GRE Basic Words Flashcards
underwrite
verb: to support financially
The latest symphony broadcast was made possible with underwriting from the Carnegie Endowment.
spendthrift
noun: one who spends money extravagantly
Taking weekly trips to Vegas, Megan was a spendthrift whose excesses eventually caught up to her.
demure
adjective: to be modest and shy
The portrait of her in a simple white blouse was sweet and demure.
profuse
adjective: plentiful; pouring out in abundance
During mile 20 of the Hawaii Marathon, Dwayne was sweating so profusely that he stopped to take off his shirt, and ran the remaining six miles wearing nothing more than skimpy shorts
demean
verb: to insult; to cause someone to lose dignity or respect
At first the soccer players bantered back and forth, but as soon as one of the players became demeaning, calling the other’s mother a water buffalo, the ref whipped out a red card.
acme
noun: the highest point of achievement
The new Cessna airplanes will be the acme of comfort, offering reclining seats and ample legroom.
candid
adjective: straightforward and honest
Even with a perfect stranger, Charles was always candid and would rarely hold anything back.
remiss
adjective: to be negligent in one’s duty
Remiss in his duty to keep the school functioning efficiently, the principal was relieved of his position after only three months.
reprobate
noun: a person without morals who is disapproved of
Mr. Smith’s two boys couldn’t be more different; one was a hard-working and principled, the other was the town reprobate, always having run-ins with the law.
bleak
adjective: having a depressing or gloomy outlook
Unremitting overcast skies tend to lead people to create bleak literature and lugubrious music — compare England’s band Radiohead to any band from Southern California.
miser
noun: a person who doesn’t like to spend money (because they are greedy)
Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned.
macabre
adjective: suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome
Edgar Allen Poe was considered the master of the macabre; his stories vividly describe the moment leading up to—and often those moments after—a grisly death.
screed
noun: an abusive rant (often tedious)
Joey had difficulty hanging out with his former best friend Perry, who, during his entire cup of coffee, enumerated all of the government’s deficiencies–only to break ranks and launch into some screed against big business.
peruse
verb: to read very carefully
Instead of perusing important documents, people all too often rush to the bottom of the page and plaster their signatures at the bottom.
stipend
noun: a regular allowance (of money)
He was hoping for a monthly allowance loan from the government, but after no such stipend was forthcoming he realized he would have to seek other means of paying for his college tuition.
hound
verb: to pursue relentlessly
An implacable foe of corruption, Eliot Ness hounded out graft in all forms—he even helped nab Al Capone.
amiable
adjective: friendly
Amy’s name was very apt: she was so amiable that she was twice voted class president.
voracious
adjective: very hungry; approaching an activity with gusto
Steven was a voracious reader, sometimes finishing two novels in the same day.
zenith
noun: the highest point; culmination
At the zenith of his artistic career, Elvis was outselling any other artist on the charts.
slapdash
adjective: carelessly and hastily put together
The office building had been constructed in a slapdash manner, so it did not surprise officials when, during a small earthquake, a large crack emerged on the façade of the building.
censor
verb: to examine and remove objectionable material
Every fall, high school English teachers are inundated by requests to censor their curriculum by removing The Catcher in the Rye and Scarlet Letter from their reading lists.
noun: an official who censors material
The censor insisted that every reference to drugs should be removed from the manuscript.
remiss
adjective: to be negligent in one’s duty
Remiss in his duty to keep the school functioning efficiently, the principal was relieved of his position after only three months.
telling
adjective: significant and revealing of another factor
Her unbecoming dress was very telling when it came to her sense of fashion.
insolvent
adjective: unable to pay one’s bills; bankrupt
With credit card bills skyrocketing, a shockingly large number of Americans are truly insolvent.
tirade
noun: an angry speech
In terms of political change, a tirade oftentimes does little more than make the person speaking red in the face.
err
verb: to make an error
He erred in thinking that “indigent” and “indignant” were synonyms.
serendipity
noun: the instance in which an accidental, fortunate discovery is made
By pure serendipity, Sarah discovered, at a flea market in Peoria, a matching earring to replace the one that fell down the storm drain back home.
thrifty
adjective: spending money wisely
He was economical, spending his money thriftily and on items considered essential.
inundate
verb: to flood or overwhelm
The newsroom was inundated with false reports that only made it more difficult for the newscasters to provide an objective account of the bank robbery.
thoroughgoing
adjective: very thorough; complete
As a thoroughgoing bibliophile, one who had turned his house into a veritable library, he shocked his friends when he bought a Kindle.
indict
verb: to formally charge or accuse of wrong-doing
The bankrobber was indicted on several major charges, including possession of a firearm.
telltale
adjective: revealing
The many telltale signs of chronic smoking include yellow teeth, and a persistent, hacking cough.
retiring
adjective: to be shy, and to be inclined to retract from company
Nelson was always the first to leave soirees—rather than mill about with “fashionable” folk, he was retiring, and preferred the solitude of his garret.
indigenous
adjective: originating in a certain area
The plants and animals indigenous to Australia are notably different from those indigenous to the U.S—one look at a duckbill platypus and you know you’re not dealing with an opossum.
diabolical
adjective: to be extremely wicked like the devil
The conspirators, willing to dispatch anyone who stood in their way, hatched a diabolical plan to take over the city.
pine
verb: to yearn for
Standing forlornly by the window, she pined for her lost love.
inflammatory
adjective: extremely controversial, incendiary
It only takes one person to leave an inflammatory comment on an Internet thread for that thread to blow up into pages upon pages of reader indignation.
affable
adjective: likeable; easy to talk to
For all his surface affability, Marco was remarkably glum when he wasn’t around other people.
dog
verb: to pursue relentlessly; to hound
Throughout his life, he was dogged by insecurities that inhibited personal growth.
erratic
adjective: unpredictable; strange and unconventional
It came as no surprise to pundits that the President’s attempt at re-election floundered; even during his term, support for his policies was erratic, with an approval rating jumping anywhere from 30 to 60 percent.
variance
noun: the quality of being different
The cynic quipped, “There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to lie”.
pinnacle
noun: the highest point
At its pinnacle, the Roman Empire extended across most of the landmass of Eurasia, a feat not paralleled to the rise of the British Empire in the 18th and 19th century.
