Top 200 100 Flashcards
abase
to humble; to disgrace
ABATE
to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
ex. As the hurricane’s force ABATED, the winds dropped and the sea became calm
Words with Similar Meanings:
EBB, MODERATE, SUBSIDE, LAPSE, RELENT, WANE, LET UP, SLACKEN
abdicate
to give up a position, right, or power
aberrant
deviating from what is normal or expected
abeyance
temporary suppression or suspension
abjure
to reject; to abandon formally
ABSCOND
to leave secretly
ex. The patron ABSCONDED from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door.
Words with Similar Meanings:
DECAMP, ESCAPE, FLEE
abstain
to choose not to do something
ex. During Lent, practicing Catholics ABSTAIN from eating meat
Words with Similar Meanings:
FORBEAR, REFRAIN, WITHHOLD
abstemious
moderate in appetite
abyss
an extremely deep hole ex. The submarine dove into the ABYSS to chart the previously unseen depths Related words: ABYSSAL: pertaining to great depth ABYSMAL: extremely bad Words with Similar Meanings: CHASM, VOID
accretion
a gradual growth in size; an increase in amount
acidulous
sour in taste or manner
acme
the highest point; the summit; the highest level or degree attainable
adulterate
to make impure
ex. The restaurateur made his ketchup last longer by ADULTERATING it with water
Related Words:
UNADULTERATED: pure
ADULTERY: an illicit relationship; an affair
advocate
to speak in favor of ex. The vegetarian ADVOCATED a diet containing no meat Related Words: ADVOCACY: active support for Words with Similar Meanings: BACK, CHAMPION, SUPPORT
aerie
a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling
affected
phony; artificial
aggrandize
to increase in power influence, and reputation
ex. The supervisor sought to AGGRANDIZE himself by claiming that the achievements of his staff were actually his own
Words with Similar Meanings:
AMPLIFY, DIGNIFY, ENNOBLE, MAGNIFY, WAX, APOTHEOSIZE, ELEVATE, EXALT, SWELL, AUGMENT, ENLARGE, GLORIFY, UPLIFT
alacrity
speed or quickness
alleviate
to make more bearable
ex. Taking aspirin helps to ALLEVIATE a headache.
Words with Similar Meanings:
ALLAY, EASE, MITIGATE, ASSUAGE, LESSEN, PALLIATE, COMFORT, LIGHTEN, RELIEVE
amalgamate
to combine; to mix together
ex. Giant industries AMALGAMATED with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products INC.
Related Words:
AMALGAM: a mixture, especially of 2 metals
Words with Similar Meanings:
ADMIX, COMMINGLE, FUSE, MERGE, BLEND, COMMIX, INTERMINGLE, MINGLE, COMBINE, COMPOUND, INTERMIX, MIX
ambiguous
doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted in several ways
ex. The directions he gave were so AMBIGUOUS that we disagreed on which way to turn.
Related Words:
AMBIGUITY: the quality of being ambiguous
Words with Similar Meanings:
CLOUDY, EQUIVOCAL, OBSCURE, DOUBTFUL, NEBULOUS, UNCLEAR, DUBIOUS, INDETERMINATE, VAGUE
ameliorate
to make better; to improve
ex. The doctor was able to AMELIORATE the patients suffering using painkillers
Words with Similar Meanings:
AMEND, PACIFY, BETTER, UPGRADE, IMPROVE
amortize
to diminish by installment payments
amulet
an ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
anachronism
something out of place in time
ex. The aged hippie used ANACHRONISTIC phrases like groovy and far out that had not been popular for years
Words with Similar Meanings:
ARCHAISM, INCONGRUITY
analgesia
a lessening of pain without loss of consciousness
analogous
similar or alike in some way; equivalent
ex. In a famous argument for the existence of God, the universe is ANALOGOUS to a mechanical timepiece, the creation of a devinely intelligent “clockmaker”
Related Words:
ANALOGY: a similarity between things that are otherwise dissimilar
ANALOGUE: something that is similar in some way to something else
Words with Similar Meanings:
ALIKE, EQUIVALENT, SIMILAR, COMPARABLE, HOMOGENOUS, CORRESPONDING, PARALLEL
anodyne
something that calms or soothes pain
anomaly
deviation from what is normal
ex. Albino animals may display too great an ANOMALY in their coloring to attract normally colored mates
Related Words:
ANOMALOUS: deviating from what is normal
Words with Similar Meanings:
ABERRANCE, DEVIANCE, PRETERNATURALNESS, ABERRATION, DEVIATION, ABNORMALITY, IRREGULARITY
antagonize
to annoy or provoke to anger
ex. The child discovered that he could ANTAGONIZE the cat by pulling its tail.
