Magoosh GRE Flashcards Basic All I - VII

Study online at quizlet.com/_r2nxn

1.

2.

aboveboard

abysmal

adjective: open and honest

6.

affable

Synonyms : straightforward

Synonyms : amiable , cordial , genial

The mayor, despite his avuncular face plastered

about the city, was hardly aboveboard - some
concluded that it was his ingratiating smile that
allowed him to engage in corrupt behavior and
get away with it.

For all his surface affability, Marco was

remarkably glum when he wasn't around other
people.
7.

affluent

adjective: extremely bad

Coach Ramsey took his newest player off the

field after watching a few painful minutes of her
abysmal performance.
acme

8.

altruism

noun: the highest point of achievement

The new Cessna airplanes will be the acme of

comfort, offering reclining seats and ample
legroom.
adequate

Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doing

missionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking no
reward, apparently motivated only by altruism.
9.

amiable

Amy's name was very apt: she was so amiable

that she was twice voted class president.
10.

amply

A very light jacket will be adequate for Los

Angeles's warm winter.
advocate

The boat was amply supplied for its year at sea no man would go hungry or thirst.
11.

amuck

While the senator privately approved of gay

marriage, he was unwilling to advocate for the
cause in a public venue.

adverb: in a frenzied or uncontrolled state

Synonyms : amok , murderously
Wherever the bowl haircut teen-idol went, his
legions of screaming fans ran through the streets
amuck, hoping for a glance at his boyish face.

noun: a person who pleads for a cause or

propounds an idea
12.

analogous

Synonyms : advocator , exponent , proponent

adjective: similar in some respects but otherwise

different
Synonyms : correspondent

Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for

the rights of African-Americans in the United
States.
This word has other definitions but these are
the most important ones to study

adverb: more than is adequate

Synonyms : fully

verb: speak, plead, or argue in favor of

Synonyms : preach

adjective: friendly
Synonyms : affable , cordial , genial

adjective: good enough for what you need

Synonyms : decent , enough

5.

noun: the quality of unselfish concern for the

welfare of others
Synonyms : selflessness

Synonyms : elevation , height , meridian , peak ,

pinnacle , summit , superlative , tiptop , top

4.

adjective: wealthy
The center of the city had sadly become a pit of
penury, while, only five miles away, multi-million
dollar homes spoke of affluence.

Synonyms : abyssal , unfathomable

3.

adjective: likeable; easy to talk to

In many ways, the Internet's transformative

effect on society has been analogous to that of
the printing press.
13.

animosity

noun: intense hostility

The governor's animosity toward his rival was
only inflamed when the latter spread false lies
regarding the governor's first term.

14.

antedate

verb: precede in time

21.

archaic

Synonyms : antecede , forego , forgo ,

precede , predate, foredate

Synonyms : antediluvian , antiquated

Harry was so unknowledgable that he was

unaware the Egyptian pharaohs antedated
the American Revolution.
15.

antiquated

adjective: old-fashioned; belonging to an

earlier period in time

adjective: so old as to appear to belong to a

different period

Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in

archaic English that was right out of Jane
Austen's Pride and Prejudice--needless to
say, she didn't have many friends.
22.

ascendancy

noun: the state that exists when one person

or group has power over another

Synonyms : antediluvian , archaic

Synonyms : ascendance , ascendence ,
ascendency , control , dominance

Aunt Betty had antiquated notions about

marriage, believing that a man should court a
woman for at least a year before receiving a
kiss.
16.

apex

The ascendancy of the Carlsbad water polo

team is clearthey have a decade of
championships behind them.

noun: the highest point

23.

ascribe

verb: attribute or credit to

Synonyms : acme , peak , vertex

Synonyms : assign , attribute , impute
The Ivy League is considered the apex of the
secondary education system.
17.

aphorism

History ascribes The Odyssey and The Iliad

to Homer, but scholars now debate whether
he was a historical figure or a fictitious name.

noun: a short instructive saying about a

general truth
24.

assail

verb: attack in speech or writing

Synonyms : apophthegm , apothegm

Synonyms : assault , attack , lash out , round ,
snipe

Nietzsche was known for using aphorisms,

sometimes encapsulating a complex
philosophical thought in a mere sentence.
18.

aphoristic

adjective: something that is concise and

instructive of a general truth or principle
Sometimes I can't stand Nathan because he
tries to impress everyone by being aphoristic,
but he just states the obvious.

19.

appreciable

apprehension

25.

assuage

26.

augment

Test day can be one of pure apprehension,

as many students worry about their test
scores.

verb: enlarge or increase; improve

Ideally, the restaurant's augmented menu
will expand its clientele and increase its
profits.

noun: fearful expectation

Synonyms : apprehensiveness ,
dread,misgiving

verb: make something intense less severe

Her fear that the new college would be filled
with unknown faces was assuaged when
she recognized her childhood friend
standing in line.

adjective: large enough to be noticed (usu.

refers to an amount)
There is an appreciable difference between
those who say they can get the job done and
those who actually get the job done.

20.

In the weekly paper, the editor assailed the

governor for wasting hundreds of
thousands of dollars in public projects that
quickly failed.

27.

autonomously

adverb: In an autonomous or self-governing

manner.
Many of the factory workers are worried
about being replaced by machines and
computers that will work completely
autonomously.

28.

avarice

noun: greed (one of the seven deadly sins)

33.

banish

Synonyms : avaritia , covetousness , greed ,

rapacity,avariciousness , covetousness , cupidity

Synonyms : ban , blackball , cast out , ostracise ,

ostracize , shun

The Spanish conquistadors were known for their

avarice, plundering Incan land and stealing Incan
gold.
29.

avert

31.

avid

badger

34.

beatific

adjective: blissfully happy

verb: ward off or prevent

Synonyms : angelic , angelical , sainted , saintlike ,

saintly

Synonyms : avoid , debar , deflect , fend off ,

forefend , forfend , head off , obviate , stave off ,
ward off

Often we imagine all monks to wear the beatific

smile of the Buddha, but, like any of us, a monk
can have a bad day and not look very happy.

The struggling videogame company put all of its

finances into one final, desperate project to avert
bankruptcy.
30.

The most difficult part of the fast was banishing

thoughts of food.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study

verb: turn away

Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, I averted
my eyes as we drove by.

verb: expel from a community, residence, or

location; drive away

35.

becoming

adjective: appropriate, and matches nicely

Synonyms : comely , comme il faut , decent ,
decorous , seemly

adjective: marked by active interest and enthusiasm

Synonyms : zealous

Her dress was becoming and made her look even

more beautiful.

Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking long

hikes into remote mountains to see some rare eagle.

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study

verb: to pester

36.

begrudge

verb: to envy someone for possessing or enjoying

something

Synonyms : beleaguer , bug , pester , tease

Synonyms : resent
Badgered by his parents to find a job, the 30-yearold loafer instead joined a gang of itinerant
musicians.

Sitting all alone in his room, Harvey begrudged

the happiness of the other children playing
outside his window.
verb: to give reluctantly

This word has other definitions but this is the most

important one to study
32.

balk

We never begrudge money spent on ourselves.

verb: refuse to comply

37.

behooves

verb: to be one's duty or obligation

Synonyms : baulk , jib , resist

The teacher looked down at the student and said,
"It would behoove you to be in class on time and
complete your homework, so that you don't
repeat freshman English for a third straight
year."

The students were willing to clean up the broken

glass, but when the teacher asked them to mop the
entire floor, they balked, citing reasons why they
needed to leave.
38.

belittle

verb: lessen the importance, dignity, or

reputation of
Synonyms : diminish,denigrate , derogate ,
minimize
A good teacher will never belittle his students, but
will instead empower them.

39.

bellicose

adjective: warlike; inclined to quarrel

45.

boorish

adjective: ill-mannered and coarse or

contemptible in behavior or appearance

Synonyms : battleful , combative

Synonyms : loutish , neandertal , neanderthal ,
oafish , swinish

Known for their bellicose ways, the Spartans were

once the most feared people from Peloponnesus
to Persia.
40.

benign

Bukowski was known for being a boorish drunk

and alienating close friends and family.

adjective: kind
46.

brusquely

I remember my grandfather's face was wrinkled,

benign, and calm.

Synonyms : bluffly , bluntly , flat out , roundly

adjective: (medicine) not dangerous to health; not

recurrent or progressive
The tumor located in your ear lobe seems to be
benign and should not cause you any trouble.
41.

besiege

Not one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staff

would brusquely ask his subordinates anything
he wanted, even coffee.
47.

besmirch

verb: damage the good name and reputation of

someone

The profits at our firm bucked the general

downturn that affected the real estate industry.
48.

buttress

43.

bleak

49.

cadaverous

Some actors take challenging roles in which they

have to lose so much weight that they appear
cadaverous.
50.

candid

adjective: having a depressing or gloomy outlook

noun: a desirable state

Synonyms : blessing
Modern technology has been a boon to the travel
industry.
adjective: very close and convivial
He was a boon companion to many, and will be
sadly missed.

adjective: a straightforward and honest look at

something
Synonyms : blunt , forthright , frank , freespoken , outspoken , plainspoken , point-blank ,
straight-from-the-shoulder

Unremitting overcast skies tend to lead people to

create bleak literature and lugubrious music compare England's band Radiohead to any band
from Southern California.
boon

adjective: emaciated; gaunt

Synonyms : bony ,haggard , pinched , skeletal ,
wasted

Synonyms : bare , barren , desolate , stark

44.

verb: make stronger or defensible

China's economy has been buttressed by a
global demand for the electronic parts the
country manufactures.

