Manhattan Prep 500 Essential words Flashcards
1
Q
abate
A
(v) reduce, diminish
2
Q
abdicate
A
(v) formally give up the throne (or some other power or responsibility)
3
Q
aberrant
A
(adj) abnormal, deviant
4
Q
abhor
A
(v) detest, regard with disgust
5
Q
abjure
A
(v) give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath)
6
Q
abrasive
A
(adj) rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance
7
Q
abridge
A
(v) reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while retaining the main idea
8
Q
abstain
A
(v) hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy); decline to vote
9
Q
acme
A
(n) summit, peak, highest point
10
Q
activism
A
(n) the practice of pursuing political or other goals through vigorous action, often including protests and demonstrations
11
Q
adhere
A
(v) stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief
12
Q
admonish
A
(v) mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to do something
13
Q
adverse
A
(adj) opposing, harmful
14
Q
advocate
A
(v, n) speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a cause or on behalf of another person (noun)
15
Q
aesthetic
A
(adj, n) concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste, pertaining to the science of what is beautiful (adj); a sense of beauty and taste of a particular time and place (noun)
16
Q
affable
A
(adj) warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable
17
Q
affectation
A
(n) fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to give a certain impression
18
Q
aggrandize
A
(v) make greater; exaggerate
19
Q
aggregate
A
(v, adj) gather together, amount to (verb); constituting a whole made up of constituent parts (adj)
20
Q
alacrity
A
(n) cheerful or speedy willingness
21
Q
alienate
A
(v) cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or distant
22
Q
alleviate
A
(v) lessen, make easier to endure
23
Q
ambiguous
A
(adj) not clear, hard to understand, open to having several meanings or interpretations
24
Q
ambivalent
A
(adj) uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at once
25
analogous
(adj) comparable, corresponding in some particular way (making a good analogy)
26
anarchy
(n) absence of law or government; chaos, disorder
27
anoint
(v) rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by ceremony that includes applying oil to someone
28
anomaly
(n) deviation from what is common; inconsistency
29
antagonize
(v) make hostile or unfriendly
30
antipathy (n.)
deep dislike, aversion, or repugnance, somtimes without reason
31
apathy
(n) not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interest or concern
32
apocryphal
(adj) of questionable authenticity; false
33
appease (v.)
pacify, satisfy, relieve; concede to be belligerent demands, sometimes at the expense of principles
34
appreciable (adj.)
enough to be perceived, considerable
35
arbitrary (adj.)
based entirely on one's discretion; capricious, unreasonable, or having no basis
36
arcane
(adj) known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret
37
archaic
(adj) characteristic of an earlier period, ancient, primitive
38
arduous
(adj) very difficult, strenuous; severe, hard to endure
39
articulate
(adj, verb) using language in a clear, fluent way (adj); speak distinctly or give clarity to an idea (verb)
40
artifact
(n) any object made by humans, especially those from an earlier time, such as those excavated by archaeologists
41
artless
(adj) free of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine; lacking skill or knowledge, crude, uncultured
42
ascertain
(v) find out with certainty
43
ascetic
(adj, n) abstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj); a person who leads an austere and simple like without material pleasures, esp. someone who does this for religious reasons
44
assuage
(v) make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm
45
audacious
(adj) very bold or brave, often in a rude or reckless way; extremely original
46
augment
(v) make larger
47
austere
(adj) severe in manner or appearance; very self-disciplined, ascetic; without luxury or ease; sober or serious
48
autonomous
(adj) self-governing, independent
49
aver
(v) declare or affirm with confidence
50
avid
(adj) enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous
51
balk
(v) refuse to proceed or to do something
52
base
(adj) morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little or no value; crude and unrefined; counterfeit
53
belie
(v) contradict or misrepresent
54
benign
(adj) harmless; favorable; kindly, gentle, or beneficial; not cancerous
55
bogus
(adj) fake, fraudulent
56
bolster
(v) strengthen or support
57
boor
(n) rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a peasant or country bumpkin
58
buffer
(n) something that shields, protects, absorbs shock, or cushions
59
bureaucracy
(n) government characterized by many bureaus and petty administrators or by excessive, seemingly meaningless requirements
60
burgeon
(v) grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or shoots (of a plant)
61
buttress
(v, n) support or encourage (verb); a support or prop, esp. projecting from and supporting the wall of a building (noun)
62
bygone
(adj, n) past, former (adj); that which is in the past (usually plural noun)
63
cacophony
(n) harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds
64
candid
(adj) open, sincere, honest
65
canonical
(adj) authorized, recognized; pertaining to the canon, or body of accepted rules, standards or artistic works
66
capricious
(adj) acting on impulse, erratic
67
cartography
(n) mapmaking
68
castigate
(v) criticize severely; punish in order to correct
69
catalyst
(n) causer of change
70
caustic
(adj) capable of corroding metal or burning the skin; very critical or sarcastic
71
censure
(n, v) strong disapproval or official reprimand (noun); to issue such disapproval or reprimand (verb)
72
chauvinism
(n) fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc.
