Quizwiz - Ace Your Homework & Exams, Now With ChatGPT AI (2024)

Transitory

(adj.) lasting a very short timeIf we lived forever and life was not __________, do you think we would appreciate life less or more?

Reverent

(adj.) Feeling or expressing very deep respect and aweAnd while typically you speak in a ________ voice in respect for the dead, tonight, feel free to speak up and ask questions.

Orotund

(adj.) Full, rich, and clear (of the voice or speaking); pompous, bombastic (in speech or writing)

Quiescent

(adj.) quiet; still; inactive

Sacrosanct

(adj.) Holy, something that should not be criticized

Desideratum

(n.) something desired as a necessityThe ___________ of the environmental group is that motorists should rely on carpooling.

Impending

(adj.) close in time; about to occurThe _________ doom of our world has been a discussed and debated for 2000 years—maybe even longer.

Scabrous

(adj.) Indecent, Shocking, Scandals

Didactic

(adj.) Intended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson (especially excessively)Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illyich is a ________ novel, instructing the reader on how to live a good life.

Encomiastic

(Adj) formally expressing praise, =eulogistic, panegyric

Pastiche

(N.) Pieces of literature or music imitating other works. Note: Certain medlies can be _______s of old songs.

Insolent

(adj.) showing a rude and arrogant lack of respectLilian could not help herself from being ________, commenting that the Queen's shoes were showing too much toe.

Flippant

(adj.) showing inappropriate levityAlthough Sam was trying to honor Mark's sense of humor, many found it quite ________ that he wore a comic nose and glasses mask to Mark's funeral.

Itinerant

(n. / adj.) traveling from place to place. =peripateticDoctors used to be _________, traveling between patients' homes.

Sleuth

(n.) a detective

Crony

(n.) a very close confidant

Stricture

(n.) negative criticism; something that conSTRICTs

Maunder

(v.) wander aimlesslyMax liked to _______ down by the seaside and pick up whatever sea shells he would stumble upon.(v.) speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantlyAfter drinking two espressos each, the animated couple would _______ loudly, annoying the other patrons in the coffee shop.

Bolster

(v.): support and strengthenThe case for the suspect's innocence was __________ considerably by the fact that neither fingerprints nor DNA were found at the scene.

Bastardize

Corruption

Patrician

a person of noble birth; an aristocrat

Torrid

(adj) very hot, parching, burning; Forecasters say high pressure causing the heat wave is nearly stationary, so ______ conditions will continue into next week.(adj.) passionateHe is still recuperating from his breakup after a ______ love affair.

Racy

(adj). Marked by richness and fullness of flavorAll you need to know is that this is a delicious, ____ and fruity wine.(adj.) suggestive of sexual improprietyAmid a ____ conversation with the woman, Weiner sent a photo of his crotch as he lay next to the couple's 4-year-old son.

Stalwart

(adj. / n.) loyal, reliable, and hardworking, or such a humanDespite all the criticism directed at the President during this scandal, Lisa has remained his ________ supporter.

Spurious

(adj.) (Plausible, but)not genuine, not true, not valid. =specious.When listening to a politician speak, it is hard to distinguish the ________ claims from the authentic onesHank, dressed up as a cowboy for Halloween, brandished a set of silver SPURs that were clearly ________.

Unruly

(adj.) (of persons) noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline; unwilling to submit to authorityWalk in to any preschool and I am sure that you will find a(n) ______ and chaotic scene—unless it's nap time.

Ignominious

(adj.) (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shameSince the politician preached ethics and morality, his texting of revealing photographs was ___________, bringing shame on both himself and his party.

Dysphoric

(adj.) An unpleasant mood, such as sadness, anxiety, or irritability.

Ersatz

(adj.) Artificial, synthetic; being an inferior substitute. The root derives from the German ersatzbrot.The car dealer's ______ laughter was immediately followed by a price quote, one that Shelley found highly inflated.

Complicit

(adj.) Associated with or participating in an activity, especially one of a questionable nature.While the grand jury cleared the senator of all criminal charges, in the public mind he was still _________ in the corruption.

Meretricious

(adj.) Attractive in a vulgar or flashy way, tawdry; deceptive. 見せかけだけの豪華さ

Decorous

(adj.) Behaving with propriety and good taste; politeSally's parties are ________ affairs, and instead of the usual beer and music, there is tea and intellectualconversation.

Treacherous

(adj.) Betraying trust, not faithful or trustworthyEven though Jesse James was an outlaw, his killer, Robert Ford, is remembered more for his ___________actions than for eliminating a criminal and murder.(adj.) not dependable; dangerous or deceptiveThe bridge built from twine and vine is __________ to walk across, and so I think I will stay put righthere.

Plucky

(adj.) Brave spiritedSome scouts initially doubted Pedroia because of his short stature, but he is a ______ player, surprising everyone with his boundless energy and fierce determination.

Winsome

(adj.) Charming, engaging, esp. in a sweet and innocent way. THINK: People of this nature WINS peoples' hearts.She was _______ by nature, and many people were drawn to this free and playful spirit.

Querulous

(adj.) Complaining in a petulant or whining manner. Constantly complaining. Origin: Latin "queror" = "to complain" Related: Quarrel, QuarrelsomeA _________ quartet of conservatives took to the Senate floor Wednesday to condemn President Obama for his latest atrocity against the American way of life.

Prosaic

(adj.) Dull, ordinary. =Pedestrian, quotidianUnlike the talented artists in his workshop, Paul had no such bent for the visual medium, so when it was time for him to make a stained glass painting, he ended up with a ______ mosaic.

Tractable

(adj.) Easily controlled or managed, docile; easily shaped or moldedCompared to middle school students, who have an untamed wildness about them, high school students are somewhat more ________.

Amenable

(adj.) Easily persuadedEven though she did not like the outdoors, Shirley was generally ________ and so her brother was ableto persuade her to go camping.

Conspicuous

(adj.) Easily seen or noticedIn a county that is more than 85 percent white, the Hmong minority are ___________.

Rudimentary

(adj.) Elementary, relating to the basic; undeveloped, primitiveI would love to be able to present a fully polished proposal to the board, but right now, our plans for the product are still in the most ___________ stages.

Garrulous

(adj.) Excessively talkative. Origin: Latin "garrire" - "chattering or prattling" USAGE ALERT: don't confuse with gregariousJohn had to pretend he was asleep the whole flight from Amsterdam to Seoul because the _________ woman next to her wouldn't shut up about how she was excited for her gastronomic adventures in Korea.

Prodigious

(adj.) Extraordinarily large, impressive, etc. 並外れた、桁違いのRelativity is only one part of Einstein's __________ legacy.

Intrepid

(adj.) Fearless, especially in dealing with something new or unknownHad it not been for the ________ pioneers of Louis and Clark, incorporation of California may have had been delayed for nearly half a century.

Magnanimous

(adj.) Generous. Origin: Latin "magnus" + "animus" = "great" + "soul"He was a great sportsman: in defeat he was complementary and in victory he was ___________.

Resurgent

(adj.) Having a revival, renewing, rising or surging again; reinvigorated. =recrudescentAfter a period of very conservative political control, _________ liberal beliefs could lead to a progressive president being elected.

Inimical

(adj.) Hostile, unfriendly. ORIGIN Latin: "inimicus" - "enemy". USAGE ALERT: Do not confuse with "inimitable"The strategy was condemned as crude, cynical and ________ to the rule of law.

Restive

(adj.) Impatient or uneasy under the control of another; resisting being controlledOn Saturday, the United Nations mission in Kinshasa released a statement expressing concern over reports of renewed fighting in the _______ region.

Arcane

(adj.) Known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret; esoteric. Origin Latin: "arcānus" - "secret, closed"The Monster Hunter series is famously beginner-unfriendly, with _____ menus that are only slightly more forgiving than the complex controls and deliberate, weighty combat system.

Wanting

(adj.) LackingShe did not think her vocabulary was _______, yet there were so many words that inevitably she found afew she didn't know

Trite

(adj.) Lacking freshness and originality, lacking effectiveness due to overuse, cliche. 使い古されたThe Biblical tale of Cain and Abel is a universally accepted and somewhat _____ shorthand for describing sibling rivalry.

Ephemeral

(adj.) Lasting only a short time, fleeting. ORIGIN Greek: was originally a medical term with the specific meaning "lasting only one day," as a fever or sickness. ("Hemera" means "day" in Greek)Lessons learnt from the financial crisis will be _________ unless they are incorporated into changed institutional frameworks. As memories fade, the vulnerabilities of financial sectors, capital flows and exchange rates are forgotten. At least until the next crisis.

Demure

(adj.) Modest and reserved in manner or behavior. Far from ______, gentle spirits, the twins often wrestle in the yard, after digging for worms, of course.

Implacable

(adj.) Not able to be appeased, calmed, or satisfied; lit. incapable of being placated

Meek

(adj.) Not courageous or strong; Humble

Ignoble

(adj.) Not noble; having mean, base, low motives; low qualityWhile schadenfreude may be one of the more _______ emotions, there is no denying its delights.

Opaque

(adj.) Not translucent; not allowing light, heat, etc. to pass through; dark, dull, unclear or stupidThe meaning of the professor's new research was ______ to most people, so no one asked any questions.

Sporadic

(adj.) Occasional, happening irregularly or in scattered locations

Sanguine

(adj.) OptimisticWith the prospect of having to learn 3,000 words during the course of the summer, Paul was anything but ________.

Incongruous

(adj.) Out of place, inappropriate, not harmonious

Obsequious

(adj.) Overly submissive and eager to please. People of this characteristic are bootlickers, teachers' petsIn some eyes, Japanese diplomacy is overtly __________ and kow-towing, giving it the name dogeza gaikou.

Fleeting

(adj.) Passing quickly, transitory

Puckish

(adj.) Playful in a mischievous way. Ex.: Your ________ friend might play practical jokes on you, but they're more silly than mean spirited.

Ostentatious

(adj.) Pretentious, boastful showinessMatt wanted to buy stone lions for front of the house, but Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ___________ for a modest house in an unassuming neighborhood.

Contentious

(adj.) Quarrelsome, stirring controversy. Note: Abortion, the Death Penalty, Gun Control, and Gay Marriage are all issues of this character.Since old grandpa Harry became very ___________ during the summer when only reruns were on T.V., the grandkids learned to hide from him at every opportunity.

Rustic

(adj.) Relating to country life, unsophisticated; primitive, made of rough wood (adj); rural or uncultured person (noun)

Impertinent

(adj.) Rude and disrespectful. If someone's rude without being openly nasty, like a kid in the back row of class quietly heckling his teacher, you can call him ___________.

Discrete

(adj.) Separate, distinct, detached, existing as individual parts. USAGE ALERT: don't confuse with "discreet"The African continent has nine ________ rainy seasons, which rarely all fail in the same year.

Obstinate

(adj.) Stubborn USAGE ALERT: Don't confuse with abstinent.The coach suggested improvements Sarah might make on the balance beam, but she remained _________, unwilling to modify any of the habits that made her successful in the past.

Refractory

(adj.) Stubbornly disobedient, hard to manageUsed to studious high school students, Martha was unprepared for the __________ Kindergartners who neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said.

Commensurate

(adj.) The same in size, extent, etc. equivalent; proportional. =coterminous. ~とほぼ同程度のHis personal book collection is so large that it is ____________ with that of a small town library.

Intrusive

(adj.) Thrusting inward"-an intrusive arm of the sea"

Tortuous

(adj.) Twisting, winding, complex; devious, not straightforwardBecause the logic behind McMahon's side of the debate was so ________, his audience came out eithercompletely confused or, worse, feeling they'd been tricked.

Unequivocal

(adj.) Unambiguous, clear, absolute; having only one possible meaningThe newly elected congressman from Montana issued a public and __________ apology Wednesday to the reporter whom he body-slammed on election eve.

Ambivalent

(adj.) Uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at onceSam was ___________ about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he wasable to improve his analytical skills.

Prolific

(adj.) abundantly productive; abundant, profuseSchubert was the most ________ composer, producing hundreds of hours of music before he died at the age of 31.

Derisive

(adj.) abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridiculeI was surprised by her _______ tone; usually, she is sweet, soft spoken, and congenial.

Desultory

(adj.) aimless; haphazard; digressing at random

Unflappable

(adj.) always knows what to do in any situation; cannot be made nervous or anxiousThe house shook and the ground quaked, but my dad was ___________ and comforted the family.

Hoary

(adj.) ancientMost workout gurus are young, fit people, whereas most yoga gurus are _____ men with long white beards.

Overweening

(adj.) arrogant; presumptuousMark was so convinced of his basketball skills that in his ___________ pride he could not fathom that his name was not on the varsity list; he walked up to the basketball coach and told her she had forgotten to add his name.

Evasive

(adj.) avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger or commitmentHis responses were clearly _______; he obviously did not want to take on any responsibility or any new work.(adj.) deliberately vague or ambiguousEvery time I call the bank, I receive the same _______ answers about our mortgage and never get a clear response.

Sclerotic

(adj.) becoming rigid and unresponsive; losing the ability to adapt

Chivalrous

(adj.) being attentive to women like an ideal knightMarco's __________ ways, like opening doors and pulling out chairs, was much appreciated by his date.

Discreet

(adj.) careful to protect one's speech or actions in order to avoid offense or gain an advantageThe professor thought that he was ________, subtly wiping the stain off of his shirt, but as soon as he stepped off the podium a member of the audience pointed out the large ketchup stain.

Slapdash

(adj.) carelessly and hastily put togetherThe office building had been constructed in a _______ manner, so it did not surprise officials when, during a small earthquake, a large crack emerged on the façade of the building.

Nettlesome

(adj.) causing irritation or annoyanceMaria found her coworkers cell phone __________, because every few minutes it would buzz to life with another text message.

Stultifying

(adj.) causing to lose enthusiasm and initiative, Boring, but in an extremely bad way

Chary

(adj.) cautious, suspiciously reluctant to do somethingHaving received three speeding tickets in the last two months, Jack was _____ of driving at all above the speed limit, even on a straight stretch of highway that looked empty for miles ahead.

Provincial

(adj.) characteristic of a limited perspective; not fashionable or sophisticated. =parochial Individuals or groups of people who are considered narrow-minded are often labeled __________, even if they're from the city.

Belligerent

(adj.) characteristic of one eager to fightTom said that he was arguing the matter purely for philosophical reasons, but his ___________ toneindicated an underlying anger about the issue.

Bucolic

(adj.) characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral

Diligent

(adj.) characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasksMichael was a ________ gardener, never leaving a leaf on the ground and regularly watering each plant.

Scrupulous

(adj.) characterized by extreme care and great effort; having a sense of right and wrong; principledWhen we hold our iPhone aloft to take a selfie - always from above, never from below - we are not so __________.

Industrious

(adj.) characterized by hard work and perseverancePete was an ___________ student, completing every assignment thoroughly and on time.

Jocular

(adj.) characterized by jokes and good humorMy uncle was always in a _______ mood at family gatherings, messing up people's hair and telling knock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen.

Ethereal

(adj.) characterized by lightness and insubstantialityBecause she dances with an ________ style, ballet critics have called her Madame Butterfly.Each makes it possible for a performer to be ________; each gives the illusion of floating.

Precocious

(adj.) characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)Though only seven years old, she was a __________ chess prodigy, able to beat players twice her age.

Impetuous

(adj.) characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberationHerbert is rarely _________, but on the spur of the moment, he spent thousands of dollars on a motorcycle today.

Gossamer

(adj.) characterized by unusual lightness and delicacyThe _________ wings of a butterfly, which allow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are often damaged.

Puerile

(adj.) childish, immature, or sillyHelen enjoyed blowing soap bubbles, but Jim regarded this as _______, totally unworthy of a woman with a Ph.D.

Limpid

(adj.) clarity in terms of expressionHer ______ prose made even the most recondite subjects accessible to all.

Maladroit

(adj.) clumsy; not skillful; awkwardAs a child she was quite _________, but as an adult, she has become an adept dancer.

Nonchalant

(adj.) coming across as cooly uninterestedThe twenty-somethings at the coffee shop always irked Sheldon, especially the way in which they acted ____________ towards everything, not even caring when Sheldon once spilled his mocha on them.

Analogous

(adj.) comparable, similar

Arrant

(adj.) complete and wholly (usually modifying a noun with negative connotation)A(n) ______ fool, Lawrence surprised nobody when he lost all his money in a pyramid scheme that was every bit as transparent as it was corrupt.

Consummate

(adj.) complete or perfect in the highest degree;Tyler was the __________ musician: he was able to play the guitar, harmonica, and the drum at the same time.(v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfectionThe restoration of the ancient church was only ___________ after twenty years of labor.

Replete

(adj.) completely stocked or furnished with somethingOnly weeks after the hurricane made landfall, the local supermarket shelves were _______ with goods, so quick was the disaster relief response.

Ambient

(adj.) completely surrounding, encompassing. Describes a pervasive quality of the surrounding environment. 必ずしも静けさとは関係ない。Even as a kid, Miller liked to fulminate against immigration and decry the _______ leftism of coastal California.

Involved

(adj.) complicated, and difficult to comprehendThe physics lecture became so ________ that the undergraduate's eyes glazed over.

Superficial

(adj.) concerned only with what is on the surface or obvious; shallow

Pithy

(adj.) concise and full of meaningI enjoy reading the Daodejing for its _____ and insightful prose; it always gives me something to think about.

Complacent

(adj.) contented to a fault with oneself or one's actionsAfter the water polo team won their sixth championship, they became __________ and didn't even make it to the playoffs the next year.He had become complacent after years of success.

Illicit

(adj.) contrary to or forbidden by lawThough Al Capone was engaged in many ________ activities, he was finally arrested for income tax evasion, a relatively minor offense.

Untoward

(adj.) contrary to your interests or welfare.= inconvenient, adverse. Think: what you do when you move TOWARD something: you get closer to it. Suppose you're moving toward a goal. But when you add the prefix un- you reverse that, and you're no longer on the path to that goal — you're ________.Some professors find teaching ________ as having to prepare for lectures and conduct office hours prevents them from focusing on their research.(adj.) not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society. =improperMcMaster, who told reporters in a news conference Tuesday that Trump didn't do anything ________.

Craven

(adj.) cowardlyThough the man could have at least alerted the police, he crouched ______ly in the corner as the old woman was mugged.(n.) a coward

Unprepossessing

(adj.) creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression. This is a rather indirect way of calling someone unattractive, or at best OK-looking.World leaders coming to meet Gandhi would expect a towering sage, and often would be surprised by the _______________ little man dressed only in a loincloth and shawl.

Specious

(adj.) deceptively attractive. 見かけ倒しのAlmost every image on TV is ________ and not to be trusted.(adj.) seemingly plausible but fallacious. もっともらしい。=spurious.He made a career out of ________ arguments and fictional lab results, but lost his job and reputation when his lies were exposed by an article in The New York Times.

Poignant

(adj.) deeply affecting, touchingAfter the Montagues and Capulets discover the dead bodies of Romeo and Juliet, in the play's most________ moment, the two grief stricken families agree to end their feud once and for all.(adj.) keen or sharp in taste or smell

Inimitable

(adj.) defying imitation; matchlessMozart's music follows a clear pattern that, anyone could imitate, but his music gives an overall sense of effortlessness that is __________.

Iconoclastic

(adj.) defying tradition or convention

Arduous

(adj.) demanding considerable mental effort and skill; testing powers of enduranceIn order to deal with the _______ cross-country journey, truck drivers often survive on a string of caffeinated drinks, staying awake for up to 30 hours at a time.

Stringent

(adj.) demanding strict attention to rules and proceduresMost of the students disliked the teacher because of his _________ homework policy, but many students would later thank him for demanding so much from them.

Bellicose

(adj.) demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.Known for their _________ ways, the Spartans were once the most feared people from Peloponnese to Persia.

Shrewd

(adj.) describes a person or thing that is smart or clever in a practical way. =astute, sharp, canny.

Scintillating

(adj.) describes someone who is brilliant and livelyRichard Feynman was renowned for his ______________ lectures—the arcana of quantum physics was made lucid as he wrote animatedly on the chalkboard.

Convivial

(adj.) describing a lively atmosphereThe wedding reception was _________; friends who hadn't seen each other for ages drank and ate together before heading to the dance floor.

Implausible

(adj.) describing a statement that is not believableThe teacher found it ___________ that the student was late to school because he had been kidnapped by outlaws on horseback.

Pyrrhic

(adj.) describing a victory that comes at such a great cost that the victory is not worthwhileGeorge W. Bush's win in the 2000 election was in many ways a _______ victory: the circumstances of his win alienated half of the U.S. population, making it difficult for him to implement his planned policies.

Concomitant

(adj.) describing an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another. =simultaneous__________ with his desire for nature was a desire for the culture and energy of a big city.

Whimsical

(adj.) determined by impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reasonAdults look to kids and envy their _________ nature at times, wishing that they could act without reason and play without limitation.

Derivative

(adj.) developed or obtained from another source; something that borrows heavily from smth. that came before it.

Aberrant

(adj.) deviating from what is normal or expectedWhen the financial director started screaming and throwing food at his co-workers, the police had tocome in to deal with his ________ behavior.

vacuous

(adj.) devoid of intelligence, matter, or significanceTo the journalist's pointed question, the senator gave a vacuous response, mixing a few of his overall campaign slogans with platitudes and completely avoiding the controversial subject of the question.

Cumbersome

(adj.) difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weightOnly ten years ago, being an avid reader and a traveler meant carrying a(n) __________ backpack stuffed with books--these days we need only an e-reader.

Cumbrous

(adj.) difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight. =cumbersome, ponderous.

Abstruse

(adj.) difficult to understand; incomprehensiblePhysics textbooks can seem so ________ to the uninitiated that readers feel as though they are looking athieroglyphics

Disaffected

(adj.) discontented as toward authorityEach one is specific, but there is a striking common thread that runs through the mass murders perpetrated by ____________, nihilistic and suicidal youths.

