Term
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Definition
TO REDUCE IN AMOUNT, DEGREE, OR SEVERITY
as the hurricanes force abated, the winds dropped |
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Term
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Definition
TO LEAVE SECRETLY
The patron absconded the restaurant without paying his bill |
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Term
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Definition
TO CHOOSE NOT TO DO SOMETHING
she abstained from choosing a dessert |
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Term
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Definition
AN EXTREMELY DEEP HOLE
The submarine dove into the abyss |
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Term
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Definition
TO MAKE IMPURE
The chef made his ketchup last longer by adulterating it with water |
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Term
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Definition
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
The vegetarian advocated a diet containing no meat |
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Term
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Definition
CONCERNING THE APPRECIATION OF BEAUTY
followers if the aesthetic movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true purpose of art |
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Term
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Definition
TO INCREASE IN POWER, INFLUENCE, AND REPUTATION
The supervisor sought to aggrandize herself by claiming that the achievements were her own |
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Term
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Definition
TO MAKE MORE BEARABLE
Taking aspirin helps to alleviate a headache |
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Term
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Definition
TO COMBINE; TO MIX TOGETHER
Giant Industries amalgamated with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products Incorporated |
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Term
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Definition
DOUBTFUL OR UNCERTAIN; ABLE TO HE INTERPRETED IN SEVERAL WAYS
The directions were ambiguous so we disagreed on which way to turn. |
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Term
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Definition
TO MAKE BETTER; TO IMPROVE
The doctor was able to ameliorate the patients suffering using pain killers. |
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Term
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Definition
SOMETHING OUT OF PLACE IN TIME
The aged hippie used anachronistic phrases like groovy and far out that had not been used for years |
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Term
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Definition
SIMILAR OR ALIKE IN SOME WAY; EQUIVALENT TO
They saw the relationship between rule and subjects analogous to father and children |
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Term
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Definition
DEVIATION FROM WHAT IS NORMAL
albino animals may display too great an anomaly in their coloring to attract normally colored mates |
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Term
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Definition
TO ANNOY OR PROVOKE TO ANGER
The child discovered that he could antagonize the cat by pulling it's tail |
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Term
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Definition
EXTREME DISLIKE
The antipathy between the English and French often erupted into open warfare |
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Term
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Definition
LACK OF INTEREST OR EMOTION
the apathy of the voters is so great that less than half if the eligible people actually voted |
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Term
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Definition
TO JUDGE A DISPUTE BETWEEN TWO OPPOSING PARTIES
The judged arbitrated the couple applying for divorce |
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Term
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Definition
ANCIENT, OLD-FASHIONED
Her archaic computer could not run the latest software |
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Term
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Definition
INTENSE AND PASSIONATE FEELINGS
Bishop's ardor for the landscape was evident in his speech about beauty of the scenery |
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Term
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Definition
ABLE TO SPEAK CLEARLY AND EXPRESSIVELY
She is such an articulate defender of labor, unions are her strongest supporters. |
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Term
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Definition
TO MAKE SOMETHING UNPLEASANT LESS SEVERE
Serena used aspirin to assuage her pounding headache |
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Term
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Definition
TO REDUCE IN FORCE OR DEGREE; TO WEAKEN
The bill of rights attenuated the traditional power if governments to change laws at will |
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Term
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Definition
FEARLESS AND DARING
Her audacious nature allowed her to fulfill her dream of skydiving |
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Term
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Definition
SEVERE OR STERN IN APPEARANCE; UNDECORATED
The lack of decoration makes military barracks seem austere to civilians |
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Term
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Definition
PREDICTABLE, CLICHED, BORING
He used banal phrases like have a nice day or another dollar |
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Term
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Definition
TO SUPPORT, TO PROP UP
The presence of giant footprints bolstered the argument that Sasquatch was in the area |
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Term
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Definition
POMPOUS IN SPEECH AND MANNER
The ranting of the radio talk show host was mostly bombastic, his claims had no basis in fact |
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Term
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Definition
HARSH, JARRING NOISE
The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable cacophony as they tuned |