summit
noun: the peak or highest point
After hiking for seven days, the climbers finally reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
noun: a meeting of high-level leaders
Since climate change policy has been mired in congressional fighting, this summit should help set the goals for president’s next term
indignant
adjective: feeling anger over a perceived injustice
When the cyclist swerved into traffic, it forced the driver to brake and elicited an indignant shout of “Hey, punk, watch where you’re going!”
vindictive
adjective: to have a very strong desire for revenge
Though the other girl had only lightly poked fun of Vanessa’s choice in attire, Vanessa was so vindictive that she waited for an entire semester to get the perfect revenge.
affluent
adjective: wealthy
The center of the city had sadly become a pit of penury, while, only five miles away, multi-million dollar homes spoke of affluence.
tender
verb: offer up something formally
The government was loath to tender more money in the fear that it might set off inflation.
unnerving
verb: to make nervous or upset
At one time unnerved by math problems, she began avidly “Magoosh-ing”, and soon became adept at even combinations and permutations questions.
chauvinist
noun: a person who believes in the superiority of their group
The chauvinist lives on both sides of the political spectrum, outright shunning anybody whose ideas are not consistent with his own.
scintillating
adjective: describes someone who is brilliant and lively
Richard Feynman was renowned for his scintillating lectures—the arcana of quantum physics was made lucid as he wrote animatedly on the chalkboard.
fleece
verb: to deceive
Many people have been fleeced by Internet scams and never received their money back.
stem
verb: to hold back or limit the flow or growth of something
To stem the tide of applications, the prestigious Ivy requires that each applicant score at least 330 on the Revised GRE.
paucity
noun: a lack of something
There is a paucity of jobs hiring today that require menial skills, since most such jobs have either been automated or outsourced.
ferret
verb: to search for something persistently
Ever the resourceful lexicographer, Fenton was able to ferret out the word origin of highly obscure words.
aboveboard
adjective: open and honest
The mayor, despite his avuncular face plastered about the city, was hardly aboveboard – some concluded that it was his ingratiating smile that allowed him to engage in corrupt behavior and get away with it.
flush
adjective: to be in abundance
The exam’s passage is flush with difficult words, words that you may have learned only yesterday.
bellicose
adjective: warlike; inclined to quarrel
Known for their bellicose ways, the Spartans were once the most feared people from Peloponnesus to Persia.
hodgepodge
noun: a confusing mixture or jumble
Those in attendance represented a hodgepodge of the city’s denizens: chimney sweepers could be seen sitting elbow to elbow with stockbrokers.
becoming
adjective: appropriate, and matches nicely
Her dress was becoming and made her look even more beautiful.
beatific
adjective: blissfully happy
Often we imagine all monks to wear the beatific smile of the Buddha, but, like any of us, a monk can have a bad day and not look very happy.
raft
noun: a large number of something
Despite a raft of city ordinances passed by an overzealous council, noise pollution continued unabated in the megalopolis.
wax
verb: to gradually increase in size or intensity
Her enthusiasm for the diva’s new album only waxed with each song; by the end of the album, it was her favorite CD yet.
lassitude
noun: extreme tiredness, either mental or physical
Upon finishing a 6-hour standardized exam, Dahlia emerged from the testing center overcome by lassitude.
moment
noun: significant and important value
Despite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of no great moment in Hampton’s writing career, and within a few years the public quickly forgot his foray into theater arts.
checkered
adjective: marked by disreputable or unfortunate happenings
One by one, the presidential candidates dropped out of the race, their respective checkered pasts— from embezzlement to infidelity—sabotaging their campaigns.
avarice
noun: greed (one of the seven deadly sins)
The Spanish conquistadors were known for their avarice, plundering Incan land and stealing Incan gold.
exhort
verb: to strongly urge on; encourage
Nelson’s parents exhorted him to study medicine, urging him to choose a respectable profession; intransigent, Nelson left home to become a graffiti artist.
amok
adverb: in a frenzied or uncontrolled state
Wherever the bowl haircut teen-idol went, his legions of screaming fans ran through the streets amok, hoping for a glance at his boyish face
corroborate
verb: to confirm or lend support to (usually an idea or claim)
Her claim that frog populations were falling precipitously in Central America was corroborated by locals, who reported that many species of frogs had seemingly vanished overnight.
contrite
adjective: to be remorseful
Though he stole his little sister’s licorice stick with malevolent glee, Chucky soon became contrite when his sister wouldn’t stop crying.
misanthrope
noun: a hater of mankind
Kevin is such a misanthrope that he refused to attend the Christmas party, claiming that everyone’s happiness was “fake” and “annoying.”
catalyst
noun: something that speeds up an event
Rosa Parks’s refusal to give up her bus seat acted as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, setting into motion historic changes for African-Americans.
vicarious
adjective: felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another
The advent of twitter is a celebrity stalker’s dream, as he or she can experience—through hundreds of intimate “tweets”—the vicarious thrill of living the day-to-day life of a famous person.
sanctimonious
adjective: making a show of being pious; holier-than-thou
Even during the quiet sanctity of evening prayer, she held her chin high, a sanctimonious sneer forming on her face as she eyed those who were attending church for the first time.
heyday
noun: the pinnacle or top of a time period or career
During the heyday of Prohibition, bootlegging had become such a lucrative business that many who had been opposed to the 18th Amendment began to fear it would be repealed.
pugnacious
adjective: eager to fight or argue; verbally combative
The comedian told one flat joke after another, and when the audience started booing, he pugnaciously spat back at them, “Hey, you think this is easy – why don’t you buffoons give it a shot?”
immaterial
adjective: not relevant
The judge found the defendant’s comments immaterial to the trial, and summarily dismissed him from the witness stand.
unconscionable
adjective: unreasonable; unscrupulous; excessive
The lawyer’s demands were so unconscionable that rather than pay an exorbitant sum or submit himself to any other inconveniences, the defendant decided to find a new lawyer
cardinal
adjective: of primary importance; fundamental
Most cultures consider gambling a cardinal sin and thus have outlawed its practice.
imponderable
adjective: impossible to estimate or figure out
According to many lawmakers, the huge variety of factors affecting society make devising an efficient healthcare system an imponderable task.
disparate
adjective: two things are fundamentally different
With the advent of machines capable of looking inside the brain, fields as disparate as religion and biology have been brought together by scientists trying to understand what happens in the brain when people have a religious experience.
preemptive
adjective: done before someone else can do it
Just as Martha was about to take the only cookie left on the table, Noah preemptively swiped it.