Crestfallen

(adj.) discouraged, dejected, downcast, down in the dumpsI asked Maria on a date and she refused without a moment's thought; I was ____________.

Sardonic

(adj.) disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mockingA stand-up comedian walks a fine line when making jokes about members of the audience; such fun and joking can quickly become ________ and cutting.

Unscrupulous

(adj.) dishonest; not guided or controlled by moral principles. 道徳心に欠けているIn the courtroom, the lawyer was ____________, using every manner of deceit and manipulation to securea victory for himself.

Wayward

(adj.) disobedient, willful; unpredictable, capricious

Contumacious

(adj.) disobedient; resisting authorityThe ____________ mob shouted defiantly at the police.

Perfunctory

(adj.) done without care; in a routine fashion. Hasty and without detail to attention. =cursory.Note: The way people say "How are you?" "I'm fine" is ______.

Dishabille

(adj.) dressed in an unkempt or careless manner

Vapid

(adj.) dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force

Jejune

(adj.) dull; lacking flavorAlthough many top chefs have secured culinary foam's popularity in haute cuisine, Waters criticizes it for being ______ and unfilling.(adj.) immature; childishHer boss further cemented his reputation for being ______ after throwing a fit when the water cooler wasn't refilled.

Moribund

(adj.) dying, on the way outWhether you like it or not, jazz as a genre is ________ at best, possibly already dead.

Pugnacious

(adj.) eager to fight or argue; verbally combativeThe comedian told one flat joke after another, and when the audience started booing, he ____________ spat back at them, "Hey, you think this is easy - why don't you buffoons give it a shot?"

Facile

(adj.) easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely feltMany news shows provide ______ explanations to complex politics, so I prefer to read the in-depth reporting of The New York Times.

Venial

(adj.) easily excused or forgiven; pardonableHis traffic violations ran the gamut from the ______ to the egregious—on one occasion he simply did not come to a complete stop; another time he tried to escape across state lines at speeds in excess of 140 mph.

Docile

(adj.) easily handled or managed; willing to be taught or led or supervised or directedBarnyard animals are considerably more ______ than the wild animals.

Peevish

(adj.) easily irritated or annoyedOur office manager, Peeves, is _______, so the rest of us tip-toe around him, hoping not to set off another one of his fits.

Petulant

(adj.) easily irritated or annoyedWhen Ed first met Ruth, he didn't realize she was so ________, but now that they are three months into their relationship, Ed feels a day doesn't go by in which she isn't whining about some minor issue.

Ornate

(adj.) elaborately decorated; showily splendidThe ______ Victorian and Edwardian homes spread throughout San Francisco are my favorite part of the city.

Cadaverous

(adj.) emaciated; gauntSome actors take challenging roles in which they have to lose so much weight that they appear __________.

Nascent

(adj.) emerging; coming into existence. POSITIVE

Edifying

(adj.) enlightening or uplifting so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvementI recently read an article in the Times about whether good literature is ________ or not; specifically, does reading more make a person more moral.

Fallacious

(adj.) erroneous, mostly likely based on a mistaken belief. THINK: Use to describe an idea that is probably based on a fallacy.The widespread belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is __________, based on one falsereport.

Prudish

(adj.) exaggeratedly properWhile you're either expected to wear a suit or some other ethnic formal wear to a MUN conference, no one expects delegates to be so _______ as to show up in some exotic uniform just for the event.

Recondite

(adj.) exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding, 理解不能。 =Obscure.Photography's slow shift from _________ magic to quotidian banality changed painting for ever.

Superfluous

(adj.) exceeding what is sufficient or required, excessMy walker even sent short videos of the walk and marked wherever Max relieved himself — a __________ but strangely satisfying feature.

Hagiographic

(adj.) excessively flattering toward someone's life or workMost accounts of Tiger Woods life were ____________, until, that is, his affairs made headlines.

Presumptuous

(adj.) excessively forwardMany felt that Barney was ____________ in moving into the large office before the management even made any official announcement of his promotion.

Rapacious

(adj.) excessively greedy; taking by force

Mawkish

(adj.) excessively sentimental, to the extent that it is sickening. Origin: Middle English "Mawke" = "Maggot". Think: Really lame, mushy Valentine's Day Cards.The film was incredibly _______, introducing highly likeable characters only to have them succumb to a devastating illnesses by the end of the movie.

Maudlin

(adj.) excessively sentimental. Think: Mary Magdalene.Just as those who were alive during the 70's are mortified that they once cavorted about in bell-bottoms, many who lived during the 80's are now aghast at the _______ pop songs they used to enjoy—really, just what exactly is a total eclipse of the heart?

Dictatorial

(adj.) expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute rulerThe coach was ___________ in his approach: no players could ever argue or question his approach.

Vicarious

(adj.) experienced secondhandThe advent of twitter is a celebrity stalker's dream, as he or she can—through hundreds of intimate "tweets"—__________ live the life of a famous person.

Tentative

(adj.) experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitantRepublicans managed to fail twice in a single week on health care, marking another _________ win for activists fighting to keep Obamacare alive, until the Republicans double back on their efforts to defeat it.

Derogative

(adj.) expressed as worthless or in negative termsNever before have we seen a debate between two political candidates that was so _________ and filthy.

Approbatory

(adj.) expressing praise or approval, =favoritive, appluadingAlthough it might not be her best work, Hunter's new novel has received generally ___________ reviews.

Elegiac

(adj.) expressing sorrow. =dolorousFew can listen to the ______ opening bars of the Moonlight sonata without feeling the urge to cry.

Snide

(adj.) expressive of contempt; derogatory or mocking in an indirect way. Note: "I can't believe people get paid to write that screenplay" is a remark of this character.The chairman interpreted Taylor's question about promotions as a _____ remark, but in all innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the company's process.

Inflammable

(adj.) extremely controversial, incendiaryIt only takes one person to leave an ___________ comment on an Internet thread for that thread to blow up into pages upon pages of reader indignation.

Parsimonious

(adj.) extremely frugal; miserlyDespite the inflow of cash and capital assets, Lawrence kept a ____________ grip on his kingdom.

Munificent

(adj.) extremely generous, lavish. Origin: Latin "munus" - "gift, service" → "unificus" - "generous, bountiful"Ex.: The _________billionaire was willing to fund space trips for his employees, asking, "Would you be willing to go to the MOON IF I SENT you?"

Pernicious

(adj.) extremely harmful; deadly, fatal. Origin: Latin "pernicies" - "death, or ruin"Ex.: The myth that video games are a __________ influence on children has been thoroughly debunked.

Pollyannaish

(adj.) extremely optimisticEven in the midst of a lousy sales quarter, Debbie remained ____________, never losing her shrill voice and wide smile, even when prospective customers hung up on her.

Excruciating

(adj.) extremely painfulAfter the boulder rolled a couple of feet, pinning my friend's arm, he experienced ___________ pain.

Virulent

(adj.) extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful

Equitable

(adj.) fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscienceThe ________ distribution of ice cream to a group of 5 year olds will ensure little to no fighting—at least until the ice cream is gone.

Eminent

(adj.) famous, outstanding, distinguished; projecting. Usage Alert: Don't confuse with ImminentShakespeare is an _______ author in the English language, but I find his writing uninteresting andmelodramatic.

Persnickety

(adj.) fastidious; fussy

Propitious

(adj.) favorable, auspicious. 好機のA(n) __________ time for taking a big test is when you've studied hard and had a good night's sleep.

Indignant

(adj.) feeling anger over a perceived injusticeWhen the cyclist swerved into traffic, it forced the driver to brake and elicited an _________ shout of "Hey, punk, watch where you're going!"

Truculent

(adj.) fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harshStanding in line for six hours, she became progressively _________, yelling at DMV employees and elbowing other people waiting in line.

Glib

(adj.) fluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual.A hiring manager might think you're being ____, or slick and insincere, if you say you've led a successful multinational corporation when you were actually in charge of flipping burgers for a fast-food restaurant chain.

Impartial

(adj.) free from undue bias or preconceived opinionsThe judge was not _______ since he had been bribed by the witness's family.

Guileless

(adj.) free of deceitAt first I thought my niece was _________, but I then found myself buying her ice cream every time we passed a shop.

Unimpeachable

(adj.) free of guilt; not subject to blame; beyond doubt or reproachAfter his long and _____________ service to the company, Sharat felt that a gold watch was a slap in the face rather than an honor.

Gratuitous

(adj.) freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted; Unnecessary. Your spontaneous confession of disliking physical contact with men seems __________, but who cares?

Amiable

(adj.) friendlyAmy's name was very apt: she was so ______ that she was twice voted class president.

Mettlesome

(adj.) full of courage and fortitudeFor its raid on the Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Seal Team Six has become, for many Americans, the embodiment of ______.

Jubilant

(adj.) full of high-spirited delight because of triumph or successMy hard work paid off, and I was ________ to receive a perfect score on the GRE.

Jovial

(adj.) full of or showing high-spirited merrimentThe political candidate and his supporters were ______ once it was clear that she had won.

Disparate

(adj.) fundamentally different; entirely unlike. =divergingWith the advent of machines capable of looking inside the brain, fields as _________ as religion and biology have been brought together by scientists trying to understand what happens in the brain when people have a religious experience.

Cavalier

(adj.) given to haughty disregard of others; snobby, looking down upon other people. =blaséPercy dismissed the issue with a ________ wave of his hand.

Demonstrative

(adj.) given to or marked by the open expression of emotionWhen Sally told James that she wanted to break up with him, she expected he would react _______________, but he quietly nodded his head and left without saying a word.

Patent

(adj.) glaringly obviousSince the book had been through no fewer than six proof runs, the staff was shocked to see such a(n) ______ spelling mistake remaining, right in the middle of the front cover!

Exorbitant

(adj.) greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderationShelley made one __________ purchase after another, buying new clothes and taking vacations even though she earned a limited salary.

Ravenous

(adj.) greedy; very hungry; eager for satisfactionJohn didn't each much at all during the week he had the flu, so now that he is regaining his health, it's not surprising that he has a ________ appetite.

Inveterate

(adj.) habitualHe is an __________ smoker and has told his family and friends that there is no way he will ever quit.

Taciturn

(adj.) habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little. This is often considered a negative trait, as it suggests someone uncommunicative and too quiet. =untalkative, 口数が少ないHe's the optimistic motormouth who will not shut up about his family back home, while Mike is the more tortured, ________ type.

Banal

(adj.) hackneyed, trite, commonplace; Filled with cliches.

Fortuitous

(adj.) happening by chance or accident. HINT: If it's something happening by chance, then it's probably good FORTUNE.While the real objects are vastly different sizes in space, the sun and the moon seem to have the same__________ size in the sky.

Inadvertent

(adj.) happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionallyAlthough Prohibition was rooted in noble ideals, the ___________ and costly consequences of making alcohol illegal in the U.S. led its the repeal.

Forthcoming

(adj.) happening in the near future, Coming Soon; ready; willing to helpThe President announced that the senators were about to reach a compromise, and that he was eager to read the __________ details of the bill.(adj.) at ease in talking to othersAs a husband, Larry was not __________: if Jill didn't demand to know details, Larry would never sharethem with her.

Averse

(adj.) having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling. USAGE ALERT: Do not mistake with ADVERSE.You have to do something about that ______ attitude towards exercise if you want to start losing weight.

Bleak

(adj.) having a depressing or gloomy outlookUnremitting overcast skies tend to lead people to create _____ literature and lugubrious music — compare England's band Radiohead to any band from Southern California.

Voracious

(adj.) having a huge appetite, greedy, ravenous; excessively eagerSteven was a _________ reader, sometimes finishing two novels in the same day.

Piquant

(adj.) having an agreeably pungent tasteThe chef, with a mere flick of the salt shaker, turned the bland tomato soup into a _______ meal.

Malodorous

(adj.) having an unpleasant smellSome thermally active fountains spew sulfur fumes--the air around them is sometimes so __________ that many have to plug their noses.

Sagacious

(adj.) having good judgement and acute insightSteve Jobs is surely one of the most _________ CEOs, making Apple the most recognizable and valuable companies in the world.

Cognizant

(adj.) having knowledge or being aware ofSay what you will about the House GOP, but they're _________ by now of their own shortcomings as a cohesive governing body.

Incisive

(adj.) having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions. THINK: A doctor would not be able to make proper surgical INCISIons were he not ________.The lawyer had an ________ mind, able in a flash to dissect a hopelessly tangled issue and isolate theessential laws at play.

Imperious

(adj.) having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthyChildren are _________ with each other before they learn that earning someone's respect is better than demanding.

Contrapuntal

(adj.) having two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding together

Convoluted

(adj.) highly complex or intricateInstead of solving the math problem in three simple steps, Kumar used a __________ solution requiring fifteen steps.

Vaunted

(adj.) highly or widely praised or boasted aboutFor years, they had heard of New York City's _______ skyline, and when they finally saw it, the spectacular cityscape did not disappoint them in the least.

Percipient

(adj.) highly perceptiveEven the most __________ editor will make an occasional error when proofreading.

Eccentric

(adj.) highly unconventional or usual (usually describes a person)Mozart was well-known for his ____________, often speaking words backward to confuse those around him.

Brobdingnagian

(adj.) huge, big

Facetious

(adj.) humorous, not meant seriously. Origin: French "facétie" - "joke"_________ behavior will not be tolerated during sex education class; it's time for all of you to treat these matters like mature adults.

Ribald

(adj.) humorously vulgarThe speaker was famous for his ______ humor, but the high school principal asked him to keep the talk G-rated when he spoke to the student body.

Halcyon

(adj.) idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquility; marked by peace and prosperityThe first decade after WWI was a _______ period in America with new-found wealth and rapidly improving technology.

Benighted

(adj.) ignorant; unenlightenedFar from being a _________ period, The Medieval Ages produced some great works of theological speculation.

Morose

(adj.) ill-tempered and not inclined to talk; gloomyAfter Stanley found out he was no longer able to go on vacation with his friends, he sat in his room ________.

Phantasmagorical

(adj.) illusive; unrealThose suffering from malaria fall into a feverish sleep, their world a whirligig of _______________; if they recover, they are unsure of what actually took place and what was simply a product of their febrile imaginations.

Sophomoric

(adj.) immature and overconfident; conceited

Impregnable

(adj.) immune to attack; incapable of being tampered withAs a child, Amy would build pillow castles and pretend they were ___________ fortresses.

Unassailable

(adj.) immune to attack; without flawsProfessor Williams is so self-assured as to seem arrogant, presenting each and every opinion as an ____________ fact.

Evenhanded

(adj.) impartial; fair to all sidesTeachers often have trouble being __________ to all of their varied students.

Incorrigible

(adj.) impervious to correction by punishment. 矯正不可能。=unreformableTom Sawyer seems like an ____________ youth until Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyer can't match his fierce individual spirit.

Irrefutable

(adj.) impossible to deny or disproveThe existence of life on earth is __________; the existence of intelligent life on earth is still hotly debated.

Imponderable

(adj.) impossible to estimate or figure outAccording to many lawmakers, the huge variety of factors affecting society make devising an efficient healthcare system an ____________ task.

Impudent

(adj.) improperly forward or bold. USAGE ALERT: Do not confuse with imprudent.In an ________ move, the defendant spoke out of order to say terribly insulting things to the judge

Capricious

(adj.) impulsive and UNPREDICTABLE; determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reasonNearly every month our __________ CEO had a new plan to turn the company around, and none of them worked because we never gave them the time they needed to succeed.

Embryonic

(adj.) in an early stage of developmentThe Board of Directors is hoping to launch a new product soon, but planning for the Z7 is in an _________ stages.

Inchoate

(adj.) in an early stage; imperfectly formed. 未熟で初期段階 NEGATIVE________ ideas about the relation of humans to other animals had been discussed since the Middle Ages but the modern theory really began with Darwin.

Dilapidated

(adj.) in deplorable conditionThe main house has been restored but the gazebo is still ___________ and unusable.

Subversive

(adj.) in opposition to a civil authority or governmentThe ruling political party has begun a campaign to shut down subversive websites that it deems as athreat to "national safety."

Titular

(adj.) in title only; nominal

Infelicitous

(adj.) inappropriateDuring the executive meeting, the marketing director continued to make ____________ comments about the CEO's gambling habit.

Irrevocable

(adj.) incapable of being retracted or revokedOnce you enter your plea to the court, it is ___________ so think carefully about what you will say.

Insatiable

(adj.) incapable of being satisfied

Trenchant

(adj.) incisive, keen; forceful, effective; cutting, caustic; distinct, clear-cutJill presented a rather superficial treatment of sales in Asia, but her _________ analysis of sales in Europe inspired a number of insights into how to proceed in that market.

Surly

(adj.) inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menaceEvery morning, Bhavin was a(n) _____ unhappy person, but once he ate breakfast, he became loving, laughing, and a joy to be around.

Blasé

(adj.) indifferent, bored as a result of having enjoyed many pleasures; apathetic. (=cavalier)

Ingenuous

(adj.) innocent, simple; frank, sincereTwo-years in Manhattan had changed Jenna from an _________ girl from the suburbs to a jaded urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse, regardless of how elaborate

Redoubtable

(adj.) inspiring fear or awe. THINK: If you meet some one of this nature, you would DOUBT if your could even compare to that person.On television basketball players don't look that tall, but when you stand in front of a seven-foot tall NBA player, he is truly ___________.

Insidious

(adj.) intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous; working in a subtle but destructive wayPlaque is _________: we cannot see it, but each day it eats away at our enamel, causing cavities and other dental problems.

Insufferable

(adj.) intolerable, difficult to endureChester always tried to find some area in which he excelled above others; unsurprisingly, his co-workers found him ____________ and chose to exclude him from daily luncheons out.

Byzantine

(adj.) intricate and complexGetting a driver's license is not simply a matter of taking a test; the regulations and procedures are so _________ that many have found themselves at the mercy of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Officious

(adj.) intrusive in a meddling or offensive mannerThe professor had trouble concentrating on her new theorem, because her _________ secretary would barge in frequently reminding her of some trivial detail involving departmental paperwork.

Inviolable

(adj.) never to be broken, infringed, or dishonoredToo many the grass at Wimbledon is __________ and only greater tennis players are able to enjoy a game there.

Obstreperous

(adj.) noisily and stubbornly defiant; willfully difficult to controlWhen the teacher asked the ____________ student simply to bus his tray, the student threw the entire tray on the floor, shouted an epithet, and walked out.

Impervious

(adj.) not admitting of passage or capable of being affectedI am not __________ to your insults; they cause me great pain.

Untenable

(adj.) not capable of being held or defended; impossible to maintainWith the combination of Kepler's brilliant theories and Galileo's telescopic observations, the old geocentric theory became _________ to most of the educated people in Europe.

Benign

(adj.) not causing harm, of gentle disposition, beneficialThe tumor located in your ear lobe seems to be ______ and should not cause you any trouble.(adj.) kindI remember my grandfather's face was wrinkled, ______, and calm.

Untrammeled

(adj.) not confined or limitedThe whole notion of living ___________ inspired the American Revolution and was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Unmarred

(adj.) not damaged or spoiled, =unblemished, undamagedOne of the perks of HBO is that unlike other TV stations, one can watch full episodes ________ by commercial breaks, because its business model does not rely on advertisement.

Placid

(adj.) not easily irritatedDoug is normally ______, so we were all shocked to see him yelling at the television when the Mets lost the game.

Stolid

(adj.) not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive. ポーカーフェイスな感じElephants may appear ______ to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives.

Inscrutable

(adj.) not easily understood; unfathomable. Think cats, as opposed to dogs.The island is beautiful but oblique, sublime yet functionally ___________.

Artful

(adj.) not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness. NOT straightforward."I do think the White House is ______ in throwing up smokescreens to protect itself from the bad things it's doing," Weaver said.(adj.) marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craftPresident Obama has been politically ______ in his approach to legal pot, providing states such as California with a road map on how to legalize.

Oblique

(adj.) not straightforward or direct.Herbert never explicitly revealed anything negative about Tom's past, but at times he would _________ suggest that Tom was not as innocent as he seemed.

Inexorable

(adj.) not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty. =Implacable. 緩和することができない。If technology becomes an __________ job killer across the economy, then policies like a guaranteed minimum wage begin to look more appealing.

Imprudent

(adj.) not wiseHitler, like Napoleon, made the _________ move of invading Russia in winter, suffering even more casualties than Napoleon had.

Catholic

(adj.) of broad scope; universalJonah's friends said that Jonah's taste in music was eclectic; Jonah was quick to point out that not only was his taste eclectic but it was also _______: he enjoyed music from countries as far-flung as Mali and Mongolia.

Cardinal

(adj.) of primary importance; fundamentalMost cultures consider gambling a _______ sin and thus have outlawed its practice.

Apocryphal

(adj.) of questionable authority or authenticity. Originally, this term referred to religious writings that were not included in the Torah or the New Testament of the Bible because the divinity of the texts was not certain. As with so many famous quotations, the Cherry Tree story is almost certainly __________: It did not appear anywhere until after Washington's death.

Epigrammatic

(adj.) of the nature or in the style of an epigram; concise, clever, and amusing Wilde's "I can resist anything except temptation" is ____________.

Noisome

(adj.) offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injuriousEach August, when the winds moved in a south easterly direction, the garbage dump would spread _______ vapors through the small town.

Invidious

(adj.) offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentmentAt a time when many others in the office were about to be laid off, many considered Cheryl's fine clothes that day an _________ display.

Magisterial

(adj.) offensively self-assured or given to exercising unwarranted power, =autocratic, bossyThough she was only a third grade teacher, Ms. Martinet was ___________ in dealing with her class, lording over them like a queen.

Autocratic

(adj.) offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted powerThe manager was finally fired for his __________ leadership, which often bordered on rude and offensive.(adj.) characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereigntyThe last true __________ country is certainly North Korea; nowhere does a leader exercise the absolute control over all aspects of a people the way that Kim Jong-un does.

