SAT Direct Hits ALL Flashcards
Ambivalent
Having mixed or opposing feelings at the same time.
Anomaly
Deviation from the norm or what is expected.
Sardonic
Mocking; derisive; taunting; stinging
Dearth, Paucity
A scarcity or shortage of something (x2)
Prattle
To speak in a foolish manner; to babble incessantly
Wry, Droll
Dry; humorous with a clever twist and a touch of irony (x2)
Unorthodox
Not ordinary or typical; characterized by avoiding customary conventions and behaviors
Meticulous, Fastidious
Extremely careful; very EXACTING (x2)
Audacious
Fearlessly, often recklessly daring; very bold
Apathetic
Marked by a lack of interest or concern; nonchalant
Diffident, Self-effacing
Hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence; unassertive; shy; retiring (x2)
Pragmatic
Practical, sensible, NOT idealistic or romantic
Evocation
An imaginative re-creation of something; a calling forth
Presumptuous
Taking liberties, brashly overstepping one’s place, impertinently bold; displaying effrontery
Recalcitrant
Stubbornly resistant and defiant; obstinate; obdurate; refractory (disobedient)
Boon
A timely benefit; blessing
Bane
A source of harm and ruin
Clandestine, Surreptitious
Secret; covert; not open; not ABOVEBOARD (x2)
Affable, Amiable, Genial, Gregarious
Agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly (x4)
Austere
Having no adornment or ornamentation; bare; not ORNATE
Altruism
Unselfish concern for the welfare of others
Ambiguity
The quality or state of having more than one possible meaning; doubtful; equivocal
Upbraid, Reproach, Castigate
To express disapproval; to scold; to rebuke; to CENSURE (x3)
Nostalgia
A WISTFUL sentimental longing for a place or time in the past
Conjecture
An inference based upon guesswork; a SUPPOSITION
Antiquated
No longer in use; outmoded in design or style
Auspicious, Propitious
Very favorable (x2)
Gaffe
A blunder; a faux pas; a clumsy social or diplomatic error
Impasse
A deadlock, stalemate; failure to reach an agreement
Anachronism
The false agreement of an event, person, scene or language to a time when the person, scene or word did not exist
Belie
To contradict, to prove false, used of appearances that are misrepresentative
Mitigate, Mollify, Assuage, Alleviate
To relieve, to lessen, to ease (x4)
Covet
To strongly desire; to crave
Trite, Hackneyed, Banal, Platitudinous, Insipid
Unoriginal; commonplace; overused; clichﾂd (x5)
Antecedent
A preceding event; forerunner; precursor
Prudent
Careful; cautious; sensible
Aesthetic
Relating to the nature of beauty, art and taste; having a sense of what is beautiful, attractive or pleasing
Paradox
A seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless expresses a truth
Enigmatic, Inscrutable
Mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling (x2)
Acquiesce
To comply; to agree; to give in
Naive, Gullible
Unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly CREDULOUS; unsophisticated; immature; inexperienced; INGENUOUS (x2)
Autonomy
Independence; self-governance
Indigenous, Endemic
Native to an area (x2)
Ubiquitous, Prevalent
Characterized by being everywhere; omnipresent; widespread, PERVASIVE (x2)
Pandemic
An epidemic that is geographically widespread and affects a large proportion of the population
Fortitude
Strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage.
