Comprehensive Study Guide: Word Smart 1 and 2

Vocabulary Definitions: A to Al

abash: This verb means to make someone feel ashamed or to embarrass them. It involves causing a loss of self-possession or composure.

abate: To subside or to reduce in amount, degree, or intensity. This term is often used to describe a lessening of something, such as a storm or a person's anger.

abdicate: To step down from a position of power or responsibility. This is typically used in the context of monarchs giving up their throne or officials relinquishing their duties.

aberration: Defined as something that is not typical or a deviation from the standard. It refers to a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically an unwelcome one.

abhor: To hate something very, very much; to detest it. This implies a feeling of intense disgust and loathing.

abject: This adjective describes a state that is hopeless, extremely sad, and servile. It can also mean defeated or utterly bummed out, often characterizing a low state of being.

abnegate: To deny oneself things, to reject, or to renounce. It often implies a selfless or disciplined refusal of something desired.

abortive: An adjective meaning unsuccessful or failing to produce the intended result.

abridge: To shorten or to condense a text or speech while maintaining the main points or essence.

absolute: This means total, unlimited, or perfect. It suggests something that is complete and not lacking in any essential element.

absolve: To forgive or free someone from blame or sin. It can also refer to freeing a person from an obligation.

abstinent: The state of voluntarily not doing something, especially something pleasant that is considered bad for you or has a bad reputation. This is often associated with refraining from alcohol or food.

abstract: A term referring to things that are theoretical or impersonal rather than concrete or specific.

abstruse: An adjective meaning hard to understand or obscure. It refers to concepts that are intellectually deep or complex.

abysmal: Describing something as extremely hopeless or wretched. It can also literally mean bottomless, referring to a great depth of misery or failure.

accolade: Refers to an award or an honor bestowed as a mark of acknowledgement or admiration.

accost: To approach and speak to someone, often in a bold, aggressive, or challenging way.

acerbic: Describing something that is bitter, sour, or severe in tone or taste.

acquiesce: To comply passively, to accept, to assent, or to agree to something without protest.

acrid: Harsh or sharp in taste or smell, similar to the sensation of acid.

acrimonious: Full of spite, bitter, or nasty. It describes interactions or relationships characterized by resentment and anger.

acumen: Keenness of judgment or mental sharpness. It involves the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain.

acute: Meaning sharp or shrewd. In a medical or situational context, it can also refer to something intense or of short duration.

adamant: Stubborn, unyielding, or completely inflexible. It describes someone who will not be persuaded or change their mind.

address: To speak to someone or to direct one's attention toward a specific issue or task.

adherent: A follower, supporter, or believer in a particular person, group, or idea.

admonish: To scold gently or to provide a warning. It is a cautionary advice or mild criticism.

adroit: Skillful, dexterous, clever, or shrewd. It often implies being socially at ease and possessing manual or mental quickness.

adulation: Wild or excessive admiration or flattery that goes beyond normal praise.

adulterate: To contaminate or make something impure by adding inferior or improper ingredients.

adverse: Referring to conditions that are unfavorable or antagonistic. It describes something that prevents success or development.

aesthetic: Having to do with artistic beauty or the appreciation of art and taste.

affable: Describing someone who is easy to talk to and friendly.

affectation: Unnatural or artificial behavior, usually intended to impress others.

affinity: A sympathy, attraction, kinship, or similarity between things or people.

affluent: An adjective meaning rich or prosperous.

agenda: A program or list of things to be done or discussed.

agrarian: Relating to land, its cultivation, or the management of farming.

aggregate: The sum total or a collection of separate things mixed together into a whole.

agnostic: A person who believes that the existence of a god can be neither proven nor disproven.

alacrity: Cheerful eagerness or a readiness to respond quickly.

allege: To assert something without proof.

alleviate: To relieve, usually temporarily or incompletely. It means to make a pain or problem more bearable or to lessen it.

Vocabulary Definitions: Am to Az

allocate: To distribute, assign, or allot resources or tasks for a specific purpose.

alloy: A combination of two or more things, usually metals, resulting in a new substance with different properties.

allusion: An indirect reference, often to a literary work; a hint or suggestion rather than a direct statement.

aloof: Uninvolved, standing off, or keeping one's distance from others.

altruism: Selflessness, generosity, or devotion to the interests and welfare of others.

ambiance: The atmosphere, mood, or feeling associated with a particular place or situation.

ambiguous: Unclear in meaning, confusing, or capable of being interpreted in multiple ways.

ambivalent: Undecided, neutral, or wishy-washy. It refers to having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something.

ameliorate: To make a situation better or more tolerable; to improve it.

amenable: Obedient or willing to give in to the wishes of another; being agreeable.

amenity: A pleasantness or an attractive and comfortable feature of a place.

amiable: Friendly and agreeable in disposition.

