To reduce in amount, degree, or severity

(EBB, MODERATE, SUBSIDE, LAPSE, RELENT, WANE, LET UP, SLACKEN)

to leave secretly

(DECAMP, ESCAPE, FLEE)

to choose not to do something

(FORBEAR, REFRAIN, WITHHOLD)

an extremely deep hole

(CHASM, VOID)

to make impure

(DOCTOR)

to speak in favor of

(BACK, CHAMPION, SUPPORT)

concerning the appreciation of beauty

(ARTISTIC, TASTEFUL)

to increase in power, influence, and reputation

(AMPLIFY, APOTHEOSIZE, AUGMENT, DIGNIFY, ELEVATE, ENLARGE, ENNOBLE, EXALT, GLORIFY, MAGNIFY, SWELL, UPLIFT, WAX)

to make more bearable

(ALLAY, ASSUAGE, COMFORT, EASE, LESSEN, LIGHTEN, MITIGATE, PALLIATE, RELIEVE)

to combine; to mix together

(ADMIX, BLEND, COMBINE, COMMINGLE, COMMIX, COMPOUND, FUSE, INTERMINGLE, INTERMIX, MERGE, MINGLE, MIX)

doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways

(CLOUDY, DOUBTFUL, DUBIOUS, EQUIVOCAL, NEBULOUS, INDETERMINATE, OBSCURE, UNCLEAR, VAGUE)

to make better; to improve

(AMEND, BETTER, IMPROVE, PACIFY, UPGRADE)

something out of place in time

(ARCHAISM, INCONGRUITY)

similar or alike in some way; equivalent to

(ALIKE, COMPARABLE, CORRESPONDING, EQUIVALENT, HOMOGENOUS, PARALLEL, SIMILAR)

deviation from what is normal

(ABBERANCE, ABERRATION, ABNORMALITY, DEVIANCE, DEVIATION, IRREGULARITY, PRETERNATURALNESS)

to annoy or provoke to anger

(CLASH, CONFLICT, INCITE, IRRITATE, OPPOSE, PESTER, PROVOKE, VEX)

extreme dislike

(ANIMOSITY, ANIMUS, ANTAGONISM, AVERSION, ENMITY, HOSTILITY, REPELLANCE)

lack of interest or emotion

(COOLNESS, DISINTEREST, DISREGARD, IMPASSIVITY, INDIFFERENCE, INSENSIBILITY, LASSITUDE, LETHARGY, LISTLESSNESS, PHLEGM, STOLIDITY, UNCONCERN, UNRESPONSIVENESS)

to judge a dispute between two opposing parties

(ADJUDGE, ADJUDICATE, DECIDE, DETERMINE, JUDGE, MODERATE, REFEREE, RULE)

ancient; old fashioned

(ANCIENT, ANTEDILIUVIAN, ANTIQUE, BYGONE, DATED, DOWDY, FUSTY, OBSOLETE, OLD-FASHIONED, OUTDATED, OUTMODED, PASSE, PREHISTORIC, STALE, SUPERANNUATED, SUPERSEDED, VINTAGE)

intense and passionate feeling

(DEVOTION, ENTHUSIASM, FERVENCY, FERVIDITY, FERVIDNESS, FERVOR, FIRE, PASSION, ZEAL, ZEALOUSNESS)

to be able to speak clearly and expressively

(ELOQUENT, EXPRESSIVE, FLUENT, LUCID, SILVER-TONGUED, SMOOTH-SPOKEN)

to make something unpleasant less severe

(ALLAY, ALLEVIATE, APPEASE, COMFORT, CONCILIATE, EASE, LIGHTEN, MITIGATE, MOLLIFY, PACIFY, PALLIATE, PLACATE, PROPITIATE, RELIEVE, SOOTHE, SWEETEN)

to reduce in force or degree; to weaken

(DEBILITATE, DIVITALIZE, DILUTE, ENERVATE, ENFEEBLE, RAREFY, SAP, THIN, UNDERMINE, UNDO, UNNERVE, WATER, WEAKEN)

