GRE Test Prep Vocabulary 7.0 - Ascending Order

Chinese

abandon

To leave completely, often implying desertion or neglect; or, to give oneself over entirely to a feeling or habit.

• desert, forsake, relinquish, surrender, yield, discard

---

The agency was responding to Republican Gov. Chris Sununu's announcement that it was time to abandon the "flawed project" and has since called on all parties to agree on a plan that has community support.

abate

To lessen or subside, typically referring to something negative decreasing in intensity or amount.

• diminish, dwindle, ebb, recede, slacken, subside, mitigate

---

After the storm pounded the Texas coast, it crept inland and then stopped moving, as if mired in mud, and its torrential rains are not expected to abate for many days.

abbreviate

To shorten something, often by removing less important parts.

• shorten, abridge, compress

---

The fact that Mr. McConnell felt compelled to actually abbreviate the recess, just days after Republicans were snickering at the very idea, underscored the seriousness of his party's plight.

aberration

A deviation from what is normal or expected, often implying something unwelcome or irregular.

• oddity, peculiarity, quirk, anomaly, deviation, irregularity

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*The incident was not just an aberration, not just a single incident, but rather a pattern of unusual behavior that raised serious concerns.

*

abet

To encourage or assist a wrongdoing, implying active or indirect support.

• condone, incite, instigate, provoke, aid, assist, countenance, promote

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*We shall strike hard at terrorists and those who abet them.

*

abeyance

A state of temporary suspension or inactivity, awaiting future action or resolution.

• quiescence, recess, remission, suspension, dormancy, deferral, postponement, limbo

---

Prosecutors urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit to reject Maureen McDonnell's call to put her case in abeyance until the Supreme Court can weigh in on her husband's.

abnegation

The voluntary act of renouncing or sacrificing something, often personal interests, for a higher principle.

• renunciation, self-denial, surrender, temperance, asceticism, forgo

---

Yet for true global ruination, many other nations would need to abnegate their moral obligation to protect the planet.

abridge

To shorten a text or work without losing its essential meaning.

• abbreviate, curtail, truncate, condense, summarize, digest

---

Given the flood of information presented by the mass media, the only way for someone to keep abreast of the news is to rely on abridged accounts.

absolute

Complete, total, and without limits or conditions; signifying unrestricted authority, certain truth, or full essence.

• infinite, outright, sheer, unadulterated

---

I'm here to tell you the baseball game that finally shuddered to life was an absolute joy.

absolve

To formally declare someone free from guilt, responsibility, or blame for a fault or crime.

• acquit, exonerate, pardon, vindicate

---

Finding that the phone wasn't in use at the time wouldn't necessarily absolve Miller of wrongdoing, but it could lessen the degree of alleged negligence or recklessness in manslaughter.

absorbing

Fully captivating and engaging, commanding complete attention due to intense interest or profound impact.

• captivating, engrossing, enthralling, intriguing, riveting

---

But again, despite this or that puzzler, it was an absorbing evening, with fine singing and arresting moments of theater.

abstemious

adj. Characterized by moderation and self-restraint, especially in physical indulgences like eating and drinking, often involving a deliberate avoidance of excess.

• abstinent, ascetic, restrained, austere, moderate, temperate, frugal

---

She is judged for her abstemious virtue amid carnivorous abundance.

abstinence

The voluntary and deliberate practice of refraining from physical indulgences or appetites, often for reasons of self-control, health, or ethics.

• chastity, fasting, frugality, moderation, self-denial, temperance

---

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has supported the barriers, which coincide with a religious requirement for abstinence from alcohol.

abstruse

adj. Difficult to understand, typically due to complexity, abstractness, or requiring specialized knowledge.

• esoteric, perplexing, esoteric, arcane, recondite

---

By the time she stepped down, code breaking had become dauntingly computerized and relied on abstruse techniques of higher mathematics.

absurd

adj. Extremely silly, illogical, or unreasonable, often defying common sense and provoking ridicule.

