injury
Example sentence: The contusions on his face suggested he’d been in a fight.
Define the term ‘conundrum (n.).’
Puzzle, problem
Example sentence: Interpreting Jane’s behavior was a constant conundrum.
Define the term ‘convene (v.).’
To call together
Example sentence: Jason convened his entire extended family for a discussion.
Define the term ‘convention 1. (n.).’
An assembly of people
Example sentence: The hotel was full because of the cattle ranchers’ convention.
Define the term ‘convention 2. (n.).’
A rule, custom
Example sentence: The cattle-ranchers have a convention that you take off your boots before entering their houses.
Define the term ‘convivial (adj.).’
Characterized by feasting, drinking, merriment
Example sentence: The restaurant’s convivial atmosphere put me immediately at ease.
Define the term ‘convoluted (adj.).’
Intricate, complicated
Example sentence: Grace’s story was so convoluted that I couldn’t follow it.
Define the term ‘copious (adj.).’
Profuse, abundant
Example sentence: Copious amounts of Snapple were imbibed in the cafeteria.
Define the term ‘cordial (adj.).’
Warm, affectionate
Example sentence: His cordial greeting melted my anger at once.
Define the term ‘coronation (n.).’
The act of crowning
Example sentence: The new king’s coronation occurred the day after his father’s death.
Define the term ‘corpulence (adj.).’
Extreme fatness
Example sentence: Henry’s corpulence did not make him any less attractive to his charming, svelte wife.
Define the term ‘corroborate (v.).’
To support with evidence
Example sentence: Luke’s seemingly outrageous claim was corroborated by witnesses.
Define the term ‘corrosive (adj.).’
Having the tendency to erode or eat away
Example sentence: The effect of the chemical was highly corrosive.
Define the term ‘cosmopolitan (adj.).’
Sophisticated, worldly
Example sentence: Lloyd’s education and upbringing were cosmopolitan, so he felt right at home among the powerful and learned.
Define the term ‘counteract (v.).’
To neutralize, make ineffective
Example sentence: The antidote counteracted the effect of the poison.
Define the term ‘coup 1. (n.).’
A brilliant, unexpected act
Example sentence: Alexander pulled off an amazing coup when he got a date with Cynthia by purposely getting hit by her car.
Define the term ‘coup 2. (n.).’
The overthrow of a government and assumption of authority
Example sentence: In their coup attempt, the army officers stormed the Parliament and took all the legislators hostage.
Define the term ‘covet (v.).’
To desire enviously
Example sentence: I coveted Moses’s house, wife, and car.
Define the term ‘covert (adj.).’
Secretly engaged in
Example sentence: Nerwin waged a covert campaign against his enemies, while outwardly appearing to remain friendly.
Define the term ‘credulity (n.).’
Readiness to believe
Example sentence: His credulity made him an easy target for con men.
Define the term ‘crescendo (n.).’
A steady increase in intensity or volume
Example sentence: The crescendo of the brass instruments gave the piece a patriotic feel.
Define the term ‘criteria (n.).’
Standards by which something is judged
Example sentence: Among Mrs. Fields’s criteria for good cookies are that they be moist and chewy.
Define the term ‘culmination (n.).’
The climax toward which something progresses
Example sentence: The culmination of the couple’s argument was the decision to divorce.
Define the term ‘culpable (adj.).’
Deserving blame
Example sentence: He was culpable of the crime, and was sentenced to perform community service for 75 years.
Define the term ‘cultivate (v.).’
To nurture, improve, refine
Example sentence: At the library, she cultivated her interest in spy novels.
Define the term ‘cumulative (adj.).’
Increasing, building upon itself
Example sentence: The cumulative effect of hours spent in the sun was a deep tan.
Define the term ‘cunning (adj.).’
Sly, clever at being deceitful
Example sentence: The general devised a cunning plan to surprise the enemy.
Define the term ‘cupidity (n.).’
Greed, strong desire
Example sentence: His cupidity made him enter the abandoned gold mine despite the obvious dangers.
Define the term ‘cursory (adj.).’
Brief to the point of being superficial
Example sentence: Late for the meeting, she cast a cursory glance at the agenda.
Define the term ‘curt (adj.).’