replete
adjective: completely stocked or furnished with something
Only weeks after the hurricane made landfall, the local supermarket shelves were replete with goods, so quick was the disaster relief response.
apex
noun: the highest point
The Ivy League is considered the apex of the higher education system.
melee
noun: a wild, confusing fight or struggle
After enduring daily taunts about my name, I became enraged and pummeled the schoolyard bully and his sycophantic friends in a brutal melee.
errant
adjective: to be wandering; not sticking to a circumscribed path
Unlike his peers, who spent their hours studying in the library, Matthew preferred errant walks through the university campus.
sanguine
adjective: cheerful; optimistic
With the prospect of having to learn 3,000 words during the course of the summer, Paul was anything but sanguine.
badger
verb: to pester
Badgered by his parents to find a job, the 30-year-old loafer instead joined a gang of itinerant musicians.
virago
noun: an ill-tempered or violent woman
Poor Billy was the victim of the virago’s invective—she railed at him for a good 30-minutes about how he is the scum of the earth for speaking loudly on his cellphone in public.
desecrate
verb: to willfully violate or destroy a sacred place
After desecrating the pharaoh’s tomb, the archaeologist soon fell victim to a horrible illness.
cadaverous
adjective: emaciated; gaunt
Some actors take challenging roles in which they have to lose so much weight that they appear cadaverous.
extenuating
adjective: making less guilty or more forgivable
The jury was hardly moved by the man’s plea that his loneliness was an extenuating factor in his crime of dognapping a prized pooch.
cogent
adjective: clear and persuasive
A cogent argument will change the minds of even the most skeptical audience.
junta
noun: an aggressive takeover by a group (usually military); the group that executes such a takeover
As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is, some analysts believe that were a junta suddenly to gain power, it could be even more unpredictable and bellicose than the current leadership
pittance
noun: a small amount (of money)
Vinny’s uncle beamed smugly about how he’d offered his nephew fifty dollars for his Harvard tuition; even twice the amount would have been a mere pittance.
check
verb: to limit (usually modifying the growth of something)
Deserted for six months, the property began to look more like a jungle and less like a residence—weeds grew unchecked in the front yard
noun: the condition of being held back or limited
When government abuses are not kept in check, that government is likely to become autocratic.
moot
adjective: open to argument or debate; undecidable in a meaningless or irrelevant way
Since the Board just terminated Steve as the CEO, what the finance committee might have thought of his proposed marketing plan for next year is now a moot point.
boon
noun: a desirable state; something helpful or beneficial
Modern technology has been a boon to the travel industry.
adjective: very close and convivial
He was a boon companion to many, and will be sadly missed.
plodding
adjective: (of movement) slow and laborious
Charlie may seem to run at a plodding pace, but he is an ultramarathoner, meaning he runs distances of up to 100 miles, and can run for ten hours at a stretch.
precocious
adjective: characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
Though only seven years old, she was a precocious chess prodigy, able to beat players twice her age.
meander
verb: to wander aimlessly
A casual observer might have thought that Peter was meandering through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited.
avid
adjective: marked by active interest and enthusiasm
Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking long hikes into remote mountains to see some rare eagle.
raffish
adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness
The men found him raffish, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.
respite
noun: a pause from doing something (as work)
Every afternoon, the small company has a respite in which workers play foosball or board games.
fete
verb: to celebrate a person
After World War II, war heroes were feted at first but quickly forgotten.
guffaw
verb: laugh boisterously
Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth.
degrade
verb: reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy’s faults in front of their friends, publicly degrading the poor girl.
ascendancy
noun: the state that exists when one person or group has power over another
The ascendancy of the Carlsbad water polo team is clear—they have a decade of championships behind them.
proponent
noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents.
morose
adjective: ill-tempered and not inclined to talk; gloomy
After Stanley found out he was no longer able to go on vacation with his friends, he sat in his room morosely.
obdurate
adjective: unable to be persuaded or moved emotionally; stubborn; unyielding.
No number of pleas and bribes would get him to change his obdurate attitude.
malleable
adjective: capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
The clay became malleable and easy to work with after a little water was added.
adjective: easily influenced
My little brother is so malleable that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me.
renege
verb: fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
We will no longer work with that vendor since it has reneged on nearly every agreement.
consummate
adjective: having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
Tyler was the consummate musician: he was able to play the guitar, harmonica, and the drum at the same time.
verb: to make perfect and complete in every respect
The restoration of the ancient church was only consummated after a twenty years of labor.
This word has other definitions, but these are the most important ones to study
disheartened
adjective: made less hopeful or enthusiastic
After the visiting team scored nine times, the home team’s fans were disheartened, some leaving the game early.
stolid
adjective: having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives.
incessant
adjective: uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
I don’t mind small children in brief doses, but I think the incessant exposure that their parents have to them would quickly wear me down.
archaic
adjective: so old as to appear to belong to a different period
Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in archaic English that was right out of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice–needless to say, she didn’t have many friends.
advocate
verb: speak, plead, or argue in favor of
While the senator privately approved of gay marriage, he was unwilling to advocate for the cause in a public venue.
noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for the rights of African-Americans in the United States.
jocular
adjective: characterized by jokes and good humor
My uncle was always in a jocular mood at family gatherings, messing up people’s hair and telling knock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen.
ingenuity
noun: the power of creative imagination
Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together.
impermeable
adjective: does not allow fluids to pass through
The sand bags placed on the river formed an impermeable barrier, protecting the town from flooding
pithy
adjective: concise and full of meaning
I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy and insightful prose; it always gives me something to think about.
snide
adjective: expressive of contempt; derogatory or mocking in an indirect way
The chairman interpreted Taylor’s question about promotions as a snide remark, but in all innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the company’s process.
disenfranchise
verb: deprive of voting rights
The U.S. Constitution disenfranchised women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote.
deter
verb: turn away from by persuasion
His mother tried to deter him from joining the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen.
verb: try to prevent; show opposition to
The government’s primary job should involve deterring paths to war, not finding ways to start them.
discriminate
verb: recognize or perceive the difference
Sarah couldn’t discriminate between a good wine and a bad wine, so she avoided wine tastings.
muted
adjective: softened, subdued
Helen preferred muted earth colors, such as green and brown, to the bright pinks and red her sister liked.
transitory
adjective: lasting a very short time
If we lived forever and life was not transitory, do you think we would appreciate life less or more?