73
chronological
(adj) arranged in or relating to time order
74
clamor
(v) noisy uproar or protest, as from a crowd; a loud, continuous noise
75
clinch
(v) make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together
76
coalesce
(v) come together, unite; fuse together
77
cogent
(adj) very convincing, logical
78
commensurate
(adj) the same in size, extent, etc., equivalent; proportional
79
complacent
(adj) self-satisfied, smug; overly content (and therefore lazy, neglectful, or some other bad quality)
80
complementary
(adj) completing; fitting together well; filling mutual needs
81
compliant
(adj) obeying, submissive; following the requirements
82
concede
(v) give in, admit, yield; acknowledge reluctantly; grant or give up (such as giving up land after losing a war)
83
conciliatory
(adj) reconciling, appeasing, attempting to make the peace
84
concur
(v) approve, agree
85
condone
(v) overlook, tolerate, regard as harmless
86
confer
(v) consult, compare views; bestow or give
87
connoisseur
(n) expert, especially in the fine arts; person of educated, refined tastes
88
console
(v, n) lessen the suffering or grief of (verb); a control panel, or small table or cabinet (noun)
89
consolidate
(v) unite, combine, solidify, make coherent
90
constrict
(v) squeeze, compress; restrict the freedom of
91
construe
(v) interpret or translate
92
contentious
(adj) controversial; prone to causing arguments, especially gratuitous or petty ones
93
contextualize
(v) place in context, such as by giving the background or circumstances
94
conundrum
(n) riddle, the answer to which involves a play on words; any mystery
95
converge
(v) move towards one another or towards a point; unite
96
conversant
(adj) knowledgeable about or experienced with
97
conversely
(adv) in an opposite way; on the other hand
98
convoluted
(adj) twisted; very complicated
99
copious
(adj) plentiful, bountiful
100
corroborate
(v) support, add evidence to
101
cosmopolitan
(adj) belonging to the entire world, at home globally; free from local or national prejudices or attachments
102
countenance
(n, v) facial expression or face (noun); approve or tolerate (verb)
103
counterintuitive
(adj) against what one would intuitively expect
104
counterpoint
(n) contrasting item, opposite; a complement; the use of contrast or interplay in a work of art
105
counterproductive
(adj) defeating the purpose; preventing the intended goal
106
covert
(adj) secret, veiled, undercover
107
crafty
(adj) cunning, skillful in deception or underhanded schemes
108
craven
(adj) very cowardly, lacking courage
109
credibility
(n) believability, trustworthiness
110
credulous
(adj) gullible; prone to believing or trusting too easily or without enough evidence
111
crescendo
(n) steady increase in force, intensity, or the loudness of a musical passage; a climactic moment or peak
112
culminate
(v) reach the highest point or final stage
113
cynical
(adj) thinking the worst of others' motivations; bitterly pessimistic
114
daunt
(v) discourage, dishearten, lessen the courage of
115
debase
(v) degrade; lower in quality, value, rank, etc.; lower in moral quality
116
debunk
(v) expose, ridicule, or disprove false or exaggerated claims
117
decorous
(adj) behaving with propriety and good taste; polite
118
deem
(v) judge; consider
119
deface
(v) vandalize, mar the appearance of
120
defamatory (adj.)