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Term
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Definition
IMPARTIAL AND HONEST IN SPEECH
The observations of a child can be charming since they are candid and unpretentious |
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Term
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Definition
CHANGING ONES MIND QUICKLY AND OFTEN
A capricious dictator |
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Term
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Definition
TO PUNISH OR CRITICIZE HARSHLY
He was castigated for not setting a good example |
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Term
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Definition
SOMETHING THAT BEINGS ABOUT A CHANGE IN SOMETHING ELSE
The imposition if taxes was the catalyst that brought revolution |
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Term
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Definition
BITING IN WIT
Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for caustic wit from her cutting, yet clever, insults |
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Term
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Definition
GREAT DISORDER OR CONFUSION
In many religions , god created an ordered universe from chaos |
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Term
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Definition
SOMEONE PREJUDICED IM FAVOR OF A GROUP TO WHICH HE OR SHE BELONGS
The attitude that men are superior to women is common among male chauvinists |
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Term
|
Definition
DECEPTION BY MEANS OF CRAFT OR GUILE
Dishonest car salesmen often use chicanery to sell old cars |
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Term
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Definition
CONVINCING AND WELL REASONED
Swayed the cogent argument, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendent |
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Term
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Definition
TO OVERLOOK, PARDON, OR DISREGARD
Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as condoning an air of lawlessness |
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Term
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Definition
INTRICATE AND COMPLICATED
The trainer's convoluted training routine confused the client |
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Term
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Definition
TO PROVIDE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
The evidence corroborated the witness's statement that he saw the defendant |
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Term
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Definition
TOO TRUSTING, GULLIBLE
Young children may believe in Santa, but adults are not as credulous |
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Term
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Definition
STEADILY INCREASING IN VOLUME OR FORCE
The orchestra crescendoed up to the climax of the piece |
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Term
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Definition
APPROPRIATENESS OF BEHAVIOR OR CONDUCT; PROPRIETY
The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the decorum appropriate for a visit to the palace. |
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Term
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Definition
RESPECT, COURTESY
The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost defence. |
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Term
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Definition
TO SPEAK OF OR TREAT WITH CONTEMPT; TO MOCK
The awkward child was often derided by his "cooler" peers. |
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Term
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Definition
TO DRY OUT THOROUGHLY
After a few weeks of lying on the desert's baking sands, the cow's carcass became completely desiccated. |
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Term
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Definition
JUMPING FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER; DISCONNECTED
Diane had a desultory academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in three years. |
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Term
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Definition
AN ABUSIVE, CONDEMNATORY SPEECH
The trucker bellowed a diatribe at the driver who had cut him off. |
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Term
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Definition
LACKING SELF-CONFIDENCE
Steve's diffident manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field. |
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Term
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Definition
TO MAKE LARGER; TO EXPAND
When you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes dilate to let in more light. |
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Term
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Definition
INTENDED TO DELAY
The congressman used dilatory measures to delay the passage of the bill. |
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Term
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Definition
SOMEONE WITH AN AMATEURISH AND SUPERFICIAL INTEREST IN A TOPIC
Jerry's friends were such dilettantes that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week. |
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Term
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Definition
A FUNERAL HYMN OR MOURNFUL SPEECH
Melville wrote the poem "A dirge for James Mcpherson" for the funeral of a union general who was killed in 1864. |
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Term
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Definition
TO SET RIGHT; TO FREE FROM ERROR
Galileo's observation disabused scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the earth. |
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Term
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Definition
TO PERCEIVE; TO RECOGNIZE
It is easy to discern the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping. |
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Term
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Definition
FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT; ENTIRELY UNLIKE
Although the twins appear to be identical physically, their personalities are disparate. |
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Term
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Definition
TO PRESENT A FALSE APPEARANCE; TO DISGUISE ONE'S REAL INTENTIONS OR CHARACTER.