Synonyms : asperse , calumniate , defame ,

denigrate , slander , smear , smirch , sully
The prince's distasteful choice of words
besmirched not only his own name, but the
reputation of the entire royal family.

verb: resist
Synonyms : go against

After discovering a priceless artifact in her

backyard, Jane was besieged by phone calls,
emails, and reporters all trying to buy, hold or see
the rare piece of history.
42.

buck

verb: harass, as with questions or requests; cause

to feel distressed or worried
Synonyms : beleaguer , circumvent , hem in ,
surround

adverb: in a blunt, direct manner

Even with a perfect stranger, Charles was

always candid and would rarely hold anything
back.
51.

candidness

noun: the quality of being honest and

straightforward in attitude and speech
Synonyms : candor , candour , directness ,
forthrightness , frankness
Although I was unhappy that the relationship
ended, I appreciated her candidness about
why she was ready to move on from the
relationship.

52.

53.

cardinal

carping

adjective: of primary importance; fundamental

58.

champion

verb: to fight for a cause

Synonyms : central , fundamental , key , primal

Synonyms : defend

Most cultures consider gambling a cardinal sin and

thus have outlawed its practice.

Martin Luther King Jr. championed civil rights

fiercely throughout his short life.

This word has other definitions but this is the most

important one to study

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study

adjective: persistently petty and unjustified criticism

59.

chauvinist

noun: a person who believes in the superiority of

their group

Synonyms : faultfinding
Synonyms : flag-waver , hundred-percenter ,
jingo , jingoist , patrioteer

What seemed like incessant nagging and carping

about my behavior from my mother turned out to
be wise and useful advice that has served me well.
54.

catalyst

The chauvinist lives on both sides of the political

spectrum, outright shunning anybody whose
ideas are not consistent with his own.

noun: something that speeds up an event

Synonyms : accelerator

60.

check

Rosa Park's refusal to give up her bus seat acted as

a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, setting into
motion historic changes for African-Americans.
55.

cavalier

Deserted for six months, the property began to

look more like a jungle and less like a residence weeds grew unchecked in the front yard

adjective: given to haughty disregard of others

noun: the condition of being held back or limited

Synonyms : high-handed

When government abuses are not kept in check,

that government is likely to become autocratic.

Percy dismissed the issue with a cavalier wave of his

hand.
56.

censor

verb: to examine and remove objectionable

material
Synonyms : ban

This word has other definitions but these are the

most important ones to study
61.

checkered

Every fall, high school English teachers are

inundated by requests to censor their curriculum
by removing The Catcher in the Rye and Scarlet
Letter from their reading lists.
noun: an official who censors material

cerebral

adjective: involving intelligence rather than

emotions or instinct
Synonyms : intellectual
A cerebral analysis of most pop music finds it to be
simple and childish, but that ignores the point--the
music's effect on the listener.
This word has other definitions but this is the most
important one to study

adjective: one that is marked by disreputable

happenings
One by one, the presidential candidates
dropped out of the race, their respective
checkered pasts - from embezzlement to
infidelity - sabotaging their campaigns.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study

The censor insisted that every reference to drugs

should be removed from the manuscript.
57.

verb: to limit (usually modifying the growth of

something)

62.

chivalrous

adjective: being attentive to women like an ideal

knight
Synonyms : gallant , knightly
Marco's chivalrous ways, like opening doors and
pulling out chairs, was much appreciated by his
date.

63.

clemency

noun: leniency and compassion shown

toward offenders by a person or agency
charged with administering justice

70.

complacent

adjective: contented to a fault with oneself

or one's actions
Synonyms : self-complacent , self-satisfied

Synonyms : mercifulness , mercy

After the water polo team won their sixth
championship, they became complacent
and didn't even make it to the playoffs the
next year.

In the final moments of the trial, during his

closing speech, Phillips was nearly begging
the judge for clemency.
64.

coalesce

verb: fuse or cause to grow together

71.

complementary

Synonyms : blend , combine , commingle ,

conflate , flux , fuse , immix , meld , merge ,
mix

Synonyms : complemental , completing

The head waiter was careful to tell the
amateur diners that red wine was
complementary with beef, each bringing
out subtle taste notes in the other.

Over time, the various tribes coalesced into a

single common culture with one universal
language.
65.

cogent

adjective: clear and persuasive

adjective: enhancing each other's qualities

(for two things or more).

72.

compound

verb: make more intense, stronger, or

more marked

Synonyms : telling , weighty

Synonyms : deepen , heighten , intensify
A cogent argument will change the minds of
even the most skeptical audience.
66.

cohesive

adjective: well integrated, forming a united

whole
A well-written, cohesive essay will keep on
topic at all times, never losing sight of the
main argument.

67.

collusion

Her headache was compounded by the

construction crew outside, which had six
jackhammers going at the same time.
This word has other definitions but this is
the most important one to study
73.

conducive

noun: agreement on a secret plot

Studying in a quiet room is conducive to

learning; studying in a noisy environment
makes learning more difficult.

Synonyms : connivance
Many have argued that Lee Harvey Oswald,
JFK's assassin, was in collusion with other
criminals; others maintain that Oswald was a
lone gunman.
68.

colossal

74.

Few appreciate the colossal scale of the sun:

if hollow, it could contain a million Earths.
commendable

adjective: worthy of high praise

Synonyms : applaudable , laudable ,
praiseworthy
The efforts of the firefighters running into
the burning building were commendable.

verb: taking part in immoral and unethical

plots
The queen was so conniving that, with the
help of the prince, she tried to overthrow
the king.

75.

69.

conniving

adjective: so great in size or force or extent as

to elicit awe
Synonyms : prodigious , stupendous

adjective: making a situation or outcome

more likely to happen

consecrate

verb: to make holy or set apart for a high

purpose
Synonyms : bless , hallow , sanctify

At the church of Notre Dame in France, the

new High Altar was consecrated in 1182.

76.

constraint

noun: something that limits or restricts

82.

convoluted

Synonyms : restraint

Synonyms : byzantine , involved , knotty ,

tangled , tortuous

We don't have many resources, so we'll have

to work with some very tight constraints.
77.

consummate

Instead of solving the math problem in three

simple steps, Kumar used a convoluted
solution requiring fifteen steps.

adjective: having or revealing supreme

mastery or skill
83.

cornucopia

Synonyms : masterful , masterly , virtuoso

Tyler was the consummate musician: he was
able to play the guitar, harmonica, and the
drum at the same time.

The International Food Expo was a

cornucopia of culinary delights: gourmet
foods from every continent were under one
roof.
84.

corroborate

contemptuous

adjective: scornful, looking down at others

with a sneering attitude

Her claim that frog populations were falling

precipitously in Central America was
corroborated by locals, who reported that
many species of frogs had seemingly
vanished overnight.

Synonyms : disdainful , insulting , scornful

Always on the forefront of fashion, Vanessa
looked contemptuously at anyone wearing
dated clothing.
79.

contrite

85.

cosmopolitan

adjective: to be remorseful

80.

conundrum

There are few cities in the world as diverse

and cosmopolitan as New York.
86.

credence

Computers have helped solve some of the

mathematical conundrums which have
puzzled man for many centuries.
convivial

noun: belief in something

noun: a difficult problem

He placed no credence in psychics, claiming
that they offered no special powers beyond
the ability to make people part with their
money.

Synonyms : brain-teaser , enigma , riddle

81.

adjective: comprising many cultures; global in

reach and outlook
Synonyms : ecumenical , general ,
oecumenical , universal , world-wide ,
worldwide

Synonyms : remorseful , rueful , ruthful

Though he stole his little sister's licorice stick
with malevolent glee, Chucky soon became
contrite when his sister wouldn't stop crying.

verb: to confirm or lend support to (usually

an idea or claim)
Synonyms : affirm , confirm , substantiate ,
sustain,bear out , support , underpin

This word has other definitions but these

are the most important ones to study
78.

noun: an abundant supply of something

good
Synonyms : profuseness , profusion ,
richness

verb: to make perfect and complete in every

respect
The restoration of the ancient church was
only consummated after a twenty years of
labor.

adjective: highly complex or intricate

87.

creditable

adjective: deserving of praise but not that

amazing

adjective: describing a lively atmosphere

The wedding reception was convivial;
friends who hadn't seen each other for ages
drank and ate together before heading to
the dance floor.

Critics agreed the movie was creditable, but

few gave it more than three out of five stars.
88.

credulity

noun: tendency to believe readily

Virginia's wide-eyed credulity as a five-year
old was replaced by suspicion after she
learned that Santa Claus didn't really exist.

89.

cumbersome

adjective: difficult to handle or use especially

because of size or weight

95.

delegate

verb: give an assignment to (a person)

Synonyms : assign , depute , designate

Synonyms : cumbrous
Since the senior manager had to go on many
international business trips, she was forced to
delegate many of her responsibilities to two
lower-level managers.

Only ten years ago, being an avid reader and

a traveler meant carrying a cumbersome
backpack stuffed with books--these days we
need only an e-reader.
90.

dearth

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study

noun: a lack or shortage

Synonyms : famine , shortage,paucity

96.

deliberate

I am surprised by the dearth of fast food

chains; this is America and I assumed they
were on every street.
91.

debase

Synonyms : consider , debate , moot , turn over

Emergency situations such as this call for
immediate action and leave no room to
deliberate over options.

verb: reduce the quality or value of something

Synonyms : adulterate , dilute , load , stretch
The third-rate script so debased the film that
not even the flawless acting could save it from
being a flop.

92.

debunk

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study
97.

demean

verb: expose as false ideas and claims,

especially while ridiculing

At first the soccer players bantered back and

forth, but as soon as one of the players became
demeaning, calling the other's mother a water
buffalo, the ref whipped out a red card.

