TOEFL test 500 words List

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TOEFL test 500 words List

ABANDON: To give up completely - abandoned the sinking ship. Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake

ABASH: To lose self-confidence; to confuse, put to shame – abashed before the assembled dignitaries. Synonyms: fluster, disconcert, discomfit, discompose. Antonym: (adj.) self-possessed

ABDICATE: To give up claim to - abdicated the throne. Synonyms: renounce, abandon, relinquish

ABET: To encourage -or support - treacherously abetted the enemy. Synonyms: spur, incite. Antonym: deter

ABRIDGE: To shorten - abridged his lengthy speech. Synonyms: curtail, diminish, retrench. Antonyms: protract, elongate, amplify

ABROGATE: To abolish or render void - a treaty abrogated by mutual consent. Synonyms: annul, nullify, rescind, void.

ABSTEMIOUS: Moderate in the use of food or drink - abstemious in his habits. Synonym: temperate

ACADEMIC: Pertaining to school; theoretical academic interests; an academic discussion, with no practical implications. Synonym: scholastic

ACCEDE: To agree to - accede to a request. Synonym: assent. Antonym: demur

ACCELERATE: - To quicken, speed tip - took an accelerated course in order to graduate early. Synonym: expedite (adj. expeditious). Antonym: retard.

ACCOLADE: An award or salute - a tremendous accolade for a returning hero. Synonyms: tribute, ovation

ACCORD: Agreement or harmony - in full accord with his view. Synonyms: concord, concurrence. Antonyms: dissension, discord

ACRIMONIOUS: Sharp or harsh in language or temper - stung by the acrimonious remark. Synonyms: caustic, acerb, pungent, tart, mordant, acrid; (noun) asperity. Antonyms: suave, affable,

ACUMEN: Keenness of mind or insight - showing exceptional business acumen. Synonyms: perspicacity, discernment, perception. Antonym: obtuseness.

ADMONISH (noun: ADMONITION): To warn or find fault gently - admonishing the unruly child. Synonyms: chide, caution, reprimand, reprehend, reproach.

ADVERSARY: (adj.: ADVERSE): An opponent - his adversary in a bitter debate. Synonym: antagonist. Antonyms: cohort, confederate, ally, accomplice.

ADVERSITY: Misfortune - calm in the face of adversity. Synonyms: affliction, mischance, reverses.

AESTHETIC: Pertaining to the beautiful - interested in aesthetic values rather than in purely practical affairs.

AFFABLE: Sociable, courteous, and agreeable in manner a much admired, affable gentleman. Synonyms: civil, complaisant, benign, gracious, genial, urbane, cordial. Antonyms: curt, brusque, rude, boorish, surly.

AFFLUENT: Prosperous, flourishing; copious - a large bequest from an affluent grandfather. Synonyms: opulent, profuse. Antonyms: destitute, impecunious.

AGGRESSIVE (noun: AGGRESSION. an unprovoked attack): self-assertive; attacking, offensive - annoyed people by his aggressive attitude. Synonyms: bumptious, officious, obtrusive. Antonyms: meek, humble, retiring, diffident.

ALACRITY: Eagerness; cheerful promptness - responded to the flattering offer with alacrity. Synonyms: celerity, briskness, energy, animation. Antonyms: apathy, nonchalance, sluggishness, lethargy, phlegmatism.

ALIENATE: To estrange - alterated by his gruff manner.

ALLAY: To calm; to lessen in severity - at ease now that his fears have been allayed. Synonyms: appease, alleviate, pacify, assuage, abate, mitigate, propitiate, mollify, placate. Antonyms: intensify, aggravate.

ALLUDE (noun: ALLUSION): To refer to indirectly - alluded quite subtly to his friend's misfortune. Synonyms: insinuate, intimate, imply. Antonyms: refer, cite.

ALLURE: To tempt by flattery or an attractive offer - allured by the prospect of a new job. Synonyms: lure, decoy, inveigle, entice, seduce, wheedle, beguile, cajole. Antonym: repel.

AMBIGUOUS: Uncertain, vague, capable of being inter- in more than one way - puzzled by the ambiguous statement. Synonyms: hazy, obscure, equivocal, dubious, nebulous. Antonyms: explicit, unquestionable.

AMENABLE: Obedient; willing to submit - amenable to the suggestion. Synonyms: tractable, docile, responsive. Antonyms: intractable, refractory, recalcitrant.

AMIABLE: Good-natured; friendly - attracted friends by his amiable disposition. Synonym: complaisant.

ANACHRONISM: A thing placed or occurring out of its normal time - A machine gun at the Battle of Yorktown would be an anachronism.

ANALOGY (adj.: ANALOGOUS): A relation between two things shown in the resemblance not of the things themselves but of their characteristics - He indicated points of analogy between the two situations. Synonyms: correspondence, affinity. Antonym: anomaly (a deviation from the general rule).

ANARCHY: State of confusion or lawlessness - a country brought to utter anarchy by civil war. Synonyms: chaos, pandemonium.

ANIMUS: A feeling of hatred-felt no animus, even against the enemy. Synonyms: enmity, rancor, malevolence, animosity. Antonym: amity.

ANNALS: Historical records - in the annals of literature.

ANONYMOUS: Of unknown authorship-an anonymous publication.

ANTHOLOGY: A collection of choice literary works – an anthology of modern poetry.

ANTITHESIS (adj.: ANTITHETICAL): Contrast; the direct opposite - His selfish attitude seemed to me the antithesis o patriotism.

APATHY (adj.: APATHETIC): Lack of feeling, emotion, or interest - attributed his failure to apathy, rather than lack of ability. Synonyms: torpor, lethargy, sluggishness, listlessness, languor, lassitude, dispassion; (verb) languish. Antonyms: zeal, animation.

APPREHENSIVE (verb: APPREHEND): Fearful - Being unprepared, John is apprehensive of the examination.

APPRISE: To inform –apprised his lieutenants of the new situation.

APPROBATION: Approval; praise -a plan that met with hearty approbation. Synonyms: sanction, commendation. Antonym: disapprobation.

APT (noun: APTITUDE, APTNESS): ((1) Likely; inclined or disposed - apt to succeed. Synonym: prone. (2) Fit, suitable - an apt remark. Synonyms: appropriate, felicitous. (3) Skillful, expert - apt at woodcarving. Synonyms: deft, dextrous, adept. Antonym: inept.

ARBITER: A person who has authority to decide matters in dispute - a fair decision rendered by the arbiter. Synonyms: mediator, arbitrator

ARCHETYPE: An original pattern - copies reproduced from the archetype. Synonym: prototype. Antonyms: Stereotype, facsimile, replica.

ARID: Dry; barren - the arid desert land. Synonyms: jejune, parched. Antonyms: arable, fertile.

ARISTOCRACY: Government by the best people; a privileged class -special privileges enjoyed by the aristocracy. Synonym: oligarchy. Antonym: democracy.

ARMISTICE: A temporary suspension of hostilities. The armistice halted the war. Synonym: truce

ARTFUL: Sly; crafty - attained his mean objective by artful measures. Synonyms: cunning, wily, adroit, ingenious, guileful. Antonyms: guileless, ingenuous, artless.

ARTICULATE (verb): To speak clearly or distinctly - articulated slowly so that he could not be misunderstood. (adj.): Capable of speech; distinct, clear – an articulate man, always ready to give his views.

ASCETIC: Rigorously self-denying - pursued the ascetic life of a monk. Synonyms: austere, abstinent. Antonyms: wanton, self-indulgent.

ASKANCE: With distrust - looked askance at the forged signature.

ASSEVERATE: To declare positively; to confirm - asseverated his views with conviction. Synonyms: assert, avouch, aver, avow, allege. Antonyms: gainsay, controvert, recant, rescind, abjure, disavow.

ASSIDUOUS: Industrious - an assiduous worker, toiling long hours. Synonyms: sedulous, attentive, diligent, indefatigable. Antonyms: indolent, slothful.

ASYLUM: A place offering shelter and retreat - found asylum from persecution. Synonyms: sanctuary, refuge.

ATHEIST: One who denies that God exists - The atheist declared, "There is no God." Synonyms: infidel, agnostic, skeptic.

ATTRIBUTE (verb): Assign -attributed his success to bard work. Synonym: ascribe (noun): An inherent quality -Generosity was his outstanding attribute.

AUGMENT: To increase or enlarge - an army augmented by numerous enlistments. Synonyms: enhance, amplify. Antonyms: abate, curtail.

AUSPICIOUS: Indicating a happy outcome - The prospect for this project appears auspicious. Synonyms: propitious, fortunate. Antonyms: ominous, foreboding.

AUTHENTIC: Genuine -proved to be an authentic document. Synonyms: veritable, bona fide. Antonyms: apocryphal, counterfeit, spurious, bogus.

AUTOCRATIC: Despotic - feared by the masses as an autocratic ruler. Synonym: tyrannical. Antonym: benevolent.

AVARICE: Excessive greed - a fortune accumulated by avarice and miserliness. Synonyms: covetousness, cupidity, avidity. Antonym: magnanimity.