Antiquated

(adj.) old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier period in timeAunt Betty had __________ notions about marriage, believing that a man should court a woman for at least a year before receiving a kiss.

Portentous

(adj.) ominously propheticWhen the captain and more than half the officers were sick on the very first night of the voyage, many of the passengers felt this was __________ but the rest of the voyage continued without any problems.

Checkered

(adj.) one that is marked by disreputable happeningsOne by one, the presidential candidates dropped out of the race, their respective _________ pasts— from embezzlement to infidelity—sabotaging their campaigns.

Equivocal

(adj.) open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous, 曖昧. Hint: You're being ambiguous if you give "equal voice" to two opposing views/thoughts.As it is, Tokyo has hitherto expressed only the vaguest and most _________ support for the Obama administration's efforts to punish Russia.

Ebullient

(adj.) overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement; boiling, bubblingCan you blame him for his _________ mood? He just graduated from medical school.

Discursive

(adj.) passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling.Many readers find it tough to read Moby Dick since the author is __________, often cutting the action short to spend 20 pages on the history of a whale.(adj.)proceeding to a conclusion by reason or argument rather than intuition; logical.USAGE ALERT: opposite meanings.

Penurious

(adj.) penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous, 超どケチWarren Buffett, famous multi-billionaire, still drives a cheap sedan, not because he is _________, but because luxury cars are gaudy and impractical.(adj.) lacking money; poorTruly _________, Mary had nothing more than a jar full of pennies.

Sedulous

(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination. =diligent, assiduousAn avid numismatist, Harold __________ amassed a collection of coins from over 100 countries—an endeavor that took over fifteen years, and to five continents.

Carping

(adj.) persistently petty and unjustified criticismWhat seemed like incessant nagging and _______ about my behavior from my mother turned out to be wise and useful advice that has served me well.

Histrionic

(adj.) pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic. Think: It sounds a bit like hystericalThough she received a B- on the test, she had such a __________ outburst that one would have thought that she'd been handed a death sentence.

Debonair

(adj.) pleasant, courteous, lighthearted; smooth and polished in manner and appearance. Synonym: RefinedJames Bond is known for his good looks, high tech gadgets, and ________ manner.

Copious

(adj.) plentiful, bountiful. =ProfuseIn midsummer, there are _______ Popsicle stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none.

Profuse

(adj.) plentiful; pouring out in abundanceDuring mile 20 of the Hawaii Marathon, Dwayne was sweating so _________ that he stopped to take off his shirt, and ran the remaining six miles wearing nothing more than skimpy shorts.

Destitute

(adj.) poor enough to need help from othersJean Valjean, is at first _________, but through the grace of a priest, he makes something of his life.(adj.) completely wanting or lacking (usually "destitute of")Now that the mine is closed, the town is _________ of any economic activity.

Indigent

(adj.) poor; having very littleIn the so-called Third World, many are ________ and only a privileged few have the resources to enjoy material luxuries.(n.) a poor or needy personThe _________, huddled under the overpass, tried to start a small bonfire in the hope of staying warm.

Puissant

(adj.) powerfulOver the years of service, and quite to his surprise, he became a(n) ________ advisor to the community.

Austere

(adj.) practicing self-denial. =asceticHis lifestyle of revelry and luxurious excess could hardly be called _______.(adj.) undecorated, severely simpleLate Soviet architecture, although remaining largely _______, moved into experimental territory thatemployed previously unused shapes and structures.(adj.) harsh in manner of temperament. =SpartanThe principal of my elementary school was a cold, _______ woman; I could never understand why shechose to work with children.

Laudable

(adj.) praiseworthyHis conduct is worthy of praise―praiseworthy―to be commended―commendable―________.

Factious

(adj.) produced by, or characterized by internal dissensionThe controversial bill proved ________, as dissension even within parties resulted

Efficacious

(adj.) producing the intended resultSince Maggie's cough syrup, which had expired five years back, was no longer ___________, she coughed through the night.

Salient

(adj.) prominent; of notable significance, =noticeable, conspicuousAfter 9/11, displays of strong patriotism were very _______ what with American flags flying every where all over the country.

Choleric

(adj.) prone to outbursts of temper; easily angeredWhile a brilliant lecturer, Mr. Dawson came across as ________ and unapproachable—very rarely did students come to his office hours.

Supercilious

(adj.) proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority. =haughty, imperious, disadianfulNelly felt the Quiz Bowl director acted ______________ towards the underclassmen; really, she fumed, must he act so preternaturally omniscient each time he intones some obscure fact—as though everybody knows that Mt. Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America.

Politic

(adj.) prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedient. ある物事を解決するのに役立つが、必ずしも道徳的ではない策を表す. =prudentThe POLITICian's on-air apology on Friday was more _______ than persuasive.

Grandiloquent

(adj.) puffed up with vanityThe dictator was known for his _____________ speeches, puffing his chest out and using big, important-sounding words.

Pristine

(adj.) pure; completely clean and uncontaminatedThe glacial lake was ________ and we filled our canteens to drink deeply.Drill sergeants are known for demanding ________ cabinets, uniforms, and beds, and often make new recruits clean and clean and clean until they meet the expected high standards.

Bumptious

(adj.) pushy; conceited; noisily self-assertive.

Pastoral

(adj.) relating to the countryside in a pleasant senseThose who imagine America's countryside as a ________ region are often disappointed to learn that much of rural U.S. is filled with cornfields extending as far as the eye can see.

Germane

(adj.) relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting. =pertinentIt's hard to think of a topic more _______ to a couple's compatibility than how you spend your money vs. how you spend your time.

Self-effacing

(adj.) reluctant to draw attention to yourselfThe most admirable teachers and respected leaders are those who are _____________, directing attention and praise to their students and workers.

Telltale

(adj.) revealingThe many ________ signs of chronic smoking include yellow teeth, and a persistent, hacking cough.

Atavistic

(adj.) reverting to or suggesting the characteristics of a remote ancestor or primitive type

Boorish

(adj.) rude; insensitive behavior and/or appearanceBukowski was known for being a _______ drunk and alienating close friends and family.

Disheveled

(adj.) rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorderVideo released last weekend showed images of a __________ and dust-covered girl who appeared to match the police's description.

Derelict

(adj.) run-down, abandoned; ALSO neglectful of dutyThe teacher was ________ in her duties because she hadn't graded a single student paper in three weeks.At one time the waterfront factories were busy and productive, but now they stand ________ and will be torn down.

Despondent

(adj.) sad, without hope, discouraged

Erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic. 博識Before the Internet, the library was typically where you would find _______ readers.

Contemptuous

(adj.) scornful, looking down at others with a sneering attitudeAlways on the forefront of fashion, Vanessa looked ______________ at anyone wearing dated clothing.

Furtive

(adj.) secretiveWhile at work, George and his boss Regina felt the need to be as _______ as possible about their romantic relationship.

Staid

(adj.) serious and dignified; quiet or subdued in character or conduct. Origin: "Stay". Think: conservative law firms, boring parties with important guestsFrank came from a _____ environment, so he was shocked that his college roommate sold narcotics.

Admonitory

(adj.) serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective.The teacher gave the child a(n) __________ lecture after he was caught throwing paper planes around in the classroom.

Amorphous

(adj.) shapeless; lacking a distinct shape or organizing themeProtecting immigrants is shaping up to be a priority of the religious left, a(n) _________ collection of people and groups reflecting many faiths and ethnicities.His study plan for the GRE was at best _________; he would do questions from random pages in any one of seven test prep books.

Myopic

(adj.) shortsightedThe company ultimately went out of business because the ______ managers couldn't predict the changes in their industry.

Sullen

(adj.) showing a brooding ill humor. Synonym: SaturnineHerbert took board games too seriously, often appearing ______ after losing.

Obliging

(adj.) showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for othersEven after all his success, I found him to be accommodating and ________, sharing with me his "secret tips" on how to gain wealth and make friends.

Complaisant

(adj.) showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for othersOn her first day at the job, Annie was ___________, fulfilling every request of her new employee and anticipating future requests.

Urbane

(adj.) showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experienceBecause of his service as an intelligence officer and his refined tastes, W. Somerset Maugham became the inspiration for the ______ and sophisticate spy James Bond.

Solicitous

(adj.) showing hovering attentiveness. おせっかいOur neighbors are constantly knocking on our door to make sure we are ok, and I don't know how to ask them to stop being so __________ about our health.

Phlegmatic

(adj.) showing little emotionArnold is truly noble, remaining reserved until an issue of significance arises, but Walter is simply _________: he doesn't have the energy or inclination to care about anything.

Deferential

(adj.) showing respectIf you ever have the chance to meet the president, stand up straight and be ___________.

Canny

(adj.) showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others. =shrewdNOTE: Uncanny is not the opposite of this word.Sneaker companies are among the ________ of manufacturers, anticipating the needs, wants and desires of their consumers.

Dolorous

(adj.) showing sorrow. =elegiacChopin's ballads are filled with sharp changes in moods--a _______ melody can give way to a lighthearted tempo.

Empathetic

(adj.) showing understanding and ready comprehension of other peoples' states and emotionsMost discrimination and hatred is based on a lack of __________ awareness of people that have the same aspirations and fears.

Astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

Diffident

(adj.) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reservedThe error cost him a two-shot penalty, his _________ response in the face of disappointment earned him admiration and criticism in equal measure.

Telling

(adj.) significant and revealing of another factorHer unbecoming dress was very _______ when it came to her sense of fashion.

Obtuse

(adj.) slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; lacking in insight or discernmentJackson was the most ______ member of the team: the manager's subtle ironies were always lost on him.

Wily

(adj.) sly, shrewd, cunning

Mellifluous

(adj.) smooth and sweet-soundingChelsea's grandmother thought Franz Schubert's music to be the most ___________ ever written; Chelsea demurred, and to her grandmother's chagrin, would blast Rihanna on the home stereo speakers.

Archaic

(adj.) so old as to appear to belong to a different periodHoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in _______ English that was right out of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice--needless to say, she didn't have many friends.

Negligible

(adj.) so small as to be meaningless; insignificantThe GRE tests cumulative knowledge, so if you cram the night before it is, at best, likely to only have a___________ impact on your score.

Muted

(adj.) softened, subduedHelen preferred _____ earth colors, such as green and brown, to the bright pinks and red her sister liked.

Aphoristic

(adj.) something that is concise; terse and witty like a maxim.Sometimes I can't stand Nathan because he tries to impress everyone by being __________, but he just states the obvious.

Soporific

(adj.) something that tends to cause sleep and to dull awareness or alertness

Lugubrious

(adj.) sorrowful; mournful; dismalAt the funeral, __________ songs filled the small church.

Abstemious

(adj.) sparing in eating and drinking; temperate

Surreptitious

(adj.) stealty, taking pains not to be caught or detectedSince his mom was a light sleeper, Timmy had to tiptoe _______________ through the entire house, careful to not make the floors creak, until he at last was able to enjoy his plunder: a box of chocolate chip cookies.

Cohesive

(adj.) sticking or holding together; unified; well integratedA well-written, ________ essay will keep on topic at all times, never losing sight of the main argument.

Extant

(adj.) still in existence; opposite of extinctDespite many bookstores closing, experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be ______generations from now

Inclement

(adj.) stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or actionAfter a week of _________ weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun.(adj.) used of persons or behavior; showing no mercyMarcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was _________ to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently.

Uncanny

(adj.) strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanationReggie has an _______ ability to connect with animals: feral cats will readily approach him, and sometimes even wild birds will land on his finger.

Macabre

(adj.) suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesomeEdgar Allen Poe was considered the master of the _______; his stories vividly describe the moment leading up to—and often those moments after—a grisly death.

Martial

(adj.) suggesting war or military lifeAmericans tend to remember Abraham Lincoln as kindly and wise, not at all _______, despite the fact that he was involved in the fiercest war America has even fought.

Appurtenant

(adj.) supply added supportIn hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are ___________, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.

Conducive

(adj.) supportive; encouraging; helping to bring aboutStudying in a quiet room is _________ to learning; studying in a noisy environment makes learning more difficult.

Turgid

(adj.) swollen, bloated, filled to excess; overdecorated or excessive in languageThe amount of GRE vocabulary he used increased with his years--by the time he was 60, his novels were so ______ that even his diehard fans refused to read them.

Gauche

(adj.) tactless, lacking social grace, awkward, crude. ぎこちない。HINT: This word means "left" in French. People who aren't used to using their left-hand for things will be _______ in their actions.

Synoptic

(adj.) taking a general view of the whole subject

Tawdry

(adj.) tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddyCarol expected to find New York City magical, the way so many movies had portrayed it, but she was surprised how often ______ displays took the place of genuine elegance.

Lachrymose

(adj.) tearful; sad__________ and depressed, Alexei Alexandrovich walked two miles home in the rain after learning that his wife was having an affair.

Dilatory

(adj.) tending to DELAY or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone.Changing a jpg file to a Word file and pretending the file broke is a ________ tactic to earn more time to finish an assignment.

Evanescent

(adj.) tending to vanish like vaporThe storm flashed into existence above us and lasted only a short time—a(n) __________ turbulence of wind and cloud.

Fell

(adj.) terribly evilFor fans of the Harry Potter series, the ____ Lord Voldemort, who terrorized poor Harry for seven lengthy installments, has finally been vanquished by the forces of good—unless, that is, JK Rowling decides to come out of retirement.

Base

(adj.) the lowest, class were without any moral principlesShe was not so ____ as to begrudge the beggar the unwanted crumbs from her dinner plate.

Baleful

(adj.) threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developmentsMovies often use storms or rain clouds as a(n) _______ omen of evil events that will soon befall the main character.

Timorous

(adj.) timid by nature or revealing fear and nervousnessSince this was her first time debating on stage and before an audience, Di's voice was ________ and quiet for the first 10 minutes.

Jaundice

(adj.) to be biased against due to envy or prejudiceShelly was _________ towards Olivia; though the two had once been best friends, Olivia had become class president, prom queen, and, to make matters worse, the girlfriend of the one boy Shelly liked.

Arch

(adj.) to be deliberately teasing; naughtily or annoyingly playfulThe baroness was ____, making playful asides to the townspeople; yet because they couldn't pick up on her dry humor, they thought her supercilious.

Flush

(adj.) to be in abundanceThe exam's passage is _____ with difficult words, words that you may have learned only yesterday.

Sententious

(adj.) to be moralizing, usually in a pompous senseThe old man, casting his nose up in the air at the group of adolescents, intoned _____________, "Youth is wasted on the young."

Contrite

(adj.) to be remorsefulThough he stole his little sister's licorice stick with malevolent glee, Chucky soon became _______ when his sister wouldn't stop crying.

Retiring

(adj.) to be shy, and to be inclined to retract from companyNelson was always the first to leave soirees—rather than mill about with "fashionable" folk, he was _________, and preferred the solitude of his garret.

Errant

(adj.) to be wandering; not sticking to a circumscribed pathUnlike his peers, who spent their hours studying in the library, Matthew preferred ______ walks through the university campus.

Vituperate

(adj.) to criticize harshly; to berateJason had dealt with disciplinarians before, but nothing prepared him for the first week of boot camp, as drill sergeants ___________ him for petty oversights such as forgetting to double knot the laces on his boots.

Beholden

(adj.) to feel you have a duty to someone because they have done something for you (owe them)The more that China views Trump family businesses as ________ to Chinese interests, the more assertive the country may be at the international bargaining table.

Blinkered

(adj.) to have a limited outlook or understandingIn gambling, the addict is easily _________ by past successes and/or past failures, forgetting that the outcome of any one game is independent of the games that preceded it.

Vindictive

(adj.) to have a very strong desire for revengeThough the other girl had only lightly poked fun of Vanessa's choice in attire, Vanessa was so __________ that she waited for an entire semester to get the perfect revenge.

Intimate

(adj.) to suggest something subtly. =suggest, implyAt first Manfred's teachers ________ed to his parents that he was not suited to skip a grade; when his parents protested, teachers explicitly told them that, notwithstanding the boy's precocity, he was simply too immature to jump to the 6th grade.

Indecorous

(adj.) unseemly; inappropriate (of behavior)Eating with elbows on the table is considered __________ in refined circles.

Precipitous

(adj.) very steep.There is a ___________ decline in the status and stature of the United States around the world.

Thoroughgoing

(adj.) very thorough; completeAs a _____________ bibliophile, one who had turned his house into a veritable library, he shocked his friends when he bought a Kindle.

Rambling

(adj.) walking with no particular direction in mind; unfocused speech

Perfidious

(adj.) willing to betray one's trust

Forthright

(adv.) frank, direct, straightforwardI did not expect the insurance agent to give us any straight answers, but I was pleasantly surprised by how __________ he was.

Brusquely

(adv.) in a blunt, direct mannerNot one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staff would _________ ask his subordinates anything he wanted, even coffee.

Amuck

(adv.) in a frenzied or uncontrolled stateWherever the bowl haircut teen-idol went, his legions of screaming fans ran through the streets _____, hoping for a glance at his boyish face.

Askance

(adv.) with a look of suspicion or disapprovalThe old couple looked ________ on the teenagers seated next to them, whispering to each other, "They've got rings through their noses and purple hair!"

Assiduously

(adv.) with care and persistenceThe top college football program recruits new talent ___________, only choosing those who were the top in their county.

Saturnalia

(n.) A celebration marked by unrestrained revelry and, often, promiscuity and excessive drinking.

Skein

(n.) A complex tangleEuropean imperialists in Africa built a _____ of borders, most of which fell into disrepair in the decades after their colonies achieved independence.

Oenophile

(n.) A connoisseur or lover of wine

Entropy

(n.) A measure of disorder or randomness.

Foil

(n.) A person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast

Sycophant

(n.) A person who flatters; a yes-manThe CEO was unaware of the damaging consequences of his choices, largely because he surrounded himself with _________ who would never dare criticize him.

Bromide

(n.) A platitude or trite saying. Stale remarks.Instead of sharing his umbrella, the cheeky stranger offered Martha the following _______: "Looks like it's raining."

Malaise

(n.) A sense of unease; depression

Peccadillo

(n.) A small sin or fault. Forgetting to say thank you once in a while can be passed as a __________.

Recapitulation

(n.) A summary. This is what people are referring to when they say "recap". 世界史の「カピチュレーション」とは殆ど関係ない。Every point of the professors lesson was so clear that the students felt his concluding ______________ was not necessary.

Embellishment

(n.) A superfluous ornament. 無駄な装飾品Many people recycled their best tunics, ones with patterns like bird-and-vine lattice motifs or more artistic _____________, as their burial shrouds.

Tempest

(n.) A violent commotion or disturbance

Gordian Knot

(n.) An extremely complex problem.

Sword of Damocles

(n.) Any imminent danger

Iconoclast

(n.) Attacker of cherished beliefs or institutions. =heterodox. ORIGIN Greek: "eikon"+"klastes" - "image+breaker"=People who destroyed religious sculpturesBloomberg had a piece trying to find a small group of heroic ___________ who predicted the euro crisis, unlike the vast majority of people who blindly believed in the integrity of the EU.

Curmudgeon

(n.) Bad-tempered, difficult person; grouchSince Uncle Mike was the family __________, each Thanksgiving he was plied with copious amounts of wine, in the hope that she would become less grouchy.

Probity

(n.) Being morally and ethically above reproach, having integrityThe ideal politician would have the _______ to lead, but reality gravely falls short of the ideal of morally upright leaders.

Travesty

(n.) Exaggerated, debased, or grotesque imitationWhat I expected to be an intelligent, nuanced historical documentary turned out to be a poorly-produced _________ of the form.

Muckraking

(n.) Exposure of scandals (esp. of public figures)

Insolence

(n.) Extreme disrespect that is deliberately insulting or rude

Truancy

(n.) Failure to attend school, without permission

Coda

(n.) Final part of a musical composition; an ending, esp. one that sums up what has come before

Panache

(n.) Flair, style, swagger; a flamboyant or grand way of actingJim, with his typical _______, came to the wedding reception with a top hat, a cane, and a long capecovered in sequins.

Largess

(n.) Generosity, the giving of money or gifts (esp. with the implication that the giver is a bit superior to the recipient)Uncle Frank was known for his _______, so his nephew was sad when he did not receive a present for his birthday.

Sophists

(n.) Greek teachers of philosophy, reasoning, and public speaking

Harangue

(n.) Long, intense verbal attack, esp. when delivered publiclyDinner at Billy's was more a punishment than a reward, since anyone who sat at the dinner table would have to listen to Billy's father's interminable _________s against the government.

Temperance

(n.) Moderation, self-control, esp. regarding alcohol or other desires or pleasures; total abstinence from alcoholWelles wasn't known for his __________--he usually ate enough for two and drank enough for three.

Misanthrope

(n.) One who hates mankindHamilton had been deceived so many times in his life that he hid behind the gruff exterior of a ___________, lambasting perfect strangers for no apparent reason.

Predilection

(n.) Preference, tendency or favorability towardsMonte had a ____________ for the fine things in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine, and trips to the French Riviera.

Censure

(n.) Strong disapproval or official reprimand, (v.) to issue such disapproval or reprimand

Abeyance

(n.) Temporary suspension, inactivity. The implementation of the agreement between S. Korea and Japan will be held in ________ while the new Moon administration decides upon its Japan policy.

Blandishment

(n.) That which is intended to coax or persuade, such as flattery; an allurement

Discernment

(n.) The ability to judge well

Trope

(n.) The generic name for a figure of speech such as image, symbol, simile, and metaphor. Also, a conventional idea often seen in life.

Wherewithal

(n.) The necessary means (especially financial means)

Hodgepodge

(n.) a confusing mixture or jumble. A mishmashThose in attendance represented a __________ of the city's denizens: chimney sweepers could be seen sitting elbow to elbow with stockbrokers.

Despot

(n.) a cruel and oppressive dictatorThe emperor Claudius was regarded as a fair-minded leader; his successor, Nero, was an absolute ______.