Diminutive
Very small
Minutiae
Minor everyday details
Exhort
To encourage, to urge, to give a pep talk, to IMPLORE
Antipathy
Strong dislike, ill will, the state of detesting someone; ENMITY; RANCOR
Digress
To depart from a subject; to wander; to ramble
Tenacious
Characterized by holding fast to something valued; showing great determination
Indulgent
Characterized by excessive generosity; overly tolerant
Polarize
To create disunity or dissension; to break up into opposing factions or groups; to be divisive
Nebulous
Vague; cloudy; misty; lacking a fully-developed form
Analogy
A similarity or likeness between things - events, ideas, actions, trends - that are otherwise unrelated
Ephemeral, Fleeting, Evanescent
Very brief, lasting for a short time, transient (x3)
Penchant, Predilection, Propensity
A liking or preference for something; a BENT; an INCLINATION (x3)
Capricious, Mercurial, Fickle
Very changeable; characterized by constantly-shifting moods (x3)
Boorish, Uncouth, Crass
Vulgar, characterized by rude behavior and deplorable manners; unrefined (x3)
Indignant
Characterized by outrage at something that is perceived as unjust
Innuendo
A veiled reference; an insinuation
Thwart, Stymie
To stop; to frustrate; to prevent (x2)
Adroit, Deft, Adept
Having or showing great skill, dexterous, nimble (x3)
Admonish
To earnestly caution; to warn another to avoid a course of action
Incontrovertible
Impossible to deny or disprove; demonstrably true
Voracious, Ravenous, Rapacious
Having a huge appetite that cannot be satisfied; INSATIABLE (x3)
Callous
Emotionally hardened; insensitive; unfeeling
Intrepid, Undaunted
Courageous, RESOLUTE, fearless (x2)
Nonchalant
Having an air of casual indifference, UNFLAPPABLE
Convoluted
Winding, twisting, and therefore difficult to understand; intricate
Itinerant
Migrating from place to place, NOT SEDENTARY
Poignant
Moving, touching, heartrending
Impetus
A stimulus or encouragement that results in increased activity
Bucolic, Rustic, Pastoral
Characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life (x3)
Equanimity
Calmness, composure, even-temperedness, poise
Panache, Verve, Flamboyance, ﾐlan
Great vigor and energy; dash, especially in artistic performance and composition (x4)
Provocative
Provoking discussion; stimulating controversy; arousing a reaction
Placid, Serene
Calm or quiet, undisturbed by tumult or disorder (x2)
Fortuitous
Of accidental but fortunate occurrence; having unexpected good fortune
Dispel
To drive away; scatter, as to a misconception
Amalgam
A mixture; a blend; a combination of different elements
Viable, Feasible
Capable of being accomplished, possible (x2)
Anguish
Agonizing physical or mental pain; torment
Intemperate
Lacking restraint; excessive
Temperate
Exercising moderation and restraint
Superficial
Shallow; lacking in depth; concerned with surface appearances
Laud, Extol, Tout, Acclaim
To praise; to applaud (x4)
Dismissive
Showing overt intentional INDIFFERENCE or disregard; rejecting
Remiss
Negligent, lax, careless
Remit
To send back, pay money, diminish in intensity
Missive
A note sent by an emissary
Disparage
To speak in a slighting or disrespectful way; to belittle
Pompous
Filled with excessive self-importance, PRETENTIOUS; OSTENTATIOUS; boastful
Cryptic
Having a hidden or AMBIGUOUS meaning; mysterious
Disparity
An inequality; a gap; an imbalance
Curtail
To cut short or reduce
Innocuous
Harmless; unlikely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility; not INIMICAL
Diatribe, Tirade, Harangue
A bitter, abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack; to RANT (x3)
Charlatan
A fake; fraud; imposter; cheat
Skeptic
A person who doubts; asks questions; and lacks faith
Rhetorician
An eloquent writer or speaker; a master of rhetoric (the art of speaking and writing)
Hedonist
A person who believes that pleasure is the chief goal of life
Ascetic
A person who gives up material comforts and leads a life of self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
Raconteur
