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(adj) extended in time
PROTRACTED contract negotiations prolonged the project.
prolonged |
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(n) superior skill or daring
The gymnast's athletic PROWESS shined through her routines during the all-around competition
mastery |
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(adj) contentious; quarrelsome; given to fighting
The service industry is no place for PUGNACIOUS people.
belligerent |
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(n) an authority on a subject; one who give opinions
The political PUNDITS had a field day with the senator's corruption charges.
expert |
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(adj) characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
Some people love the PUNGENT aroma of garlic while others find it offensive.
acrid, pointed |
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(adj) cowardly; craven
The PUSILLANIMOUS manager preferred to let the employee show up hours late every day rather than confront him.
timid |
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(v) to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor
Bacteria caused the raw meat to PUTREFY and stink up the whole refrigerator
spoil |
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(v) to drink deeply
Inga QUAFFED a liter of water after the marathon.
imbibe |
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(n) a situation that is difficult to get out of
The company fell into a QUAGMIRE when it ran out of money after promising employees year-end bonuses.
predicament |
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(v) to quell; to put an end to forcibly
The governor called in the riot police to QUASH the protest, which was getting larger and more unruly.
suppress |
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(adj) prone to complaining or grumbling; quarrelsome
I've had numerous arguments with the QUERULOUS man.
cantakerous, complaining |
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(n) question; inquiry; doubt in the mind; reservation
The magazine editor complied a list of QUERIES for the fact checker to address.
Question, reservation |
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(adj) foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals
Maria's parents thought that her plans to move to the French countryside were just QUIXOTIC dreams.
fanciful, idealistic |
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(adj) occurring or recurring daily; commonplace
The nonprofit organization strives to supply the QUOTIDIAN needs of people in remote parts of developing countries.
ordinary, everyday |
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(adj) unconventional and slightly disreputable; carefree; vulgar
Though he was RAFFISH, there was something about his careless style that was refreshing in the stuffy boardroom.
rakish |
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(adj) characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
The RANCOROUS feud between the rival families lasted decades.
acrimonious |
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(v) to irritate; to cause resentment
The critic's mixed review of the book RANKLED the author for days.
irk |
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(v) to make or become thin or less dense
It is hard for climbers to breathe the RAREFIED air at the top of Mount Everest without oxygen masks.
refine, purify |
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(adj) obstinately resistant to authority; difficult to manage
Boot camps are sometimes used as a last resort to deal with RECALCITRANT teenagers.
defiant, rebellious |
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(adj) hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure
The RECONDITE speech of the guest lecturer left audience members confused and bored.
abstruse, esoteric |
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(v) to engage in reconnaissance
The captain sent soldiers to RECONNOITER the region for signs of enemy activity.
investigate |
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(n) that state of being fragrant, suggestive, or evocative
The REDOLENCE of dried leaves always brings me back to the colorful falls of my childhood in New England.
frangrance |
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(v) to set something right; to make amends for
The waitress REDRESSED her mistake by offering the diners a free dessert.
rectify |
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(adj) radiant; shining; brilliant
At night, Las Vegas is a REFULGENT sight against he dark and vast desert sky.
luminous, resplendent |
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(v) to disprove; to successfully argue against
His claim to be the child's father was REFUTED by DNA evidence.
rebut, counter |
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(v) to delight or entertain
I could REGALE you with stories from the family reunion, but let's just say I'm glad that I live on the other side of the country.
amuse |
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(v) to forcibly assign, especially to a lower place or position
When we moved into a smaller house, my art studio was RELEGATED to the basement.
demote, downgrade, consign |
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(v) to fail to honor a commitment; to break a promise
Roommate contracts are important in case one part RENEGES on the agreed financial contributions to the household.
withdraw |
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(n) witty conversation
Few contemporary films have the same clever REPARTEE between the lead characters as those screwball comedies of the 1930s.
banter |
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(adj) worthy of blame or censure
The principal suspended the student for his REPREHENSIBLE behavior at school.
shameful |
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(v) to refuse to have anything to do with; to disown
Galileo was forced to REPUDIATE his heliocentric findings before the church tribunal.
abandon, deny |
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(v) to invalidate; to repeal; to retract
Once he realized he had given his troops the wrong target, the captain RESCINDED his order to attack.
void, annul |
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(adj) marked by, feeling, or expressing profound awe and respect.
The entire audience settled into a REVERENT silence when the Dalai Lama began to speak.
respectful |
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(n) the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion
Clearly the lawyer was skilled at the art of RHETORIC; her closing arguments were lucid and moving.
elocution |
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(adj) causing laughter; laughable
The teenager was embarrassed by the mother's blond highlights, her use of slang, her constant texting, and other RISIBLE attempts to seem younger.
ludicrous |
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(v) to regret; to feel remorse or sorrow for
That mouse will RUE the day it ever skittered into my kitchen.
lament |
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(adj) having sound judgment; perceptive
Though he was not an expert, Jorge's SAGACIOUS observations made him a valuable member of the team.
wise |
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(adj) lascivious; lustful; obscene
Let's be honest: the more SALACIOUS the gossip, the more we love it.
lewd |
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(adj) prominent; relevant
Perhaps the most SALIENT features of the great white shark are its rows of razor-sharp teetch.
conspicuous |
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(adj) promoting health or well-being
I hope the SALUBRIOUS climate of the Bahamas will soothe my stress.
healthful |
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(adj) wholesome; favorable to health
SALUTARY exercises such as stretching can keep tendonitis from getting worse.
salubrious |
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(n) authoritative permission or approval
City officials granted a SANCTIOn to the nonprofit organization, which is organizing a marathon to raise money for cancer research.
