| DEPRECATE [dep-ruh-kayt] | to put down or disapprove of. |
| DESICCATE [des-uh-kayt] | to dry out, to remove the moisture from |
| EXPEDITE [Ex-spi-dyte] | to facilitate, to help along, to speed the progress of, to make easier. |
| HEYDAY [hay-day] | refers to one's prime, or to a golden age |
| HERESY [her-uh-see] | against orthodox opinion |
| CONDESCEND [kahn-duh-send] | to talk down to, to patronize, to treat people in a way that implies you are superior to them. |
| COGENT [koh-junt] | persuasive, convincing, pertinent |
| NUANCE [noo-ahns] | refers to subtleties, slight shades of variation, fine points, shadings. |
| POSTULATE [pahs-chuh-lut] | a premise or assumption assumed as a basis for reasoning. |
| PLATITUDE [pla-ti-tud] | trite, overused saying, a cliche usualltrite, overused saying, a cliche usually offered as advice or wisdom |
| RANCOR [rang-kur] | bitter resentment, long-lasting ill-will, extreme hatred or strife |
| CITADEL [sit-uh-duhl] | a fortress, a stronghold, a refuge |
| SUBLIMATE [sub-luh-mayt] | habitually silent, uncommunicative, to have a quite nature. |
| TACITURN [Tasi-turn] | habitually silent, uncommunicative, to have a quite nature. |
| ADMONISH [ad-mon-ish] | to scold, to warn, to caution, to remind of a duty |
| BANAL [buh-nal] | ordinary, unoriginal, lacking freshness, trite. |
| DEIGN [Dayne] | to condescend, to lower oneself, to consider fit |
| INNATE [inayt] | to condescend, to lower oneself, to consider fit |
| INEXORABLE [in-ek-sur-uh-bul] | unavoidable, inevitable, relentless, unyielding. |
| COMPELLING [kum-pel-ing] | forceful, having a powerful pull |
| CONTRITE [kun-tryte] | remorseful, admitting of guilt, penitent |
| CONTUSION [kuntoo-zhun] | an injury that does not break the skin, a bruise. |
| NOSTALGIA [nahs-tal-juh] | longing for the past |
| PANACEA [pan-uh-see-uh] | remedy for all ills |
| PERIPHERY [puh-rif-uh-ree] | an external boundary, the outside edge of something |
| PATERNAL [puh-ter-nul] | fatherly or father-like |
| REITERATE [ree-it-uh-rayt] | repeat, often excessively and with the intention to emphasize. |
| RECANT [ri-kant] | publicly take back, to deny something previously affirmed |
| RENOUNCE [ri-nownce] | give it up, to deny or forsake |
| SAVANT [sah-vahnt] | a learned person, a scholar, a sage. |
| SUPERFICIAL [soo-pur-fish-ul] | shallow, concerned with only the obvious, not deep or probing |
| AMENITY [uh-men-i-tee] | a feature that brings comfort or convenience |
| QUALITATIVE [kwal-uh-tay-tiv] | concerned with quality, not quantity |
| EPITOME [i-pit-uh-mee] | a perfect example that embodies the very essence of something |
| RUDIMENTARY [roo-duh-men-tuh-ree] | basic, crude, unformed |
| ANIMOSITY [an-uh-mos-i-tee] | hostility; enmity; strong dislike |
| EXTRANEOUS [ik-stray-nee-us] | unnecessary, extra, irrelevant |
| EXULT [ig-zult] | to rejoice, to celebrate, to be jubilant, elated |
| LIMPID [lim-pid] | clear, transparent, able to be seen through or into. |
| MOLLIFY [mahl-uh-fye] | soothe, soften, pacify, appease |
| OPAQUE [oh-payk] | not transparent, impossible to see through |
| PERQUISITE [pur-kwuh-zit] | a privilege that goes along with a job, a perk |
| PROFOUND [pruh-found] | very deep, penetrating, having deep meaning |
| SOBRIETY [suh-brye-uh-tee] | abstinence from alcohol |
| TENABLE [ten-uh-bul] | viable, defensible, valid, capable of being successfully argued, reasonable, workable. |
| ABANDON [uh-ban-duhn] | to leave completely and finally; forsake utterly; desert: |
[uh-beys] | humiliate; degrade |
| ABATE [uh-beyt] | To decrease; diminish; put an end to |
| ABHOR [ab-hawr] | hate |
| ABNEGATE [ab-ni-geyt] | to relinquish; renounce; give up |
| DUBIOUS [doo-bee-uhs] | doubtful |
| FETTER [fet-er] | to restrain, to shackle |
| VINDICTIVE [vin-dik-tiv] | spiteful, vengeful, malicious, wanted to take revenge. |
| PARADOX [par-uh-doks] | a contradictory statement |
| FAUNA [faw-nuh] | refers to animals |
| CIRCUMSPECT [sur-kuhm-spekt] | cautious, guarded, vigilant |
