Vocabulary Flashcards: Abase to Aggregate - Definitions and Synonyms

abridge

to cut down, shorten

abrogate

to abolish, usually by authority

abase

to humiliate, degrade

aberration

something that differs from the norm

abet

to aid, help, encourage

abject

wretched, pitiful

abjure

to reject, renounce

abnegation

denial of comfort to oneself

abscond

to sneak away and hide

abate

to reduce, lessen

absolution

freedom from blame, guilt, sin

abstruse

hard to comprehend

accede

to agree

accentuate

to stress, highlight

acclaim

high praise

accord

an agreement

accost

to confront verbally

accretion

slow growth in size or amount

acerbic

biting, bitter in tone or taste

acquiesce

to agree without protesting

acrimony

bitterness, discord

acumen

keen insight

acute

sharp, severe

adept

extremely skilled

admonish

to caution, criticize, reprove

adroit

skillful, dexterous

adulation

extreme praise

adumbrate

to sketch out in a vague way

adverse

antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous

affable

friendly, amiable

affront

an insult

aggrandize

to increase or make greater

aggregate

a whole or total

agnostic

believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven

alacrity

eagerness, speed

alias

a false name or identity

allay

to soothe, ease

allege

to assert, usually without proof

aloof

reserved, distant

amalgamate

to bring together, unite

ambiguous

uncertain, variably interpretable

ambivalent

having opposing feelings

ameliorate

to improve

amenable

willing, compliant

amenity

an item that increases comfort

amiable

friendly

amicable

friendly

amorous

showing love, particularly sexual

amorphous

without definite shape or type

anachronistic

being out of correct chronological order

analgesic

something that reduces pain

analogous

similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn

anarchist

one who wants to eliminate all government

anathema

a cursed, detested person

anesthesia

loss of sensation

annex

to incorporate territory or space

annul

to make void or invalid

anonymous

being unknown, unrecognized

antagonism

hostility

antecedent

something that came before

antediluvian

ancient

anthology

a selected collection of writings, songs, etc.

antipathy

a strong dislike, repugnance

antiquated

old, out of date

antiseptic

clean, sterile

antithesis

the absolute opposite

apathetic

lacking concern, emotion

apocryphal

fictitious, false, wrong

appease

to calm, satisfy

appraise

to assess the worth or value of

approbation

praise

arable

suitable for growing crops

arbiter

one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision

arbitrary

based on factors that appear random

arbitration

the process or act of resolving a dispute

arboreal

of or relating to trees

arcane

obscure, secret, known only by a few

archaic

of or relating to an earlier period in time, outdated

archetypal

the most representative or typical example of something

ardor

extreme vigor, energy, enthusiasm

arid

excessively dry

arrogate

to take without justification

artisan

a craftsman

ascertain

to perceive, learn

ascetic

practicing restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious

ascribe

to assign, credit, attribute to

aspersion

a curse, expression of ill-will

assail

to attack

assiduous

hard-working, diligent

assuage

to ease, pacify

astute

very clever, crafty

atone

to repent, make amends

atrophy

to wither away, decay

atypical

not typical, unusual

audacious

excessively bold

augment

to add to, expand

auspicious

favorable, indicative of good things

austere

very bare, bleak

avarice

excessive greed

avenge

to seek revenge