Richard Dawkins tries to debunk religious

belief, but his ridicule tends to push people
away from his points rather than convince
them.
decimation

noun: destroying or killing a large part of the

population

98.

demure

degrade

verb: reduce in worth or character, usually

verbally
Synonyms : demean , disgrace , put down ,
take down
Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy's
faults in front of their friends, publicly
degrading the poor girl.

adjective: to be modest and shy

Synonyms : coy , overmodest

The decimation after atomic bombs were

dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is
incomprehensible.
94.

verb: to insult; to cause someone to lose dignity

or respect
Synonyms : degrade , disgrace , put down , take
down

Synonyms : expose

93.

verb: think about carefully; weigh the pros and

cons of an issue

The portrait of her in a simple white blouse was

sweet and demure.
99.

deride

verb: treat or speak of with contempt

The nun derided the students for trying to
sneak insects and worms into the classroom.

100.

derisive

adjective: abusing vocally; expressing contempt

or ridicule
Synonyms : gibelike , jeering , mocking , taunting
I was surprised by her derisive tone; usually,
she is sweet, soft spoken, and congenial.

101.

derogative

adjective: expressed as worthless or in negative

terms

105.

detrimental

Synonyms : derogatory , disparaging

Synonyms : damaging , prejudicial ,

prejudicious

Never before have we seen a debate between

two political candidates that was so derogative
and filthy.
102.

desecrate

adjective: (sometimes followed by "to")

causing harm or injury

Many know that smoking is detrimental to

your health, but processed sugar in large
quantities is equally bad.

verb: to willfully violate or destroy a sacred place

106.

devolve

verb: pass on or delegate to another

Synonyms : outrage , profane , violate

Synonyms : degenerate , deteriorate , drop
After desecrating the pharaoh's tomb, the
archaeologist soon fell victim to a horrible illness.
103.

destitute

The company was full of managers known for

devolving tasks to lower management, but
never doing much work themselves.
verb: grow worse (usually "devolve into")

adjective: poor enough to need help from

others
Synonyms : impoverished , indigent ,
necessitous , needy , poverty-stricken
Jean Valjean, is at first destitute, but through the
grace of a priest, he makes something of his life.

The dialogue between the two academics

devolved into a downright bitter argument.
107.

diabolical

Synonyms : demonic , diabolic , fiendish ,

hellish , infernal , satanic , unholy,devilish ,
diabolic , mephistophelean , mephistophelian

adjective: completely wanting or lacking (usually

"destitute of")
Synonyms : barren , devoid , free , innocent
Now that the mine is closed, the town is
destitute of any economic activity.
104.

deter

adjective: to be extremely wicked like the devil

The conspirators, willing to dispatch anyone

who stood in their way, hatched a diabolical
plan to take over the city.

verb: turn away from by persuasion

verb: be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait

(sometimes in positive sense)

Synonyms : dissuade

Synonyms : distinguish , mark

His mother tried to deter him from joining the

army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea
of war to listen.

Mozart's long melodic lines differentiate his

compositions from other works of late 18th
century music.

verb: try to prevent; show opposition to

verb: evolve so as to lead to a new species or

develop in a way most suited to the
environment

108.

differentiate

Synonyms : discourage
The government's primary job should involve
deterring paths to war, not finding ways to start
them.

Synonyms : specialise , specialize , speciate

Animals on Madagascar differentiated from
other similar animal species due to many
years of isolation on the island.
109.

dilapidated

adjective: in terrible condition

Synonyms : bedraggled , broken-down ,
derelict , ramshackle , tatterdemalion , tumbledown
The main house has been restored but the
gazebo is still dilapidated and unuseable.

110.

diligent

adjective: characterized by care and

perseverance in carrying out tasks

116.

disparate

With the advent of machines capable of looking

inside the brain, fields as disparate as religion
and biology have been brought together by
scientists trying to understand what happens in
the brain when people have a religious
experience.

Synonyms : persevering
Michael was a diligent gardener, never
leaving a leaf on the ground and regularly
watering each plant.
111.

discord

noun: lack of agreement or harmony

117.

dispatch

Synonyms : strife

discreet

She finished her thesis with dispatch, amazing

her advisors who couldn't believe she hadn't
written 60 scholarly pages so quickly.

adjective: careful to protect one's speech or

actions in order to avoid offense or gain an
advantage

verb: dispose of rapidly and without delay and

efficiently
As soon as the angry peasants stormed the castle,
they caught the king and swiftly dispatched him.

The professor thought that he was discreet,

subtly wiping the stain off of his shirt, but as
soon as he stepped off the podium a
member of the audience pointed out the
large ketchup stain.
113.

discriminate

verb: recognize or perceive the difference

This word has other definitions but these are the

most important ones to study
118.

docile

Synonyms : know apart,separate

Barnyard animals are considerably more docile

than the wild animals.
119.

114.

115.

disenfranchise

disheartened

verb: deprive of voting rights

adjective: easily handled or managed; willing to

be taught or led or supervised or directed
Synonyms : gentle

Sarah couldn't discriminate between a good

wine and a bad wine, so she avoided wine
tastings.
This word has other definitions but this is
the most important one to study

noun: the property of being prompt and efficient

Synonyms : despatch , expedition ,
expeditiousness

Despite all their talented players, the team

was filled with discord--some players
refused to talk to others--and lost most of
their games.
112.

adjective: two things are fundamentally different

dog

verb: to pursue relentlessly; to hound

Synonyms : chase , chase after , give chase , go
after , tag , tail , track , trail

Synonyms : disfranchise

Throughout his life, he was dogged by

insecurities that inhibited personal growth.

The U.S. Constitution disenfranchised

women until 1920 when they were given
the right to vote.

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study

adjective: made less hopeful or enthusiastic

Synonyms : demoralised , demoralized ,
discouraged
After the visiting team scored nine times,
the home team's fans were disheartened,
some leaving the game early.

120.

dupe

verb: to trick or swindle

125.

elude

Synonyms : befool , cod , fool , gull , put on , put

one across , put one over , slang , take in
Once again a get-rich-fast Internet scheme had
duped Harold into submitting a $5,000 check to a
sham operation.

Synonyms : bilk , evade

Even a basic understanding of physics can
elude most high schools students.
126.

elusive

noun: a person who is easily tricked or swindled

121.

eccentric

Many first time skydivers say that describing

the act of falling from the sky is elusive.
127.

embellish

adjective: highly unconventional or unusual

(usually describes a person)

122.

egotist

McCartney would write relatively

straightforward lyrics, and Lennon would
embellish them with puns and poetic images.
128.

embroiled

noun: a conceited and self-centered person

These days we are never short of a D.C.

politician embroiled in scandala welcome
phenomenon for those who, having barely
finished feasting on the sordid details of one
imbroglio, can sink their teeth into a fresh one.

An egotist, Natasha had few friends because of

her inability to talk about anything except her
dream of becoming the next American Idol.
eke

verb: To live off meager resources, to scrape by

129.

empathetic

Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was

able to eke out an existence on canned food.
124.

elaborate

adjective: marked by complexity and richness of

detail

Most discrimination and hatred is based on a

lack of empathetic awareness of people that
have the same aspirations and fears.
130.

emulate

Most high school physics teachers find

themselves elaborating the same point over and
over again, since many concepts confuse
students.

verb: strive to equal or match, especially by

imitating; compete with successfully
To really become fluent in a new language,
emulate the speech patterns and intonation of
people who speak the language.

verb: explain in more detail

Synonyms : dilate , enlarge , expand , expatiate ,
exposit , expound , flesh out , lucubrate

adjective: showing understanding and ready

comprehension of other peoples' states and
emotions
Synonyms : empathic

Synonyms : luxuriant
Thomas, on returning from Morocco, replaced his
dirty gray carpet with an elaborate one he'd
brought back with him.

adjective: involved in argument or contention

Synonyms : entangled

Synonyms : egoist , swellhead

123.

verb: make more attractive by adding

ornament, colour, etc.; make more beautiful
Synonyms : adorn , beautify , decorate , grace ,
ornament , fancify , prettify

Synonyms : eccentric person , flake , geek ,

oddball
Mozart was well-known for his eccentricities,
often speaking words backward to confuse those
around him.

adjective: difficult to capture or difficult to

remember
Synonyms : baffling , knotty , problematic ,
problematical , tough

Synonyms : victim
The charlatan mistook the crowd for a bunch of
dupes, but the crowd was quickly on to him and
decried his bald-faced attempt to bilk them.

verb: escape understanding

131.

endemic

adjective: native; originating where it is found

Synonyms : autochthonal , autochthonic ,
autochthonous , indigenous
Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but
ironically, the potato is not endemic to Ireland.

132.

enmity

noun: a state of deep-seated ill-will

138.

euphoria

noun: a feeling of great (usually exaggerated)

elation

Synonyms : antagonism , hostility

Synonyms : euphory
Charles rude remark toward Sarah yesterday
was due to his illness, not due to any real
enmity toward Sarah.
133.

entice

The euphoria of winning her first gold medal

in the 100 meter dash overwhelmed ShellyAnn Fraser and she wept tears of immense
joy.

verb: get someone to do something through

(often false or exaggerated) promises
Synonyms : lure , tempt

adjective: avoiding or escaping from difficulty

or danger or commitment

Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on a

vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on
the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.

His responses were clearly evasive; he

obviously did not want to take on any
responsibility or any new work.

139.