AWRY: Unsymmetrical; not straight - the picture, hanging awry on the wall. Synonym: askew.

BANAL: Lacking in freshness, originality, or vigor-bored by his banal remarks. Synonyms: commonplace, hackneyed, prosaic, trite, stereotyped, vapid. Antonyms: racy, original, vivid.

BANEFUL (noun: BANE: poison; source of harm): Destructive, poisonous - a baneful effect, causing serious injury. Synonyms: deleterious, pernicious, virulent, noxious, toxic. Antonym: beneficent.

BANTER: Good-natured teasing or ridicule-The two wits I exchanged banter, to the amusement of the audience. Synonyms: raillery, chaff

BATON: A stick or staff - The conductor wielded his baton gracefully.

BELIE: To give a false idea of - His gracious manner belled his evil purpose. Synonym: misrepresent

BELLICOSE; Inclined to quarrel; warlike - His bellicose attitude often got John into fights. Synonyms: pugnacious, contentious, disputatious. Antonyms: pacific, conciliatory.

BELLIGERENT: Engaged in war - two belligerent nations warring fiercely.

BENEVOLENT: Kindly; charitable - like a benevolent monarch, bestowing many favors. Synonyms: benign, benignant, gracious, magnanimous. Antonyms: malevolent, malignant.

BEREAVE: To deprive or leave desolate by loss - a widow just bereaved of her husband.

BESMIRCH: To soil or dirty - besmirched his opponent's good name with vile epithets. Synonyms: stilly, defile, smirch, bespatter.

BIASED: Prejudiced - misled by a biased point of view. Synonyms: bigoted, arbitrary, partial, partisan. Antonyms: disinterested, equitable.

BIBLIOPHILE: A lover of books - The bibliophile fingered the old book fondly. Antonym: bibliophobe.

BIZARRE: Queer; unusual in appearance- bizarre clothes, outlandish in the extreme. Synonyms: odd, fantastic, grotesque, eccentric.

BLAND: Gentle; polite; agreeable - a bland diet, without irritating foods. Synonyms: mild, suave (affable or persuasive in manner), soothing, non-irritating. Antonyms: piquant, tart, racy, caustic, acrid, pungent.

BLANDISHMENT: A flattering speech or act - attracted people by his blandishments.

BLEMISH (verb): To scar or spoil - Bad associates blemished his character; (noun): A disfigurement, defect - a character without a blemish.

BLIGHT: To ruin or decay - the rotting wheat, blighted by incessant rain. Synonyms: wither, blast

BLITHE: Gay and light-hearted in spirit or mood - spread cheer with her blithe spirit. Synonyms: jocund, merry, joyous. Antonyms: dejected, forlorn, abject.

BOG: A swamp - sank into the spongy bog. Synonyms: morass, fen, quagmire, mire.

BOMBASTIC (noun: BOMBAST): High-sounding; pretentious in language - a bombastic speech, inflated with meaningless high-flown words. Synonyms: ranting, pompous, fustian.

BOORISH: Unrefined in speech or manners - exhibited the boorish manners of a backwoodsman. Synonyms: churlish, uncouth, uncultured, crass. Antonym: suave.

BUCOLIC: Pertaining to the country - a bucolic poem - the joys of the shepherd. Synonyms: pastoral, rustic, rural.

BUFFOON: A clown - acting like a buffoon, full of ludicrous tricks. Synonym: harlequin.

BULWARK: (1) An embankment used as a fortification - a lofty bulwark for defense. Synonym: rampart. 2) A person, idea, or object serving as a protection - acted as a bulwark in the fight against crime.

BUMPTIOUS: Obnoxiously conceited or self-assertive - a bumptious monitor, puffed up with his own importance. Synonyms: aggressive, arrogant, contumelious, overbearing.

CABAL: A small group of persons engaged in plotting - a cabal of prominent persons united to overthrow the government. Synonyms: junto, faction.

CACOPHONOUS: Unharmonious sounding - a cacophonous blare of trumpets, noisy and discordant. Synonyms: dissonant, discordant, blatant, strident, raucous. Antonyms: mellifluous, euphonious, dulcet.

CADAVEROUS: Corpselike; hence, haggard, pale -His face appeared cadaverous from long imprisonment. Synonyms: ghastly, gaunt, pallid (noun: pallor), wan, ashen. Antonyms: rubicund, florid.

CALLOUS: Unfeeling or insensitive - made callous by long suffering. Synonyms: insensible, obdurate.

CALUMNIATE: To accuse falsely or maliciously in order to injure another's reputation; slander - calumniated his political opponent by spreading false rumors. Synonyms: asperse, vilify, defame, scandalize.

CANDID (noun: CANDOR): Frank, outspoken; impartial a candid reply that could hardly be more forthright. Synonyms: artless, ingenuous, unbiased. Antonyms: guileful, evasive.

CANTANKEROUS: Ill-natured; quarrelsome – showed a cantankerous and sullen disposition. Synonyms: petulant, peevish, contentious, pugnacious, testy, choleric, fretful. Antonyms: amiable, affable, equable.

CAPRICIOUS: Inclined, through some whim or fancy change the mind, purpose, or actions suddenly - a capricious person, undependable in mood or temper. Synonyms: fickle, fitful, changeable, erratic, inconstant, crotchety, whimsical, mercurial. Antonyms: steadfast, constant, even-tempered.

CAPTIOUS: Quick to find fault about trifles- a captious critic pouncing on slight laws. Synonyms: hypercritical, carping, carviling, censorious.

CARICATURE: A picture or other description of a person which exaggerates ludicrously one or more of his distinctive features - not a realistic portrait but a malicious caricature.

CASTIGATE: To punish or criticize severely - castigated for using improper language. Synonyms: reprove, upbraid, reprehend, censure, reprimand, chasten. Antonyms: commend, eulogize, laud.

CELESTIAL: Pertaining to the sky; heavenly-a celestial pageant of bright stars. Synonyms: ethereal; (noun) firmament.

CHAUVINIST. An extreme patriot-a chauvinist with most pride in his country. Synonym: jingoist.

CHICANERY: Trickery, deception,- practised chicanery all his shady dealings. Synonyms: duplicity, craft, stratagem, wile, subterfuge.

CHRONIC: Continuing a long time; habitual-a. chronic complaint, persisting for years. Synonyms: persistent, unremitting, inveterate, incessant, constant. Antonyms: intermittent, sporadic, infrequent.

CIRCUMSPECT: Cautious - looked about him circumspectly. Synonyms: prudent, vigilant, discreet, wary. Antonyms: rash, indiscreet, reckless, precipitate, foothardy, temerarious, headstrong.

CIRCUMVENT: To gain an advantage by the use of trick to evade by the use of deception; to go around - circumvented the law by evasive practices. Synonyms: thwart, balk, outwit, delude.

CIVIL: (1) Of or having to do with citizens or the state - civil duties as well as civil liberties. 2) Polite, courteous - answered in a civil fashion. Synonyms: respectful, gracious.

CLAMOROUS: Loud and noisy - a clamorous outburst the crowd outside. Synonyms: vociferous, obstreperous, blatant, raucous, strident. Antonyms: muted, quiet.

CLANDESTINE: Secret; stealthy - a clandestine meeting known only to a few. Synonyms: furtive, covert, surreptitious. Antonyms: overt, manifest, above-board.

CLEMENT: Merciful; gentle - a clement judge who tempered justice with leniency. Synonyms: compassionate, forbearing. Antonyms: relentless, ruthless.

COALITION (verb: COALESCE): Alliance; merging of various units into one unit - three parties forming a coalition to rule the country. Synonyms: amalgamation, consolidation, fusion.

COERCION: Compelling a person by physical force or other means to do something against his will - rendered his services without the slightest coercion. Synonyms: constraint, restraint, impelling.

COGENT: Having the force to compel, usually by appealing to reason - persuaded by cogent arguments. Synonym: persuasive.

COLLUSION: Working together secretly for an evil purpose - acted in collusion to overthrow the government. Synonyms: collaboration, conspiracy, conniving, machination.

COMMODIOUS: Roomy - a commodious apartment. Synonyms: spacious, capacious, ample.

COMPATIBLE: Harmonious; able, to get along together parted company because they were not compatible. Synonyms: congruous, consistent. Antonyms: incongruous, discordant, incompatible.

COMPENDIUM (adj.: COMPENDIOUS): A brief summary of the main ideas of a larger work - a compendium of chemistry in a slim volume. Synonyms: synopsis, digest, precis, abstract, epitome.

COMPENSATION: Payment for services - just compensation for his labor. Synonyms: stipend, remuneration, recompense, emolument.

COMPLACENT: Self-satisfied - looked on his own performance with a complacent smile. Synonym: smug.

COMPUNCTION: Regret for wrongdoing - displayed slight compunction for his misdeed. Synonyms: contrition, penitence, atonement, remorse, qualm.

CONCEDE: To yield; to admit as true; to grant - conceded victory to a superior force. Synonyms: acquiesce, capitulate.

CONDIGN: Well-deserved (applied chiefly to punishment) - received condign punishment for his crime.

