Vocabulary List 1-250

Odious

hateful
adj. repugnant, hateful
syn. abhorrent, abominable, detestable, horrid
ant. lovable, sympathetic

Wanton

excessive
adj. extravagant
syn. extreme
ant. frugal, reserved

Contentious

quarrelsome
adj. argumentative attitude or action
syn. bellicose, combative, militant, pugnacious
ant. peaceable, amiable, agreeable, complaisant

Strident

harsh
adj. shrill and loud
syn. grating, jarring, rasphing, raucous, clamorous
ant. euphonious, melodious, sweet, pleasing

Pompous

arrogant
adj. ostentatiously grand or showy/self-important
syn. pontifical, egocentric, pretentious
ant. humble, meek, modest

Belligerent

hostile
adj. quarrelsome, combative, inflammatory, aggressive
syn. bellicose, combative, contentious, pugnacious
ant. friendly, peaceable, conciliatory, amiable

Mitigating

lessen
v. make milder or more tolerable/ reduce in degree
syn. assuage, alleviate, palliate, lessen
ant. intensify, increase, aggravate

Propitious

favorable
adj. favorably disposed, benign, affording favorable conditions
syn. auspicious, promising, kindly
ant. adverse, unpromising

Plausible

possible
adj. having a superficial appearance of truth
syn. believable, dredible, impossible
ant. improbable, unlikely, impossible

Specious

false
adj. apparently true, but isn't
syn. deceptive, erroneous, inaccurate
ant. valid

Rhetorical

over-elaborate
adj. over-elaborate, showy/ concerned primarily with style or effect
syn. oratorical, euphistic, flowery, grandiloquent
ant. plain, unpretentious, unembellished

Derogatory

belittling
adj. disparaging, negative, expressing low opinion
syn. disparaging, detracting, pejorative, depreciatory
ant. complimentary, laudatory, admiring

Obsolete

out-moded
adj. no longer in use/ out of date
syn. extinct, outworn, passe, unfashionable
ant. contemporary, modern, new-fashioned, up-to-date

Exemplary

outstanding
adj. serving as a model for intimidation
syn. paradigmatic, admirable, commendable
ant. contemporary, modern, new-fashioned, up-to -date

Acute

sharp
adj. keen, critical, keenly perceptive
syn. penetrating, incisive, trenchant, piercing
ant. obtuse, dense, dull, stupid

Jeopardize

endanger
v. to expose peril or hazard/risk
syn. hazard, imperil, endanger, menace, risk
ant. safeguard

Nullify

make void
v. to annul, make, render invalid/ deprive of force or efficacy
syn. cancel out, invalidate, void
ant. validate, authenticate

Epitomize

capture the essence of
v. an ideal or typical representation
syn. typity
ant. refute

Infiltrate

gain entrance surreptitiously
v. to filter into or through
syn. sneak in/mingle

Reproach

blame
v/n. severe expression of censure; rebuke
syn. rebuke, censure
ant. praise

Objective

factual
adj. uninfluenced by emotion, surmise, or personal prejudice
syn. unbiased
ant. suppositional, biased, prejudiced

Revere

glorify
v. to regard with awe, great respect, or devotion
syn. adore, worship
ant. despise, abhor, loathe

Discriminate

distinguish
v. to make a clear distinction
syn. differentiate, identify
ant. muddle, confuse

Innovate

contrive
v. to begin or introduce something new
syn. devise, originate

Candid

sincere
adj. impartial, without pretense or reserve, straightforward
syn. frank, sincere
ant. deceptive, disguised, hidden

Peripheral

on the edge
adj. of or related to or situated on the border of a surface; on the edge of, at the boundary; unnecessary, of minor importance
syn. border, dispensable, irrelevant
ant. central, essential, imperative

Concise

brief and to the point
adj. expressing much in few words; brief but comprehensive
syn. pithy, succinct, terse
ant. lengthy, wordy, verbose, prolix

Prodigious

enormous
adj. wonderfully great in degree, size, quantity, or extent; monstrous, immense
syn. immense, enormous, amazing
ant. insignificant, miniscule

Sage

wise person
adj. or n. a wise person, someone respected for his judgement or knowledge
syn. guru, authority, expert
ant. idiot, moron

Ignoramus

an ignorant person
n. dunce' uninformed, stupid individual
syn. dunce, idiot, dolt
ant. sage

Virtuoso

master
n. one w/ special talent or knowledge, especially in the arts; a highly skilled performer
syn. master, genius, prodigy, maven
ant. novice, amateur, tyro

Antagonist

opponents
n. one who engages another in combat or argument
syn. opponent, adversary
ant. ally, colleague, supporter