amnesty: An official pardon granted to a group of people who have violated a law or policy.

amoral: Lacking a sense of right and wrong. It describes someone who is neither good nor bad, or acts without moral feelings.

amorous: Feeling loving, especially in a sexual sense; relating to love and romance.

amorphous: Shapeless; lacking a regular or stable shape or structure.

anachronism: Something that is out of place in terms of time or history; an incongruity chronologically.

analogy: A comparison between one thing and another to highlight a similarity.

anarchy: The absence of government or control, leading to lawlessness and disorder.

anecdote: A short account of a humorous or revealing incident or story.

anguish: Agonizing physical or mental pain.

animosity: Resentment, hostility, or ill will directed toward someone or something.

anomaly: An aberration, irregularity, or deviation from what is common or expected.

antecedent: Someone or something that went before; something that provides a model for what comes after it.

antipathy: A firm dislike for something. Note the antonym is sympathy.

antithesis: The direct opposite of something.

apartheid: Historically, the abhorrent policy of racial segregation and oppression against non-whites in the Republic of South Africa.

apathy: A lack of interest or a lack of feeling and concern.

aphorism: A brief, often witty saying; a proverb that conveys a general truth.

apocalypse: A prophetic revelation, especially one concerning the end of the world.

apocryphal: Refers to stories or statements of dubious authenticity; fictitious or spurious.

apotheosis: The elevation of a person to divine status; the perfect example of something.

appease: To soothe or pacify someone by giving in to their demands.

appreciate: In a financial context, to increase in value.

apprehensive: Feeling worried or anxious about the future.

approbation: Approval or praise for something.

appropriate: To take something without permission, or to set something aside for a particular, specific use.

aptitude: A capacity for learning or a natural ability to do something.

arbiter: A person who decides or acts as a judge in a dispute.

arbitrary: Random or capricious; based on whim rather than reason or system.

arcane: Mysterious or known only to a select few.

archaic: Extremely old, ancient, or outdated.

archetype: An original model or pattern from which others are copied.

ardent: Passionate and enthusiastic. Its opposite in this context might be half-hearted.

arduous: Hard, difficult, or requiring strenuous effort.

aristocratic: Of noble birth or characterized by snobbishness and high social standing.

artful: Wily, sly, or crafty in a clever way.

artifice: A clever trick or cunning used to deceive.

ascendancy: Supremacy, domination, or a position of power and influence.

ascetic: Hermit-like, practicing strict self-denial and austerity.

assiduous: Hardworking, busy, and quite diligent in one's tasks.

assimilate: To take in, absorb, or learn something thoroughly so it becomes part of one's own.

assuage: To soothe, pacify, or ease the pain; to provide relief.

astute: Shrewd and keen in judgment; being clever and perceptive.

attrition: The gradual wearing away, weakening, or loss of something, such as a natural decrease in numbers or size.

audacity: Boldness, reckless daring, or impertinence.

augment: To make something bigger, to add to it, or to increase it.

auspicious: Favorable or promising; pointing toward a good result.

austere: Unadorned, stern, forbidding, or without any excess or luxury.

autocratic: Ruling with absolute authority; extremely bossy and dictatorial.

autonomous: Acting independently and having self-government.

avarice: Greed or an excessive love of riches.

avow: To claim or declare something boldly; to admit openly.

avuncular: Like an uncle, especially a nice and supportive uncle.

awry: Off course or twisted to one side; not according to plan.

axiom: A self-evident rule or truth; a widely accepted saying or principle.

Vocabulary Definitions: B to C

banal: Unoriginal, ordinary, or lacking in impact due to overexposure.

bane: Poison, torment, or the cause of great harm and ruin.

bastion: A stronghold, fortress, or a heavily fortified place.

beget: To give birth to, create, lead to, or cause something to happen.

belabor: To go over something repeatedly or to an absurd extent.

beleaguer: To surround, besiege, or harass someone or something.

belie: To give a false impression of something or to contradict it.

belittle: To make something or someone seem insignificant or small.

belligerent: Combative, quarrelsome, or actively waging war.

bemused: Confused or bewildered.

benefactor: One who provides help, especially through a gift or donation.

benevolent: Generous, kind, and inclined to do good deeds.

benign: Gentle, not harmful, kind, or mild.

bequest: Something left to someone in a will.

bereaved: Deprived or left desolate, especially through the death of a loved one.

beset: To harass or surround from all sides.

blasphemy: Irreverence or an insult toward something held sacred; profanity.

blatant: Unpleasantly or offensively noisy; glaring and obvious.

blight: A disease in plants; generally, anything that injures or destroys.

blithe: Carefree and cheerful.

bourgeois: Middle class, often used in a pejorative sense to imply boring conventionality.

bovine: Related to or resembling a cow. This belongs to a family of animal-related adjectives including canine (dog), equine (horse), feline (cat), piscine (fish), porcine (pig), and ursine (bear).

