GRE Set 5 Flashcards
Abandon
complete lack of inhibition or restraint.
Abrasive
showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh.
Abreast
up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information
Abridge
shorten (a piece of writing) without losing the sense.
Abstruse
difficult to understand; obscure.
Accentuate
to make (something) more prominent or noticeable
Accord
an official agreement or treaty.
Acerbic
sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone
Acquisitive
excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.
Activism
the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or
social change.
Acumen
superior insight; quickness and shrewdness of judgment, especially in practical matters.
Acute
present or experienced to a severe or intense degree.
Acute
having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd.
Adroit
clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.
Adulation
obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise.
Aesthetic
concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.
Affable
friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to.
Affectation
behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress.
Aghast
filled with horror or shock.
Alacrity
brisk and cheerful readiness.
Alienate
cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged.
Aloof
conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste.
Ambiguity
the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.
Ambivalent
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
Ameliorate
make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better, improve
Amiable
having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.
Amuse
cause (someone) to find something funny; entertain.
Anachronism
belonging to a period other than that being portrayed.
Antagonistic
showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or
something.
Antedate
precede in time; come before (something) in date.
Antiquity
the ancient past, especially the period before the middle ages.
Antithesis
a contrast or opposition between two things.
Apathy
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
Aplomb
complete and confident composure or self-assurance
Apologist
a person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial.
Apposite
apt in the circumstances or in relation to something.
Appropriate
take (something) for one’s own use, typically without the owner’s permission.
Arbitrary
based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
Arcane
understood by few; mysterious or secret.
Arduous
involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.
Articulate
(of a person or a person’s words) having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently.
Assertive
having or showing a confident and forceful personality.
Assiduous
showing great care and perseverance.
Astonish
surprise or impress (someone) greatly.
Astound
shock or greatly surprise.
Attainment
a thing achieved, especially a skill or educational achievement.
Attribute
regard something as being caused by (someone or something).
Augment
make (something) greater by adding to it; increase.
Austerity
extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance.
Aversion
a strong dislike or disinclination.
Avert
prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence).
Banal
so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.
Banish
send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment.
Bearing
relation; relevance.
Befriend
act as a friend to (someone) by offering help or support.
Beguile
charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way.
Beguile
trick (someone) into doing something.
Beguile
help (time) pass pleasantly.
Beholden
owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service.
Belie
(of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something);
disguise or contradict.
Bemuse
puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (someone).
Benign
harmless, kind, gentle
Betray
unintentionally reveal; be evidence of.
Bias
prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
Blemish
spoil the appearance of (something) that is otherwise aesthetically perfect.
Blight
have a severely detrimental effect on.
Blithe
showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.
Blunt
(of a person or remark) uncompromisingly forthright.
Bogus
not genuine or true; fake.
Bolster
support or strengthen; prop up
Boon
a thing that is helpful or beneficial.
Braggart
a person who boasts about achievements or possessions.
Brandish
wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement.
Brazen
bold and without shame. endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame.
Brevity
concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
Bridle
bring (something) under control; curb.
Bucolic
relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
Buoyancy
an optimistic and cheerful disposition.
Calamitous
involving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous.
Callous
feeling or showing no sympathy for others
Calumny
a false and slanderous statement.
Canny
having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or business matters.
Canonize
treat or regard as being above reproach or of great significance.
Caprice
a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.
Catastrophe
an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster.
Cerebral
intellectual rather than emotional or physical.
Check
stop or slow down the progress of (something undesirable).
Cherish
protect and care for (someone) lovingly.
Circumscribe
restrict (something) within limits.
Circumstantial
pointing indirectly toward someone’s guilt but not conclusively proving it.
Clangor
a continuous loud banging or ringing sound.
Clearheaded
alert and thinking logically and coherently
Clerical
(of a job or person) concerned with or relating to work in an office, especially
routine documentation and administrative tasks, related to the clergy
Cloak
hide, cover, or disguise (something).