Abruptly and rudely short
Example sentence: Her curt reply to my question made me realize that she was upset at me.
Define the term ‘curtail (v.).’
To lessen, reduce
Example sentence: Since losing his job, he had to curtail his spending.
Define the term ‘covert (adj.).’
Secretly engaged in
Example sentence: Nerwin waged a covert campaign against his enemies, while outwardly appearing to remain friendly.
Define the term ‘credulity (n.).’
Readiness to believe
Example sentence: His credulity made him an easy target for con men.
Define the term ‘crescendo (n.).’
A steady increase in intensity or volume
Example sentence: The crescendo of the brass instruments gave the piece a patriotic feel.
Define the term ‘criteria (n.).’
Standards by which something is judged
Example sentence: Among Mrs. Fields’s criteria for good cookies are that they be moist and chewy.
Define the term ‘culmination (n.).’
The climax toward which something progresses
Example sentence: The culmination of the couple’s argument was the decision to divorce.
Define the term ‘culpable (adj.).’
Deserving blame
Example sentence: He was culpable of the crime, and was sentenced to perform community service for 75 years.
Define the term ‘cultivate (v.).’
To nurture, improve, refine
Example sentence: At the library, she cultivated her interest in spy novels.
Define the term ‘cumulative (adj.).’
Increasing, building upon itself
Example sentence: The cumulative effect of hours spent in the sun was a deep tan.
Define the term ‘cunning (adj.).’
Sly, clever at being deceitful
Example sentence: The general devised a cunning plan to surprise the enemy.
Define the term ‘cupidity (n.).’
Greed, strong desire
Example sentence: His cupidity made him enter the abandoned gold mine despite the obvious dangers.
Define the term ‘cursory (adj.).’
Brief to the point of being superficial
Example sentence: Late for the meeting, she cast a cursory glance at the agenda.
Define the term ‘curt (adj.).’
Abruptly and rudely short
Example sentence: Her curt reply to my question made me realize that she was upset at me.
Define the term ‘curtail (v.).’
To lessen, reduce
Example sentence: Since losing his job, he had to curtail his spending.
Define the term ‘daunting’.
intimidating, causing one to lose courage
Example sentence: He kept delaying the daunting act of asking for a promotion.
Define the term ‘dearth’.
a lack, scarcity
Example sentence: An eager reader, she was dismayed by the dearth of classic books at the library.
Define the term ‘debacle’.
a disastrous failure, disruption
Example sentence: The elaborately designed fireworks show turned into a debacle when the fireworks started firing in random directions.
Define the term ‘debase’.
to lower the quality or esteem of something
Example sentence: The large raise that he gave himself debased his motives for running the charity.
Define the term ‘debauch’.
to corrupt by means of sensual pleasures
Example sentence: An endless amount of good wine and cheese debauched the traveler.
Define the term ‘debunk’.
to expose the falseness of something
Example sentence: He debunked her claim to be the world’s greatest chess player by defeating her in 18 consecutive matches.
Define the term ‘decorous’.
socially proper, appropriate
Example sentence: The appreciative guest displayed decorous behavior toward his host.
Define the term ‘decry’.
to criticize openly
Example sentence: The kind video rental clerk decried the policy of charging customers late fees.
Define the term ‘deface’.
to ruin or injure something’s appearance
Example sentence: The brothers used eggs and shaving cream to deface their neighbor’s mailbox.
Define the term ‘defamatory’.
harmful toward another’s reputation
Example sentence: The defamatory gossip spreading about the actor made the public less willing to see the actor’s new movie.
Define the term ‘defer’.
to postpone something; to yield to another’s wisdom
Example sentence: Ron deferred to Diane, the expert on musical instruments, when he was asked about buying a piano.
Define the term ‘deferential’.
showing respect for another’s authority
Example sentence: His deferential attitude toward her made her more confident in her ability to run the company.
Define the term ‘defile’.
to make unclean, impure
Example sentence: She defiled the calm of the religious building by playing her banjo.
Define the term ‘deft’.
skillful, capable
Example sentence: Having worked in a bakery for many years, Marcus was a deft bread maker.
Define the term ‘defunct’.
no longer used or existing
Example sentence: They planned to turn the defunct schoolhouse into a community center.