brevity: The quality of being brief in duration or expression.

broach: To open up a delicate or difficult subject for discussion.

bucolic: Charmingly rural, rustic, or country-like.

bureaucracy: A system of government administration with numerous bureaus and offices, often characterized by inflexible rules, inefficiency, and red tape.

burgeon: To expand or flourish rapidly.

burlesque: A ludicrous, mocking, or exaggerated imitation of something.

cacophony: A harsh-sounding mixture of words, voices, or sounds.

cadence: The rhythm and the rise and fall of sounds in language.

cajole: To persuade someone to do something they don't particularly want to do through flattery or coaxing.

callow: Immature or inexperienced.

candor: Truthfulness and sincere honesty.

capitalism: An economic system based on free enterprise.

capitulate: To surrender or give up.

capricious: Unpredictable and likely to change at any moment based on a whim.

caricature: A portrait or description that is distorted or exaggerated for comic or illustrative effect.

castigate: To criticize severely or to chastise.

catalyst: In chemistry, a substance that initiates a reaction; broadly, anyone or anything that makes something happen without being directly involved in the result.

categorical: Unconditional or absolute in nature.

catharsis: Purification that brings emotional relief or spiritual renewal.

catholic: Universal or embracing everything.

caustic: Corrosive like acid; also, bitingly sarcastic or critical.

celibacy: The state of abstaining from sex.

censure: To condemn someone severely for doing something bad.

cerebral: Brainy or intellectually refined, as opposed to emotional.

chagrin: Humiliation or embarrassed disappointment.

charisma: A magical-seeming ability to attract followers or inspire loyalty.

charlatan: A fraud, quack, or con man.

chasm: A deep, gaping hole or a gorge.

chastise: To inflict punishment on someone or to discipline them.

chicanery: Trickery, deceitfulness, or artifice, especially in legal or political contexts.

chimera: An illusion or a foolish fancy.

choleric: Hot-tempered and quick to anger.

chronic: Constant or lasting for a long time; inveterate.

chronicle: A record of events in order of time; a history.

circuitous: Roundabout; not following a direct path.

circumlocution: An indirect expression; the use of wordy or evasive language.

circumscribe: To draw a line around, to set limits, to define, or to restrict.

circumspect: Cautious and wary.

circumvent: To frustrate or get around something as though by surrounding it.

civil: Polite, civilized, or courteous.

clemency: Mercy, forgiveness, or mildness toward an offender.

cliche: An overused saying or idea.

clique: An exclusive group bound together by a shared quality or interest.

coalesce: To come together as one; to fuse or unite.

coerce: To force someone to do or not to do something.

cogent: Powerfully convincing.

cognitive: Dealing with how we know the world through our senses; mental.

cognizant: Being aware or conscious of something.

coherent: Holding together or making sense.

colloquial: Conversational; informal in language usage.

collusion: Conspiracy or secret cooperation for a deceitful purpose.

commensurate: Equal or proportionate to something else.

compelling: Forceful or causing one to yield.

compendium: A summary or an abridgment of a larger work or subject.

complacent: Self-satisfied, overly pleased with oneself, or contented to a fault.

complement: To complete something or fill it up; to be the perfect counterpart.

complicity: Participation in wrongdoing; the act of being an accomplice.

comprehensive: Covering or including everything.

comprise: To consist of or to be composed of. Note synonyms like constitute and compose.

conciliatory: Making peace or attempting to resolve a dispute through goodwill.

concise: Brief and to the point; succinct.

concord: Harmony or agreement.

concurrent: Happening at the same time; parallel.

condescend: To stoop to someone else's level, usually in an offensive way; to patronize.

condone: To overlook or permit something to happen despite moral objections.

conducive: Promoting or helping to bring about a result.

confluence: A flowing together, especially of rivers.

congenial: Agreeably suitable or pleasant.

congenital: A trait or condition acquired between conception and birth; innate.

conjecture: To guess or deduce based on slight evidence.

conjure: To summon or bring into being as if by magic.

connoisseur: An expert, particularly in matters of art or taste.

consecrate: To make or declare something sacred.

consensus: Unanimous or general agreement.

consonant: Harmonious or in agreement.

construe: To interpret a meaning.

consummate: Perfect, complete, or supremely skillful.

contentious: Argumentative or quarrelsome.

contiguous: Side by side; adjoining.

contingent: Dependent or possible under certain conditions.

contrite: Admitting guilt and feeling remorseful.

contrived: Artificial, labored, or forced.

conventional: Common, customary, or unexceptional.

convivial: Fond of partying and festive atmosphere.

copious: Abundant and plentiful.

corollary: Something that follows; a natural consequence.

corroborate: To confirm or back up something with evidence.

cosmopolitan: Internationally sophisticated; at home in many places.

countenance: Face or facial expression, especially an encouraging one.

coup: A brilliant victory or accomplishment; also the violent overthrow of a government.

covenant: A solemn agreement, contract, or pledge.

covert: Secret or hidden.

covet: To wish for something enviously.

credulous: Eager to believe or easily fooled (gullible).

criterion: A standard or basis for judgment.

cryptic: Mysterious, mystifying, or clandestine.

culinary: Related to cooking or the kitchen.

culminate: To reach the highest point or full effect.

culpable: Deserving blame; guilty.

cursory: Hasty and superficial; not thorough.

curtail: To shorten or cut something short.

cynic: One who deeply distrusts human nature and believes humans are motivated only by selfishness.