• irrational, laughable, ludicrous, nonsensical, preposterous, senseless, farcical, ridiculous

---

The local population from Brazil to Mexico lives with a level of state-sponsored and social violence that reaches absurd levels.

accessible

allowing easy understanding or use

• available,handy,reachable,usable

---

According to the terms of the proposed draft order, every taxi in Los Angeles would have to become accessible via a mobile application similar to the ones used by Uber and Lyft. 

acclaim

to praise in a very strong and enthusiastic way

• commendation, kudos, rave, applaud, celebrate, applaud

---

 In September, 2013, HAIM released its first album, "Days Are Gone," to acclaim from pop lovers and jaded rockers alike.

acerbic

expressing harsh or sharp criticism in a clever way

• mordant, vitriolic, caustic, cutting, scathing, harsh

---

However, while Mattis was more diplomatic in his choice of language compared with President Donald Trump's acerbic style, the implication was clear.

acquiescence

passive assent or agreement without protest, yielding to pressure or opinion

• accession, acceptance, consent, compliance

---

It is likely that these numbers are even higher in rural areas where few studies are conducted, few cases reported—either out of fear or in acquiescence to cultural realities.

activism

a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action

• advocacy, involvement, militancy

---

He believed in political activism to achieve justice.

acumen

the ability to think clearly and make good decisions

• shrewdness, insight, discernment, intelligence

---

The New Jersey governor said that Trump's "totally genius business acumen" would set him apart from all previous Presidents. 

acute

keenly perceptive or discerning / extremely sharp or severe

• incisive, severe, sharp, intense

---

Aciman's first novel shows him to be an acute grammarian of desire. 

ad hoc

fashioned from whatever is immediately available / formed or used for a special purpose

• impromptu, provisional, temporary, makeshift, specific

---

At an ad hoc meeting of the Darfur People's Association, immigration lawyers help men understand their cases.

admonish

to speak to in a way that expresses disapproval or criticism / to tell or urge to do something

• scold, reprimand, warn, advise

---

The boom is itself ironic, since it follows so close on the heels of last winter's energy crisis, when the Conservative Gov't. had to institute a 3-day workweek, threaten gasoline rationing and admonish, by way of the media, to "switch off something now.

adopt

To legally take a child as one's own; or, to formally accept and begin to use something.

• foster

---

Instead, they need to adopt smarter strategies that provide more space for floodwaters to seep into the ground and drain away slowly without leaving behind a trail of destruction. 

adroit

adj. Demonstrating great dexterity or skill, especially in handling situations or objects with a clever, quick, or resourceful manner, whether physically or mentally.

• nimble, dexterous, deft, skillful, clever, proficient, adept, astute, ingenious

---

Some amalgam of fear, anxiety, and a desperate need to conform renders her both a keen observer and an adroit imitator. 

adulation

n. Excessive or slavish admiration or flattery; profound, often uncritical praise, typically offered to someone perceived as superior or idolized.

• approbation, sycophant, praise, worship, idolization

---

The request for a rapprochement wasn't merely a bid for praise and adulation, although with Trump there is always some of that involved.

adversarial

adj. Characterized by conflict, opposition, or hostility between opposing parties.

• antagonistic, hostile, conflicting, competitive, contentious, confrontational

---

They use a grand jury, before which testimony is under oath and transcribed, to lock in testimony from more adversarial witnesses.

adverse

Bad, unfavorable, or acting in opposition.

• unfavorable, harmful, detrimental, opposed

---

It funded research at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, which managed to find various adverse effects from consumption of cyclamates in rats.

advocate

Someone who publicly supports a cause or individual.

• backer, campaigner, proponent, supporter

---

Lydia Guzman, an immigrants-rights advocate in Arizona, heard the news that Donald Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio, the former Maricopa County sheriff, last night.

affable

adj. Characterized by being friendly, pleasant, and easy to talk to.