A person who excels in telling Anecdotes
Iconoclast
A person who attacks and ridicules cherished figures, ideas, and institutions
Partisan
A supporter of a person, party or cause; a person with strong and perhaps biased beliefs
Polymath
A person whose expertise spans a significant number of subject areas
Dilettante
An amateur or dabbler; a person with SUPERFICIAL interest in an art of a branch of knowledge; a trifler
Mentor
An advisor, a teacher, a guide
Acolyte
Devoted follower
Demagogue
A leader who appeals to the fears, emotions and prejudices of the populace
Automaton
A self-operating machine; a mindless follower; a person who acts in a mechanical fashion
Recluse
A person who lives a secluded or solitary life
Bungler
A person who is clumsy or inept; a person who makes mistakes because of incompetence
Clairvoyant
Having the supposed power to see objects and events that cannot be perceived with the five traditional senses; as a noun, a SEER
Prognosticator
A person who makes predictions based upon current information and data
Pundit
An expert commentator; an authority who expresses his or her opinon; usually on political issues
Zealot
A very enthusiastic person; a champion; a true believer, perhaps to an excessive degree; a fanatic
Neophyte, Novice, Greenhorn
A beginner; someone new to a field or activity (x3)
Dissembler, Prevaricator
A liar and deceiver (x2)
Proponent
One who argues in support of something; an ADVOCATE; a champion of a cause
Oracle
A person considered to be ORACULAR, a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinions
Misanthrope
A person who hates or distrusts humankind
Innovator
A person who introduces something new
Sycophant
A person who seeks favor by flattering people of influence; a TOADY; someone who behaves in an OBSEQUIOUS or SERVILE manner
Stoic, Stolid
Seemingly INDIFFERENT to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure or pain; impassive and emotionless (x2)
Reprobate
A morally unprincipled person
Renegade
A disloyal person who betrays his or her cause; a traitor; a deserter
Draconian
Characterized by very strict laws, rules and punishments
Laconic
Very brief; concise; SUCCINCT; TERSE
Spartan
Plain; simple; AUSTERE
Halcyon
Idyllicaly calm and peaceful; an untroubled golden time of satisfaction, happiness, and tranquility
Sophistry
A plausible but deliberately misleading or FALLACIOUS argument designed to deceive someone
Chimerical
Given to fantastic schemes; existing only in the imagination; impossible; vainly conceived
Ostracize
To deliberately exclude from a group; to BANISH
Impecunious
Poor; penniless; NOT AFFLUENT
Nefarious
Famous for being wicked; VILLAINOUS; vile
Jovial
Good-humored; cheerful; JOCULAR
Dirge
A funeral hymn; a slow, mournful, LUGUBRIOUS musical composition
Maudlin
Tearful; excessively sentimental, but not MAWKISH
Quixotic
Foolishly impractical in the pursuit of ideals; impractical idealism
Pandemonium
A wild uproar; tumult
Martinet
A strict disciplinarian; a person who demands absolute adherence to forms and rules.
Fiasco
A complete failure; a DEBACLE
Bowdlerize
To remove or delete parts of a book, song, or other work that are considered offensive; to EXPURGIATE
Galvanize
To electrify; to stir into action as if with an electric shock
Picayune
Small value or importance; petty; trifling
Gerrymander
To divide a geographic area into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections
Maverick
An independent individual who does not go along with a group or party; a nonconformist
Juggernaut
An irresistible force that crushes everything in its path
Serendipity
Discovery by fortunate accident
Zenith
The highest point; the peak; the APEX
Nadir
The lowest point; the bottom
Expunge, Excise, Expurgate
To take OUT; to delete; to remove (x3)
Eccentric
Literally OUT of the center; departing from a recognized, conventional, or established norm; an odd, UNCONVENTIONAL person
Extricate
To get OUT of a difficult situation or entanglement
Exemplary
Standing OUT from the norm; outstanding; worthy of imitation