slanderous, injurious to someone's reputation
121
default
(n, v) failure to act, neglect (noun); fail to fulfill an obligation, esp. a financial one (verb)
122
deference
(n) respectful submission; yielding to the authority or opinion of another
123
deflect
(v) cause to curve; turn aside, esp. from a straight course; avoid
124
deleterious
(adj) harmful, unhealthy
125
delineate
(v) mark the outline of; sketch; describe in detail
126
denigrate
(v) belittle, attack the reputation of
127
denote
(v) be a name or symbol for
128
deride
(v) mock, scoff at, laugh at contemptuously
129
derivative
(adj) derived from something else; not original
130
desiccate
(v) thoroughly dried up, dehydrated
131
detached
(adj) impartial, disinterested; unconcerned, distant, aloof
132
deterrent
(n) something that restrains or discourages
133
diatribe
(n) bitter, abusive attack or criticism; rant
134
didactic
(adj) intended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson
135
digress
(v) go off-topic when speaking or writing
136
din
(n) loud, confused noise, esp. for a long period of time
137
disabuse
(v) free someone from a mistake in thinking
138
discerning
(adj) having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish mentally
139
discredit
(v) injure the reputation of, destroy credibility of or confidence in
140
discrepancy
(n) difference or inconsistency
141
discriminating
(adj) judicious, discerning, having good judgment or insight
142
disingenuous
(adj) insincere, not genuine
143
disinterested
(adj) unbiased, impartial; not interested
144
disjointed
(adj) disconnected, not coherent, jerky; having the joints separated
145
dismiss
(v) allow to disperse or leave; fire from a job; put aside or reject, esp. after only a brief consideration
146
dispassionate
(adj) unbiased, not having a selfish or personal motivation; calm, lacking emotion
147
dispatch
(n, v) speed, promptness; send off or deal with in a speedy way
148
disperse
(v) scatter, spread widely, cause to vanish
149
disposition
(n) a person's general or natural mood; tendency
150
disquieting
(adj) disturbing, causing anxiety
151
disseminate
(v) scatter, spread about, broadcast
152
dissent
(v, n) disagree or take an opposing view, esp. in relation to a formal body such as a government, political party, or church; such a view
153
dissonance
(n) harsh, inharmonious sound; cacophony; disagreement
154
distill
(v) purify; extract the essential elements of
155
diverge
(v) differ, deviate; branch off or turn aside, as from a path
156
Divest
(v) deprive or strip of rank, title, etc., or of clothing or gear; to sell off holdings (opposite of invest)
157
Divine
(v) discover through divination or supernatural means; perceive by insight
158
Document
(v) support with evidence, cite sources in a detailed way, create documentary evidence of
159
Dogma
(n) a system of principles laid down by an authority; established belief
160
Dormant
(adj) asleep, inactive, on a break
161
Dubious
(adj) doubtful, questionable, suspect
162
e.g.
(abbre.) for example, such as
163
eccentric
(adj) peculiar, odd, deviating from the norm esp. in a whimsical way
164
Eclectic
(adj) selecting the best of everything or from many diverse sources
165
Eclipse
(n, v) the obscuring of one thing by another, such as the sun by the moon or a person by a more famous or talented person (noun); to obscure, darken, make less important (verb)
166
Efficacy
(n) the quality of being able to produce the intended effect
167
Egalitarian
(adj) related to the belief in the equality of all people, esp. in political, economic, or social spheres
168
Egregious
(adj) extraordinarily or conspicuously bad; glaring
169
Elated
(adj) very happy, in high spirits
170
Elevate
(v) raise, lift up; lift the spirits of; move up to a higher rank or status or raise up to a higher spiritual or intellectual plane
171
Elicit
(v) call forth, bring out, evoke
172
Eloquent
(adj) marked by forceful, fluid, apt speech; expressive, emotionally moving
173
Embellish
(v) decorate, add ornamentation; enhance (a story) with fictional or fanciful details
174
Eminent
(adj) prominent, distinguished, of high rank
175
Empirical
(adj) coming from, based on, or able to be verified by experience or experimentation; not purely based on theory
176
Emulate
(v) copy in an attempt to equal or be better than
177
Enervate
(v) weaken, tire
178
Enhance
(v) raise to a higher value, desirability, etc.
179
Enigma
(n) puzzle, mystery, riddle; mysterious or contradictory person
180
Entitlement
(n) having the right to certain privileges; believing, sometimes without cause, that one deserves or has a right to certain privileges
181
Enumerate
(v) count or list; specify one-by-one
182
Ephemeral
(adj) lasting only a short time, fleeting
183
Equitable
(adj) fair, equal, just
184
Erratic
(adj) inconsistent, wandering, having no fixed course
185
Erroneous
(adj) mistaken, in error; improper, morally incorrect
186
Erudite
(adj) scholarly, knowledgeable; possessing a deep, often systematic, knowledge
187
Eschew
(v) shun, avoid, abstain from
188
Esoteric
(adj) understood by or intended for only a few; secret
189
Estimable
(adj) worthy of esteem, admirable; able to be estimated
190
Eulogy
(n) speech of praise or written work of praise, esp. a speech given at a funeral
191
Exacerbate
(v) make worse (more violent, severe, etc.), inflame; irritate or embitter (a person)
192
Exacting
(adj) very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention
193
Exculpate
(v) clear from guilt or blame
194
Exhaustive
(adj) comprehensive, thorough, exhausting a topic or subject, accounting for all possibilities; draining, tending to exhaust
195
Explicit
(adj) direct, clear, fully revealed; clearly depicting sex or nudity
196
Exponent
(n) person who expounds or explains; champion, advocate, or representative
197
Extraneous
(adj) irrelevant; foreign, coming from without, not belonging
198
Extrapolate
(v) conjecture about an unknown by projecting information about something known; predict by projecting past experience
199
Facetious
(adj) joking, humorous, esp. inappropriately; not serious, concerned with frivolous things
200
Facilitate