CONDOLE (noun: CONDOLENCE): To express sympathy with another in sorrow, pain, or misfortune - condoled with each other in their grief. Synonyms: commiserate, show compassion, solace.

CONDONE: To forgive or overlook (an offense) - condoned the deed, in view of the offender's age. Synonyms: extenuate, palliate, mitigate, gloss.

CONFEDERATE (noun): A person allied with others for a special purpose (frequently a bad one) - joined his confederate in secret enterprise. Synonyms: collaborator, accomplice. (adj.): United or allied in a conspiracy - two confederate groups hurrying to their rendezvous.

CONGENIAL: ((1) Possessing similar interests and tastes; able to get on well with others - congenial people with similar backgrounds. Synonym: compatible. (2) Agreeable - congenial to his taste.

CONJECTURE: To guess - Without facts, we can only conjecture about his guilt. Synonyms: surmise, presume.

CONSECRATE: ((1) To set apart as sacred - consecrate the battlefield with a monument to the dead heroes. Synonyms: hallow, sanctify. Antonym: desecrate. (2) To devote or dedicate to some aim - consecrated his life to teaching.

CONSENSUS. General agreement - The consensus of the committee was that no action should be taken. Synonym: accord.

CONSTERNATION: Amazement; lack of courage caused by fearful prospect - The threat struck deep consternation into John. Synonyms: dismay, bewilderment.

CONSTRUE (noun: CONSTRUCTION): To interpret, explain the sense of, or analyze - construed the statement to his own advantage.

CONSUMMATE (adj.): Perfect or highly accomplished - achieved with consummate skill. Antonyms: botched. bungled, inept (verb): To complete, bring to perfection - consummated the deal without delay.

CONTEMPTUOUS: Expressive of contempt (an emotion involving anger and disgust) - cast a contemptuous look at his subordinate. Synonyms: supercilious, scornful, disdainful, contumelious.

CONVIVIAL: Festive; gay - a convivial party. Synonyms: jovial, jocund, mirthful. Antonyms: lugubrious, dolorous, mirthless.

COPIOUS: Plentiful - shed copious tears at the bad news. Synonyms: profuse, bountiful, abundant. Antonyms: meager, scant.

CORPULENT: Fat - corpulent due to excessive eating. Synonyms: obese, portly. Antonyms: gaunt, lank, emaciated, peaked.

COSMOPOLITAN (noun): One who is at home in all countries - A cosmopolitan can feel at ease anywhere in the world. (adj.): Free from local prejudices - a world-wide traveler, cosmopolitan in tastes and attitudes. Synonyms: Catholic. Antonyms: parochial, provincial.

COTERIE: A group of people joined by common interests a coterie of select friend. Synonym: clique.

COUNTENANCE (noun): A face - His countenance expressed his complete disgust. Synonym: visage. (verb): To approve - refused to countenance disrespectful conduct. Synonym: sanction.

CRASS: Coarse and stupid - displayed crass ignorance. Synonym: gross.

CRAVEN (noun): Coward - the deed of a craven, motivated by fear. Synonym. Poltroon. (adj.): Cowardly - a craven act which shocked the world. Synonyms: pusillanimous, dastardly. Antonyms: stalwart, intrepid, valiant, stout-hearted.

CREDENCE: Trust or belief - gave little credence to the rumor. Synonym: conviction. Antonym: skepticism.

CREDIBLE: Worthy of belief - a credible story, true to life. Antonym: incredible.

CREDITABLE: Deserving or reflecting Credit or honor - applauded for his creditable performance. Synonyms: praiseworthy, meritorious, commendable. Antonyms: discreditable, infamous, opprobrious, ignominious.

CREDULOUS: Inclined to believe anything; easily imposed upon - a credulous fool whom anyone can dupe. Synonym: gullible. Antonyms: incredulous, skeptical.

CRINGE: To shrink in fear - cringing before superior force. Synonyms: cower, flinch, fawn, truckle, wince.

CRUCIAL: Decisive or critical; difficult - the crucial event that decided the outcome. CRYPTIC: Containing hidden meaning - a cryptic message, difficult to decipher. Synonyms: occult, enigmatic. Antonyms: palpable, manifest.

CULPABLE: Deserving blame or censure - removed from office for culpable negligence. Synonyms: censurable, reprehensible.

CUMBROUS: Burdensome and clumsy - a cumbrous knapsack, impeding his march. Synonyms: cumbersome, unwieldy, bulk. CURB: To control, check, or restrain - forcibly curbed the people's protest. Synonyms: repress, subdue.

CURSORY: Hurried; hence, superficial - Time permitted only a cursory examination. Antonyms: painstaking, meticulous. CURT: Rudely abrupt -offended by the curt response. Synonyms: blunt, brusque, bluff. Antonyms: affable, civil.

CYNICAL: Sneeringly distrustful of the good motives or conduct of others - belittled the hero with a cynical remark. Synonyms: sarcastic, surly.

DEARTH: Scarcity - a dearth of news, brought about by censorship. Antonyms: plethora, abundance.

DEFERENCE: Submitting to the wishes or judgment of another - yielded out of deference to the old man. Synonyms: respect, complaisance, veneration. Antonym recalcitrance.

DEITY: A god -The sun was a deity to ancient peoples. Synonym: divinity.

DELECTABLE: Very pleasing - a delectable meal, tastefully prepared. DELETE: To erase or cancel, take out or remove - deletedan offensive phrase. Synonyms: expunge, censor, efface, eradicate.

DELINEATE: To sketch or portray - striking features, delineated by a master artist.

DELINQUENT (noun): An offender - found to be a delinquent by the court. (adj.): Failing to fulfill an obligation - too many people who are delinquent in meeting their civic duties. Synonym: derelict.

DELUGE: A great flood; downpour - a spring deluge which caused the river to overflow.

DEMAGOGUE: A leader who tries to stir the passions of people for his own purposes - the mob roused by an unprincipled demagogue.

DEMEANOR: Behavior; bearing - carrying himself with a proud demeanor. Synonyms: deportment, mien.

DEMURE: Affectedly or falsely modest or prim; serious demure as a Victorian maiden. Synonyms: sedate, staid, decorous, prudish, coy. Antonyms: immodest, frivolous.

DENOUNCE (noun: DENUNCIATION): To speak against - denounced by the press as a traitor. Synonyms: stigmatize, censure, reprehend, castigate- Antonyms: laud, eulogize.

DEPLETE: To empty or to use up - depleted the public treasury by vast building programs. Synonyms: exhaust, drain. Antonyms: replenish; (adj.) replete.

DEPLORE: To express sorrow or grief over - a lamentable situation deplored by all parties. Synonyms: lament, decry, grieve.

DEPRAVED: Of low morals; corrupt - a depraved mind, devising evil. Synonyms: debased, wicked, vicious, perverted.

DEPRECATE: To plead or argue against a certain course of action - deprecated the proposal severely. Synonyms: remonstrate, protest, decry, expostulate. Antonym: sanction.

DEPRECIATE: To belittle or speak slightingly of - depreciated John's acting ability. Synonyms: disparage, derogate (adj. derogatory). Antonyms: enhance, magnify, extol, laud, eulogize.

DEVASTATION: Widespread ruin - the city left in utter devastation by war. Synonyms: destruction, desolation.

DEVIOUS: ((1) Winding; indirect - took a devious, rather than the direct way home. Synonym: circuitous. (2) Straying from the right course - used devious means to attain his wicked ends. Synonyms: crooked, erring.

DEVOID: Lacking in; not possessing - a speech devoid of even a trace of ill-will. Synonym: destitute. Antonyms: abounding, prevalent.

DEVOUT: Devoted to religious observances - devout in his regularity of attendance at worship. Synonyms: pious, religious. Antonym impious.

DICTUM: Art authoritative statement; a saying-an imperial dictum demanding instant compliance.

DIDACTIC: Designed to teach, imparting a lesson - a poem with a didactic purpose. Synonym: pedagogical.

DIFFIDENT: Lacking in self-confidence- too diffident to lead a group. Synonyms: shy, timid, reserved, reticent, retiring. Antonyms: forward, aggressive.

DILEMMA: A situation calling for a choice between two equally difficult alternatives; hence, a difficult or perplexing situation - faced with a dilemma defying solution. Synonyms: predicament, quandary, plight.

DILETTANTE: One who dabbles in the fine arts for amusement only and without concentrated study - a doctor by profession, a dilettante in art. Synonyms: amateur, connoisseur.

DISCONCERT: To confuse; to embarrass - disconcerted by his suspicious stare. Synonyms: perturb, discomfit, discompose, abash, disquiet, fluster.

DISCONSOLATE: Depressed; without hope or possibility of consolation - made disconsolate by abject poverty. Synonyms: inconsolable, dejected. Antonyms: blithesome, carefree.

DISCOURSE: To converse or talk; to discuss - discoursed at length on the rise of political parties. DISCRETE: Separate - two discrete issues, totally unrelated.

DISCURSIVE: Rambling from one subject to another - a discursive letter, covering many topics. Synonyms: desultory, digressive.

DISPARITY (adj.: DISPARATE): Inequality; difference in image, quantity, character, or rank - great disparity between promise and performance.