Vocabulary Definitions: D to E

daunt: To make someone fearful or to intimidate them.

dearth: A lack or scarcity of something.

debacle: A violent breakdown, sudden overthrow, or overwhelming defeat.

debauchery: Wild living or excessive intemperance.

debilitate: To weaken or cripple.

decadent: Decaying or decayed, especially in terms of morals.

decimate: This verb means to kill or destroy a large part of something. Historically, it refers to a ratio of $10:1$.

decorous: Proper, in good taste, and orderly.

deduce: To conclude from evidence or to infer.

defame: To libel, slander, or ruin the good name of someone.

deference: Submission to another's will; respect or courtesy.

definitive: Conclusive or providing the final word on a matter.

degenerate: To break down or deteriorate.

deleterious: Harmful or damaging.

delineate: To describe accurately or to draw in outline.

delude: To deceive someone.

deluge: A flood or an inundation.

demagogue: A leader who rouses people, often by appealing to their prejudices rather than rational argument.

denizen: An inhabitant of a particular place.

depravity: Extreme wickedness or corruption.

deprecate: To express disapproval of something.

deride: To ridicule or laugh at someone contemptuously.

derogatory: Disapproving or degrading.

desiccate: To dry out completely.

despondent: Extremely depressed or full of despair.

despot: An absolute ruler or autocrat.

destitute: Extremely poor or utterly lacking basic necessities.

desultory: Without a plan or purpose; disconnected or random.

dialectical: Relating to discussions or the rules of reasoning to find truth through opposing arguments.

dictum: An authoritative saying, adage, or maxim.

didactic: Intended to teach or morally instruct; sometimes used to mean pedantic.

diffident: Timid or lacking in self-confidence.

digress: To stray from the main subject of discussion.

dilettante: An amateur with superficial knowledge of the arts.

discern: To have insight or to see things clearly; to differentiate.

discreet: Prudent or judiciously reserved.

discrete: Unconnected, separate, or distinct.

discriminate: To notice the difference between things or to differentiate.

disdain: Arrogant scorn or contempt.

disinterested: Not taking sides; unbiased.

disparage: To belittle or say uncomplimentary things about someone.

disparate: Different, incompatible, or unequal.

disseminate: To spread the seeds of something; to scatter or make widely known.

dissipate: To thin out, drift away, or dissolve; to waste or squander.

dissolution: The breaking up or dissolving of something into parts; disintegration.

distend: To swell or extend a great deal.

distinguish: To tell things apart or to cause something to stand out.

docile: Easily taught, obedient, or easy to handle.

doctrinaire: Inflexibly committed to a theory without regard for practicality.

dogmatic: Arrogantly assertive of unproven ideas.

domestic: Relating to the household or family; also means not foreign.

dormant: Inactive, as though asleep. Often used to describe a volcano or a window.

dubious: Full of doubt or uncertain.

duplicity: The act of being two-faced; double-dealing or deception.

ebullient: Boiling or bubbling with excitement; exuberant. Noun forms include ebullience or ebullition.

eccentric: Not conventional; a little kooky or irregular.

eclectic: Choosing and drawing the best from many sources.

edify: To enlighten or instruct, especially in moral or religious matters.

efface: To erase or rub away features.

effusion: A pouring forth. Related forms are effuse (verb) and effusive (adjective).

egalitarian: Believing in the social and economic equality of all people.

egocentric: Selfish; believing that oneself is the center of everything.

egregious: Extremely bad or flagrant.

elicit: To bring out or call forth, such as eliciting a reply or a laugh.

elliptical: Oval-shaped; also refers to writing that is obscure because words are missing.

elusive: Hard to pin down or evasive.

emigrate: To move from one's native country to a new place to live.

eminent: Distinguished or prominent.

emirical: Relying on experience or observation rather than theory.

emulate: To strive to equal or excel someone through imitation.

encroach: To make gradual or stealthy inroads; to trespass.

endemic: Native to or restricted to a particular region or era.

enervate: To reduce the strength or energy of someone, especially gradually.

enfranchise: To grant the privileges of citizenship, particularly the right to vote.

engender: To bring into existence, create, or cause.