It describes someone who is approachable and exhibits warmth, making others feel comfortable and at ease in their presence. This quality often fosters congenial interactions and positive social environments.

• easygoing, cordial, genteel, social, good-natured, amiable

---

The most affable character, new to the franchise, is a chimp who, after a long spell in a zoo, speaks English—voiced by Steve Zahn—rather better than he gibbers or howls.

affiliate

To formally join or link with a larger group; or, an entity that is part of a larger organization.

• associate, confederate, connect, incorporate

---

During his first month of affiliate marketing, in February of 2011, Kelly made five thousand dollars.

affinity

A natural liking or attraction to someone or something due to shared qualities or interests.

• affection, closeness, fondness, likeness

---

Considering local city planners' apparent affinity toward off-camber turns, oddly-angled intersections, and simply bizarre placement of stoplights, this newest crossover proved to be agile, quick, and confidence-boosting.

affirm

To declare or state positively and confidently that something is true or valid, often in response to a question or challenge. It also means to uphold, ratify, or legally confirm a judgment or decision.

• assert, confirm, profess, ratify, declare, validate, attest

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He believes that Buddhist doctrine and practice anticipate and affirm the "modular" view of the mind favored by much contemporary.

affluent

adj. Having a great deal of money or possessions; characterized by a high level of wealth, prosperity, and financial well-being. This often implies a lifestyle associated with economic abundance and luxurious circumstances.

• prosperous, upscale, well-to-do, opulent, flourishing

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In recent years survivalism has expanded to more affluent quarters, taking root in Silicon Valley and New York City, among technology executives, hedge-fund managers, and others in their economic cohort.

aggravate

v. To make a problem, injury, or bad situation worse or more serious; or, to annoy or exasperate someone, making them more irritated or angry.

This term implies an action that heightens existing negative conditions or feelings, causing an increase in their intensity or severity. It can apply to both abstract issues and personal emotions.

• exacerbate, increase, worsen, irritate, inflame, provoke, worsen

---

Manhattan might aggravate the heck out of a panicky person till they resembled the jangly lines of emotional stress that emanate from a Roz Chast cartoon character in the New Yorker.

aghast

adj. Suddenly filled with intense shock, horror, or amazement; deeply dismayed or appalled by something unexpected or dreadful.

This emotional state implies a strong, often sudden, reaction to a surprising or frightening event, leaving one overwhelmed and speechless.

• agog, appalled, awestruck, stunned, bewildered, horrified, shocked

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Each time it plays, I am aghast both at the generosity of his words—is there anything anyone ever wants to hear more than "I see you"? to have their presence validated, confirmed?—and at the way he moves.

alacrity

n. Cheerful readiness, promptness, or eagerness; liveliness and briskness in response or action.

This term describes a state of enthusiastic willingness and quickness, often implying cheerful and keen readiness to perform a task or respond to a situation with vigor and good spirits.

• avidity, eagerness, expedition, fervor, sprightliness, enthusiasm, briskness, readiness

---

The Republican senators have submitted their blue slips with alacrity, demonstrating their eagerness to move forward with the nominations.

alarmist

someone who causes unnecessary fear about potential dangers or problems.

• doomsayer, panic-monger, fearmonger, catastrophist

---

May accused Labour and the media of making alarmist claims, and argued weakly about the basic compromises necessary to insure care for an aging population.

allay

v. To subdue, reduce, or calm something, typically fears, concerns, suffering, or intense emotions.

This term implies softening the severity or intensity of a negative feeling or condition, bringing about a sense of relief or peace. It often involves making something less stressful or painful, rather than eliminating it entirely.

• alleviate, diminish, mitigate, pacify, assuage, relieve

---

*A great deal can be done to allay back pain and ease the patient's anxiety.

*

all-encompassing

Covering all aspects completely, or affecting everyone in a group equally.

