altruistic
selfless, unselfishly concerned for others
bumptious
disagreeably conceited; arrogant; forward; pushy
abeyance
temporary inactivity, cessation or suspension
accountrement
a soldier's outfit usually not including clothes and weapons or a accessory item of clothing or equipment
approbation
official approval; commendation; sanction
aquiline
of or like an eagle; curved or hooked like an eagle's beak
banal
dull or state because of overuse; trite; commonplace; hackneyed; depressingly predictable; vapid
burgeon
to grow or develop rapidly; expand; proliferate;flourish
Abnegation
to refuse or deny oneself; reject; renounce; give up
avow
to declare; to admit openly; to acknowledge to be true; assert aver
abrogate
to abolish by formal or official means; put an end to; rescind; invalidate
acquiesce
to consent or comply passively or without protest; to assent tacitly
acquisitive
tending or seeking to acquire and own often greedily; tending to acquire and retain ideas or information
adulation
excessive flatter or admiration
Affinity
a natural liking or attraction to; a relationship by ties other than blood
Antithesis
opposition; contrast; direct opposite
aficionado
a person who likes, knows about, and appreciates a pursued interest or activity; a devotee; buff; "junkie"
ameliorate
to improve; to make better; amend
acerbic
harsh or severe, as of temper or expression; sharp or biting
broach
to introduce a subject; to bring up for discussion; to suggest for the first time
ascetic
austere, denying something for fitness purposes
auspicious
favorable; promising; pointing to a good result
Arable
suitable for growing crops
apropos
fitting the occasion; suitable or appropriate
arduous
difficult; requiring much effort; laborious
apocryphal
of doubtful authenticity; not genuine
atrophy
to waste away from lack of use
autonomous
self-governing; independent
bane
the cause of ruin, harm, distress, or death, burden
beleaguer
to besiege by encircling (as with an army); to harass
aphorism
a concise statement of a principle; a short statement expressing a clever observation; a maxim; an adage
bode
to be an omen of; to presage; to portend; to indicate the future
bravado
pretended courage; defiant confidence where there is really little or none
boon
a welcome benefit; a blessing; a favor; a godsend
anachronism
something that seems to be out of place in time
anathema
a person or thing that is greatly detested; a pariah; a curse
anomaly
an abnormality; a departure from what is normal or common; irregularity
bellicose
of a quarrelsome nature; eager to fight or quarrel; warlike; belligerent
blazon
(noun) a coat of arms; a showy display (verb) to make known far and wide; proclaim
circumscribe
to set off or mark off the limits; to limit; confine
circumspect
careful to consider all circumstances and consequences; cautious; wary; watchful
circumvent
to avoid by artful maneuvering; to skirt; to evade; to elude; to circle around
cadaverous
Like a cadaver; pale, ghastly or gaunt; haggard
calumny
A false and malicious statement meant to hurt someone's reputation; slander
castigate
To criticize severely; rebuke severely esp. by harsh public criticism
caustic
Corrosive; sarcastic; marked by sharp, biting wit; scathing
celerity
Swiftness in acting or moving
Chauvinism
Unreasoning devotion to one's own race, gender, country, etc; fanatical patriotism; jingoism
choleric
Having a quick temper; having an irascible nature; bilious; hot tempered; irritable
compunction
a feeling of hesitation, doubt, or uneasiness; anxiety arising from awareness of guilt; distress of mind over anticipated actions or results; a twinge of misgiving; scruple; qualm
aggrandize
to increase in size and intensity; make greater in power, wealth, rank or honor.
assiduous
done with careful and constant attention; diligent ; persevering
clandestine
kept secret or hidden especially for some illicit purpose; furtive; covert; surreptitious
climactic
pertaining to the most intense part (of a story)
coalesce
to unite into one body; to merge; to fuse; to meld; to combine
cogitation
deep, serious thought; meditation; careful consideration; deliberation
collateral
(adj.) parallel in time, rank, or importance; aside from the main subject; secondary (noun) something given as security
colloquy
conversation or discussion especially formal; a literary work written as dialogue; a serious high-level discussion; a conference
collusion
a secret agreement for some wrongful purpose; a conspiracy
Cogent
forceful and to the point; compelling; convincing; persuasive; based upon good reasoning or evidence; sound
Deify
to look upon or worship as a god; to glorify; to exalt; adore in an extreme way; lionize
Delineate
to draw an outline of; to sketch out; to describe in words; to portray; to depict
Demeanor
outward manner of conduct; behavior; bearing; comportment; deportment
Deprecate
to express strong disapproval of; belittle; to detract from
Despot
an absolute ruler; a king with unlimited power; an autocrat; any person who acts like a tyrant
Convivial
fond of eating and drinking with friends; festive; sociable; congenial
Discerning
showing good or outstanding judgement and understanding
Cynical
doubting the sincerity of people's motives and actions; sneering; misanthropic; contemptuously distrustful of human nature; pessimistic
Dichotomy
a division into two parts, especially into contradictory groups; something with seemingly contradictory qualities; a branching out
Capitulate
to give up; to surrender (under pre-arranged conditions); to stop resisting; to yield
Cavil
to object when there is little or no reason to do so; to resort to trivial faultfinding; to carp; to quibble
Chicanery
deception by artful subterfuge or sophistry; deception; fraud; trickery; wiliness
Corroborate
to support a statement; to confirm; to bolster; to substantiate; to confirm; to validate
Credence
belief in reports or testimony of another; acceptance as true; plausibility; credibility
Credulous
too ready to believe; easily deceived; easily convinced; trusting; naive
Condescend
to descend voluntarily to the level (regarded as lower) of the person one is dealing with; to stoop to a level considered inappropriate to one's dignity; to deal with other in a proud or haughty way
Dereliction
neglect of one's duty; willful negligence; abandonment; desertion
Debacle
an overwhelming defeat; a rout; a stunning ruinous collapse; a disaster; a complete failure
Emulate
to strive to equal or excel; to rival successfully; to imitate or copy with a view toward equaling or surpassing
Consonant
in harmony; in agreement; in accord; harmonious
Consternation
great fear or shock that makes one feel helpless and bewildered; great dismay; dread; trepidation
Galvanize
to stimulate as if by galvanic current; startle into activity
Consummate
(adj) supremely skilled; accomplished; perfect in every way (verb)to bring to completion or fulfillment; conclude; bring to fruition
Contemptuous
showing or feeling contempt; scornful; disdainful
Studied by 34 People