enigma: A mystery or a riddle.

enormity: Extreme evil or a hideous offense; also refers to immensity.

ephemeral: Lasting for a very short time.

epigram: A brief and usually witty or satirical saying.

epitome: A summary that captures the whole or a perfect example of something.

equanimity: Composure or calm under stress.

equitable: Fair and just.

equivocal: Ambiguous or intentionally confusing.

erudite: Scholarly or deeply learned.

esoteric: Hard to understand; understood by only a select few.

espouse: To support or advocate for a cause.

ethereal: Heavenly, light, and insubstantial.

euphemism: A pleasant expression used in place of an offensive one.

evanescent: Fleeting or vanishing; happening for a brief period.

exacerbate: To make a situation worse.

exacting: Extremely demanding or difficult; requiring great care.

exalt: To raise high or to glorify.

exasperate: To annoy thoroughly or make very angry.

exemplify: To illustrate by example or serve as a good example.

exhaustive: Thorough, rigorous, complete, or painstaking.

exhort: To urge strongly or give a serious warning.

exigency: An emergency or urgency.

existential: Having to do with existence or existentialism.

exonerate: To free completely from blame.

expatriate: To throw someone out of their native land or to move away from it.

expedient: Practical; providing an immediate advantage or serving self-interest.

expedite: To speed up or ease the progress of something.

explicit: Clearly and directly expressed.

extol: To praise someone highly; to laud.

extraneous: Unnecessary, irrelevant, or extra.

extrapolate: To project or deduce information from something already known.

extricate: To free from difficulty or a complex situation.

extrovert: An outgoing person focused on others rather than oneself.

exult: To rejoice or celebrate.

Vocabulary Definitions: F to H

fabrication: A lie or something that is made up.

facetious: Humorous or not serious; often clumsily humorous.

facile: Fluent or skillful in a superficial way; easy.

faction: A group united around a cause within a larger group; also refers to internal disagreement.

farcical: Absurd or ludicrous.

fastidious: Meticulous, demanding, or extremely finicky.

fatalist: Someone who believes future events are predetermined and unchangeable.

fatuous: Foolish, silly, or idiotic.

fauna: Relates to animals; the counterpart is flora (plants).

fecund: Fertile and productive.

felicity: Happiness or skillfulness in expressing things.

fervor: Great warmth, earnestness, ardor, or zeal.

fetter: To restrain or hamper.

fidelity: Faithfulness or loyalty.

figurative: Metaphorical; expressing something in terms of something else.

finesse: Skillful maneuvering, subtlety, or craftiness.

flagrant: Glaringly bad, notorious, or scandalous.

flaunt: To show off or display something ostentatiously.

flout: To disregard something out of disrespect.

foible: A minor character flaw.

foment: To stir up or instigate.

forbear: To refrain from or to abstain.

forgo: To do without or to forbear.

forsake: To abandon, renounce, or relinquish.

fortuitous: Accidental or occurring by chance.

founder: To fail, collapse, or sink.

fraternal: Like brothers.

frenetic: Frantic or frenzied.

frugal: Economical or penny-pinching.

furtive: Secretive or sly.

futile: Useless or hopeless.

garrulous: Talkative or chatty.

genre: A type or category, especially in art or literature.

genteel: Refined, polite, or aristocratic.

gesticulate: To make gestures, especially while speaking.

glut: A surplus or an overabundance.

grandiloquent: Pompous; using big fancy words to sound impressive.

grandiose: Absurdly exaggerated.

gratuitous: Given freely; often used of something bad that is unjustified or unprovoked.

gravity: Seriousness.

gregarious: Sociable; enjoying the company of others.

guile: Cunning, duplicity, or artfulness.

hackneyed: Overused, trite, or stale.

hapless: Unlucky.

harbinger: A forerunner or a signal of something to come.

hedonism: The pursuit of pleasure as a way of life.

hegemony: Leadership, especially of one nation over another.

heresy: Any belief strongly opposed to established beliefs.

hermetic: Impervious to external influence; airtight.

heyday: A golden age or one's prime.

hiatus: A break or interruption, often from work.

hierarchy: An organization based on rank, degree, or a pecking order.

histrionic: Overly dramatic or theatrical.

homily: A sermon or religious discourse.

homogeneous: Uniform; made entirely of one thing.

husbandry: Thrifty management of resources or livestock farming.

hyperbole: An exaggeration used as a figure of speech.

hypothetical: Uncertain or unproven.

