Vocab Flashcards
Abate
To decrease/reduce
Dwindle, ebb, recede, flag, wane
Aberration
Something different from the usual
Anomaly, irregularity, abnormality, deviation
Abet
To aid/act as an accomplice
Help, succor, assist
Abject
Miserable, pitiful
Pathetic, lamentable, sorry
Abscond
To depart secretly
Flee, decamp, fly, bolt
Abstemious
Marked by restraint, especially in the consumption of food or alcohol
Moderate, temperate, sparing
Abstinent
Abstaining
Forbearing, refraining, ascetic
Accede
To express approval/agree to
Assent, acquiesce, consent, concur
Accretion
Growth in size or increase in amount
Build-up, accumulation, accrual
Accolade
Praise, distinction
Praise, acclaim, approbation, commendation, kudos
Accrue
To accumulate/grow by additions
Augment, enlarge, expand, burgeon, wax
Acerbic
Bitter, sharp in taste or temper
Tart, biting, caustic, cutting
Acne
Highest point, summit
Apex, crown, peak, pinnacle, zenith
Acquiesce
To agree/comply quietly
Accede, consent, submit
Acrid
Harsh, bitter
Sharp, pungent, caustic
Acrimony
Bitterness or animosity
Choler, spleen, rancor, asperity, antipathy
Acumen
Sharpness of insight
Sagacity, discernment, shrewdness
Adage
Old saying or proverb
Apothem, aphorism, maxim
Admonish
To caution or reprimand
Reprove, chide, upbraid, berate, rebuke
Adroit
Skillful, accomplished, highly competent
Deft, dexterous, proficient, accomplished, adept
Adulation
High praise
Admiration, flattery, accolade
Adulterated
To corrupt or make impure
Contaminate or dilute
Aesthetic
Pertaining to beauty or art
Artistic or tasteful
Alacrity
Cheerful readiness, promptness of response
Celerity, promptness, dispatch, enthusiasm
Allusion
Indirect reference
Intimation or suggestion
Altercation
Noisy dispute
Argument, clash, quarrel
Altruism
Unselfish concern for others
Benevolence or generosity
Amalgamate
To mix or combine
Integrate, assimilate, merge
Ambivalence
Attitude of uncertainty or conflicting emotions
Indecision or vacillation
Ambulatory
Related to walking or moving
Itinerant, nomadic, peripatetic, roving, vagabond
Ameliorate
To make better, improve
Amend, better, and reform
Amulet
A charm against evil spirits
Talisman
Anachronistic
Outdated
Anomalous, inconsistent, inappropriate to the era
Anathema
Ban, curse, something shunned or disliked
Execration, horror, abomination
Ancillary
Accessory, subordinate, helping
Adjunct, additional, auxiliary, supplemental
Anecdote
Short, usually funny account of an event
Anomaly
Irregularity or deviation from the norm
Oddity, aberration, deviance, peculiarity
Antediluvian
Prehistoric or ancient
Old, archaic, antique
Antipathy
Hostility, dislike, extreme opposition
Enmity, malice, antagonism
Antithesis
Exact opposite of something
Contrary or reverse
Apex
Highest point or summit
Acme, crown, zenith, peak
Aphorism
Old saying or short statement
Adage, apothegm, maxim, proverb
Apocryphal
Not genuine, fictional
Erroneous, fictitious, fraudulent, false
Apostate
One who renounces religious faith
Renegade or heretic
Appropriate
To take possession of
Usurp, arrogate, commandeer
Aquatic
Living in water
Watery, maritime, pelagic
Arable
Suitable for cultivation
Farmable, fertile
Arcane