134.

enumerate

evasive

verb: determine the number or amount of

adjective: deliberately vague or ambiguous

Synonyms : count , number , numerate

Every time I call the bank, I receive the same

evasive answers about our mortgage and
never get a clear response.

The survey enumerates the number of happy

workers and the number of unhappy workers.
140.

evenhanded

adjective: without partiality

verb: specify individually, one by one

Teachers often have trouble being
evenhanded to all of their varied students.

Synonyms : itemise , itemize , recite

I sat and listened as she enumerated all of the
things she did not like about the past three
months.
135.

err

141.

exasperate

Synonyms : aggravate , exacerbate ,

exacerbate , worsen, incense , infuriate

verb: to make an error

As a child, I exasperated my mother with
strings of never-ending questions.

Synonyms : mistake , slip

He erred in thinking that "indigent" and
"indignant" were synonyms.
136.

errant

adjective: to be wandering; not sticking to a

circumscribed path
Unlike his peers, who spent their hours
studying in the library, Matthew preferred
errant walks through the university campus.

137.

erratic

verb: to irritate intensely

adjective: unpredictable; strange and

unconventional
Synonyms : fickle , mercurial , quicksilver
It came as no surprise to pundits that the
President's attempt at re-election floundered;
even during his term, support for his policies
was erratic, with an approval rating jumping
anywhere from 30 to 60 percent.

142.

excruciating

adjective: extremely painful

Synonyms : agonising , agonizing , harrowing ,
torturesome , torturing , torturous
After the boulder rolled a couple of feet,
pinning my friend's arm, he experienced
excruciating pain.

143.

exemplify

verb: be characteristic of

149.

fete

Synonyms : represent

Synonyms : celebrate

Lincoln exemplified the best of not only

America, but also the potential greatness that
exists within each person.

After World War II, war heroes were feted at first

but quickly forgotten.
150.

fickle

verb: clarify by giving an example of

She was so fickle in her politics, it was hard to

pinpoint her beliefs; one week she would
embrace a side, and the next week she would
denounce it.

Please present some case studies that

exemplify the results that you claim in your
paper.
exhort

verb: to strongly urge on; encourage

151.

finagle

Synonyms : barrack , cheer , inspire , pep up ,

root on , urge , urge on

extenuating

adjective: making less guilty or more forgivable

Steven was able to finagle one of the last seats on

the train by convincing the conductor that his
torn stub was actually a valid ticket.
152.

fledgling

The jury was hardly moved by the man's plea

that his loneliness was an extenuating factor in
his crime of dognapping a prized pooch.
146.

facetious

adjective: cleverly amusing in tone

Facetious behavior will not be tolerated during

sex eduation class; it's time for all of you to
treat these matters like mature adults.
fawn

Murray has years of experience in family practice,

but he is just a fledgling in surgery.
153.

fleece

verb: try to gain favor by extreme flattery

The media fawned over the handsome new

CEO, praising his impeccable sense of style
instead of asking more pointed questions.
ferret

verb: to deceive
Synonyms : gazump , hook , overcharge , pluck ,
plume , rob , soak , surcharge
Many people have been fleeced by Internet
scams and never received their money back.

Synonyms : bootlick , kotow , kowtow , suck up ,

toady , truckle

148.

adjective: young and inexperienced; describing

any new participant in some activity
Synonyms : callow , unfledged,entrant , fledgeling
, freshman , neophyte , newbie , newcomer ,
starter,

Synonyms : bantering , tongue-in-cheek

147.

verb: achieve something by means of trickery or

devious methods
Synonyms : manage , wangle

Nelson's parents exhorted him to study

medicine, urging him to choose a respectable
profession; intransigent, Nelson left home to
become a graffiti artist.
145.

adjective: liable to sudden unpredictable change,

esp. in affections or attachments
Synonyms : erratic , mercurial , quicksilver

Synonyms : illustrate , instance

144.

verb: to celebrate a person

This word has other definitions but this is the most

important one to study
154.

flounder

verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties

verb: to search for something persistently

Synonyms : stagger

Synonyms : ferret out

Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but

ironically, when she has deal with taxes, she
flounders.

Ever the resourceful lexicographer, Fenton

was able to ferret out the word origin of highly
obscure words.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study

155.

flush

adjective: to be in abundance

161.

genteel

Synonyms : bloom , blossom , efflorescence ,

flower , heyday , peak , prime

Synonyms : civilised , civilized , cultivated , cultured ,

polite

The exam's passage is flush with difficult words,

words that you may have learned only
yesterday.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
156.

foible

A live string quartet would provide a more genteel

air to the wedding than would a folk singer.
162.

glean

Herb has given us no formal statement about his

background, but from various hints, I have
gleaned that he grew up in difficult circumstances

Synonyms : idiosyncrasy , mannerism

157.

foolhardy

163.

glib

I have found that the more glib the salesman, the

worse the product.
164.

goad

forthright

adjective: characterized by directness in manner

or speech; without subtlety or evasion

Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim,

through a steady stream of taunts, goaded him
into signing up for it.
165.

grovel

Synonyms : blunt , candid , frank , free-spoken ,

outspoken , plainspoken , point-blank , straightfrom-the-shoulder
I did not expect the insurance agent to give us
any straight answers, but I was pleasantly
surprised by how forthright he was.
159.

futile

Every time Susan comes to the office, Frank grovels

as if she were about to fire.
166.

adjective: agreeable, conducive to comfort

Synonyms : kind
Betty is a genial young woman: everyone she
meets is put at ease by her elegance and grace.

verb: laugh boisterously

Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock

pain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow, fanglike teeth.
167.

genial

guffaw

Synonyms : laugh loudly

Synonyms : ineffectual , otiose ,

unavailing,bootless , fruitless , sleeveless , vain

160.

verb: show submission or fear

Synonyms : cower , crawl , creep , cringe , fawn

adjective: producing no result or effect;

unproductive of success

I thought I could repair the car myself, but after

two days of work with no success, I have to admit
that my efforts were futile.

verb: urge on with unpleasant comments

Synonyms : prick,needle

The police regularly face dangerous situations,

so for a police officer not to wear his bullet-proof
vest is foolhardy.
158.

adjective: (of a person) speaking with ease but

without sincerity
Synonyms : pat , slick

adjective: marked by defiant disregard for

danger or consequences
Synonyms : heady , rash , reckless

verb: collect information bit by bit

Synonyms : harvest , reap

noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive

and peculiar to an individual

When their new roommate sat staring at an oak

tree for an hour, Marcia thought it indicated a
mental problem, but Jeff assured her it was a
harmless foible.

adjective: marked by refinement in taste and

manners

hamper

verb: prevent the progress or free movement of

Synonyms : cramp , halter , strangle
As the rain water began to collect in pools on the
highway, it began to hamper the flow of traffic.
This word has other definitions but this is the most
important one to study

168.

hamstrung

verb: made ineffective or powerless

174.

immaterial

The FBI has made so many restrictions on the

local police that they are absolutely
hamstrung, unable to accomplish anything.
169.

heyday

Synonyms : extraneous , impertinent ,

orthogonal, incorporeal
The judge found the defendant's comments
immaterial to the trial, and summarily
dismissed him from the witness stand.

noun: the pinnacle or top of a time period or

career
Synonyms : bloom , blossom , efflorescence ,
flower , flush , peak , prime

adjective: not relevant

175.

impeccable

adjective: without fault or error

Synonyms : faultless , immaculate

During the heyday of Prohibition, bootlegging

had become such a lucrative business that
many who had been opposed to the 18th
Amendment began to fear it would be
repealed.
170.

hodgepodge

He was impeccably dressed in the latest

fashion without a single crease or stain.
176.

impede

noun: a confusing mixture or jumble

Synonyms : hinder,block , close up , jam ,

obstruct , obturate , occlude

Synonyms : farrago , gallimaufry , hotchpotch ,

melange , mingle-mangle , mishmash ,
oddments , odds and ends , omniumgatherum , ragbag
Those in attendance represented a
hodgepodge of the city's denizens: chimney
sweepers could be seen sitting elbow to elbow
with stockbrokers.
171.

hound

Since the police sergeant had to train the

pair of new hires, progress in his own case
was impeded.
177.

impending

The impending doom of our world has been

a discussed and debated for 2000 years maybe even longer.

Synonyms : hunt , trace

178.

humdrum

adjective: dull and lacking excitement

Synonyms : commonplace , prosaic ,
unglamorous , unglamourous,monotonous
Having grown up in a humdrum suburb,
Jacob relished life in New York City after
moving.

173.

illicit

adjective: contrary to or forbidden by law

Synonyms : illegitimate , outlaw , outlawed ,
unlawful
Though Al Capone was engaged in many illicit
activities, he was finally arrested for income
tax evasion, a relatively minor offense.

impermeable

adjective: does not allow fluids to pass

through
The sand bags placed on the river formed an
impermeable barrier, protecting the town
from flooding.

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study
172.

adjective: close in time; about to occur

Synonyms : at hand , close at hand ,
imminent , impendent

verb: to pursue relentlessly

An implacable foe of corruption, Eliot Ness

hounded out graft in all forms - he even
helped nab Al Capone.

verb: be a hindrance or obstacle to

179.

implicate

verb: convey a meaning; imply

Synonyms : entail
By saying that some of the guests were
uncomfortable, the manager implicated to
the hotel staff that it needed to be more
dilligent.
verb: to indicate in wrongdoing, usually a
crime
The crime boss was implicated for a long list
of crimes, ranging from murder to disturbing
the peace.

180.

imponderable

adjective: impossible to estimate or figure

out

186.

inclement

After a week of inclement weather, we finally

are able to go outside and enjoy the sun.