Define the term ‘delegate’.
to hand over responsibility for something
Example sentence: The dean delegated the task of finding a new professor to a special hiring committee.
Define the term ‘deleterious’.
harmful
Example sentence: She experienced the deleterious effects of running a marathon without stretching her muscles enough beforehand.
Define the term ‘deliberate’.
intentional, reflecting careful consideration
Example sentence: Though Mary was quite upset, her actions to resolve the dispute were deliberate.
Define the term ‘delineate’.
to describe, outline, shed light on
Example sentence: She neatly delineated her reasons for canceling the project’s funding.
Define the term ‘demagogue’.
a leader who appeals to a people’s prejudices
Example sentence: The demagogue strengthened his hold over his people by blaming immigrants for the lack of jobs.
Define the term ‘demarcation’.
the marking of boundaries or categories
Example sentence: Different cultures have different demarcations of good and evil.
Define the term ‘demean’.
to lower the status or stature of something
Example sentence: She refused to demean her secretary by making him order her lunch.
Define the term ‘demure’.
quiet, modest, reserved
Example sentence: Though everyone else at the party was dancing and going crazy, she remained demure.
Define the term ‘denigrate’.
to belittle, diminish the opinion of
Example sentence: The company decided that its advertisements would no longer denigrate the company’s competitors.
Define the term ‘denounce’.
to criticize publicly
Example sentence: The senator denounced her opponent as a greedy politician.
Define the term ‘deplore’.
to feel or express sorrow, disapproval
Example sentence: We all deplored the miserable working conditions in the factory.
Define the term ‘depravity’.
wickedness
Example sentence: Rumors of the ogre’s depravity made the children afraid to enter the forest.
Define the term ‘deprecate’.
to belittle, depreciate
Example sentence: Always over-modest, he deprecated his contribution to the local charity.
Define the term ‘derelict’.
abandoned, run-down
Example sentence: Even though it was dangerous, the children enjoyed going to the deserted lot and playing in the derelict house.
Define the term ‘deride’.
to laugh at mockingly, scorn
Example sentence: The bullies derided the foreign student’s accent.
Define the term ‘derivative’.
taken directly from a source, unoriginal
Example sentence: She was bored by his music because she felt that it was derivative and that she had heard it before.
Define the term ‘desecrate’.
to violate the sacredness of a thing or place
Example sentence: They feared that the construction of a golf course would desecrate the preserved wilderness.
Define the term ‘desiccated’.
dried up, dehydrated
Example sentence: The skin of the desiccated mummy looked like old paper.
Define the term ‘desolate’.
deserted, dreary, lifeless
Example sentence: She found the desolate landscape quite a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the overcrowded city.
Define the term ‘despondent’.
feeling depressed, discouraged, hopeless
Example sentence: Having failed the first math test, the despondent child saw no use in studying for the next and failed that one too.
Define the term ‘despot’.
one who has total power and rules brutally
Example sentence: The despot issued a death sentence for anyone who disobeyed his laws.
Define the term ‘destitute’.
impoverished, utterly lacking
Example sentence: The hurricane destroyed many homes and left many families destitute.
Define the term ‘deter’.
to discourage, prevent from doing
Example sentence: Bob’s description of scary snakes couldn’t deter Marcia from traveling in the rainforests.
Define the term ‘devious’.
not straightforward, deceitful
Example sentence: Not wanting to be punished, the devious girl blamed the broken vase on the cat.
Define the term ‘dialect’.
a variation of a language
Example sentence: In the country’s remote, mountainous regions, the inhabitants spoke a dialect that the country’s other inhabitants had difficulty understanding.
Define the term ‘diaphanous’.
light, airy, transparent
Example sentence: Sunlight poured in through the diaphanous curtains, brightening the room.
Define the term ‘didactic’.
- intended to instruct, 2. overly moralistic
Example sentence 1: She wrote up a didactic document showing new employees how to handle the company’s customers.
Example sentence 2: His didactic style of teaching made it seem like he wanted to persuade his students not to understand history fully, but to understand it from only one point of view.
Define the term ‘diffident’.
shy, quiet, modest
Example sentence: While eating dinner with the adults, the diffident youth did not speak for fear of seeming presumptuous.
Define the term ‘diffuse’.