Secret, obscure, known only to a few
Esoteric or
Mysterious
Arch
Mischievous, roguish
Impish, waggish, saucy, ironic
Arrogate
To demand or claim arrogantly
Appropriate, usurp, seize, commandeer
Ascetic
Self-denying, austere, abstinent
Continent, temperate, abstemious
Ascribe
To attribute to/assign
Accredit, impute, refer
Ashen
Resembling ashes/ deathly pale
Blanched, pallid, pasty, wan
Aspersion
False rumor/damaging report/slander
Allegation, insinuation, reproach
Assiduous
Diligent or hard working
Industrious, thorough
Assonance
Resembling in sound/rhyming
Echo
Assuage
To make less severe, ease, relieve
Mitigate, alleviate, ease
Astringent
Harsh, severe, stern
Sharp, bitter, caustic
Asylum
Refuge or sanctuary
Haven or shelter
Atrocious
Monstrous, wicked
Horrible, appalling, direful
Atrophy
To waste away/wither from disuse
Deteriorate or degenerate
Attenuate
To make thin or slender, weaken
Reduce, rarefy, diminish
Augury
Prophecy or prediction
Omen, auspices, portent, presage
August
Dignified, awe-inspiring, venerable
Grand, majestic
Auspicious
Having favorable prospects, promising
Encouraging or hopeful, lucky
Austere
Stern, strict, unadorned
Dour, bare, ascetic
Autocrat
Dictator
Tyrant, despot
Autonomous
Separate, independent
Sovereign or self-governed
Avarice
Greed
Cupidity or rapacity
Aver
To declare to be true
Assert or attest
Aviary
Large enclosure housing birds
Birdhouse or zoo
Awry
Crooked or amiss
Aslant or wrong
Axiom
Premise or self evident truth
Adage or maxim
Baleful
Harmful or with evil intentions
Dark or sinister
Balk
To refuse or shirk
Stop, thwart, frustrate
Banal
Trite or overly common
Hackneyed, shopworn, inane
Bane
Something causing death, ruin, or destruction
Curse, scourge, or poison
Bastion
Fortification or stronghold
Bulwark, defense, haven
Bawdy
Obscene or lewd
Vulgar, rude, coarse
Bay
To bark in a deep voice
Howl, wail, ululate
Behemoth
Huge creature
Giant, Titan, monster
Belabor
To insist repeatedly or harp on
Dwell upon
Bellicose
Warlike, aggressive
Belligerent, hostile, pugnacious
Benighted
Unenlightened
Ignorant, unschooled, illiterate
Abash
To embarrass
Disconcert, discomfort, faze, mortifying
Bevy
A group
Band; bunch; pack
Bilk
To cheat or defraud
Swindle; dupe; fleece
Bipedal
Two footed
Blandish
To coax with flattery
Cajole; charm; seduce
Blithe
Joyful; cheerful; without a care
Carefree
Boor
Crude person
Lout; clod; oaf
Bovine
Sluggish; dull; stolid
Brazen
Bold; shameless
Contumelious
Broach
To mention for the first time
Brusque
Rough or abrupt
Blunt; curt
Bucolic
Pastoral; rural
Rustic; agrarian
Burgeon
To sprout or flourish
Blossom; thrive; proliferate
Burnish
To polish
Shine; buff
Bustle
Commotion; flurry; tumult
Buttress
To reinforce or support
Brace; prop up; bolster
Cache
Stockpile or horde
Callow
Immature or lacking in sophistication
Ingenuous; naïve
Calumny
A false and malicious accusation; slander
Libel; aspersion; defamation.
Canny
Smart; founded on common sense
Percipient; perspicacious; astute
Canonize
To declare someone a saint
Exult; elevate; glorify
Capricious
Impulsive; whimsical; without much thought
Erratic; fickle; flighty
Castigate
To punish; chastise; or criticize severely.
