Term
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Definition
to leave secretly
(She absconded without paying her bill)
related: abyssal - great depth
abysmal - extremely bad |
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Term
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Definition
to reduce in amount, severity
(After the storm abated, people left the shelter and returned home.) |
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Definition
to choose not to do something
(The priest will abstain from sexual activity.) |
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Definition
an extremely deep hole
(The monster returned to the abyss of the cave.) |
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Definition
to make impure
(The suspicious-tasting milk was adulterated with water.)
related: unadulterated - pure
adultery - illicit relationship |
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Term
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Definition
to speak in favor of
(The physician advocated rigorous exercise.)
related: advocacy - active support for |
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Term
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Definition
concerning the appreciation of beauty
(Decorators include flowers in decor for their aesthetic appeal.)
Related: aesthete - sensitive to beauty
aestheticism - concern with beauty |
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Term
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Definition
increase in power, influence and reputation
(The overzealous candidate aggrandized himself by claiming achievements beyond his ability.) |
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Term
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Definition
to make more bearable
(Two Ibuprofen will alleviate the pain of a headache.) |
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Term
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Definition
to combine, to mix together
(IBM and GE amalgamated to form Mega-Corp.)
Related: Amalgam - a mixture, especially metals |
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Term
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Definition
doubtful or uncertain
(Jane's ambiguous reponse made him doubt her sincerity.)
Related: Ambiguity - quality of being ambiguous |
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Term
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Definition
to make better, to improve
(Jane can ameliorate her pain by taking asprin.) |
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Term
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Definition
similar or alike in some way, equivalent to
(My love for my son is analogous to my fathers love for me.)
Related: Analogy - similarly between things otherwise dissimilar
Analgoue - something similar to something else |
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Term
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Definition
deviation from normal
(Her smile was an anomalous deviation from her usual frosty demeanor.)
Related: Anomalous - deviating from normal |
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Term
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Definition
to annoy or provoke to anger
(The child antagonized the cat by pulling its tail.)
Related: Antagonistic - to provoke conflict
Antagonist - someone who fights another |
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Term
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Definition
extreme dislike
(The antipathy between Claire and her mother-in-law sometimes led to shouting.) |
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Term
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Definition
something out of place in time
(The 1950s music was anachronistic in the modern nightclub.) |
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Term
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Definition
lack of interest or emotion
(Apathetic voters dont show up at the poles.) |
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Term
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Definition
to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
(Since the couple could not agree on a property settlement the judge was forced to arbitrate their divorce.) |
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Term
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Definition
ancient, old-fashioned
(Her archaic computer could not handle the latest software.)
Related: archaism - outdated word or phrase. |
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Term
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Definition
intense and passionate feeling
(His ardor for her was evident when he passionately discribed her smile.)
Related: ardent - expressing ardor |
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Term
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Definition
able to speak clearly and expressively
(His articulate defense of his client convinced the jury to acquit.) |
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Term
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Definition
to make something unpleasant less severe
(Paula used overeating to assuage her despair.) |
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Term
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Definition
to reduce in force or degree, to weaken
(The new law attenuated the governments power to arrest for frivolous reasons.) |
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Term
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Definition
fearless and daring
(The audacious watress insulted her customer with no fear of reprisal.)
Related: Audacity - quality of being audacious. |
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Term
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Definition
severe or stern in appearance, undecorated
(The nuns quarters were very austere.)
Related: Austerity - severity, especially poverty. |
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Term
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Definition
predictable, cliched, boring
(Flight attendants great all passangers with banal phrases like "Have a nice day".)
Related: Banality - quality of being banal |
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Term
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Definition
to support, to prop up
(The metal brackets bolstered the heavy bookshelves to the wall.) |
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Term
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Definition
pompous in speech and manner
(Jake's bombastic claims were too outragous to be believed.)
Related: Bombast - pompous speech or writing |
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Term
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Definition
harsh, jarring noise
(The chirping of the birds created a cacophony in the normally silent yard.) |
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Term
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Definition
impartial and honest in speech
(Children's obserations are usually candid and unpretentious.) |
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Term
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Definition
changing ones mind quickly and often
(Jill's capricious nature led her to change boyfriends often.)
Related: Caprice - whim, sudden fancy |
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Term
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Definition
to punish or criticize harshly
(Some countries castigate perpetrators harshly for crimes that are minor in the United States.) |
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Term
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Definition
something that brings about a change in something else
(Jack's great job on the project was the catalyst to his promotion.)
Related: Catalyze - to bring about change |
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Term
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Definition
biting in wit
(Jim's insulting, yet clever remarks gave him a reputation for caustic wit.) |
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Term
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Definition
great disorder or confusion
(Without supervision, the children's behavior will descend into chaos.)
Related: Chaotic - jumbled, confused |
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Term
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Definition
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
(Male chauvinists think men are superior to women.) |
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Term
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Definition
desception by means of craft or guile
(Dishonest salesmen often use chicanery to sell their less desireable products.) |
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Term
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Definition
convincing and well reasoned
(Swayed by the congent argument of the defense, the jury acquitted the defendant.)