fearless and daring

(ADVENTURESOME, AGGRESSIVE, ASSERTIVE, BOLD, BRAVE, COURAGEOUS, DARING, DAUNTLESS, DOUGHTY, FEARLESS, GALLANT, GAME, HEROIC, INTREPID, METTLESOME, PLUCKY, STOUT, STOUTHEARTED, UNAFRAID, UNDAUNTED, VALIANT, VALOROUS, VENTURESOME, VENTURIOUS)

severe or stern in appearance; undecorated

(BLEAK, DOUR, GRIM, HARD, HARSH, SEVERE)

predictable, cliched, boring

(BLAND, BROMIDIC, CLICHED, COMMONPLACE, FATUOUS, HACKNEYED, INNOCUOUS, INSIPID, JEJUNE, MUSTY, PLATITUDINOUS, PROSAIC, QUOTIDIAN, SHOPWORN, STALE, STEREOTYPIC, THREADBARE, TIMEWORN, TIRED, TRITE, VAPID, WORN-OUT)

to support, to prop up

(BRACE, BUTTRESS, PROP, SUPPORT, SUSTAIN, UNDERPIN, UPHOLD)

pompous in speech and manner

(BLOATED, DECLAMATORY, FUSTIAN, GRANDILOQUENT, GRANDIOSE, HIGH-FLOWN, MAGNILOQUENT, OROTUND, PRETENTIOUS, RHETORICAL, SELF-IMPORTANT)

harsh, jarring noise

(DISCORD, CHAOS, DISHARMONY, NOISE, CLAMOR, DIN)

impartial and honest in speech

(DIRECT, FORTHRIGHT, FRANK, HONEST, OPEN, SINCERE, STRAIGHT, STRAIGHTFORWARD, UNDISGUISED)

changing one's mind quickly and often

(ARBITRARY, CHANCE, CHANGEABLE, ERRATIC, FICKLE, INCONSTANT, MERCIFUL, RANDOM, WHIMSICAL, WILLFUL)

to punish or criticize harshly

(ADMONISH, CHASTISE, CHIDE, REBUKE, REPRIMAND, REPROACH, REPROVE, SCOLD, TAX, UPBRAID)

something that brings about a change in something else

biting in wit

(ACERBIC, BITING, MORDANT, TRENCHANT)

great disorder or confusion

(CLUTTER, CONFUSION, DISARRANGEMENT, DISARRAY, DISORDER, DISORDERLINESS, DISORGANIZATION, JUMBLE, MESS, MUDDLE, SCRAMBLE, SNARL, TOPSY-TURVINESS, TURMOIL)

someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs

(PARTISAN)

deception by means of craft or guile

(ARTIFICE, CONNIVING, CRAFTINESS, DECEPTION, DEVIOUSNESS, MISREPRESENTATION, PETTIFOGGERY, SHADINESS, SNEAKINESS, SOPHISTRY, SUBTERFUGE, UNDERHANDEDNESS)

convincing and well reasoned

(CONVINCING, PERSUASIVE, SOLID, SOUND, TELLING, VALID)

to overlook, pardon, or disregard

(EXCULPATE, EXCUSE, PARDON, REMIT)

intricate and complicated

(BYZANTINE, COMPLEX, ELABORATE, INTRICATE, KNOTTY, LABYRINTHE, PERPLEXING, TANGLED)

to provide supporting evidence

(AUTHENTICATE, BACK, BEAR OUT, BUTTRESS, CONFIRM, SUBSTANTIATE, VALIDATE, VERIFY)

too trusting, gullible

(NAIVE, SUSCEPTIBLE, TRUSTING)

steadily increasing volume or force

appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety

(CORRECTNESS, DECENCY, ETIQUETTE, MANNERS, MORES, PROPRIETY, SEEMLINESS)

respect, courtesy

(COURTESY, HONOR, HOMAGE, OBEISANCE, RESPECT, REVERENCE, VENERATION)