According to many lawmakers, the huge

variety of factors affecting society make
devising an efficient healthcare system an
imponderable task.
181.

impregnable

adjective: used of persons or behavior;

showing no mercy

adjective: immune to attack; incapable of

being tampered with
Synonyms : inviolable , secure , strong ,
unassailable , unattackable

Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was

inclement to Christians during his reign,
persecuting them violently.
187.

incumbent

As a child, Amy would build pillow castles

and pretend they were impregnable
fotresses.
182.

inadvertent

188.

indict

Synonyms : accidental

183.

inarticulate

incense

incessant

The bankrobber was indicted on several major

charges, including possession of a firearm.
189.

indigenous

adjective: originating in a certain area

Synonyms : autochthonal , autochthonic ,
autochthonous , endemic

Synonyms : unarticulate

The plants and animals indigenous to Australia

are notably different from those indigenous to
the U.S - one look at a duckbill platypus and
you know you're not dealing with an opossum.

verb: make furious

adjective: feeling anger over a perceived

injustice

Synonyms : exasperate , infuriate

Synonyms : incensed , outraged , umbrageous

When Herb bought football tickets for a

game on the day of their wedding
anniversary, Jill was incensed.

When the cyclist swerved into traffic, it forced

the driver to brake and elicited an indignant
shout of "Hey, punk, watch where you're
going!"

This word has other definitions but this is

the most important one to study
185.

verb: to formally charge or accuse of wrongdoing

adjective: without or deprived of the use of

speech or words

Although a brilliant economist, Professor

Black was completely inarticulate, a terrible
lecturer.
184.

adjective: necessary (for someone) as a duty or

responsibility
Middle managers at times make important
decisions, but real responsibility for the
financial well-being of the corporation is
ultimately incumbent on the CEO.

adjective: happening by chance or

unexpectedly or unintentionally

Although Prohibition was rooted in noble

ideals, the inadvertent and costly
consequences of making alcohol illegal in
the U.S. led its the repeal.

adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy

190.

191.

indignant

industrious

adjective: characterized by hard work and

perseverance

adjective: uninterrupted in time and

indefinitely long continuing

Synonyms : hardworking , tireless , untiring

Synonyms : ceaseless , constant , neverending , perpetual , unceasing , unremitting

Pete was an industrious student, completing

every assignment thoroughly and on time.

I don't mind small children in brief doses,

but I think the incessant exposure that their
parents have to them would quickly wear
me down.

192.

inflammable

adjective: extremely controversial, incendiary

199.

irascible

It only takes one person to leave an

inflammable comment on an Internet thread
for that thread to blow up into pages upon
pages of reader indignation.
193.

ingenuity

Synonyms : choleric , hot-tempered , hotheaded ,

quick-tempered , short-tempered
If Arthur's dog is not fed adequately, he
becames highly irascible, even growling at his
own shadow.

noun: the power of creative imagination

Synonyms : cleverness , ingeniousness ,
inventiveness

adjective: quickly aroused to anger

200.

irk

verb: irritate or vex

Synonyms : gall

Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he

was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair
of wings, using wax to hold them together.
194.

inkling

noun: a slight suggestion or vague

understanding

My little sister has a way of irking and annoying

me like no other person.
201.

irresolute

He stood irresolute at the split in the trail, not

sure which route would lead back to the camp.

Synonyms : glimmer , glimmering , intimation

Lynne speaks four Romance languages, but
she doesn't have an inkling about how East
Asian languages are structured.
195.

insipid

202.

jargon

Synonyms : bland , flat , flavorless , flavourless

, savorless , savourless , vapid

196.

insolvent

intermittent

To those with little training in medicine, the

jargon of doctors can be very difficult to
understand.
203.

jocular

Synonyms : jesting , jocose , joking

My uncle was always in a jocular mood at family
gatherings, messing up people's hair and telling
knock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen.
204.

junta

adjective: stopping and starting at irregular

intervals

inundate

verb: to flood or overwhelm

noun: an aggressive takeover by a group

(usually military)
As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is, some
analysts believe that were a junta suddenly to
gain power, it could be even more unpredictable
and bellicose than the current leadership

The intermittent thunder continued and the

night was punctuated by cracks of lightning a surreal sleepless night.
198.

adjective: characterized by jokes and good

humor

adjective: unable to pay one's bills; bankrupt

With credit card bills skyrocketing, a
shockingly large number of Americans are
truly insolvent.

197.

noun: a characteristic language of a particular

group
Synonyms : argot , cant , lingo , patois , slang ,
vernacular

adjective: dull and uninteresting

The movie director was known for hiring

beautiful actors in order to deflect attention
away from the insipid scripts he would
typically use.

adjective: uncertain how to act or proceed

205.

label

noun: a name or phrase given to a group of

things to identify them (often negative)

Synonyms : deluge , submerge, flood , swamp

verb: to give a label to something
The newsroom was inundated with false
reports that only made it more difficult for the
newscasters to provide an objective account
of the bank robbery.

Synonyms : mark , tag

The meaning of the label ""punk"" has changed
greatly in the last 30 years.
Children are often unkind and label others who
look different as outsiders.

206.

laborious

adjective: characterized by effort to the point of

exhaustion; especially physical effort

212.

malevolent

Synonyms : arduous , backbreaking , grueling ,

gruelling , hard , heavy , operose , punishing ,
toilsome
The most laborious job I've had was working 20
hours a day as a fisherman in King Salmon,
Alaska.
207.

leery

Synonyms : evil , malefic , malign

Villians are known for their malevolent nature,
oftentimes inflicting cruetly on others just for
enjoyment.
213.

malleable

adjective: openly distrustful and unwilling to

confide

The clay became malleable and easy to work

with after a little water was added.

Without checking his references and talking to

previous employers, I am leery of hiring the
candidate.
lethargic

adjective: easily influenced

Synonyms : ductile

adjective: lacking energy

My little brother is so malleable that I can

convince him to sneak cookies from the
cupboard for me.

Synonyms : unenrgetic
Nothing can make a person more lethargic than
a big turkey dinner.
209.

lucid

214.

malodorous

adjective: (of language) transparently clear; easily

understandable

210.

macabre

Some thermally active fountains spew sulfur

fumes--the air around them is sometimes so
malodorous that many have to plug their
noses.
215.

martial

Americans tend to remember Abraham

Lincoln as kindly and wise, not at all martial,
despite the fact that he was involved in the
fiercest war America has even fought.

Synonyms : ghastly , grim , grisly ,sick

211.

malady

noun: a disease or sickness

Synonyms : illness , sickness , unwellness
The town was struck by a malady throughout the
winter that left most people sick in bed for two
weeks.

adjective: suggesting war or military life

Synonyms : warlike,soldierlike , soldierly ,
warriorlike

adjective: suggesting the horror of death and

decay; gruesome

Edgar Allen Poe was considered the master of the

macabre; his stories vividly describe the moment
leading up to - and often those moments after - a
grisly death.

adjective: having an unpleasant smell

Synonyms : ill-smelling , malodourous , stinky ,
unpleasant-smelling

Synonyms : crystal clear , limpid , luculent ,

pellucid , perspicuous
Though Walters writes about physics and time
travel, his writing is always lucid, so readers with
little scientific training can understand difficult
concepts.

adjective: capable of being shaped or bent or

drawn out
Synonyms : ductile , pliable , pliant , tensile ,
tractile

Synonyms : mistrustful , suspicious , untrusting ,

wary

208.

adjective: wishing or appearing to wish evil to

others; arising from intense ill will or hatred

216.

maxim

noun: a short saying expressing a general

truth
Synonyms : axiom
Johnson initially suggests that the secret to
business can be summarized in a single
maxim but then requires a 300-page book to
explain exactly what he means.

217.

meander

verb: to wander aimlessly

224.

misogynist

noun: a person who dislikes women in

particular

Synonyms : thread , wander , weave , wind

Synonyms : woman hater
A casual observer might have thought that
Peter was meandering through the city, but
that day he was actually seeking out those
places where he and his long lost love had
once visited.
218.

melancholy

Many have accused Hemingway of being a

quiet misogynist, but recently unearthed letters
argue against this belief.
225.

moment

noun: significant and important value

noun: a deep, long-lasting sadness

Synonyms : consequence , import
Hamlet is a figure of tremendous melancholy:
he doesn't have a truly cheerful scene
throughout the entire play.

219.

melee

Despite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of no

great moment in Hampton's writing career, and
within a few years the public quickly forgot his
foray into theater arts.

noun: a wild, confusing fight or struggle

Synonyms : battle royal , scrimmage
After enduring daily taunts about my name, I
became enraged and pummeled the
schoolyard bully and his sycophantic friends
in a brutal melee.

220.

mesmerize

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study
226.

moot

Synonyms : arguable , debatable , disputable

verb: to spellbind or enthrall

Since the Board just terminated Steve as the

CEO, what the finance committe might have
thought of his proposed marketing plan for
next year is now a moot point.

Synonyms : bewitch , magnetise , magnetize ,

mesmerise
The plot and the characters were so well
developed that many viewers were
mesmerized, unable to move their eyes from
the screen for even a single second.
221.

misanthrope

noun: a hater of mankind

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study
227.

morose

Synonyms : misanthropist

miscreant

noun: a person who breaks the law

Synonyms : reprobate
"Come back you miscreant!" yelled the
woman who just had her purse stolen.