(v) make easier, help the progress of
201
Fallacious
(ad) containing a fallacy, or mistake in logic; logically unsound; deceptive
202
Fanatical
(adj) excessively devoted, enthusiastic, or zealous in an uncritical way
203
Fanciful
(adj) whimsical, capricious; imaginary; freely imaginative rather than based on reason or reality
204
Fathom
(v) measure the depth of (usually of water) as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand
205
Feasible
(adj) possible; logical or likely; suitable
206
Fidelity
(n) faithful, loyalty; strict observance of duty; accuracy in reproducing a sound or image
207
Finesse
(n, v) extreme delicacy, subtlety, or diplomacy in handling a sensitive situation or in a performance or skill (noun); use tact or diplomacy; employ a deceptive strategy (verb)
208
Flag
(v) get tired, lose enthusiasm; hang limply or droop
209
Fleeting
(adj) passing quickly, transitory
210
Figurative
(adj) metaphorical, based on figures of speech; containing many figures of speech (as fancy-sounding writing); related to portraying human or animals figures
211
Foment
(v) incite, instigate, stir up, promote the growth of; apply medicated liquid to a body part
212
Foreshadow
(v) indicate or suggest beforehand, presage
213
Forfeit
(v) surrender or lose as a result of an error, crime, or failure to fulfill an obligation
214
Fortify
(v) strengthen, invigorate, encourage
215
Fringe
(n, adj) on the margin, periphery (adj); the people in a group who hold the most extreme views (noun)
216
Frugal
(adj) economically, thrifty, not wasteful with money; inexpensive
217
Futile
(adj) producing no useful result, ineffective; trivial unimportant
218
Gainsay
(v) declare false, deny; oppose
219
Garrulous
(adj) talkative, wordy, rambling
220
Gauche
(adj) tactless, lacking social grace, awkward, crude
221
Gawky
(adj) physically awkward (esp. of a tall, skinny person, often used to describe teenagers)
222
Germane
(adj) relevant and appropriate, on topic
223
Gist
(n) main idea, essence
224
Glib
(adj) fluent and easy in a way that suggests superficiality or insincerity
225
Goosebumps
(n) the bumps created by hairs standing up on the skin in response to cold, fear, etc.
226
Gradation
(n) a progression, a process taking place gradually, in stages; one of these stages
227
Gregarious
(adj) sociable, pertaining to a flock or crowd
228
Guile
(n) clever deceit, cunning, craftiness
229
Hackneyed
(adj) so commonplace as to be stale; not fresh or original
230
Hardy
(adj) bold, brave, capable of enduring hardship, fatigue, cold, etc.
231
Haven
(adj) harbor or port; refuge, safe place
232
Hearken
(v) listen, pay attention to
233
Hedonist
(n) person devoted to pleasure
234
Heterogeneous
(adj) different in type, incongruous; composed of different types of elements
235
Hierarchy
(n) a ranked series; a classification of people according to rank, ability, etc.; a ruling body
236
Hodgepodge
(n) mixture of different kinds of things, jumble
237
Homogeneous
(adj) of the same kind; uniform throughout
238
Hyperbole
(n) deliberate exaggeration for effect
239
Idiosyncrasy
(n) characteristic or habit peculiar to an individual; peculiar quality, quirk
240
illiberality
(n) narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of generosity
241
imminent
(adj) ready to occur, impending
242
Impair
(v) make worse, weaken
243
Impartial
(adj) unbiased, fair
244
Impede
(v) hold back, obstruct the progress of
245
Implication
(n) act of implying or that which is implied; close connection, esp. in an incriminating way
246
Implicit
(adj) implied, not stated directly; involved in the very essence of something, unquestionable
247
Implode
(v) burst inward
248
Inadvertent
(adj) unintentional; characterized by a lack of attention, careless
249
Inasmuch
(adv) in like manner, considering that (contradiction of "in as much," generally followed by "as")
250
Incendiary
(adj) setting on fire, pertaining to arson; arousing strife, rebellion, etc.; "inflaming" the senses
251
Incentive
(n) something that encourages greater action or effort, such as a reward
252
Inchoate
(adj) just begun, undeveloped, unorganized
253
Incipient
(adj) just beginning; in a very early stage
254
Incongruous
(adj) out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious
255
Inconsequential
(adj) insignificant, unimportant; illogical
256
Incorporate
(v) combine, unite; form a legal corporation; embody, give physical form to
257
Indeterminate
(adj) not fixed or determined, indefinite; vague
258
Indifferent
(adj) not caring, having no interest; unbiased, impartial
259
Inform
(v) inspire, animate; give substance, essence, or context to; be the characteristic quality of
260
Ingenuous
(adj) genuine, sincere, not holding back; naive
261
Ingrained
(adj) deep-rooted, forming part of the very essence; worked into the fiber
262
Inherent
(adj) existing as a permanent, essential quality; intrinsic
263
Innocuous
(adj) harmless, inoffensive
264
Intelligible
(adj) able to understood, clear
265
Intractable
(adj) difficult to control, manage, or manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn
266
Intrepid
(adj) fearless, brave, enduring in the face of adversity
267
Intrinsic
(adj) belonging to the essential nature of a thing
268
Jargon
(n) vocabulary specific to a group or occupation; convoluted or unintelligible language
269
Jocular
(adj) joking or given to joking all the time; jolly, playful
270
Judicious
(adj) using good judgment; wise, sensible
271
Juncture
(n) critical point in time, such as a crisis or a time when a decision is necessary; a place where two things are joined together
272
Keen
(adj) sharp, piercing; very perceptive or mentally sharp; intense (of a feeling)
273
Kudos
(n) praise, honor, congratulations
274
Lackluster
(adj) not shiny; dull, mediocre, lacking brilliance or vitality
275
Laconic
(adj) using few words, concise
276
Lament
(v, n) mourn; express grief, sorrow, or regret (verb); an expression of grief, esp. as a song or poem (noun)
277
Lampoon
(n, v) a harsh satire (noun); ridicule or satirize (verb)
278
Landmark
(n, adj) object (such as a building) that stands out and can be used to navigate by; very important place, event, etc.