The villain could dissemble to the police no longer-he admitted the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the body of the old man. |
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Term
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Definition
A HARSH AND DISAGREEABLE COMBINATION, OFTEN OF SOUNDS
Cognitive dissonance is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence. |
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Term
|
Definition
A FIRMLY HELD OPINION, OFTEN A RELIGIOUS BELIEF
Linus's central dogma was that children who believed in the great pumpkin would be rewarded. |
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Term
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Definition
DICTATORIAL IN ONE'S OPINION
The dictator was dogmatic-he, and only he, was right. |
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Term
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Definition
TO DECEIVE; A PERSON WHO IS EASILY DECEIVED
Bugs Bunny was able to dupe Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit. |
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Term
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Definition
SELECTING FROM OR MADE UP FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES
Budapest's architecture is an eclectic mix of eastern and western styles. |
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Term
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Definition
EFFECTIVENESS
The efficacy of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced; the drug completely eliminated almost all bacterial infections for which it was administered. |
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Term
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Definition
A SORROWFUL POEM OR SPEECH
Although Thomas Gray's "elegy written in a country churchyard" is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life and to trust in spirituality |
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Term
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Definition
PERSUASIVE AND MOVING, ESPECIALLY IN SPEECH
The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but also because of its eloquent words. |
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Term
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Definition
TO COPY; TO TRY TO EQUAL OR EXCEL
The graduate student sought to emulate his professor in every way, copying not only how she taught but also how she conducted herself outside of class. |
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Term
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Definition
TO REDUCE IN STRENGTH
The guerrillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would enervate the regular army. |
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Term
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Definition
TO PRODUCE, CAUSE, OR BRING ABOUT
His fear and hatred of clowns was engendered when he witnessed the death of his father at the hands of a clown. |
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Term
|
Definition
A PUZZLE; A MYSTERY
Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the artist gained a reputation as something of an enigma. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO COUNT, LIST, OR ITEMIZE
Moses returned from the mountain with tablets on which the commandments were enumerated. |
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Term
|
Definition
LASTING A SHORT TIME
The lives of mayflies seem ephemeral to us, since the flies' average life span is a matter of hours. |
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Term
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Definition
TO USE EXPRESSIONS OF DOUBLE MEANING IN ORDER TO MISLEAD
When faced with criticism of her policies, the politician equivocated and left all parties thinking she agreed with them. |
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Term
|
Definition
WANDERING AND UNPREDICTABLE
The plot seemed predictable until it suddenly took a series of erratic turns the surprised the audience. |
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Term
|
Definition
LEARNED, SCHOLARLY, BOOKISH
The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering of the most erudite, well published individuals in the fields. |
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Term
|
Definition
KNOWN OR UNDERSTOOD BY ONLY A FEW
Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the esoteric world of particle physics. |
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Term
|
Definition
ADMIRABLE
Most people consider it estimable that mother Teresa spent her life helping the poor of India |
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Term
|
Definition
SPEECH IN PRAISE OF SOMEONE
His best friend gave the eulogy, outlining his many achievements and talents. |
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Term
|
Definition
USE OF AN INOFFENSIVE WORD OR PHRASE IN PLACE OF A MORE DISTASTEFUL ONE
The funeral director preferred to use the euphemism sleeping instead of the word dead. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO MAKE WORSE
It is unwise to take aspirin to try to relieve heartburn; instead of providing relief, the drug will only exacerbate the problem. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO CLEAR FROM BLAME; PROVE INNOCENT
The adversarial legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and to exculpate those who are innocent. |
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Term
|
Definition
URGENT; REQUIRING IMMEDIATE ACTION
The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was exigent to stop the source of the bleeding. |
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Term
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Definition
TO CLEAR OF BLAME
The fugitive was exonerated when another criminal confessed to committing the crime. |
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Term
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Definition
CLEARLY STATED OR SHOWN; FORTHRIGHT IN EXPRESSION
The owners of the house left a list of explicit instructions detailing their house-sitter's duties, including a schedule for watering the house plants. |
