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A Dictionary of Difficult Words
A Dictionary of Difficult Words
A Dictionary of Difficult Words
NORMAN LEWIS
1. abash
cause to be embarrassed
2. abate
become less in amount or intensity
3. abdicate
give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors
4. aberration
a state or condition markedly different from the norm
5. abhor
find repugnant
6. abject
of the most contemptible kind
7. abnegate
deny or renounce
8. abortive
failing to accomplish an intended result
9. abridge
lessen, diminish, or curtail
10. absolute
perfect or complete or pure
11. absolve
grant remission of a sin to
12. abstinent
self-restraining
13. abstract
existing only in the mind
14. abstruse
difficult to penetrate
15. abysmal
resembling an abyss in depth; so deep as to be immeasurable
16. accolade
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
17. accost
speak to someone
18. acerbic
sour or bitter in taste
19. acquiesce
to agree or express agreement
20. acrid
strong and sharp, as a taste
21. acrimonious
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
22. acumen
shrewdness shown by keen insight
23. acute
ending in a sharp point
24. adage
a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact
25. adamant
very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem
26. address
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
52. ambivalent
uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
53. ameliorate
to make better
54. amenable
disposed or willing to comply
55. amenity
pleasantness resulting from agreeable conditions
56. amiable
diffusing warmth and friendliness
57. amnesty
a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense
58. amorous
inclined toward or displaying love
59. amorphous
having no definite form or distinct shape
60. anachronism
something located at a time when it could not have existed
61. analogy
drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
62. anarchy
a state of lawlessness and disorder
63. anecdote
short account of an incident
64. anguish
extreme distress of body or mind
65. animosity
a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
66. anomaly
deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
67. antecedent
a preceding occurrence or cause or event
68. antipathy
a feeling of intense dislike
69. antithesis
exact opposite
70. apartheid
a social policy of racial segregation
71. apathy
an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
72. aphorism
a short pithy instructive saying
73. apocalypse
a cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the powers of evil
74. apocryphal
being of questionable authenticity
75. apotheosis
model of excellence or perfection of a kind
76. appease
make peace with
77. appreciate
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
103. autocratic
characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule
104. autonomous
existing as an independent entity
105. avarice
reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth
106. avow
to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
107. avuncular
being or relating to an uncle
108. awry
turned or twisted to one side
109. axiom
a proposition that is not susceptible of proof or disproof
110. banal
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
111. bane
something causing misery or death
112. bastion
projecting part of a rampart or other fortification
113. beget
generate children
114. belabor
beat soundly
115. beleaguer
annoy persistently
116. belie
be in contradiction with
117. belittle
cause to seem less serious
118. belligerent
characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
119. bemused
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
120. benefactor
a person who helps people or institutions
121. benevolent
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
122. benign
kindness of disposition or manner
123. bequest
a gift of personal property by will
124. bereft
sorrowful through loss or deprivation
125. beset
assail or attack on all sides
126. blasphemy
profane language
127. blatant
without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
128. blight
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
154. censure
harsh criticism or disapproval
155. cerebral
of or relating to the brain
156. chagrin
strong feelings of embarrassment
157. charisma
personal attractiveness that enables you to influence others
158. charlatan
a flamboyant deceiver
159. chasm
a deep opening in the earth's surface
160. chastise
censure severely
161. chicanery
the use of tricks to deceive someone
162. chimera
a grotesque product of the imagination
163. choleric
characterized by anger
164. chronic
long-lasting or characterized by long suffering
165. chronicle
a record or narrative description of past events
166. circuitous
deviating from a straight course
167. circumlocution
an indirect way of expressing something
168. circumscribe
to draw a geometric figure around another figure
169. circumspect
heedful of potential consequences
170. circumvent
surround so as to force to give up
171. civil
of or occurring between or among citizens of the state
172. clandestine
conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
173. clemency
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders
174. cliche
a trite or obvious remark
175. clique
an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
176. coalesce
fuse or cause to grow together
177. coerce
to cause to do through pressure or necessity
178. cogent
powerfully persuasive
179. cognitive
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
205. consecrate
give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
206. consensus
agreement in the judgment reached by a group as a whole
207. consonant
a speech sound that is not a vowel
208. construe