279
Languid
(adj) drooping from exhaustion, sluggish, slow; lacking in spirit
280
Lassitude
(n) tiredness, weariness; lazy indifference
281
Laudable
(adj) worthy of praise
282
Lavish
(adj, v) abundant or giving in abundance; marked by excess (adj); give very generously (verb)
283
Layperson
(n) a person who is not a member of the clergy or not a member of a particular profession (such as medicine, law, etc.)
284
Levity
(n) lightness (of mind, spirit, or mood) or lack of seriousness, sometimes in an inappropriate way
285
Levy
(v, n) collect tax from, wage war on, or enlist for military service (verb); act of collecting tax or amount owed, or the drafting of troops into military service (noun)
286
Liberal
(adj, n) favorable to progress or reform; believing in maximum possible individual freedom; tolerant, open-minded; generous (adj); a person with such beliefs or practices (noun)
287
Libertine
(n) morally or sexually unrestrained person; freethinker (regarding religion)
288
Likewise
(adv) also, in addition to; similarly, in the same way
289
Log
(v, n) keep a record of, write down; travel for or at a certain distance or speed (verb); a written record (noun)
290
Loquacious
(adj) talkative, wordy
291
Lucid
(adj) clear, easy to understand; rational, sane
292
Lull
(n, v) soothe or cause to fall asleep (as in a lullaby); quiet down; make to feel secure, sometimes falsely (verb); a period of calm or quiet (noun)
293
Makeshift
(n, adj) a temporary, often improvised, substitute (noun); improvised for temporary use (adj)
294
Malleable
(adj) able to be bent, shaped, or adapted
295
Maverick
(n) rebel, individualist, dissenter
296
Mendacious
(adj) lying, habitually dishonest
297
Mercurial
(adj) quickly unpredictably changing moods; fickle, flighty
298
Metamorphosis
(n) a complete change or transformer (in biology, a change such as a caterpillar becoming a pupa and then a butterfly)
299
Meticulous
(adj) taking extreme care in regards to details; precise, fussy
300
Mitigate
(v) make less severe; lessen or moderate (damage, grief, pain, etc.)
301
Modest
(adj) humble; simple rather than showy; decent (esp. "covering up" in terms of dress); small, limited
302
Mollify
(v) calm or soothe (an angry person); lessen or soften
303
Monotony
(n) sameness or repetitiousness to the point of being boring; lack of variation, uniformity, esp. repetition in sound
304
Moreover
(adv) besides; in addition to what was just stated
305
Mores
(n) customs, manners, or morals of a particular group
306
Mundane
(adj) common, ordinary, everyday
307
Naive
(adj) simple and unsophisticated, unsuspecting, lacking worldly experience and critical judgment
308
Nascent
(adj) coming into existence, still developing
309
Negate
(v) deny or refute; make void or cause to be ineffective
310
Net
(adj, v) remaining after expenses or other factors have been deducted; ultimate (adj); to bring in as profit or to catch as in a net (verb)
311
Nevertheless/Nonetheless
(adv) however, even so, despite that
312
Notoriety
(n) ill fame; the state of being well-known for a disgraceful reason
313
Novel
(adj) new, fresh, original
314
Nuance
(n) a subtle difference in tone, meaning, and expression
315
Objective
(adj) factual, related to reality or physical objects; not influenced by emotions, unbiased
316
Obsequious
(adj) servile, very compliant, fawning
317
Obsolete
(adj) out of date, no longer in use
318
Obstinate
(adj) stubborn or hard to control
319
Obviate
(v) prevent, eliminate, or make unnecessary
320
Occult
(n, adj, v) the supernatural (noun); pertaining to magic, astrology, etc.; mysterious, secret or hidden (adj); to hide, to shut off from view
321
Offhand
(adj) casual, informal; done without preparation or forethought; rude in a short way, brusque
322
Officious
(adj) excessively eager in giving unwanted advice or intruding where one is not wanted; meddlesome, pushy
323
Offset
(v, n) counteract, compensate for (verb); a counterbalance (noun)
324
Onerous
(adj) burdensome, oppressive, hard to endure
325
Opaque
(adj) not translucent; not allowing light, hear, etc. to pass through; dark, dull, unclear or stupid
326
Optimal/Optimum
(adj) best, most desirable or favorable
327
Orthodox
(adj) adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to anything customary or commonly accepted
328
Oscillate
(v) swing back and forth; waver, change one's mind
329
Outstrip
(v) surpass, exceed; be larger or better than; leave behind
330
Overshadow
(v) cast a shadow over, darken; dominate, make to seem less important
331
Paradigm
(n) model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc.