Clumsy
done awkwardly or without skill or elegance.
Coalesce
come together to form one mass or whole.
Cogent
(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.
Coherent
(of an argument, theory, or policy) logical and consistent.
Collusion
secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or
deceive others.
Commensurate
corresponding in size or degree; in proportion.
Commonplace
a trite saying or topic; a platitude, a usual or ordinary thing.
Compel
force or oblige (someone) to do something.
Complacent
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.
Complementary
acting or serving to complete; completing.
Compliance
unworthy or excessive acquiescence.
Conditional
subject to one or more conditions or requirements being met; made or
granted on certain terms.
Condone
accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to
continue.
Confound
cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their
expectations.
Consensus
a general agreement
Conspicuous
standing out so as to be clearly visible.
Contemporary
living or occurring at the same time.
Contemptuous
feeling or expressing angry disgust, as at something unworthy or wicked; scornful.
Contend
struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger).
Contentment
a state of happiness and satisfaction.
Conundrum
a confusing and difficult problem or question.
Convoluted
(especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow.
Cope
(of a person) deal effectively with something difficult.
Copious
abundant in supply or quantity.
Corroborate
confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).
Counterfeit
a fraudulent imitation of something else; a forgery.
Counterintuitive
contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation (but often nevertheless
true).
Counterproductive
having the opposite of the desired effect.
Cow
cause (someone) to submit to one’s wishes by intimidation.
Crafty
clever at achieving one’s aims by indirect or deceitful methods
Crestfallen
sad and disappointed.
Cunning
having or showing skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion.
Cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
Curtail
to make less by or as if by cutting off or away some part
Cynical
believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human
sincerity or integrity.
Daunt
make (someone) feel intimidated or apprehensive.
Debacle
a sudden collapse into disaster; downfall.
Debase
to reduce in value, quality, esteem, or character.
Debunk
to expose or ridicule the falseness or exaggerations of (a claim, theory, or the
like)
Deceptive
able or tending to trick or mislead.
Defamatory
causing or tending to cause injury to another’s reputation; libelous or
slanderous.
Deferential
respectfully submissive to the desires, opinions, or judgments of others.
Deft
capable, quick, and clever in action; skillful; dexterous.
Defy
to resist or challenge openly; act against the wishes or decrees of.
Delineate
to describe or portray in precise or vivid detail.
Demur
raise doubts or objections or show reluctance.
Denigrate
criticize unfairly; disparage.
Derivative
copied, modeled on, or extracted from something else.
Devious
ot the straightest, most direct way; winding; roundabout.
Devolve
(of duties or responsibility) pass to (a body or person at a lower level).
Didactic
in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a
patronizing way.
Diffident
modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.
Diffuse
spread out over a large area; not concentrated.
Disaffection
a state or feeling of being dissatisfied with the people in authority and no
longer willing to support them.
Disapprobation
strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds.
Discern
to perceive, make out, or detect.
Discomfit
make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed.
Discount
regard (a possibility, fact, or person) as being unworthy of consideration
because it lacks credibility.
Discredit
to harm the reputation of.
Discrepancy
lack of agreement; difference; inconsistency.
Disentangle
to free or become free from entanglement or involvement; extricate.
Disgruntle
to make irritably dissatisfied or discontent.
Disintegrate
to come apart; break down into component parts or fragments.
Disinterested
having or feeling no interest in something.
Dislocation
disturbance from a proper, original, or usual place or state.
Dismantle
to tear down; take apart.
Dispassionate
without strong feeling or bias; calm; impartial.
Disquiet
lack of mental calm or peace; anxiety; uneasiness.
Dissemble
to disguise or hide behind a false semblance; conceal the true nature or state
of.
Dissolution
debauched living; dissipation.
Distill
extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of.
Distort
give a misleading or false account or impression of.
Doctrinaire
dogmatically adhering to a theory or a school of thought, regardless of its
practicality.