223.

miser

noun: a person who doesn't like to spend

money (because they are greedy)
Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal,
wisely spending the little that he earned.

adjective: ill-tempered and not inclined to talk;

gloomy
Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum ,
moody , saturnine , sour , sullen

Kevin is such a misanthrope that he refused

to attend the Christmas party, claiming that
everyone's happiness was "fake" and
"annoying."
222.

adjective: open to argument or debate;

undecidable in a meaningless or irrelevant way

After Stanley found out he was no longer able

to go on vacation with his friends, he sat in his
room morosely.
228.

morph

verb: To undergo dramatic change in a

seamless and barely noticeable fashion.
The earnestness of the daytime talk shows of
the 1970's has morphed into something far
more sensational and vulgar: today guests
actually standup and threaten to take swings at
one another.

229.

muted

adjective: softened, subdued

235.

pastoral

adjective: relating to the countryside in a

pleasant sense

Synonyms : hushed , quiet , subdued

Synonyms : arcadian , bucolic
Helen preferred muted earth colors, such as
green and brown, to the bright pinks and red
her sister liked.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
230.

obdurate

Those who imagine America's countryside as a

pastoral region are often disappointed to learn
that much of rural U.S. is filled with cornfields
extending as far as the eye can see.
236.

patronize

adjective: stubbornly persistent in changing

an opinion or action

Synonyms : condescend , patronise

Synonyms : cussed , obstinate , unrepentant

She says she genuinely wanted to help me, but

instead she patronized me, constantly pointing
out how I was inferior to her.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study

No number of pleas and bribes would get him

to change his obdurate attitude.
231.

232.

obliging

obstinate

adjective: showing a cheerful willingness to do

favors for others

237.

paucity

Synonyms : dearth

Even after all his success, I found him to be

accommodating and obliging, sharing with me
his "secret tips" on how to gain wealth and
make friends.

There is a paucity of jobs hiring today that

require menial skills, since most jobs have
either been automated or outsourced.
238.

peevish

adjective: resistant to guidance or discipline;

stubbornly persistent

The coach suggested improvements Sarah

might make on the balance beam, but she
remained obstinate, unwilling to modify any of
the habits that made her successful in the
past.
ornate

noun: a lack of something

Synonyms : complaisant

adjective: easily irritated or annoyed

Synonyms : cranky , fractious , irritable ,
nettlesome , peckish , pettish , petulant ,
scratchy , techy , testy , tetchy

Synonyms : cussed , obdurate , unrepentant,

contrary , perverse , wayward

233.

verb: treat condescendingly

Our office manager is peevish, so the rest of us

tip-toe around him, hoping not to set off
another one of his fits.
239.

perennial

adjective: marked by elaborate rhetoric and

elaborated with decorative details

adjective: lasting an indefinitely long time;

eternal; everlasting
Even at the old-timers games, Stan Musial
would get the loudest cheer: he was a
perennial favorite of the fans there.

Synonyms : flowery
The ornate Victorian and Edwardian homes
spread throughout San Francisco are my
favorite part of the city.
234.

paradoxical

adjective: seemingly contradictory but

nonetheless possibly true
Synonyms : self-contradictory
That light could be both a particle and a wave
seems paradoxical, but nonetheless, it is true.

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study
240.

perpetuate

verb: cause to continue

If you do not let him do things for himself, you
are merely perpetuating bad habits that will be
even harder to break in the future.

241.

perquisite

noun: a right reserved exclusively by a

particular person or group (especially a
hereditary or official right)

247.

piquant

Synonyms : savory , savoury , spicy , zesty

Synonyms : exclusive right , prerogative ,

privilege
Even as the dishwasher at the French
restaurant, Josh quickly learned that he had the
perquisite of being able to eat terrific food for
half the price diners would pay.
242.

pertinent

The chef, with a mere flick of the salt shaker,

turned the bland tomato soup into a piquant
meal.
248.

pithy

I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy and

insightful prose; it always gives me something to
think about.
249.

pittance

While the salaries of the players might draw

attention in the media, such monetary figures
are not pertinent to the question of who plays
the best on the field.
243.

perturb

verb: disturb in mind or cause to be worried or

alarmed

250.

placid

verb: to read very carefully

Doug is normally placid, so we were all shocked to

see him yelling at the television when the Mets
lost the game.
251.

plodding

pine

Charlie may seem to run at a plodding pace, but

he is an ultramarathoner, meaning he runs
distances of up to 100 miles, and can run for ten
hours at a stretch.

verb: to yearn for

Synonyms : ache , languish , yearn , yen

252.

ploy

Standing forlornly by the window, she pined for

her lost love.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
246.

pinnacle

noun: a clever plan to turn a situation to one's

advantage
Synonyms : gambit,stratagem
Dennis arranged an elaborate ploy, involving 14
different people lying for him in different
situations, so that it could appear that he was
meeting Mary completely by chance at the
wedding reception.

noun: the highest point

Synonyms : acme , elevation , height , meridian ,
peak , summit , superlative , tiptop , top
At its pinnacle, the Roman Empire extended
across most of the landmass of Eurasia, a feat not
paralleled to the rise of the British Empire in the
18th and 19th century.

adjective: (of movement) slow and laborious

Synonyms : leaden

Instead of perusing important documents,

people all too often rush to the bottom of the
page and plaster their signatures at the bottom.
245.

adjective: not easily irritated

Synonyms : equable , even-tempered , goodtempered

Now that Henry is recovering from a major

illnesses, he no longer lets the little trivialities,
such as late mail, perturb him.
peruse

noun: a small amount (of money)

Vinny's uncle beamed smugly about how he'd
offered his nephew fifty dollars for his Harvard
tuition; even twice the amount would have been
a mere pittance.

Synonyms : cark , disorder , disquiet , distract ,

trouble , unhinge

244.

adjective: concise and full of meaning

Synonyms : sententious

adjective: having precise or logical relevance to

the matter at hand
Synonyms : apposite , apt

adjective: having an agreeably pungent taste

253.

powwow

noun: an informal meeting or discussion

Before the team takes the field, the coach always
calls for a powwow so that he can make sure all
the players are mentally in the right place.

254.

255.

precarious

precedent

adjective: fraught with danger

259.

presumptuous

Synonyms : parlous , perilous , touch-and-go

Synonyms : assuming , assumptive

People smoke to relax and forget their cares,

but ironically, in terms of health risks,
smoking is far more precarious than either
mountain-climbing or skydiving.

Many felt that Barney was presumptuous

in moving into the large office before the
management even made any official
announcement of his promotion

noun: an example that is used to justify

similar occurrences at a later time

260.

prevail

Synonyms : case in point

The principal explained that even though
one student had done modelling work
outside of school, the outfits that student
wore in those photographs in no way
established a precedent for what could be
worn at school dances.
256.

preempt

verb: prove superior

Before the cricket match, Australia was
heavily favored, but India prevailed
261.

pristine

verb: take the place of or have precedence

over

258.

presumption

adjective: Immaculately clean and unused

Drill sergeants are known for demanding
pristine cabinets, uniforms, and beds, and
often make new recruits clean and clean
and clean until they meet the expected
high standards.

adjective: done before someone else can do it

Just as Martha was about to take the only
cookie left on the table, Noah preemptively
swiped it.

262.

profuse

noun: an assumption that is taken for

granted

noun: audacious (even arrogant) behavior

that you have no right to
The new neighbor quickly gained a
reputation for her presumption; she had
invited herself to several neighbors' homes,
often stopping over at inopportune times
and asking for a drink.

adjective: plentiful; pouring out in

abundance
Synonyms : exuberant , lush , luxuriant ,
riotous

Synonyms : given , precondition

When Mr. Baker found out the family car was
gone, he acted under the presumption that
his rebellious son had taken the car, calling
his son's phone and yelling at him; only later
did Mr. Baker realize that Mrs. Baker had
simply gone out to get her nails done.

adjective: Unspoiled, untouched (usu. of

nature)
The glacial lake was pristine and we filled
our canteens to drink deeply.

A governmental warning about an imminent

terrorist attack would preempt ordinary
network programming on television.
preemptive

verb: be widespread in a particular area at

a particular time; be current:
During the labor negotiations, an air of
hostility prevailed in the office.

Synonyms : displace

257.

adjective: excessively forward

During mile 20 of the Hawaii Marathon,

Dwayne was sweating so profusely that he
stopped to take off his shirt, and ran the
remaining six miles wearing nothing more
than skimpy shorts.
263.

profusion

noun: the property of being extremely

abundant
Synonyms : cornucopia , profuseness ,
richness
When Maria reported that she had been
visited by Jesus Christ and had proof, a
profusion of reporters and journalists
descended on the town.

264.

proponent

noun: a person who pleads for a cause or

propounds an idea

269.

quip

noun: a witty saying or remark

Synonyms : epigram,crack , sally , wisecrack

Synonyms : advocate , advocator , exponent

In one of the most famous quips about classical
music, Mark Twain said: "Wagner's music is better
than it sounds."

Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-Earth

Theory flies all over the world in an effort to
win more adherents.
265.

provisional

verb: to make a witty remark, to say in jest

adjective: under terms not final or fully worked

out or agreed upon

Synonyms : gag

Synonyms : probationary , provisionary ,

tentative
Until the corporate office hands down a
definitive decision on use of the extra offices,
we will share their use in a provisional
arrangement.
266.

pugnacious

qualm

270.

raffish

adjective: eager to fight or argue; verbally

combative
The comedian told one flat joke after another,
and when the audience started booing, he
pugnaciously spat back at them, "Hey, you
think this is easy - why don't you buffoons give
it a shot?"

267.

When a old English teacher criticized Churchill for

ending a sentence with a preposition, he quipped,
"This is the kind of criticism up with which we will not
put!"