• inclusive, comprehensive, exhaustive, sweeping

---

For a left-wing protest politician, it is fine, and perhaps even imperative, to have a single, all-encompassing world view.

alleviate

v. To make a problem, suffering, or deficiency less severe; to ease or lighten an burden or intensity.

This term specifically refers to the act of making something bad or unpleasant easier to bear, endure, or less painful. It implies a reduction in severity rather than a complete removal or cure of the issue.

• mitigate, ease, relieve, reduce, lessen, assuage, mollify

---

Intuition might tell you that, to alleviate that sensation, a designer should open up the area as much as possible.

allure

n. The quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating; the power of attracting through charm, fascination, or appeal. It refers to a captivating quality that draws attention or tempts with its enchanting nature, often implying a strong, almost irresistible appeal, whether it's an object, person, or idea.

• charm, entice, captivate, enchant, fascination, attraction, magnetism, enticement

---

The allure of the musical paradise that Tollett has conjured in the desert helped him sell almost two hundred thousand tickets to last year's Coachella, over two weekends, grossing ninety-five million dollars.

altruistic

Showing selfless concern for the welfare of others.

• benevolent, selfless, charitable, generous

---

Altruistic impulses encourage us to look after our tribe; genocidal ones encourage us to get rid of the neighboring tribe.

ambivalence

Mixed or contradictory feelings, leading to uncertainty or indecision.

• doubt, hesitancy, hesitation, indecision, uncertainty

---

The collection is a portrait of my own incredible ambivalence about the state where I've lived for twelve years.

ameliorate

v. To make a problem, situation, or condition better or more tolerable; to improve or alleviate difficulties.

This term specifically implies an action taken to lessen the negative impact or severity of something, rather than eliminating it entirely. It often suggests a practical effort to improve adverse circumstances, making them more bearable or satisfactory.

• improve, enhance, refine, upgrade, mitigate, ease, relieve

---

The efforts to ameliorate the situation resulted in a significant improvement in community relations.

anachronistic

Out of place in time; old-fashioned or outdated.

• outdated, obsolete, antiquated

---

It wasn't exactly the time or place for an anachronistic group featuring horns, doo-wop harmonies and a harp blowing frontman to expect any kind of chart success.

analogous

adj. Sharing a correspondence or similarity in some respects, especially in terms of function, relationship, or structure, but not necessarily identical in origin.

This term describes things that are comparable, often because they fulfill a similar role or exhibit parallel characteristics, even if their fundamental nature or genesis differs. It highlights a functional or conceptual resemblance rather than an exact likeness.

• comparable, related, equivalent, parallel, correspondent, similar

---

Still, most researchers stop short of suggesting direct payments to factory owners, analogous to the ones farmers receive.

anathema

A person or thing intensely disliked or detested.

• bane, pariah, outcast, aversion

---

Nuance is anathema to his thinking, which is why he can maintain such fidelity to his ideas in a-hundred-and-forty-character bursts.

anecdote

A short, interesting, or biographical story.

• episode, narrative, reminiscence, tall tale, yarn

---

Ricardo Piglia, the great Argentine writer who died in January, was fond of this anecdote, which he occasionally recited in interviews.

animadversion

A comment expressing disapproval or criticism.

• accusation, censure, criticism, flak, observation, slur

---

These jokes were accompanied by Freudian-style commentary, along with random animadversions on aspects of sixties life, like Zip Codes, hippies, women who swear, and Marshall McLuhan.

annihilate

To destroy or obliterate completely.

• destroy, eradicate, eliminate, extinguish

---

Another New England Buddhist of the day was William Sturgis Bigelow, who brought back to Boston some twenty thousand works of Japanese art, and who called for a Catholic priest and asked that he annihilate his soul.

anomaly

something that is unusual or unexpected.