332
Paradox
(n) contradiction, or seeming contradiction that is actually true
333
Pariah
(n) social outcast, untouchable
334
Partial
(adj) biased, prejudiced, favoring one over the others; having a special liking for something or someone (usually partial to)
335
Partisan
(adj, n) devoted to a particular group, cause, etc. (adj); fervent supporter of a group, party, idea, etc.; guerilla fighter (noun)
336
Patent
(adj, n) obvious, apparent, plain to see (adj); a letter from the government guaranteeing an inventor rights to his or her invention (noun)
337
Pathological
(adj) relating to or caused by disease; relating to compulsive bad behavior
338
Patronizing
(adj) condescending, having a superior manner, treating as an inferior
339
Paucity
(n) scarcity, the state of being small in number
340
Peccadillo
(n) small sin or fault
341
Pedestrian
(adj) ordinary, dull, commonplace
342
Penchant
(n) liking or inclination
343
Perfidious
(adj) disloyal, treacherous, violating one's trust
344
Peripheral
(adj) relating to or making up an outer boundary or region; not of primary importance
345
Permeate
(v) spread or penetrate throughout
346
Pervasive
(adj) tending to spread throughout
347
Philanthropy
(n) efforts to improve the well-being of humankind, generally through giving money
348
Phony
(adj) fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine
349
Pious
(adj) devout; religiously reverent and dutiful
350
Pith
(n) core, essence; significance or weight
351
Placate
(v) satisfy or calm down (angry or dissatisfied person), esp. by conciliatory gestures
352
Placid
(adj) peaceful, calm, tranquil
353
Plastic
(adj) able to be shaped or formed; easily influenced
354
Plausible
(n) believable; having the appearance of truth
355
Plummet
(v) plunge, fall straight down
356
Polarized
(adj) divided into sharply opposed groups
357
Ponderous
(adj) heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull, labored
358
Posthumous
(adj) happening or continuing after death
359
Potentate
(n) ruler, person of great power
360
Pragmatic
(adj) practical; dealing with actual facts and reality
361
Preamble
(n) introductory statement, preface
362
Precarious
(adj) unstable, insecure, dangerous
363
Precursor
(n) something that comes before, esp. something that also announces or suggests something on its way
364
Predisposed
(adj) having an inclination or tendency beforehand; susceptible
365
Pre-empt
(v) prevent; take the place of, supplant; take before someone else can
366
Presumptive
(adj) based on inference or assumption; providing reasonable grounds for belief
367
Presumptuous
(adj) too bold or forward; going beyond that which is proper
368
Pretentious
(adj) claiming or demanding a position of importance or dignity, esp. when unjustified; showing off creating deceptive, false show of worth
369
Principled
(adj) having high moral standards
370
Pristine
(adj) in an original, pure state; uncorrupted
371
Probity
(n) honesty, integrity
372
Prodigal
(adj) wasteful, extravagant; giving abundantly, lavish
373
Prodigious
(adj) extraordinarily large, impressive, etc.
374
Profligate
(adj) completely and shamelessly immoral, or extremely wasteful
375
Profound
(adj) very insightful, penetrating deeply into a subject; pervasive intense, "down to the very bottom;" at the very bottom
376
Profuse
(adj) abundant, extravagant, giving or given freely
377
Prohibitive
(adj) tending to forbid something, or serving to prevent something
378
Proliferate
(v) increase or spread rapidly or excessively
379
Prologue
(n) introductory part to a book, play, etc.