Enumerate
To count OUT; to list; to tick off the reasons for
Elusive
OUT of reach and therefore difficult to catch, define, or describe
Exorbitant
Literally OUT of orbit and therefore unreasonably expensive
Redundant
Needlessly repetitive; saying things AGAIN and AGAIN
Repudiate, Recant, Renounce
To take BACK; to reject; to DISAVOW (x3)
Relinquish
To surrender or give BACK a possession, right, or privilege
Resilient
Bouncing BACK from ADVERSITY or misfortune; recovering quickly
Reaffirm
To assert AGAIN; to confirm; to state positively
Reticent
Holding BACK one’s thoughts, feelings and personal affairs; restrained or reserved
Rebuff
To repel or drive BACK; to bluntly reject
Renovate
To make new AGAIN; to restore by repairing and remodeling
Rejuvenate
To make young AGAIN; to restore youthful vigor and appearance
Resurgent
Rising AGAIN; sweeping or surging BACK
Repugnant
Abhorrent; offensive to the mind or senses; causing distaste or AVERSION
Deleterious
Going DOWN in the sense of having a harmful effect; injurious
Decry
To put DOWN in the sense of openly condemning; to express strong disapproval
Despondent, Morose
DOWNCAST; very dejected; FORLORN (x2)
Denounce
To put DOWN in the sense of a making a formal accusation; to speak against
Demise
Sent DOWN in the sense of ending in death; the cessation of existence or activity
Debunk
To put DOWN by exposing false and exaggerated claims
Deride (–> Derisive)
To put DOWN with contemptuous jeering; to ridicule or laugh at
Devoid
DOWN in the sense of being empty; completely lacking in substance or quality; BEREFT; vacant
Impeccable
Having NO flaws; perfect
Implacable
Not capable of being PLACATED or appeased
Inexorable
NOT capable of being stopped; relentless; inevitable
Incoherent
NOT coherent and therefore lacking organization; lacking logical or meaningful connections
Insurmountable
NOT capable of being surmounted or overcome
Irreverent
Lacking proper respect or seriousness; disrespectful
Irresolute
NOT RESOLUTE; uncertain how to act or proceed; INDECISIVE; VACILLATING
Circumspect
Looking carefully AROUND–thus cautious and careful; PRUDENT; discreet
Circuitous
CIRCULAR and therefore indirect in language, behavior, or action, roundabout
Circumvent
To circle AROUND and therefore bypass; to avoid by artful maneuvering
Circumscribe
To draw a line AROUND and therefore to narrowly limit or restrict actions
Magnanimous
FILLED WITH generosity and forgiveness; forgoing resentment and revenge
Erroneous
FILLED WITH errors; wrong
Momentous
FILLED WITH importance; very significant
Mellifluous
Smooth and sweet; flowing like honey
Ominous
FILLED WITH menace; threatening
Acrimonious
FILLED WITH bitterness; sharpness in words; RANCOROUS
Copious
FILLED WITH abundance; plentiful
Abstemious
FILLED WITH moderation; TEMPERATE in eating and drinking
Malodorous
FILLED WITH an unpleasant odor; foul-smelling
Tedious
FILLED WITH boredom; very tiresome; dull and fatiguing
Heinous, Egregious
Flagrantly, conspicuously bad; abominable; shockingly evil; monstrous; outrageous (x2)
Gratuitous
Unwarranted; not called for by the circumstances; unnecessary
Precarious, Perilous
Uncertain; characterized by a lack of security or stability (x2)
Impugn
To fight against, attack, challenge the motives of
Pugilist
A boxer, one who fights with his fists
Wistful
Longing and yearning, tinged with MELANCHOLY (long-lasting sadness) and PENSIVENESS
Earnest
Serious in intention or purpose; showing depth and SINCERITY of feelings
Disgruntled, Discontented
Angry; dissatisfied; annoyed; impatient; irritated (x2)
Authoritative
Commanding and self-confident; likely to be respected and obeyed, based on competent authority
Frivolous
Lacking any serious purpose or value; given to trifling or levity
Acerbic, Acid
Harsh; bitter; sharp; CAUSTIC (x2)
Solemn, Grave, Somber
Not cheerful or smiling; serious; gloomy (x3)
Inquisitive
Curious; inquiring
Reflective, Pensive
Engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought, usually marked by sadness or MELANCHOLY (x2)
