| 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 |