DISPASSIONATE: Free from feeling or partiality - coldly dispassionate as the chairman of the meeting. Synonyms: palm, impartial. Antonym partial.

DISPATCH (verb): To do speedily; to send off - dispatched with remarkable promptness. Synonym: expedite. (noun): A speedy performance; the sending off of something - done with all possible dispatch. Synonyms: celerity, alacrity.

DISPEL: To drive away; to scatter - dispelled a doubt that had lingered. Synonyms: dissipate, disperse, diffuse.

DISSENT (noun: DISSENSION): To disagree; to differ in opinion - He dissented violently, rejecting compromise.

DISSOLUTE: Living loosely; unrestrained in conduct or morals - his life wasted by dissolute conduct. Synonyms: debauched, dissipated, profligate.

DISTRAUGHT: Mentally distressed; distracted - distraught by trials and tribulations. Synonym: harassed.

DIVERSE: (verb: DIVERSIFY; noun: DIVISIBILITY): Varied; different - two diverse characters; one candid, the other insincere. Synonym: multifarious.

DIVERTING: Entertaining - a diverting one of the most amusing I've ever seen.

DIVULGE: To make public or reveal - refused to divulge his source of information. Synonyms: disclose, impart.

DOGMATIC: Positive in expressing an opinion; asserting an opinion as though it were an undisputed fact - spoken dogmatically, as if the speaker considered himself infallible. Synonyms: overbearing, opinionated, peremptory, dictatorial.

DOLOROUS: Sorrowful; mournful - a dolorous song full of sorrow for past joys. Synonyms: doleful, lugubrious, grievous. Antonyms: jocund, blithe, mirthful.

DYNAMIC: Forceful - possessed dynamic energy, tireless and powerful. Synonym: energetic. Antonyms: static, inert, dormant, torpid, sluggish, quiescent.

ECCLESIASTIC (adj.): Pertaining to the clergy or the church - recognized as an authority in ecclesiastic matters. Antonyms: secular, lay. (noun): A clergyman - an ecclesiastic of liberal views.

EDICT: A public command or proclamation issued by an authority - proclaimed by royal edict. Synonym: decree.

EDIFY: To instruct or uplift, particularly in morals or religion - a story that edifies the reader, as well as entertains him.

EFFETE: No longer productive; hence, lacking in or, worn out - powerful in ancient days, now an effete civilization.

EGOTISTIC: Conceited - an egotistic person, flourishing on praise. Synonyms: egocentric, vain. Antonym: altruistic.

EGREGIOUS: Outstandingly bad an egregious mistake with serious implications.

EJACULATE: To exclaim or utter suddenly – ejaculated a cry of horror.

ELICIT: To draw out – elicited no response from the audience. Synonyms: evoke, extract, extort.

ELUCIDATE: To make clear; to explain – elucidated his theory so that even a schoolboy could understand it. Synonym: clarify.

EMISSARY: A person sent on an errand or mission - delegated his emissary to conclude a pact.

ENGENDER: To cause, produce, or stir up-an act that engendered good will.

ENNUI: Boredom; weariness of mind-fell asleep at the meeting from sheer ennui.

ENSUE: To follow or result-Silence ensued when the leader arose to speak.

ENTREAT: To beg earnestly – entreated the judge to show mercy. Synonyms: solicit, supplicate, beseech, implore, importune; (adj.) importunate, mendicant, suppliant

EPHEMERAL: Very short-lived - an ephemeral joy, lasting but a day. Synonyms: fleeting, transitory, transient, evanescent. Antonym: eternal

EPICUREAN (noun): A person devoted to luxurious living and pleasure - an epicurean, seeking to enjoy every meal. (adj.): Pleasure-loving - His entire existence demonstrated his epicurean tastes.

EPIGRAM: A brief pointed saying - a speech full of original epigrams. Synonyms: maxim proverb, adage.

EPITAPH: A tombstone inscription - an epitaph engraved on marble.

EPITHET: A phrase that describes a quality (good or bad) in a person or thing - "Glaring" error is a commonly used epithet. Synonyms: characterization , appellation

EQUANIMITY (adj.: EQUABLE): Evenness of temper or mind - suffered his cruel fate with equanimity. Synonyms: serenity, composure, imperturbability, aplomb.

ERR (noun: ERRATUM): To be mistaken or go astray - To err is human, to forgive divine. Synonyms: stray, blunder.

ERRATIC: Irresponsible, eccentric; lacking a fixed purpose erratic behavior, reflecting his queer ideas.

ERUDITE: Learned - an erudite person, an editor of many books. Synonyms: scholarly, knowing.

ESOTERIC: Understood by only a select few - an esoteric subject, discussed only by scholars. Synonyms: abstruse, recondite.

EXCEPTIONABLE: Objectionable - exceptionable behavior, universally criticized. Synonyms: questionable, reprehensible, censurable. Antonym: laudable.

EXCULPATE: To free from blame - exculpated by a jury. Synonyms: vindicate, exonerate, absolve, acquit. Antonyms: arraign, indict, inculpate.

EXEMPLARY (noun: EXEMPLAR): Serving as a model; commendable - exemplary conduct approved by all. Synonyms: illustrative, typical; praiseworthy, laudable.

EXODUS: Departure, emigration - the pathetic exodus of refugees from their homeland.

EXOTIC: Strange and foreign - an exotic costume imported from Asia.

EXPATIATE: To speak or write at great length - He expatiated on the subject for two hours. Synonym: dilate.

EXPATRIATE (verb): To banish or exile; to withdraw from one's country - expatriated for treachery to his country. (noun): An expatriated person - expatriates who left the United States to live in Paris.

EXPEDIENT (adj.): Convenient in helping to attain some purpose - found it expedient to maintain silence at that moment. Synonyms: opportune, seasonable. (noun): A means to accomplish something - tried all expedients to achieve a quick result.

EXPLOIT (verb): To use for one's selfish purpose – refugees exploited by unscrupulous employers. (noun): A brilliant deed - lauded for his exploits in science. Synonym: feat.

EXPOUND (noun: EXPOSITION): To set forth in detail; to explain - expounded his theory in a learned article.

EXPURGATE: To purify (usually a piece of writing) of offensive material - expurgate all obscenities before the book could be sold. Synonyms: purge, delete.

EXTEMPORANEOUS: Done or spoken on the spur of the moment or without preparation - an extemporaneous speech. Synonyms: impromptu, offhand.

EXTINCT: No longer existing or active - the extinct dinosaur, alive only in history. Synonym: defunct. Antonym: extant.

EXTIRPATE: To root out, destroy totally - extirpated the cause of trouble. Synonyms: eradicate, exterminate, efface, obliterate.

EXTRANEOUS. Not essential; foreign; irrelevant - excluded material extraneous to the subject. Synonyms: extrinsic, adventitious. Antonyms: germane, intrinsic, inherent, relevant, pertinent.

EXULTATION: Great rejoicing - received the good news with exultation. Synonym: jubilation.

FACADE: Front or face, especially of a building - a facade of marble.

FACETIOUS: Given to joking or inappropriate gaiety; said in fun - brightened the evening with his facetious remarks. Synonyms: jocose, droll, flippant, frivolous. Antonyms: solemn, grave, saturnine.

FALLACIOUS (noun: FALLACY): Unsound; misleading; deceptive - led astray by fallacious reasoning and plans.

FALLIBLE: Liable to make mistakes or be deceived - Being human, Tom was naturally fallible. Antonyms: infallible, unerring.

FATHOM: To penetrate and understand - difficult to fathom his mysterious actions.

FATUOUS: Foolish; silly - a fatuous suggestion that struck us as stupid. Synonyms: inane, vacuous, puerile. Antonyms: judicious, sagacious, sage.

FEALTY: Faithfulness - The soldiers were pledged to fealty to their ruler. Synonyms: allegiance, constancy, fidelity. Antonyms: disloyalty, infidelity, treachery.

FEASIBLE: Workable - a feasible plan, proved practical by - previous experience. Antonym: impracticable.

FEIGN (noun: FEINT): To pretend - He feigned to be angry, but we saw through his pretense. Synonyms: dissemble, sham, dissimulate, affect.

FELICITY (adj.: FELICITOUS): (1) A state of happiness - promoted felicity in the nation. Synonym: bliss. (2) A high ability - lie has a felicity of language, mastery of the well-chosen phrase.

FERVID: Spirited; ardent - a fervid debater, full of emotion. Synonyms: perfervid, impassioned, zealous, fervent, vehement.

FESTOON (noun): A garland of flowers, leaves, etc. hung between two points - the room bright with festoons of Thanksgiving decorations. (verb): To hang with festoons - a room festooned with spring flowers.

FETISH: (1) Something that is believed to have magical powers - savages worshipping the fetish in a ceremonial dance. Synonym: charm, talisman, amulet. (2) An object of unreasoning devotion and worship – Photography, begun as a hobby, became a fetish.

FIASCO: A ludicrous and complete failure - all his glorious plans ending in a fiasco. Synonym: debacle.