Equivocal
AMBIGUOUS; open to interpretation; having an uncertain significance or meaning
Equivocate
To avoid making an explicit statement; to hedge; to use vague or AMBIGUOUS language
Deferential
Respectful; dutiful
Ebullient, Elated, Ecstatic, Euphoric, Exuberant
Feeling or expressing great happiness or triumph (x5)
Benevolent
Well-meaning; kindly
Malevolent
Wishing evil to others, showing ill will
Whimsical
Playful; fanciful; CAPRICIOUS; given to whimsies or odd notions
Vindictive
Having a strong desire for revenge
Prosaic, Mundane
Dull; uninteresting; ordinary; commonplace; tedious; PEDESTRIAN; VAPID; BANAL; HACKNEYED; unexpceptional (x2)
Vitriolic
Bitter; CAUSTIC; ACERBIC; filled with malice
Conciliatory
Appeasing; intending to PLACATE
Despairing
Showing the loss of all hope
Inflammatory
Arousing; intended to inflame a situation or ignite angry or violent feelings
Abject
Humble, Servile, Wretched
Antediluvian
Before the Biblical flood, a hyperbolic word describing something extremely old
Anteroom
A waiting room outside a larger room
Idiosyncrasy
A trait or mannerism that is peculiar to an individual
Censorious, Captious
Highly critical; fault-finding (x2)
Consternation
A state of great dismay and confusion
Didactic
Tending to give instruction or advice; inclined to teach or lecture others too much; containing a political or moral lesson
Elucidate
To make clear or plan, especially by explanation
Effusive
Expressing excessive emotion in an unrestrained manner; gushing
Prolific
Very productive
Furor
A general commotion; an uproar
Paranoia
A tendency toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness; irrational fear; delusions of persecution
Marginal, Peripheral
Of secondary importance; NOT central; on the perimeter (x2)
Obfuscate
To deliberately confuse; to make something so confusing that it is hard to understand
Flummoxed
Confused or perplexed; utterly dumbfounded
Spate
A large number or amount
Ineffable
Too overwhelming to be put into words; indescribable; inexpressible
Histrionic, Overwrought
Excessively dramatic or MELODRAMATIC; theatrical; overacted (x2)
Placate
To soothe or calm; to appease
Eschew
To avoid; to shun; to stay clear of
Stopgap
A temporary solution designed to meet an urgent need
Flotsam
The floating wreckage of a ship; debris
Jetsam
Part of a ship, its cargo or equipment that is purposefully thrown overboard or JETTISONED to lighten the load in an emergency and that sinks or is washed up on shore.
Churlish, Sullen, Surly
Ill-tempered; rude; lacking civility (x3)
Restitution
The act of making good or compensating for a loss, damage or injury
Disquieting
Disturbing; upsetting; vexing; causing unease; worrisome
Ornate
Characterized by elaborate and expensive decorations; LAVISH
Execrable, Odious, Repugnant
Detestable; repulsive; extremely bad (x3)
Perspicacious, Prescient, Discerning
Insightful, perceptive (x3)
Eclectic
Choosing or using a variety of sources
Hiatus
An interruption in time or continuity; a break
Vertiginous
Characterized by or suffering from dizziness; having VERTIGO
Esoteric, Arcane
Characterized by knowledge that is known only to a small group of specialists; obscure; RECONDITE; ABSTRUSE (x2)
Supercilious
Showing haughty DISDAIN or arrogant superiority
Blithe
Joyous; sprightly; mirthful; light; vivacious
Underwrite
To assume financial responsibility for
Discomfited
Uneasy; in a state of embarassment
Taciturn
Habitually quiet; uncommunicative
Sinecure
An office or position that provides an income for little or no work
Cosmopolitan
Worldly; sophisticated; open-minded and aware of the big picture
Provincial, Parochial, Insular
Limited in perspective; narrow; restricted in scope and outlook (x3)
Lugubrious
Sad, mournful, MELANCHOLIC
Fecund
Intellectually productive or inventive; fertile
Ostentatious
Showy, intended to attract notice, PRETENTIOUS
Guile
Treacherous cunning; skillful deceit; DUPLICITY
Sanguine
Cheerfully confident; optimistic
Scintillating
