Comprehensive Vocabulary Master List

Vocabulary Terms: B

Babble (Verb): To talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way.
Balk (Verb): To hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
Bandy (Verb): To pass something back and forth; to exchange or discuss casually.
Bate (Verb): To reduce the force or intensity of; to restrain (as in "bated breath" - holding one's breath).
Beeline (Verb/Noun): To go directly and quickly toward something.
Belabor (Verb): To argue or elaborate in excessive detail; to attack persistently.
Bellicose (Adjective): Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight; warlike.
Bemuse (Verb): To puzzle, confuse, or bewilder someone.
Beset (Verb): To trouble or threaten persistently; to surround or attack from all sides.
Besmirch (Verb): To damage the reputation of someone or something; to soil or tarnish.
Betoken (Verb): To be a sign of; to indicate or signify.
Betrothed (Adjective/Noun): Engaged to be married.
Bevy (Noun): A large group of people or things of a particular kind.
Bigotry (Noun): Intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.
Bilious (Adjective): Affected by or associated with nausea or vomiting; bad-tempered.
Bilk (Verb): To cheat or defraud someone.
Billowing (Adjective/Verb): Filled with air and swelling outward; moving in large rolling masses.
Bivouac (Noun/Verb): A temporary camp without tents or cover, used especially by soldiers or mountaineers.
Blandishment (Noun): A flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something.
Blare (Verb/Noun): To make a loud, harsh sound.
Blatant (Adjective): Completely obvious, especially in an offensive way; flagrant.
Blighted (Adjective): Spoiled, harmed, or destroyed; affected by blight.
Blithe (Adjective): Showing a casual and cheerful indifference; carefree or heedless.
Bludgeon (Verb/Noun): To beat someone repeatedly with a heavy object; to bully into doing something.
Bluff (Adjective): Direct in speech or manner, often to the point of being blunt; good-natured and hearty.
Blunder (Noun/Verb): A stupid or careless mistake.
Blurt (Verb): To say something suddenly and without careful consideration.
Bluster (Verb/Noun): Talk in a loud, aggressive, or indignant way with little effect.
Bode (Verb): To be an omen of a particular outcome.
Bolt (Verb): To move or run away suddenly.
Boorish (Adjective): Rough and bad-mannered; coarse.
Bovine (Adjective): Relating to cattle; sluggish or dull.
Bowdlerize (Verb): To remove material considered improper or offensive, resulting in a weakened version.
Braggart (Noun): A person who boasts about achievements or possessions.
Brandish (Verb): To wave or flourish something, especially a weapon, as a threat or in anger.
Bravado (Noun): A bold manner intended to show courage, especially when the person is afraid.
Brawn (Noun): Physical strength in contrast to intelligence; muscular power.
Brindled (Adjective): Having a brownish or tawny color with streaks of other colors.
Bristling (Verb/Adjective): Reacting with anger or indignation; showing irritation.
Broach (Verb): To raise a sensitive or difficult subject for discussion.
Brooch (Noun): An ornamental jewelry item designed to be attached to garments.
Browbeat (Verb): To intimidate someone, typically into doing something, with stern or abusive words.
Brunt (Noun): The worst part or chief impact of a specified thing.
Buccaneer (Noun): A pirate, originally one operating in the Caribbean.
Buffet (Verb): To strike repeatedly and violently; to batter.
Buffoonery (Noun): Behavior that is ridiculous but amusing; foolish or playful behavior.
Bumptious (Adjective): Self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree.
Bungle (Verb): To carry out a task clumsily or incompetently; to mishandle.
Burlesque (Verb/Noun): To parody or caricature; a comic or exaggerated imitation.
Burly (Adjective): Large and strong; heavily built.
Burnish (Verb): To polish something by rubbing; to enhance or perfect.
Bustle (Verb/Noun): To move in an energetic or noisy manner; excited activity and movement.
Buttress (Verb/Noun): To provide support or reinforcement; to strengthen.
Buxom (Adjective): Having a full figure, especially a woman with a large bosom.