FICTITIOUS: Unreal; made-up - used a fictitious name to avoid being recognized. Synonym: fabricated.

FLACCID: Lacking firmness - muscles grown flaccid after the illness. Synonyms: flabby, limp.

FLAGRANT: Outstandingly bad - condemned for his flagrant abuse of power. Synonyms: glaring, scandalous, notorious, conspicuous, gross.

FLAMBOYANT: Elaborately showy - written in a flamboyant, style, full of highly decorative imagery. Synonyms: florid, ornate, resplendent, embellished, garish, gaudy, gorgeous, rococo. Antonym: somber.

FLAUNT: Display or wave boastfully - flaunted the excellent report before his delighted parents.

FLEETING: Passing swiftly -the fleeting hours of happiness. Synonyms: transitory, fugitive.

FLUCTUATE: To waver from one course to another; to vary irregularly - his mood fluctuating with every hour. Synonyms: oscillate, vacillate, undulate, sway.

FORBEAR (noun: FORBEARANCE): To exercise self control; to keep from - forbearing to shoot the animal despite temptation. Synonyms: restrain, abstain.

FORENSIC: Pertaining to public discussion or law courts - a lawyer gifted in forensic debate. Synonyms: rhetorical, oratorical.

FORTUITOUS: Accidental - a fortuitous meeting with a friend in need. Synonyms: casual, incidental, adventitious, random.

FRACAS: A disorderly quarrel - A fracas broke up the meeting. Synonyms: brawl, altercation, fray, wrangle, imbroglio.

FRUSTRATE: To prevent (the attainment of an object); to defeat or render ineffectual - His scholastic progress was frustrated by a serious illness. Synonyms: balk, thwart, foil, baffle, obstruct, discomfit. Antonym: abet.

FULSOME: Disgustingly excessive - nauseated by fulsome praise.

GARNISH: To trim or decorate - dishes garnished attractively with greens. Synonyms: adorn, deck.

GENEALOGY: A record of a person's or a family's ancestors or relatives - an interesting genealogy, including saints and sinners. Synonym: lineage.

GENESIS: Origin - chemistry, which had its genesis in alchemy. Synonym: inception.

GESTICULATE: To make gestures, or indicate feelings by. motions - gesticulated wildly to show his distress.

GHASTLY: Horrible, deathlike - a ghastly disaster which shocked the world. Synonyms: gruesome, grisly, pallid, macabre, grim, lurid.

GIBE (variant spelling: JIBE): To laugh at; to utter with scorn - gibed at his enemy mercilessly. Synonyms: mock, sneer, jeer, scoff, flout, deride (adj.: derisive), rail, taunt.

GLIB: Smooth-spoken, fluent - a glib liar, distorting the truth effortlessly.

GLUTTONOUS (noun. GLUTTON; verb: GLUT): Inclined to cat to excess - gulped down his food in gluttonous fashion. Synonyms: voracious, intemperate.

GOSSAMER (noun): A very thin gauzelike fabric or structure - a poem so delicate that it seemed an unreal gossamer. (adj.): Thin and light - the gossamer wings of a dragon fly. Synonyms: diaphanous, flimsy, gauzelike Antonyms: substantial, ponderous.

GREGARIOUS: Habitually fond of associating in a company or herd - gregarious sheep; that gregarious animal, man. Antonyms: lone, aloof.

GRIMACE: A distortion of the face to express an attitude or feeling - a grimace that was more expressive than words.

HAIL: To greet - The crowd hailed the returning hero. Synonyms: accost, salute.

HARANGUE (verb): To deliver a long. noisy speech- harangued the multitude. Synonyms: rant, declaim. (noun): A loud, tiresome speech - an empty harangue which bored his audience. Synonym: tirade.

HARBINGER, A forerunner; ail announcer - the robin, harbinger of spring. Synonyms: precursor, herald.

HAUGHTY: Proud; looking down with contempt on others - dismissed the messenger in a haughty manner.

HEEDLESS: Thoughtless; taking little care - rushed into battle, heedless of the danger. Synonyms: inadvertent, rash, incautious. Antonyms: prudent, circumspect, mindful, wary.

HEINOUS: Wicked; hateful - committed a heinous crime. Synonyms: atrocious, outrageous, monstrous, odious, nefarious, abominable.

HERESY: An opinion held in opposition to the traditional view - a view condemned as heresy. Synonym: heterodoxy. Antonym: orthodoxy.

HIATUS: A gap or vacancy; break -left a hiatus on the page where he erased a sentence. Synonym: breach.

HISTRIONIC: Pertaining to the theater; designed for show - broke into histrionic laughter, hollow and insincere. Synonyms: dramatic, theatrical.

HOAX (noun): A trick or deception; a practical joke - played a hoax upon the credulous public. Synonym: canard. (verb): To play a trick on; to deceive - He hoaxed the crowd completely with his disguise.

HOMONYM: Two words having the same sound but different meanings - confusing such homonyms as mail add male.

HOVEL: A dirty or wretched dwelling - born in a hovel, died in a mansion.

HYPERBOLE: Extravagant exaggeration for effect - An example of hyperbole: "There are a million objections to the project." Synonym: overstatement. Antonym: understatement.

HYPOTHESIS: An assumption made for the sake of argument - worked from a fantastic hypothesis. Synonym: supposition.

IDIOSYNCRASY: A. personal peculiarity - Wearing white was one of Whistler's idiosyncrasies. Synonyms: eccentricity, foible, mannerism, crotchet, aberration, quirk, singularity.

IGNOMINIOUS (noun: IGNOMINY): Incurring public disgrace - suffered an ignominious descent from political power. Synonyms: infamous, degrading, opprobrious, odious. Antonyms: illustrious, renowned, preeminent.

IMMACULATE: Spotless; pure - an immaculate reputation. Synonyms: undefiled, unsullied, unblemished, untarnished. Antonyms: defiled, sullied, blemished.

IMMINENT: Likely to occur soon - stood in imminent peril. Synonym: impending.

IMMUNE (verb: IMMUNIZE): Exempt from; protected from - immune from taxation. Synonym: unsusceptible.

IMPALE: To pierce through with a pointed instrument - impaled a spider to the wall.

IMPEACH: (1) To accuse (a public official) of wrongdoing - impeached the judge for accepting a bribe. Synonym: arraign. (2) To cast discredit upon - impeached his motives. Synonyms: call in question, discredit.

IMPECCABLE: Faultless - performed with impeccable skill. Synonyms: consummate, irreproachable, unerring, infallible. Antonyms: culpable, fallible.

IMPERVIOUS: Incapable of being penetrated - a mind impervious to new ideas. Synonyms: impermeable, impenetrable. Antonyms: permeable, pervasive.

IMPLACABLE: Incapable of being soothed, made peaceful, or forgiving - implacable resentment. Synonyms: unrelenting, inexorable, unappeasable. Antonyms: placable, forbearing.

IMPLICIT: (1) Implied but not clearly expressed - an implicit agreement. (2) Unquestioning - implicit confidence. Synonyms: tacit, implied. Antonym: explicit.

IMPORT (noun): Meaning; significance or importance - a matter of great import. Synonyms: purport, moment, consequence.

IMPOSTOR (noun: IMPOSTURE): One who pretends to be what he is not unmasked as an impostor. Synonyms: quack, mountebank, charlatan, bogus, fraud.

IMPRECATION: A curse - hurled imprecations at those who would not listen to him. Synonyms: execration, malediction, anathema. Antonyms: benediction, benison.

IMPREGNABLE: Unconquerable - an impregnable fortress. Synonym: invincible. Antonym: vulnerable.

IMPROPRIETY: Improper act, manners, or expression - guilty of impropriety in public office. Synonyms: indecency, indecorum. Antonym: amenity.

IMPROVIDENT: Lacking in thrift; not providing for future needs - an improvident spender. Synonyms: prodigal, shiftless.

IMPUGN: To attack or criticize as false; to call in question - impugned his honesty.

INCARCERATE: To imprison - crushed his opponents by incarcerating them. Synonyms: intern, immure. Antonyms: emancipate, enfranchise.

INCISIVE: Cutting, penetrating - incisive criticism. Synonyms: sarcastic, mordant, trenchant, acute.

INCOGNITO. With one's identity concealed - traveled incognito.

INCONTROVERTIBLE: Indisputable - incontrovertible evidence. Synonyms: irrefutable, indubitable.

INCREMENT: An increase - a salary increment. Synonym: accrual.

INCUMBENT (noun): An officeholder - the incumbent in an election. (adj.): Obligatory - felt it incumbent to reply. Synonyms: mandatory, imperative.

INDEFATIGABLE: Untiring - an indefatigable worker. Synonyms: unflagging, unremitting, persevering.

INDIGENOUS: Native - Rice is indigenous to China. Synonyms: innate, inborn.

INDOOMITABLE: Stubborn in determination not to be subdued - indomitable courage. Synonyms: insuperable, irrepressible, invincible, unyielding. Antonyms: tractable, amenable, docile, submissive.

INFERENCE: A conclusion reached by reasoning from data or premises - an inference drawn from his remarks. Synonyms: deduction, implication.