Squander

waste
v. to spend extravagantly or foolishly
syn. waste, dissipate
ant. conserve, hoard

Flagrant

glaring
adj. glaring, scandalous, outrageous
syn. blatant, abject, barefaced, egregious
ant. unnoticeable

Infallible

dependable
adj. exempt from liability to error; absolutely trustworthy
syn. dependable, foolproof
ant. fallible

Grievous

painful
adj. causing or expressing grief, pain, or anguish; serious, dire
syn. mournful, sad, doleful
ant. comedic, happy

Avarice

greed
n. inordinate desire for wealth, greed
syn. cupidity, greediness, rapaciousness
ant. generocity, munificence, unselfishness

Depravity

perversion
n. corruption, baseness; perversion
syn. barbarism, decadence, debauchery
ant. saintless, integrity

Diligence

persistence
n. earnest and persistent application to an undertaking; steady effort
syn. persistence, assiduity
ant. laziness

Ribald

vulgar
adj. indulging in vulgar, lewd humor
syn. coarse, indifferent
ant. inoffensive, innocuous

Haughty

disdainful
adj. proud and disdainful; arrogantly lofty
syn. narcissistic, egomaniacal, cocky
ant. modest, unassuming, humble

Effervescent

bubbling
adj. bubbling or hissing; exhibiting strong emotion or excitement
syn. lively, bubbling, fizzing
ant. dull, flat

Apathetic

unfeeling
adj. having or exhibiting little or no emotion; indifferent
syn. stolid, dispassionate, unsentimental, indifferent
ant. enthusiastic

Parsimony

stinginess
n. state of being excessively economical
syn. frugality, stinginess
ant. lavishness, generocity

Disparity

difference
n. dissimilarity, difference, inequality
syn. discrepancy, incongruity, divergence
ant. correspondence, accord, similarity

Abstract

hypothetical
adj. considered apart from concrete existence; not easily understood
syn. hypothetical, speculative
ant. proven, definite, concrete

Temperate

moderate
adj. exercising moderation and self-restraint
syn. moderate, abstemious
ant. excessive, unrestrained

Inevitable

certain
adj. incapable of being avoided or prevented
syn. compulsory, mandatory
ant. optional unrequired

Eccentric

weird
adj. departing from conventional or established norm; erratic
syn. unorthodox, anomalous, weird
ant. normal, typical, conventional

Provincial

unsophisticated
adj. not fashionable or sophisticated; limited in perspective
syn. crude, uncultured, unrefined
ant. cosmopolitan, citified

Disdain

contempt
n. scorn
syn. scorn, derision
ant. esteem, respect, honor, admiration

Insubordinate

disobedient
adj. not submitting to authority
syn. defiant, rebellious, seditious
ant. obedient, compliant

Viable

capable of being used
adj. capable of being successful
syn. practical, possible, feasible
ant. impossible, unworkable

Expedite

hasten
v. to accelerate the motion or progress of
syn. facilitate, ease
ant. hinder, obstruct, block

Absolve

pardoned
v. to release from obligation, penalty, or punishment
syn. exempt, excuse, free
ant. convict, obligate

Collaborate

cooperate
v. to work with another or others, act jointly, assist willingly
syn. cooperate, unite
ant. compete

Recant

withdraw
v. to retract or repudiate a previous assertion, unsay what has been said
syn. disclaim, disavous, repudiate, abrogate
ant. affirm, confirm

Avow

declare
v. to declare openly, admit, confess
syn. claim, assert, allege, profess
ant. deny, reject, repudiate, recant

Equivocate

mislead
v. to use ambiguous expressions, especially with intent to mislead
syn. hedge, evade, prevaricate
ant. confront, face

Profuse

lavish
adj. liberal or plentiful to excess
syn. abundant, copious, bountiful
ant. meager, niggard, stingy, frugal

Discreet

judicious
adj. capable of keeping a confidence
syn. prudent, judicious, fiduciary
ant. ostentatious, untrustworthy

Vilification

belittlement
n. vicious, defamatory statement
syn. slander, belittlement
ant. praise, compliment

Incoherence

disordered
n. lack of harmony or clear connections
syn. chaos, muddle, disorderliness
ant. logic, orderliness

Compliance

agreement
n. yielding to the will of others, agreeing to a wish or command
syn. conformity, acquiescence
ant. disagreement, discord

Ameliorate

improve
v. to make better or more tolerable
syn. amend
ant. deteriorate, worsen

Deter

discourage
v. to prevent or turn aside
syn. inhibit, obviate
ant. persuade, encourage, urge