make sense of; assign a meaning to
209. consummate
having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
210. contentious
showing an inclination to disagree
211. contiguous
having a common boundary or edge
212. contingent
determined by conditions or circumstances that follow
213. contrite
feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
214. contrived
showing effects of planning or manipulation
215. conventional
following accepted customs and proprieties
216. convivial
occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
217. copious
large in number or quantity
218. corollary
an inference following from the proof of another proposition
219. corroborate
give evidence for
220. cosmopolitan
composed of people from many parts of the world
221. countenance
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
222. coup
a sudden and decisive change of government by force
223. covenant
an agreement between God and his people
224. covert
secret or hidden
225. covet
wish, long, or crave for
226. credulous
showing a lack of judgment or experience
227. criterion
the ideal in terms of which something can be judged
228. cryptic
having a secret or hidden meaning
229. culinary
of or relating to or used in cooking
230. culminate
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
256. deride
treat or speak of with contempt
257. derogatory
expressive of low opinion
258. desiccate
lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
259. despondent
without or almost without hope
260. despot
a cruel and oppressive dictator
261. destitute
poor enough to need help from others
262. desultory
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose
263. dialectical
relating to reasoning by the exchange of logical arguments
264. dictum
an authoritative declaration
265. didactic
instructive, especially excessively
266. diffident
showing modest reserve
267. digress
wander from a direct or straight course
268. dilettante
an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
269. discern
detect with the senses
270. discreet
marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
271. discrete
constituting a separate entity or part
272. discriminate
marked by the ability to see or make fine distinctions
273. disdain
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
274. disinterested
unaffected by concern for one's own welfare
275. disparage
express a negative opinion of
276. disparate
fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
277. disseminate
cause to become widely known
278. dissipate
to cause to separate and go in different directions
279. dissolution
separation into component parts
280. distend
cause to expand as it by internal pressure
281. distinguish
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
mark as different
282. docile
easily handled or managed
283. doctrinaire
a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions
284. dogmatic
pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
285. domestic
of or relating to the home
286. dormant
inactive but capable of becoming active
287. dubious
fraught with uncertainty or doubt
288. duplicity
acting in bad faith
289. ebullient
joyously unrestrained
290. eccentric
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
291. eclectic
selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
292. edify
make understand
293. efface
remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing
294. effusion
an unrestrained expression of emotion
295. egalitarian
favoring social equality
296. egocentric
limited to or caring only about yourself and your own needs
297. egoist
a conceited and self-centered person
298. egregious
conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
299. elicit
call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
300. elliptical
rounded like an egg
301. elusive
skillful at evading capture
302. emigrate
leave one's country of residence for a new one
303. eminent
standing above others in quality or position
304. empirical
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
305. emulate
strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
306. encroach
advance beyond the usual limit
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
307. endemic
native to or confined to a certain region
308. enervate
weaken mentally or morally
309. enfranchise
grant freedom to, as from slavery or servitude
310. engender
make children
311. enigma
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
312. enormity
the quality of extreme wickedness
313. ephemeral
anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day
314. epigram
a witty saying
315. epitome
a standard or typical example
316. equanimity
steadiness of mind under stress
317. equitable
fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience
318. equivocal
open to two or more interpretations
319. erudite
having or showing profound knowledge
320. esoteric
understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
321. espouse
choose and follow
322. ethereal
characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
323. euphemism
an inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one
324. evanescent
tending to vanish like vapor
325. exacerbate
make worse
326. exacting
severe and unremitting in making demands
327. exalt
praise, glorify, or honor
328. exasperate
make furious
329. exemplify
be characteristic of
330. exhaustive
performed comprehensively and completely
331. exhort
spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
332. exigency
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
358. fidelity
the quality of being faithful
359. figurative
not literal
360. finesse
subtly skillful handling of a situation
361. flagrant
conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
362. flaunt
display proudly
363. flout
treat with contemptuous disregard