resolve
verb: reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation
After much thought, Ted resolved not to travel abroad this summer because he didn’t have much money in his bank account.
thwart
verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
I wanted to spend a week in New York this autumn, but the high costs of travel and lodging thwarted my plans.
elusive
adjective: difficult to capture or difficult to remember
Many first time skydivers say that describing the act of falling from the sky is elusive.
autonomously
adverb: Acting independently; self-governing (of a country)
Many of the factory workers are worried about being replaced by machines and computers that will work completely autonomously.
inclement
adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy
After a week of inclement weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun.
adjective: used of persons or behavior; showing no mercy
Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was inclement to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently.
entice
verb: get someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises
Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on a vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.
ornate
adjective: marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details
The ornate Victorian and Edwardian homes spread throughout San Francisco are my favorite part of the city.
ornate
adjective: marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details
The ornate Victorian and Edwardian homes spread throughout San Francisco are my favorite part of the city.
apprehension
noun: fearful expectation
Test day can be one of pure apprehension, as many students worry about their test scores.
quandary
noun: state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
Steve certainly is in a quandary: if he doesn’t call Elaine, she will blame him for everything, but if he does call her, the evidence of where he currently is could cost him his job.
robust
adjective: sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction
Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more robust flavor.
malady
noun: a disease or sickness
The town was struck by a malady throughout the winter that left most people sick in bed for two weeks.
patronize
verb: treat condescendingly
She says she genuinely wanted to help me, but instead she patronized me, constantly pointing out how I was inferior to her.
flounder
verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties
Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has to deal with taxes, she flounders.
appreciable
adjective: large enough to be noticed (usu. refers to an amount)
There is an appreciable difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done.
dearth
noun: a lack or shortage
I am surprised by the dearth of fast food chains; this is America and I assumed they were on every street.
fledgling
adjective: young and inexperienced
noun: any new participant in some activity
Murray has years of experience in family practice, but he is just a fledgling in surgery.
impede
verb: be a hindrance or obstacle to
Since the police sergeant had to train the pair of new hires, progress in his own case was impeded.
perennial
adjective: lasting an indefinitely long time; eternal; everlasting
Even at the old-timers games, Stan Musial would get the loudest cheer: he was a perennial favorite of the fans there.
surly
adjective: inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
Every morning, Bhavin was a surly, unhappy person, but once he ate breakfast, he became loving, laughing, and a joy to be around.
tawdry
adjective: tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy
Carol expected to find New York City magical, the way so many movies had portrayed it, but she was surprised how often tawdry displays took the place of genuine elegance.
assail
verb: attack in speech or writing
In the weekly paper, the editor assailed the governor for wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars in public projects that quickly failed.
altruism
noun: the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doing missionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking no reward, apparently motivated only by altruism.
precedent
noun: an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
The principal explained that even though one student had done modelling work outside of school, the outfits that student wore in those photographs in no way established a precedent for what could be worn at school dances.
smattering
noun: a slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of something
I know only a smattering of German, but Helen is able to read German newspapers and converse with natives.
whimsical
adjective: determined by impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
Adults look to kids and envy their whimsical nature at times, wishing that they could act without reason and play without limitation.
urbane
adjective: showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience
Because of his service as an intelligence officer and his refined tastes, W. Somerset Maugham became the inspiration for the urbane and sophisticate spy James Bond.
impeccable
adjective: without fault or error
He was impeccably dressed in the latest fashion without a single crease or stain.
cornucopia
noun: an abundant supply of something good
The International Food Expo was a cornucopia of culinary delights: gourmet foods from every continent were under one roof.
buck
verb: resist
The profits at our firm bucked the general downturn that affected the real estate industry.
credence
noun: belief in something
He placed no credence in psychics, claiming that they offered no special powers beyond the ability to make people part with their money.
glib
adjective: (of a person) speaking with ease but without sincerity
I have found that the more glib the salesman, the worse the product.
commendable
adjective: worthy of high praise
The efforts of the firefighters running into the burning building were commendable.
pertinent
adjective: having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand
While the salaries of the players might draw attention in the media, such monetary figures are not pertinent to the question of who plays the best on the field.
euphoria
noun: a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation
The euphoria of winning her first gold medal in the 100 meter dash overwhelmed Shelly-Ann Fraser and she wept tears of immense joy.
inadvertent
adjective: happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally
Although Prohibition was rooted in noble ideals, the inadvertent and costly consequences of making alcohol illegal in the U.S. led to its repeal.
assuage
verb: make something intense less severe
Her fear that the new college would be filled with unknown faces was assuaged when she recognized her childhood friend standing in line.
rankle
verb: gnaw into; make resentful or angry
His constant whistling would rankle her, sometimes causing her to leave in a huff.
pristine
adjective: Unspoiled, untouched (usu. of nature)
The glacial lake was pristine and we filled our canteens to drink deeply.
adjective: Immaculately clean and unused
Drill sergeants are known for demanding pristine cabinets, uniforms, and beds, and often make new recruits clean and clean and clean until they meet the expected high standards.
tumult
noun: a state of chaos, noise and confusion
Riots broke out just in front of our apartment building, and the tumult continued late into the night.
elaborate
adjective: marked by complexity and richness of detail
Thomas, on returning from Morocco, replaced his dirty gray carpet with an elaborate one he’d brought back with him.
verb: explain in more detail
Most high school physics teachers find themselves elaborating the same point over and over again, since many concepts confuse students.
facetious
adjective: cleverly amusing in tone
Facetious behavior will not be tolerated during sex education class; it’s time for all of you to treat these matters like mature adults.
empathetic
adjective: showing understanding and ready comprehension of other peoples’ states and emotions
Most discrimination and hatred is based on a lack of empathetic awareness of people that have the same aspirations and fears.
genial
adjective: agreeable, conducive to comfort
Betty is a genial young woman: everyone she meets is put at ease by her elegance and grace.
fickle
adjective: liable to sudden unpredictable change, esp. in affections or attachments
She was so fickle in her politics, it was hard to pinpoint her beliefs; one week she would embrace a side, and the next week she would denounce it.
genteel
adjective: marked by refinement in taste and manners
A live string quartet would provide a more genteel air to the wedding than would a folk singer.
contemptuous
adjective: scornful, looking down at others with a sneering attitude
Always on the forefront of fashion, Vanessa looked contemptuously at anyone wearing dated clothing.
