barrons 1.1k vital words

wazaaa

abound

to exist in great numbers

annals

historical records

automaton

a robot; a mechanical person

badger

to pester; nag; annoy persistently

compound

to increase or add to

drudgery

unpleasant,dull, or hard work

eminent

of outstanding reputation

implore

to plead urgently for aid or mercy

indiscriminate

choosing at random without careful selection

interminable

unending

matron

an older married woman

paradox

seemingly self-contradictory situation

perceive

to come to have an understanding of

prognosticate

to be able to tell what will happen in the future

realm

someone's special field

replete

completely filled with

steeped

soaked; saturated; drenched

technology

related to science of engineering

tinge

a small amount of; a trace; smattering

voracious

desiring huge amount

to eat humble pie

to admit your error and apologize

a pig in a poke

an item you purchase without having seen; a disappointment

a flash in the pan

promising at the start but then disappointing

to pour oil on troubled waters

to make peace; to calm someone down

accost

to greet first; to approach and speak to

adroit

clever; skillful

avid

enthusiastic; eager

cajole

coax; wheedle

enhance

to make greater; intensify; heighten

fabricate

to make up a lie; to construct; to lie

felon

criminal

furtive

sly; secret; stealthy

gesticulate

to use lively gestures

hapless

unlucky; unfortunate

intrepid

courageous; brave

irate

angry; incensed

laconic

concise, pithy

nuance

shade of difference

plethora

overabundance; excess

pretext

an excuse

reticent

uncommunicative; silent

rudimentary

basic, elementary

throng

great number of people, crowd

vigilant

alert; watchful

the sword of Damocles

any imminent danger

Pyrrhic victory

a too costly victory

a wet blanket

one who spoils the fun; killjoy; spoilsport

to beard the lion

to visit and oppose a person on his own grounds

bristle

to have one's hair stand up

caustic

stinging

cessation

a pause

condolence

expression of sympathy

dupe

an easily fooled person

euphemisim

saying something in a less direct way

inadvertent

due to an oversight, negligent

incipient

just starting

incongruous

having inconsistent elements

infamous

evil

jostle

to push, to elbow

lackluster

lacking brightness

loathe

despise

mundane

earthly

ominous

menacing

reprimand

to scold severely

repudiate

disown, refuse to accept

stipulate

make a specific demand

tremulous

trembling

wrest

seize

crocodile tears

insincere tears

to carry the day

to win the approval of the majority

Skid Row

disreputable part of town, inhabited by derelicts and people

to go up in smoke

to come to no practical result

alacrity

quick willingness

aspirant

candidate for better job

belligerent

seeking war, hostile

belittle

speak of as unimportant

brash

insolent

castigate

punish, chastise

disdain

scorn

dregs

most worthless part

feint

a false attack; pretense; sham

frenzy

frantic outburst

intimidate

to make afraid

laceration

rough cut

octogenarian

person of eighty

promulgate

make public, proclaim

pugnacious

combative

scoff

to mock

scurrilous

vulgar, using indecent language

solace

comfort

sordid

filthy, ignoble

tangible

able to be touched

to throw down the gauntlet

to challenge someone

feeling no pain

drunk

Hobson's choice

to have no choice at all

to rule the roost

to be in charge, to be master

acrimonious

caustic, bitter

admonish

to scold, warn

clandestine

hidden, secret

concur

agree