Related: Cogitate - to think deeply |
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Term
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Definition
to overlook, pardon or disregard
(Failing to prosecute minor crimes condones lawlessness.) |
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Term
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Definition
intricate and complicated
(Rather than tell the truth, Jane made up a long, convoluted story to explain her lateness.) |
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Term
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Definition
to provide supporting evidence
(Physical evidence corroborated the witness's testimony.) |
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Term
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Definition
too trusting, gullible
(Only credulous 9-year-olds still believe in Santa.)
Related: Credulity - the quality of being credulous |
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Term
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Definition
steadily increasing volume or force
(The crescendo of tension became unbearable as the movie continued.) |
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Term
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Definition
appropriateness of behavior or conduct
(The biker lacked the decorum appropriate for a formal dinner.)
Related: Decorous - conforming to acceptable standards. |
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Term
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Definition
respect, courtesy
(Gentle George treated his elderly grandmother with the utmost deference.)
Related: Defer - to dely, to show deference
Deferent - courteous and respectful |
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Term
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Definition
to speak of or treat with contempt
(The awkward teenager was derided by his more popular peers.)
Related: Derision - mockery and taunts
Derisive - in a mocking manner |
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Term
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Definition
to dry out thoroughly
(Desiccated coconut has been dried and browned in a hot oven.)
Related: Desiccant - something that removes water |
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Term
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Definition
an abusive, condemnatory speech
(The angry husband bellowed a diatribe at his unsuspecting wife.) |
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Term
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Definition
jumping from one thing to another, disconnected
(Jade had a desultory education, dropping out at the drop of a hat.) |
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Term
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Definition
lacking self-confidence
(Sara's diffident manner during her date suggested she wasnt interested in him.) |
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Term
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Definition
to make larger, to expand
(My pupils dilate when I enter a dark room.) |
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Term
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Definition
intended to delay
(The attorney used dilatory means to stall the trial.) |
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Term
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Definition
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
(Dilettantes have only a superficial interest in the hobby.) |
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Term
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Definition
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
(Mike wrote the dirge for the funeral of his cherished grandfather.) |
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Term
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Definition
to set right, free from error
(Benjamin Franklin disabused critics who didnt understand electricity.) |
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Term
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Definition
to perceive, to recognize
(It is not always easy to discern the difference between truth and lies.)
Related: Discernment - taste and cultivation |
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Term
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Definition
fundamentally different, entirely unlike
(The boys look alike, yet their personalities are disparate.) |
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Term
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Definition
to present a false appearance, to disguise one's real intentions or character
(The lying husband could dissemble to his wife no longer, he admitted his affair.) |
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Term
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Definition
a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
(The dissonance in the woods was caused by two arguing birds.) |
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Term
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Definition
a firmly held opinion, often religious
(Karen's firm dogma was that our souls lived multiple lives.) |
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Term
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Definition
to deceive, a person easily desceived
(Con artists can dupe the elderly out of their life savings.) |
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Term
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Definition
selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
(Jade's furniture is an eclectic mix of modern and southwestern styles.) |
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Term
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Definition
effectiveness
(The efficacy of the drug is reduced if not taken according to directions.)
Related: Efficacious - productive, effective |
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Term
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Definition
a sorrowful poem or speech
(The author wrote an emotional elegy about his mother's death.)
Related: Elegiac - like an elegy, mornful |
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Term
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Definition
persuasive and moving, especially in speech
(The President gave an eloquent speech in honor of the lost soldiers.) |
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Term
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Definition
to copy, to try to equal or excel
(Jody tried to emulate her older sister by copying her dress, hairstyle and mannerisms.) |
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Term
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Definition
to reduce in strength
(The military's surprise attack enervated the opposing army.)
Related: Unnerve - to deprive of strength or courage. |
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Term
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Definition
to produce, cause or bring about
(Laura's fear of dogs was engendered at age six when she was bit by a pit bull.) |
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Term
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Definition
a puzzle, mystery
(Lois was so quiet about her life that she was something of an enigma.) |
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Term
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Definition
to count, list or itemize
(The wife enumerated her husband's faults during their bitter argument.) |
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Term
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Definition
lasting a short time
(The romantic phase of a realtionship is ephemeral in the context of a lifelong marriage.) |
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Term
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Definition
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
(The witness equivocated when questioned by the police, misleading them about the time of the robbery.)
Related: Equivocal - undecided, trying to deceive |
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Term
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Definition
wandering and unpredictable
(The excited puppy ran erratically through the house, bumping into furniture.)
Related: straying, mistaken, roving |
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Term
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Definition
learned, scholarly, bookish
(The annual research meeting attracted the most erudite, well-published individuals.)
Related: extensive knowledge or learning |
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Term
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Definition
known or understood by only a few
(The teacher struggled to explain the esoteric facts to the young class.) |
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Term
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Definition
admirable
(Diane's commitment to charity work is estimable, considering her busy schedule.)
Related: Esteem - high regard |
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Term
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Definition
speech in praise of someone
(David gave his father's eulogy, outlining his achievements and delightful personality.) |
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Term
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Definition
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
(The humans resource director preferred the euphemism "let go" rather than "fired".) |
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Term
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Definition
to make worse
(Instead of helping, the antacid exacerbated Karan's queaziness.) |
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