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Term
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Definition
ACTING EXCESSIVELY ENTHUSIASTIC; FILLED WITH EXTREME, UNQUESTIONED DEVOTION
The stormtroopers, were fanatical in their devotion to the emperor, readily sacrificing their lives for him. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO GROVEL
The understudy fawned over the director in hopes of being cast in the part on a permanent basis. |
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Term
|
Definition
INTENSELY EMOTIONAL; FEVERISH
The fans of Maria Callas were unusually fervid, doing anything to catch a glimpse of the great opera singer. |
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Term
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Definition
EXCESSIVELY DECORATED OR EMBELLISHED
The palace had been decorated in a florid style, every surface had been carved and gilded. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO AROUSE OF INCITE
The protesters tried to foment feeling against the war through their speeches and demonstrations. |
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Term
|
Definition
A TENDENCY TO BE THRIFTY OR CHEAP
Scrooge McDuck's frugality was so great that he accumulated enough wealth to fill a giant storehouse with money. |
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Term
|
Definition
TENDING TO TALK A LOT
The garrulous parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking. |
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Term
|
Definition
OUTGOING, SOCIABLE
She was so gregarious that when she found herself alone, she felt quite sad. |
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Term
|
Definition
DECEIT OR TRICKERY
Since he was not fast enough to catch the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to guile in an effort to trap his enemy. |
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Term
|
Definition
EASILY DECEIVED
The con man pretended to be a bank officer so as to fool gullible bank customers into giving him their account information. |
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Term
|
Definition
OF A SIMILAR KIND
The class was fairly homogenous, since almost all of the students were senior journalism majors. |
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Term
|
Definition
ONE WHO OPPOSES ESTABLISHED BELIEFS, CUSTOMS, AND INSTITUTIONS
His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an iconoclast. |
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Term
|
Definition
NOT CAPABLE OF BEING DISTURBED
The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she seemed imperturbable, even when faced with the wildest tantrums. |
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Term
|
Definition
IMPOSSIBLE TO PENETRATE; INCAPABLE OF BEING AFFECTED
A good raincoat will be impervious to moisture. |
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Term
|
Definition
QUICK TO ACT WITHOUT THINKING
It is not good for an investment broker to be impetuous, since much thought should be given to all the possible options. |
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Term
|
Definition
UNABLE TO BE CALMED DOWN OR MADE PEACEFUL
His rage at the betrayal was so great that he remained implacable for weeks. |
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Term
|
Definition
NOT FULLY FORMED; DISORGANIZED
The ideas expressed in Nietzsche's mature work also appear in an inchoate form in his earliest writing. |
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Term
|
Definition
SHOWING INNOCENCE OR CHILDLIKE SIMPLICITY
She was so ingenuous that her friends feared that her innocence and trustfulness would b exploited when she visited the big city. |
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Term
|
Definition
HOSTILE, UNFRIENDLY
Even though the children had grown up together, they were inimical to each other at school. |
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Term
|
Definition
HARMLESS
Some snakes are poisonous, but most species are innocuous and pose no danger to humans. |
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Term
|
Definition
LACKING INTEREST OF FLAVOR
The critic claimed that the painting was insipid, containing no interesting qualities at all. |
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Term
|
Definition
UNCOMPROMISING; REFUSING TO BE RECONCILED
The professor was intransigent on the deadline, insisting that everyone turn the assignment in at the same time. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO OVERWHELM; TO COVER WITH WATER
The tidal wave inundated Atlantis, which was lost beneath the water. |
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Term
|
Definition
EASILY MADE ANGRY
Attila the Hun's irascible and violent nature made all who dealt with him fear for their lives. |
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Term
|
Definition
USING FEW WORDS
She was a laconic poet who built her reputation on using words as sparingly as possible. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO EXPRESS SORROW; TO GRIEVE
The children continued to lament the death of the goldfish weeks after its demise. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO GIVE PRAISE; TO GLORIFY
Parades and fireworks were staged to laud the success of the rebels. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO GIVE UNSPARINGLY (V); EXTREMELY GENEROUS OR EXTRAVAGANT (ADJ)
She lavished the puppy with so many treats that it soon became overweight and spoiled. |
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Term
|
Definition
ACTING IN AN INDIFFERENT OR SLOW; SLUGGISH MANNER
The clerk was so lethargic that, even when the store was slow, he always had a long line in front of him. |
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Term
|
Definition
TALKATIVE
She was naturally loquacious, which was a problem in situations in which listening was more important than talking. |
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Term
|
Definition
CLEARLY AND EASILY UNDERSTOOD
The explanations were written in a simple and lucid manner so that students were immediately able to apply what the learned. |
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Term
|
Definition
BRIGHT, BRILLIANT, GLOWING
