Term
|
Definition
ABATE: to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
As the hurricane's force ABATED, the winds dropped and the sea became calm.
Words with similar meanings:
EBB LAPSE LET UP
MODERATE RELENT SLACKEN
SUBSIDE WANE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ABSCOND: to leave secretly
The patron ABSCONDED from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the
back door.
Words with similar meanings:
FLEE DECAMP ESCAPE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ABSTAIN: to choose not to do something:
During Lent, practicing Catholics ABSTAIN from eating meat.
Words with similar meanings:
FORBEAR REFRAIN WITHHOLD |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ABYSS: an extremely deep hole
The submarine dove into the ABYSS to chart the previously unseen depths.
Related words:
ABYSSAL: pertaining to great depth
ABYSMAL: extremely bad
Words with similar meanings:
CHASM VOID |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ADULTERATE: to make impure
The restaurateur made his ketchup last longer by ADULTERATING it with water.
Related words:
UNADULTERATED: pure
ADULTERY an illicit relationship; an affair
Words with similar meanings:
DOCTOR |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ADVOCATE: to speak in favor of
The vegetarian ADVOCATED a diet containing no meat.
Related words:
ADVOCACY: active support for
Words with similar meanings:
BACK CHAMPION SUPPORT |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
AESTHETIC: concerning the appreciation of beauty
Followers of the AESTHETIC Movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true
purpose of art.
Related words:
AESTHETE: someone unusually sensitive to beauty
AESTHETICISM: concern with beauty
Words with similar meanings:
ARTISTIC TASTEFUL |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
AGGRANDIZE: to increase in power, influence, and reputation
The supervisor sought to AGGRANDIZE himself by claiming that the achievements of his
staff were actually his own.
Words with similar meanings:
AMPLIFY APOTHEOSIZE AUGMENT
DIGNIFY ELEVATE ENLARGE
ENNOBLE EXALT GLORIFY
MAGNIFY SWELL UPLIFT
WAX |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ALLEVIATE: to make more bearable:
Taking aspirin helps to ALLEVIATE a headache.
Words with similar meanings:
ALLAY ASSUAGE COMFORT
EASE LESSEN LIGHTEN
MITIGATE PALLIATE RELIEVE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
AMALGAMATE: to combine; to mix together
Giant Industries AMALGAMATED with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products
Incorporated. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
AMALGAM: a mixture, especially of two metals
Words with similar meanings:
ADMIX BLEND COMBINE
COMMINGLE COMMIX COMPOUND
FUSE INTERMINGLE INTERMIX
MERGE MINGLE MIX |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
AMBIGUOUS: doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
The directions he gave were so AMBIGUOUS that we disagreed on which way to turn.
Related Words: |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
AMELIORATE: to make better; to improve
The doctor was able to AMELIORATE the patient's suffering using painkillers.
Words with similar meanings:
AMEND BETTER IMPROVE
PACIFY UPGRADE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ANACHRONISM: something out of place in time
The aged hippie used ANACHRONISTIC phrases like groovy and far out that had not been
popular for years.
Words with similar meanings:
ARCHAISM INCONGRUITY |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ANALOGOUS: similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
In a famous argument for the existence of God, the universe is ANALOGOUS to a mechanical
timepiece, the creation of a divinely intelligent "~loclunaker.~
Related word..
ANALOGY: a similarity between things that are otherwise dissimilar
ANALOGUE: something that is similar in some way to something else
Words with similar meanings: |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ANOMALY: deviation from what is normal
Albino animals may display too great an ANOMALY in their coloring to attract normally
colored mates.
Related words:
ANOMALOUS: deviating from what is normal
Words with similar meanings:
ABERRANCE ABERRATION ABNORMALITY
DEVIANCE DEVIATION IRREGULARITY
PRETERNATURALNESS |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ANTAGONIZE: to annoy or provoke to anger
The child discovered that he could ANTAGONIZE the cat by pulling its tail.
Related Words:
ANTAGONISTIC: tending to provoke conflict
ANTAGONIST: someone who fights another
Words with similar meanings
CLASH CONFLICT
IRRITATE OPPOSE
PROVOKE VEX
INCITE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ANTIPATHY: extreme dislike
The ANTIPATHY between the French and the English regularly erupted into open warfare.
Words with similar meanings:
ANIMOSITY ANIMUS ANTAGONISM
AVERSION ENMITY HOSTILITY
REPELLENCE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
APATHY. lack of interest or emotion
The APATHY of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually
bother to do so.