Related Words:
ANTAGONISTIC: tending to provoke conflict
ANTAGONIST: someone who fights another
Words with Similar Meanings:
CLASH, IRRITATE, PROVOKE, CONFLICT, OPPOSE, VEX, INCITE, PESTER
antipathy
extreme dislike
The ANTIPATHY between the French and the English regularly erupted into open warfare
Words with Similar Meanings:
ANIMOSITY, AVERSION, REPELLENCE, ANIMUS, ENMITY, ANTAGONISM, HOSTILITY
apathy
lack of interest or emotion
The APATHY of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so.
Words with Similar Meanings:
COOLNESS, IMPASSIVITY, LASSITUDE, PHLEGM, UNRESPONSIVENESS, DISINTEREST, INDIFFERENCE, LETHARGY, STOLIDITY, DISREGARD, INSENSIBILITY, LISTLESSNESS, UNCONCERN
apocryphal
of questionable authority or authenticity
apostate
one who renounces a religious faith
approbation
approval and praise
arbitrary
determined by chance or impulse
arbitrate
to judge a debate between two opposing parties
ex. Since the couple could not come to an agreement, a judge was forced to ARBITRATE their divorce proceedings
Related Words:
ARBITRATION: a process by which a conflict is resolved
ARBITRATOR: a judge
Words with Similar Meanings:
ADJUDGE, DETERMINE, REFEREE, ADJUDICATE, JUDGE, RULE, DECIDE, MODERATE
ARCHAIC
ancient, old-fashioned
ex. Her ARCHAIC Commodore computer could not run the latest software
Related Words:
ARCHAISM: an outdated word or phrase
Words with Similar Meanings:
ANCIENT, BYGONE, FUTSY, OUTDATED, PREHISTORIC, SUPERSEDED, ANTEDILUVIAN, DATED, OBSOLETE, OUTMODED, STALE, VINTAGE, ANTIQUE, DOWDY, OLD-FASHIONED, PASSE, SUPERANNUATED
ardor
intense and passionate feeling
ex. Bishop’s ARDOR for landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley
Related Words:
ARDENT: expressing ardor, passionate
Words with Similar Meanings:
DEVOTION, FERVIDITY, FIRE, ZEALOUSNESS, ENTHUSIASM, FERVIDNESS, PASSION, FERVENCY, FERVOR, ZEAL
arrogate
to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right
articulate
able to speak clearly and expressively
ex. She is such an ARTICULATE defender of labor that unions are among her strongest supporters
Words with Similar Meanings:
ELOQUENT, LUCID, EXPRESSIVE, SILVER-TONGUED, FLUENT, SMOOTH-SPOKEN
assail
to attack; to assault
assuage
to make something unpleasant less severe
ex. Like many people, Philip Larkin used alcohol to ASSUAGE his sense of meaninglessness and despair.
Words with Similar Meanings:
ALLAY, COMFORT, LIGHTEN, PACIFY, PROPITIATE, SWEETEN, ALLEVIATE, CONCILIATE, MITIGATE, PALLIATE, RELIEVE, APPEASE, EASE, MOLLIFY, PLACATE, SOOTHE
attenuate
to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
ex. The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of government to change laws at will.
Words with Similar Meanings:
DEBILITATE, ENERVATE, SAP, UNDO, WEAKEN, DEVITALIZE, ENFEEBLE, THIN, UNNERVE, DILUTE, RAREFY, UNDERMINE, WATER
audacious
fearless and daring
ex. “And you, your majesty, may kiss my bum!” replied the AUDACIOUS peasant
Words with Similar Meanings:
ADVENTURESOME, BOLD, DARING, FEARLESS, HEROIC, PLUCKY, UNAFRAID, VALOROUS, AGGRESSIVE, BRAVE, DAUNTLESS, GALLANT, INTREPID, STOUT, UNDAUNTED, VENTURESOME, ASSERTIVE, COURAGEOUS, DOUGHTY, GAME, METTLESOME, STOUTHEARTED, VALIANT, VENTUROUS
augury
a prophecy; a prediction of events
august
dignified; grandiose
AUSTERE
severe or stern in appearance, undecorated
The lack of decoration makes Zen temples seem AUSTERE to the untrained eye
Related Words:
AUSTERITY: severity, especially poverty
Words with Similar Meanings:
BLEAK, HARD, DOUR, HARSH, GRIM, SEVERE
austere
severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
axiom
premise; postulate; self-evident truth
BANAL
predictable, cliched, boring
He used BANAL phrases like Have a nice day, or Another day, another dollar.