to speak of or treat with contempt; mock

(GIBE, JEER, MOCK, RIDICULE, SCOFF, SNEER, TAUNT)

to dry out thoroughly

(DRY, PARCH, DEHYDRATE)

jumping from one thing to another; disconnected

(AIMLESS, DISCONNECTED, ERRATIC, HAPHAZARD, INDISCRIMINATE, OBJECTLESS, PURPOSELESS, RANDOM, STRAY, UNCONSIDERED, UNPLANNED)

an abusive, condemnatory speech

(FULMINATION, HARANGUE, INVECTIVE, JEREMIAD, MALEDICTION, OBLOQUY, TIRADE)

lacking self-confidence

(BACKWARD, BASHFUL, COY, DEMURE, MODEST, RETIRING, SELF-EFFACING, SHY, TIMID)

to make larger, to expand

(AMPLIFY, DEVELOP, ELABORATE, ENLARGE, EXPAND, EXPATIATE)

intended to delay

(DRAGGING, FLAGGING, LAGGARD, LAGGING, SLOW, SLOW-FOOTED, SLOW-GOING, SLOW-PACED, TARDY)

someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic

(AMATEUR, DABBLER, SUPERFICIAL, TYRO)

a funeral hymn or mournful speech

(ELEGY, LAMENT)

to set right, to free from error

(CORRECT, UNDECEIVE)

to perceive, to recognize

(CATCH, DESCRY, DETECT, DIFFERENTIATE, DISCRIMINATE, DISTINGUISH, ESPY, GLIMPSE, KNOW, SEPARATE, SPOT, SPY, TELL)

fundamentally different, entirely unlike

(DIFFERENT, DISSIMILAR, DIVERGENT, DIVERSE, VARIANT, VARIOUS)

to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character

(ACT, AFFECT, ASSUME, CAMOUFLAGE, CLOAK, CONTERFEIT, COVER UP, DISGUISE, DISSIMULATE, FAKE, FEIGN, MASK, MASQUERADE, POSE, PRETEND, PUT ON, SHAM, SIMULATE)

a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds

(CLASH, CONTENTION, DISCORD, DISSENSION, DISSENT, DISSIDENCE, FRICTION, STRIFE, VARIANCE)

a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief

(CREED, DOCTRINE, TEACHING, TENET)

dictatorial in one's opinions

(AUTHORITARIAN, BOSSY, DICTATORIAL, DOCTRINAIRE, DOMINEERING, IMPERIOUS, MAGISTERIAL, MASTERFUL, OVERBEARING, PEREMPTORY)

to deceive; a person who is easily deceived

(BEGUILE, BETRAY, BLUFF, COZEN, DECEIVE, DELUDE, FOOL, HOODWINK, HUMBUG, MISLEAD, TAKE IN, TRICK)

selecting from or made up from a variety of sources

(SELECTIVE, CATHOLIC, BROAD)

effectiveness

(DYNAMISM, EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY, FORCE, POWER, PRODUCTIVENESS, PROFICIENCY, STRENGTH, VIGOR)

a sorrowful poem or speech

(DIRGE, LAMENT)

persuasive and moving, especially in speech

(ARTICULATE, EXPRESSIVE, FLUENT, MEANINGFUL, SIGNIFICANT, SMOOTH-SPOKEN)

to copy; to equal or excel

(APE, IMITATE, SIMULATE)

to reduce in strength

(DEBILITATE, ENFEEBLE, SAP, WEAKEN)

to produce, cause, or bring about

(BEGET, GENERATE, PROCREATE, PROLIFERATE, REPRODUCE, SPAWN)

a puzzle; a mystery

(CONUNDRUM, PERPLEXITY)

to count, list, or itemize

(CATALOG, INDEX, TABULATE)

lasting a short time

(EVANESCENT, FLEETING, MOMENTARY, TRANSIENT)

to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead

(AMBIGUOUS, EVASIVE, WAFFLING)