Words with similar meanings:
COOLNESS DISINTEREST DISREGARD |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ARBITRATE: to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
Since the couple could not come to agreement, a judge was forced to ARBITRATE their
divorce proceedings.
Related words:
ARBITRATION: a process by which a conflict is resolved
ARBITRATOR: a judge
Words with similar meanings:
ADJUDGE ADJUDICATE DECIDE
DETERMINE JUDGE MODERATE
REFEREE RULE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ARCHAIC: ancient, old-fashioned
Her ARCHAIC Commodore computer could not run the latest software.
Related words:
ARCHAISM: an outdated word or phrase
Words with similar meanings:
ANCIENT ANTEDILUVIAN ANTIQUE
BYGONE DATED DOWDY
FUSTY OBSOLETE OLD-FASHIONED
OUTDATED OUTMODED PASSE
PREHISTORIC STALE SUPERANNUATED
SUPERSEDED VINTAGE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ARDOR: intense and passionate feeling
Bishop's ARDOR for landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of
the scenic Hudson Valley.
Related words:
ARDENT: expressing ardor; passionate
Words with similar meanings:
DEVOTION ENTHUSIASM FERVENCY
FERVIDITY FERVIDNESS FERVOR
FIRE PASSION ZEAL
ZEALOUSNESS |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ARTICULATE: able to speak clearly and expressively
She is such an ARTICULATE defender of labor that unions are among her strongest supporters.
Words with similar meanings
ELOQUENT EXPRESSIVE FLUENT
LUClD SILVER-TONGUED SMOOTH-SPOKEN |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
ASSUAGE: to make something unpleasant less severe
Like many people, Philip Larkin used alcohol to ASSUAGE his sense of meaninglessness
and despair.
Words with similar meanings:
ALLAY
COMFORT
LIGHTEN
PACIFY
PROPITIATE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
AlTENUATE: to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of government to change laws at will.
Words with similar meanings:
DEBILITATE DEVITALIZE DILUTE
ENERVATE ENFEEBLE RAREFY
SAP THIN UNDERMINE
UNDO UNNERVE WATER
WEAKEN |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
AUDACIOUS: fearless and daring
"And you, your majesty, may kiss my bum!" replied the AUDACIOUS peasant.
Related words:
AUDACIm the quality of being audacious
Words with similar meanings:
ADVENTURESOME AGGRESSIVE
BOLD BRAVE
DARING DAUNTLESS
FEARLESS GALLANT
HEROIC INTREPID
PLUCKY STOUT
ASSERTIVE
COURAGEOUS
DOUGHTY
GAME
METTLESOME
STOUTHEARTED |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
AUSTERE: severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
The lack of decoration makes Zen temples seem AUSTERE to the untrained eye.
Related words:
AUSTERITY: severity, especially poverty
Words with similar meanings:
BLEAK DOUR GRIM
HARD HARSH SEVERE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
BANAL: predictable, cliched, boring
He used BANAL phrases like Have a nice day, or Another day, another dollar.
Related words:
BANALIR the quality of being banal
Words with similar meanings:
BLAND BROMIDIC CLICHED
COMMONPLACE FATUOUS HACKNEYED
INNOCUOUS INSIPID JEJUNE
MUSTY PLATITUDINOUS PROSAIC
QUOTIDIAN SHOPWORN STALE
STEREOTYPIC THREADBARE TIMEWORN
TIRED TRITE VAPID
WORN-OUT |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
BOMBASTIC: pompous in speech and manner
Mussolini's speeches were mostly BOMBASTIC; his boasting and outrageous claims had no
basis in fact.
Related words:
BOMBAST: pompous speech or writing |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CACOPHONY: harsh, - jarring noise -
The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable CACOPHONY as they tried to
tune their instruments.
Words with similar meanings:
DISCORD CHAOS DISHARMONY
NOISE CLAMOR DIN |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CANDID: impartial and honest in speech
The observations of a child can be charming since they are CANDID and unpretentious.
Words with similar meanings:
DIRECT FORTHRIGHT FRANK
HONEST OPEN SINCERE
STRAIGHT STRAIGHTFORWARD UNDISGUISED |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CAPRICIOUS: changing one's mind quickly and often
Queen Elizabeth I was quite CAPRICIOUS; her courtiers could never be sure which of their
number would catch her fancy.