INGENIOUS: Demonstrating originality, skill, or resourcefulness - an ingenious device. Synonyms: dextrous, inventive, adroit. Antonyms: maladroit, gauche.

INGENUOUS: Simple and straightforward; concealing nothing - an ingenuous plan that anyone could see through. Synonyms: unsophisticated, naive, candid. Antonym: sophisticated.

INGRATIATE: To win another's favor or good opinion tried to ingratiate himself with the politician.

INHIBIT: To check or hinder - inhibited his friend from a foolhardy course. Synonyms: restrain, curb. Antonym: promote.

INNOCUOUS: Harmless; inoffensive - an innocuous remark, but it enraged him.

INNUENDO: An indirect reference or suggestion (frequently derogatory) - conveyed his idea by innuendo. Synonyms: (verb) intimate, insinuate.

INORDINATE: Excessive - spoiled by inordinate praise. Synonyms: immoderate, intemperate, extravagant.

INSATIABLE: Unable to be satisfied - insatiable greed. Synonyms. unappeasable, unquenchable, insatiate.

INSCRUTABLE: Incapable of interpretation or understanding - the inscrutable smile of the Mona Lisa. Synonyms: unfathomable, cryptic, enigmatic.

INSIDIOUS: Working secretly or slyly - that insidious disease, cancer. Synonyms: wily, crafty, furtive, treacherous, artful, guileful perfidious.

INSTIGATE: To stir tip - instigated discontent among the soldiers. Synonyms: foment, incite.

INTEGRITY: Honesty, moral soundness - a man of proved integrity. Synonyms: probity, uprightness, incorruptibility.

INVEIGH (noun-. INVECTIVE): To speak angrily or bitterly-inveighed against economic discrimination. Synonyms: rail, denounce, fulminate, vituperate.

IRASCIBLE: Easily angered - Even petty things made Peter irascible. Synonyms: choleric, petulant, testy, peevish, splenetic, touchy. Antonyms: placid, equable.

IRE: Anger -aroused his ire. Synonyms: resentment; (adj.) irate, incensed.

IRKSOME: Tedious, monotonous - an irksome chore that no one liked.

ITINERANT: Traveling about; wandering - an itinerant salesman. Synonym: nomadic.

JARGON: Confused, unintelligible, meaningless talk; special vocabulary used only by members of a group or trade - Variety, a newspaper written in theatrical jargon. Synonyms: gibberish, argot, cant.

JAUNTY: Having an air of easy carelessness or liveliness - walked with a jaunty step. Synonyms: sprightly, airy, gay, nonchalant, debonair. Antonyms: somber, staid.

JEOPARDY: Danger - His life was in jeopardy. Synonyms: hazard, peril.

JETTISON: To throw overboard (as cargo); to throw off (as a burden or something in the way )- jettisoned their old candidate as a political liability.

JUDICIOUS: Wise; using or exhibiting good judgment - a well-chosen plan, termed judicious by all. Synonyms: discreet, politic, discerning.

KALEIDOSCOPIC: Constantly changing or varying in pattern or scenes - kaleidoscopic views of New York.

KEN: Range of sight or understanding - something beyond our ken. Synonym: insight.

LABYRINTH (adj.: LABYRINTHINE): A structure or intricate passage out of which it is difficult to find one's way (also applied to spiritual and intellectual complexities) - confused by a labyrinth of intellectual discussions. Synonym: maze.

LACHRYMOSE: Causing or given to shedding tears - a lachrymose tragedy.

LACONIC: Saying much in few words - a laconic reply that spoke volumes. Synonyms: concise, pithy, terse, succinct, taciturn, reticent. Antonyms: verbose, prolix, redundant, diffuse, tautological, turgid, garrulous, voluble.

LARCENY: Theft - indicted for grand larceny.

LATENT: Hidden; present but not fully developed - latent talent that time will reveal. Synonyms: dormant, quiescent, covert, potential. Antonyms: apparent, patent.

LAVISH: (1) Profuse or generous - lavish in praise. Synonyms: ample, superabundant. (2) Given to extravagance - a lavish spender. Synonyms: prodigal, munificent, magnanimous. Antonyms: parsimonious, niggardly, frugal, penurious.

LETHAL: Deadly - a lethal weapon. Synonyms: mortal, fatal.

LONGEVITY: Prolonged duration of life - a country remarkable for the longevity of its inhabitants.

LOW: To bellow softly like cattle - the lowing herd in the meadow. Synonym: moo.

LUCID: Clear; transparent; easily understood - a lucid explanation of a difficult text. Synonyms: pellucid, perspicuous, intelligible, limpid, luminous, translucent. Antonyms: abstruse, obscure.

LUDICROUS: Ridiculous; producing laughter - a ludicrous remark that set them all to roaring. Synonyms: mirthful, droll, comical, absurd. Antonyms: doleful, lugubrious, dismal.

LUMINARY: An eminent person; a celestial body - the platform graced by a number of luminaries.

MACHIAVELLIAN: Sacrificing moral principles in order to attain power; politically cunning; crafty - a machiavellian design, wickedly contrived. Synonym: unscrupulous.

MALICIOUS (noun: MALICE): Bearing, or acting with, deliberate ill-will or spite - hurting with malicious intent. Synonyms: rancorous, malignant, malevolent, virulent, vindictive. Antonym: benign.

MASQUERADE (verb): To assume a deceptive appearance or character - a thief masquerading as an honest man. Synonyms: dissemble, feign. (noun): A disguise; a group of people in disguise or fancy costumes - a masquerade so perfect no one could guess his identity.

MAUDLIN: Sentimental to the point of tears - turned maudlin at the mention of his lost dog. Synonym: mawkish, lachrymose.

MEANDER: To walk about (or talk) aimlessly; to wind about (as a stream) - meandered through the town, looking into shop windows. Synonym: ramble.

MEDIOCRE: Average in quality - a mediocre performance, unworthy of his talents.

MERCENARY: Acting solely from a consideration of reward or profit - actuated by a mercenary motive. Synonym: venal.

MERETRICIOUS: Attracting in a false, cheap, or showy manner- a meretricious beauty that is too flashy to be real. Synonyms: tawdry, specious.

METICULOUS: Fussy about minute details - took meticulous pains with his composition. Synonyms: fastidious, punctilious, overscrupulous, finical, methodical. Antonyms: desultory, perfunctory, slovenly.

METTLE (adj.: METTLESOME: high-spirited ): Disposition; spirit; courage - His mettle was tried in battle. Idiom: to be on one's mettle (meaning, “ready to do one's best”). Synonyms: temperament, ardor.

MICROCOSM: A little world, or a universe in miniature this village, a microcosm of the great outside world. Antonym macrocosm (world on a large scale).

MIMIC: To make fun of or copy by imitating - mimicked the comedian's gestures.

MISANTHROPIC (noun: MISANTHROPE): Hating or distrusting mankind - condemned for his misanthropic views. Antonyms: philanthropic, altruistic.

MISNOMER: A name or term that describes wrongly - To call him a brave man is really a misnomer.

MONOLOGUE: A speech by one person - The actor gave his views in a dramatic monologue. Synonym: soliloquy. Antonyms: colloquy (adj. colloquial): conversation between two or more persons; dialogue: conversation between two persons.

MOROSE: Gloomy; ill-humored - shunned because of his morose temper. Synonyms: sulky, crabbed, sullen, splenetic, saturnine. Antonyms: blithe, genial.

MOTLEY: Of various colors; of mixed ingredients - a motley costume; a motley crowd. Synonyms: checkered (referring to a varied career), piebald, variegated, diverse, heterogeneous. Antonym: homogeneous.

MOTTLED: Spotted or streaked with varied colors - a mottled pony. Synonyms: blotched, dappled.

MUNDANE: Of, or pertaining to, the world, as contrasted with the spirit - mundane affairs. Synonyms: earthly, terrestrial, secular, temporal.

MURKY: Dark; cloudy - a murky cavern. Synonyms: dismal, tenebrous, fuliginous. Antonyms: resplendent, glowing, lustrous, luminous, fulgent, coruscating.

MUTABLE: Given to frequent change in nature, mood, or form - mutable in mood as a spring wind. Synonyms: vacillating, fickle, inconstant, fitful, mercurial, wavering, capricious. Antonyms: constant, steady.

MYRIAD: Innumerable - the myriad stars in the heavens.

NAUTICAL: Pertaining to ships or navigation - a nautical career. Synonyms: marine, naval, maritime.

NETTLE: To irritate or provoke - nettled by his critics. Synonyms: vex, pique, goad.

NOCTURNAL: Pertaining to, or occurring in, the night - awakened by the sounds of a nocturnal prowler. Antonym: diurnal.

NOISOME: Foul-smelling; harmful-the swamp gave off a noisome odor. Synonyms: malodorous, fetid, disgusting; noxious, deleterious. Antonym: salubrious.

NONCHALANT: Unmoved or indifferent; casual - reacted to the news in a nonchalant manner. Synonym: apathetic. Antonyms: enthusiastic, zealous.

NOSTALGIA: Homesickness - felt nostalgia for the old homestead.