Vocabulary Terms: C

Cabal (Noun): A secret political clique or faction.
Cache (Noun): A collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden place (pronounced "cash").
Cachet (Noun): The state of being respected or admired; prestige.
Cajole (Verb): To persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.
Callous (Adjective): Showing cruel disregard for others; emotionally hardened.
Callow (Adjective): Inexperienced and immature.
Calorific (Adjective): Relating to the amount of energy contained in food or fuel.
Calumny (Noun): The making of false and defamatory statements about someone; slander.
Cameo (Noun): A small character part in a play or movie; a piece of jewelry with a carved raised design.
Canny (Adjective): Having good judgment, especially in money or business matters; shrewd.
Uncanny (Adjective): Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way; remarkable or extraordinary.
Cant (Noun/Verb): Hypocritical and sanctimonious talk; to tilt or slope.
Cantankerous (Adjective): Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
Canvass (Verb): To solicit votes, opinions, or support from people.
Carat (Noun): A unit of weight for precious stones and pearls; a measure of the purity of gold.
Careen (Verb): To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction.
Carnal (Adjective): Relating to physical, especially sexual, needs and activities.
Carp (Verb): To complain or find fault continually, typically about trivial matters.
Cascade (Noun/Verb): A waterfall; to pour downward rapidly and in large quantities.
Castigate (Verb): To reprimand someone severely.
Cataclysm (Noun): A large-scale and violent event in the natural world; a sudden violent upheaval.
Cataract (Noun): A large waterfall; a clouding of the lens of the eye.
Catcall (Noun/Verb): A loud whistle or a comment of a sexual nature made by a man to a passing woman.
Catechism (Noun): A summary of religious doctrine often in the form of questions and answers.
Categorically (Adverb): In a way that is unambiguously explicit and direct.
Catholic (Adjective): Including a wide variety of things; all-embracing; universal in extent.
Caucus (Noun/Verb): A meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement.
Caulk (Verb): To seal joints or seams against leaking with a waterproof filler.
Cavalcade (Noun): A formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles.
Cavil (Verb): To make petty or unnecessary objections.
Celerity (Noun): Swiftness of movement; speed.
Celibate (Adjective/Noun): Abstaining from marriage and sexual relations.
Censure (Verb/Noun): To express severe disapproval of someone or something, especially in a formal statement.
Cerebration (Noun): The working of the brain; thinking.
Cessation (Noun): The fact or process of ending or being brought to an end.
Cede (Verb): To give up power or territory.
Chafe (Verb): To make or become sore by rubbing against something.
Chaff (Noun): Worthless material; the husks of grain separated during threshing.
Chaffing (Noun/Verb): Light-hearted teasing or banter.
Chagrin (Noun): Distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated.
Chalice (Noun): A large cup or goblet, typically used for drinking wine.
Chary (Adjective): Cautiously or warily reluctant to do something.
Chasten (Verb): To have a restraining or moderating effect on; to discipline.
Chastise (Verb): To rebuke or reprimand severely.
Chicanery (Noun): The use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose.
Chide (Verb): To scold or rebuke.
Chisel (Verb/Noun): To cut or shape with a chisel; to cheat or swindle.
Choleric (Adjective): Bad-tempered or irritable.
Chortle (Verb/Noun): To chuckle gleefully.
Churlish (Adjective): Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
Cipher (Noun): A person or thing of no importance; a zero.
Circumspect (Adjective): Wary and unwilling to take risks; careful to consider all circumstances.
Circumvent (Verb): To find a way around an obstacle; to overcome a problem in a clever way.
Clamber (Verb): To climb or move in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet.
Clamor (Noun/Verb): A loud and confused noise, especially that of people shouting vehemently.
Clapper (Noun): The tongue or striker of a bell.
Clasp (Verb/Noun): To grasp tightly with one's hand; a device for fastening.
Cleave (Verb): To split or sever; also, to adhere strongly to.
Clench (Verb): To close or squeeze together tightly, especially teeth or fists.
Clientele (Noun): Clients or customers collectively.
Clime (Noun): A region considered with reference to its climate.
Cloister (Noun): A covered walk in a convent, monastery, or cathedral; a secluded place.
Cloying (Adjective): Excessively sweet, rich, or sentimental.
Clump (Noun/Verb): A compacted mass or lump; a cluster.
Coagulate (Verb): To change from a fluid into a thickened mass; to clot.
Coalesce (Verb): To come together and form one mass or whole.
Coddle (Verb): To treat in an indulgent or overprotective way.
Codicil (Noun): An addition or supplement that explains or modifies a will.
Cogent (Adjective): Clear, logical, and convincing.
Cogitate (Verb): To think deeply about something; to meditate or ponder.
Cognizance (Noun): Knowledge or awareness of something.
Coiffure (Noun): A person's hairstyle.
Collate (Verb): To collect and combine texts or information in proper order.
Coma (Noun): A state of deep unconsciousness.
Comely (Adjective): Pleasant to look at; attractive.
Comeuppance (Noun): A punishment or fate that someone deserves.
Commandeer (Verb): To officially take possession or control of something.
Commensurate (Adjective): Corresponding in size or degree; in proportion.
Commiserate (Verb): To express or feel sympathy or pity.
Commodious (Adjective): Roomy and comfortable.
Compact (Noun): A formal agreement or contract between two or more parties.
Compensatory (Adjective): Providing compensation; making up for something.
Complaisant (Adjective): Willing to please others; obliging; agreeable.
Comprise (Verb): To consist of; to be made up of.
Compunction (Noun): A feeling of guilt or moral scruple.
Concede (Verb): To admit that something is true after first denying it; to surrender or yield.
Conceit (Noun): Excessive pride in oneself.
Conception (Noun): The forming or devising of a plan or idea; the beginning.
Concession (Noun): A thing that is granted, especially in response to demands; a reduction in price.
Contrive (Verb): To create or bring about by deliberate use of skill and artifice.
Controvert (Verb): To deny the truth of something; to argue about.
Contusion (Noun): A bruise; an injury in which the skin is not broken.
Convene (Verb): To come or bring together for a meeting or activity.
Conversant (Adjective): Familiar with or knowledgeable about something.
Converse (Noun/Verb): The opposite or reverse; to engage in conversation.
Conveyance (Noun): The action of transporting; a means of transport.
Convoke (Verb): To call together for a formal meeting.
Coquette (Noun): A woman who flirts lightheartedly with men.
Cordon (Noun/Verb): A line or circle of police or soldiers preventing access to an area.
Cornucopia (Noun): An abundant supply of good things; a symbol of plenty.
Corollary (Noun): A proposition that follows from one already proved; a natural consequence.
Corpulent (Ad