Dogmatic
asserting beliefs and opinions as though they were proven facts.
Dubious
having or showing doubt; skeptical.
Duplicity
deceitful speech or action.
Dynamism
the quality of being characterized by vigorous activity and progress.
Eclectic
deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
Eclipse
overshadow, outshine
Ecstatic
in a condition of extreme delight, overpowering emotion, or religious trance;
enraptured.
Efficacy
the ability to produce desired results; effectiveness.
Egoism
the tendency to evaluate everything in relation to one’s own interests; self-
centeredness.
Egotist
a conceited person; braggart.
Elusive
hard to perceive, understand, or remember.
Enfeeble
to take away the strength of; make feeble, as from age or disease.
Enigmatic
puzzling, mysterious, or inexplicable.
Entail
involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence.
Entreaty
an earnest or humble request.
Entrench
establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult or unlikely
Ephemeral
lasting for only a short period.
Equivocal
open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.
Erstwhile
of an earlier time; former.
Evanescent
tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing; fleeting.
Evasive
ambiguous, tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by
responding only indirectly.
Exacerbate
make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
Exacting
making great demands on one’s skill, attention, or other resources.
Exigent
requiring immediate attention; urgent or critical.
Expedient
a means of attaining an end, especially one that is convenient but considered
improper or immoral.
Exposition
a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory.
Extant
still in existence; current; not extinct, destroyed, or lost.
Extraneous
coming from outside; foreign.
Extravagance
the act or an instance of spending excessively or imprudently.
Factual
containing or based upon real or true things
Fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
Feckless
weak or incompetent; ineffective.
Feeble
without strength or vigor, physically, mentally, or morally
Fester
(of a negative feeling or a problem) becoming worse or more intense,
especially through long-term neglect or indifference
Fickle
quickly changing without reason or warning, especially in affection or allegiance; variable or capricious.
Florid
elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated.
Flourish
to make bold and sweeping gestures
Flout
openly disregard (a rule, law or convention).
Foreground
make (something) the most prominent or important feature.
Foresight
the ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future
Forestall
to prevent or hinder by taking action beforehand.
Forsake
to abandon or desert.
Fortuitous
happening or appearing by chance, as a coincidence.
Fractious
(typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome.
Fringe
not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme.
Frivolous
unworthy of serious consideration or merit; trivial or silly.
Frugality
prudent or sparing use of resources, especially money.
Galvanize
to stimulate into awareness or activity.
Gawky
ungainly; awkward; clumsy.
Germane
having relevance to a given matter; pertinent; significant.
Global
relating to or embracing the whole of something, or of a group of things.
Gloom
to look, feel, or act sullen or despondent
Gracious
inclined to do what is polite, kind, right, or considerate.
Gratify
to give pleasure or satisfaction to (someone).
Hackneyed
made trite or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase.
Harbinger
a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.
Heed
to give one’s attention to; take notice of.
Herald
be a sign that (something) is about to happen.
Heterodox
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion.
Hidebound
unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention.
Hindrance
someone or something that acts as an obstacle, as to an action or goal.
Hortatory
urging or exciting to some course of action with strong arguments, appeals, or
advice.
Humdrum
lacking variety; dull, monotonous, and commonplace.
Hypocrite
one who states or pretends to hold beliefs or principles he or she does not
actually practice.
Iconoclastic
attacking or breaking away from established traditions, beliefs, or values.
Illiberal
lacking tolerance; bigoted.
Imminent
about to happen or likely to happen very soon.
Immunity
protection or exemption from something, especially an obligation or penalty
Immure
to confine within or as though within walls; shut in.
Immutable
not subject to change; unchanging or unchangeable.
Impartial
not biased or prejudiced; even-handed or objective.
Impecunious
having little or no money.
Impediment
an obstacle or hindrance.
Impenetrable
impossible to understand.
Imperative
extremely important; urgent; unavoidable.
Impetuous
acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
Impetus
something that urges or impels; a driving force.
