List 1 - Jan 14-Jan 20

abrasive

(of a person or manner) showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh.

acclaim

enthusiastic and public praise.

adroit

clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.

alleviate

make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.

approximate

come close or be similar to something in quality, nature, or quantity.

atypical

not representative of a type, group, or class.

bastion

a projecting part of a fortification built at an angle to the line of a wall, so as to allow defensive fire in several directions.

buoyancy

the ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid.

cerebral

of the cerebrum of the brain.

circumscribe

restrict (something) within limits.

communal

shared by all members of a community; for common use.

complementary

combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each other or another.

compromise

settle a dispute by mutual concession.

conceptualize

form a concept or idea of (something).

confound

cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations.

conscientious

(of a person) wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly.

corrosive

tending to cause corrosion.

credulity

a tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.

debilitate

make (someone) weak and infirm.

denounce

publicly declare to be wrong or evil.

discerning

having or showing good judgment.

discriminating

(of a person) having or showing refined taste or good judgment.

disingenuous

not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.

dispel

make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear.

dowager

a widow with a title or property derived from her late husband.

eclectic

deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

eliminate

completely remove or get rid of (something).

enormous

very large in size, quantity, or extent.

evade

escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery.

exhaustive

examining, including, or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive.

extol

praise enthusiastically.

facilitate

make (an action or process) easy or easier.

forgo

omit or decline to take (something pleasant or valuable); go without.

formidable

inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.

generic

characteristic of or relating to a class or group of things; not specific.

hallmark

a mark stamped on articles of gold, silver, or platinum in Britain, certifying their standard of purity.

haven

a place of safety or refuge.

hypocrisy

the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.

illuminate

1. make (something) visible or bright by shining light on it; light up.

2. help to clarify or explain.

implement

put (a decision, plan, agreement, etc.) into effect.

improvident

not having or showing foresight; spendthrift or thoughtless.

indulge

allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of.

ineffectual

not producing any or the desired effect.

innocuous

not harmful or offensive.

involuntarily

1. without will or conscious control.

2. against someone's will; without someone's cooperation.

lackadaisical

lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.

lax

not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful; (of the limbs or muscles) relaxed.

litigious

unreasonably prone to go to law to settle disputes.

mimic

imitate (someone or their actions or words), especially in order to entertain or ridicule.

misconduct

1. unacceptable or improper behavior, especially by an employee or professional person.

2. mismanagement, especially culpable neglect of duties.

monotonous

dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest.

mystify

utterly bewilder or perplex (someone).

negligence

failure to take proper care in doing something.

nomad

a member of a people having no permanent abode, and who travel from place to place to find fresh pasture for their livestock.

nonchalant

(of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm.

palliative

(of a medicine or form of medical care) relieving symptoms without dealing with the cause of the condition.

paramount

more important than anything else; supreme.

partisan

prejudiced in favor of a particular cause.

pedestrian

going or performed on foot; lacking inspiration or excitement; dull.

perquisite

a privilege, gain, or profit incidental to regular salary or wages especially : one expected or promised ; gratuity, tip

phlegmatic

(of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.

pragmatic

relating to matters of fact or practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters

prescient

having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.

prescribe

(of a medical practitioner) advise and authorize the use of (a medicine or treatment) for someone, especially in writing.

prevail

prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious.

prophetic

accurately describing or predicting what will happen in the future.

prudent

acting with or showing care and thought for the future.

recant

say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, especially one considered heretical.

refuge

a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.

remorse

deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.

restrain

prevent (someone or something) from doing something; keep under control or within limits.

retraction

the action of drawing something back or back in; a withdrawal of a statement, accusation, or undertaking.

rival

be or seem to be equal or comparable to.

secluded

(of a place) not seen or visited by many people; sheltered and private.

seditious

inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.

serene

calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil.

shrewd

having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute.

soar

fly or rise high in the air.

sophistry

the use of fallacious arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving.

spontaneous

performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus.

squander

waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner.

stoic

enduring pain and hardship without showing one's feelings or complaining.

unflappable

having or showing calmness in a crisis.

unleash

release from a leash or restraint.

vicarious

experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person.

aversion

a strong dislike or disinclination.

barter

the action or system of exchanging goods or services without using money.

benefactor

a person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.

cataclysmic

relating to or denoting a violent natural event.

catastrophic

involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.

complacent

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.

compose

1. write or create (a work of art, especially music or poetry).

2. (of elements) constitute or make up (a whole).

counterfeit

imitate fraudulently.

critique

a detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory.

crystallize

form or cause to form crystals; make or become definite and clear.

demolition

the action or process of demolishing or being demolished.

disconcerting

causing one to feel unsettled.

disparage

regard or represent as being of little worth.

dispassionate

not influenced by strong emotion, and so able to be rational and impartial.

distort

give a misleading or false account or impression of; pull or twist out of shape.