Related Words: BANALITY
Words with Similar Meanings:
BLAND, COMMONPLACE, INNOCUOUS, MUSTY, QUOTIDIAN, STEREOTYPIC, TIRED, WORN-OUT, BROMIDIC, FATUOUS, INSIPID, PLATITUDINOUS, SHOPWORN, THREADBARE, TRITE, CLICHED, HACKNEYED, JEJUNE, PROSAIC, STALE, TIMEWORN, VAPID
belfry
a bell tower; the room in which a bell is hung
bevy
a group
bifurcate
to divide into two parts
bilk
to cheat; to defraud
blight
to afflict; to destroy
blithe
joyful, cheerful, or without appropriate thought
bolster
to support; to prop up
ex. The presence of giant footprints BOLSTERED the argument that Sasquatch was in the area
Words with Similar Meanings:
BRACE, SUPPORT, UPHOLD, BUTTRESS, SUSTAIN, PROP, UNDERPIN
bombastic
pompous in speech and manner
ex. Mussolini’s speeches were mostly BOMBASTIC; his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact.
Related Words:
BOMBAST: pompous speech or writing
Words with Similar Meanings:
BLOATED, GRANDILOQUENT, MAGNILOQUENT, RHETORICAL, DECLAMATORY, GRANDIOSE, OROTUND, SELF-IMPORTANT, FUSTIAN, HIGH-FOWN, PRETENTIOUS
bonhomie
good-natured geniality; an atmosphere of good cheer
boor
a crude person; one lacking manners or taste
burgeon
to grow and flourish
burnish
to polish
cabal
a secret group seeking to overturn something
cacophony
a harsh, jarring noise
ex. The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable CACOPHONY as they tried to tune their instruments
Words with Similar Meanings:
DISCORD, NOISE, CHAOS, CLAMOR, DISHARMONY, DIN
calumny
a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation
canard
a lie
candid
impartial and honest in speech
ex. The observations of a child can be charming since they are CANDID and inpretentious
Words with Similar Meanings:
DIRECT, HONEST, STRAIGHT, FORTHRIGHT, OPEN, STRAIGHTFORWARD, FRANK, SINCERE, UNDISGUISED
capricious
changing one’s mind quickly and often
ex. Queen Elizabeth I was quite CAPRICIOUS; her courtiers could never be sure which of their number would catch her fancy
Related Words:
CAPRICE: whim, sudden fancy
Words with Similar Meanings:
ARBITRARY, ERRATIC, MERCURIAL, WILLFUL, CHANCE, FICKLE, RANDOM, CHANGEABLE, INCONSTANT, WHIMSICAL
cartography
the science or art of making maps
castigate
to punish or criticize harshly
ex. Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore CASTIGATE perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the United States.
Words with Similar Meanings:
ADMONISH, REBUKE, REPROVE, UNBRAID, CHASTISE, REPRIMAND, SCOLD, CHIDE, REPROACH, TAX
catalyst
something that brings about a change in something else
ex. The imposition of harsh taxes was the CATALYST that finally brought on the revolution
Related Words:
CATALYZE: to bring about a change in something else
catholic
universal; broad and comprehensive
caustic
biting in wit
ex. Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for CAUSTIC wit from her cutting, yet clever, insults.
Words with Similar Meanings:
ACERBIC, TRENCHANT, BITING, MORDANT
CHAOS
great disorder or confusion
ex. In most religious traditions, God created an ordered universe from CHAOS.
Related Words:
CHAOTIC: jumbled, confused
Words with Similar Meanings:
CLUTTER, DISARRAY, DISORGANIZATION, MUDDLE, TOPSY-TURVINESS, CONFUSION, DISORDER, JUMBLE, SCRAMBLE, TURMOIL, DISARRANGEMENT, DISORDERLINESS, MESS, SNARL
chaos
great disorder; a confused situation
chauvinist
someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
ex. The attitude that men are inherently superior to women and therefore must be obeyed is common among male CHAUVINISTS.