Synonyms : devil-may-care , rakish

The men found him raffish, but the women adored
his smart clothes and casual attitude.
271.

raft

noun: uneasiness about the fitness of an action

While he could articulate no clear reason why

Harkner's plan would fail, he neverless felt
qualms about committing any resources to it.
quandary

noun: state of uncertainty or perplexity

especially as requiring a choice between
equally unfavorable options

noun: a large number of something

Synonyms : batch , deal , flock , good deal , great deal
, hatful , heap , lot , mass , mess , mickle , mint ,
mountain , muckle , passel , peck , pile , plenty , pot ,
quite a little , sight , slew , spate , stack , tidy sum ,
wad

Synonyms : misgiving , scruple

268.

adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionality

or disreputableness

Despite a raft of city ordinances passed by an

overzealous council, noise pollution continued
unabated in the megalopolis.
This word has other definitions but this is the most
important one to study
272.

rakish

Synonyms : dilemma

adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionality

or disreputableness
Synonyms : devil-may-care , raffish

Steve certainly is in a quandary: if he doesn't

call Elaine, she will blame him for everything,
but if he does call her, the evidence of where
he currently is could cost him his job.

As soon as he arrived in the city, the rakish young

man bought some drugs and headed straight for
the seedy parts of town.
273.

rankle

verb: gnaw into; make resentful or angry

Synonyms : eat into , fret , grate
His constant whistling would rankle her, sometimes
causing her to leave in a huff.

274.

rash

adjective: marked by defiant disregard for

danger or consequences; imprudently incurring
risk

281.

reservation

noun: an unstated doubt that prevents you

from accepting something wholeheartedly
Synonyms : arriere pensee , mental reservation

Synonyms : foolhardy , heady , reckless

275.

redress

Although Bruce was able to make the delivery in

time with a nightime motorcycle ride in the rain,
Susan criticized his actions as rash.

I was initially excited by the idea of a trip to

Washington, D.C. but now that I have read
about the high crime statistics there, I have
some reservations.

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study

noun: an act of making something right

282.

resignation

noun: the acceptance of something unpleasant

that can't be avoided

Synonyms : remediation , remedy

Synonyms : surrender
Barry forgot his wife's birthday two years in a
row, and was only able to redress his oversight
by surprising his wife with a trip to Tahiti.
276.

relegate

Since Jack could not think of a convincing

reason why he had to miss the seminar, he
attended it with a sense of resignation.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study

verb: assign to a lower position

Synonyms : break , bump , demote , kick
downstairs

283.

resolve

When Dexter was unable to fulfill his basic

duties, instead of firing him, the boss relegated
him to kitchen cleanup.
277.

remiss

Synonyms : conclude
After much thought, Ted resolved not to travel
abroad this summer because he didn't have
much money in his bank account.

adjective: to be negligent in one's duty

Synonyms : delinquent , derelict , neglectful
Remiss in his duty to keep the school functioning
efficiently, the principal was relieved of his
position after only three months.

278.

renege

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study
284.

respite

verb: fail to fulfill a promise or obligation

Every afternoon, the small company has a

respite in which workers play foosball or board
games.

We will no longer work with that vendor since it

has reneged on nearly every agreement.
replete

adjective: completely stocked or furnished with

something
Only weeks after the hurricane made landfall,
the local supermarket shelves were replete with
goods, so quick was the disaster relief response.

280.

reprobate

noun: a pause from doing something (as work)

Synonyms : break , recess , time out,
relief , rest , rest period

Synonyms : go back on , renege on , renegue on

279.

verb: reach a conclusion after a discussion or

deliberation

285.

retiring

adjective: to be shy, and to be inclined to

retract from company
Synonyms : reticent , self-effacing

Synonyms : miscreant

Nelson was always the first to leave soirees rather than mill about with "fashionable" folk,
he was retiring, and preferred the solitude of
his garret.

Those old reprobates drinking all day down by

the river-they are not going to amount to much.

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study

noun: a person who is disapproved of

286.

retract

verb: pull inward or towards a center;

formally reject or disavow a formerly held
belief, usually under pressure

291.

savvy

Synonyms : apprehension , discernment ,

understanding

Synonyms : draw in,abjure , forswear ,

recant , resile

287.

rile

Although a great CEO, he did not have the

political savvy to win the election.

Email is wonderfully efficient, but once

something awkward or damaging has been
sent, there is no way to retract it.

verb: get the meaning of something

verb: cause annoyance in; disturb,

especially by minor irritations

Synonyms : apprehend , compass ,

comprehend , dig , get the picture , grasp ,
grok

Synonyms : annoy , bother , chafe , devil ,

get at , get to , gravel , irritate , nark , nettle ,
rag , vex

The student savvies the meaning of

astrophysics with little effort.
adjective: well-informed or perceptive

Dan is usually calm and balanced, but it

takes only one intense glare from Sabrina
to rile him.
288.

robust

adjective: sturdy and strong in form,

constitution, or construction

With his savvy business partner, the company

was able to turn a profit within a year.
292.

scintillating

sanctimonious

adjective: making a show of being pious;

holier-than-thou
Synonyms : holier-than-thou , pharisaic ,
pharisaical , pietistic , pietistical , selfrighteous

Richard Feynman was renowned for his

scintillating lecturesthe arcana of quantum
physics was made lucid as he wrote
animatedly on the chalkboard.
293.

screed

sanguine

adjective: cheerful; optimistic

noun: an abusive rant (often tedious)

Joey had difficulty hanging out with his former
best friend Perry, who, during his entire cup
of coffee, enumerated all of the government's
deficiencies--only to break ranks and launch
into some screed against big business.

Even during the quiet sanctity of evening

prayer, she held her chin high, a
sanctimonious sneer forming on her face as
she eyed those who were attending church
for the first time.
290.

adjective: describes someone who is brilliant

and lively
Synonyms : aglitter , coruscant , fulgid , glinting
, glistering , glittering , glittery , scintillant ,
sparkly, bubbling , effervescent , frothy

Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but

Bhavin preferred a beer with more robust
flavor.
289.

noun: a perceptive understanding

294.

sentimental

Synonyms : florid , rubicund , ruddy

adjective: effusively or insincerely emotional,

especially in art, music, and literature
Synonyms : bathetic , drippy , hokey , kitschy ,
maudlin , mawkish , mushy , schmaltzy ,
schmalzy , slushy , soppy , soupy

With the prospect of having to learn 3,000

words during the course of the summer,
Paul was anything but sanguine.

I don't like romanticism for the same reason I

don't like melodramatic acting and soap
operas - overly sentimental.
295.

serendipity

noun: the instance in which an accidental,

fortunate discovery is made
By pure serendipity, Sarah discovered, at a
flea market in Peoria, a matching earring to
replace the one that fell down the storm drain
back home.

296.

serene

adjective: calm and peaceful

302.

sordid

Synonyms : tranquil , unagitated

I'd never seen him so serene; usually, he was a
knot of stress and anxiety from hours of trading
on the stock exchange.
297.

slapdash

Synonyms : seamy , seedy , sleazy ,

squalid,flyblown
The nightly news simply announced that the
senator had had an affair, but the tabloid
published all the sordid details of the
interaction.

adjective: carelessly and hastily put together

Synonyms : haphazard , slipshod , sloppy
The office building had been constructed in a
slapdash manner, so it did not surprise officials
when, during a small earthquake, a large crack
emerged on the faade of the building.

298.

smattering

This word has other definitions but this is the

most important one to study
303.

spendthrift

noun: a slight or superficial understanding of a

subject; a small amount of something

299.

smug

Taking weekly trips to Vegas, Megan was a

spendthrift whose excesses eventually caught
up to her.
304.

spurn

She spurned all his flattery and proposals, and

so he walked off embarrassed and sad.

Synonyms : self-satisfied

300.

snide

305.

squander

adjective: expressive of contempt; derogatory

or mocking in an indirect way

301.

snub

Fearing his money would be squandered by

his family, he gave all of it to charity when he
died.
306.

staid

adjective: characterized by dignity and

propriety
Synonyms : sedate

verb: refuse to acknowledge; reject outright

and bluntly

Frank came from a staid environment, so he

was shocked that his college roommate sold
narcotics.

Synonyms :cut , disregard , ignore, rebuff ,

repel
307.

Wheeler was completely qualified for the

committee, but the board snubbed him,
choosing an obviously lesser qualified
candidate instead.

verb: spend thoughtlessly; waste time, money,

or an opportunity
Synonyms : blow , waste,consume , ware

Synonyms : sneering , supercilious

The chairman interpreted Taylor's question
about promotions as a snide remark, but in all
innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the
company's process.

verb: reject with contempt

Synonyms : disdain , freeze off , pooh-pooh ,
reject , scorn , turn down

adjective: marked by excessive complacency or

self-satisfaction

When Phil was dating the model, he had a smug

attitude that annoyed his buddies.

noun: one who spends money extravagantly

Synonyms : scattergood , spend-all , spender

Synonyms : handful
I know only a smattering of German, but Helen
is able to read German newspapers and
converse with natives.

adjective: involving ignoble actions and

motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt;
foul and run-down and repulsive

start

verb: to suddenly move in a particular

direction
All alone in the mansion, Henrietta started
when she heard a sound.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study

308.

steadfast

adjective: marked by firm determination or

resolution; not shakable

314.

surly

Synonyms : firm , steady , stiff , unbendable ,

unfaltering , unshakable , unwavering
A good captain needs to be steadfast, continuing
to hold the wheel and stay the course even
during the most violent storm.
309.

stem

adjective: inclined to anger or bad feelings with

overtones of menace
Synonyms : ugly
Every morning, Bhavin was a surly unhappy
person, but once he ate breakfast, he became
loving, laughing, and a joy to be around.