Implicit
essentially or very closely connected with; always to be found in
Impolitic
not showing good sense or judgment; unwise or injudicious.
Imprudent
not showing care for the consequences of an action; rash.
Impudence
the act or condition of being boldly disrespectful; insolence.
Impulsive
motivated by spontaneous wishes and needs rather than careful thought.
Inalienable
not subject to transfer, surrender, or removal, especially one’s rights as a
citizen
Inarticulate
unable to speak distinctly or express oneself clearly
Incendiary
tending to stir up conflict.
Incensed
very angry; enraged.
Incongruous
not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something.
Inconsequential
having no significant effect or result; not important.
Inconsiderable
unimportant or insignificant.
Indebted
obligated to another person or persons, as for money or favors.
Indecision
inability or unwillingness to make a decision.
Indecorous
not in keeping with good taste and propriety; improper.
Indefatigable
(of a person or their efforts) persisting tirelessly.
Indemnify
to make compensation to for loss, damage, or expense incurred.
Indifferent
lacking interest or concern; not caring.
Indiscernible
impossible to see or clearly distinguish.
Indolent
wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
Industrious
diligent and hard-working.
Inestimable
too great to calculate.
Ingenious
(of a person) clever, original, and inventive.
Inhibit
to hold back, restrain, prevent, or tend to do so.
Inimical
unfriendly; hostile.
Injudicious
lacking in or poor in judgment; rash or unwise.
Innocuous
not capable of causing damage; harmless.
Inscrutable
impossible to comprehend or interpret; mysterious.
Insipid
having a bland or uninteresting flavor; tasteless.
Insolence
rude or impudent behavior or speech.
Integrate
to bring together and blend into a whole.
Intelligible
capable of being clearly understood; comprehensible.
Intermediary
a person who acts as an agent or mediator between persons, groups, or the
like; go-between.
Interminable
endless or seemingly endless; monotonously long.
Interweave
blend closely.
Intimately
in a way that involves detailed knowledge
Intractable
not easily controlled, managed, or persuaded.
Intransigent
Intransigent
a
refusing to alter an idea or a position in response to others’ wishes;
uncompromising.
Inveigle
to entice or ensnare by clever talk or flattery, beguile
Involved
difficult to comprehend; complicated.
Irascible
easily angered or irritated; short-tempered.
Ironic
happening in the opposite way to what is expected, and typically causing wry
amusement because of this.
Irremediable
impossible to cure, repair, or correct.
Irresolute
showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain
Judicious
characterized by or using sound judgment; wise; pruden
Keen
extremely sharp; able to cut readily and finely.
Kindred
similar in kind; related.
Laborious
requiring considerable effort or perseverance.
Lament
a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
Latitude
scope for freedom of action or thought.
Layperson
a person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular
subject.
Lionize
to view or treat (someone) as a celebrity or extraordinary person.
Loquacious
given to talking much or excessively; garrulous.
Lucid
easy to understand; articulate; clear.
Lurid
sensational; shocking or dramatic.
Magnanimity
generosity or willingness to forgive.
Maladroit
not skillful; clumsy; tactless.
Malign
to speak badly of; defame; slander
Malleable
easily influenced; pliable.
Manacle
restrain, hinder
Marginalize
to exclude or treat as being of no importance, especially so as to divert attention from.
Mask
conceal (something) from view.
Materialize
become actual fact; happen.
Meager
low in quantity, extent, strength, or richness; scanty or feeble.
Menace
that which poses a danger or threatens injury or harm; threat.
Mercurial
volatile in temper; changeable; fickle.
Meticulous
carefully attentive to every small detail; painstaking.
Mitigate
to lessen the force, severity, or impact of.
Modish
being in or according to current fashion or style; fashionable.
Monotony
lack of variety and interest; tedious repetition and routine.
Morbid
in an unhealthy, gloomy mental state; preoccupied with sickness,
abnormality, or death.
Mounting
grow larger or more numerous.
Murky
not fully explained or understood, especially with concealed dishonesty or immorality.