Malediction

(n.) a curse; a wish of evil upon another. Origin: Latin "mal" + "dict" = "bad speak"

Canard

(n.) a deliberately misleading fabricationThe public will always be fooled by the media's _______.

Anathema

(n.) a detested person; the source of somebody's hateHundreds of years ago, Galileo was ________ to the church; today the church is anathema to some on the left side of the political spectrum.

Aberration

(n.) a deviation from what is normal or expectedAnd historical data suggests that the wholly independent nuclear-family household may be the __________ — that patterns of close familial support are the more natural arrangement.

Rhombus

(n.) a parallelogram with all congruent sides

Savvy

(n.) a perceptive understandingAlthough a great CEO, he did not have the political _____ to win the election.(v.) get the meaning of somethingThe student _______ the meaning of astrophysics with little effort.(adj.) well-informed or perceptiveWith his _____ business partner, the company was able to turn a profit within a year.

Raconteur

(n.) a person skilled in telling anecdotesJude is entertaining, but he is no _________: beyond the handful of amusing stories he has memorized, he has absolutely no spontaneous story-telling ability.

Chauvinist

(n.) a person who believes in the superiority of their groupThe __________ lives on both sides of the political spectrum, outright shunning anybody whose ideas are not consistent with his own.

Misogynist

(n.) a person who dislikes women in particularMany have accused Hemingway of being a quiet _________, but recently unearthed letters argue against this belief.

Miser

(n.) a person who doesn't like to spend money (because they are greedy)Monte was no _____, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned.

Apostate

(n.) a person who has abandoned a religious faith or causeAn ________ of the Republican Party, Sheldon has yet to become affiliated with any party and dubs himself an independent.

Arriviste

(n.) a person who has recently reached a position of power; a social climberThe city center was aflutter with __________ who each tried to outdo one another with their ostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress.

Perquisite

(n.) a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right)Even as the dishwasher at the French restaurant, Josh quickly learned that he had the __________ of being able to eat terrific food for half the price diners would pay.

Maxim

(n.) a short saying expressing a general truthJohnson initially suggests that the secret to business can be summarized in a single _____ but then requires a 300-page book to explain exactly what he means.

Paean

(n.) a song of praise, joy, or triumph. THINK;"Xi Jinping's Road of Growth" and it's flowery language was a typical example of this. The newly released book is a _____ to moms everywhere and their herculean behind-the-scenes efforts to bring their children's dreams to fruition.

Tumult

(n.) a state of chaos, noise and confusionRiots broke out just in front of our apartment building, and the ______ continued late into the night.

Enmity

(n.) a state of deep-seated ill-willCharles rude remark toward Sarah yesterday was due to his illness, not due to any real______ toward Sarah.

Culpability

(n.) a state of guilt or responsibility. 問題を犯した責任Trump continued to raise doubts about Russian ___________ in the 2016 election-related hacks on the eve of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Flux

(n.) a state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event)Ever since Elvira resigned as the head of marketing, everything about our sales strategy has been in a state of ____.

Prognostication

(n.) a statement made about the future, =prediction, forecastWhen the Senator was asked about where the negotiations would lead, he said that any guess he could make would be an unreliable _______________.

Martinet

(n.) a strict disciplinarianThe job seemed perfect to Rebecca, until she found out that her boss was a total ________; after each project the boss would come by to scrutinize—and inevitably criticize—every little detail of the work Rebecca had done.

Broadside

(n.) a strong verbal attackPolitical __________ are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election.

Diatribe

(n.) a strong verbal attack against a person or institutionSteve's mom launched into a ________ during the PTA meeting, contending that the school was little more than a daycare in which students stare at the wall and teachers stare at the chalkboard.

Polemic

(n.) a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.The professor launched into a _______, claiming that Freudian theory was a pack of lies that absolutely destroyed European literary theory.

Epiphany

(n.) a sudden revelation or moment of insightGary one day had an ________ that he was a people person; he prompty quit his factory job and began working as a salesman.

Quisling

(n.) a traitorHistory looks unfavorably upon ________; indeed they are accorded about the same fondness as Nero—he who watched his city burn down while playing the violin.

Mountebank

(n.) a trickster or swindler; a charlatan

Banality

(n.) a trite or obvious remarkHerbert regarded the minister's remark as a mere _________ until Sharon pointed out profound implications to the seemingly obvious words.

Conflagration

(n.) a very intense and uncontrolled fireIn the summer months, ______________ are not uncommon in the southwest, due to the heat and lack of rain.

Audacity

(n.) aggressive boldness in social situations. 大胆さ。Origin: Latin "audacitas" - "boldness"When Dove launched in 1997, it was an anomaly; a soap that claimed to moisturize, with the ________ to charge four times the average price.

Collusion

(n.) agreement on a secret plotMany have argued that Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK's assassin, was in _________ with other criminals; others maintain that Oswald was a lone gunman.

Cornucopia

(n.) an abundant supply of something goodThe International Food Expo was a __________ of culinary delights: gourmet foods from every continent were under one roof.

Screed

(n.) an abusive rant (often tedious)Joey had difficulty hanging out with his former best friend Perry, who, during his entire cup of coffee, enumerated all of the government's deficiencies--only to break ranks and launch into some ______ against big business.

Enormity

(n.) an act of extreme wickedness. 極悪非道な様The ________ of Pol Pot's regime is hard to capture in words--within months hundreds of thousands of Cambodians lost their lives.

Bastardization

(n.) an act that debases or corruptsThe movie World War Z is a complete _____________ of the book with little more in common than zombies and a title.

Tribulation

(n.) an affliction, trouble, or difficult experience.The ___________s of a coal miner include a dangerous work environment, lung disease from black dust and a cramped, dark work space.

Junta

(n.) an aggressive takeover by a group (usually military)As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is, some analysts believe that were a _____ suddenly to gain power, it could be even more unpredictable and bellicose than the current leadership

Altercation

(n.) an angry argument

Tirade

(n.) an angry speechIn terms of political change, a(n) ______ oftentimes does little more than make the person speaking red in the face.

Presumption

(n.) an assumption that is taken for grantedWhen Mr. Baker found out the family car was gone, he acted under the __________ that his rebellious son had taken the car, calling his son's phone and yelling at him; only later did Mr. Baker realize that Mrs. Baker had simply gone out to get her nails done.(n.) audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right toThe new neighbor quickly gained a reptuation for her ___________; she had invited herself to several of the neighbors homes, often stopping over at inopportune times and asking for a drink.

Accolade

(n.) an award or praise granted as a special honorJean Paul-Sartre was not a fan of ________s, and as such, he refused to accept the Nobel Prize forLiterature in 1964.

Cupidity

(n.) an eager desire for material wealth. =greedSome believe people that amassing as much wealth as possible is the meaning to life—yet they often realize that ________ brings anything but happiness.

Alacrity

(n.) an eager willingness to do somethingThe first three weeks at his new job, Mark worked with such ________ that upper management knew it would be giving him a promotion.

Aficionado

(n.) an enthusiastic and usually expert follower or fan

Cataclysm

(n.) an event resulting in great loss and misfortuneThe introduction of smallpox was a cataclysm_________ for Native Americans, killing off more than half of their population.

Strife

(n.) bitter disagreement; fighting, struggle. The conflict between Abe's government and the student group SEALDS developed into a major _____ with the large demonstrations held in front of the parliament.

Acrimony

(n.) bitterness and ill willThe ___________ dispute between the president and vice-president sent a clear signal to voters: thehealth of the current administration was imperiled.

Gall

(n.) bitterness of feeling; nerve; effrontery; CF. gall bladder In an act of ____, Leah sent compromising photos of her ex-boyfriend to all his co-workers and professional contacts.(v.) to irritate

Impasse

(n.) blocked path; dilemma with no solutionTwo people at an _______ in a negotiation might hit upon a new solution if one suggests something crazy, for example.

Prolixity

(n.) boring verbosityI loved my grandfather dearly, but his _________ would put me to sleep, regardless of the topic.

Sangfroid

(n.) calmness or poise in difficult situationsThe hostage negotiator exhibited a _________ that oftentimes was more menacing than the sword at his throat, or the gun at his head.

Treacle

(n.) cloying sentimentality or flattery. Think: Young Romance Movies.Previous UN climate change forums, where dreary jargon often pours _______ over any sense of urgency, have been enlivened by entreaties from Pacific island leaders.

Duress

(n.) compulsory force or threatThe witness said he signed the contract under ______ and argued that the court should cancel the agreement.

Dissimulation

(n.) concealment of one's thoughts, feelings, or character. 本音を隠すことEx.: Mr. Kermiche turns out to have been practicing the art of taqiyya, or _____________, explicitly counseled by the Islamic State to fool the enemy.

Tact

(n.) consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offenseIn a tremendous display of ____, Shelly was able to maintain a strong friendship with Marcia, even though Marcia's husband, Frank, confessed to finding Shelley more attractive than Marcia.

Veneer

(n.) covering consisting of a thin superficial layer that hides the underlying substanceMark Twain referred to the Victorian Period in America as the "Gilded Age", implying the ample moral corruption that lay beneath a mere ______ of respectability.

Exegesis

(n.) critical explanation or analysis, especially of a textThe Bible is fertile ground for ________—over the past five centuries there have been as many interpretations as there are pages in the Old Testament.

Duplicity

(n.) deceitfulness, pretending to want one thing but interested in something elseA life of espionage is one of _________: an agent must pretend to be a totally different person than who she or he actually is.

Truculence

(n.) defiant aggressivenessWhen the boss confronted Aaron about his earlier remarks, Aaron responded with utter __________, simply throwing a glass of water in the boss' face and walking away.

Turpitude

(n.) depravity, moral corruptionDuring his reign, Caligula indulged in unspeakable sexual practices, so it not surprising that he will forever be remembered for his _________.

Decimation

(n.) destroying or killing a large part of the populationThe __________ after the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is incomprehensible.

Auteur

(n.) director who has a signature within their films, consistent in style. ORIGIN French: word that literally meant "author"What we try to be is _______, writing our own screenplays, setting a point of view about cinema.

Dispatch

(n.) dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficientlyAs soon as the angry peasants stormed the castle, they caught the king and swiftly ________ him.(v.) the property of being prompt and efficientShe finished her thesis with _______, amazing her advisors who couldn't believe she hadn't written 60 scholarly pages so quickly.

Malcontent

(n.) dissatisfied; unhappy person

Braggadocio

(n.) empty boasting; bragging; a boasting person; braggart. Think: Prof. Lockhart in Harry Potter.

Hubris

(n.) excessive pride or self-confidence. A boxer who shouts "I'm the greatest!" even though he's about to get pummeled by a much stronger opponent is displaying a lot of this. 傲慢Bill Clinton was criticized for his ______, since he believed he could get away with anything once in the White House.

Precocity

(n.) exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age

Torpor

(n.) extreme mental and physical sluggishness. For a few weeks in April, I was overcome with ______ that prevented me from working on anything.

Jingoism

(n.) extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy.

Opulence

(n.) extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundanceRussian oligarchs are famous for their ________, living in fancy homes and dining on expensive caviar.

Chauvinism

(n.) fanatical patriotism; belief that one's group/cause is superior to all other groups/causesVegetarians argue that man is ____________ in his belief that animals do not consciously feel the pain we humans do.

Timidity

(n.) fear of the unknown or fear of making decisions. Origin: Latin "Timere" - "To Fear"

Apprehension

(n.) fearful expectationTest day can be one of pure ____________, as many students worry about their test scores.

Lucidness

(n.) free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expressionHis statesmanship was of a high order; his oratory ingenuous, generally courteous and conciliatory, and always entertaining, from its _________ and keenness.

Parsimony

(n.) frugality, stinginess

Fecklessness

(n.) general incompetence and ineffectiveness.________ politicians will invariably look to blame the other side for inaction.

Bombast

(n.) grandiloquent, pompous in speech and manner

Aplomb

(n.) great coolness and composure under strain. Think calm.Nancy acted with ______ during dangerous situations--she once calmly climbed up an oak tree to save a cat.

Avarice

(n.) greed (one of the seven deadly sins)The Spanish conquistadors were known for their _______, plundering Incan land and stealing Incan gold.

Asperity

(n.) harshness of mannerThe editor was known for his ________, often sending severe letters of rejection to amateur writers.

Misanthropy

(n.) hatred of mankind. LINKAGE: the "-anthrop-" in this word is related to "anthropology"Smartwatches are still uncommon enough that whenever I see somebody wearing one, I fight my inherent ___________ and ask how they like it.

Panacea

(n.) hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; a universal solution. = cure=all.While the company credit card has made most large purchases easier, it is no _______: some smaller basic transactions still must be conducted in cash.

Inequity

(n.) injustice by virtue of not conforming with rules or standardsAfter decades of racial ________, the "separate but equal" doctrine was successfully overturned.

Animosity

(n.) intense hostilityThe governor's _________ toward his rival was only inflamed when the latter spread false lies regarding the governor's first term.

Perfidy

(n.) intentional breach of faith; treacheryThe lowest circles in Dante's Inferno were for those who had practiced _______, and among these, the very lowest was for those, such as Judas, who had been treacherous to one of their benefactors.

Malfeasance

(n.) misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public officialNot even the mayor's trademark pearly-toothed grin could save him from charges of ___________: while in power, he'd been running an illegal gambling rink in the room behind his office.

Paragon

(n.) model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equalEven with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many still believe that Michael Jordon is the _______ for basketball players.(n.) an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a conceptSome say that Athens was the _______ of democracy, but these people often forget that slaves and women were still not allowed to vote.

Recrimination

(n.) mutual accusationsThe two brothers sat and cried, pointing fingers and making elaborate ______________ of the other's guilt.

Malefactor

(n.) offender; evildoer; criminal

Augury

(n.) omen; prophecy He interpreted the departures of the birds as a(n) _______ of evil.

Charlatan

(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quackYou may call him a "motivational speaker," but I call him a _________--he doesn't have any idea what he's really talking about.

Philistine

(n.) one who lacks culture or taste(adj.) smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural valuesJane considered Al completely __________, because he talked almost exclusive about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was.

Ascetic

(n.) one who leads a life of self-denial and contemplation; absent of luxury. (adj.) Abstinent or austere in lifestyle. Origin: Greek "asketes" = "monk"Historically, _______ like Ghandi are often considered wise men partially because of their restraint.(adj.) practicing self-denialHis _______ life is the main reason he inspired so many followers, especially since he gave up wealth andpower to live in poverty

Aesthete

(n.) one who loves beauty in art or natureA true ________, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same Picasso.

Spendthrift

(n.) one who spends money extravagantlyTaking weekly trips to Vegas, Megan was a ___________ whose excesses eventually caught up to her.

Dilletante

(n.) one who studies an art or science for mere amusement. 素人の愛好家.

Dilettante

(n.) one with an amateurish or superficial understanding of a field of knowledgeFred has no formal medical training; while he likes to claim authority on medical issues, he is little morethan a(n) __________.

Libertine

(n.) one without moral restraint

Pedestrian

(n.) ordinary or dull. =prosaic, quotidianWhile Nan was always engaged in philosophical speculation, her brother was occupied with far more __________ concerns: how to earn a salary and run a household.

Gadfly

(n.) person who continually annoys others

Decorum

(n.) propriety in manners and conduct

Rebus

(n.) puzzle in which pictures give clues

Temerity

(n.) rashness, boldnessNo child has the ________ to go in the rundown house at the end of the street and see if it is haunted.

Succor

(n.) relief, help in time of distress or want

Gumption

(n.) resourcefulness and determinationWallace Stegner lamented the lack of ________ in the U.S. during the sixties, claiming that no young person knew the value of work.

Primogeniture

(n.) right of inheritance belongs exclusively to the eldest son

Machination

(n.) scheming activity for an evil purpose

Diffidence

(n.) shyness; lack of confidenceThey asked him to be the team leader, but he expressed __________, saying that he didn't think he had enough time to do the job justice, nor did he think he had enough experience.

Moment

(n.) significant and important valueDespite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of no great ______ in Hampton's writing career, and within a few years the public quickly forgot his foray into theater arts.

Zealot

(n.) someone passionately devoted to a cause

Malingerer

(n.) someone shirking their duty by pretending to be sick or incapacitatedAt one time, our country was full of hardworking respectful people, but now it seems that everyone is a __________ with little inclination to work.

Firebrand

(n.) someone who deliberately creates troubleFreddie is a(n) firebrand: every time he walks into the office, he winds up at the center of heated argument.

Maverick

(n.) someone who exhibits great independence in thought and actionOfficer Kelly was a ________, rarely following police protocols or adopting the conventions for speech common among his fellow officers.

Pundit

(n.) someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly fieldSteven Pinker's credentials are unquestioned as a ______; he has taught at MIT and Stanford, teaches at Harvard, and has published a number of influential books on cognition, language, and psychology.

Contrivance

(n.) something contrived(n.) machine or apparatusThe spinning blade of a blender is a ___________ that turns fruits and yogurt into a tasty smoothie.(n.) clever deceitful plan, scheme

Chimera

(n.) something desired or wished for but is only an illusion and impossible to achieveMany believe that a world free of war is a ________—a dream that ignores humanity's violent tendancies.

Palimpsest

(n.) something that has been changed numerous times but on which traces of former iterations can still be seenThe downtown was a _________ of the city's checkered past: a new Starbucks had opened up next to an abandoned, shuttered building, and a freshly asphalted road was inches away from a pothole large enough to swallow a small dog.

Malapropism

(n.) the confusion of a word with another word that sounds similarWhenever I looked glum, my mother would offer to share "an amusing antidote" with me—an endearing ___________ of "anecdote" that never failed to cheer me up.

Denouement

(n.) the final resolution of the many strands of a literary or dramatic work; the outcome of a complex sequence of eventsAt the __________ of the movie, all questions were answered, and the true identity of the robber was revealed.

Apotheosis

(n.) the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climaxAs difficult as it is to imagine, the _________ of Mark Zuckerberg's career, many believe, is yet to come.

Acme

(n.) the highest point of achievementThe new Cessna airplanes will be the ____ of comfort, offering reclining seats and ample legroom.

Serendipity

(n.) the instance in which an accidental, fortunate discovery is madeBy pure __________, Sarah discovered, at a flea market in Peoria, a matching earring to replace the one that fell down the storm drain back home.

Nadir

(n.) the lowest pointFor many pop music fans, the rap and alternative-rock dominated 90s were the _____ of musical expression.

Pith

(n.) the most essential part of somethingWhen Cynthia hears a speaker presenting a complex argument, she is always able to discard the irrelevant details and extract the ____ of what the speaker is trying to convey.

Pusillanimity

(n.) the nature of showing a lack of courage

Heyday

(n.) the period of greatest power, vigor, success, or influence; the prime yearsDuring the ______ of Prohibition, bootlegging had become such a lucrative business that many who had been opposed to the 18th Amendment began to fear it would be repealed.

Apogee

(n.) the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the highest point, climaxThe ______ of the Viennese style of music, Mozart's music continues to mesmerize audiences well into the 21st century.

Candidness

(n.) the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speechAlthough I was unhappy that the relationship ended, I appreciated her __________ about why she was ready to move on from the relationship.

Exiguity

(n.) the quality of being meager. わずかであること。After two months at sea, the ________ of the ship's supplies forced them to search for fresh water and food.

Naivete

(n.) the quality of being unsophisticated or innocentBut I have always believed that deep down the rest of the world envies that American optimism and _______.

Volubility

(n.) the quality of talking or writing easily and continuouslyThe professor's __________ knows no bounds; he could talk through a hurricane and elaborate a point fromone St. Patrick's Day to the next.

Altruism

(n.) the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others; the exact opposite of selfishness. 利他主義的Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doing missionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking no reward, apparently motivated only by ________.

Rapprochement

(n.) the reestablishing of cordial relationsAlthough Ann hoped that her mother and her aunt would have a(n) _____________, each one's bitter accusations against the other made any reconciliation unlikely.

Ascendancy

(n.) the state that exists when one person or group has power over anotherThe __________ of the Carlsbad water polo team is clear—they have a decade of championships behind them.

Mendacity

(n.) the tendency to be untruthful. USAGE ALERT: Don't confuse with "audacity". I can forgive her for her _________ but only because she is a child and feels that prevaricating is her only way out of a sticky situation.

Diminutive

(n.) to indicate smallnessHe prefers to be called a _________ of his name: "Bill" instead of "John William."(adj.) very smallWhen he put on his father's suit and shoes, his appearance was that of a _________ youth.

Capitulate

(n.) to surrender (usually under agreed conditions)Paul, losing 19-0 in a ping-pong match against his nimble friend, basically __________ when he played the last two points with his eyes closed.

Inanity

(n.) total lack of meaning or ideasBill's poem was nothing more than a list of impressive sounding words, so there was no point in trying to take meaning from the _______.

Veracity

(n.) truthfulnessOne cannot deny Facebook's culpability in the spread of this "fake news" phenomenon; Facebook's business model relies on people clicking, sharing and engaging with content - photos, memes, opinions, news and gossip - regardless of ________.

Carp at (smth.)

(v. phrase) To find fault

Steel oneself against

(v. phrase) prepare mentally or emotionally for something unpleasant

Rile up

(v. phrase) to upset

Rescind

(v.) Annul, repeal make voidThe man's driver's license was _______ed after his tenth car accident, which meant he would never beallowed to legally drive again.

Denigrate

(v.) Belittle, attack the reputation of. =besmirchCount Rumford ________ed the new theory of heat, demonstrating that it was wholly inadequate toexplain the observations.

Supplant

(v.) Take the place of, displace, especially through sneaky tacticsFor many, a cell phone has __________ed a traditional phone; in fact, most 20-somethings don't even have a traditional phone anymore.

Begrudge

(v.) To allow reluctantlyWe never ________ money spent on ourselves.(v.) to envy someone for possessing or enjoying somethingSitting all alone in his room, Harvey _________ the happiness of the other children playing outside his window.