Vocabulary Definitions: I to L

iconoclast: One who attacks popular beliefs or established institutions.

ideology: A system of social or political ideas.

idiosyncrasy: A peculiarity or eccentricity.

idyllic: Charming in a rustic way; naturally peaceful.

ignominy: Deep disgrace.

illicit: Illegal or not permitted.

imminent: Just about to happen.

immutable: Unchangeable.

impartial: Fair and not favoring one side; unbiased.

impeccable: Flawless and without sin.

imperial: Like an emperor or an empire.

impervious: Not allowing anything to pass through; impenetrable.

impetuous: Impulsive, extremely impatient, or rash.

implement: To carry out or put into effect.

impotent: Powerless, helpless, or unable to perform.

impugn: To attack, especially the truth or integrity of something.

inane: Silly or senseless.

inaugurate: To begin officially or induct formally into office.

incandescent: Brilliant; giving off heat or light.

incantation: A chant or the repetition of phrases.

incense: To make someone very angry.

incessant: Unceasing and continuous.

incipient: Beginning or emerging.

incisive: Cutting right to the heart of the matter.

incongruous: Not harmonious or appropriate; not fitting in.

incorrigible: Incapable of being reformed.

increment: An increase, often one in a series of increases.

indifferent: Not caring one way or the other; apathetic or mediocre.

indigenous: Native to or originating in a specific area.

indigent: Poor.

indignant: Angry as a result of something unjust; insulted.

indolent: Lazy.

indulgent: Lenient or yielding to desire.

ineffable: Incapable of being expressed or described.

inept: Clumsy, incompetent, or gauche.

inert: Inactive, sluggish, or not reacting chemically.

inexorable: Relentless, inevitable, or unavoidable.

infamous: Shamefully wicked; having an extremely bad reputation.

infatuated: Foolish; foolishly passionate or in love.

infer: To conclude or deduce based on evidence.

infinitesimal: Very, very small.

ingenuous: Frank, simple, and without deception; charmingly naive.

inherent: Part of the essential nature of something; intrinsic.

injunction: A command or order, especially a court order.

innate: Existing since birth; inborn.

innocuous: Harmless or banal.

inordinate: Excessive or unreasonable.

insatiable: Hard or impossible to satisfy; greedy.

insidious: Treacherous or sneaky.

insinuate: To hint or to creep in.

insipid: Dull, bland, or banal.

insolent: Arrogant or insulting.

instigate: To provoke or stir up.

insular: Like an island; isolated.

insurgent: A rebel or someone who revolts against a government.

integral: Essential to the whole.

intractable: Uncontrollable, stubborn, or disobedient.

intransigent: Uncompromising and stubborn.

intrinsic: Part of the essential nature of something; inherent.

introspective: Tending to think about oneself and one's feelings.

inundate: To flood or cover completely with water; to overwhelm.

invective: Insulting or abusive speech.

inveterate: Habitual and deeply rooted.

irascible: Easily angered or provoked.

ironic: Meaning the opposite of what is said.

irrevocable: Irreversible.

itinerant: Moving from place to place.

judicious: Exercising sound judgment.

juxtapose: To place side by side for comparison.

kinetic: Having to do with motion; lively and active.

labyrinth: A maze.

laconic: Using few words, sometimes to the point of being rude.

lament: To mourn.

lampoon: To satirize, mock, or parody.

languish: To become weak, listless, or depressed.

largess: Generous giving of gifts; philanthropy.

latent: Present but not visible; potential.

laud: To praise or applaud highly.

legacy: Something handed down from the past; a bequest.

lethargy: Sluggishness, laziness, or indifference.

levity: Lightness or frivolity.

libel: A written falsehood that injures someone's reputation.

litigate: To try in court or engage in legal proceedings.

Vocabulary Definitions: M to R

loquacious: Talking a lot or too much.

lucid: Clear and easy to understand.

lugubrious: Exaggeratedly mournful.

luminous: Giving off light; bright.

machination: Scheming activity for an evil purpose.

magnanimous: Forgiving, noble in spirit, and generous.

magnate: A rich and powerful businessperson.

malaise: A feeling of depression or unease.

malfeasance: An illegal act, especially by a public official.

malinger: To pretend to be sick to avoid work.

malleable: Easy to shape or bend.

mandate: A command or authorization; the will of the voters.

manifest: Visible and evident.

manifesto: A public declaration of beliefs or principles.

marshal: To arrange in order or gather together for a purpose.

martial: Warlike; relating to combat.

martyr: Someone who suffers or dies for a cause.

matriculate: To enroll, especially in a college.

maudlin: Silly and overly sentimental.

maverick: A nonconformist or rebel.

maxim: A fundamental principle or old saying.

mediate: To help settle differences between parties.

mellifluous: Sweetly flowing, often used to describe sounds.

mendacious: Lying or dishonest.

mendicant: A beggar.

mentor: A teacher, tutor, or coach.

mercenary: A hired soldier; someone who does anything for money.

mercurial: Emotionally unpredictable; rapidly changing in mood.

metamorphosis: A magical or sudden change in form.

microcosm: The world in miniature.

milieu: Environment or surroundings.

minuscule: Very tiny.