• aberration, deviation, irregularity, oddity

---

It is self-evident that Trump prefers Twitter to any other means of communication, but his indifference to speechmaking is itself an anomaly.

anonymous

not named or identified / lacking individuality, distinction, or recognizability

• obscure, unknown, nameless

---

Until then, they had been little more than anonymous bullies clattering around in white plastic. 

antagonistic

showing dislike or opposition

• hostile, adversarial, inimiclal, combative, belligerent.

---

If it were done by a Northerner, it will have an antagonistic effect," she wrote. More precisely, it might have jeopardized support for the New Deal among members of Congress from the former Confederate states. 

antedate

to precede in time or existence.

• antecede, go before, misdate, predate, postdate

---

In our age of anxiety about tiny pageant queens and helicopter parenting, we have perhaps forgotten that the archetype of the gifted child antedates reality television and kindergarten-admissions coaching

antediluvian

very old or old-fashioned

• archaic, prehistoric, antiquated

---

Thomas basically embraced this antediluvian view of the Constitution, writing, "I am aware of no cases prior to the New Deal that characterized the power flowing from the Commerce Clause as sweepingly as does our substantial effects test.

anthropogenic

created by people or caused by human activity such as pollution, climate change, or habitat destruction

• human-induced, man-made

---

Carbon neutrality is defined as achieved when anthropogenic CO2 emissions are balanced globally by anthropogenic CO2 removals over a specified period.

antidote

a substance that counteracts poison or disease / anything that works against an evil or unwanted condition

• remedy, cure, counteraction

---

Judge's transcendent season has been an antidote to that debate.

antithesis

a contrast or contradiction to an idea or concept

• antagonism, contradiction, contradistinction, inversion

---

Trump is the antithesis of Obama: louche rather than gracious, parochial rather than worldly, conspiratorial rather than pragmatically intellectual.

apathy

the feeling of not having much emotion or interest

• passivity, indifference or concern

---

Over time that frustration turned to apathy and then anger, not just here but in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other cities where ideology has given way to an uncomfortable reality.

ape

to imitate or copy someone's actions or behavior

• emulate, imitate

---

N/A

aplomb

complete and confident composure or self-assurance

• equanimity, nonchalance, tact, self-possession

---

While both allow you to juggle multiple tasks with aplomb—the Xbox One has three distinct operating systems to handle everything, and does so more ably than the PS4. 

apocryphal

of doubtful authenticity. often used to describe stories or statements that are widely circulated but may not be true

• fictitious, inaccurate, mythical, unsubstantiated, untrue

---

The Chemirocha-as-Jimmie-Rodgers story can seem apocryphal—it is too strange, too funny—but both Tracey and the Kipsigis themselves later corroborated and repeated it. 

apposite

very appropriate. Relevant and well-suited

• fitting, germane, pertinent, suitable, applicable

---

If Pico's ideal of a rapprochement between religions, and between religion and philosophy, is relevant to our agonies, it is apposite in a negative way: it invokes an opportunity lost, or at least disappearing from view. 

apprehend

to grasp with the understanding / to anticipate especially with anxiety, dread, or fear / arrest, seize

• bust, capture, seize, comprehend, understand, perceive

---

Shortly after he arrived, British authorities threatened to strip the Embassy of its diplomatic protections and apprehend him by force. 

approbation

an act of approving formally or officially

• adulation, commendation, endorsement, praise, approval

---

And much of the press corps has nothing to offer in response but approbation.

arbitrary

not based on reason or evidence. chosen at random

• capricious, discretionary, random, subjective, whimsical

---

The five-thousand-word essay, which Graham published on his personal blog, in 2004, begins with the premise that there exist “moral fashions” that are both arbitrary and pernicious. 

arcane

secret or mysterious. understood by few

• obscure, esoteric, recondite, abstruse, inscrutable, cryptic

---

The threat of fake news was compounded by this sense that the role of the press had been ceded to an arcane algorithmic system created by private companies that care only about the bottom line.

archaic

of or relating to ancient times.

