words

Abate

to lessen

Ex: As I began my speech, my feelings of nervousness quickly abated.

Abysmal

very bad

Ex: I got an abysmal grade on my research paper

Agitate

to promote something

Ex: They're agitating for better health care

Allude

secretive mention

Ex: She alluded to the problem at hand but didn't say anything about it.

Altercation

confrontation

Ex: Greg got into an altercation with a stranger at the bar.

Apex

highest point

Ex: The spring play was the apex of our school year.

Apprehension

fearful expectation

Ex: Her apprehension to leave her house resulted in her missing the train

Articulate

clearly express in words

Ex: She articulated her opinion on the price of the house

Assertion

strong declaration

His assertion that sharks are mammals made everyone laugh.

Austere

very severe and unfriendly in manner

Ex: He lived in a small, austere cabin in the middle of the woods

An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn't for everybody.

Avid

actively interested in

Gerald is an avid soccer fan

Bear

- to have as a characteristic

- to have (a child)

- to bring forth

- to put up with

She bears a strong resemblance to your mother

Judy will bear her first child later this year

My garden is going to bear pumpkins this year

I can't bear her complaining any longer!

Bittersweet

tinged with a feeling of sadness

The ending of the romance movie was bitterstweet.

Bolster

to support or fortify

If we work together, we should be able to lift and then bolster the couch.

Brawl

- intense, loud fight

- to fight loudily

A brawl broke out at school today after one student accused another of cheating

The two students brawled for an hour

Candid

frank, sincere

Candor

the trait of being honest

I admire her candor, especially when nobody else bothers to speak up

Capitalize

to use to your advantage

I'd like to capitalize on your math skills by having your work the cash register.

Clout

special advantage or power

Children of rich and famous people often believe they have a lot of clout.

Coarse

rough, rude, lacking sophistication

The horse's mane was coarse, as if it had never been washed.

The queen's coarse may of speaking surprised the other members of royalty.

Complacent

satisfied

Though he had never won any awards or even been published, he was complacent with his life as a poet.

Concede

v. to be forced to agree or surrender

v. to admit to a transgression

With no chance of winning the battle, the army at last conceded.

Dan conceded to pranking his sister

Conceive

to imagine

The plan to build the city was originally conceived in the early 1900s.

Condone

overlook, approve, allow

She couldn't condone her daughter's rebellious behavior

Conducive

to be suitable for

The noisy students hardly made the campus library conducive to studying.

Contend

vmaintain

The president contends that the US government will not negotiate with terrorists.

Convey

transfer (information)

I have trouble conveying my thoughts in French.

Corroborate

to provide evidence for

The note signed by her father corroborates her claim that she was absent from class that day.

Counteract

contradict

Counterproductive

adj. hindering the achievement of a goal

Bill's idea to take a shortcut was ultimately counterproductive: it took us twice as long to get to the train station.

Decree

v. to declare formally and with authority

The president decreed that Halloween would henceforth be a national holiday.

Deference

respect

Her deference to the elderly makes her the perfect candidate for an internship at the retirement center.

Demur

contest