Words with Similar Meanings:
PARTISAN
chicanery
deception by means of craft or guile
ex Dishonest used car salesmen often use CHICANERY to sell their beat-up old cars
Words with Similar Meanings:
ARTIFICE, DECEPTION, PETTIFOGGERY, SOPHISTRY, CONNIVING, DEVIOUSNESS, SHADINESS, SUBTERFUGE, CRAFTINESS, MISREPRESENTATION, SNEAKINESS, UNDERHANDEDNESS
circumspect
cautious; aware of potential consequences
cloying
sickly sweet; excessive
coalesce
to grow together to form a single whole
coffer
a strongbox; a large chest for money
COGENT
convincing and well reasoned
ex. Swayed by the COGENT argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant
Related Words:
COGITATE: to think deeply
Words with Similar Meanings:
CONVINCING, SOUND, PERSUASIVE, TELLING, SOLID, VALID
cogent
convincing and well-reasoned
collusion
a collaboration; complicity; conspiracy
condone
to overlook, pardon, or disregard
ex. Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same thing as CONDONING an air of lawlessness
Words with Similar Meanings:
EXCULPATE, REMIT, EXCUSE, PARDON
connoisseur
a person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes
contrite
deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong
contumacious
rebellious
convoluted
intricate and complicated
ex. Although many people bought A Brief History of Time, few could follow its CONVOLUTED ideas and theories.
Words with Similar Meanings:
BYZANTINE, INTRICATE, PERPLEXING, COMPLEX, KNOTTY, TANGLED, ELABORATE, LABRYINTHINE
corroborate
to provide supporting evidence
ex. Fingerprints CORROBORATED the witness’s testimony that he saw the defendant in the victim’s apartment.
Words with Similar Meanings:
AUTHENTICATE, BUTTRESS, VALIDATE, BACK, CONFIRM, VERIFY, BEAR OUT, SUBSTANTIATE
cosset
to pamper; to treat with great care
coterie
an intimate group of persons with a similar purpose
craven
lacking courage
credulous
too trusting, gullible
ex. Although some 4-year-olds believe in the Easter Bunny, only the most CREDULOUS 9-year-olds also believe in him
Related Words:
CREDULITY: the quality of being credulous
Words with Similar Meanings:
NAIVE, SUSCEPTIBLE, TRUSTING
crescendo
steady increase in volume or force
ex. The CRESCENDO of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared to jump his motorcycle over the school buses.
cupidity
greed; strong desire
curmudgeon
a cranky person, usually an old one
debutante
a young woman making debut in high society
decorum
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
DECORUM
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
ex. The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the DECORUM appropriate for a visit to the palace.
Related Words:
DECOROUS: conforming to acceptable standards
Words with Similar Meanings:
CORRECTNESS, MANNERS, SEEMLINESS, DECENCY, MORES, ETIQUETTE, PROPRIETY
DEFERENCE
respect, courtesy
ex. The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost DEFERENCE.
Related Words:
DEFER: to delay, to show someone deference,
DEFERENT: courteous and respectful
Words with Similar Meanings:
COURTESY, OBEISANCE, VENERATION, HONOR, RESPECT, HOMAGE, REVERENCE
deleterious
subtly or unexpectedly harmful
DERIDE
to speak of or to treat with contempt; to mock
ex. The awkward child was often DERIDED by his “cooler” peer.
Related Words:
DERISION: mockery and taunts
DERISIVE: in a mocking manner
Words with Similar Meanings:
GIBE, RIDICULE, TAUNT, JEER, SCOFF, MOCK, SNEER
DESICCATE
to dry out thoroughly
ex. After a few weeks of lying on the desert’s baking sands, the cow’s carcass became completely DESICCATED.
Related Words:
DESICCANT: something that removes water from another substance
Words with Similar Meanings:
DRY, PARCH, DEHYDRATE
DESULTORY
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
ex. Diane had a DESULTORY academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in 3 years/
Words with Similar Meanings:
AIMLESS, HAPHAZARD, PURPOSELESS, UNCONSIDERED, DISCONNECTED, INDISCRIMINATE, RANDOM, UNPLANNED, ERRATIC, OBJECTLESS, STRAY
DIATRIBE
an abusive, condemnatory speech
ex. The trucker bellowed a DIATRIBE at the driver who had cut him off.