Catholic
Universal; broad and comprehensive
Celerity
Speed; swiftness; alacrity
Censure
To criticize; castigate; find fault in
Pillory; vilify; condemn
Chagrin
Shame; humiliate
Mortification; discomfiture
To champion
To defend or support
Advocate; promote
Chary
Watchful; cautious; extremely shy
Wary; sparing
Cherubic
Sweet; innocent; angelic
Chicanery
Trickery; fraud; duplicity
Charlatan
Chimerical
Fanciful; visionary; impossible
Illusory; unreal
Choleric
Easily angered; irritable; surly; irate
Chortle
To chuckle
Laugh
Churlish
Marked by a lack of graciousness or civility
Boorish; cloddish; loutish
Clod
Chunk of the earth
Stupid person; dullard
Cloister
To confine; seclude
Isolate; sequester
Cloying
Sickly sweet, saccharine
Fulsome
Coddle
To baby or pamper
Cogent
Logical forceful; compelling; convincing
Collusion
Collaboration; conspiracy
Intrigue; connivance
Commute
To change a penalty to a lesser one
Mitigate; palliate
Conjugal
Pertaining to marriage
Connubial; martial
Connive
To conspire; to scheme
Collusion; to plot
Consecrate
To declare sacred
To sanctify
Consonant
In agreement with; consistent with
Accordant; compatible; congruous
Consummate
Accomplished; complete
Thorough; exhaustive
Contemptuous
Scornful
Derisive; disdainful; supercilious
Contentious
Quarrelsome; disagreeable; belligerent
Litigious
Contrite
Deeply sorrowful
Repentant
Contumacious
Stubbornly disobedient
Insubordination; mutinous; seditious
Copious
Plentiful; ample
Corporeal
Having to do with the body; tangible
Somatic; concretely physical
Corpulence
Obesity; rotundity; fatness
Coterie
A small group of people with a similar purpose
A clique; group
To countenance
To favor; support
Condone; approve
Cudgel
A short, heavy club
A baton; club; mace
Cupidity
Greed
Avarice; rapacity; covetousness
Cursory
Hastily done; superficial
Shallow or careless
Daunt
To discourage or intimidate
Demoralize; consternate
Dearth
To lack; scarcity; absence; paucity
Delegate
To give powers or responsibility to another
Assign; trust; authorize
Deleterious
Harmful; often in a subtle or unexpected way
Pernicious; harmful; nocent; nocuous
Demagogue
Leader; rabble-rouser, using pathos
Agitator; inciter; fomenter; firebrand
Demur
To express doubts or objections
Protest; dissent; expostulate
Diaphanous
Allowing light to shine through; sheer
Transparent; gauzy; translucent
Diatribe
A bitter verbal attack
Tirade; jeremiad; fulmination; harangue; philippic
Dichotomy
A division in two parts
Split; distinction
Dictum
Authoritative statement; a popular saying
Decree; edict; adage; aphorism
Didactic
Excessively instructive
Educational
Diffidence
Shyness; lack of confidence
Timidity; reticence
Digress
To stray from the main point
Diverge; deviate
Dilapidated
In disrepair; neglected; run-down
Decrepit; decayed
Dirge
Funeral hymn
Elegy; threnody; lament
Discursive
Moving from topic to topic without order
Rambling, digressive
Dissonant
Harsh and unpleasant sounding
Discordant
Diurnal
Daily
Dogged
Stubbornly persevering
Tenacious; obstinate; pertinacious; mulish
Doleful
Sad; mournful
Dour
Sullen and gloomy; stern and severe
Austere; solemn
Droll
Amusing in a subtle way
Witty; risible; wry
Dulcet
Pleasant sounding
Melodious; harmonious
Dyspeptic
Suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable
Sour; acerb
Effrontery
Impotent boldness; audacity
Brashness
Egregious
Conspicuously bad;
Glaring; flagrant
Elegy
Mournful poem; dirge; lament
Encomium
Enthusiastic praise
Tribute; panegyric
Enervate
To weaken; sap strength from
Deplete; drain
Engender
To produce; cause; being about
Procreate; propagate; generate
Enjoin
To urge; order; command
Direct; instruct; charge
Enmity
Hostility; antagonism
Animosity; antipathy
Ennui
Boredom; lack of interest or energy
Tedium; world-weariness
Ephemeral
Momentary; transient; fleeting
Epicure
Person with refined taste in food and wine
Connoisseur
Epigram
Short; witty sayings or poems
Maxims; adages
Equivocal
Ambiguous; doubtful; uncertain
Equivocate
To use vague or ambiguous language on purpose
Erratic
Inconsistent; irregular
Eccentric; capricious; unstable
Esoteric
Understood by only a few
Mysterious; arcane; recondite
Espouse
To support or advocate
To champion; embrace
Estrange
To alienate; keep at a distance
Disaffect; separate
Ethereal
Not earthly; spiritual; delicate
Intangible; diaphanous; gossamer; airy
Etiolate
To bleach a plant with sunlight
Blanch; decolorize
Evanescent
Momentary; short-lived; transitory
Ephemeral; fleeting
Exacerbate
To aggravate; to deepen the bad qualities of
Worsen
Exculpate
Clear of blame or guilt; vindicate; exonerate
Exigent
Urgent; excessively demanding
Pressing; crucial