Rankle

(v.) To cause continuing anger or irritation. =rile.His constant whistling would ______ her, sometimes causing her to leave in a huff.

Misattribute

(v.) To erroneously attribute; to falsely ascribe; used especially of authorship.I made a mistake; I _____________ "Crime and Punishment" to Leo Tolstoy when it was actually written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Eeke

(v.) To live off meager resources, to scrape byStranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was able to ___ out an existence on canned food.

Assuage

(v.) To make something unpleasant less severe, pacify.Her fear that the new college would be filled with unknown faces was ________ when she recognized her childhood friend standing in line.

Subvert

(v.) To overthrow; To cause the downfall of; To undermine the principles of.

Straiten

(v.) To squeeze together; Bring into difficulties or distress

Lionize

(v.) Treat like a celebrity, assign great social importance toStudents in the U.S. learn to _______ Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington because they are the founding fathers of the nation.

Undermine

(v.) Weaken, cause to collapse by diffing away at the foundation (of a building or an argument); injure or attack in a secretive or underhanded wayThe student __________ed the teacher's authority by questioning the teacher's judgment on numerousoccasions.

Enervate

(v.) Weaken, tire, especially in an emotional or mental wayThough she was energized during a face-to-face interview, a phone conversation last week found her more __________, reflecting a hard new turn in her story.

Venerate

(v.) Worship, revere, regard with deep respect and aweMother Teresa was _________ for her work with the poor, and Gandhi was _________ for his efforts for peace.

Finagle

(v.) achieve something by means of trickery or devious methodsSteven was able to _______ one of the last seats on the train by convincing the conductor that his torn stub was actually a valid ticket.

Expound

(v.) add details or explanation; clarify the meaning; state in depthThe CEO refused to _______ on the decision to merge our department with another one, and so I quit.

Tout

(v.) advertize in strongly positive terms; show offAt the conference, the CEO ______ the extraordinary success of his company's Research & Development division.

Posit

(v.) assume as factInitially, Einstein _______ a repulsive force to balance Gravity, but then rejected that idea as a blunder.

Assail

(v.) attack in speech or writingIn the weekly paper, the editor ________ the governor for wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars in public projects that quickly failed.

Impute

(v.) attribute (responsibility or fault) to somethingHe _______ his sub-par performance on the test to a combination of stress and poor sleep.

Differentiate

(v.) be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait (sometimes in positive sense)Mozart's long melodic lines ______________ his compositions from other works of late 18th century music.(v.) evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environmentAnimals on Madagascar ______________ from other similar animal species due to many years of isolation on the island.

Impede

(v.) be a hindrance or obstacle toSince the police sergeant had to train the pair of new hires, progress in his own case was _______.

Flummox

(v.) be a mystery or bewildering toMary's behavior completely _________ me: I never have any idea what her motivations might be.

Browbeat

(v.) be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering mannerDuring the interrogation, the suspect was ___________ into signing a false confession.

Exemplify

(v.) be characteristic ofLincoln ___________ the best of not only America, but also the potential greatness that exists within each person.(v.) clarify by giving an example ofPlease present some case studies that _________ the results that you claim in your paper.

Prevail

(v.) be widespread in a particular area at a particular time; be current:During the labor negotiations, an air of hostility _________ in the office.(v.) prove superiorBefore the cricket match, Australia was heavily favored, but India _________.

Importune

(v.) beg persistently and urgentlyAfter weeks of ____________ the star to meet for a five-minute interview, the journalist finally got what she wanted.

Flounder

(v.) behave awkwardly; have difficultiesSylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has deal with taxes, she _________.

Elicit

(v.) call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)Just smiling--even if you are depressed--can ______ feelings of pleasure and happiness.

Rile

(v.) cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations. =rankleDan is usually calm and balanced, but it takes only one intense glare from Sabrina to ____ him.

Disseminate

(v.) cause to become widely knownBefore the effects of anaesthesia were ____________, patients had to experience the full pain of a surgery.

Crystallize

(v.) cause to take on a definite and clear shapeOnly after fifteen minutes of brainstorming did Samantha's ideas for the essay ___________.

Excoriate

(v.) censure or criticize severelyEntrusted with the prototype to his company's latest smartphone, Larry, during a late night karaoke bout, let the prototype slip into the hands of a rival company—the next day Larry was __________, and then fired.

Transmute

(v.) change or alter in form, appearance, or natureOne of the goals of alchemy was to find the substance or process that would _________ lead into gold.

Glean

(v.) collect information bit by bitHerb has given us no formal statement about his background, but from various hints, I have _______ that he grew up in difficult circumstances.

Derive

(v.) come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example; reason by deduction; establish by deduction

Vanquish

(v.) come out better in a competition, race, or conflictFor years, Argentina would dominate in World Cup qualifying matches, only to be _________ by one of the European countries during the late stages of the tournament.

Proscribe

(v.) command againstMy doctor _________ that I not eat donuts with chocolate sauce and hamburger patties for breakfast.

Vie

(v.) compete for somethingWhile the other teams in the division actively ___ for the championship, this team seems content simply to go through the motions of playing.

Dissemble

(v.) conceal one's true motives, usually through deceitTo get close to the senator, the assassin __________ his intentions, convincing many people that he was a reporter for a well-known newspaper.

Subsume

(v.) contain or include, (but there's an absorb connotation to the word)Maps of Amsterdam and Florida, Lagos and Dubai, Shanghai and Rio were shown ________ by floodwater.

Proselytize

(v.) convert to another religion, philosophy, or perspective. 改宗を迫るLisa loves her Mac but says little about it; by contrast, Jake will ___________, interrogating anyone with an Android about why she didn't purchase an iPhone.

Implicate

(v.) convey a meaning; implyBy saying that some of the guests were uncomfortable, the manager __________ to the hotel staff that it needed to be more diligent.(v.) to indicate in wrongdoing, usually a crimeThe crime boss was __________ for a long list of crimes, ranging from murder to disturbing the peace.

Lambaste

(v.) criticize severely or angrily. =rebuke, remonstrate, vituperateShowing no patience, the manager utterly _______ed the sales team that lost the big account.

Enumerate

(v.) determine the number or amount ofThe survey __________ the number of happy workers and the number of unhappy workers.(v.) specify individually, one by oneI sat and listened as she _________ all of the things she did not like about the past three months.

Demean

(v.) disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behaveAt first the soccer players bantered back and forth, but as soon as one of the players became ______ing, calling the other's mother a water buffalo, the ref whipped out a red card.

Perturb

(v.) disturb in mind or cause to be worried or alarmedNow that Henry is recovering from a major illnesses, he no longer lets the little trivialities, such as late mail, _______ him.

Deign

(v.) do something that one considers to be below one's dignityThe master of the house never _______ to answer questions from the servants.

Quail

(v.) draw back, as with fear or painCraig always claimed to be a fearless outdoorsman, but when the thunderstorm engulfed the valley, he _______ at the thought of leaving the safety of his cabin.

Extrapolate

(v.) draw from specific cases for more general casesBy _____________ from the data on the past three months, we can predict a 5% increase in traffic to our website.

Flag

(v.) droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness; become less intenseAfter the three crushing defeats in the last three games, the team's enthusiasm began to ____.

Underscore

(v.) emphasizeWhile the hiking instructor agreed that carrying a first aid kit could be a good idea under certain circumstances, he ___________ the importance of carrying enough water.

Machinate

(v.) engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear togetherThe rebels met at night in an abandoned barn to _________.

Augment

(v.) enlarge or increase; improveIdeally, the restaurant's _________ menu will expand its clientele and increase its profits.

Hail

(v.) enthusiastically acclaim or celebrate somethingMany college superstar athletes are ______ as the next big thing, but then flop at the professional level.

Banish

(v.) expel from a community, residence, or location; drive awayThe most difficult part of the fast was _________ thoughts of food.

Bemoan

(v.) express discontent or a strong regretWhile the CFO carefully explained all the reasons for the cuts in benefits, after the meeting employees ________ the cuts as further evidence that management was against them.

Objurgate

(v.) express strong disapproval of, reprimand. Note: "HOW DARE YOU!!" is an example of this verb.The manager spent an hour ___________ the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.

Renege

(v.) fail to fulfill a promise or obligationWe will no longer work with that vendor since it has ______ on nearly every agreement.

Dovetail

(v.) fit together tightly, as if by means of an interlocking jointAlthough Darwin's evolution and Mendel's genetics were developed in isolation from one another, they ________ each other very well.

Abjure

(v.) formally reject or give up (as a belief)While the church believed that Galileo _______ the heliocentric theory under threat of torture, he later wrote a book clearly supporting the theory.

Coalesce

(v.) fuse or cause to grow togetherOver time, the various tribes ________ into a single common culture with one universal language.

Entice

(v.) get someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promisesHarold _______ his wife, Maude, to go on a vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.

Delegate

(v.) give an assignment to (a person)Since the senior manager had to go on many international business trips, she was forced to ________ many of her responsibilities to two lower-level managers.

Besiege

(v.) harass, as with questions or requests; cause to feel distressed or worriedAfter discovering a priceless artifact in her backyard, Jane was ________ by phone calls, emails, and reporters all trying to buy, hold or see the rare piece of history.

Thwart

(v.) hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) ofI wanted to spend a week in New York this autumn, but the high costs of travel and lodging _________ my plans.

Stymie

(v.) hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment ofThe engineers found their plans _______ at every turn and were ultimately able to make amlost no progress on the project.

Encumber

(v.) hold backThe costume __________ all my movements and caused me to sweat profusely.

Enthrall

(v.) hold spellboundShe was so __________ by the movie that she never heard people screaming, "Fire! Fire!" in the neighboring theater.

Slight

(v.) insult to one's dignity; snub. Ex.: "She committed a major faux pas by that _____ in her Emmy acceptance speech; there was no mention of the fellow actors."

Equivocate

(v.) intentionally use vague language, =Prevaricate. Origin Latin: Think "equal"+"voice", as in giving equal voice to two different positions and not deciding on one.After Sharon brought the car home an hour after her curfew, she ___________ when her parents pointedly asked her where she had been.

Misconstrue

(v.) interpret in the wrong wayThe politician never trusted journalists because he thought that they ___________ his words and misrepresent his positions.

Irk

(v.) irritate or vexMy little sister has a way of ______ and annoying me like no other person.

Guffaw

(v.) laugh boisterouslyWhenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king ________, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth.

Reconcile

(v.) make (one thing) compatible with (another)The feminist question is how much our culture is prepared to _________ women and power.

Incense

(v.) make furiousWhen Herb bought football tickets for a game on the day of their wedding anniversary, Jill was ________.

Disarm

(v.) make less hostile; win over

Compound

(v.) make more intense, stronger, or more markedHer headache was __________ by the construction crew outside, which had six jackhammers going at the same time.

Rarefy

(v.) make more subtle or refinedJack's vulgar jokes were not so successful in the ________ environment of college professors.

Ossify

(v.) make rigid and set into a conventional patternEven as a young man, Bob had some bias against poor people, but during his years in social services, his bad opinions ________ into unshiftable views.

Buttress

(v.) make stronger or defensibleChina's economy has been __________ by a global demand for the electronic parts the country manufactures.

Obscure

(v.) make unclearOn the Smith's drive through the Grand Canyon, Mr. Smith's big head _______ed much of Mrs. Robinson's view, so that she only saw momentary patches of red rock.(adj.) known by only a few. =recondite.Many of the biggest movie stars were once ______ actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films.

Conflate

(v.) mix together, different elements or concepts.; COMBINE. 合成、融合. Origin Latin: "conflare" - "blow together".In her recent book, the author _________ several genres--the detective story, the teen thriller, and the vampire romance--to create a memorable read.

Tender

(v.) offer up something formallyThe government was loath to ______ more money in the fear that it might set off inflation.

Exude

(v.) ooze; display abundantlyTheir camera work ______ professionalism that eludes most of what you'll find on YouTube: the cuts are clean and well edited.

Appease

(v.) pacify by acceding to the demands of. 宥和Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister during WWII, tried to _______ Hitler and in doing so sent a clear message: you can walk all over us.

Devolve

(v.) pass on or delegate to anotherThe company was full of managers known for _________ tasks to lower management, but never doing much work themselves.(v.) grow worse (usually "_______ into")The dialogue between the two academics ________ into a downright bitter argument.

Exalt

(v.) praise or glorifyThe teenagers _______ the rock star, covering their bedrooms with posters of him.

Undergird

(v.) provide support or a firm basis forAmong the biggest market forces ____________ the high-profile opposition to Trump's climate policies is the recent embrace of clean energy.

Retract

(v.) pull inward or towards a center; formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressureEmail is wonderfully efficient, but once something awkward or damaging has been sent, there is no way to _______ it.

Brook

(v.) put up with something or somebody unpleasantWhile she was at the chalkboard, the teacher did not _____ any form of talking--even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention.

Resolve

(v.) reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberationAfter much thought, Ted ________ not to travel abroad this summer because he didn't have much money in his bank account.

Degrade

(v.) reduce in worth or character, usually verballyJesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy's faults in front of their friends, publicly _________ the poor girl.

Truncate

(v.) reduce the length of somethingThe soccer game was _________ when the monsoon rain began to fall.

Snub

(v.) refuse to acknowledge; reject outright and bluntlyWheeler was completely qualified for the committee, but the board _______ him, choosing an obviously lesser qualified candidate instead.

Balk

(v.) refuse to complyThe students were willing to clean up the broken glass, but when the teacher asked them to mop the entire floor, they ______, citing reasons why they needed to leave.

Spurn

(v.) reject with contemptShe _______ all his flattery and proposals, and so he walked off embarrassed and sad.

Manumit

(v.) release from slavery; set free

Buck

(v.) resistThe profits at our firm ______ the general downturn that affected the real estate industry.

Pillory

(v.) ridicule or expose to public scornAfter the candidate confessed, the press of the opposing party took the opportunity to _______ him, printing editorials with the most blatantly exaggerated accusations.

Lampoon

(v.) ridicule with satire. 諷刺するMark Twain understood that __________ a bad idea with humor was the most effective criticism.

Arrogate

(v.) seize and control without authorityArriving at the small town, the outlaw _________ the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.

Palaver

(v.) speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantlyDuring the rain delay, many who had come to see the game _________, probably hoping that idle chatter would make the time go by faster.

Vilify

(v.) spread negative information aboutTodd was noble after the divorce, choosing to say only complimentary things about Barbara, but Barbara did not hesitate to ______ Todd.

Dissipate

(v.) squander or spend money frivolouslyThe recent graduates __________ their earnings on trips to Las Vegas and cruises in Mexico.(v.) to disperse or scatterKathleen's perfume was overwhelming in the cramped apartment, but once we stepped outside the smell __________ and we could breathe once again.

Emulate

(v.) strive to equal or match, especially by imitating; compete with successfullyTo really become fluent in a new language, _______ the speech patterns and intonation of people who speak the language.

Squelch

(v.) suppress or crush completelyAfter the dictator consolidated his power, he took steps to ______ all criticism, often arresting any journalist who said anything that could be interpreted as negative about his regime.

Hornswoggle

(v.) swindle, cheat or dupe

Preempt

(v.) take the place of or have precedence overA governmental warning about an imminent terrorist attack would _______ ordinary network programming on television.

Conniving

(v.) taking part in immoral and unethical plotsThe queen was so _________ that, with the help of the prince, she tried to overthrow the king.

Pontificate

(v.) talk in a dogmatic and pompous mannerThe vice-president would often ___________ about economic theory, as if no one else in the room were qualified to speak on the topic.

Bridle

(v.) the act of restraining power or action or limiting excessNew curfew laws have _______ people's tendency to go out at night.(v.) anger or take offenseThe hostess _______ at the tactless dinner guests who insisted on eating before everybody had gotten their food.

Deliberate

(v.) think about carefully; weigh the pros and cons of an issueEmergency situations such as this call for immediate action and leave no room to __________ over options.

Probing

(v.) thoughtful, uncovering, digging deep. Usage alert: Doesn't always have to concern itself with an actual probe. More often, it's just more about being thoughtful.Boyd's emotional openness to the hidden complexities and contradictions buried within all of us, including himself, set the template for his _______ analysis of Nabokov.

Betray

(v.) to REVEAL or make known something, usually unintentionallyWith the gold medal at stake, the gymnast awaited his turn, his quivering lip _________ his intenseemotions.

Acquiesce

(v.) to accept without protest; to agree or submit

Adjudicate

(v.) to act as judge in a matter; to settle through the use of a judge or legal tribunal.The father ________ed when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance.

Espouse

(v.) to adopt or support an idea or cause. LINKAGE: spouse, as in wedding oneself to a certain belief.Not that Trump is Rand Paul, of course, but he does generally _______ a smaller role for government and bureaucracy than does Hillary Clinton.

Placate

(v.) to appease, soothe, pacify. =mollify, assuageI was able to _______ the angry mob of students by promising to bring cookies on Monday.

Quibble

(v.) to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details. It's better to watch figure skating with the sound off, rather than listening to the announcers _______ over a not-fully-rotated knee or the slightly diminished altitude of a jump.

Revile

(v.) to attack with words, call bad names, insult someone with abusive language

Prevaricate

(v.) to avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question, =equivocateTo Clinton's liberal critics, Warren is Clinton's opposite: steadfast where Clinton is _____________, authentic where Clinton is calculating.

Behoove

(v.) to be necessary or proper for. ○○にとって義務であるEx.: It would _______ both countries to avoid an international crisis over a robbery that may or may not have happened.

Antedate

(v.) to be older than; to have come beforeHarry was so ignorant that he was unaware the Egyptian pharaohs ________ the American Revolution.

Languish

(v.) to become weak, listless, or depressedStranded in the wilderness for four days, the hiker __________, eating protein bars and nuts.

Recrudesce

(v.) to break out or happen again. 再発After years of gamblers anonymous, Tony thought he'd broken his compulsive slot machine playing, but it took only one trip to the Atlantic City for a full __________--he lost $5k on the one armed bandit.

Effect

(v.) to bring about

Hector

(v.) to bully or intimidateThe boss's _________ manner put off many employees, some of whom quit as soon as they found new jobs.

Impugn

(v.) to call into question; to attack as falseThough many initially tried to ______ Darwin's theory, in scientific circles today, the is idea taken as truth.

Mollify

(v.) to calm or make less severeIn the morning, Harriat was unable to _______ Harry, if he happened to become angry, unless he had his cup of coffee.

Countermand

(v.) to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first, revoke. Think: COUNTER+comMANDBy the time the colonel ____________ his soldiers not to land in enemy territory, a few helicopters had already touched down amid heavy gunfire.

Fete

(v.) to celebrate a personAfter World War II, war heroes were ____ at first but quickly forgotten.

Chortle

(v.) to chuckle with glee.Walking past the bar, I could hear happy, _________ people and the blast of horns from a jazz band.

Vindicate

(v.) to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments or proof. 嫌疑を晴らすLawyers from the Innocence Project and the American Civil Liberties Union argued for fresh DNA testing that they believed would _________ him.(v.) show to be right by providing justification or proof, =justify. 正当化するStagnant wages and rising inequality seem to _________ critics of the "neoliberal" approach.(V.) maintain, uphold, or defendThe Justice Department will continue its efforts to _________ the rights of those individuals who are affected by bias-motivated crimes.

Corroborate

(v.) to confirm or lend support to (usually an idea or claim)Her claim that frog populations were falling precipitously in Central America was ___________ by locals, who reported that many species of frogs had seemingly vanished overnight.

Belie

(v.) to contradict, to give a false impressionThe smile on her face ______ the pain she must feel after the death of her husband.

Fleece

(v.) to deceiveMany people have been _______ by Internet scams and never received their money back.

Hoodwink

(v.) to deceive or trick someoneSomeone tried to ________ Marty with an email telling him that his uncle had just passed away, and to collect the inheritance he should send his credit card information.

Embellish

(v.) to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding detailsMcCartney would write relatively straightforward lyrics, and Lennon would _________ them with puns and poetic images.

Mulct

(v.) to defraud or swindleThe so-called magical diet cure simply ended up ________ Maria out of hundreds of dollars, but did nothing for her weight.

Execrate

(v.) to denounce as vile or evil; to curse; to detestThough the new sitcom did decently in the ratings, Nelson railed against the show, saying that it was nothing more than an __________ pastiche of tired cliché's and canned laughter.

Enjoin

(v.) to direct or order, to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative wayThe government agency ________ the chemical company to clean up the hazardous dump it had created over the years.

Bifurcate

(v.) to divide into two parts. 二分割する。The U.S. is ___________ into a nation of economic winners and losers, and this distinction is seeping into American culture.

Imbibe

(v.) to drink or absorb as if drinkingPlato _______ Socrates' teachings to such an extent that he was able to write volumes of work that he directly attributed, sometimes word for word, to Socrates.

Ennoble

(v.) to elevate, to raise in rank : The man was _______ by his true devotion to mankind.

Expunge

(v.) to eliminate completelyWhen I turned 18, all of the shoplifting and jaywalking charges were ________ from my criminal record.

Beg

(v.) to evade or dodge (a question)By assuming that Charlie was headed to college—which he was not—Maggie ______ the question when she asked him to which school he was headed in the Fall.

Censor

(v.) to examine and remove objectionable materialEvery fall, high school English teachers are inundated by requests to ______ their curriculum by removing The Catcher in the Rye and Scarlet Letter from their reading lists.

Galvanize

(v.) to excite or inspire (someone) to actionAt mile 23 of his first marathon, Kyle had all but given up, until he noticed his friends and family holdinga banner that read, "Go Kyle"; __________, he broke into a gallop, finishing the last three miles in lessthan 20 minutes.

Sublimate

(v.) to express a desire or feeling by changing it into a form that is socially acceptable

Reproach

(v.) to express criticism towardsAt first, Sarah was going to yell at the boy, but she didn't want to ________ him for telling the truth about the situation.