misanthropic: Hating mankind.

mitigate: To moderate the effect of something.

mollify: To soften, soothe, or pacify.

monolithic: Massive, solid, uniform, and unyielding.

moribund: Dying.

morose: Gloomy and sullen.

mortify: To humiliate.

mundane: Ordinary, boring, or not eternal.

munificent: Very generous; lavish.

myopia: Nearsightedness or a lack of foresight.

myriad: A huge number.

narcissism: Excessive love of oneself.

nebulous: Vague, hazy, or indistinct.

nefarious: Evil and flagrantly wicked.

neologism: A new word or phrase.

nepotism: Favoritism shown to friends or family.

nihilism: The belief that there are no values or morals in the universe.

nominal: In name only; insignificant. In rocketry, it means "A-OK."

nostalgia: Sentimental longing for the past; homesickness.

notorious: Famous for something bad.

novel: New and original.

noxious: Harmful or offensive.

nuance: A subtle difference or distinction.

obdurate: Stubborn and insensitive.

obfuscate: To darken or confuse.

oblique: Indirect or at an angle.

oblivion: Total forgetfulness or being forgotten.

obscure: Unknown, hard to understand, or dark.

obsequious: Fawning or subservient.

obtuse: Insensitive or blockheaded.

officious: Annoyingly eager to help.

onerous: Burdensome or oppressive.

opaque: Impossible to see through or understand.

opulent: Luxurious.

orthodox: Conventional; adhering to established principles.

ostensible: Apparent but misleading.

ostentatious: Excessively conspicuous or showing off.

pacify: To calm someone down.

painstaking: Extremely careful; taking pains.

palliate: To relieve something without getting rid of the problem.

palpable: Capable of being touched; obvious.

paltry: Insignificant or worthless.

panacea: A cure-all.

paradigm: A model or example.

paradox: A statement that seems to contradict itself but may be true.

parochial: Narrow or confined in point of view.

parody: A satirical imitation.

parsimonious: Stingy.

partisan: A supporter of a particular cause or person.

patent: Obvious.

paternal: Fatherly.

pathology: The science of diseases.

patriarch: The male head of a family.

Vocabulary Definitions: P to Z

patrician: A person of noble birth; an aristocrat.

patronize: To treat as an inferior or to condescend to someone.

paucity: Scarcity.

peccadillo: A minor offense.

pedantic: Boringly scholarly.

pedestrian: Unimaginative; banal.

pejorative: Negative or disparaging.

penchant: A strong taste or liking for something.

penitent: Sorry or repentant.

pensive: Thoughtful and sad.

peremptory: Final, categorical, or dictatorial.

perennial: Continual or happening year after year.

perfidy: Treachery.

perfunctory: Unenthusiastic or careless.

peripatetic: Wandering or traveling continually.

periphery: The outside edge of something.

perjury: Lying under oath.

permeate: To spread or seep through.

pernicious: Deadly or extremely evil.

perquisite: A privilege that goes with a job; a perk.

pertinent: Relevant to the matter at hand.

perturb: To disturb greatly.

peruse: To read carefully.

pervade: To spread throughout.

petulant: Rude, cranky, or ill-tempered.

philanthropy: Love of mankind shown through good deeds.

philistine: A smugly ignorant person.

pious: Reverent or devout.

pivotal: Crucial.

placate: To pacify or soothe.

plaintive: Expressing sadness.

platitude: A dull or trite remark; a cliché.

plebeian: Common or low class.

plethora: An excess.

poignant: Painfully emotional or sharp.

polarize: To break into opposing groups.

polemic: A powerful argument used to attack an issue.

ponderous: Large, clumsy, or dull.

portent: An omen or sign.

postulate: Something accepted as true without proof.

pragmatic: Practical and down to earth.

precedent: An earlier example or model.

precept: A rule to live by.

precipitate: To cause something to happen abruptly.

precipitous: Steep.

preclude: To prevent something from happening.

precursor: A forerunner.

predilection: A natural preference.

preeminent: Outstanding or supreme.

preempt: To seize something by prior right.

premise: An assumption.

prevail: To triumph or overcome; with "on" it means to persuade.

pristine: Original and unspoiled.

prodigal: Wastefully extravagant.

prodigious: Extraordinary or enormous.

profound: Deep in meaning or intensity.

profuse: Flowing and extravagant.

proliferate: To spread or grow rapidly.

promulgate: To proclaim or declare publicly.

propensity: A natural inclination.

propitious: Marked by favorable signs.

prosaic: Dull and unimaginative.

proscribe: To outlaw or prohibit.

protracted: Prolonged.

provincial: Narrow in outlook.

proximity: Nearness.

prudent: Careful and having foresight.

qualify: To modify or restrict.

querulous: Complaining or whining.

quixotic: Foolishly romantic or idealistic.

ramification: A consequence.