NOTORIOUS: Widely known (in a bad sense) - a notorious gambler.

NOVICE: A beginner - conducted himself in politics like a novice. Synonyms: tyro, neophyte. Antonym: virtuoso.

OBDURATE: Hard-hearted; stubborn - an obdurate, unrepentant criminal. Synonyms: adamant, unyielding, inflexible. Antonyms: submissive, docile, compliant.

OBLIVIOUS (noun: OBLIVION): Forgetful; absent-minded - walking oblivious of his surroundings. Synonyms: unmindful, heedless, abstracted.

OBSESSION: A persistent feeling, idea, activity, etc., which dominates a person; the state of being exclusively preoccupied by a fixed idea - Now that he has learned bowling, it has become his obsession. Synonyms: mania, infatuation (a foolish passion), monomania.

OBSOLETE: No longer in use - an obsolete word, not even included by most dictionaries. Synonyms: archaic, antiquated.

OBTRUSIVE (verb: OBTRUDE): Thrusting oneself or itself into undue prominence - made himself obnoxiously obtrusive. Synonyms: intrusive, aggressive.

OBVIATE: To prevent, dispose of, or make unnecessary by appropriate actions - an act which obviated all objections. Synonyms: preclude, forestall.

OMNIPOTENT: All-powerful - an omnipotent despot.

ONUS: Burden; duty; obligation - bore the onus of his difficult office creditably.

OSTENSIBLE: Apparent; pretended - his ostensible, though not actual, purpose. Synonyms: professed, plausible (that is, appearing true, reasonable, or fair), specious.

OSTRACIZE: To banish; to exclude from public favor or privileges - a former premier ostracized by popular vote. Synonym: outlaw.

PANACEA: A remedy for all ills - seeking a panacea to cure our social troubles. Synonym: nostrum.

PANEGYRIC: A speech or writing of extravagant praise - delivered a panegyric at his friend's testimonial dinner. Synonyms: eulogy, adulation, tribute, laudation (adj. laudatory), encomium. Antonyms: censure, disparagement, derogation, castigation, depreciation.

PARADOX: A self -contradictory statement; something 'that appears to be absurd and yet may be true -"Life is too important a matter to he taken seriously." - a paradox by Oscar Wilde. Synonym: anomaly.

PARAPHRASE: To restate the meaning of a passage in other words - paraphrased the poem in a few lines of prose.

PARODY (noun): A humorous imitation of an author's style and mannerisms - wrote a parody on Kipling's "Gunga Din." Synonym: burlesque. (verb): To write a parody - parodied the popular authors of the (lay to his audience's amusement. Synonym: Mimic.

PECCADILLO: A petty fault-possesses one peccadillo among his many virtues. Synonyms: frailty, foible, flaw, blemish.

PECUNIARY: Pertaining to money - involved in pecuniary difficulties. Synonyms; financial, fiscal, monetary.

PEDANT (adj.: PEDANTIC): One who proudly shows off his learning or who overrates his knowledge - like a pedant glorying in his scholarly trifles.

PENSIVE: Sadly thoughtful - softly sang his pensive song. Synonyms: reflective, meditative, contemplative, musing.

PEREMPTORY: Positive in expressing an opinion - gave a peremptory judgment. Synonyms: decisive, resolute, imperious, positive, dogmatic. Antonyms: indecisive, tentative.

PERTINACIOUS: Clinging doggedly to an opinion or purpose - pertinacious in his efforts. Synonyms: obdurate, tenacious, persistent, persevering, intractable, inflexible.

PERUSE: To read carefully - perused the important letter.

PERVERSE: Willfully bent on doing the wrong thing - a perverse lad, always disobeying his parents. Synonyms: headstrong, froward, refractory, wayward, fractious.

PETRIFY: To paralyze with horror, fear, or surprise - petrified by the enemy bombardment. Synonyms: stupefy, stun, bewilder, amaze.

PLAGIARISM. Adopting and reproducing, without acknowledgment, the writings or ideas of another and passing them off as one's own - denied the charge of deliberate plagiarism.

PLATITUDE: A dull and commonplace remark - bored people by his pompous phrases and platitudes. Synonyms: bromide, truism, axiom.

PLEBEIAN: Pertaining to the common people; hence, common or vulgar - plebeian in his tastes and outlook. Antonyms: patrician, aristocratic.

PLEBISCITE. A direct vote by the people - The decision to confederate was ratified by plebiscite.

POIGNANT: (1) Gripping and moving the feelings powerfully - a poignant grief. (2) Piercing, biting, pointed - a poignant cry; poignant wit.

PONDEROUS: Very heavy; clumsy; dull - a ponderous speech, extremely boring.

PRECARIOUS: Uncertain or risky - earning a precarious livelihood, providing no luxuries.

PRECIPITOUS: (1) Very steep - a precipitous cliff. (2) Descending rapidly - a precipitous decline in popularity.

PRELUDE: An introduction, forerunner, or preliminary step - a short prelude to the play. Synonyms: preface, prologue, preamble. Antonym: epilogue.

PREROGATIVE: A privilege or power attaching to a position - It is a woman's prerogative to refuse to tell her age. Synonym: license.

PRESTIGE: Esteem or influence accorded for recognized achievements or reputation - As Senator he enjoyed great prestige. Synonym: distinction.

PRESUMPTION: (1) Something taken for granted - acted on a reasonable presumption. (2) Going beyond proper bounds; impudent boldness - His question was downright presumption. Synonyms: effrontery, forwardness, arrogance.

PREVARICATE: To disguise or conceal the truth to lie - prevaricated in order to avoid detection. Synonyms: quibble, equivocate; (adj.) mendacious. Antonyms: (noun) veracity, verity; (adj.) forthright.

PROCRASTINATE: To postpone or put off to another time - missed his opportunity by procrastinating too long. Synonyms: defer, delay.

PROGNOSTICATE (noun: PROGNOSIS): To forecast - The Weather Bureau prognosticates daily. Synonyms: presage, portend, augur, forebode.

PROLETARIAT: The wage-earning class - a truckman, humble member of the proletariat.

PROMONTORY: A cliff - an imposing promontory along the coast. Synonyms: headland, precipice.

PROMULGATE: To publish or proclaim; to spread abroad The President promulgated a decree. Synonym: disseminate.

PROTUBERANT: Bulging or swelling out - a protuberant jaw. Antonyms: receding, recessive.

PROVISIONAL: Temporary; for the time being - a provisional plan until a permanent decision is reached. Synonym: tentative.

PROXIMITY: Nearness-worked in close proximity to his home. Synonyms: propinquity, vicinity. Antonym remoteness.

PSEUDONYM: A false name assumed by a writer - concealed his identity by a pseudonym. Synonyms: alias, pen name, nom de plume.

PUNITIVE: Inflicting, or concerned with, punishment - took punitive measures against deserters.

QUASH: To crush; to render void - quashed a rebellion; quashed an indictment. Synonyms: suppress, extinguish, quell; annul.

QUERULOUS: Given to fault-finding and complaining - Her querulous nature estranged many people. Synonyms: fretful, whining, captious, carping, peevish, petulant. Antonym: affable.

QUIXOTIC: Extravagantly romantic or idealistic; highly impractical - a quixotic scheme that can never materialize. Synonyms: utopian, visionary, fantastic.

RACONTEUR: A skilled storyteller - held spellbound by a superb raconteur.

RADICAL (noun): One who advocates extreme basic changes - The reform movement was led by a radical. (adj.): Thorough, extreme - radical measures adopted to meet the emergency. Antonym (noun and adj.): conservative.

RAMIFICATION: A branching; sub-division - studied the subject in all its ramifications.

RAZE: To tear down completely- razed the old building. Synonyms: level. Antonym: rear.

RECAPITULATE: To restate in a brief, concise form; to sum up - recapitulated the main ideas.

RECIPROCAL: Mutual; done in return for something received - held each other in reciprocal esteem.

RECUMBENT: Lying down; leaning back or down - resting in a recumbent position.

REDOLENT: (1) Fragrant - a room redolent of roses. Synonym: aromatic. (2) Reminiscent of - redolent of olden times.

REDOUBTABLE: Commanding fear or respect - cringing before a redoubtable enemy. Synonym: formidable.

REFUTE: To prove incorrect or false-refuted his opponent's argument. Synonyms: rebut, confute. Antonyms: substantiate, confirm, corroborate.

REITERATE: Repeat (several times) - reiterated his story once more.

REMUNERATIVE: Profitable - a remunerative job. Synonyms: lucrative, gainful.

RENEGADE: One who forsakes political or party principles or his religious faith - a renegade from his former allegiance. Synonyms: turncoat, apostate, recreant, traitor.

REPRISAL: Injury inflicted in turn for one received - took action in reprisal against his neighbor. Synonym: retaliation.

RESENTMENT: Feeling of displeasure or indignation resulting from mistreatment or abuse - showed resentment at what he considered an unwarranted insult. Synonyms: umbrage, dudgeon, animosity.

RESILIENT: Elastic; light-hearted; possessing power of recovery - a resilient Spirit, refusing to admit defeat. Synonyms: flexible, pliable, supple, limber.