wandering and unpredictable

(CAPRICIOUS, INCONSTANT, IRRESOLUTE, WHIMSICAL)

learned, scholarly, bookish

(SCHOLASTIC, LEARNED, WISE)

known or understood by only a few

(ABSTRUSE, ARACANE, OBSCURE)

admirable

(ADMIRABLE, COMMENDABLE, CREDITABLE, HONORABLE, LAUDABLE, MERITORIOUS, PRAISEWORTHY, RESPECTABLE, VENERABLE, WORTHY)

a speech in praise of someone

(COMMEND, EXTOL, LAUD)

use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one

(CIRCUMLOCUTION, WHITEWASH)

to make worse

(ANNOY, AGGRAVATE, INTENSIFY, IRRITATE, PROVOKE)

to clear from blame; prove innocent

(ABSOLVE, ACQUIT, CLEAR, EXONERATE, VINDICATE)

urgent; requiring immediate action

(CRITICAL, IMPERATIVE, NEEDED, URGENT)

to clear of blame

(ABSOLVE, ACQUIT, CLEAR, EXCULPATE, VINDICATE)

clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression

(CANDID, FRANK, STRAIGHTFORWARD, UNEQUIVOCAL)

acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion

(EXTREMIST, FIERY, FRENZIED, ZEALOUS)

to grovel

(BOOTLICK, GROVEL, PANDER, TOADY)

intensely emotional; feverish

(BURNING, IMPASSIONED, PASSIONATE, VEHEMENT, ZEALOUS)

excessively decorated or embellished

(BAROQUE, ELABORATE, FLAMBOYANT, ORNATE, OSTENTATIOUS, ROCOCO)

to arouse or incite

(AGITATE, IMPASSION, INFLAME, INSTIGATE, KINDLE)

a tendency to be thrifty or cheap

(ECONOMICAL, PARSIMONY, PRUDENCE, SPARING)

tending to talk a lot

(EFFUSIVE, LOQUACIOUS)

outgoing, sociable

(AFFABLE, CONGENIAL, COMMUNICATIVE, SOCIABLE)

deceit or trickery

(ARTIFICE, CHICANERY, CONNIVERY, DUPLICITY)

easily deceived

(CREDULOUS, EXPLOITABLE, NAIVE)

of a similar kind

(CONSISTENT, STANDARDIZED, UNIFORM, UNVARYING)

one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions

(MAVERICK, NONCONFORMIST, REBEL, REVOLUTIONARY)

not capable of being disturbed

(COMPOSED, DISPASSIONATE, IMPASSIVE, SERENE, STOICAL)

impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected

(RESISTANT, IMPREGNABLE)

quick to act without thinking

(IMPULSIVE, PRECIPITATE, RASH, RECKLESS, SPONTANEOUS)

unable to be calmed down or made peaceful

(INEXORABLE, INTRANSIGENT, IRRECONCILABLE, RELENTLESS, REMORSELESS, UNCORGIVING, UNRELENTING)

not fully formed; disorganized

(AMORPHOUS, INCOHERENT, INCOMPLETE, UNORGANIZED)

showing innocence or childlike simplicity

(ARTLESS, GUILELESS, INNOCENT, NAIVE, SIMPLE, UNAFFECTED)

hostile, unfriendly

(ADVERSE, ANTAGONISTIC, DISSIDENT, RECALCITRANT)

harmless

(BENIGN, HARMLESS, INOFFENSIVE)

lacking interest or flavor

(BANAL, BLAND, DULL, STALE, VAPID)

uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled

(IMPLACABLE, INEXORABLE, IRRECONCILABLE, OBDURATE, OBSTINATE, REMORSELESS, RIGID, UNBENDING, UNRELENTING, UNYIELDING)

to overwhelm; to cover with water

(DELUGE, DROWN, ENGULF, FLOOD, SUBMERGE)

easily made angry

(CANTANKEROUS, IRRITABLE, ORNERY, TESTY)