Naive
(of a person or action) showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.
Narrative
an account, description, or story, or the oral or written work containing such
material.
Nascent
coming into being or starting to develop.
Nettles
irritate or annoy (someone).
Nonchalant
not showing excitement or anxiety; coolly confident, unflustered, or
unworried;casually indifferent.
Normative
establishing, relating to, or deriving from a standard or norm, especially of
behavior.
Noxious
harmful, dangerous, or destructive, especially to health.
Obdurate
stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action.
Objurgate
to criticize sharply; rebuke vehemently; berate.
Obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree, fawning
Obsolete
no longer produced or used; out of date.
Obstinate
holding stubbornly to one’s own ideas or purposes; unwilling to change.
Obviate
avoid; prevent
Opulent
having or displaying wealth or richness.
Outmoded
no longer in keeping with current
Overly
excessively
Overshadow
appear much more prominent or important than.
Overstate
to inflate the importance of; exaggerate.
Panacea
a remedy or solution for all diseases, ills, or difficulties; cure-all.
Panache
a confidently stylish, dashing, or flamboyant manner.
Passable
just good enough to be acceptable; satisfactory.
Patent
easily recognizable; obvious.
Pedestrian
lacking inspiration or excitement; dull.
Pejorative
expressing contempt or disapproval.
Penchant
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.
Penetrate
be fully understood or realized by someone.
Penitent
feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant.
Perfunctory
done quickly and as a matter of routine; performed without care.
Pernicious
having a very harmful or fatal effect; injurious, deadly, or destructive.
Perspicacity
keenness of mental perception or grasp; astuteness.
Phlegmatic
not given to shows of emotion or interest; slow to excite.
Pithy
exactly and concisely appropriate; effective; forceful.
Placid
calm, smooth, or tranquil.
Plod
to move slowly or heavily, as if with weariness or reluctance; trudge.
Polemic
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
Portend
be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or
calamitous) is likely to happen.
Pragmatism
a practical approach to problems and issues.
Precarious
dependent on chance; uncertain.
Precedence
priority in importance, order, or rank.
Precocious
(of a child) having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age
than is usual or expected.
Predominant
having or exerting control or power.
Preeminent
surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.
Premonition
a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something
unpleasant.
Presage
be a sign or warning of (an imminent event, typically an unwelcome one).
Prescience
the fact of knowing something in advance; foreknowledge.
Pressing
requiring quick or immediate action or attention.
Presume
take for granted that something exists or is the case.
Pretension
the use of affectation to impress; ostentatiousness.
Pretentious
attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is
actually possessed.
Prevaricate
speak or act in an evasive waY
Pristine
in its original condition; unspoilt.
Probity
the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
Prodigal
spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
Profligate
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources.
Profound
(of a subject or idea) demanding deep study or thought.
Prolix
(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.
Propagate
spread and promote (an idea, theory, etc.) widely.
Prosaic
commonplace
Provincial
limited in outlook; narrow-minded.
Prudent
acting with or showing care and thought for the future.
Pugnacious
eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.
Punctilious
showing great attention to detail or correct behaviour.
Quandary
a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.
Quixotic
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
Quotidian
of or occurring every day; daily.
Rallying
the action or process of coming together to support a person or cause.
Ramble
talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way.
Rationalize
attempt to explain or justify (behaviour or an attitude) with logical reasons,
even if these are not appropriate.
Recondite
(of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse.
Recrudesce
to break out or appear again after a period of dormancy
Redemption
the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil
Redouble
make or become much greater, more intense, or more numerous.
Redundant
unnecessarily repetitive.
Refuge
the state of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or difficulty.
Rein
keep under control; restrain.
Relish
great enjoyment.
Remedial
giving or intended as a remedy or cure.
Replicate
make an exact copy of; reproduce.
Repudiate
refuse to accept; reject.
Residual
remaining after the greater part or quantity has gone.
Resolute
admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering.