- to scatter, thin out, break up, 2. not concentrated, scattered, disorganized
Example sentence 1: He diffused the tension in the room by making a joke.
Example sentence 2: In her writings, she tried unsuccessfully to make others understand her diffuse thoughts.
Define the term ‘dilatory’.
tending to delay, causing delay
Example sentence: The general’s dilatory strategy enabled the enemy to regroup.
Define the term ‘diligent’.
showing care in doing one’s work
Example sentence: The diligent researcher made sure to check her measurements multiple times.
Define the term ‘diminutive’.
small or miniature
Example sentence: The bullies, tall and strong, picked on the diminutive child.
Define the term ‘dirge’.
a mournful song, especially for a funeral
Example sentence: The bagpipers played a dirge as the casket was carried to the cemetery.
Define the term ‘disaffected’.
rebellious, resentful of authority
Example sentence: Dismayed by Bobby’s poor behavior, the parents sent their disaffected son to a military academy to be disciplined.
Define the term ‘disavow’.
to deny knowledge of or responsibility for
Example sentence: Not wanting others to criticize her, she disavowed any involvement in the company’s hiring scandal.
Define the term ‘discern’.
to perceive, detect
Example sentence: Though he hid his emotions, she discerned from his body language that he was angry.
Define the term ‘disclose’.
to reveal, make public
Example sentence: The CEO disclosed to the press that the company would have to fire several employees.
Define the term ‘discomfit’.
to thwart, baffle
Example sentence: The normally cheery and playful children’s sudden misery discomfited the teacher.
Define the term ‘discordant’.
not agreeing, not in harmony with
Example sentence: The girls’ sobs were a discordant sound amid the general laughter that filled the restaurant.
Define the term ‘discrepancy’.
difference, failure of things to correspond
Example sentence: He was troubled by the discrepancy between what he remembered paying for the appliance and what his receipt showed he paid for it.
Define the term ‘discretion’.
the quality of being reserved in speech or action; good judgment
Example sentence: Not wanting her patient to get overly anxious, the doctor used discretion in deciding how much to tell the patient about his condition.
Define the term ‘discursive’.
rambling, lacking order
Example sentence: The professor’s discursive lectures seemed to be about every subject except the one initially described.
Define the term ‘disdain’.
- to scorn, hold in low esteem, 2. scorn, low esteem
Example sentence 1: Insecure about their jobs, the older employees disdained the recently hired ones, who were young and capable.
Example sentence 2: After learning of his immoral actions, Justine held Lawrence in disdain.
disgruntled (adj.)
upset, not content
The child believed that his parents had unjustly grounded him, and remained disgruntled for a week.
disheartened (adj.)
feeling a loss of spirit or morale
The team was disheartened after losing in the finals of the tournament.
disparage (v.)
to criticize or speak ill of
The saleswoman disparaged the competitor’s products to persuade her customers to buy what she was selling.
disparate (adj.)
sharply differing, containing sharply contrasting elements
Having widely varying interests, the students had disparate responses toward the novel.
dispatch (v.)
to send off to accomplish a duty
The carpenter dispatched his assistant to fetch wood.
dispel (v.)
to drive away, scatter
She entered the office as usual on Monday, dispelling the rumor that she had been fired.
disperse (v.)
to scatter, cause to scatter
When the rain began to pour, the crowd at the baseball game quickly dispersed.
disrepute (n.)
a state of being held in low regard
The officer fell into disrepute after it was learned that he had disobeyed the orders he had given to his own soldiers.
dissemble (v.)
to conceal, fake
Not wanting to appear heartlessly greedy, she dissembled and hid her intention to sell her ailing father’s stamp collection.
disseminate (v.)
to spread widely
The politician disseminated his ideas across the town before the election.
dissent 1. (v.)
to disagree
The principal argued that the child should repeat the fourth grade, but the unhappy parents dissented.
dissent 2. (n.)
the act of disagreeing
Unconvinced that the defendant was guilty, the last juror voiced his dissent with the rest of the jury.
dissipate 1. (v.)
to disappear, cause to disappear
The sun finally came out and dissipated the haze.
dissipate 2. (v.)
to waste
She dissipated her fortune on a series of bad investments.
dissonance (n.)
