Review today

abate

v. to diminish in intensity; to cause to diminish in intensity [+ Soothe / tranquil / respect / improve]

abjure

v. to reject or renounce [− Disagree / disapprove / abjure]

ameliorate

v. to improve or mitigate a situation [+ Soothe / tranquil / respect / improve]

austere

adj. severe, unadorned | stern, strict; self-denying, bare necessities -- do NOT confuse with auspicious = favorable, promising success [~ Strict / careful / prudent / stable / skilled]

banal

adj. boring, cliche [− Ordinary / bland / boring / rural]

calumny

n. lie or slander [− Sneaky / lying / deceit / disloyal]

capricious

adj. mercurial, unpredictable, whimsical [− Impulsive / unpredictable / unstable / unskilled]

castigate

v. to scold or berate strongly [− Criticize / verbal abuse / rant / dislike]

censure

v. to express intense condemnation [− Criticize / verbal abuse / rant / dislike]

copious

adj. plentiful or abundant [+ Wealthy / rich / abundance / clean]

ephemeral

adj. short-lived or transient [~ Short / fleeting / fading / thin]

equivocate

v. to use ambiguous language in order to mislead or deceive [− Unclear / confusing / irrelevant / closed-minded]

esoteric

adj. obscure, arcane [− Unclear / confusing / irrelevant / closed-minded]

exonerate

v. to clear of charges of wrongdoing [+ Integrity / loyal / moral / honor / innocent]

fastidious

adj. meticulous; invested in cleanliness | attentive to detail, accuracy, cleanliness -- do NOT confuse with facetious = inappropriately humorous [+ Attentive / careful / measuring]

glib

adj. talking volubly, but carelessly or insincerely [− Bellicose / rowdy / disrespect / worsen]

hackneyed

adj. cliche, trite, banal [− Ordinary / bland / boring / rural]

iconoclast

n. a person who attacks traditional religious and cultural institutions [− Counters / critics of belief]

indolent

adj. lazy; idle [− Lazy / sluggish / disinclination to work]

irascible

adj. irritable, testy, touchy [− Mean / cranky / irritable / rude]

laud

v. to praise [+ Praise]

mercurial

adj. easily changeable, fickle [− Impulsive / unpredictable / unstable / unskilled]

mollify

v. to placate | to make more temperate or acceptable by adding something else, to make better (Molly Weasley always makes it better) [+ Soothe / tranquil / respect / improve]

onerous

adj. difficult or burdensome [− Lazy / sluggish / disinclination to work]

phlegmatic

adj. cool and unruffled [~ Flat / stoic / apathy]

placate

v. to calm, esp. an angry or upset person [+ Soothe / tranquil / respect / improve]

prevaricate

v. to evade or deceive without outright lying [− Unclear / confusing / irrelevant / closed-minded]

recondite

adj. arcane or obscure [− Unclear / confusing / irrelevant / closed-minded]

reproach

v. to scold or express criticism [− Criticize / verbal abuse / rant / dislike]

repudiate

v. to renounce or disown [− Disagree / disapprove / abjure]

abscond

v. to leave secretly, evading detection [− Sneaky / lying / deceit / disloyal]

adulterate

v. to contaminate or make impure by introducing inferior elements [− Bellicose / rowdy / disrespect / worsen]

advocate

v. to recommend, support, or advise; n. one who advocates [+ Speech / agree / support / like]

aggrandize

v. to enlarge or increase, esp. wealth, power, reputation [− Greed / stingy / not generous / selfish]

amalgamate

v. to combine or mix together [~ To combine]

amenable

adj. easily convinced or persuaded [~ Flattery / reverence / respect / able to be manipulated]

arcane

adj. secret or known only to a select group [+ Wise / scholarly / intelligent]

audacious

adj. very bold or presumptuous [+ Bravery / determination / guts]

avarice

n. greed [− Greed / stingy / not generous / selfish]

belie

v. to give a false impression (intentional or unintentional) in word, appearance, or deed | to contradict or fail to give a true impression (her innocent smile belies her abilities) [− Sneaky / lying / deceit / disloyal]