380
Pronounced
(adj) distinct, strong, clearly indicated
381
Propriety
(n) conforming to good manners or appropriate behavior; justness
382
Prosaic
(adj) dull, ordinary
383
Proscribe
(v) prohibit, outlaw; denounce; exile or banish
384
Prospective
(adj) potential, in the future
385
Prudent
(adj) wise in practical matters, carefully providing for the future
386
Pugnacious
(adj) inclined to fight, combative
387
Qualified
(adj) modified, limited, conditional on something else
388
Quandary
(n) uncertainty or confusion about what to do, dilemma
389
Quibble
(v) make trivial arguments or criticisms, find faults in a petty way, esp. to evade something more important
390
Quotidian
(adj) daily; everyday, ordinary
391
Ranks
(n) personnel; a group of people considered all together
392
Reap
(v) harvest, such as by cutting; gather; get as a result of one's effort
393
Recluse
(n) person who lives in seclusion
394
Refute
(v) prove to be false
395
Relegate
(v) send or commit to an inferior place, rank, condition, etc.; exile, banish; assign (a task) to someone else
396
Remedial
(adj) providing a remedy, curative; correcting a deficient skill
397
Render
(v) give, submit, surrender; translate; declare formally; cause to become
398
Replete
(adj) supplied in abundance, filled, gorged (used with with)
399
Reproach
(n, v) blame, disgrace (noun); criticize, express disappointment in (verb)
400
Repudiate
(v) reject, cast off, deny that something has authority
401
Requite
(v) reciprocate, repay, or revenge
402
Rescind
(v) annul, repeal, make void
403
Resolution
(n) the quality of being firmly determined; resolving to do something; a formal judgment, esp. decided by a vote
404
Resolve
(v, n) find a solution to; firmly decide to do something; decide by formal vote (verb); firmness of purpose (noun)
405
Respectively
(adv) in the order given
406
Restive
(adj) impatient or uneasy under the control of another; resisting being controlled
407
Reticent
(adj) not talking much; private (of a person), restrained, reserved
408
Retrospective
(adj, n) looking to the past or backward; applying to the past, retroactive (adj); an art exhibit of an artist's work over a long period of time (n)
409
Reverent
(adj) feeling or expressing very deep respect and awe
410
Rhetoric
(n) the art or study of persuasion through speaking or writing; language that is elaborate or pretentious but actually empty, meaning little
411
Rife
(adj) happening frequently, abundant, currently being reported
412
Rudimentary
(adj) elementary, relating to the basics; undeveloped, primitive
413
Rustic
(adj, n) relating to country life, unsophisticated; primitive; made of rough wood (adj); a rural or uncultured person (noun)
414
Sacrosanct
(adj) sacred, inviolable, not to be trespassed on or violated; above any criticism
415
Sagacious
(adj) wise; showing good judgment and foresight
416
Salubrious
(adj) healthful, promoting health
417
Sanction
(n, v) permission or approval, something that gives support or authority to something else (noun); to allow, confirm, ratify (verb); OR a legal action against another country to get it to comply (noun); to place sanctions or penalties on (verb)
418
Sanguine
(adj) cheerfully optimistic, hopeful; reddish, ruddy (as in rosy-red cheeks indicating health or vitality)
419
Sap
(n, v) the inner fluid of a plant or any essential body fluid; energy, vitality; a person taken advantage of (noun); undermine, weaken, tire out (verb)
420
Satiate or Sate
(v) to fully satisfy; to go beyond satisfying to the point of excess (possibly inducing disgust, tiredness, etc.)
421
Saturate
(v) soak or imbue thoroughly; cause a substance to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance
422
Savor
(v) appreciate fully, taste or smell with pleasure
423
Scant
(adj) not enough or barely enough
424
Scathing
(adj) severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or critical (as a remark)
425
Secular
(adj) not religious or holy; pertaining to worldly things
426
Sedulous
(adj) persevering, persistent, diligent in one's efforts
427
Sentient
(adj) conscious; experiencing sensation or perceiving with the senses
428
Simultaneous
(adj) at the same time
429
Skeptic
(adj) person inclined to doubting or questioning generally accepted beliefs
430
Skirt
(v) border, lie along the edge of , go around; evade
431
Slack
(adj, v, n) loose, negligent, lazy, weak (adj); neglect to so one's duties; loosen up, relax (verb); period of little work (noun)
432
Slew
(n) a large number or quantity
433
Slight
(adj, v, n) small, not very important, slender or delicate (adj); treat as though not very important; snub, ignore (verb); an act of treating in this way, a discourtesy (noun)
434
Solicitous
(adj) concerned or anxious (about another person), expressing care; eager or desirous; very careful
435
Soporific
(adj, n) causing sleep; sleepy, drowsy (adj); something that causes sleep (noun)
436
Sound
(v) measure the depth of (usually water) as with a sounding line; penetrate and discover the meaning of, understand (usually as sound the depths)
437
Spartan
(adj) very disciplined and stern; frugal, living simply, austere; suggestive of the ancient Spartans
438
Spate
(n) sudden outpouring or rush; flood