Champion

(v.) to fight for a causeMartin Luther King Jr. __________ civil rights fiercely throughout his short life.

Cavil

(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp, criticize petty things; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism

Inundate

(v.) to flood or overwhelmThe newsroom was ________ with false reports that only made it more difficult for the newscasters to provide an objective account of the bank robbery.

Stratify

(v.) to form or arrange in layers; to classify or separate into groups according to status

Indict

(v.) to formally charge or accuse of wrong-doingThe bank robber was ________ on several major charges, including possession of a firearm.

Abrogate

(v.) to formally repeal, cancel, declare null and voidAs part of the agreement between the labor union and the company, the workers ________ their right to strike for four years in exchange for better health insurance.

Disabuse

(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinkingAs a child, I was quickly ________ of the notion that Santa Claus was a rotund benefactor of infinite largess—one night I saw my mother diligently wrapping presents and storing them under our Christmas tree.

Appropriate

(v.) to give or take something by forceThe government _____________ land that was occupied by squatters, sending them scurrying for another place to live.(v.) to allocateThe committee ____________ the funds to its various members.

Wax

(v.) to gradually increase in size or intensityHer enthusiasm for the diva's new album only ______ with each song; by the end of the album, it was her favorite CD yet.

Defray

(v.) to help pay the cost of, either in part of fullIn order for Sean to attend the prestigious college, his generous uncle helped ______ the excessive tuition with a monthly donation.

Hamstring

(v.) to hobble, hinder, impedeThe FBI has made so many restriction on the local police that they are absolutely _________, unable to accomplish anything.

Stem

(v.) to hold back or limit the flow or growth of somethingTo ____ the tide of applications, the prestigious Ivy requires that each applicant score at least 330 on the Revised GRE.

Hobble

(v.) to hold back the progress of somethingBad weather has _______ rescue efforts, making it difficult for crews to find bodies in the wreckage.

Grovel

(v.) to humble oneself in a demeaning way, to act extremely submissive, 卑屈な態度を取るEvery time Susan comes to the office, Frank _______ as if she were about to fire.

Apprise

(v.) to inform

Exasperate

(v.) to irritate intenselyAs a child, I __________ my mother with strings of never-ending questions.

Check

(v.) to limit (usually modifying the growth of something)Deserted for six months, the property began to look more like a jungle and less like a residence—weeds grew _________ in the front yard(n.) the condition of being held back or limitedWhen government abuses are not kept in _____, that government is likely to become autocratic.

Circumscribe

(v.) to limit narrowly or restrict, to draw a circle aroundWhile U.S. is the biggest ally of Taiwan, its adherance to the One China policy has left the visits of high ranking Taiwanese offcials to the United States _____________.

Hedge

(v.) to limit or qualify a statement; to avoid making a direct statementWhen asked why he had decided to buy millions of shares at the very moment the tech companies stock soared, the CEO ______, mentioning something vague about gut instinct.

Inure

(v.) to make accustomed to something unpleasantThree years of Manhattan living has ______ her to the sound of wailing sirens; she could probably sleep through the apocalypse.

Daunt

(v.) to make afraid; to discourage

Err

(v.) to make an errorHe _____ in thinking that "indigent" and "indignant" were synonyms.

Elucidate

(v.) to make clear, to explainYoutube is great place to learn just about anything--an expert _________ finer points so that even a complete novice can learn.

Consecrate

(v.) to make holy or set apart for a high purposeAt the church of Notre Dame in France, the new High Altar was __________ in 1182.

Badger

(v.) to pester________ by his parents to find a job, the 30-year-old loafer instead joined a gang of itinerant musicians.

Relegate

(v.) to place in a lower position; to assign, refer, turn over; to banishWhen Dexter was unable to fulfill his basic duties, instead of firing him, the boss _________ him to kitchen cleanup.

Inhibit

(v.) to prevent, restrain, stop

Promulgate

(v.) to proclaim, make knownThe President wanted to __________ the success of the treaty negotiations, but he had to wait until Congress formally approved the agreement.

Contrive

(v.) to pull off a plan or scheme, usually through skill or trickeryDespite a low GPA, he _______ed to get into college, going so far as to write his own glowing letters of recommendation.

Dog

(v.) to pursue relentlessly; to houndThroughout his life, he was ______ by insecurities that inhibited personal growth.

Bristle

(v.) to react in an angry or offended mannerAs we discussed the painting, I noticed the artist's wife _________ at our criticisms, ready to defend her husband's work.

Peruse

(v.) to read very carefullyInstead of _________ important documents, people all too often rush to the bottom of the page and plaster their signatures at the bottom.

Attenuate

(v.) to reduce in force or degree; weaken.Ex.: The benefits of exercise will be ________ed by excessive overeating.

Bowdlerize

(v.) to remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film, etc.)To recieve an R rating, the entire movie was ___________ because it contained so much violence and grotesque subject matter.

Expurgate

(v.) to remove objectionable materialThe censor _________ every reference to sex and drugs, converting the rapper's raunchy flow into a series of bleeps.

Chastise

(v.) to reprimand harshlyThough _________ for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother's harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts.

Abscond

(v.) to run off and hide

Dupe

(v.) to trick or swindleOnce again a get-rich-fast Internet scheme had _____ Harold into submitting a $5,000 check to a sham operation.(n.) a person who is easily tricked or swindledThe charlatan mistook the crowd for a bunch of _____, but the crowd was quickly on to him and decried his bald-faced attempt to bilk them.

Exhort

(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestlyNelson's parents ________ him to study medicine, urging him to choose a respectable profession; intransigent, Nelson left home to become a graffiti artist.

Meander

(v.) to wander about, wind about; (n.) a sharp turn or twistA casual observer might have thought that Peter was __________ through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited.

Vacillate

(v.) to waver; to sway indecisively, both in the sense of the actual motion and making choices, =vibrate, hesitate, waver.Trump's __________ between praising Obama for how he's handled the transition, and criticizing him over it on Twitter.

Desecrate

(v.) to willfully violate or destroy a sacred placeAfter ___________ the pharaoh's tomb, the archaeologist soon fell victim to a horrible illness.

Propitiate

(v.) to win over, appeaseThe two sons, plying their angry father with cheesy neckties for Christmas, were hardly able to __________ him - the father already had a drawer full of ones he had never worn or ever planned to.

Patronize

(v.) treat condescendinglyShe says she genuinely wanted to help me, but instead she __________ me, constantly pointing out how I was inferior to her.

Deride

(v.) treat or speak of with contemptThe nun _______ the students for trying to sneak insects and worms into the classroom.

Cosset

(v.) treat with excessive indulgenceThe king and queen ________ the young prince, giving him a prized miniature pony for his fifth birthday.

Fawn

(v.) try to gain favor by extreme flatteryThe media ______ over the handsome new CEO, praising his impeccable sense of style instead of asking more pointed questions.

Deter

(v.) turn away from by persuasionHis mother tried to _____ him from joining the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen.(v.) try to prevent; show opposition toThe government's primary job should involve _________ paths to war, not finding ways to start them.

Nonplussed

(v.) unsure how to act or respondShirley was totally __________ when the angry motorist cut her off and then stuck his finger out the window.

Goad

(v.) urge on with unpleasant commentsDoug did not want to enter the race, but Jim, through a steady stream of taunts, ______ him into signing up for it.

Belabor

(v1.) to work on excessively (v.2) to thrash soundly

Tacit

understood or implied without being stated; implied

Litigious

(adj) willing and likely to pursue a lawsuit

Unpropitious

(adj.) (of a circumstance) with little chance of successWith only a bottle of water and a sandwich, the hikers faced a(n) ____________ task: ascending a huge mountain that took most two days to climb.

Expansive

(adj.) (of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in sizeAfter a few sips of cognac, the octogenarian shed his irascible demeanor and became _________, speaking fondly of the "good old days".

Internecine

(adj.) (of conflict) within a group or organization; =internal.The guerilla group, which had become so powerful as to own the state police, was finally destroyed by an ___________ conflict.

Lucid

(adj.) (of language) transparently clear; easily understandable. Usage Alert: Has NOTHING to do with intelligence. ORIGIN Latin: "lucidus" - "light or clear"Though Walters writes about physics and time travel, his writing is always _____, so readers with little scientific training can understand difficult concepts.

Plodding

(adj.) (of movement) slow and laboriousCharlie may seem to run at a ________ pace, but he is an ultramarathoner, meaning he runs distances of up to 100 miles, and can run for ten hours at a stretch.

Quotidian

(adj.) Daily; everyday, ordinary. =pedestrian, prosaicRice is so _________ in Japan that it can easily fade into the background.

Voluble

(adj.) Easily fluent in regards to speech

Symbiotic

(adj.) Mutually beneficial; supporting one another's life

Pejorative

(adj.) Negative and critical; insulting. Ex.: Tree-hugger is a __________ term for an environmentalist.

Reticent

(adj.) Reserved, reluctant to draw attention to one's selfGerman officials were _________ when asked about possible disputes that might overshadow Ms. Merkel's meeting with Mr. Trump.

Adverse

(adj.) Undesired, possibly harmful. USAGE ALERT: Do not mistake with AVERSE.While controlled, social drinking doesn't pose any _______ physical or psychological side effects, heavy drinking certainly does.

Dicey

(adj.) Unpredictable

Laconic

(adj.) Using few words, concise. =taicturnAs opposed to saying "_______ is an adjective that describes a style of speaking or writing that uses only a few words, often to express complex thoughts and ideas", it is _______ to just say "______ means brief".

Prodigal

(adj.) Wasteful, extravagant; giving abundantly, lavish. 放蕩He is extravagant―wasteful of money―________ of expense.Successful professional athletes who end up forsaking their _______ lives seem to be the exception - most live decadent lives.

Candid

(adj.) a straightforward and honest look at somethingEven with a perfect stranger, Charles was always ______ and would rarely hold anything back.

Spasmodically

(adj.) at irregular intervals; intermittently

Doughty

(adj.) brave; bold; courageousI enjoy films in which a _______ group comes together to battle a force of evil.

Heterogeneous

(adj.) composed of different kinds, diverse

Doting

(adj.) extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring

Auspicious

(adj.) favorable; fortunate. While a sunny day is favorable for photo-ops, its actually doesn't provide __________ conditions for marathons because it causes excessive dehydration in runners.

Putative

(adj.) generally regarded as such on inconclusive grounds; reputed; hypothesized, inferred

Nonpareil

(adj.) having no equal; peerless. 無双

Dogmatic

(adj.) highly opinionated, not accepting that your belief may not be correct

Callow

(adj.) immatureBoth Los Angeles and New York are known for ______ out-of-towners hoping to make it big.

Ineluctable

(adj.) impossible to avoid or evade, =unavoidable.For those who smoke cigarettes for years, a major health crisis brought on by smoking is ___________.

Embroiled

(adj.) involved in argument or contentionThese days we are never short of a D.C. politician _________ in scandal—a welcome phenomenon for those who, having barely finished feasting on the sordid details of one imbroglio, can sink their teeth into a fresh one.

Bumbling

(adj.) lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands

Appreciable

(adj.) large enough to be noticed (usu. refers to an amount)There is a(n) ___________ difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done.

Perennial

(adj.) lasting for a long time, persistent; (n.) a plant that lives for many years. Origin: Latin "per"+"annus" - "through"+"year"Even at the old-timers games, Stan Musial would get the loudest cheer: he was a _________ favorite of the fans there.

Feckless

(adj.) lazy and irresponsibleTwo years after graduation, Charlie still lived with his parents and had no job, becoming more ________ with each passing day.

Lascivious

(adj.) lecherous; sexually pervertedLolita is a challenging novel for many, not necessarily because of the elevated prose style but because of the depravity of the main character, Humbert Humbert, who, as an old, __________ man, falls in love with a girl.

Fickle

(adj.) liable to sudden unpredictable change, esp. in affections or attachmentsShe was so ______ in her politics, it was hard to pinpoint her beliefs; one week she would embrace a side, and the next week she would denounce it.

Meteoric

(adj.) like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transienceThe early spectacular successes propelled the pitcher to ________ stardom, but a terribly injury tragically cut short his career.

Avuncular

(adj.) like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant

Affable

(adj.) likeable; easy to talk toFor all his surface __________, Marco was remarkably glum when he wasn't around other people.

Tendentious

(adj.) likely to lean towards a controversial viewBecause political mudslinging has become a staple of the 24-hour media cycle, most of us, despite protestations to the contrary, are tendentious on many of today's pressing issues.

Forlorn

(adj.) lonely, hopelessAfter her third pet dog died, Marcia was simply _______: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog no longer held any joy.

Prolix

(adj.) long-winded and wordy; tending to speak or write in such a way; using way too many words.No one doubts that many of the great novelists of the past are somewhat tedious and ______.

Pedantic

(adj.) marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning, especially its trivial aspectsComey's testimony revealed the encounters between a skilled, sometimes ________ student of the Constitution and an amateur with no moral governor and no prudent counsel.

Foolhardy

(adj.) marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequencesThe police regularly face dangerous situations, so for a police officer not to wear his bullet-proof vest is _________.

Rash

(adj.) marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences; imprudently incurring riskAlthough Bruce was able to make the delivery in time with a nightime motorcycle ride in the rain, Susan criticized his actions as ____.

Smug

(adj.) marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfactionWhen Phil was dating the model, he had a ____ attitude that annoyed his buddies.

Vehement

(adj.) marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictionsWhile the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way, Andrew responded in a ________ manner, tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.

Steadfast

(adj.) marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakableA good captain needs to be _________, continuing to hold the wheel and stay the course even during the most violent storm.

Enamored

(adj.) marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness; totally infatuatedShe is completely ________ with Justin Bieber, and goes to all his concerts on the East coast.

Haphazard

(adj.) marked by great carelessness; dependent upon or characterized by chanceMany golf courses are designed with great care, but the greens on the county golf course seem entirely_________.

Elephantine

(adj.) massive; clumsy; enormous

Tempered

(adj.) moderated in effectThe wide-eyed optimism of her youth was now ________ after she had worked many years in the criminal justice system.

Disingenuous

(adj.) not straightforward; giving a false appearance of franknessMany adults think that they can lie to children, but kids are smart and know when people are ____________.

Immutable

(adj.) not subject to change, constantTaxes are one of the _________ laws of the land, so there is no use arguing about paying them.

Posthumous

(adj.) occurring or published after death

Saturnine

(adj.) of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in moodDeprived of sunlight, humans become _________; that's why in very northerly territories people are encouraged to sit under an extremely powerful lamp, lest they become morose.

Moot

(adj.) of no matter or consequence; not important.Since the Board just terminated Steve as the CEO, what the finance committee might have thought of his proposed marketing plan for next year is now a ____ point.

Venal

(adj.) open to or marked by bribery or corruption Origin: Latin "venum" = "something for sale", related to VENdor

Overt

(adj.) open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

Leery

(adj.) openly distrustful and unwilling to confideWithout checking his references and talking to previous employers, I am _____ of hiring the candidate.

Humdrum

(adj.) ordinary, dull, routine, without variation. Was life that dull, that boring and ________ for people?

Gregarious

(adj.) outgoing; sociableOften we think that great leaders are those who are __________, always in the middle of a large group ofpeople; yet, as Mahatma Gandhi and many others have shown us, leaders can also be introverted.

Indefatigable

(adj.) persisting tirelessly, 疲れ知らず

Omnipresent

(adj.) present in all places at all times

Dispassionate

(adj.) unaffected by strong emotion or prejudiceA good scientist should be _____________, focusing purely on what the evidence says, without personal attachment.

Irresolute

(adj.) uncertain how to act or proceed. 態度がはっきりしない様、優柔不断He stood __________ at the split in the trail, not sure which route would lead back to the camp.

Unforthcoming

(adj.) uncooperative, not willing to give up informationThe teacher demanded to know who broke the window while he was out of the room, but the students understandably were ____________.

Provisional

(adj.) under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed uponUntil the corporate office hands down a definitive decision on use of the extra offices, we will share their use in a ___________ arrangement.

Inauspicious

(adj.) unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future

Bereft

(adj.) unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited loveAfter 64 years of marriage, William was ______ after the death of his wife.(adj.) sorrowful through loss or deprivation"You are not ______ if you haven't played on your Xbox in the past week," his mother said.

Desiccated

(adj.) uninteresting, lacking vitalityFew novelists over 80 are able to produce anything more than __________ works--boring shadows of former books.

Contrived

(adj.) unnatural and forced; artificial; not spontaneous. Ex.: The ending was rather ______.

Precarious

(adj.) unstable, insecure, dangerousPeople smoke to relax and forget their cares, but ironically, in terms of health risks, smoking is far more __________ than either mountain-climbing or skydiving.

Loath

(adj.) unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom (usually followed by 'to')I was _____ to leave the concert before my favorite band finished playing.

Taxing

(adj.) use to the limit; exhaustThe hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so ______ that I could barely speak or stand up.

Hackneyed

(adj.) used so often as to lack freshness or originalityCheryl rolled her eyes when she heard the lecturer's _________ advice to "be true to yourself."

Fastidious

(adj.) very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail. =picky, meticulousWhitney is __________ about her shoes, arranging them on a shelf in a specific order, each pair evenly spaced.

Punctilious

(adj.) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety, fussy over detailsThe colonel was so __________ about enforcing regulations that men fell compelled to polish even the soles of their shoes.

Unstinting

(adj.) very generousHelen is __________ with her time, often spending hours at the house of a sick friend.

Splenetic

(adj.) very irritableEver since the car accident, Frank has been unable to walk without a cane, and so he has become _________ and unpleasant to be around.

Capacious

(adj.) very spaciousThe workers delighted in their new ________ office space.

Hobnobbing

(n.) Socializing, esp. with those of a higher social rank.

Ampersand

(n.) The character &; and.

Calumny

(n.) a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation. 誹謗中傷.With the presidential primaries well under way, the air is thick with _______, and the mud already waist-high.

Umbrage

(n.) a feeling of anger caused by being offendedSince he was so in love with her, he took _______ at her comments, even though she had only meant to gently tease him.

Presentiment

(n.) a feeling of evil to comeOn the night that Lincoln would be fatally shot, his wife had a(n) ____________ about going to Ford's Theater, but Lincoln persuaded her that everything would be fine.

Solicitude

(n.) a feeling of excessive concern. おせっかいWhen you're sick in bed, it's nice to have someone around to treat you with __________, hovering nearby, bringing you cups of tea, and handing you tissues all day.

Euphoria

(n.) a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elationThe ________ of winning her first gold medal in the 100 meter dash overwhelmed Shelly-Ann Fraser and she wept tears of immense joy.

Complacency

(n.) a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

Juggernaut

(n.) a force that cannot be stoppedNapoleon was considered a(n) __________ until he decided to invade Russia in winter; after which, his once indomitable army was decimated by cold and famine.

Vignette

(n.) a short, usually descriptive, piece of writing

Semblance

(n.) an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleadingWhile the banker maintained a _________ of respectability in public, those who knew him well were familiar with his many crimes.

Reservation

(n.) an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedlyI was initially excited by the idea of a trip to Washington, D.C. but now that I have read about the high crime statistics there, I have some ____________.

Legion

(n.) any large group or number; (adj.) many, numerous

Contention

(n.) assertion; claim; thesis; struggling; competition

Compendium

(n.) brief, comprehensive summary

Valor

(n.) great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle

Discord

(n.) lack of agreement or harmonyDespite all their talented players, the team was filled with _______--some players refused to talk to others--and lost most of their games.

Insouciance

(n.) lack of concernSurprisingly, Hank had become a high-powered CEO; his high school friends remembered him as "Hanky Panky", who shrugged off each failed class with ___________.

Inquisitor

(n.) one who inquires, especially in a hostile manner

Anachronism

(n.) something that is inappropriate for the given time period (usually something old).Dressed in 15th century clothing each day, Edward was a walking ___________.

Anomaly

(n.) something that is not normal, standard, or expectedAfter finding an _______ in the data, she knew that she would have to conduct her experiment again.

Travail

(n.) strenuous physical or mental labor or effort. Ex.: The _______s of regular civilians might seem entirely separate from Mr. Cosby, who is American royalty.

Obloquy

(n.) strong disapproval, =calumny, defamation. Origin Latin: "ob"+"loqui" - "against"+"to speak"As a result, she became an unwilling media figure and victim who, long after her father's conviction and imprisonment, was subjected to _______ and harassment.(n.) a bad reputation resulting from public criticism.While Jacobs went on to enjoy a distinguished career as author and urbanist, Moses descended into increasing _______.

Chagrin

(n.) strong feelings of embarrassmentMuch to the timid writer's _______, the audience chanted his name until he came back on the stage.(v.) cause to feel shame; hurt the pride ofShe never cared what others said about her appearance but was _________ by the smallest comment from her mother.

Obstinancy

(n.) stubbornness; resistance to treatment

Celerity

(n.) swiftness, rapidity of motion or action.We aim to respond to customers' questions with ________ and accuracy, with no longer than a 24 hour wait time.

Credulity

(n.) tendency to believe readilyVirginia's wide-eyed _________ as a five-year old was replaced by suspicion after she learned that Santa Claus didn't really exist.

Beatification

(n.) the action of rendering supremely blessed and extremely happy

Ontology

(n.) the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.

Hoi Polloi

(n.) the common people, the masses

Oeuvre

(n.) the complete work of an artist, composer, or writer

Venality

(n.) the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruptionEven some of the most sacrosanct sporting events are not immune to ________, as many of the officials have received substantial bribes to make biased calls.

Pinnacle

(n.) the highest pointAt its ________, the Roman Empire extended across most of the landmass of Eurasia, a feat not paralleled to the rise of the British Empire in the 18th and 19th century.

Apex

(n.) the highest pointThe Ivy League is considered the ____ of the secondary education system.

Zenith

(n.) the highest point; culminationAt the ______ of his artistic career, Elvis was outselling any other artist on the charts.