sentimental
adjective: effusively or insincerely emotional, especially in art, music, and literature
I don’t like romanticism for the same reason I don’t like melodramatic acting and soap operas—overly sentimental.
lucid
adjective: (of language) transparently clear; easily understandable
Though Walters writes about physics and time travel, his writing is always lucid, so readers with little scientific training can understand difficult concepts.
debase
verb: reduce the quality or value of something
The third-rate script so debased the film that not even the flawless acting could save it from being a flop.
banish
verb: expel from a community, residence, or location; drive away
The most difficult part of the fast was banishing thoughts of food.
illicit
adjective: contrary to or forbidden by law
Though Al Capone was engaged in many illicit activities, he was finally arrested for income tax evasion, a relatively minor offense.
hamstrung
verb: made ineffective or powerless
The FBI has made so many restrictions on the local police that they are absolutely hamstrung, unable to accomplish anything.
conducive
adjective: making a situation or outcome more likely to happen
Studying in a quiet room is conducive to learning; studying in a noisy environment makes learning more difficult.
irresolute
adjective: uncertain how to act or proceed
He stood irresolute at the split in the trail, not sure which route would lead back to the camp.
spurn
verb: reject with contempt
She spurned all his flattery and proposals, and so he walked off embarrassed and sad.
egotist
noun: a conceited and self-centered person
An egotist, Natasha had few friends because of her inability to talk about anything except her dream of becoming the next American Idol.
vacuous
adjective: devoid of intelligence, matter, or significance
To the journalist’s pointed question, the senator gave a vacuous response, mixing a few of his overall campaign slogans with platitudes and completely avoiding the controversial subject of the question.
grovel
verb: show submission or fear
Every time Susan comes to the office, Frank grovels as if she were about to fire him.
martial
adjective: suggesting war or military life
Americans tend to remember Abraham Lincoln as kindly and wise, not at all martial, despite the fact that he was involved in the fiercest war America has even fought.
jargon
noun: a characteristic language of a particular group
To those with little training in medicine, the jargon of doctors can be very difficult to understand.
benign
adjective: kind
I remember my grandfather’s face was wrinkled, benign, and calm.
adjective: (medicine) not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive
The tumor located in your ear lobe seems to be benign and should not cause you any trouble.
augment
verb: enlarge or increase; improve
Ideally, the restaurant’s augmented menu will expand its clientele and increase its profits.
derisive
adjective: abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
I was surprised by her derisive tone; usually, she is sweet, soft spoken, and congenial.
unruly
adjective: (of persons) noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline; unwilling to submit to authority
Walk in to any preschool and I am sure that you will find an unruly and chaotic scene—unless it’s nap time.
perpetuate
verb: cause to continue
If you do not let him do things for himself, you are merely perpetuating bad habits that will be even harder to break in the future.
uncompromising
adjective: not making concessions
The relationship between Bart and Hilda ultimately failed because they were both so uncompromising, never wanting to change their opinions.
elude
verb: escape understanding
While some physics concepts might elude newbies, with a little grit and a good teacher, almost anyone can develop a deep understanding of the subject.
foible
noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
When their new roommate sat staring at an oak tree for an hour, Marcia thought it indicated a mental problem, but Jeff assured her it was a harmless foible.
eke
verb: To live off meager resources, to scrape by
Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was able to eke out an existence on canned food.
taxing
adjective: use to the limit; exhaust
The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so taxing that I could barely speak or stand up.
impregnable
adjective: immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
As a child, Amy would build pillow castles and pretend they were impregnable fortresses.
brusquely
adverb: in a blunt, direct manner
Not one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staff would brusquely ask his subordinates for anything he wanted, even coffee.
leery
adjective: openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
Without checking his references and talking to previous employers, I am leery of hiring the candidate.
ploy
noun: a clever plan to turn a situation to one’s advantage
Dennis arranged an elaborate ploy, involving 14 different people lying for him in different situations, so that it could appear that he was meeting Mary completely by chance at the wedding reception.
credulity
noun: tendency to believe readily
Virginia’s wide-eyed credulity as a five-year old was replaced by suspicion after she learned that Santa Claus didn’t really exist.
perturb
verb: disturb in mind or cause to be worried or alarmed
Now that Henry is recovering from a major illness, he no longer lets the little trivialities, such as late mail, perturb him.
irk
verb: irritate or vex
My little sister has a way of irking and annoying me like no other person.
goad
verb: urge on with unpleasant comments
Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim, through a steady stream of taunts, goaded him into signing up for it.
peevish
adjective: easily irritated or annoyed
Our office manager is peevish, so the rest of us tip-toe around him, hoping not to set off another one of his fits.
smug
adjective: marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
When Phil was dating the model, he had a smug attitude that annoyed his buddies.
savvy
noun: a perceptive understanding
Although a great CEO, he did not have the political savvy to win the election.
verb: get the meaning of something
The student savvies the meaning of astrophysics with little effort.
adjective: well-informed or perceptive
With his savvy business partner, the company was able to turn a profit within a year.
tarnish
verb: make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
Pete Rose was one of the best baseball players of his generation, but his involvement with gambling on baseball games has tarnished his image in the eyes of many.
obstinate
adjective: resistant to guidance or discipline; stubbornly persistent
The coach suggested improvements Sarah might make on the balance beam, but she remained obstinate, unwilling to modify any of the habits that made her successful in the past.
serene
adjective: calm and peaceful
I’d never seen him so serene; usually, he was a knot of stress and anxiety from hours of trading on the stock exchange.
placid
adjective: not easily irritated
Doug is normally placid, so we were all shocked to see him yelling at the television when the Mets lost the game.
tout
verb: advertize in strongly positive terms; show off
At the conference, the CEO touted the extraordinary success of his company’s Research & Development division.
discord
noun: lack of agreement or harmony
Despite all their talented players, the team was filled with discord–some players refused to talk to others–and lost most of their games.
travail
noun: use of physical or mental energy; hard work; agony or anguish
While they experienced nothing but travails in refinishing the kitchen, they completed the master bedroom in less than a weekend.
exasperate
verb: to irritate intensely
As a child, I exasperated my mother with strings of never-ending questions.
aphoristic
adjective: something that is concise and instructive of a general truth or principle
Sometimes I can’t stand Nathan because he tries to impress everyone by being aphoristic, but he just states the obvious.