rancor: Bitter ill will.

rapacious: Greedy and plundering.

rebut: To contradict or prove false.

recalcitrant: Stubbornly defiant.

recant: To publicly take back a belief.

recondite: Hard to understand.

refute: To prove false.

reiterate: To repeat.

relegate: To banish or send away.

relentless: Continuous and unstoppable.

relinquish: To release or let go.

renaissance: A rebirth or revival.

renounce: To give up formally.

repartee: A quick witty reply.

replicate: To duplicate exactly.

repress: To hold back or suppress.

reprimand: A stern reproof.

resolute: Determined and firm.

respite: A period of rest.

reticent: Quiet or restrained.

revere: To respect highly.

rhetoric: The art of formal speaking.

rigorous: Strict or harsh.

robust: Strong and healthy.

rudimentary: Basic or crude.

ruminate: To contemplate or ponder.

rustic: Rural or primitive.

saccharine: Excessively sweet.

sacrilege: Violation of something sacred.

sagacious: Wise and shrewd.

salient: Sticking out or conspicuous.

salutary: Healthful or remedial.

sanctimonious: Pretending to be devout.

sanguine: Cheerful and optimistic.

sardonic: Mocking or scornful.

scrupulous: Strict and careful.

scrutinize: To examine carefully.

secular: Not religious.

sedition: Treason or public disorder.

sensory: Relating to the senses.

sentient: Able to perceive; conscious.

sequester: To set apart.

serendipity: Accidental good fortune.

servile: Submissive like a servant.

slandar: To speak badly of publicly.

sloth: Laziness.

sobriety: Being sober or serious.

solicitous: Eager and attentive.

solvent: Able to pay bills.

soporific: Sleep-inducing.

sordid: Vile or filthy.

specious: Deceptively plausible.

sporadic: Occurring in bursts.

spurious: False or fake.

squalor: Filth and wretchedness.

squander: To waste.

stagnation: Motionlessness.

static: Not changing.

staunch: Firmly committed.

steadfast: Loyal.

stigmatize: To brand with disgrace.

stipulate: To require as part of an agreement.

stoic: Indifferent to pleasure or pain.

stratum: A layer.

stricture: A restriction or negative criticism.

strife: Bitter conflict.

stringent: Strict.

stymie: To hinder.

subdue: To subjugate.

sublime: Awesome or majestic.

subordinate: Lower in importance.

substantive: Having substance; real.

subtle: Not obvious.

subversive: Undermining or corrupting.

succinct: Brief and to the point.

succumb: To yield or die.

supercilious: Haughty.

superficial: On the surface.

superfluous: Extra or unnecessary.

surfeit: An excess.

surreptitious: Sneaky.

surrogate: A substitute.

sycophant: One who sucks up.

synthesis: Combining parts into a whole.

tacit: Implied; not spoken.

taciturn: Untalkative.

tangential: Superficially related.

tangible: Touchable.

tantamount: Equivalent to.

tautological: Redundant.

temerity: Boldness.

temperate: Mild or restrained.

tenable: Defensible.

tenacious: Persistent.

tenet: A shared belief.

tentative: Experimental or uncertain.

tenuous: Flimsy or thin.

terse: Using no unnecessary words.

theology: The study of religion.

tirade: A bitter speech.

torpor: Sluggishness.

touchstone: A standard of quality.

tout: To praise highly.

transcend: To go beyond.

transgress: To violate a law.

transient: Temporary.

trepidation: Fear.

turpitude: Shameful wickedness.

ubiquitous: Being everywhere.

unconscionable: Not controlled by conscience.

unctuous: Oily or insincere.

uniform: Consistent.

unremitting: Unceasing.

unwitting: Unintentional.

uwane: To decrease in strength.

urbane: Sophisticated.

usurp: To seize wrongfully.

utilitarian: Stressing usefulness.

utopia: An ideal society.

vacillate: To be indecisive.

vapid: Dull.

vehement: Intense.

venal: Corruptible.

venerate: To revere.

veracity: Truthfulness.

verbose: Wordy.

verisimilitude: Appearance of truth.

vernacular: Everyday speech.

vestige: A last trace.

vex: To annoy.

viable: Workable.

vicarious: Experienced through another.

vicissitude: A change in fortune.

vilify: To defame.

vindicate: To clear of blame.

vindictive: Seeking revenge.

virtuoso: A masterful practitioner.

virulent: Poisonous or full of hate.

visionary: A dreamer.

vitiate: To pollute.

vitriolic: Full of bitterness.

vocation: A job.

vociferous: Loud.

volatile: Unstable.

volition: Will.

wanton: Unjustifiable.

willful: Deliberate or obstinate.

wistful: Sadly longing.

zealous: Enthusiastically devoted.

zeitgeist: The mood or spirit of the times.

zenith: The highest point or peak.