using few words

(CONCISE, CURT, PITHY, TACITURN, TERSE)

to express sorrow; to grieve

(BEWAIL, DEPLORE, GRIEVE, MOURN)

to give praise; to glorify

(ACCLAIM, APPLAUD, COMMEND, COMPLIMENT, EXALT, EXTOL, HAIL, PRAISE)

to give unsparingly; extremely generous or extravagant

(BESTOW, CONFER, EXTRAVAGANT, EXUBERANT, LUXURIANT, OPULENT, PRODIGAL, PROFUSE, SUPERABUNDANT)

acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner

(APATHETIC, LACKADAISICAL, LANGUID, LISTLESS, TORPID)

talkative

(EFFUSIVE, GARRULOUS, VERBOSE)

clear and easily understood

(CLEAR, COHERENT, EXPLICIT, INTELLIGIBLE, LIMPID)

bright, brilliant, glowing

(INCANDESCENT, LUCENT, LUSTROUS, RADIANT, RESPLENDENT)

to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill

(SHIRK, SLACK)

capable of being shaped

(ADAPTABLE, DUCTILE, PLASTIC, PLIABLE, PLIANT)

a figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol

(ANALOGY, COMPARISON)

extremely careful about details

(CONSCIENTIOUS, PRECISE, SCRUPULOUS)

a person who dislikes others

to soften; to lessen

(ALLAY, ALLEVIATE, ASSUAGE, EASE, LIGHTEN, MODERATE, MOLLIFY, PALLIATE, TEMPER)

to calm or make less severe

(APPEASE, ASSUAGE, CONCILIATE, PACIFY)

lack of variation

(DRONE, TEDIUM)

lacking sophistication or experience

(ARTLESS, CREDULOUS, GUILELESS, INGENUOUS, SIMPLE, UNAFFECTED)

hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion 

(INFLEXIBLE, INTRANSIGENT, RECALCITRANT, TENACIOUS, UNYIELDING)

overly submissive and eager to please

(COMPLIANT, DEFERENTIAL, SERVILE, SUBSERVIENT)

stubborn, unyielding

(INTRANSIGENT, MULISH, PERSISTENT, PERTINACIOUS, STUBBORN, TENACIOUS)

to prevent; to make unnecessary

(FORESTALL, PRECLUDE, PROHIBIT)

to stop up; to prevent the passage of

(BARRICADE, BLOCK, CLOSE, OBSTRUCT)

troublesome and oppressive; burdensome

(ARDUOUS, BACKBREAKING, BURDENSOME, CUMBERSOME, DIFFICULT, EXACTING, FORMIDABLE, HARD, LABORIOUS, OPPRESSIVE, RIGOROUS, TAXING, TRYING)

impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light

(OBSCURE)

public disagree

(DISCREDIT, DISGRACE, DISHONOR, DISREPUTE, IGNOMINY, INFAMY, OBLOQUY, SHAME)

excessive showiness

(CONSPICUOUSNESS, FLASHINESS, PRETENTIOUSNESS, SHOWINESS)

a contradiction or dilemma

(AMBIGUITY, INCONGRUITY)

model of excellence or perfection

(APOTHEOSIS, IDEAL, QUINTESSENCE, STANDARD)

willing to betray one's trust

(DISLOYAL, FAITHLESS, TRAITOROUS, TREACHEROUS)

done in a routine way; indifferent

(APATHETIC, AUTOMATIC, MECHANICAL)

to penetrate

(IMBUE, INFUSE, SUFFUSE)

charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness

(HUMANITARIANISM, ALTRUISM)

to soothe or pacify

(APPEASE, CONCILIATE, MOLLIFY)

able to be molded, altered, or bent

(ADAPTABLE, DUCTILE, MALLEABLE, PLIANT)

excess

(GLUT, OVERABUNDANCE, SUPERFLUITY, SURFEIT)

practical as opposed to idealistic

(RATIONAL, REALISTIC)