Sparkling; shining; brilliantly clever
Pristine
Remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted by civilization
Rampant
Unrestrained, unchecked
Pernicious
Highly INJURIOUS; destructive; deadly
Oblivious
Lacking conscious awareness; unmindful; unaware
Refractory
RECALCITRANT; OBSTINATELY resistant to authority; hard to manage
Garrulous, Verbose, Loquacious, Voluble
Annoyingly talkative; speaking INCESSANTLY; babbling (x4)
Convivial
Sociable; fond of feasting, drinking and good company
Brusque, Curt
Abrupt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt (x2)
Tepid
Lukewarm; mild; half-hearted
Protean
Readily taking on varied forms and meanings
Solicitous
Showing great care and concern; attentive
Ingenuous
Free from deviousness, innocent, NA?VE; GUILELESS; sincere
Disingenuous
INSINCERE; NOT CANDID; NOT straightforward; calculating; OBLIQUE
Venerate, Revere
To regard with great respect; to hold in high esteem (x2)
Contentious
Quarrelsome; argumentative; likely to provoke a controversy; DISPUTATIOUS
Preclude
To make impossible; to rule out; to prevent
Compunction, Contrition, Remorse, Penitence
Feelings of sincere and deep regret (x4)
Demography
The study of the characteristics of human populations
Aphorism, Axiom
A statement that is universally accepted as true; a MAXIM (x2)
Juxtapose
To place side by side or in close PROXIMITY (nearness)
Juxtaposition
The position of being close together or side by side
Bombastic
POMPOUS of PRETENTIOUS in speech or writing; OSTENTATIOUSLY lofty in style
Forbearance
Abstaining from the enforcement of a right; the act of refraining from acting on a desire or impulse
Unfettered
Free of restraint of any kind; liberated
Prescribe
To require; to order; to direct
Proscribe
To forbid; to prohibit; to outlaw
Puerile, Callow, Sophomoric
Childishly foolish; inexperienced; immature (x3)
Pellucid
Clear, transparent, DIAPHANOUS, LIMPID
Pugilist
A boxer, one who fights with his fists
Impugn
To fight against, attack, challenge the motives of
Lambaste
Denounce; strongly criticize
Quiescent
Marked by inactivity; in a state of quiet repose
Provisional
Tentative; temporary; for the time being
Lurid
Sensational; shocking; ghastly
Truculent, Pugnacious, Belligerent
Defiantly aggressive; eager to fight (x3)
Propitiate
To appease; to conciliate; to regain the favor of or goodwill of
ﾐlan
A vigorous spirit; great enthusiasm
Perfunctory
In a spiritless, mechanical and routine manner
Aplomb
Self-assurance; confident composure; admirable poise under pressure
Opaque
Hard to understand; impenetrably dense and obscure
Craven
Cowardly; CONTEMPTIBLY faint-hearted; BASE
Venal
Corrupt; dishonest; open to bribery
Licentious
Immoral; DISSOLUTE; DEBAUCHED
Noxious
Harmful; injurious to physical, mental or moral health; PERNICIOUS
Superfluous, Extraneous
Unnecessary; extra (x2)
Duplicitous
Deliberately deceptive in behavior or speech
Profligate
Wasteful; SQUANDERING in time and money by living for the moment
Epiphany
A sudden realization; an insightful moment
Insidious
Causing harm in a SUBTLE or stealthy manner; INJURIOUS
Vacuous, Inane
Empty; lacking in serious purpose; VAPID (x2)
Harbinger, Portent, Presage
Something that FORESHADOWS a future event; an omen; a PROGNOSTIC (x3)
Beleaguer
To beset; to surround with problems
Burgeon
To grow rapidly; to expand
Imperious
Domineering and arrogant; haughty
Petulant, Querulous
Peevish; irritable; whining or complaining in a childlike way (x2)
Complaisant
Agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; AFFABLE; AMIABLE
Fawning, Obsequious
Behaving in a SERVILE or SUBSERVIENT manner; SYCOPHANTIC; overly obedient; submissive (x2)
Obdurate, Intransigent
Very stubborn; OBSTINATE; unyieldingly persistent; inflexible; INTRACTABLE (x2)
Redolent, Reminiscent
Having a strong specific smell; bringing to mind; suggestive of (x2)
Chicanery
Deception by SUBTERFUGE; deliberate trickery and ARTIFICE
Conundrum
A difficult problem; a dilemma with no easy solution
Slight