countenance |
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(adj) cheeful; confident; optimistic
Ana's SANGUINE disposition is infectious; everyone cheers up whenever she enters the room.
upbeat |
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(adj) gloomy; dark; sullen
The SATURNINE look on her face indicated taht things ha dnot gone well at the hospital.
melancholy |
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(n) a split into factions
Arguments over reading choices caused a SCHISM in my book club; now we have separate fiction and nonfiction groups.
division |
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(adj) diligent; persistent; hard-working
With SEDULOUS concentration, the chess player managed to defeat the reigning champion.
assiduous |
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(n) a peice of broken pottery or glass
I still found SHARDS of glass in the car weeks after the windshield was repaired.
fragment |
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(adj) astral; relating to the stars or constellations
The girl loved to learn about constellations, galaxies, and all things SIDEREAL.
stellar |
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(n) a job that pays a salary but requires little work
A SINECURE was given to the CEO's son and now he spends most of his days browsing the internet.
cushy job |
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(adj) winding; undulating
A chill ran down my spine when I glimpsed a SINUOUS shape weave through the underbrush.
serpentine |
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(v) to satisfy or quench
How could any vampire resist SLAKING his thirst at the sight fo such a long, porcelain neck?
abate |
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(adj) soaked or drenched
My shirt was SODDEN with rain and mud after we played soccer during the downpour.
saturated |
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(adj) concerned and attentive; eager
Our neighbor made SOLICITOUS inquiries abou tmy family after my grandmother passed away.
ardent, considerate, desirous |
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(adj) able to met financial obligations; able to dissolve another substance
It was impossible for Stephen to remain SOLVENT after he lost his job.
sound |
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(n) fallacious reasoning; faulty logic
the subtletly of his SOPHISTRY made him a dangerous con man.
casuistry |
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(adj) causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep
The professor's lecture was so SOPORIFIC that I had to pinch myself to stay awake.
tranquilizing |
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(adj) thin; not dense; arranged at widely space intervals
Vegetation is SPARSE in the Arctic, especially during the winter when the region receives l ittle sunllight for plants to flourish.
scarce; sporadic |
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(adj) seemingingly true, but actually being fallacious; misleadingly attractive
Consumers should be wary of SPECIOUS advertisements that endorse faulty products.
deceptive |
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(n) one who spends money wastefully
Before he lost his job, he was a SPENDTHRIFT who squandered his paycheck on champagne, caviar, and other luxury items.
squanderer |
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(adj) occurring only occasionally, or in scattered instances
SPORADIC fire drills kept dorm residents prepared for a real emergency.
intermittent, irregular, desultory |
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(adj) lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit
the painting sold as a da Vinci was later discovered to be SPURIOUS- the work of a 19th-century forger.
illegitimate, phony |
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(adj) not moving, active, or in motion; at rest
Although the student intensely reviews her notes, her test scored have been STATIC.
inert, stagnany, immobile |
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extremely loud and powerful
The sergeant's STENTORIAN voice and phsyical size made disobedience unthinkable.
booming |
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(v) to stun, baffle, or amaze
The magician aimed to STUPEFY his audience with his amazing stunts and illusions.
astonish, bewilder, astound |
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(adj) gloomy; dark
The moonless night and the suffocating humidity created a STYGIAN backdrop for the murder.
infernal |
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(n) a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony
The witness was served with a subpoena, so he had to appear in court the following week.
summons, decree |
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(adj) not obvious; elusive; difficult to discern
Crime scene investigators are trained to notice SUBTLE clues left by perpetrators.
inconspicuous, indirect |
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(adj) brief; concise
Please keep acceptance speeches SUCCINCT so that all the winners get a chance to speak.
terse |
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(adj) exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
Even after I cut out all the SUPERFLUOUS details, my research paper was still longer than the recommended page limit.
excessive, lavish |
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(n) excess; overindulgence
The SURFEIT of food at the banquent caused more than a few stomachaches that evening.
overabundance, surplus |
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(n) a person who leads a life of pleasure and luxury
After winning the lottery, Justin quit his grueling job, and he is now living as a SYBARITE on a boat in the Caribbean.
hedonist |
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(n) someone who tries to get ahead through flattery and fawning
The SYCOPHANTS who servd on teh royal court always let the queen win every croquet match.
toady |
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(adj) implied; nont explicitly stated
My presentation to the investors went well and a TACIT agreement was made to proceed with my business plan.
implicit, unspoken |
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(adj) uncommunicative; silent
The TACITURN grandfathere hardly said a word at the wedding and sat silently all evening.
reserved |
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(adj) adhering to or persisting in something valued
My grandfather's TENACIOUS grip on old habits keeps him away from new experiences.
adamant, perserving |
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| (adj) having little substance or strength; flimsy; weak |
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(adj) brief and concise in wording
My motehr left me a TERSE message after I broke my curfew: "Home. Now."
succinct, laconic |
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timid; fearful
After the earthquake, our dog was so TIMOROUS that he refused to leave his spot under the kitchen table.
apprehensive |
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(n) a long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation
after several employees arrived at work after ten o'clock, the boss went on a TIRADE about puntuality.
censure, harangue |
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(n) sycophant; flatterer
The spineless TOADY in my department strokes the president's ego in order to get a promotion.
flunky |
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(adj) winding; twisting; excessively complicated
The TORTUOUS path through the redwoods twists around dozens of tree trunks.
meandering, circuitous |
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(v) to publicly praise or promote
Javier's parents always TOUT his achievements to their coworkers and friends
laud, herald, acclaim |
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