• antediluvian, outdated, old-fashioned, primitive

---

New York is one of only thirteen states that has no provision for early voting, and instead employs the archaic practice of giving voters only two choices: show up at the polls on Election Day or vote by absentee ballot. 

archetypical

being a perfect example of something.

• exemplary, prototypical, definitive, standard, quintessential.

---

The architecture of the Shanghai Bund was for decades presented as an archetypical symbol of abhorrent Western influence, which may be one of the reasons that these grand buildings were extolled for so many years. 

arousal

a state in which you feel excited or very alert.

• activation, enlivening, incitement, provocation, rousing

---

Studies of the brain suggest that the difference between sexual and competitive arousal may not be that large at all.

artful

done with or showing artistic skill.

• clever, skillful, creative, crafty, shrewd

---

 It's an artful variant of the familiar nightmare—familiar, indeed, as a fairy tale—of the amnesiac waking to a jigsaw-puzzle world to be reassembled by heroic effort.

articulate

to give clear and effective utterance to / clearly expressed and easily understood

• enunciate,express,utter, pronounce, convey

---

 We're living in an age of superbly articulate, expressive, even poetic screenwriting—not necessarily in every movie, of course, but then it never was so.

artifact

a simple object that was made by people in the past. Often, artifacts are significant for understanding the cultural and historical context of a society

• antiquity,heirloom,relic,

---

 The recovery of a wooden artifact so old and well preserved would be remarkable under any circumstances, but this one contained something curious.

artless

not false or artificial / lacking art, knowledge, or skill

• simplistic, naive, innocent, unsophisticated

---

At the core of his art is an artlessness akin to conversational speech: time and again, he colors a line by breaking the honeyed tone and letting a folklish directness steal in.

ascetic

relating to having a strict and simple way of living that avoids physical pleasure

• austere, disciplined, self-denying, abstinent

---

Where Paterson is ascetic and gaunt, murmuring poems to himself, Neruda is corpulent and unabashed, declaring to his disciples and eager to gorge on the sins of the flesh.

aspersion

A false or misleading charge meant to harm someone's reputation.

• defamation, slander, calumny, vilification

---

Thomas Brattle, a thirty-four-year-old, Harvard-educated merchant, and among the wealthiest men in the colony, prefaced his remarks with a near apology: he would prefer to bite off his fingertips than cast aspersions on authority.

assuage

to alleviate or calm fears and concerns

• allay, alleviate, appease, mollify, pacify, placate, quench

---

Investors weren't assuaged and the stock plunged.

astringent

having a sharp or bitter quality.

• bitter, cutting, sharp, tonic

---

But it also earned a stringent notice from some economic theorists, who saw in it a parable about the risks of paper money.

atypical

irregular, unusual

• irregular, unusual, not typical, uncommon, anomalous
  

---

In an era of TV tough guys, Kevin is fascinatingly atypical. He's reactive rather than active, a labile, intensely emotional man who is shredded by his own inability to discern what's real.

audacious

very confident and daring

• bold, fearless, adventurous

---

In the early months of Mr Trump's presidency, he had equal footing with the chief of staff, Reince Priebus, who was ousted last month, and launched some of the administration's most audacious endeavours.

augment

to make greater, more numerous, larger, or more intense

• extend, expand, enhance, increase, add to, amplify

---

Various options have been under consideration for Afghanistan, including sending about 3,800 more troops to augment the 8,400 already there to train and assist local forces.

auspicious

favorable conditions that indicate a positive outcome

• favorable, auspicious, promising, opportune

---

The war was starting to wind down, and, with protests raging at home, it was not an auspicious time to be a military man.

austere

simple in style, without luxury or adornment

• plain

---

The point of this austere approach is that you're regularly required to ask what really needs doing, since there are only five slots.

autonomy

the quality or state of being self-governing

• independence, self-determination, sovereignty

---

Movements might have lost their leaders, gained force, and offered personal autonomy. Yet they hadn't acquired the crucial thing — a good crack at success.