| FARCICAL [fars-i-kul] | absurd, ridiculous, having the characteristics of a farce |
| PROPENSITY [pruh-pen-suh-tee] | a natural inclination, a tendency, a leaning or aptitude |
| RECANT [ri-kant] | to withdraw or disavow (a statement, opinion, etc.), especially formally; retract |
| AVATAR [av-uh-tahr] | an incarnation of a god, a manifestation of the divine in bodily form. |
| PRECIPITATE [pri-SIP-uh-tayt] | to set in motion, to bring about, to set off, to cause to happen. |
| RAPACIOUS [ruh-pay-shus] | greedy, voracious, having predatory hunger |
| MARTIAL [mahr-shul] | warlike, relating to combat or war. |
| VILLIFY [vil-uh-fye] | to slander, to speak badly of, to put down, to say vile things about |
| DEFERENCE [def-ur-uns] | the considerate honoring of or respectful submission to another's wishes or will, an attitude or motivation of consideration. |
| VINDICTIVE [vin-dik-tiv] | spiteful, vengeful, malicious, wanted to take revenge. |
| CAPITULATE [kuh-pich-uh-leyt] | surrender, cave in to pressure, to collapse. |
| COALESCE [koh-uh-les] | to merge, to fuse, to blend togehter, to combine. |
| SANCTIMONIOUS [sangk-tuh-moh-nee-uhs] | phony holy, exaggerated religious feeling, hypocritical devotion or piousness, often "holier than thou". |
| FACILE [fas-il] | easily done, glib, lacking depth |
| LANGUISH [lang-gwish] | to experience prolonged inactivity in a way that weakens or depresses. |
| HARBINGER [hahr-bin-jer] | a forefunner, something that precedes something else and let's us know it is coming. |
| SCRUTINIZE [skroot-n-ahyz] | means to examine carefully, to study in detail |
| DECOROUS [di-kohr-uhs] | proper, dignified, in good taste, well-behaved, not offensive |
| SINGULAR [sing-gyuh-ler] | unique, special, remarkable, exceptional |
| APARTHEID [uh-pahrt-heyt] | rigid policy of racial segregation |
| BALK [bawk] | hinder and prevent; hesitate over |
| BANALITY [buh-nal-i-tee] | ordinariness; dullness |
| BANE [beyn] | troublesome influence |
| BARD [bahrd] | poet |
| BASTION [bas-chuhn] | fortress; stronghold |
| BEFUDDLE [bi-fuhd-l] | confuse |
| FRENETIC [fruh-netik] | frantic or frenzied, it describes how one acts when both desperately rushed and disorganized. |
| STATIC [stat-ik] | not moving, stationary, lacking movement or growth |
| CREDULOUS [krej-uh-luhs] | gullible, eager to believe anything |
| PRECEDENT [pres-i-duhnt] | a previous occurrence sued as a guide |
| MUNDANE [muhn-deyn] | ordinary, routine, commonplace, not special |
| COLLOQUIAL [kuh-loh-kwee-uhl] | informal, conversational, common |
| TRANSIENT [tran-zee-uhnt] | on the move, just passing through, not staying long |
| RIGOROUS [rig-er-uhs] | exacting, strict, harsh, demanding of precision |
| VOCATION [voh-kay-shuhn] | a calling, a profession or business that one has a strong inclination toward |
| RELINQUISH [ri-ling-kwish] | to release, to let go of, to surrender, to stop doing |
| CONSUMMATE [kon-suh-mit] | extremely skillful, complete, perfect |
| CONNOISSEUR [kon-uh-sur, -soor] | someone who has refined taste in a given area, someone whose experience with something has made him or her an expert. |
| OBFUSCATE [ob-fuh-skeyt] | to make unclear, to darken or confuse, to muddle |
| DESPOT [des-pot] | a tyrant, a king or dictator with absolute power who uses it oppresively |
| VITRIOLIC [vi-tree-ol-ik] | caustic, full of bitterness, extremely nasty |
| CONVIVIAL [kuhn-viv-ee-uhl] | festive, friendly, good natured, jovial |
| DISCERN [di-zurn] | to distinguish, to differentiate from something else, to perceive |
| INTEGRAL [in-ti-gruhl] | essential, belonging as a part of the whole |
| LETHARGY [leth-er-jee] | sluggishness, laziness, drowsiness, indifference |
| MONOLITHIC [mon-uh-lith-ik] | consisting of one piece; solid or unbroken |
| ABJECT [ab-jekt] | utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, or wretched |
| COHERENT [koh-heer-uhnt] | understandable, to make sense |