Restive
(of a person) unable to remain still, silent, or submissive, especially because of
boredom or dissatisfaction.
Restrain
prevent (someone or something) from doing something; keep under control
or within limits.
Resurgent
increasing or reviving after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence.
Rhapsody
an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling.
Row
dispute
Ruinous
disastrous or destructive.
Ruminate
think deeply about something.
Salubrious
health-giving; healthy.
Sanguine
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
Sartorial
relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress.
Scanty
small or insufficient in quantity or amount.
Scathe
harm; injure.
Schism
a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by
differences in opinion or belief.
Scintillating
brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful.
Scrupulous
adhering strictly to standards of ethics or morality; punctilious.
Scuffle
to take part in a brief, confused fight among a few people.
Flattery
excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one’s own interests
Self-Righteous
having or characterized by a certainty, especially an unfounded one, that one
is totally correct or morally superior.
Serendipity
the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial
way.
Sham
an imitation that is passed as genuine; counterfeit.
Shirk
avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility).
Shrewd
having or showing sharp powers of judgement; astute.
Sinister
giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will
happen.
Skeptic
a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions.
Skittish
nervous or excitable; easily scared
Slighted
insult (someone) by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention.
Snare
catch or trap (someone).
Sparing
moderate; economical.
Sporadic
occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated.
Spurious
not being what it purports to be; false or fake.
Stanched
stop or restrict (a flow of blood) from a wound.
Staple
main or important, especially in terms of consumption.
Startling
very surprising, astonishing, or remarkable.
Stun
astonish or shock (someone) so that they are temporarily unable to react.
Substantiate
provide evidence to support or prove the truth of.
Subversion
the undermining of the power and authority of an established system or
institution.
Sullen
a sulky or depressed mood.
Superfluous
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
Supersede
take the place of (a person or thing previously in authority or use); supplant.
Supplement
a thing added to something else in order to complete or enhance it.
Supplication
the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.
Surly
bad-tempered and unfriendly
Surrogate
substitute, especially a person deputizing for another in a specific role or office.
Susceptible
likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Sycophant
a person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage
Synoptic
of or forming a general summary or synopsis.
Syntactical
of or relating to or conforming to the rules of syntax
Taciturn
(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
Tactless
having or showing a lack of skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.
Temperate
showing moderation or self-restraint.
Tendentious
expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view,
especially a controversial one
Tepid
showing little enthusiasm
Thrift
the quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
Timorous
showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence.
Tranquil
free from disturbance; calm.
Transcend
surpass (a person or achievement).
Transgression
an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offence.
Transitory
not permanent.
Trifle
a thing of little value or importance.
Trite
lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse.
Trivial
of little value or importance.
Ubiquitous
present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Uncultivated
of a person) not highly educated or socially adept.
Undemonstrative
(of a person) not tending to express feelings, especially of affection, openly.
Understate
describe or represent (something) as being smaller or less good or important than it really is.
Unintelligible
impossible to understand.
Unmistakable
not able to be mistaken for anything else; very distinctive.
Unprecedented
never done or known before.
Unpremeditated
(of an act, remark, or state) not thought out or planned beforehand.
Unpretentious
not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance,
talent, or culture than is actually possessed.
Unpropitious
(of a circumstance) not giving or indicating a good chance of success;
unfavourable.
Unseemly
(of behaviour or actions) not proper or appropriate
Venal
showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt
Veracious
speaking or representing the truth.
Vestigial
forming a very small remnant of something that was once greater or more
noticeable, remaining, surviving
Vigilance
the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.
Virulence
the severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison.
Vociferous
expressing or characterized by vehement opinions; loud and forceful.
Voluble
(of a person) talking fluently, readily, or incessantly
Wanting
lacking in a required or necessary quality.
Wary
feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
Wilful
(of a bad or harmful act) intentional; deliberate
Witty
showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humour
Woo
seek the favour, support, or custom of
Zealot
a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious,
political, or other ideals.
