Abstract- theoretical; not concrete

Abstruse- hard to understand

Acclaim- praise; applaud

Accolade- an award, or praise

Acquiescent- reluctantly agreeable; compliant

Acrimony- words or behavior filled with harshness or anger

Adamant- refusing to change; stubborn, unyielding

Advocate- support; plead for; speak on behalf

Affable- friendly; easygoing

Affirmation- positive statement; assertion; agreement

Alienate- to push someone away, or cause him to separate from people

Aloof- detached; apart; indifferent

Altruistic- unselfish; caring

Ambidextrous- able to use both hands with equal skill

Ambiguous- unclear; vague; having several possible interpretations

Ambivalence- indecision; feeling of being pulled in two directions

Ameliorate- to make an unpleasant situation better; to improve

Amity- friendship

Amorphous- without form or shape

Analogous- similar

Anarchy- a lack of order; chaos

Anathema- a religious curse, or the thing or person being cursed

Antagonistic- in hostile competition; opposing

Antiquated- too old to be useful; outdated; obsolete

Antithesis- opposite

Apathy- lack of interest or concern

Apex- top; highest point; summit

Appease- calm; pacify

Arbitrary- selected by random choice and without solid reason

Arcane- secret; mysterious

Archaic- old; antiquated

Arrogant- acting superior, obnoxious, smug, or rude

Articulate- able to speak clearly

Ascendance- domination; controlling power

Ascetic- person who rejects physical comfort and luxury for self-discipline

Asperity- roughness; harshness; irritability

Assail- attack with words or force

Assiduous- persistent; hard-working; diligent; attentive to detail

Assuage- relieve; ease; pacify

Astute- wise; insightfully clever; shrewd

Atrophy- waste away; wither

Augment- make larger; increase

Auspicious- taking place under promising conditions; likely to succeed

Austere- stern; plain; without luxuries

Averse- feeling repelled; wanting to avoid

Avarice- greed

Baleful- harmful; menacing

Banal- boring; trite; insipid

Belie- to give an impression that is the opposite of the way things really are; to misrepresent

Belligerent- having a strong tendency to argue and fight

Benediction- good wishes; a blessing

Benevolent- kindhearted; good natured; generous

Benign- gentle; kind-hearted; mild

Bequeath- to leave behind or hand down through will; transmit

Blight- decay; disease; widespread death

Bolster- to support; to reinforce

Bombast- speech or writing intended to impress the audience; pompous

Brevity- briefness; conciseness

Bumptious- pushy; obnoxiously self-assertive

Cacophony- harshness of sound; opposite of harmony

Cajole- to fool with flattery or false promises; coax; deceive

Candor- honesty; frankness

Capacious- large; roomy; spacious

Capitulate- surrender; yield

Capricious- unpredictable

Castigate- scold; punish

Caustic- burning; either with chemicals or sarcasm

Celerity- speed

Censure- to criticize

Chasten- scold; punish; castigate

Choler- anger

Circumscribe- draw a line around; define limits; confine; restrict

Circumspect- cautious

Clemency- mercy

Coalesce- write; grow together

Coerce- to force someone by threatening or physically overpowering him

Cloister- secluded or isolated from the outside world; also a place of seclusion

Complacent- self-satisfied; unconcerned

Compliant- following someone else’s demands; conforming; obeying

Composure- calmness, equanimity