439
Spearhead
(v) be the leader of
440
Specious
(adj) seemingly true but actually false; deceptively attractive
441
Spectrum
(n) a broad range of nevertheless related qualities or ideas, esp. those that overlap to create a continuous series (as in a color spectrum, where each color blends into the next in a continuous way)
442
Speculate
(v) contemplate; make a guess or educated guess about; engage in a risky business transaction, gamble
443
Sporadic
(adj) occasional, happening irregularly or in scattered locations
444
Sportive
(adj) playful, merry, joking around, done "in sport" (rather than intended seriously)
445
Standing
(n, adj) status, rank, reputation (noun); existing indefinitely, not movable (adj)
446
Stark
(adj) complete, total, utter; harsh or grim; extremely simple, severe, blunt, or plain
447
Static
(adj) fixed, not moving or changing, lacking vitality
448
Status Quo
(n) existing state or condition
449
Stingy
(adj) not generous with money, reluctant to spend or give
450
Stoic or Stoical
(adj, n) indifferent to pleasure or pain, enduring without complaint (adj); person indifferent to pleasure or pain (noun)
451
Stolid
(adj) unemotional, showing little emotion, not easily moved
452
Stymie or Stymy
(v, n) block, hinder, or thwart (verb); an obstacle (noun)
453
Subjective
(adj) existing in the mind or relating to one's own thoughts, opinions, emotions, etc.; personal, individual, based on feelings
454
Subside
(v) sink, settle down, become less active; return to a normal level
455
Substantiate
(v) support with evidence or proof; give a material existence to
456
Succeeding
(adj) coming after or following
457
Supersede
(v) replace, take the position of, cause to be disregarded as void or obsolete
458
Supplicate
(v) pray humbly; ask, beg, or seek in a humble way
459
Surfeit
(n) excess, excessive amount, overindulgence
460
Surmise
(v) guess, infer, think, or make an opinion with incomplete information
461
Sycophant
(n) servile flatterer, parasitic person, one who fawns in order to get ahead
462
Synchronous
(adj) happening at the same time; occurring at the same rate and thus happening together repeatedly
463
Table
(v) lay aside to discuss later, often as a way to postpone discussion indefinitely
464
Tacit
(adj) understood without being said; implied, not stated directly; silent
465
Taciturn
(adj) not talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation
466
Tangential
(adj) only slightly relevant, going off topic
467
Temperance
(n) moderation, self-control, esp. regarding alcohol or other desires or pleasures; total abstinence from alcohol
468
Tenuous
(adj) long and thin, slender; flimsy, having little substance
469
Timely
(adj) well-timed, happening at a suitable time
470
Timorous
(adj) fearful, timid
471
Tirade
(n) bitter, abusive criticism or verbal attack
472
Torpor
(n) sluggishness, lethargy, or apathy; a period of inactivity
473
Torrid
(adj) very hot, parching, burning; passionate
474
Tractable
(adj) easily controlled or managed, docile; easily shaped or molded
475
Transitory
(adj) temporary, short-lived, not lasting
476
Trifling
(adj) trivial, not very important; so small as to be unimportant; frivolous, shallow
477
Trite
(adj) lacking freshness or originality, lacking effectiveness due to overuse, cliche
478
Ubiquitous
(adj) existing everywhere at the same time
479
Undermine
(v) weaken cause to collapse by digging away at the foundation (of a building or an argument); injure or attack in a secretive or underhanded way
480
Underscore
(v) emphasize (or, literally, to underline text)
481
Unearth
(v) dig up, uncover, expose
482
Unequivocal
(adj) unambiguous, clear, absolute; having only one possible meaning
483
Unprecedented
(adj) never before known or seen, without having happened previously
484
Unseemly
(adj) improper, inappropriate, against the rules of taste or politeness
485
Vacillate
(v) waver in one's mind or opinions, be indecisive
486
Venerate
(v) revere, regard with deep respect and awe
487
Veracity
(n) truthfulness, accuracy; habitual adherence to the truth
488
Verbose
(adj) wordy
489
Viable
(adj) capable of living (or growing, developing, etc.); practical, workable
490
Vintage
(adj, n) related to items of high quality from a previous era, old-fashioned, antique (adj); the wine of a particular year (noun)
491
Virtual
(adj) existing only in the mind or by means of a computer network; existing in results or in essence but not officially or in name
492
Vituperate
(v) verbally abuse, rebuke or criticize harshly
493
Volatile
(adj) varying, inconstant, fleeting; tending to violence, explosive
494
Warranted
(adj) justified, authorized (warrant can mean to justify or a justification, but can also mean to vouch for or guarantee)
495
Wary
(adj) watchful, motivated by caution, on guard against danger
496
Whereas
(conjunction) while on the contrary, considering that
497
Whimsical
(adj) marked or motivated by whims (odd, fanciful ideas); erratic, unpredictable
498
Wily
(adj) crafty, cunning, characterized by tricks or artifice
499
Zeal
(n) great fervor or enthusiasm for a cause, person, etc.; tireless diligence in furthering that cause; passion, ardor
500
zenith
(n) high point, culmination