Words with Similar Meanings:
FULMINATION, JEREMIAD, TIRADE, HARANGUE, MALEDICTION, INVECTIVE, OBLOQUY
DIFFIDENT
lacking self-confidence
ex. Steve’s DIFFIDENT manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field.
Words with Similar Meanings:
BACKWARD, DEMURE, SELF-EFFACING, BASHFUL, MODEST, SHY, COY, RETIRING, TIMID
DILATE
to make larger; to expand
ex. When you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes DILATE to let in more light.
Words with Similar Meanings:
AMPLIFY, ENLARGE, DEVELOP, EXPAND, ELABORATE, EXPATIATE
DILATORY
intended to delay
ex. The congressman used DILATORY measures to delay the passage of the bill.
Words with Similar Meanings:
DRAGGING, LAGGING, SLOW-GOING, FLAGGING, SLOW, SLOW-PACED, LAGGARD, SLOW-FOOTED, TARDY
DILETTANTE
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
ex. Jerry’s friends were such DILETTANTED that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week.
Words with Similar Meanings:
AMATEUR, TYRO, DABBLER, SUPERFICIAL
DIRGE
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
ex. Melville wrote the poem A DIRGE for James McPherson for the funeral of a Union general who was killed in 1864.
Words with Similar Meanings:
ELEGY, LAMENT
DISABUSE
to set right; to free from error
ex. Galileo’s observations DISABUSED scholars of the notion that the Sun revolved around the Earth.
Words with Similar Meanings:
CORRECT, UNDECEIVE
DISCERN
to perceive; to recognize
ex. It is easy to DISCERN the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping.
Related Words:
DISCERNMENT: taste and cultivation
Words with Similar Meanings:
CATCH, DIFFERENTIATE, ESPY, SEPARATE, TELL, DESCRY, DISCRIMINATE, GLIMPSE, SPOT, DETECT, DISTINGUISH, KNOW, SPY
DISPARATE
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
ex. Although the twins appear to be identical physically, their personalities are DISPARATE.
Words with Similar Meanings:
DIFFERENT, DIVERSE, DISSIMILAR, VARIANT, DIVERGENT, VARIOUS
DISSEMBLE
to present a false appearance; to disguise one’s real intentions or character
ex. The villain could DISSEMBLE to the police no longer- he admited the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the body of the old man.
Words with Similar Meanings:
ACT, CAMOUFLAGE, COVER UP, FAKE, MASQUERADE, PUT ON, AFFECT, CLOAK, DISGUISE, FEIGN, POSE, SHAM, ASSUME, COUNTERFEIT, DISSIMULATE, MASK, PRETEND, SIMULATE
DISSONANCE
harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
ex. Cognitive DISSONANCE is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence.
Words with Similar Meanings:
CLASH, DISSENSION, FRICTION, CONTENTION, DISSENT. STRIFE, DISCORD, DISSIDENCE, VARIANCE
DOGMA
a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
ex. Linus’ central DOGMA was that children who believed in the Great Pumpkin would be rewarded.
Words with Similar Meanings:
CREED, TENET, DOCTRINE, TEACHING
DOGMATIC
dictatorial in one’s opinions
ex. The dictator was DOGMATIC- he, and only he, was right.
Words with Similar Meanings:
AUTHORITARIAN, DOCTRINAIRE, MAGISTERIAL, PEREMPTORY, BOSSY, DOMINEERING, MASTERFUL, DICTATORIAL, IMPERIOUS, OVERBEARING
DUPE
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
ex. Bugs Bunny was able to DUPE Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit.
Words with Similar Meanings:
BEGUILE, COZEN, FOOL, MISLEAD, BETRAY, DECEIVE, HOODWINK, TAKE IN, BLUFF, DELUDE, HUMBUG, TRICK
ECLECTIC
selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
ex. Budapest’s architecture is an ECLECTIC mix of Eastern and Western styles.
Words with Similar Meanings:
SELECTIVE, CATHOLIC, BROAD
EFFICACY
effective, productive
ex. The EFFICACY of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced; the drug completely eliminated almost all bacterial infections for which is was administered
Related Words:
EFFICACIOUS: effective, productive
Words with Similar Meanings:
DYNAMISM, FORCE, PROFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, POWER, STRENGTH, EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVENESS, VIGOR