315.

tact

verb: to hold back or limit the flow or growth of

something

noun: consideration in dealing with others and

avoiding giving offense
Synonyms : tactfulness

To stem the tide of applications, the prestigious

Ivy requires that each applicant score at least 330
on the Revised GRE.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study
310.

stipend

In a tremendous display of tact, Shelly was able to

maintain a strong friendship with Marcia, even
though Marcia's husband, Frank, confessed to
finding Shelley more attractive than Marcia.
316.

tarnish

noun: a regular allowance (of money)

He was hoping for a monthly allowance loan from
the government, but after no such stipend was
forthcoming he realized he would have to seek
other means of paying for his college tuition.

311.

stolid

verb: make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air;

also used metaphorically
Synonyms : defile , maculate , stain , sully
Pete Rose was one of the best baseball players of his
generation, but his involvement with gambling on
baseball games has tarnished his image in the eyes
of many.

adjective: having or revealing little emotion or

sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
317.

tawdry

adjective: tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy

Synonyms : impassive
Synonyms : brassy , cheap , flash , flashy , garish ,
gaudy , gimcrack , loud , meretricious , tacky , tatty ,
trashy,cheapjack , shoddy

Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers,

but they actually have passionate emotional lives.
312.

stymie

verb: hinder or prevent the progress or

accomplishment of

Carol expected to find New York City magical, the

way so many movies had portrayed it, but she was
surprised how often tawdry displays took the place
of genuine elegance.

Synonyms : block , blockade , embarrass , hinder ,

obstruct , stymy
318.

313.

summit

taxing

adjective: use to the limit; exhaust

The engineers found their plans stymied at every

turn and were ultimately able to make almost no
progress on the project.

Synonyms : burdensome , onerous

noun: the peak or highest point

The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so taxing

that I could barely speak or stand up.

Synonyms : acme , elevation , height , meridian ,

peak , pinnacle , superlative , tiptop , top, crest ,
crown

This word has other definitions but this is the most

important one to study
319.

After hiking for two days, the climbers finally

reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

telling

adjective: significant and revealing of another factor

Her unbecoming dress was very telling when it
came to her sense of fashion.

noun: a meeting of high-level leaders

Since climate change policy has been mired in
congressional fighting, this summit should help
set the goals for president's next term.

This word has other definitions but this is the most

important one to study

320.

telltale

adjective: revealing

326.

tout

The many telltale signs of chronic smoking

include yellow teeth, and a persistent,
hacking cough.
321.

tender

Synonyms : blow , bluster , boast , brag , gas ,

gasconade , shoot a line , swash , vaunt

verb: offer up something formally

At the conference, the CEO touted the

extraordinary success of his company's
Research & Development division.

Synonyms : bid
The government was loath to tender more
money in the fear that it might set off
inflation.

327.

transitory

thoroughgoing

If we lived forever and life was not transitory,

do you think we would appreciate life less or
more?

adjective: very thorough; complete

Synonyms : exhaustive , thorough

328.

travail

As a thoroughgoing bibliophile, one who

had turned his house into a veritable
library, he shocked his friends when he
bought a Kindle.
323.

thrifty

While they experienced nothing but travails in

refinishing the kitchen, they completed the
master bedroom in less than a weekend.

adjective: spending money wisely

329.

tribulation

He was economical, spending his money

thriftily and on items considered essential.
thwart

As of 2013, nearly 1.5 million Syrians have fled

their country hoping to escape the tribulations
of a civil war tearing their country to pieces.
330.

tumult

I wanted to spend a week in New York this

autumn, but the high costs of travel and
lodging thwarted my plans.
tirade

noun: a state of chaos, noise and confusion

Synonyms : garboil , tumultuousness ,
uproar,commotion , din , ruckus , ruction ,
rumpus

noun: an angry speech

Riots broke out just in front of our apartment

building, and the tumult continued late into the
night.

Synonyms : broadside , philippic

In terms of political change, a tirade
oftentimes does little more than make the
person speaking red in the face.

noun: something, especially an event, that

causes difficulty and suffering
Synonyms : trial , visitation

verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans,

or desires) of
Synonyms : baffle , bilk , cross , foil ,
frustrate , queer , scotch , spoil

325.

noun: use of physical or mental energy; hard

work; agony or anguish
Synonyms : effort , elbow grease , exertion ,
sweat

Synonyms : careful

324.

adjective: lasting a very short time

Synonyms : ephemeral , fugacious , passing ,
short-lived , transient

This word has other definitions but this is

the most important one to study
322.

verb: advertize in strongly positive terms; show

off

331.

uncanny

adjective: suggesting the operation of

supernatural influences; surpassing the
ordinary or normal
Synonyms : eldritch , unearthly ,
weird,preternatural
Reggie has an uncanny ability to connect with
animals: feral cats will readily approach him,
and sometimes even wild birds will land on his
finger.

332.

uncompromising

adjective: not making concessions

338.

unseemly

Synonyms : inflexible , sturdy

The relationship between Bart and Hilda
ultimately failed because they were both
so uncompromising, never wanting to
change their opinions.
333.

unconscionable

Synonyms : indecent , indecorous , unbecoming ,

uncomely , untoward
He acted in an unseemly manner, insulting the
hostess and then speaking ill of her deceased
husband.

adjective: unreasonable; unscrupulous;

excessive
339.

urbane

Synonyms : exorbitant , extortionate ,

outrageous , steep , usurious
The lawyer's demands were so
unconscionable that rather than pay an
exorbitant sum or submit himself to any
other inconveniences, the defendant
decided to find a new lawyer.
334.

underwrite

Because of his service as an intelligence officer

and his refined tastes, W. Somerset Maugham
became the inspiration for the urbane and
sophistcate spy James Bond.

verb: to support financially

vacuous

Synonyms : subvent , subvention

The latest symphony broadcast was
made possible with underwriting from
the Carnegie Endowment.
unnerve

To the journalist's pointed question, the senator

gave a vacuous response, mixing a few of his
overall campaign slogans with platitudes and
completely avoiding the controversial subject of
the question.

Synonyms : enervate , faze , unsettle

336.

337.

unprecedented

unruly

341.

vanquish

For years, Argentina would dominate in World

Cup qualifying matches, only to be vanquished
by one of the European countries during the late
stages of the tournament.

When America first created its national

parks, the idea of setting aside the most
beautiful land in a country was
unprecedented in the history of
mankind.

342.

adjective: (of persons) noisy and lacking

in restraint or discipline; unwilling to
submit to authority

343.

Walk in to any preschool and I am sure

that you will find an unruly and chaotic
scene - unless it's nap time.

verb: come out better in a competition, race, or

conflict
Synonyms : beat , beat out , crush , shell , trounce

adjective: having never been done or

known before; novel

Synonyms : boisterous , rambunctious ,

robustious , rumbustious,disobedient

adjective: devoid of intelligence, matter, or

significance
Synonyms : asinine , fatuous , inane ,
mindless,empty , hollow

verb: to make nervous or upset

At one time unnerved by math

problems, she began avidly "Magooshing", and soon became adept at even
combinations and permutations
questions.

adjective: showing a high degree of refinement

and the assurance that comes from wide social
experience
Synonyms : polished , refined , svelte

340.

335.

adjective: not in keeping with accepted

standards of what is right or proper in polite
society

variance

noun: the quality of being different

The cynic quipped, "There is not much variance
in politicians; they all seem to lie".

veneer

noun: covering consisting of a thin superficial

layer that hides the underlying substance
Mark Twain referred to the Victorian Period in
America as the "Gilded Age", implying the ample
moral corruption that lay beneath a mere veneer
of respectability

344.

vicarious

adjective: felt or undergone as if one were taking

part in the experience or feelings of another

350.

wax

verb: to gradually increase in size or intensity

Synonyms : climb , mount , rise

The advent of twitter is a celebrity stalker's

dream, as he or she can - through hundreds of
intimate "tweets" - vicariously live the life of a
famous person.
345.

vie

verb: compete for something

Synonyms : compete , contend

346.

vindictive

virago

Adults look to kids and envy their whimsical

nature at times, wishing that they could act
without reason and play without limitation.

noun: an ill-tempered or violent woman

adjective: very hungry; approaching an activity

with gusto
Synonyms : edacious , esurient , rapacious ,
ravening , ravenous , wolfish
Steven was a voracious reader, sometimes
finishing two novels in the same day.

349.

wanton

adjective: determined by impulse or whim

rather than by necessity or reason

adjective: to have a very strong desire for

revenge

Poor Billy was the victim of the virago's invective she railed at him for a good 30-minutes about
how he is the scum of the earth for speaking
loudly on his cellphone in public.
voracious

whimsical

Synonyms : capricious , impulsive

Synonyms : amazon

348.

351.

While the other teams in the division actively vie

for the championship, this team seems content
simply to go through the motions of playing.

Though the other girl had only lightly poked fun

of Vanessa's choice in attire, Vanessa was so
vindictive that she waited for an entire semester
to get the perfect revenge.
347.

Her enthusiasm for the diva's new album only

waxed with each song; by the end of the album,
it was her favorite CD yet.
This word has other definitions but this is the
most important one to study

adjective: without check or limitation; showing no

moral restraints to one's anger, desire, or
appetites
Synonyms : easy , light , loose , promiscuous ,
sluttish
Due to wanton behavior and crude language,
the drunk man was thrown out of the bar and
asked to never return.

352.

zenith

noun: the highest point; culmination

At the zenith of his artistic career, Elvis was
outselling any other artist on the charts.