RESPITE: (1) Temporary deferment or cessation of work or pain - a brief respite from labor. Synonym: surcease. (2) A temporary delay in the execution of -a sentence - granted the doom man a temporary respite. Synonym: reprieve.

RETRIBUTION: The reward or punishment exacted for an injury, wickedness, or other action - suffered just retribution for his folly. Synonyms: requital, nemesis.

RETRIEVE: (1) To make good -retrieved a mistake. (2) To recover -retrieved the suitcase left at the station. (3) To restore - retrieved his lost fortunes.

REVERBERATE: To echo - a shot reverberating through the valley. Synonym: resound.

RUDIMENTARY: In an early stage of development - possessing only a rudimentary, knowledge of physics. Synonym: incipient.

RUE (adj.: RUEFUL): To be sorry for-He will rue the day he left home. Synonyms: regret, repent.

SACROSANCT: Very holy - a shrine. regarded as sacrosanct. Synonyms: consecrated, inviolable, hallowed.

SAGACIOUS (noun: SAGACITY): Wise; shrewd - proved to be sagacious in his judgment. Synonyms: perspicacious, astute, sapient, discerning, sage.

SALLOW: Sick - a sallow complexion. Synonym: pallid. Antonyms: rubicund, ruddy, florid.

SALLY: (verb): To rush forth suddenly - sallied out to meet the enemy. (noun): A Witty remark - amused the audience with his sallies against his opponent. Synonyms: quip, banter.

SANCTIMONIOUS: Pretending to be religious - showed his hypocrisy in a sanctimonious display of piety.

SANGUINARY: Bloody - a sanguinary battle. Synonym: gory.

SANGUINE: Of a hopeful disposition; blood-red in color - a perennial optimist, sanguine in temperament. Synonyms: buoyant, ardent.

SARTORIAL: Pertaining to a tailor or clothes - a picture of sartorial perfection.

SATELLITE: (1) An attentive or flattering follower - a prince surrounded by many satellites. Synonyms: lackey, toady, disciple, adherent; adj., fawning, obsequious, partisan. (2) A country influenced or controlled by another - Freedom is conspicuously absent ,in the Soviet satellites. (3) A body (natural or artificial) which revolves around a larger body, generally a planet - The moon is the only natural satellite of the earth, but in recent years it has been joined by many artificial satellites.

SCINTILLA: A trace; a particle - not a scintilla of convincing evidence. Synonyms: iota; vestige.

SCOURGE (verb): To punish severely; to afflict; to whip - a disease that scourged the country. Synonyms: excoriate, flay. (noun). A whip or other means of punishment; a cause of affliction - The Black Plague was a dreadful scourge of the Middle Ages. Synonym: tribulation.

SCRUTINIZE: To examine carefully -scrutinized the contents of the letter.

SHIBBOLETH: A party slogan - a shibboleth designed to attract votes.

SIMPER (verb): To smile in a silly or affected way simpered as he greeted each guest. (noun): An affected or silly smile - stood nervously, a simper on his face. Synonym: (verb and noun) smirk.

SINECURE: Employment entailing little or no responsibility or labor - His job was a sinecure.

SINISTER: Threatening or showing evil; dishonest - the sinister look of a gangster.

SLEAZY: Flimsy and cheap - sleazy cloth which is used only in cheap garments. Synonym: unsubstantial.

SLOVENLY: Untidy-severely criticized the student's slovenly appearance. Synonyms: slipshod, slatternly, frowzy.

SOPORIFIC: Tending to induce sleep - a poorly written novel, soporific in effect.

SORDID: Mean and base; filthy - Sordid motives breed selfish actions. Synonyms: degraded, vile, ignoble.

SOVEREIGN: Supreme m power and authority; independent of the control of any other government - possessing sovereign powers; a sovereign state. Synonyms: autonomous, imperial, majestic, paramount.

SPORADIC: Occurring singly, at irregular intervals; scattered - sporadic cases of illness.

SPURN: To refuse or reject with contempt - an offer that was spurned instantly. Synonyms: repel, snub.

STOIC: Indifferent, calm in bearing pain or pleasure; practising remarkable self-control over emotions - maintained a stoic attitude despite all his trials. Synonyms: stolid, impassive.

STRINGENT: Strict; compelling, constraining stringent regulations; stringent requirements. Synonyms: exacting, rigid. Antonym: lax.

STUPENDOUS: Amazing by, virtue of its immense size, force, or any quality in exceptional degree - The circus is a stupendous spectacle. Synonyms: astounding, prodigious, monstrous, marvelous, colossal, awful.

SUCCULENT: juicy - a succulent steak. Antonyms: desiccated, vapid.

SULTRY: Close, hot, and moist - sultry tropical weather.

SUPINE: (1) Lying flat on the back - resting in a supine position. Antonym: erect. (2) Inert, inactive, averse to taking action - a supine, ineffective administrator. Synonyms: listless, torpid.

TANGIBLE: Real; actual - tangible gains which may be seen, and counted. Synonyms: material, veritable, perceptible, substantial.

TANTAMOUNT: Equivalent - an act that is tantamount to treason.

TAUNT (verb). To reproach with contempt - taunted him with the charge of failure to act promptly. Synonyms: mock, twit, gibe, sneer, deride. (noun): An insulting, jeering, or bitter remark - hurled taunts at his foes.

TEEMING: In abundance, fertile, highly productive - the teeming tropics, rank with vegetation. Synonyms: swarming, fruitful, fecund, abounding.

TEMERITY: Unwise or reckless boldness - leaped into battle with thoughtless temerity. Synonyms: audacity, presumptuousness, effrontery, rashness; (adj.) temerarious, foolhardy, venturesome. Antonyms: prudence, circumspection, wariness.

TEMPORAL: Worldly, as opposed to spiritual; existing for a time only - a man preoccupied with temporal matters. Synonyms: mundane, secular, civil.

TEMPORIZE: To delay or refuse to commit oneself in order to gain time - temporized while his friends hurried to his aid. Synonym: equivocate.

TENET: A principle of belief held as true - a tenet of religion which be maintained loyally. Synonyms: creed, doctrine, dogma.

TENUOUS: Slender; not substantial; of slight importance - clung desperately to his tenuous hope.

TRANQUIL: Calm; peaceful - a tranquil summer night. Synonyms: placid, serene. Antonyms: perturbed, ruffled, turbulent.

TRANSGRESS: To break a law or command; to violate a moral principle; to overstep a moral bound or limit - transgressed the bounds of decency; transgressed the law.

TREMULOUS: Trembling - tremulous with fright. Synonym: quivering.

TRIVIAL: Of little - importance - a trivial offense. Synonym: paltry. Antonyms: gross, momentous.

TRUCULENT (noun: TRUCULENCE): Cruel, fierce; harsh; threatening or intimidating savagely - a dispute marked by a truculent attitude on both sides.

TURGID: (1) Swollen, inflated - turgid rivers overflowing their banks. Synonyms: bloated, distended. (2) Using big or high-sounding words - a turgid prose style. Synonyms: pompous, bombastic, prolix.

UBIQUITOUS: Existing everywhere - The common cold is a ubiquitous complaint. Synonyms: omnipresent, universal.

UNTENABLE: Incapable of being defended or held - withdrew the argument as untenable.

UTILITARIAN (adj.): Materially or practically useful - beautiful, but not utilitarian.

VANQUISH: To subdue or conquer -an army vanquished with heavy losses.

VAUNT: To boast - proudly vaunted his strength. Synonyms: brag (noun: braggadocio, braggart), proclaim.

VENEER: A superficial appearance or show designed to impress one with superiority - pierced beneath his thin veneer of elegance. Synonym: gloss.

VENERABLE: Deserving respect or reverence because of age - a venerable leader.

VERNAL: Pertaining to spring-an array of vernal flowers. Antonym: hibernal (wintry).

VERSATILE: Able to do many things skillfully - versatile in all the arts.

VICARIOUS: Taking the place of another; felt, received, or done in place of another - took vicarious pleasure in his brother's victory.

VICISSITUDE: A change from one condition to another, often unexpected - suffered many vicissitudes of fortune.

VIRAGO: A scolding or ill-tempered woman - My neighbor's wife is a virago. Synonyms: shrew, termagant, vixen.

VITUPERATE (noun: VITUPERATION; adj.: VITUPERATIVE): To scold or blame loudly, find fault with in abusive language - an angry man, vituperating the world. Synonyms: berate, revile.

WAIVE: To give up (privileges, etc.); to do without - waived his rights to the property. Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake.

WHIM (adj.: WHIMSICAL): A sudden notion or passing fancy -frequently acted on the whim of the moment. Synonyms: caprice, vagary, crotchet.

WRITHE: To twist about (usually with pain) - writhed in agony on the floor. Synonyms: contort, squirm.

ZEALOUS (noun: ZEALOT: fanatic): Full of enthusiasm or eagerness -a zealous student, first in his class. Antonym: perfunctory.

ZENITH: The highest point - the zenith of his career. Synonyms: acme, apex, culmination, summit. Antonym: nadir.

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