Eponym

(n.) the name derived from a person (real or imaginary); the person for whom something is namedAlexandria, Egypt is an _____ because it is named after Alexander the Great.

Dissimilation

(n.) the process by which two nearby things become less alike with respect to some feature.

Artlessness

(n.) the quality of innocenceI, personally, found the ___________ of her speech charming.

Purview

(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something

Indifference

(n.) the trait of seeming not to careIn an effort to fight _____________, the president of the college introduced a new, stricter grading system

Chicanery

(n.) trickery; deception

Qualm

(n.) uneasiness about the fitness of an actionWhile he could articulate no clear reason why Harkner's plan would fail, he neverless felt ______ about committing any resources to it.

Hauteur

(n.) {Hoe-tur} Overbearing pride, ArroganceAs soon as she won the lottery, Alice begin displaying a _______ to her friends, calling them dirty-clothed peasants behind their backs.

Panegyric

(n.) {pan-e-jirik}Formal or lofty expression of praise. 賞賛しまくる様Business dinners are usually started with going down the litany of speakers who have prepared _________ statements sucking up to the most important person in the room.

Vitriol

(n.) {vit-ree-al} cruel and bitter criticismHis _______ spewed forth from a deep-seated racism that consumed his whole life.

Denote

(v) be a name or symbol for. "Stands for"Even if the text is not visible, the red octagon _______ "stop" to all motorists in America.

Upbraid

(v.) Find fault with, criticize or scold severelyMary _________ the hair stylist for messing up her braids, on the day before her senior prom.

Concede

(v.) Give in, admit, yield. Acknowledge defeat.(v.) acknowledge reluctantlyAfter a long, stern lecture from her father, Olivia ________ to having broken the window.(v.) grant or give up (such as giving up land after losing war)The Spanish were forced to _______ much of the territory they had previously conquered.

Burgeon

(v.) Grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or shoots (of a plant).萌芽Some longtime residents say law enforcement bears some of the responsibility for the gang's rise because it ignored the __________ problem for years.

Abstain

(v.) Hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or unhealthy) ; decline to vote

Ameliorate

(v.) Improve; make better or more bearableAn air conditioner can __________ the discomfort of a stiflingly hot summer day.

Ingratiate

(v.) Make an effort to gain favor with, to kiss up to someoneThere would be a queue of leaders, eager to __________ themselves with a country on the threshold of magnificent liberation.

Juxtapose

(v.) Place side by side (either physically or in a metaphorical way, such as to make a comparison)The meaning of her paintings comes from a classical style which _________s modern themes.

Engender

(v.) Produce, give rise to, cause to exist; procreateThe restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were so severe that they ________ed deep hatred andresentment in the German people.

Refute

(v.) Prove to be falseTo rebut is to try to prove something isn't true, but to _______ is to actually prove it isn't.

Culminate

(v.) Reach the highest point or final stage

Repudiate

(v.) Reject, cast off, deny that something has authority. 否認・拒絶. Origin: Latin "repudiare" - "to put away, divorce"The restaurant chain also _________ reports that it "knowingly employs racists and promotes racist theology."

Admonish

(v.) Scorn; caution, advise, or remind to do somethingBefore the concert began, security personnel ________ed the crowd not to come up on stage during theperformance.

Confound

(v.) To confuse and frustrateAmericans often ________ sweet potatoes with yams, and refer to both vegetables by the same name.

Mollycoddle

(v.) To overindulge, pamper too much

Ascribe

(v.) attribute or credit toHistory _______ The Odyssey and The Iliad to Homer, but scholars now debate whether he was a historical figure or a fictitious name.

Circumvent

(v.) cleverly find a way out of one's duties or obligations

Decry

(v.) express strong disapproval ofThe entire audience erupted in shouts and curses, ________ the penalty card issued by the referee.

Aggregate

(v.) gather; accumulate

Afford

(v.) provide with an opportunityThe summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro _______ a panoramic view that encompasses both Tanzania and Kenya.

Simper

(v.) smile or gesture in an affectedly coquettish, coy, or ingratiating manner.

Aver

(v.) to affirm, declare confidently

Trounce

(v.) to beat severely, defeat

Kowtow

(v.) to bow or act in a subservient mannerPaul ________ to his boss so often the boss herself became nauseated by his sycophancy.

Adulterate

(v.) to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value

Exorcise

(v.) to dispose of something troublesome, menacing, or oppressive

Abet

(v.) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy)

Malinger

(v.) to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill

Disbar

(v.) to expel from the practice of law

Cow

(v.) to intimidateDo not be _____ by a 3,000-word vocabulary list: turn that list into a deck of flashcards!

Hound

(v.) to pursue relentlesslyAn implacable foe of corruption, Eliot Ness _______ out graft in all forms—he even helped nab Al Capone.

Abate

(v.) to reduce in amount, degree, or severity

Bloviate

(v.) to speak pompously

Avert

(v.) turn awayAfraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, I _______ my eyes as we drove by.(v.) ward off or preventThe struggling video game company put all of its finances into one final, desperate project to _____ bankruptcy.

Aboveboard

(adj & adv.)without dishonesty or concealment.The mayor, despite his avuncular face plastered about the city, was hardly __________ - some concluded that it was his ingratiating smile that allowed him to engage in corrupt behavior and get away with it.

Inured

(adj) accustomed to accepting something undesirable; made accustomed to by habitual exposure. Related: desensitized

Intractable

(adj) difficult to control, manage, or manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn. The President's rightly focused on how do we move forward from what may simply be a(n) __________ disagreement at this point.

Mercurial

(adj) quickly unpredictably changing moods; fickle, flighty 情緒不安定The fact that Ella's moods were as _________ as the weather was problematic for her relationships--it didn't help that she lived in Chicago.

Eclectic

(adj) selecting the best of everything or from many diverse sources, 取捨選択的に. Mad Men has an ________ choice of music for its soundtrack, with pieces only from the age, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Sinatra.

Qualify

(adj) to be legally competent or capableIf James had made more than $50,000 last year, then he wouldn't have _______ed for the low-incomescholarship.(v.) to make less severe(v.) to limit (a statement)Chris _______ed his love for San Francisco, adding that he didn't like the weather as much as the weatherin Los Angeles.

Peripatetic

(adj) travelling from place to place (especially by foot). =itinerantJim always preferred a ___________ approach to discovering a city: he felt that he could see so many more details while walking.

Exacting

(adj) very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention. =demanding.Though his childhood piano teacher was so ________, Max is thankful now, as a professional pianist.

Aesthetic

(adj.) Concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste, pertaining to the science of what is beautiful. 美的The director, not known for his _________ sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all, and put on theplay in everyday clothing.(n.) a sense of beauty and taste of a particular time and place. 美学The artist operated according to a peculiar _________, not considering any photograph to be worthpublishing unless it contained a marine mammal.

Polemical

(adj.) Controversial. Origin: Latin "Polemos" = "war". Usage Alert: the meaning is slightly different from "polemic"The president slammed Trump for making _________ comments daily and said controversies surrounding Clinton did not compare.

Antithetical

(adj.) Directly opposed, opposite; involving antithesis (the rhetorical act of placing two phrases opposite one another for contrast, as in love me or hate me)His deep emotional involvement with these ideas is, in fact, ____________ to the disattachment Buddhismpreaches.

Languid

(adj.) Drooping from exhaustion, sluggish, slow; lacking in spiritAs the sun beat down and the temperature climbed higher, we spent a _______ week lying around the house.

Frugal

(adj.) Economical, thrifty, not wasteful with money; inexpensive. =parsimoniousMonte was no miser, but was simply _______, wisely spending the little that he earned.

Sated

(adj.) Satisfied; provided with more than enough

Disinterested

(adj.) Unbiased, impartial; not interestedThe potential juror knew the defendant, and therefore could not serve on the jury, which must consistonly of _____________members.

Caustic

(adj.) able to burn or eat away by chemical action; biting, sarcastic

Palatable

(adj.) acceptable to the taste or mindMikey didn't partake much in his friends' conversations, but found their presence _________.

Perspicacious

(adj.) acutely insightful and wiseMany modern observers regard Eisenhower as _____________, particularly in his accurate prediction of the growth of the military.

Estimable

(adj.) admirable, deserving of respect. Think: ESTeem.After serving thirty years, in which he selflessly served the community, Judge Harper was one of the more _________ people in town.

Becoming

(adj.) appropriate, and matches nicelyHer dress was _______ and made her look even more beautiful.

Aphrodisiac

(adj.) arousing sexual desire

Haughty

(adj.) arrogant, condescending. Hints a sense of pride. Ex.: While many American cynics like to think of the French as a backward-leaning, _______ and frivolous people, reality paints a different picture.

Factitious

(adj.) artificial; not naturalThe defendant's story was largely _________ and did not accord with eyewitness testimonies

Tempestuous

(adj.) as if driven by turbulent or conflicting emotions; highly energetic and wildly changing or fluctuatingChuck and Kathy had always been stable and agreeable people on their own, but when they got involved, it was a(n) ___________ relationship.

Sycophantic

(adj.) attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery. Note: A teacher's pet is usually characterized by behavior of this character.

Conjectural

(adj.) based on guesswork, =hypothetical, supposed.Although Morgan's evidence was indirect, his idea quickly became reified, and most geologists forgot that mantle plumes were a ___________ concept rather than an observation.

Obtain

(adj.) be valid, applicable, or trueThe custom of waiting your turn in line does not ______ in some countries, in which many people try to rush to the front of the line at the same time.

Tantamount

(adj.) being essentially equal to somethingIn many situations, remaining silent is _________ to admitting guilt, so speak to prove your innocence

Fecund

(adj.) being highly fertile and easily producing offspring or fruit. Origin: Latin "fecundus" = "fruitful". The rabbit was chosen as the Playboy magazine's mascot because of its ______ nature.

Coterminous

(adj.) being of equal extent or scope or duration. =commensurate. USAGE ALERT: do not confuse with "contingent (upon)"The border of the state is __________ with geographic limits on travel; the east and north are surrounded by a nearly uncrossable river and the south by a desert.

Mordant

(adj.) biting and caustic in thought, manner, or styleWhile Phil frequently made _______ remarks about company policy overall, he always was considerably gentler in discussing any person in particular.

Irreproachable

(adj.) blameless; impeccable; not deserving of criticism.The acting, writing and directing is ______________, but there's something missing at its core.

Beatific

(adj.) blissfully happyOften we imagine all monks to wear the ________ smile of the Buddha, but, like any of us, a monk can have a bad day and not look very happy.

Audacious

(adj.) bold, adventurous, recklessly daring. Those people who applied to be one the first manned mission to Mars are ______; they have no assurance of returning to Earth.

Peremptory

(adj.) bossy and domineeringMy sister used to ___________ tell me to do the dishes, a chore I would either do perfunctorily or avoid doing altogether.

Serene

(adj.) calm and peacefulI'd never seen him so ______; usually, he was a knot of stress and anxiety from hours of trading on the stock exchange.

Malleable

(adj.) capable of being shaped or bent or drawn outThe clay became _________ and easy to work with after a little water was added.(adj.) easily influenced. =Tractable.My little brother is so _________ that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me.

Provident

(adj.) careful in regard to your own interests; providing carefully for the future. 将来を配慮したIn a move that hardly could be described as _________, Bert spend his entire savings on a luxurious cruise, knowing that other bills would come due a couple months later.

Feted

(adj.) celebrated. Remember: fête in French means "party".

Parochial

(adj.) confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish; limited in range or scopeJasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling relationship with Jacob did not work out because his culinary tastes were simply too _________; "After all," she quipped on her blog, "he considered Chef Boyardee ethnic food."

Esoteric

(adj.) confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circleMap collecting is a(n) ________ hobby to most, but to geography geeks it is a highly enjoyable past time.

Genial

(adj.) cordial, pleasantly cheerful or warmBetty is a _______ young woman: everyone she meets is put at ease by her elegance and grace.

Creditable

(adj.) deserving of praise but not that amazingCritics agreed the movie was __________, but few gave it more than three out of five stars.

Unctuous

(adj.) exaggeratedly or insincerely polite

Doleful

(adj.) filled with or evoking sadnessNo event is more _______ than the passing of my mother; she was a shining star in my life, and it brings me great sadness to think that she is now gone.

Sordid

(adj.) filthy, contemptible and corrupt. Origin: Latin "sordes" - "dirt"The nightly news simply announced that the senator had had an affair, but the tabloid published all the ______ details of the interaction.

Entrenched

(adj.) fixed firmly or securelyBy the time we reach 60-years old, most of our habits are so ___________ that it is difficult for us tochange.

Cogent

(adj.) forceful, convincing; relevant, to the pointA ______ argument will change the minds of even the most skeptical audience.

Deleterious

(adj.) harmful to living things. =detrimentalThe BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was ___________ to the fishing industry in the southern states.

Innocuous

(adj.) harmless, inoffensive; insignificantEveryone found Nancy's banter _________ - except for Mike, who felt like she was intentionally picking on him.

Acerbic

(adj.) harsh and biting in tone. THINK: ACID would be like this kind of speech, because it is sour and corrodes, or weakens, relationships. The First Amendment protects all kind of speech, even if they may be scornful and _______.

Vitriolic

(adj.) harsh or corrosive in toneWhile the teacher was more moderate in her criticism of the other student's papers, she was ________ toward Peter's paper, casting every flaw in the harshest light.

Precipitate

(adj.) hasty or rashInstead of conducting a thorough investigation after the city hall break-in, the governor acted ____________, accusing his staff of aiding and abetting the criminals.(v.) to cause to happenThe government's mishandling the hurricane's aftermath ____________ a widespread outbreak of looting and other criminal activity.

Cursory

(adj.) hasty, not thorough. =Perfunctory.The teacher took a _______ look through the test papers to make sure everyone had their names at the top.

Agog

(adj.) highly excited by eagerness

Cerebral

(adj.) involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinctA ________ analysis of most pop music finds it to be simple and childish, but that ignores the point--the music's effect on the listener.

Fractious

(adj.) irritable and is likely to cause disruptionWe rarely invite my _________ Uncle over for dinner; he always complains about the food, and usually launches into a tirade on some touchy subject.

Bilious

(adj.) irritable; always angryRex was _______ all morning, and his face would only take on a look of contentedness when he'd had his morning cup of coffee.

Lethargic

(adj.) lacking energyAfter Katrina, anger and frustration erupted over the _________ pace of New Orleans' recovery and authorities' failure to deliver promised assistance.

Anemic

(adj.) lacking energy and vigorAfter three straight shows, the lead actress gave an ______ performance the fourth night, barely speaking loudly enough for those in the back rows to hear.

Churlish

(adj.) lacking manners or refinementThe manager was unnecessarily ________ to his subordinates, rarely deigning to say hello, but always quick with a sartorial jab if someone happened to be wearing anything even slightly mismatching.

Impecunious

(adj.) lacking money; poorIn extremely trying times, even the moderately wealthy, after a few turns of ill-fortune, can become ___________.

Transient

(adj.) lasting a very short timeThe unpredictable and _________ nature of deja vu makes it a very difficult phenomenon to study properly.

Vociferous

(adj.) loud, boisterous Think: VOICE FERRIES!I'm tired of his __________ bickering so I'm breaking up with him.

Antic

(adj.) ludicrously oddThe clown's _____ act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears.

Sanctimonious

(adj.) making a show of being pious; holier-than-thouEven during the quiet sanctity of evening prayer, she held her chin high, a _____________ sneer forming on her face as she eyed those who were attending church for the first time.

Extenuating

(adj.) making less guilty or more forgivableThe jury was hardly moved by the man's plea that his loneliness was an __________ factor in his crime of dognapping a prized pooch.

Rakish

(adj.) marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputablenessAs soon as he arrived in the city, the ______ young man bought some drugs and headed straight for the seedy parts of town.

Raffish

(adj.) marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputablenessThe men found him _______, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.

Effervescent

(adj.) marked by high spirits or excitementAfter the sales result, the manager was in a(n) ____________ mood, letting several employees leave work early that day.

Tangential

(adj.) merely touching or slightly connected; only superficially relevant. USAGE ALERT: do not confuse with tangible.

Inviolate

(adj.) must be kept sacred. HINT: This can't be violated.While the literary critic subjected most of the classics to the harshest reviews, he regarded Cervantes as _________, and had nothing but praise for him.

Cryptic

(adj.) mysterious or vague, usually intentionallySince Sarah did not want her husband to guess the Christmas present she had bought him, she onlyanswered _________ly when he would ask her questions about it.

Endemic

(adj.) native; originating where it is foundIrish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but ironically, the potato is not ______ to Ireland.

Incontrovertible

(adj.) necessarily or demonstrably true; impossible to deny or disproveUnless you can provide _______________ evidence, I will remain skeptical.

Incumbent

(adj.) necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility =behooveMiddle managers at times make important decisions, but real responsibility for the financial well-being of the corporation is ultimately _________ on the CEO.

Remiss

(adj.) neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless______ in his duty to keep the school functioning efficiently, the principle was relieved of his position after only three months.

Indelible

(adj.) not able to be erased or removed; memorable

Improvident

(adj.) not given careful considerationMarty was __________, never putting money aside for the future but spending it on decorating the interior of his home.

Unseemly

(adj.) not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite societyHe acted in an ________ manner, insulting the hostess and then speaking ill of her deceased husband.

Uncompromising

(adj.) not making concessionsThe relationship between Bart and Hilda ultimately failed because they were both so ______________, never wanting to change their opinions.

Anomalous

(adj.) not normal. The prefix"a" + のーまるAccording to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over the last five years issimply _________--average temps should return to average, they believe.

Unassuming

(adj.) not putting on airs, unpretentious; modest. 出しゃばらない、気取らないMichael would no doubt be amazed at the fuss about him as he was very __________ and humble, his father said.

Frivolous

(adj.) not serious in content or attitude or behaviorCompared to Juliet's passionate concern for human rights, Jake's non-stop concern about football seems somewhat _________.

Decrepit

(adj.) old and feeble; worn-out, ruined

Egregious

(adj.) outstandingly bad; shocking; flagrant. Most _________ly, this list neglects to mention some of Pixar's biggest hitters.

Irascible

(adj.) quickly aroused to angerIf Arthur's dog is not fed adequately, he becames highly _________, even growling at his own shadow.

Sedate

(adj.) quiet, settled, sober(v.) to administer a tranquilizer

Protean

(adj.) readily taking on different roles; versatilePeter Sellers was truly a _______ actor—in Doctor Strangelove he played three very different roles: a jingoist general, a sedate President and a deranged scientist.

Profligate

(adj.) recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant

Genteel

(adj.) refined; polite; aristocratic; affecting refinementA live string quartet would provide a more _______ air to the wedding than would a folk singer.

Adamant

(adj.) refusing to change one's mind. =uncompromising, stubborn, resoluteCivil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for _________ refusing to give up her seat on apublic bus--even after the bus driver insisted, she remained rooted in place.

Intransigent

(adj.) refusing to compromise, irreconcilable. 頑固In order to succeed, Nepalese females have to take on both the extreme demands of competition and the ___________ limitations of the country's male-dominated, caste-based society.

Sartorial

(adj.) related to fashion or clothes. サルトルがお洒落な服を着てるのを想像してみてEx.: All the hubbub over the Trumps' attire almost overshadowed another notable __________ moment: the almost eerily coordinated outfits worn by Mike Pence and Paul Ryan.

Pertinent

(adj.) related to the matter at hand, to the point. =germaneWhile the salaries of the players might draw attention in the media, such monetary figures are not _________ to the question of who plays the best on the field.

Topical

(adj.) related, relevant to current events. Hint: It's related because its relevant to the TOPIC at hand.

Pecuniary

(adj.) relating to or involving moneyThe defendent was found guilty and had to serve a period of community service as well as pay ________ damages to the client.

Sisyphean

(adj.) requiring endless, useless effort(果てしない)

Rancid

(adj.) stale, spoiledShe said he's protesting conditions that include 20 hours a day in solitary confinement and ______ food.

Besotted

(adj.) strongly affectionate towardsEven though her father did not approve, Juliet became ________ with the young Romeo.(adj.) very drunkNever before have I seen my mom so ________, and honestly, I hope it's the last time she drinks so much.

Obdurate

(adj.) stubborn. Ex.: If you want to major in English, but your parents are ________ that you should go premed, they might go so far as to threaten not to pay your tuition.

Tenacious

(adj.) stubbornly unyielding, not easily letting go or giving upHe is a _________ — bordering on pugnacious — interviewer, determined to ask Powell the aforementioned question from every possible angle.(adj.) good at remembering

Robust

(adj.) sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction. NOT weak.The habitual use of cold-water bathing will make you ______ in health.(adj.) marked by richness and fullness of flavorChris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more ______ flavor.

Ineffable

(adj.) too sacred to be uttered; defying expression or descriptionWhile art critics can occasionally pinpoint a work's greatness, much of why a piece captures our imaginations is completely _________.

Pellucid

(adj.) transparently clear; easily understandableThe professor had a remarkable ability make even the most difficult concepts seem ________.

Picayune

(adj.) trifling or petty (a person)English teachers are notorious for being ________; however, the English language is so nuanced and sophisticated that often such teachers are not being contrary but are only adhering to the rules.

Harried

(adj.) troubled persistently especially with petty annoyancesWith a team of new hires to train, Martha was constantly _______ with little questions and could not focus on her projects.

Veracious

(adj.) truthfulWhile we elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be _________, history has shown that such a hope is naive.

Veritable

(adj.) truthfully, without a doubt. まぎれもないFrank is a _________ life-saver -- last year, on two different occasions, he revived people using CPR.

Insolvent

(adj.) unable to pay one's bills; bankruptWith credit card bills skyrocketing, a shockingly large number of Americans are truly ________.

Heterodox

(adj.) unorthodox. Origin: Latin "Heteros" + "Doxa" = "The Other" + "Opinion"A group of professors, frustrated by the main stream trend, has compiled a _________ Academy ranking of colleges based on ideological diversity.