avaricious

having an extreme desire for wealth or gain

• rapacious, grasping, greedy, covetous

---

With the exception of the giant and a wolf (a sensational Johnny Depp) who stalks and devours Little Red Riding Hood, these mean girls and their avaricious mom are the only genuine baddies.

aversion

a strong feeling of not liking something

• animosity, antagonism, antipathy, distaste, loathing

---

The Democratic aversion to helping big business means that subsidies are defensible only when they are aligned with a progressive cause, such as solar power.

avert

to turn away or aside /to prevent from happening. to prevent or avoid an occurrence

• forestall, deter, hinder, inhibit

---

When Congress returns in September the House will have just 12 legislative days to raise the federal borrowing limit to avoid default — and the same amount of time to approve a spending deal to avert a government shutdown. 

awry

not working correctly or happening in the expected way / not straight or neat

• amiss, askew, astray, wrong

---

A consent decree allows the Justice Department to step in when one of the nation's eighteen thousand law-enforcement departments goes seriously awry.

badger

to bother or annoy with many comments or questions / to irritate or pester persistently with requests or demands

• annoy, bully, goad, harass. heckle, hound, torment

---

Disappointment from certain members of its audience was so acute that they managed to badger the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Agency into launching an investigation into whether the game was falsely advertised in the run-up t

banal

lacking originality or freshness / unoriginal

• trite, commonplace, unremarkable, stale

---

The premise may be a bit fantastical, but I'm more interested in human beings and, in a way, the banal side of a fantastic idea.

baneful

adj. causing destructive or serious damage.

• harmful or pernicious.

---

The baneful consequences of an irresponsible mismanagement of the global economy, guided only by ambition for wealth and power, must serve as a summons to a forthright reflection on man: "man is not only a freedom which he creates for himself.

banish

v. to send away. to drive away or expel from a place or situation.

• expel, oust, dismiss, exile, remove

---

Then I realized that perhaps the Lord wants me to take this job so that I can banish housing and urban development from the earth.

banter

n. light-hearted conversation or teasing.

• playful, jesting, repartee, raillery

---

The atmosphere was at its most elated on Fridays, when a communal sense of liberation descended, so that proximity could lead to banter.

bedrock

n. basis.The fundamental principles, essential ideas, or established facts upon which something is built and relies, serving as its primary support or foundation; also, in geology, the undisturbed, solid layer of rock that lies beneath the loose surface deposits of soil, sand, or gravel. It represents the ultimate, unyielding foundation of various structures or abstract concepts.

• foundation, core, cornerstone, basis, substratum, groundwork, underpinning

---

The first sign of trouble came with the President-elect's phone call with the leader of Taiwan, a move that broke the diplomatic protocol that has served as the bedrock of Sino-American relations for four decades.

beguile

v. to trick or deceive. to enchant or charm someone in a deceptive way.

• lure, mislead, captivate, delude, enchant, ensnare

---

The Queens producer's songs beguile with their singular focus, as on her self-titled E.P. of whispery slow-blooming dance tunes.

beholden

adj. owing a debt of gratitude for a favor or service; having a duty to someone due to kindness or support, implying an obligation or indebtedness.

• obligated, indebted, grateful, thankful

---

Listen to your constituents, and don't become beholden to wealthy lobbyists.

belabor

(1)v. to repeat or stress too much or too often (2)vTo attack or criticize someone or something verbally or physically in a harsh, persistent, or excessive manner.

• overemphasize, dwell on, rehash, assail, lambaste, castigate

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Everything was exquisitely timed, Schumer didn't belabor the point, and it was sweet and funny to see a middle-aged man with a bit of a paunch looking as vulnerable as he did beside the star.

belie

(1)v. to show to be false or wrong (2)v. to present an appearance not in agreement with.

• contradict, disprove, negate, disguise, mask

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His pleasant demeanor belied his true intentions.