| PRISTINE [pri-steen] | pure, unspoiled, uncorrupted, immaculately clean |
| BEGUILE [bi-gahyl] | to influence by trickery, flattery, etc., mislead; delude |
| BELABOR [bi-ley-ber] | to explain, worry about, or work at (something) repeatedly or more then is necessary |
| CENSURE [sen-sher] | strong or vehement expression of disapproval |
| CYNICAL [sin-i-kuhl] | bitterly or sneeringly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic |
| DIGRESS [di-gres] | to deviate or wander away from the main topic or purpose in speaking or writing; depart from the principal line of argument, plot, study, etc. |
| DIVERT [divurt] | to turn aside or from a path or course; deflect |
| ENIGMA [uh-nig-muh] | a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation |
| FLAMBOYANT [flam-boiuhnt] | strikingly bold or brilliant; showy |
| GUFFAW [guh-faw] | a loud, unrestrained burst of laughter |
| DISCRIMINATE [di-skrim-uh-neyt] | to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs rather than according to actual merit; show partiality |
| BESET [bi-set] | besieged, surrounded on all sides, attacked by |
| MATRICULATE [muh-trik-yuh-leyt] | to enroll, espceially in a college or university |
| VITIATE [vish-ee-eyt] | to impair the quality of; make faulty; spoil |
| STAUNCH [stawnch] | firmly committed, dedicated, steadfast |
| INFER [in-fur] | deduce; to find out by reasoning |
| DISTEND [di-stend] | swell, to bloat, to extend outward, to expand |
| EXPEDIENT [ik-spee-dee-uhnt] | practical or efficient, advantageous |
| OSTENTATIOUS [os-ten-tey-shuhs] | showy, overblown, pretentious |
| SQUALOR [skwol-er] | filth, wretchedness, repulsive conditions |
| PERTINENT [pur-tn-uhnt] | relevant, to the point, appropriate or meaningful to the subject at hand |
| CHRONICLE [kron-i-kuhl] | a chronological record of events; a history |
| THEOLOGY [thee-ol-uh-jee] | the study of religion, the study of the relationship between God and what exists as creation |
| INSTIGATE [in-sti-geyt] | to incite, to provoke, to stir up, to initiate, to provide the catalyst that begins something |
| REQUISITE [ | required or necessary, indispensable |
| EMPIRICAL [em-pir-i-kuhl] | verified by experience or observation, not merely theoretical |
| GRANDIOSE [gran-dee-ohs] | absurdly exaggerated, over-blown, pretentious, or referring to an unrealistic sense of grandeur |
| DECIMATE [des-uh-meyt] | to destroy most of, to annihilate |
| COVERT [koh-vert | secret, hidden, concealed, disquised |
| MALLEABLE [mal-ee-uh-buhl] | easy to shape or mold |
| TRANSGRESS [trans-gres] | violate a law, to offend, to sin |
| OBTUSE [uhb-toos] | to be dense, slow to catch on, unobservant, not tuned in |
| PROVINCIAL [pruh-vin-shuhl] | simple, unsophisticated; narrow-minded |
| GENTEEL [jen-teel] | refined, polite, aristocratic, well bred, cultivated |
| STAGNATION [stag-ney-shun] | lack of movement that also implies staleness, a lack of grogress or growth. |
| UNIFORM [yoo-nuh-fawrm] | consistent, standard, without variation |
| CATEGORICAL [kat-i-gawr-i-kuhl] | unconditional, absolute, without exception |
| ONEROUS [on-er-uhs] | burdensome, oppressive, or troublesome; causing hardship |
| COGENT [koh-juhnt] | persuasive, convincing, pertinent |
| PLACATE [play-kayt] | pacify, soothe, to calm down |
| AMIABLE [ay-mee-uh-bul] | friendly, agreeable, congenial |
| REPERCUSSION [ree-pur-kushun] | consequence, an effect that is often indirect |
| CULMINATE [kul-muh-nayt] | to climax or reach the highest point |
| FRUGAL [ | thrifty, economical, not wasteful |
| ACROPHOBIA [ak-ruh-foh-bee-uh] | fear of heights |
| PROFESS [pruh-fes] | declare |
| CONTRIVE [kun-tryved] | calculated, artificial, forced, strained |
| INSOLENT [in-suh-lunt] | insulting, boldly rude or disrespectful |
| EMULATE [em-yuh-layt] | strive to equal or surpass, usually through imitation |
| INIMITABLE [ih-nim-uh-tuh-bul] | matchless, impossible to copy, without peer |
| DIVEST [dye-vest] | deprive or strip |
| TITANIC [tye-tan-ik] | huge, enormous |