To treat in a disparaging manner; to deliberately ignore; to disrespect
Capitulate
To surrender; to comply without protest
Disheartening
Very discouraging; dismaying; dispiriting
Apocryphal
Of doubtful authenticity; false; SPURIOUS
Magisterial
Learned and authoritative
Plastic, Malleable, Pliable
Flexible; easily shaped, especially by outside influences or forces (x3)
Chagrin
The feeling of distress caused by humiliation, failure, or embarrassment
Obstreperous
Noisily and stubbornly defiant; unruly; boisterous
Idyllic
Charmingly simple and carefree
Dilapidated
In a state of disrepair; broken-down; in deplorable condition
Extemporize, Improvise
To lecture or speak without notes in an IMPROMPTU way (x2)
Myriad
Many; numerous
Ungainly
Awkward; clumsy; NOT graceful
Dilatory
Habitually late; tardy
Vituperative
Characterized by verbal abuse and bitter criticism
Discordant
Not in harmony; incompatible; at variance with; as in a detail that doesn’t fit a pattern
Perfidy
Deliberate breach of faith or trust; disloyalty
Perfidious
Treacherous; traitorous; deceitful; faithless
Proliferate
To increase rapidly
Indomitable, Resolute
Very determined; unwavering (x2)
Moribund
Approaching death; about to become OBSOLETE
Nuance
A SUBTLE shade of meaning or feeling a degree of difference
Flippant, Facetious
Treating serious matters with lighthearted humor or lack of respect (x2)
Credulous
Easily convinced; tending to believe too readily; GULLIBLE
Incredulous
Disbelieving, SKEPTICAL
Florid
Flowery in style; very ORNATE
Excoriating, Scathing
Expressing strong disapproval; condemning; loudly DECRYING (x2)
Interloper
An intruder; a gatecrasher
Cerebral
Intellectual rather than emotional
Visceral
Instinctive rather than rational
Nonplussed, Confounded
Utterly PERPLEXED; completely puzzled; totally bewildered (x2)
Ignonimous
Humiliating; shameful; disgraceful
Euphony
Soothing or pleasant sounds; harmony
Cacophany
Harsh, clashing, jarring, grating sounds; disharmony
Vacillate
To WAVER; to hesitate; to swing back and forth; to be indecisive
Timorous
Showing nervousness or fear
Narcissist
A person with a psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of EMPATHY, vanity, and a feeling of self-entitlement
Insolent, Impudent
Boldly insulting; brash; rude (x2)
Arrest
To bring to a stop; to halt
Gravity
Seriousness; dignity; solemnity; weight
Precipitate
To cause, to bring about prematurely, hastily or suddenly; IMPULSIVE
Relief
Elevation of a land surface
Check
To restrain; halt; hold back; contain
Flag
To become weak, feeble or spiritless; to lose interest
Discriminating
Characterized by the ability to make fine distinctions; having refined taste
Eclipse
To overshadow; to outshine; to surpass
Coin
To devise a new word or phrase
Stock
A stereotypical and formulaic character in a novel or film
Currency
General acceptance or use; prevalence
Bent
A strong tendency; a leaning; an inclination; a PROPENSITY
Court
To attempt to gain the favor or support of a person or group; to woo
Negotiate
To successfully travel through, around, or over an obstacle or terrain
Temper
To soften; to moderate; to MITIGATE
Pedestrian
Undistinguished; ordinary; CONVENTIONAL
Cavalier
Having an arrogant attitude or a HAUGHTY disregard for others.
Sanction
An official approval or disapproval for an action.
Compromise
To reduce the quality or value of something; to jeopardize or place at risk
Channel
To direct or guide along a desired course
Qualify
To modify; to limit by adding exceptions or restricting conditions
Personification
A perfect example; embodiment; EPITOME; PARAGON; QUINTESSENCE
Catalyst
Any agent that provokes or triggers change.
Caustic
Causing damage; hurting or burning
Crystallize
To give definite form to an idea or plan
Osmosis
The gradual, often unconscious process of ASSIMILATION
Sedentary
Settled and therefore accustomed to sitting or doing little exercise
Virulent
The quality of being bitterly hostile, hateful and antagonistic (esp. language)
Empirical
Guided by practical experience, not theory.