collusion
noun: agreement on a secret plot
Many have argued that Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK’s assassin, was in collusion with other criminals; others maintain that Oswald was a lone gunman.
squander
verb: spend thoughtlessly; waste time, money, or an opportunity
Fearing his money would be squandered by his family, he gave all of it to charity when he died.
presumption
noun: an assumption that is taken for granted
When Mr. Baker found out the family car was gone, he acted under the presumption that his rebellious son had taken the car, calling his son’s phone and yelling at him; only later did Mr. Baker realize that Mrs. Baker had simply gone out to get her nails done.
noun: audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to
The new neighbor quickly gained a reputation for her presumption; she had invited herself to several neighbors’ homes, often stopping over at inopportune times and asking for a drink.
unseemly
adjective: not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
He acted in an unseemly manner, insulting the hostess and then speaking ill of her deceased husband.
conniving
verb: taking part in immoral and unethical plots
With the help of the prince, the queen connived to overthrow the king.
derogative
adjective: expressed as worthless or in negative terms
Never before have we seen a debate between two political candidates that was so derogative and filthy.
pastoral
adjective: relating to the countryside in a pleasant sense
Those who imagine America’s countryside as a pastoral region are often disappointed to learn that much of rural U.S. is filled with cornfields extending as far as the eye can see.
embellish
verb: make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.; make more beautiful
McCartney would write relatively straightforward lyrics, and Lennon would embellish them with puns and poetic images.
dilligent
adjective: characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks
Michael was a diligent gardener, never leaving a leaf on the ground and regularly watering each plant.
candidness
noun: the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
Although I was unhappy that the relationship ended, I appreciated her candidness about why she was ready to move on from the relationship.
quip
noun: a witty saying or remark
In one of the most famous quips about classical music, Mark Twain said: “Wagner’s music is better than it sounds.”
verb: to make a witty remark, to say in jest
When an old English teacher criticized Churchill for ending a sentence with a preposition, he quipped, “This is the kind of criticism up with which we will not put!”
complacent
adjective: contented to a fault with oneself or one’s actions
After the water polo team won their sixth championship, they became complacent and didn’t even make it to the playoffs the next year.
convoluted
adjective: highly complex or intricate
Instead of solving the math problem in three simple steps, Kumar used a convoluted solution requiring fifteen steps.
maxim
noun: a short saying expressing a general truth
Johnson initially suggests that the secret to business can be summarized in a single maxim but then requires a 300-page book to explain exactly what he means.
exemplify
verb: be characteristic of
Mozart exemplified the poor, starving artist who dies young.
verb: clarify by giving an example of
Please present some case studies that exemplify the results that you claim in your paper.
malevolent
adjective: wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred
Villains are known for their malevolent nature, oftentimes inflicting cruelty on others just for enjoyment.
devolve
verb: pass on or delegate to another
The company was full of managers known for devolving tasks to lower management, but never doing much work themselves.
verb: grow worse (usually “devolve into”)
The dialogue between the two academics devolved into a downright bitter argument.
rash
adjective: marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences; imprudently incurring risk
Although Bruce was able to make the delivery in time with a nighttime motorcycle ride in the rain, Susan criticized his actions as rash.
steadfast
adjective: marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
A good captain needs to be steadfast, continuing to hold the wheel and stay the course even during the most violent storm.
enmity
noun: a state of deep-seated ill-will
The rude remark Charles made toward Sarah yesterday was due to his illness, not due to any real enmity toward Sarah.
destitute
adjective: poor enough to need help from others
Jean Valjean, is at first destitute, but through the grace of a priest, he makes something of his life.
adjective: completely wanting or lacking (usually “destitute of”)
Now that the mine is closed, the town is destitute of any economic activity.
retract
verb: pull inward or towards a center; formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
Email is wonderfully efficient, but once something awkward or damaging has been sent, there is no way to retract it.
impending
adjective: close in time; about to occur
The impending doom of our world has been discussed and debated for 2000 years—maybe even longer.
tact
noun: consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense
In a tremendous display of tact, Shelly was able to maintain a strong friendship with Marcia, even though Marcia’s husband, Frank, confessed to finding Shelly more attractive than Marcia.
reservation
noun: an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly
I was initially excited by the idea of a trip to Washington, D.C. but now that I have read about the high crime statistics there, I have some reservations.
conundrum
noun: a difficult problem
Computers have helped solve some of the mathematical conundrums which have puzzled man for many centuries.
foolhardy
adjective: marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
The police regularly face dangerous situations, so for a police officer not to wear his bullet-proof vest is foolhardy.
rakish
adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness
As soon as he arrived in the city, the rakish young man bought some drugs and headed straight for the seedy parts of town.
begrudge
verb: to envy someone for possessing or enjoying something
Sitting all alone in his room, Harvey begrudged the happiness of the other children playing outside his window.
verb: to give reluctantly
We never begrudge money spent on ourselves.
irascible
adjective: quickly aroused to anger
If Arthur’s dog is not fed adequately, he becomes highly irascible, even growling at his own shadow.
antedate
verb: precede in time
Harry was so unknowledgeable that he was unaware the Egyptian pharaohs antedated the American Revolution.
redress
noun: an act of making something right
Barry’s redress for forgetting his wife’s birthday two years in a row was surprising her with a trip to Tahiti.
behoove
verb: to be one’s duty or obligation
The teacher looked down at the student and said, “It would behoove you to be in class on time and complete your homework, so that you don’t repeat freshman English for a third straight year.”
forthright
adjective: characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
I did not expect the insurance agent to give us any straight answers, but I was pleasantly surprised by how forthright he was
industrious
adjective: characterized by hard work and perseverance
Pete was an industrious student, completing every assignment thoroughly and on time.
incense
verb: make furious
When Herb bought football tickets for a game on the day of their wedding anniversary, Jill was incensed.
buttress
verb: make stronger or defensible
China’s economy has been buttressed by a global demand for the electronic parts the country manufactures.
tribulation
noun: something, especially an event, that causes difficulty and suffering
As of 2013, nearly 1.5 million Syrians have fled their country hoping to escape the tribulations of a civil war tearing their country to pieces.
eccentric
adjective: highly unconventional or unusual (usually describes a person)
Mozart was well-known for his eccentricities, often speaking words backward to confuse those around him.
avert
verb: turn away
Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, I averted my eyes as we drove by.
