A-B Flashcards
assiduous
diligent
Synonyms: industrious; unremitting; persistent
assuage
relieve or reduce in intensity
Synonyms: alleviate, allay, mitigate, ease/lessen (pain), satisfy or appease (hunger), soothe or calm (anger)
astringent
harshly biting
Synonyms: sharp and penetrating; bitter in taste, acid, caustic, causing contraction
attenuate
to weaken/lessen (in density, force, or degree)
Synonyms: make thinner or finer, become weak or fine, rarefy
attrition
gradual decrease in numbers
Synonyms: reduction in the workforce without firing employees; natural wastage; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment
audacious
rashly bold, reckless and brave, highly inventive
Synonyms: daring, uninhibited
auspicious
promising well for the future
Synonyms: favoring success, fortunate, propitious, favorable, opportune, lucky
austere
strict and rigorous
Synonyms: forbiddingly stern, severely simple and unornamented, plain and without luxury
autocratic
having absolute, unchecked power
Synonyms: dictatorial, despotic, tyrannical, domineering
autonomy
political or personal independence
Synonyms: self-governance; self-rule, sovereignty
avarice
insatiable greed for wealth
Synonyms: covetousness, acquistiveness, cupidity
aver
assert confidently
Synonyms: affirm, declare, avow, profess, as used in law, state formally as a fact
axiomatic
in no need of proof, self-evident
Synonyms: obvious, manifest, aphoristic
baleful
threatening harm or misfortune; having a malign influence
Synonyms: deadly, ominous, menacing
balk
stop short, as if faced by an obstacle, and refuse to continue
Synonyms: turn away, foil, thwart
banality
lack of originality
Synonyms: triteness, staleness, a commonplace expression
belabor
explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree
Synonyms: dwell on, overstress, assail verbally
belie
give a false impression
Synonyms: contradict, disagree with
bellicose
naturally inclined to fight
Synonyms: warlike, pugnacious
beneficent
doing good, especially through works of charity
Synonyms: generous, charitable, kindly
betoken
be evidence of
Synonyms: indicate, signify, portend
blithe
merry in disposition, free of anxieties
Synonyms: carefree, happy, lighthearted
bolster
reinforce
Synonyms: support, prop up, strengthen
bombastic
pretentious and long-winded
Synonyms: pompous, overbearing, grandiloquent, using inflated language
bowdlerize
expurgate by omitting portions considered vulgar
Synonyms: censor, clean up
broach
mention or make known for the first time
Synonyms: introduce, open up, pierce
brook
put up with
Synonyms: allow, tolerate, permit
burgeon
develop rapidly
Synonyms: flourish, mushroom, send out new buds
burnish
make shiny by rubbing
Synonyms: shine, polish, buff
buttress
shore up with a support
Synonyms: prop up, bolster, reinforce, strength
byzantine
devious and complex, relating to the Byzantine Empire
Synonyms: labyrinthine, intricate