to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation

(ABRUPT, HASTY, HEADLONG, HURRIED, ILL-CONSIDERED, IMPETUOUS, IMPULSIVE, PROMPT, RASH, RECKLESS, SUDDEN)

to lie or deviate from the truth

(EQUIVOCATE, LIE, PERJURE)

fresh and clean; uncorrupted

(INNOCENT, UNDAMAGED)

lavish, wasteful

(EXTRAVAGANT, LAVISH, PROFLIGATE, SPENDTHRIFT, WASTEFUL)

to increase in number quickly

(BREED, MULTIPLY, PROCREATE, PROPAGATE, REPRODUCE, SPAWN)

to conciliate; to appease

(APPEASE, CONCILIATE, MOLLIFY, PACIFY, PLACATE)

correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs

(DECENCY, DECORIUM, MODESTY, SEEMLINESS)

wisdom, caution, or restraint

(ASTUTENESS, CIRCUMSPECTION, DISCRETION, FRUGALITY, JUDICIOUSNESS, PROVIDENCE, THRIFT)

sharp and irritating to the senses

(ACRID, CAUSTIC, PIQUANT, POIGNANT, STINGING)

motionless

(DORMANT, LATENT)

to make thinner or sparser

(ATTENUATE, THIN)

to reject the validity of

(DENY, DISAVOW, DISCLAIM, DISOWN, RENOUNCE)

silent, reserved

(COOL, INTROVERTED, LACONIC, STANDOFFISH, TACITURN, UNDEMONSTRATIVE)

effective writing or speaking

(ELOQUENCE, ORATORY)

to satisfy fully or overindulge

(CLOY, GLUT, GORGE, SURFEIT)

causing sleep or lethargy

(HYPNOTIC, NARCOTIC, SLUMBEROUS, SOMNOLENT)

deceptively attractive; seemingly plausbile but fallacious

(ILLUSORY, OSTENSIBLE, PLAUSIBLE, SOPHISTICAL, SPURIOUS)

a mark of shame or discredit

(BLEMISH, BLOT, OPPROBRIUM, STAIN, TAINT)

unemotional; lacking sensitivity

(APATHETIC, IMPASSIVE, INDIFFERENT, PHLEGMATIC, STOICAL, UNCONCERNED)

lofty or grand

(AUGUST, EXALTED, GLORIOUS, GRAND, MAGNIFICENT, MAJESTIC, NOBLE, REGAL, RESPLENDENT, SUPERB)

done without using words

(IMPLICIT, IMPLIED, UNDECLARED, UNSAID, UNUTTERED)

silent, not talkative

(LACONIC, RETICENT)

long, harsh speech or verbal attack

(DIATRIBE, FULMINATION, HARANGUE, OBLOQUY, REVILEMENT, VILIFICATION)

extreme mental and physical sluggishness

(APATHY, LANGUOR)

temporary, lasting a brief time

(EPHEMERAL, EVANESCENT, FLEETING, IMPERMANENT, MOMENTARY)

to sway physically; to be indecisive

(DITHER, FALTER, FLUCTUATE, OSCILLATE, WAVER)

to respect deeply

(ADORE, HONOR, IDOLIZE, REVERE)

filled with truth and accuracy

(CANDOR, EXACTITUDE, FIDELITY, PROBITY)

wordy

(LONG-WINDED, LOQUACIOUS, PROLIX, SUPERFLUOUS)

to annoy

(ANNOY, BOTHER, CHAFE, EXASPERATE, IRK, NETTLE, PEEVE, PROVOKE)

easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive

(CAPRICOIUS, ERRATIC, FICKLE, INCONSISTENT, INCONSTANT, MERCURIAL, TEMPERAMENTAL)

to fluctuate between choices

(DITHER, FALTER, FLUCTUATE, OSCILLATE, VACILLATE)

acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable

(CAPRICIOUS, ERRATIC, FLIPPANT, FRIVOLOUS)

passion; excitement

(ARDENCY, FERVOR, FIRE, PASSION)