verb: ward off or prevent
The struggling video game company put all of its finances into one final, desperate project to avert bankruptcy.
cerebral
adjective: involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct
A cerebral analysis of most pop music finds it to be simple and childish, but that ignores the point–the music’s effect on the listener.
veneer
noun: covering consisting of a thin superficial layer that hides the underlying substance
Mark Twain referred to the Victorian Period in America as the “Gilded Age”, implying the ample moral corruption that lay beneath a mere veneer of respectability.
analogous
adjective: similar in some respects but otherwise different
In many ways, the Internet’s transformative effect on society has been analogous to that of the printing press.
lethargic
adjective: lacking energy
Nothing can make a person more lethargic than a big turkey dinner.
insipid
adjective: dull and uninteresting
The movie director was known for hiring beautiful actors in order to deflect attention away from the insipid scripts he would typically use.
humdrum
adjective: dull and lacking excitement
Having grown up in a humdrum suburb, Jacob relished life in New York City after moving.
clemency
noun: leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
In the final moments of the trial, during his closing speech, Phillips was nearly begging the judge for clemency.
presumptuous
adjective: excessively forward
Many felt that Barney was presumptuous in moving into the large office before the management even made any official announcement of his promotion.
evenhanded
adjective: without partiality
Teachers often have trouble being evenhanded to all of their varied students.
melancholy
noun: a deep, long-lasting sadness
Hamlet is a figure of tremendous melancholy: he doesn’t have a truly cheerful scene throughout the entire play.
emulate
verb: strive to equal or match, especially by imitating; compete with successfully
To really become fluent in a new language, emulate the speech patterns of people who speak the language.
glean
verb: collect information bit by bit
Herb has given us no formal statement about his background, but from various hints, I have gleaned that he grew up in difficult circumstances
prevail
verb: be widespread in a particular area at a particular time; be current:
During the labor negotiations, an air of hostility prevailed in the office.
verb: prove superior
Before the cricket match, Australia was heavily favored, but India prevailed.
implicate
verb: convey a meaning; imply
By saying that some of the guests were uncomfortable, the manager implicated to the hotel staff that it needed to be more diligent.
verb: to indicate in wrongdoing, usually a crime
The crime boss was implicated for a long list of crimes, ranging from murder to disturbing the peace.
fawn
verb: try to gain favor by extreme flattery
The media fawned over the handsome new CEO, praising his impeccable sense of style instead of asking more pointed questions.
wanton
adjective: without check or limitation; showing no moral restraints to one’s anger, desire, or appetites
Due to wanton behavior and crude language, the drunk man was thrown out of the bar and asked to never return.
incumbent
adjective: necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility
Middle managers at times make important decisions, but real responsibility for the financial well-being of the corporation is ultimately incumbent on the CEO.
preempt
verb: take the place of or have precedence over
A governmental warning about an imminent terrorist attack would preempt ordinary network programming on television.
cohesive
adjective: well integrated, forming a united whole
A well-written, cohesive essay will keep on topic at all times, never losing sight of the main argument.
intermittent
adjective: stopping and starting at irregular intervals
The intermittent thunder continued and the night was punctuated by cracks of lightning—a surreal sleepless night.
rile
verb: cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
Dan is usually calm and balanced, but it takes only one intense glare from Sabrina to rile him.
piquant
adjective: having an agreeably pungent taste
The chef, with a mere flick of the salt shaker, turned the bland tomato soup into a piquant meal.
belittle
verb: lessen the importance, dignity, or reputation of
A good teacher will never belittle his students, but will instead empower them.
delegate
verb: give an assignment to (a person)
Since the senior manager had to go on many international business trips, she was forced to delegate many of her responsibilities to two lower-level managers.
docile
adjective: easily handled or managed; willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed
Barnyard animals are considerably more docile than the wild animals.
besmirch
verb: damage the good name and reputation of someone
The prince’s distasteful choice of words besmirched not only his own name but also the reputation of the entire royal family.
precarious
adjective: fraught with danger
People smoke to relax and forget their cares, but ironically, in terms of health risks, smoking is far more precarious than either mountain-climbing or skydiving.
ascribe
verb: attribute or credit to
History ascribes The Odyssey and The Iliad to Homer, but scholars now debate whether he was a historical figure or a fictitious name.
consecrate
verb: to make holy or set apart for a high purpose
At the church of Notre Dame in France, the new High Altar was consecrated in 1182.
uncanny
adjective: suggesting the operation of supernatural influences; surpassing the ordinary or normal
Reggie has an uncanny ability to connect with animals: feral cats will readily approach him, and sometimes even wild birds will land on his finger.
coalesce
verb: fuse or cause to grow together
Over time, the various tribes coalesced into a single common culture with one universal language.
profusion
noun: the property of being extremely abundant
When Maria reported that she had been visited by Jesus Christ and had proof, a profusion of reporters and journalists descended on the town.
finagle
verb: achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods
Steven was able to finagle one of the last seats on the train by convincing the conductor that his torn stub was actually a valid ticket.
cavalier
adjective: given to haughty disregard of others
Percy dismissed the issue with a cavalier wave of his hand.
derision
verb: treat or speak of with contempt
The nun derided the students for trying to sneak insects and worms into the classroom.
creditable
adjective: deserving of praise but not that amazing
Critics agreed the movie was creditable, but few gave it more than three out of five stars.
deliberate
verb: think about carefully; weigh the pros and cons of an issue
Emergency situations such as this call for immediate action and leave no room to deliberate over options.
cosmopolitan
adjective: comprising many cultures; global in reach and outlook
There are few cities in the world as diverse and cosmopolitan as New York.
carping
noun: persistently petty and unjustified criticism
What seemed like incessant nagging and carping about my behavior from my mother turned out to be wise and useful advice that has served me well.
staid
adjective: characterized by dignity and propriety
Frank came from a staid environment, so he was shocked that his college roommate sold narcotics.
enumerate
verb: determine the number or amount of
The survey enumerates the number of happy workers and the number of unhappy workers.
verb: specify individually, one by one
I sat and listened as she enumerated all of the things she did not like about the past three months.
evasive
adjective: avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger or commitment
His responses were clearly evasive; he obviously did not want to take on any responsibility or any new work.
adjective: deliberately vague or ambiguous
Every time I call the bank, I receive the same evasive answers about our mortgage and never get a clear response.