Reprehensible

blameworthy
adj. deserving of criticism or censure
syn. blameworthy, culpable
ant. virtuous, righteous

Obscure

made indistinct
v. or adj. to make indistinct
syn. hide, dim, indefinite
ant. reveal, expose, distinct

Capricious

fickle
adj. changes one's mind easily and frequently
syn. impulsive, whimsical, unpredictable
ant. constant, predictable

Impartial

unprejudiced
adj. open-minded/fair
syn. unbiased, indifferent, just
ant. prejudiced, biased, partial

Futile

fruitless
adj. having no useful result; ineffectual
syn. unproductive, failed
ant. successful, effective

Benevolent

doing good
adj. suggestive of doing good
syn. generous, philanthropic
ant. malevolent, stingy, uncharitable

Pious

devout
adj. exhibiting reverence & earnest compliance in the observance of religion
syn. devout, god-fearing
ant. unobservant, irreligious

Conciliate

reconcile
v. to overcome the distrust or animosity of, appease
syn. reconcile, mediate, negotiate
ant. provoke, aggravate, inflate

Resignation

surrender
n. unresisting acceptance of something as inevitable
syn. capitulation
ant. resistance

Dogmatic

unyielding
adj. authoritative, arrogant assertion; dictatorial
syn. relentless, unceasing, inflexible, headstrong, obdurate
ant. inconstant, easygoing

Cacophony

inharmonious sound
n. jarring, discordant sound
syn. noise, babel, racket, pandemonium
ant. harmony, euphony

Morbid

rigorous
adj. characterized by preoccupation w/ unwholesome thoughts or feelings
syn. odious, repulsive, gruesome, appalling
ant. appealing, attractive, lovely

Stagnant

motionless
adj. stale
syn. static, stale, sluggish
ant. flowing, moving, fresh

Minuscule

tiny
adj. very small
syn. minute, diminutive, microscopic
ant. gigantic, gargantuan, huge

Discordance

disharmony
n. state of disagreement, discord
syn. contention, disharmony, disunity, dissonance
ant. accord, agreement, harmony

Amiable

cordial
adj. friendly and agreeable in disposition
syn. affable, convivial, sociable
ant. unfriendly, uncongenial, ill-disposed

Benefactor

one who gives aid
n. giver of financial support to a person or charity
syn. donor, patron, sponsor, supporter, philanthropist

Summit

top
n. the highest point
syn. acme, apex, pinnacle, zenith
ant. nadir, bottom

Irrefutable

incapable of being disproved
adj. impossible to disprove, incontrovertible
syn. unarguable, airtight, unquestionable
ant. disputable, arguable

Perfunctory

careless and routine
adj. done routinely and with little interest or care
syn. unenthusiastic, tepid, tactless
ant. enthusiastic, vibrant

Ravenous

extreme hunger
adj. extremely hungry
syn. rapacious, starved, voracious, famished
ant. satisfied, sated

Voracious

unstoppable
adj. having or marked by an insatiable appetite for an activity/pursuit
syn. greedy, rapacious, gluttonous
ant. generous, unselfish, abstemious

Frivolous

trivial
adj. unworthy of serious attention
syn. foolish, inane, silly, mindless
ant. sensible, meaningful

Gullible

easily fooled
adj. easily deceived or duped
syn. unsuspecting, naive, ingenuous
ant. suspicious

Credulous

too easy to believe
adj. disposed to believe too readily; gullible
syn. unquestioning, undiscerning
ant. critical, discerning

Steadfast

loyal
adj. steady; firmly loyal
syn. faithful, dedicated, resolute, assiduous

Unbiased

impartial
adj. without prejudice, impartial
syn. disinterested, dispassionate, fair, evenhanded
ant. prejudiced, partial

Animated

lively
adj. filled with activity, spirit; lively
syn. dynamic, energetic, vibrant, zestful
ant. lethargic, sluggish, dreaden

Taciturn

silent
adj. habitually untalkative
syn. uncommunicative, quiet, silent, inexpressive
ant. communicative, open

Resolute

steadfast
adj. characterized by firmness or determination
syn. determined, fervid
ant. faltering, apathetic

Servile

submissive
adj. abjectly submissive
syn. slavish
ant. assertive

Reticent

bashful
adj. characteristically hesitant or disinclined to speak out
syn. restrained, bashful, reserved
ant. bold, extroverted

Anarchy

chaos
n. absence of any form of political authority; political disorder & confusion
syn. lawlessness, disorder, dissonance, discord
ant. order, control

Superficial

shallow
adj. concerned with only what is apparent or obvious
syn. cursory, insubstantial, surface
ant. deep, profound, significant