lack of harmony or consistency
Though the president of the company often spoke of the company as reliant solely upon its workers, her decision to increase her own salary rather than reward her employees revealed a striking dissonance between her alleged beliefs and her actions.
dissuade (v.)
to persuade someone not to do something
Worried that he would catch a cold, she tried to dissuade him from going out on winter nights.
distend (v.)
to swell out
Years of drinking beer caused his stomach to distend.
dither (v.)
to be indecisive
Not wanting to offend either friend, he dithered about which of the two birthday parties he should attend.
divine (adj.)
godly, exceedingly wonderful
Terribly fond of desserts, she found the rich chocolate cake to be divine.
divisive (adj.)
causing dissent, discord
Her divisive tactics turned her two friends against each other.
divulge (v.)
to reveal something secret
Pressured by the press, the government finally divulged the previously unknown information.
docile (adj.)
easily taught or trained
She successfully taught the docile puppy several tricks.
dogmatic (adj.)
aggressively and arrogantly certain about unproved principles
His dogmatic claim that men were better than women at fixing appliances angered everyone.
dormant (adj.)
sleeping, temporarily inactive
Though she pretended everything was fine, her anger lay dormant throughout the dinner party and exploded in screams of rage after everyone had left.
dour (adj.)
stern, joyless
The children feared their dour neighbor because the old man would take their toys if he believed they were being too loud.
dubious (adj.)
doubtful, of uncertain quality
Suspicious that he was only trying to get a raise, she found his praise dubious.
duplicity (n.)
crafty dishonesty
His duplicity involved convincing his employees to let him lower their salaries and increase their stock options, and then to steal the money he saved and run the company into the ground.
duress (n.)
hardship, threat
It was only under intense duress that he, who was normally against killing, fired his gun.
dynamic (adj.)
actively changing
The parents found it hard to keep up with the dynamic music scene with which their children had become very familiar.
ebullient (adj.)
extremely lively, enthusiastic
She became ebullient upon receiving an acceptance letter from her first-choice college.
eclectic (adj.)
consisting of a diverse variety of elements
That bar attracts an eclectic crowd: lawyers, artists, circus clowns, and investment bankers.
ecstatic (adj.)
intensely and overpoweringly happy
The couple was ecstatic when they learned that they had won the lottery.
edict (n.)
an order, decree
The ruler issued an edict requiring all of his subjects to bow down before him.
efface (v.)
to wipe out, obliterate, rub away
The husband was so angry at his wife for leaving him that he effaced all evidence of her presence; he threw out pictures of her and gave away all her belongings.
effervescent (adj.)
bubbly, lively
My friend is so effervescent that she makes everyone smile.
efficacious (adj.)
effective
My doctor promised me that the cold medicine was efficacious, but I’m still sniffling.
effrontery (n.)
impudence, nerve, insolence
When I told my aunt that she was boring, my mother scolded me for my effrontery.
effulgent (adj.)
radiant, splendorous
The golden palace was effulgent.
egregious (adj.)
extremely bad
The student who threw sloppy joes across the cafeteria was punished for his egregious behavior.
elaborate (adj.)
complex, detailed, intricate
Dan always beats me at chess because he develops such an elaborate game plan that I can never predict his next move.
elated (adj.)
overjoyed, thrilled
When she found out she had won the lottery, the writer was elated.
elegy (n.)
a speech given in honor of a dead person
At the funeral, the widow gave a moving elegy describing her love for her husband.
elicit (v.)
to bring forth, draw out, evoke
Although I asked several times where the exit was, I elicited no response from the stone-faced policeman.
eloquent (adj.)
expressive, articulate, moving
The priest gave such an eloquent sermon that most churchgoers were crying.
elucidate (v.)
to clarify, explain
I didn’t understand why my friend was so angry with me, so I asked Janine to elucidate her feelings.
elude (v.)
to evade, escape
Despite an intense search, the robber continues to elude the police.
emaciated (adj.)
very thin, enfeebled looking
My sister eats a lot of pastries and chocolate but still looks emaciated.
embellish (v.)
- to decorate, adorn
- to add details to, enhance
My mom embellished the living room by adding lace curtains.
When Harry told me that he had ‘done stuff’ on his vacation, I asked him to embellish upon his account.