vie
verb: compete for something
While the other teams in the division actively vie for the championship, this team seems content simply to go through the motions of playing.
colossal
adjective: so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
Few appreciate the colossal scale of the sun: if hollow, it could contain a million Earths.
balk
verb: refuse to comply
The students were willing to clean up the broken glass, but when the teacher asked them to mop the entire floor, they balked, citing reasons why they needed to leave.
laborious
adjective: characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
The most laborious job I’ve had was working 20 hours a day as a fisherman in King Salmon, Alaska
inarticulate
adjective: without or deprived of the use of speech or words
Although a brilliant economist, Professor Wilson was completely inarticulate, a terrible lecturer.
provisional
adjective: under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
Until the corporate office hands down a definitive decision on use of the extra offices, we will share their use in a provisional arrangement.
debunk
verb: expose as false ideas and claims, especially while ridiculing
Richard Dawkins tries to debunk religious belief, but his ridicule tends to push people away from his points rather than convince them.
vanquish
verb: come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
For years, Argentina would dominate in World Cup qualifying matches, only to be vanquished by one of the European countries during the late stages of the tournament.
excruciating
adjective: extremely painful
After the boulder rolled a couple of feet, pinning my friend’s arm, he experienced excruciating pain.
champion
verb: to fight for a cause
Martin Luther King Jr. championed civil rights fiercely throughout his short life.
antiquated
adjective: old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier period in time
Aunt Betty had antiquated notions about marriage, believing that a man should court a woman for at least a year before receiving a kiss.
convivial
adjective: describing a lively atmosphere
The wedding reception was convivial; friends who hadn’t seen each other for ages drank and ate together before heading to the dance floor.
decimation
noun: destroying or killing a large part of the population
The decimation after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is incomprehensible.
perquisite
noun: a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right)
Even as the dishwasher at the French restaurant, Josh quickly learned that he had the perquisite of being able to eat terrific food for half the price diners would pay.
sordid
adjective: involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul and run-down and repulsive
The nightly news simply announced that the senator had had an affair, but the tabloid published all the sordid details of the interaction.
morph
verb: To undergo dramatic change in a seamless and barely noticeable fashion.
The earnestness of the daytime talk shows of the 1970’s has morphed into something far more sensational and vulgar: today guests actually stand up and threaten to take swings at one another.
abysmal
adjective: extremely bad
Coach Ramsey took his newest player off the field after watching a few painful minutes of her abysmal performance.
discreet
adjective: careful to protect one’s speech or actions in order to avoid offense or draw attention
The professor thought that he was discreet, subtly wiping the stain off of his shirt, but as soon as he stepped off the podium a heckler in the audience burst out, “You missed a spot”.
amply
adverb: more than is adequate
The boat was amply supplied for its year at sea—no man would go hungry or thirsty.
boorish
adjective: ill-mannered and coarse or contemptible in behavior or appearance
Bukowski was known for being a boorish drunk and alienating close friends and family.
snub
verb: refuse to acknowledge; reject outright and bluntly
Wheeler was completely qualified for the committee, but the board snubbed him, choosing an obviously lesser qualified candidate instead.
resignation
noun: the acceptance of something unpleasant that can’t be avoided
Since Jack could not think of a convincing reason why he had to miss the seminar, he attended it with a sense of resignation.
cumbersome
adjective: difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight
Only ten years ago, being an avid reader and a traveler meant carrying a cumbersome backpack stuffed with books–these days we need only an e-reader.
besiege
verb: harass, as with questions or requests; cause to feel distressed or worried
After discovering a priceless artifact in her backyard, Jane was besieged by phone calls, emails, and reporters all trying to buy, hold or see the rare piece of history.
compound
verb: make more intense, stronger, or more marked
Her headache was compounded by the construction crew outside, which had six jackhammers going at the same time.
malodorous
adjective: having an unpleasant smell
Some thermally active fountains spew sulfur fumes–the air around them is sometimes so malodorous that many have to plug their noses.
relegate
verb: assign to a lower position
When Dexter was unable to fulfill his basic duties, instead of firing him, the boss relegated him to kitchen cleanup.
complementary
adjective: enhancing each other’s qualities (for two things or more).
The head waiter was careful to tell the amateur diners that red wine was complementary with beef, each bringing out subtle taste notes in the other.
constraints
noun: something that limits or restricts
We don’t have many resources, so we’ll have to work with some very tight constraints.
stymie
verb: hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
The engineers found their plans stymied at every turn and were ultimately able to make almost no progress on the project.
dispatch
noun: the property of being prompt and efficient
She finished her thesis with dispatch, amazing her advisors who couldn’t believe she had written 60 scholarly pages so quickly.
verb: dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently
As soon as the angry peasants stormed the castle, they caught the king and swiftly dispatched him.
chilvarous
adjective: being attentive to women like an ideal knight
Medieval tales are full of stories of chivalry, in which a young knight must commit deeds of heroism to win the hand of a fair maiden.
miscreant
noun: a person who breaks the law
“Come back you miscreant!” yelled the woman who just had her purse stolen.
futile
adjective: producing no result or effect; unproductive of success
I thought I could repair the car myself, but after two days of work with no success, I have to admit that my efforts were futile.
qualms
noun: uneasiness about the fitness of an action
While he could articulate no clear reason why Harkner’s plan would fail, he nevertheless felt qualms about committing any resources to it.
obliging
adjective: showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
Even after all his success, I found him to be accommodating and obliging, sharing with me his “secret tips” on how to gain wealth and make friends.
paradoxical
adjective: seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true
That light could be both a particle and a wave seems paradoxical, but nonetheless, it is true.
misogynist
noun: a person who dislikes women in particular
Many have accused Hemingway of being a quiet misogynist, but recently unearthed letters argue against this belief.
inkling
noun: a slight suggestion or vague understanding
Lynne speaks four Romance languages, but she doesn’t have an inkling about how East Asian languages are structured.
hamper
verb: prevent the progress or free movement of
As the rain water began to collect in pools on the highway, it began to hamper the flow of traffic.
differentiate
verb: be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait (sometimes in positive sense)
Mozart’s long melodic lines differentiate his compositions from other works of late 18th century music.
verb: evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment
Animals on Madagascar differentiated from other similar animal species due to many years of isolation on the island.
dilapidated
adjective: in terrible condition
The main house has been restored but the gazebo is still dilapidated and unusable.