Entomology
The scientific study of insects
Gestate
To conceive and develop in the mind
Cathartic
Purgative, either physically or emotionally, cleansing
Paradigm
A framework or model of thought.
Avarice, Cupidity
Excessive desire for material wealth; greed; COVETOUSNESS (x2)
Glut, Plethora, Surfeit
A surplus or excess of something (x3)
Destitute, Impoverished, Indigent
Very poor, lacking basic resources (x3)
Affluent, Opulent
Very rich, having abundant resources (x2)
Munificent
Very generous
Parsimonious
Excessively cheap with money; stingy
Remunerate
To compensate; to make payment for; to pay a person
Accord
A formal concurrence, agreement or harmony of minds
Enlighten, Edify
To inform, instruct, illuminate, remove darkness and ignorance (x2)
Appeasement
The policy of granting concessions to maintain peace
Nullify
To make null; to declare invalid
Pretext
An excuse; an alleged cause
Watershed
Critical point that marks a change of course; a turning point
Autocrat, Despot
A ruler or other person with unlimited power and authority (x2)
Manifesto
A public declaration of beliefs, policies or intentions
Enfranchise
To endow with the rights of citizenship, esp. the right to vote
Disenfranchise
To deprive of some privilege or right, esp. the right to vote
Coerce
To force to act or think in a certain way by use of pressure, threats, or torture; to compel
Egalitarian
Favoring social equality; believing in a society in which all people have equal political, economic and civil rights
Inquisition
A severe interrogation; a systematic questioning
Ameliorate
To make a situation better
Exacerbate
To make a situation worse
Desiccated
Thoroughly dried out; lifeless; totally arid
Contiguous
Sharing an edge or boundary; touching
Pertinent
Relevant; to the point; clearly illustrative of a major point
Complicity
Association or participation in a wrongful act
Exonerate, Exculpate
To free from guilt or blame (x2)
Indisputable
Not open to question; undeniable; irrefutable
Precedent
An act or instance that is used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances
Unprecedented
Without previous example, never known before
Malfeasance
Misconduct or wrongdoing, esp. by a public official; intentionally performing an act that is illegal
Probity
Integrity and uprightness; honesty; high moral standards.
Figurative/Metaphorical Language
A general term referring to language that describes a thing in terms of something else – the resemblance is FIGURATIVE, not LITERAL
Simile
An EXPLICIT(clearly stated) figure of speech that is a comparison between two essentially unlike things, usually using the two words “like” or “as”, which points out a FIGURATIVE way that two things are alike.
Metaphor
In its more narrow sense, a figure of speech in which one thing is described in terms of another using an IMPLICIT (implied) comparison, without the use of “like” or “as”
Personification
A figure of speech in which an inanimate object is given human qualities or abilities
Parallelism/Parallel Structure
A rhetorical device or SYNTACTICAL (relating to sentence structure) construction which involves using matching grammatical patterns to establish the equivalent relationship or importance of two or more items.
Literary Irony
A figure of speech in which what we say or write conveys the opposite of its literal meaning
Situational Irony
Incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result
Synopsis
A brief summary of the major points of a thesis, theory, story or literary work, a PRﾐCIS
Satire, Lampoon, Parody
A work that ridicules human vices, follies, and FOIBLES; comic criticism. Note that LAMPOON and PARODY are often used as verbs meaning to ridicule
Hyperbole
A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect; extreme exaggeration
Caricature
Visual art or descriptive writing that deliberately exaggerates distinctive features or peculiarities of a subject for comic or absurd effect.
Epic
A long narrative poem written in a grand style to celebrate the feats of a legendary hero.
Foreshadowing
A suggestion or indication that something will happen in a story; a hint that PRESAGES
Anecdote
A short account of an interesting or humorous incident
Eulogy
A LAUDATORY speech or written tribute, especially one praising someone who has died.
Allusion
An indirect or brief reference to a person, event, place, phrase, piece of art, or literary work that assumes a common knowledge with the reader or listener.