Related words:
CAPRICE: whim, sudden fancy
Words with similar meanings:
ARBITRARY CHANCE CHANGEABLE
ERRATIC FICKLE INCONSTANT
MERCURIAL RANDOM WHIMSICAL
WILLFUL |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CASTIGATE: to punish or criticize harshly
Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore ~~STIGATpeErp etrators
of what would be considered minor crimes in the united States.
Words with similar meanings:
ADMONISH CHASTISE CHIDE
REBUKE REPRIMAND REPROACH |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CAUSTIC: biting in wit
Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for CAUSTIC wit from her cutting, yet clever, insults.
Words with similar meanings:
ACERBIC BITING
TRENCHANT |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CHAUVINIST: someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
The attitude that men are inherently superior to women and therefore must be obeyed is
common among male CHAUVINISTS.
Words with similar meanings:
PARTISAN |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CHICANERY: deception by means of craft or guile
Dishonest used car salesmen often use CHICANERY to sell their beat-up old cars.
Words with similar meanings:
ARTIFICE CONNMNG CRAFTINESS |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
COGENT: convincing and well reasoned
Swayed by the COGENT argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the
defendant.
Related words:
COGITATE: to think deeply
Words with similar meanings:
CONVINCING PERSUASIVE
SOUND TELLING
SOLID
VALID |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CONVOLUTED: intricate and complicated
Although many people bought A Brief History of Time, few could follow its CONVOLUTED
ideas and theories.
Words with similar meanings:
BYZANTINE COMPLEX ELABORATE
INTRICATE KNOTTY LABYRINTHINE
PERPLEXING TANGLED |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CONDONE: to overlook, pardon, or disregard
Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as CONDONING
an air of lawlessness.
Words with similar meanings:
EXCULPATE EXCUSE
REMIT |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CORROBORATE: to provide supporting evidence
Fingerprints CORROBORATED the witness's testimony that he saw the defendant in the
victim's apartment.
Words with similar meanings:
AUTHENTICATE BACK BEAR OUT
BUTTRESS CONFIRM SUBSTANTIATE
VALIDATE VERIFY |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CREDULOUS: too trusting; gullible
Although some 4-year-olds believe in the Easter Bunny, only the most CREDULOUS 9-
year-olds also believe in him.
Related words:
CREDULITY the quality of being credulous
Words with similar meanings:
NANE SUSCEPTIBLE TRUSTING |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
CRESCENDO: steadily increasing volume or force
The CRESCENDO of tension became unbearable as Eve1 Knievel prepared to jump his
motorcycle over the school buses. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
DECORUM: appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the DECORUM appropriate for
a visit to the palace.
Related words:
DECOROUS: conforming to acceptable standards
Words with similar meanings:
CORRECTNESS DECENCY ETIQUETTE
MANNERS MORES PROPRIETY
SEEMLINESS |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
DEFERENCE: respect, courtesy
The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost DEFERENCE.
Related words:
DEFER: to delay; to show someone deference
DEFERENT: courteous and respectful
Words with similar meanings:
COURTESY HONOR HOMAGE
OBEISANCE RESPECT REVERENCE
VENERATION |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
DERIDE: to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
The awkward child was often DERIDED by his "cooler" peers.
Related words:
DERISION: mockery and taunts |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
DESICCATE: to dry out thoroughly
After a few weeks of lying on the desert's baking sands, the cow's carcass became completely
DESICCATED.
Related words:
DESICCANT: something that removes water from another substance
Words with similar meanings:
DRY PARCH DEHYDRATE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
DESULTORY: jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
Diane had a DESULTORY academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in 3 years.
Words with similar meanings:
AIMLESS DISCONNECTED ERRATIC
HAPHAZARD INDISCRIMINATE OBJECTLESS
PURPOSELESS RANDOM STRAY
UNCONSIDERED UNPLANNED |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
DIATRIBE: an abusive, condemnatory speech
The trucker bellowed a DIATRIBE at the driver who had cut him off.
Words with similar meanings:
FULMINATION HARANGUE INVECTIVE
JEREMIAD MALEDICTION OBLOQUY
TIRADE |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
DIFFIDENT: lacking self-confidence
Steve's DIFFIDENT manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature
and lack of experience in the field.
Words with similar meanings:
BACKWARD BASHFUL COY
DEMURE MODEST RETIRING
SELF-EFFACING SHY TIMID |
|
|
