GRATUITOUS |
unnecessary |
GREGARIOUS |
sociable |
GUILE |
skillful deceit |
HACKNEYED |
overused |
HAIL |
to salute or greet |
HAMPER |
to prevent the movement or action of |
HARANGUE |
a long, angry speech |
HAUGHTY |
snobbish; overly proud |
HEED |
to pay close attention to |
HERETICAL |
characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards |
HINDER |
to be or get in the way of |
HOMOGENEOUS |
all of the same or similar kind |
IDIOSYNCRATIC |
peculiar to an individual |
ILLICIT |
not permitted by custom or law |
ILLUSORY |
based on or producing illusion; deceptive |
IMPARTIAL |
not biased |
IMPASSIONED |
filled with passion |
IMPASSIVE |
having or showing little emotion |
IMPECCABLE |
perfect |
IMPEDE |
to be or get in the way of |
IMPERIOUS |
arrogantly authoritative or overbearing |
IMPETUOUS |
impulsive, unthinking |
IMPUGN |
to attack as false or wrong, to challenge or question |
INACCESSIBLE |
not easily approached, entered, or obtained |
INCISIVE |
penetrating, clear and sharp |
INCONGRUOUS |
inappropriate; inconsistent |
INCONSEQUENTIAL |
lacking importance |
INCONTROVERTIBLE |
impossible to dispute |
INCORRIGIBLE |
incapable of being corrected or reformed |
INCREDULOUS |
disbelieving |
INDICT |
to accuse of wrongdoing |
INDIFFERENT |
having no preference |
INDIGENOUS |
native |
INDIGNATION |
anger (over something unjust) |
INDUCE |
to bring about the occurrence of; |
INDULGE |
to please or satisfy |
INFLAMMATORY |
arousing strong emotion, esp. anger |
INGENUOUS |
innocent; honest and straightforward |
INHERENT |
naturally occurring; essential |
INHIBIT |
to hold back; to restrain |
INNATE |
inborn |
INNOCUOUS |
harmless |
INNOVATIVE |
new and creative |
INQUISITIVE |
showing curiosity |
INSINUATE |
to suggest subtly; to hint |
INSIPID |
lacking flavor or zest; dull |
INSOLENT |
disrespectfully arrogant |
INSTIGATE |
to stir up |
INSULAR |
isolated; narrow-minded |
INTELLIGIBLE |
capable of being understood |
INTRANSIGENT |
uncompromising |
INUNDATE |
to overwhelm with, to flood |
INVIGORATE |
to give life or energy to |
INVOKE |
to enforce or put into operation |
IRATE |
enraged |
JADED |
weary, worn out |
JUDICIOUS |
having good judgment, prudent |
JUXTAPOSE |
to place side by side |
KEEN |
sharp, perceptive |
LACONIC |
using few words (often rudely or mysteriously) |
LAMENT |
to regret; to show grief for |
LANGUID |
lacking energy or spirit |
LATENT |
existing in hidden or dormant form |
LAUD |
to praise |
LAVISH |
excessive; plentiful |
LUCID |
clear |
LUXURIOUS |
rich and superior in quality |
MAGNANIMOUS |
noble and generous in spirit |
MANDATE |
an authoritative command |
MANIFEST |
to make evident or certain by displaying or demonstrating |
MEAGER |
small, inadequate, or insufficient |
MEDIOCRE |
ordinary; so-so |
MELANCHOLY |
sad; gloomy |
MERCENARY |
motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain |
MERCURIAL |
changeable, erratic |
METICULOUS |
extremely careful |
MIRTH |
gladness, amusement, laughter |
MITIGATE |
to lessen in force or intensity |
MOLLIFY |
to soften, to ease the anger of |
MOROSE |
gloomy |
MUNDANE |
ordinary, commonplace |
MUTABLE |
subject to change |
NEBULOUS |
hazy, vague, or confused; lacking defined form |
NEGLIGENT |
guilty of neglect |
NEGLIGIBLE |
insignificant; really small |
NONCHALANT |
casually unconcerned (sometimes falsely) |
NOSTALGIA |
a bittersweet longing for the past |
NOTORIOUS |
known widely and unfavorably; famous for something bad |
NOVEL |
strikingly new or different |
NURTURE |
to help develop, to nourish |
OBDURATE |
stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing |
OBLIVIOUS |
forgetful; unaware |
OBSOLETE |
no longer in use or current |
OBSTINATE |
stubborn |
OBSTREPEROUS |
noisily and stubbornly defiant |
OBTRUSIVE |
sticking out, noticeable; brash, meddling |
OBTUSE |
lacking intellect |
OFFICIOUS |
overly eager in offering unwanted help |
OMINOUS |
menacing; threatening |
OPAQUE |
not clearly understood, dense |
OPPORTUNE |
suitable, occurring at an appropriate time |
OPULENT |
rich or superior in quality |
ORNATE |
excessively decorated |
ORTHODOX |
commonly accepted; traditional |
PARADOX |
a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true |
PARTISAN |
devoted to or biased in support of a group |
PATRONIZE |
to treat condescendingly |
PENITENT |
feeling or expressing remorse |
PERNICIOUS |
deadly or destructive |
PERPETUAL |
continuing forever or indefinitely |
PERSEVERE |
to be persistent, refuse to stop |
PERSPICACITY |
a high level of perception or understanding |
PERTINENT |
exactly relevant |
PERVASIVE |
spread throughout |
PLACID |
calm, quiet |
PLAUSIBLE |
believable |
PLIABLE |
easily bent or shaped |
POIGNANT |
touching |
POLARIZE |
to set at opposite ends or extremes |
POMPOUS |
exaggeratedly self-important |
PRAGMATIC |
practical |