The park was bathed in luminous sunshine, which warmed the bodies and the souls of the visitors. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO EVADE RESPONSIBILITY BY PRETENDING TO BE ILL
A common way to avoid the draft was by malingering- pretending to be mentally or physically ill so as to avoid being taken by the army. |
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Term
|
Definition
CAPABLE OF BEING SHAPED
Gold is the most malleable of precious metals; it can easily be formed into almost any shape. |
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Term
|
Definition
A FIGURE OF SPEECH COMPARING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS; A SYMBOL
The metaphor "a sea of troubles" suggest a lot of troubles by comparing their number to the vastness of the sea. |
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Term
|
Definition
EXTREMELY CAREFUL ABOUT DETAILS
To find all the clues at the crime scene |
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Term
|
Definition
A PERSON WHO DISLIKES OTHERS
The character scrooge in a christmas carol is such a misanthrope that even the sight of children singing makes him angry. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO SOFTEN; TO LESSEN
A judge may mitigate a sentence if she decides that a person committed a crime out of need. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO CALM OR MAKE LESS SEVERE
Their argument was so intense that it was difficult to believe any compromise would mollify them. |
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Term
|
Definition
LACK OF VARIATION
The monotony of the sound of the dripping faucet almost drove the research assistant crazy. |
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Term
|
Definition
LACKING SOPHISTICATION OR EXPERIENCE
Having never traveled before, the elementary school students were more naive tan their high school counterparts on the field trip. |
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Term
|
Definition
HARDENED IN FEELING; RESISTANT TO PERSUASION
The president was completely obdurate on the issue, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind. |
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Term
|
Definition
OVERLY SUBMISSIVE AND EAGER TO PLEASE
The obsequious new associate made sure to compliment her supervisor's tie and agree with him on every issue. |
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Term
|
Definition
STUBBORN, UNYIELDING
The obstinate child could not be made to eat any food that he disliked. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO PREVENT; TO MAKE UNNECESSARY
The river was shallow enough to wade across at many points, which obviated the need for a bridge. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO STOP UP; TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF
A shadow is thrown across the earth's surface during a solar eclipse, when the light from the sun is occluded by the moon. |
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Term
|
Definition
TROUBLESOME AND OPPRESSIVE; BURDENSOME
The assignment was so extensive and difficult to manage that it proved onerous to the team in charge of it. |
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Term
|
Definition
IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH; PREVENTING THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT
The heavy buildup of dirt and grime on the windows almost made them opaque. |
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Term
|
Definition
PUBLIC DISGRACE
After the scheme to embezzle the elderly was made public, the treasurer resigned in utter opprobrium. |
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Term
|
Definition
EXCESSIVE SHOWINESS
The ostentation of the sun king's court is evident in the lavish decoration and luxuriousness of his palace at Versailles. |
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Term
|
Definition
A CONTRADICTION OR DILEMMA
It is a paradox that those most in need of medical attention are often those least able to obtain it. |
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Term
|
Definition
MODEL OF EXCELLENCE OR PERFECTION
She is the paragon of what a judge should be: honest, intelligent, hardworking, and just. |
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Term
|
Definition
SOMEONE WHO SHOWS OFF LEARNING
The graduate instructor's tedious and excessive commentary on the subject soon gained her a reputation as a pedant. |
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Term
|
Definition
WILLING TO BETRAY ONE'S TRUST
The actress's perfidious companion revealed all of her intimate secrets to the gossip columnist. |
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Term
|
Definition
DONE IN A ROUTINE WAY; INDIFFERENT
The machinelike bank teller processed the transaction and gave the waiting customer a perfunctory smile. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
TO PENETRATE
The miraculous new cleaning fluid is able to permeate stains and dissolve them in minutes. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
CHARITY; A DESIRE OR EFFORT TO PROMOTE GOODNESS
New York's metropolitan museum of art owes much of its collection to the philanthropy of private collectors who willed their estates to the museum. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO SOOTHE OF PACIFY
The burglar tried to placate the snarling dog by saying "nice doggy," and offering it a treat. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
ABLE TO BE MOLDED, ALTERED, OR BENT
The new material was very plastic and could be formed into products of vastly different shapes. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
EXCESS
Assuming that more was better, the defendant offered the judge a plethora of excuses. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
PRACTICAL AS OPPOSED TO IDEALISTIC
While daydreaming gamblers think they can get rich by frequenting casinos, pragmatic gamblers realize that the odds are heavily stacked against them. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
TO THROW VIOLENTLY OR BRING ABOUT ABRUPTLY; LACKING DELIBERATION
Upon learning that the couple married after knowing each other only two months, friends and family members expected such a precipitate marriage to end in divorce. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO LIE OR DEVIATE FROM THE THE TRUTH
Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee prevaricated and claimed that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work on time. |
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Term
|
Definition
FRESH AND CLEAN; UNCORRUPTED
Since concerted measures had been taken to prevent looting, the archeological site was still pristine when researchers arrived. |
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Term
|
Definition
LAVISH, WASTEFUL
The prodigal son quickly wasted all of his inheritance on a lavish lifestyle devoted to pleasure. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
TO INCREASE IN NUMBER QUICKLY
Although she only kept two guinea pigs initially, they proliferated to such an extent that she soon had dozens. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO CONCILIATE; TO APPEASE
The management propitiated the irate union by agreeing to raise wages for its members. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
CORRECT BEHAVIOR; OBEDIENCE TO RULES AND CUSTOMS
The aristocracy maintained a high level of propriety, adhering to even the most minor social rules. |
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Term
|
Definition
WISDOM, CAUTION, OR RESTRAINT
The college student exhibited prudence by obtaining practical experience along with her studies, which greatly strengthened her resume. |
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Term
|
Definition
SHARP AND IRRITATING TO THE SENSES
The smoke from the burning tires was extremely pungent. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
MOTIONLESS
Many animals are quiescent over the winter months, minimizing activity in order to conserve energy. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO MAKE THINNER OR SPARSE
Since the atmosphere rarefies as altitudes increase, the air at the top of very tall mountains is too thin to breathe. |
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Term
|
Definition
TO REJECT THE VALIDITY OF
The old woman's claim that she was Russian royalty was repudiated when DNA tests showed she was of no relation to them. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
SILENT, RESERVED
Physically small and reticent in her speech, Joan Didion often went unnoticed by those upon whom she was reporting. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
EFFECTIVE WRITING OR SPEAKING
Lincoln's talent for rhetoric was evident in his beautifully expressed Gettysburg Address |
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Term
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Definition
TO SATISFY FULLY OR OVERINDULGE
His desire for power was so great that nothing less than complete control of the country could satiate it. |
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CAUSING SLEEP OR LETHARGY
The movie proved to be so soporific that soon loud snores were heard throughout the theater. |
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DECEPTIVELY ATTRACTIVE; SEEMINGLY PLAUSIBLE BUT FALLACIOUS
The student's specious excuse for being late sounded legitimate but was proved otherwise when her teacher called her home. |
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A MARK OF SHAME OR DISCREDIT
In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne was required to wear the letter A on her clothes as a public stigma for her adultery. |
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UNEMOTIONAL; LACKING SENSITIVITY
The prisoner appeared stolid and unaffected by the judge's harsh sentence. |
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LOFTY OR GRAND
The music was so sublime that it transformed the rude surroundings into a special place. |
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DONE WITHOUT USING WORDS
Although not a word had been said, everyone in the room knew that a tacit agreement had been made about which course of action to take. |
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SILENT, NOT TALKATIVE
The clerk's taciturn nature earned him the nickname "Silent Bob" |
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LONG, HARSH SPEECH OR VERBAL ATTACK
Observers were shocked at the manager's tirade over such a minor mistake. |
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EXTREME MENTAL AND PHYSICAL SLUGGISHNESS
After surgery, the patient experience torpor until the anesthesia wore off. |
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TEMPORARY, LASTING A BRIEF TIME
The reporter lived a transitory life, staying in one place only long enough to cover the current story. |
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TO SWAY PHYSICALLY; TO BE INDECISIVE
The customer held up the line as he vacillated between ordering chocolate chip or rocky road ice cream. |
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TO RESPECT DEEPLY
In a traditional Confucian society, the young venerate their elders, deferring to the elders' wisdom and experience. |
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FILLED WITH TRUTH AND ACCURACY
She had a reputation for veracity, so everyone trusted her description of events. |
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WORDY
The professor's answer was so verbose that his student forgot what the original question had been. |
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TO ANNOY
The old man who loved his peace and quiet was vexed by his neighbor's loud music. |
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EASILY AROUSED OR CHANGEABLE; LIVELY OR EXPLOSIVE
His volatile personality made it difficult to predict his reaction to anything. |
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TO FLUCTUATE BETWEEN CHOICES
If you waver too long before making a decision about which testing site to register for, you may not get your first choice. |
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ACTING IN A FANCIFUL OR CAPRICIOUS MANNER; UNPREDICTABLE
The ballet was whimsical, delighting the children with its imaginative characters and unpredictable sets. |
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PASSION, EXCITEMENT
She brought her typical zeal to the project, sparking enthusiasm in the other team members. |
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