Magoosh Common Words III

abstain

verb: choose not to consume or take part in (particularly something enjoyable)

ameliorate

verb: make something bad better

apathy

noun: an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

ascetic

adj: practicing self-denial

noun: one who practices great self-denial

avaricious

adj: excessively greedy

belligerent

adj: characteristic of one eager to fight

circumvent

verb: cleverly find a way out of one’s duties or obligations

contrive

verb: to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickery

delineate

verb: describe in detail

denote

verb: be a sign or indication of; have as a meaning

derivative

adj: not original but drawing strongly on something already in existence, especially in reference to a creative product (e.g. music, writing, poetry, etc.)

derive

verb: come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example

verb: reason by deduction; establish by deduction

disaffected

adj: discontented as toward authority

eclectic

adj: comprised of a variety of styles

elucidate

verb: make clearer and easier to understand

eminent

adj: standing above others in quality or position

ephemeral

adj: lasting a very short time

fallacious

adj: of a belief that is based on faulty reasoning

forlorn

adj: marked by or showing hopelessness

frustrate

verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

guileless

adj: free of deceit

haughty

adj: having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

heretic

noun: a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)

immutable

adj: not able to be changed

incongruous

adj: lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness

insidious

adj: working in a subtle but destructive way

itinerant

adj: traveling from place to place to work

jingoism

noun: fanatical patriotism

jubilant

adj: full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or success

juxtapose

verb: place side by side for contrast

languid

adj: not inclined towards physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed

magnanimous

adj: noble and generous in spirit, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful

mollify

verb: to make someone who is angry less angry; placate

negligible

adj: so small as to be meaningless; insignificant

panache

noun: distinctive and showy elegance

precocious

adj: characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)

quotidian

adjective: found in the ordinary course of events

refractory

adj: stubbornly resistant to authority or control

rudimentary

adj: being in the earliest stages of development; being or involving basic facts or principles

spurious

adj: plausible but false

staunch

adj: firm and dependable especially in loyalty

subsume

verb: contain or include

verb: consider (an instance of something) as part of a general rule or principle

supplant

verb: take the place or move into the position of

tantamount

adj: being essentially equal to something

tenacious

adj: stubbornly unyielding

travesty

noun: an absurd presentation of something; a mockery

treacherous

adj: tending to betray

adj: dangerously unstable and unpredictable

unequivocal

adj: admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion

vehement

adj: marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions

vilify

verb: spread negative information about