PRECARIOUS |
dangerously unstable or insecure |
PRECIPITOUS |
extremely steep |
PREDILECTION |
a preference; a tendency toward favoring |
PRETENTIOUS |
claiming unjust standing |
PREVALENT |
widely occurring |
PRISTINE |
unspoiled, completely pure |
PRODIGIOUS |
enormous; extraordinary |
PROFOUND |
deep; far-reaching |
PROLIFERATE |
to increase or spread at a rapid rate |
PROLIFIC |
producing abundant works or results |
PROPAGATE |
to transmit or cause to broaden or spread |
PROPENSITY |
tendency |
PROPRIETY |
the quality of being proper |
PROSAIC |
lacking in imagination; dull |
PROSPERITY |
success; being well-off |
PROVINCIAL |
narrow-minded |
PROVOCATIVE |
tending to stir to anger or action |
PRUDENT |
wise; careful |
PUGNACIOUS |
eager to fight |
QUELL |
to put down forcibly |
RANCOR |
hostility |
RAVENOUS |
violently hungry or greedy |
REBUKE |
to criticize or find fault with |
RECIPROCATE |
to show or give in return |
RECLUSIVE |
seeking or preferring isolation |
RECONCILE |
to reestablish a close relationship between |
REFUGE |
protection or shelter |
REFUTE |
to prove to be false |
REITERATE |
to repeat |
RELINQUISH |
to give up; to release |
REMINISCE |
to recollect and tell of the past |
RENOUNCE |
to reject, disown, or formally give up |
REPREHENSIBLE |
deserving of criticism or disapproval |
REPROACH |
to criticize or express disappointment |
REPUDIATE |
to reject the validity of |
RESENT |
to feel angry and bitter about |
RESIGNATION |
acceptance of something as inescapable; submission |
RESILIENT |
able to recover promptly |
RESOLUTE |
firm or determined |
RESOLVE |
to make a firm decision about |
RETICENT |
restrained or reserved |
REVERE |
to respect, honor or admire |
REVOKE |
to void by recalling, reversing, or withdrawing |
RUDIMENTARY |
being or involving basic facts or principles |
SAGACIOUS |
insightful and wise |
SANCTION |
to give official authorization or approval to |
SANGUINE |
cheerful |
SCATHING |
harshly critical |
SCOFF |
to express or treat with disrespectful disregard |
SCORN |
intense hatred or disrespect |
SCRUPULOUS |
thorough and careful |
SCRUTINIZE |
to examine carefully |
SERENE |
calm |
SHREWD |
smart in a sneaky or tricky manner |
SKEPTICAL |
doubting, questioning, not believing |
SMUG |
self-satisfied (especially in a mocking way) |
SOLEMN |
serious and sober |
SOLICITOUS |
anxious or concerned |
SOMBER |
gloomy |
SPECIOUS |
seemingly true but actually logically false |
SPORADIC |
occurring at irregular intervals |
SPURIOUS |
not genuine; false |
SPURN |
to reject with disrespect |
SQUANDER |
to waste |
STAGNANT |
not moving, flowing, or developing |
STEADFAST |
firm and dependable |
STOIC |
seemingly unaffected by pleasure or pain |
SUBDUE |
to bring under control |
SUBSTANTIATE |
to support with proof |
SUBVERT |
to ruin; to overthrow |
SUCCINCT |
precise expression using few words |
SUPERFLUOUS |
extra, unnecessary |
SUPPLANT |
to take the place of |
SUPPRESS |
to put down; to hold back |
SURREPTITIOUS |
done or made by secret or stealthy means |
TACT |
sensitivity in dealing with others |
TEDIOUS |
tiresomely long or boring |
TEMPER |
to soften or moderate |
TENACITY |
persistence, determination |
TERSE |
expressing much in few words |
THERAPEUTIC |
having healing powers |
THWART |
to stop or prevent |
TORPOR |
inactivity |
TRACTABLE |
easily managed, led, or taught |
TRANQUIL |
calm |
TRANSIENT |
existing only briefly |
TRANSITORY |
existing only briefly |
TREACHERY |
deliberate betrayal of trust |
TRITE |
uninteresting because of overuse |
TRIVIAL |
insignificant, unimportant |
TUMULTUOUS |
disorderly or noisy |
UNASSUMING |
not showy or arrogant; modest; plain |
UNDERMINE |
to weaken |
UNDERSCORE |
to emphasize |
UNIFORM |
always the same |
URBANE |
polite, suave, and cultivated in manner |
USURP |
to seize and take control without authority and possibly with force |
UTILITARIAN |
having only a useful function; practical |
VACILLATE |
to be undecided, to hesitate |
VAPID |
lacking liveliness or interest; dull |
VEILED |
concealed or disguised |
VENERATE |
to respect |
VERBOSE |
using more words than necessary |
VERSATILE |
capable of doing many things competently |
VICARIOUS |
felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another |
VIGILANT |
alert; watchful |
VILIFY |
to say bad things about, to make into a villain |
VINDICATE |
to clear of blame or suspicion |
VINDICTIVE |
seeking revenge |
VIVACIOUS |
lively |
VOLATILE |
explosive, tending to change |
VOLUBLE |
characterized by ready and rapid speech |
VOLUMINOUS |
big; having large volume |
VULNERABLE |
not protected against harm; easily injured |
WARRANT |
to justify |
WARY |
on guard, cautious, watchful |
WAVER |
to be unsure or weak |
WHIMSICAL |
impulsive, fanciful |
ZEALOUS |
filled with or motivated by enthusiastic devotion |