Erratic

(adj.) unpredictable; strange and unconventionalIt came as no surprise to pundits that the President's attempt at re-election floundered; even during his term, support for his policies was _______, with an approval rating jumping anywhere from 30 to 60 percent.

Unconscionable

(adj.) unreasonable; unscrupulous; excessiveThe lawyer's demands were so ______________ that rather than pay an exorbitant sum or submit himself to any other inconveniences, the defendant decided to find a new lawyer.

Brazen

(adj.) unrestrained by convention or propriety. 隠す気もなく、厚かましく. HINT: Both similar in sound and meaning to brassy.Metropolitan Police arrested a 19-year-old on Friday night in connection with a series of _____ overnight home burglaries in Northwest Washington this summer.

Ponderous

(adj.) weighed-down; moving slowly. =cumbrous. Usage Alert: Fat people are ________ not because they ponder the questions of life, its because they're fat.Laden with 20 kilograms of college text books, the freshman moved _________ly across the campus.

Illustrious

(adj.) widely known and esteemed; having or conferring gloryEinstein was possibly the most ___________ scientist in recent history.

Quixotic

(adj.) wildly idealistic; impracticalFor every thousand startups with ________ plans to be the next big name in e-commerce, only a handful ever become profitable.

Malevolent

(adj.) wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatredVillians are known for their __________ nature, oftentimes inflicting cruetly on others just for enjoyment.

Blatant

(adj.) without any attempt at concealment; completely obviousAllen was often punished in school for _______ly disrespecting teachers.

Wanton

(adj.) without check or limitation; showing no moral restraints to one's anger, desire, or appetitesDue to ______ behavior and crude language, the drunk man was thrown out of the bar and asked to never return.

Artless

(adj.) without cunning or deceitDespite the president's seemingly _______ speeches, he was a skilled and ruthless negotiator.

Impeccable

(adj.) without fault or errorHe was ___________ dressed in the latest fashion without a single crease or stain.

Inarticulate

(adj.) without or deprived of the use of speech or wordsAlthough a brilliant economist, Professor Black was completely ____________, a terrible lecturer.

Verbose

(adj.) wordy

Ecumenical

(adj.) worldwide or universal in influence or application BUT it usually refers to bringing together different groups of Christians

Commendable

(adj.) worthy of high praiseThe efforts of the firefighters running into the burning building were ___________.

Fledgling

(adj.) young and inexperienced; describing any new participant in some activityMurray has years of experience in family practice, but he is just a _________ in surgery.

Prescient

(adj.) {preh-sch-unt} to have foreknowledge of events.McLuhan never lived to see the Web, but he was eerily _________ about it in his writings in the 1960s, accurately predicting the emergence of a service that strikingly resembles Facebook.

Insipid

(adj.)Boring and stupid; lacking flavor; dull; not at all stimulatingThe movie director was known for hiring beautiful actors in order to deflect attention away from the _______ scripts he would typically use.

Idiosyncrasy

(n.) Characteristic or habit peculiar to an individual; peculiar quality, quirkHer behavioral ____________ to bow whenever greeting people was due to her Japanese upbringing.

Plebeian

(n.) Common person; lower class person/people. Origin Latin: "plebs" - "common people". Related: PLEBIscite. Pompey the Great, for all his riches and power, was a ________ from an area colonized in the 3rd century B.C.

Navel-gazing

(n.) Complacent self absorption, 自己陶酔

Primacy

(n.) The state of being first or most important.The Predators blitzed through the Western Conference playoff bracket as the lowest-seeded team, toppling Chicago, St. Louis and Anaheim, asserting their resilience and ______ throughout.

Contrariness

(n.) The tendency to oppose almost everything others do or say. While you should never be CONTRARY just for the sake of _____________, don't be afraid to take an unpopular or unusual position.

Plebiscite

(n.) Vote in which voters have a direct say on an issue. 住民投票. Think: The first part of this word is closely related to PLEBEIAN.Quebec separatists periodically hold a __________ to determine whether Quebec should secede from Canada.

Amalgam

(n.) a MIXTURE of multiple thingsThe school putting together a(n) _______ of police, doctors, teachers, social workers, and students, for the new anti-drug task force.

Foible

(n.) a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individualWhen their new roommate sat staring at an oak tree for an hour, Marcia thought it indicated a mental problem, but Jeff assured her it was a harmless ______.

Encumbrance

(n.) a burden or impediment: My obesity is a(n ) _______ to becoming an attractive individual.

Vicissitude

(n.) a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasantEven great rulers have their ___________—massive kingdoms have diminished overnight, and once beloved kings have faced the scorn of angry masses.

Ploy

(n.) a clever plan to turn a situation to one's advantageDennis arranged an elaborate ____, involving 14 different people lying for him in different situations, so that it could appear that he was meeting Mary completely by chance at the wedding reception.

Platitude

(n.) a commonplace, stale, or trite remark.The professor argued that many statements regarded as wise in previous times, such as the Golden Rule, are now regarded as mere ________.

Egotist

(n.) a conceited and self-centered personAn _______, Natasha had few friends because of her inability to talk about anything except her dream of becoming the next American Idol.

Imbroglio

(n.) a confusing and potentially embarrassing situationThe chef cook-off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the wrong broths, creating an imbroglio that diners would not soon forget.

Boon

(n.) a desirable stateThe idea that Asia's biggest economy is a ____ for Abe's deflation-plagued population is hardly revolutionary.(adj.) very close and convivialHe was a ____ companion to many and will be sadly missed.

Acolyte

(n.) a devoted follower or attendant.

Conundrum

(n.) a difficult problemComputers have helped solve some of the mathematical __________ which have puzzled man for many centuries.

Malady

(n.) a disease or sicknessThe town was struck by a ______ throughout the winter that left most people sick in bed for two weeks.

Surliness

(n.) a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger; rude, harshness. The irritable old guy who lives on your street and always seems to be simmering with some sullen nasty anger, whose every utterance he spits out with a snarl is the poster boy of _________.

Leitmotif / Leitmotiv

(n.) a dominant recurring theme

Figment

(n.) a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion. ORIGIN: Shares origins with "fiction"

Dirge

(n.) a funeral song

Contingent

(n.) a gathering of persons representative of some larger groupSen. John Cornyn tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that there should be a vote once there is a "full __________ of senators" available.(adj.) determined by conditions or circumstances that followKhan said his proposal was _________ on new public housing being built to replace the old.

Intimation

(n.) a hint, indirect suggestionAt first the hostess tried __________, praising the benefits of cutlery; when Cecil continued eating with his hands, the hostess told him to use a fork at dinner.

Dearth

(n.) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply. THINK: The word is related to "dear", and if something is dear, its probably not in abundance.At a news conference following the awards ceremony, juror Jessica Chastain noted her disappointment at the ______ of women in substantive roles on screen

Myriad

(n.) a large indefinite number. =Opulence, copiousnessThere are a ______ of internet sites hawking pills that claim to boost energy for hours on end.

Raft

(n.) a large number of somethingDespite a ____ of city ordinances passed by an overzealous council, noise pollution continued unabated in the megalopolis.

Dissolution

(n.) a living full of debauchery and indulgence in sensual pleasureMany Roman emporers were known for their ___________, indulging in unspeakable desires of the flesh.

Litany

(n.) a long, repetitive, or dull accountMr. Rogers spoke to a Senate committee and did not give a ______ of reasons to keep funding the program, but instead, appealed to the basic human decency of all present.

Gambit

(n.) a manuveur or risk in a game or conversation, designed to secure an advantageRandy played a(n) ______, telling his boss that he would leave at the end of the week if he didn't get a raise.

Mendicant

(n.) a pauper who lives by beggingTolstoy was an aristocrat, but he strove to understand the Christianity of the Russian peasants by wandering among them as a _________.

Respite

(n.) a pause from doing something (as work)Every afternoon, the small company has a _______ in which workers play foosball or board games.

Miscreant

(n.) a person who breaks the law"Come back you _________!" yelled the woman who just had her purse stolen.

Parvenu

(n.) a person who has suddenly become wealthy, but not socially accepted as part of a higher classThe theater was full of _______ who each thought that they were surrounded by true aristocrats.

Heretic

(n.) a person who holds unorthodox opinions in any field (not merely religion)Though everybody at the gym told Mikey to do cardio before weights, Mikey was a _______ and always did the reverse.

Sybarite

(n.) a person who indulges in luxuryDespite the fact that he'd maxed out fifteen credit cards, Max was still a ________ at heart: when the police found him, he was at a $1,000 an hour spa in Manhattan, getting a facial treatment.

Luddite

(n.) a person who is averse to technology or technological progress

Eeprobate

(n.) a person who is disapproved ofThose old __________ drinking all day down by the river-they are not going to amount to much.

Proponent

(n.) a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an ideaIronically, the leading _________ of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents.

Jingoist

(n.) a person who thinks that their country should be at warIn the days leading up to war, a nation typically breaks up into the two opposing camps: doves, who do their best to avoid war, and ________, who are only too eager to wave national flags from their vehicles and vehemently denounce those who do not do the same.

Corollary

(n.) a practical consequence that follows naturallyA _________ of Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the east coast of the U.S., is a push to build higher sea walls to protect against future hurricanes.

Atavism

(n.) a reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwbackMuch of the modern art movement was a(n) _______ to a style of art found only in small villages through Africa and South America.

Asceticism

(n.) a religious lifestyle of discipline and denial of bodily pleasures for spiritual ends

Simulacrum

(n.) a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center showcases a(n) __________ of all the present and approved buildings in the city of Shanghai.(n.) a bad imitationThe early days of computer graphics made real people into a(n) __________ that now seems comical.

Reprisal

(n.) a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartimeThe Old Testament doctrine of an eye for an eye is not the kind of retaliation practiced in war; rather, an arm, a leg, and both ears are the ________ for the smallest scratch.

Aphorism

(n.) a short instructive saying about a general truthNietzsche was known for using ________, sometimes encapsulating a complex philosophical thought in a mere sentence.

Apothegm

(n.) a short, pithy instructive sayingWinston Churchill is famous for many _________, but this might be his most famous: "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."

Artifice

(n.) a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickeryThe mayoral candidates both spent much of the campaign accusing each other of ________s designed to mislead the voting public.

Smattering

(n.) a slight or superficial understanding of a subject; a small amount of somethingI know only a __________ of German, but Helen is able to read German newspapers and converse with natives.

Modicum

(n.) a small amountIf my sister had even a _______ of sense, she wouldn't be engaged to that barbarian.

Pittance

(n.) a small amount (of money)Vinny's uncle beamed smugly about how he'd offered his nephew fifty dollars for his Harvard tuition; even twice the amount would have been a mere _________.

Gaffe

(n.) a socially awkward or tactless actIn a famous _____, Vice President Quayle attempted to correct the spelling of a grade school student, only to find that the child was correct.

Solecism

(n.) a socially awkward or tactless actMother Anna was always on guard against any ________ from her children and scolded them immediately if any of them talked out of place in public.

Caveat

(n.) a warning or caution to prevent a bad result

Epigram

(n.) a witty sayingMy favorite _______ from Mark Twain is "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way."

Quip

(n.) a witty saying or remarkIn one of the most famous _____ about classical music, Mark Twain said: "Wagner's music is better than it sounds."

Invective

(n.) abusive or denunciatory languageThe Internet has unleashed the __________ in many of us; many people post stinging criticism on the comments section underneath newspaper articles or YouTube videos.

Ingratiating

(n.) acting in a way intended to win someone's favor. HINT: It's like "ingraining gratitude"

Adversary

(n.) an enemy, opponent

Surfeit

(n.) an excessive amount of somethingThere was no such thing as a(n) _______ of shopping for Nancy--she could stay at the outlet stores from opening to closing time.

Glut

(n.) an excessive supplyThe Internet offers such a(n) ___ of news related stories that many find it difficult to know which story to read first.(v.) supply with an excess ofIn the middle of economic crises, hiring managers find their inboxes _____ed with resumes.

Subterfuge

(n.) an excuse or trick for escaping or hiding something. 口実Finally deciding to abandon all __________, Arthur revealed to Cindy everything about his secret affair over the past two years.

Dispensation

(n.) an exemption from a rule or obligationSince her father is a billionaire, she is given ___________ from many of the school's policies.

Virago

(n.) an ill-tempered or violent womanPoor Billy was the victim of the ______'s invective—she railed at him for a good 30-minutes about how he is the scum of the earth for speaking loudly on his cellphone in public.

Racket

(n.) an illegal enterprise (such as extortion or fraud or drug peddling or prostitution) carried on for profit. At its core, the IOC is not a "movement"; it's an operation, a ______.

Powwow

(n.) an informal meeting or discussionBefore the team takes the field, the coach always calls for a ______ so that he can make sure all the players are mentally in the right place.

Ingenue

(n.) an innocent, inexperienced, unworldly young woman

Contretemps

(n.) an inopportune or embarrassing occurrence; a mishap.Bill caused a ___________ at the Christmas party by kissing his boss's daughter.

Donnybrook

(n.) an inordinately wild fight or contentious dispute; brawl; free-for-all

Paucity

(n.) an insufficient quantity or number

Antipathy

(n.) an intense feeling of dislike or aversionMaria had an _________ for tour groups, often bolting to the other side of the museum as soon as she saw a chaperone leading a group of wide-eyed tourists.

Sinecure

(n.) an office that involves minimal dutiesThe position of Research Director is a(n) ________: the job entails almost no responsibilities, nor does the person in that position have to answer to anyone.

Pariah

(n.) an outcastThe once eminent scientist, upon being found guilty of faking his data, has become a(n) ______ in the research community.

Empiricism

(n.) any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge__________ does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers.

Effrontery

(n.) audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right toThe skateboarders acted with __________, skating through the church grounds and spray-painting signs warning trespassers.

Tyro

(n.) beginner; noviceAll great writers, athletes, and artists were _____ at one time—unknown, clumsy, and unskilled with much to learn.

Credence

(n.) belief in somethingHe placed no ________ in psychics, claiming that they offered no special powers beyond the ability to make people part with their money.

Rancor

(n.) bitter resentment or ill-will.Trump's excoriating tweets display his ______ for the mainstream media.

Skulduggery

(n.) dishonest actions; cheating; unscrupulous behavior. Think of people digging up skulls to sell!

Schadenfreude

(n.) joy from watching the suffering of othersFrom his warm apartment window, Stanley reveled in ____________ as he laughed at the figures below, huddled together in the arctic chill.

Clemency

(n.) leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justiceIn the final moments of the trial, during his closing speech, Phillips was nearly begging the judge for ________.

Raillery

(n.) light teasingThe new recruit was not bothered by the ________, finding most of it light-hearted and good-natured.

Constraint

(n.) something that limits or restrictsHe found pop music a(n) __________ on his ability to learn and preferred to listen to classical musical while studying.

Anodyne

(n.) something that soothes or relieves painMuzak, which is played in department stores, is intended to be an _______, but is often so cheesy and over-the-top that customers become irritated.(adj.) inoffensiveWilbur enjoyed a spicy Mexican breakfast, but Jill preferred a far more _______ meal in the mornings.

Exemplar

(n.) something to be imitatedLena's homework is on the wall because it is an ________ of clean, neat, and thoughtful work.

Zeitgeist

(n.) spirit of the timesEach decade has its own _________—the 1990's was a prosperous time in which the promise of the American Dream never seemed more palpable.

Philatelist

(n.) stamp collector

Quandary

(n.) state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options. =dillema, predicamentSteve certainly is in a ________: if he doesn't call Elaine, she will blame him for everything, but if he does call her, the evidence of where he currently is could cost him his job.

Virulence

(n.) strength or ability of a pathogen to produce disease. Think: Various VIRUses are known for their VIRUlence.

Catalyst

(n.) substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction

Lickspittle

(n.) sycophant

Resignation

(n.) the acceptance of something unpleasant that can't be avoidedSince Jack could not think of a convincing reason why he had to miss the seminar, he attended it with a sense of ___________.

Graft

(n.) the acquisition of money in dishonest ways, as in bribing a politicianIn countries with rampant _____, getting a driver's license can require no more than paying an official.

Pedagogy

(n.) the art or profession of teaching

Contrition

(n.) the feeling of remorse or guilt that comes from doing something bad.Those who show __________ during their prison terms--especially when under review by a parole board--often get shortened sentences.

Ingenuity

(n.) the power of creative imaginationDaedalus was famous for his _________; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together.

Clairvoyance

(n.) the power to see things that cannot be perceived by the senses. 超能力

Profusion

(n.) the property of being extremely abundantWhen Maria reported that she had been visited by Jesus Christ and had proof, a __________ of reporters and journalists descended on the town.

Verisimilitude

(n.) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probableAll bad novels are bad for numerous reasons; all good novels are good for their ______________ of reality, placing the readers in a world that resembles the one they know.

Brio

(n.) the quality of being active, alive, vigorous, good spirit. The doping professional described concocting exotic doping cocktails with the ____ a top bartender brings to mixing a mean mojito.

Variance

(n.) the quality of being differentThe cynic quipped, "There is not much ________ in politicians; they all seem to lie".

Dote over

(v. phrase) To be excessively fond of

Exonerate

(v.) Clear from blame or accusation; free from a responsibilityThe document clearly indicated that Nick was out of the state at the time of the crime, and so served to_________ him of any charges

Canoodle

(v.) Coax; Persuade or cajole; wheedle

Castigate

(v.) Criticize severely; punish in order to correctDrill sergeants are known to _________ new recruits so mercilessly that the latter often break down duringtheir first week in training.

Gainsay

(v.) Declare false, deny; opposeThere's no __________ing the increasingly anti-Israel tilt of progressive politics.

Debase

(v.) Degrade; lower in quality, value, rank, etc.; lower in moral qualityThe Mormon church belives masturbation leads to the ______ment of one's soul.

Foment

(v.) Incite, instigate, stir up, promote the growth of (bad things)After having his pay cut, Phil spread vicious rumors about his boss, hoping to ______ a general feeling of discontent.

Construe

(v.) Interpret or translate. 解釈&理解Those books provided me with lots of benefits, although I could not _______ the Chinese words at first.

Demur

(v.) Show reluctance or object, especially for moral reasons. USAGE ALERT: Do not confuse with the adj. demure. Wallace disliked the cold, so he _____ed when his friends suggested they going skiing in the Alps.

Maintain

(v.) To assert "She _________ her innocence and intends to prove it in court," Friedman said.

Rebuke

(v.) criticize severely or angrily; censure. =lambasteThe police chief _______ the two officers whose irresponsible decisions almost led to the deaths of seven innocent by-standers.

Besmirch

(v.) damage the good name and reputation of someoneThe prince's distasteful choice of words __________ not only his own name, but the reputation of the entire royal family.

Lacerate

(v.) deeply hurt the feelings of; distressThe teacher was fired for __________ a student who wrote a poor essay.

Stultify

(v.) deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthlessAs an undergraduate Mark felt __________ by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school, in which he could focus solely on literary analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge.

Disenfranchise

(v.) deprive of voting rightsThe U.S. Constitution ______________ women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote.

Elude

(v.) escape understandingEven a basic understanding of physics can _____ most high schools students.

Dither

(v.) to be indecisive

Immure

(v.) to enclose, usually in wallsThe modern supermarket experience makes many feel claustrophobic, as they are ______ in walls upon walls of products.

Preclude

(v.) to make impossible beforehand, prevent, shut outOregon's land-use laws - adopted to preserve farm and forest land from urban sprawl - generally ________ rapid, wholesale development of agricultural land.

Mitigate

(v.) to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensityI can only spend so much time ________ing your disagreements with your wife, and at a certain point, you need to do it on your own.

Unnerve

(v.) to make nervous or upsetAt one time ________ by math problems, she began avidly "Magoosh-ing", and soon became adept at even combinations and permutations questions.

Remonstrate

(v.) to make objections while pleadingThe mothers of the kidnapped victims ___________ to the rogue government to release their children, claiming that the detention violated human rights.

Conciliate

(v.) to make peace withHis opponents believed his gesture to be ____________, yet as soon as they put down their weapons, he unsheathed a hidden sword.

Burnish

(v.) to make smooth or glossy by rubbing, polish

Delineate

(v.) to outline.These include democratic governance, free markets, collective security, human rights and the rule of law — commitments that together, Wisner said, __________ the liberal international order.

Vex

(v.) to persistently annoy; irritate; puzzle; confuseFor wealth advisers, the fight over the summer home is one of the most common — and ______ — family conflicts.

Wheedle

(v.) to persuade or attempt to persuade by flattery

Extol

(v.) to praise highly

Ferret

(v.) to search for something persistentlyEver the resourceful lexicographer, Fenton was able to ______ out the word origin of highly obscure words.

Sequester

(v.) to set apart, separate for a special purpose; to take possession of and hold in custody

Redress

(v.) to set right, remedy; THINK: If you burn a RED DRESS, then you will have to do this. (n.) relief from wrong or injury.Barry forgot his wife's birthday two years in a row, and was only able to _______ his oversight by surprising his wife with a trip to Tahiti.

Eschew

(v.) to shun, avoidGeorge hates the color green so much that he _______ all green food.

Adumbrate

(v.) to sketch out in a vague way; to foreshadow

Mesmerize

(v.) to spellbind or enthrallThe plot and the characters were so well developed that many viewers were __________, unable to move their eyes from the screen for even a single second.

Start

(v.) to suddenly move in a particular directionAll alone in the mansion, Henrietta _______ when she heard a sound.

Underwrite

(v.) to support financiallyThe latest symphony broadcast was made possible with ____________ from the Carnegie Endowment.

Coagulate

(v.) to thicken, clot The top layer of the pudding had _______ed into a thick skin.

Pine

(v.) to yearn forStanding forlornly by the window, she _____ for her lost love.

Irredenta

a region that is related ethically/historically to one country, but is politically ruled by anotherItaly and the Austrian Frontier—The shaded portions on the Austrian frontier represent the provinces of "Italia _________," which Italy would win back.

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