364. foible
a minor weakness or peculiarity in someone's character
365. foment
try to stir up
366. forbear
a person from whom you are descended
367. forgo
do without or cease to hold or adhere to
368. forsake
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
369. fortuitous
occurring by happy chance
370. founder
a person who establishes some institution
371. fraternal
like or characteristic of or befitting a brother
372. frenetic
excessively agitated
373. frugal
avoiding waste
374. furtive
secret and sly or sordid
375. futile
producing no result or effect
376. garrulous
full of trivial conversation
377. genre
a kind of literary or artistic work
378. genteel
marked by refinement in taste and manners
379. gesticulate
show, express or direct through movement
380. glut
supply with an excess of
381. grandiloquent
lofty in style
382. grandiose
impressive because of unnecessary largeness or grandeur
383. gratuitous
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
409. imminent
close in time; about to occur
410. immutable
not subject or susceptible to change or variation
411. impartial
free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
412. impeccable
without fault or error
413. imperial
of a dominion under control of a single authority
414. impervious
not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
415. impetuous
characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
416. implement
a piece of equipment or a tool used for a specific purpose
417. impotent
(of a male) unable to copulate
418. impugn
attack as false or wrong
419. inane
devoid of intelligence
420. inaugurate
commence officially
421. incandescent
emitting light as a result of being heated
422. incantation
a ritual reciting of words believed to have a magical effect
423. incense
make furious
424. incessant
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
425. incipient
only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
426. incisive
demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
427. incongruous
lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
428. incorrigible
impervious to correction by punishment
429. increment
the amount by which something increases
430. indifferent
marked by a lack of interest
431. indigenous
originating where it is found
432. indigent
poor enough to need help from others
433. indignant
angered at something unjust or wrong
434. indolent
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
460. intransigent
impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
461. intrinsic
belonging to a thing by its very nature
462. introspective
given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences
463. inundate
fill or cover completely, usually with water
464. invective
abusive language used to express blame or censure
465. inveterate
habitual
466. irascible
quickly aroused to anger
467. ironic
displaying incongruity between what is expected and what is
468. irrevocable
incapable of being retracted
469. itinerant
traveling from place to place to work
470. judicious
marked by the exercise of good judgment in practical matters
471. juxtapose
place side by side
472. kinetic
relating to the motion of material bodies and their forces
473. labyrinth
complex system of paths in which it is easy to get lost
474. laconic
brief and to the point
475. lament
a cry of sorrow and grief
476. lampoon
ridicule with satire
477. languish
become feeble
478. largess
liberality in bestowing gifts
479. latent
potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
480. laud
praise, glorify, or honor
481. legacy
a gift of personal property by will
482. lethargy
inactivity; showing an unusual lack of energy
483. levity
a manner lacking seriousness
484. libel
a false and malicious publication
485. litigate
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
11. mentor
a wise and trusted guide and advisor
12. mercenary
a person hired to fight for another country than their own
13. mercurial
liable to sudden unpredictable change
14. metamorphosis
striking change in appearance or character or circumstances
15. microcosm
a miniature model of something
16. milieu
the environmental condition
17. minuscule
very small
18. misanthropic
hating mankind in general
19. mitigate
lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
20. mollify
cause to be more favorably inclined
21. monolithic
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
22. moribund
being on the point of death
23. morose
showing a brooding ill humor
24. mortify
cause to feel shame
25. mundane
found in the ordinary course of events
26. munificent
very generous
27. myopia
eyesight abnormality in which distant objects appear blurred
28. myriad
a large indefinite number
29. narcissism
an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself
30. nebulous
lacking definite form or limits
31. nefarious
extremely wicked
32. neologism
a newly invented word or phrase
33. nepotism
favoritism shown to relatives or friends by those in power
34. nihilism
complete denial of established authority and institutions
35. nominal
relating to or constituting or bearing or giving a name
36. nostalgia
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
62. parochial
relating to or supported by or located in a parish
63. parody
a composition that imitates or misrepresents a style
64. parsimonious
excessively unwilling to spend
65. partisan
a fervent and even militant proponent of something
66. patent
a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention
67. paternal
characteristic of a father
68. pathology
the branch of medical science that studies diseases
69. patriarch
the male head of family or tribe
70. patrician
a person of refined upbringing and manners
71. patronize
assume sponsorship of
72. paucity
an insufficient quantity or number
73. peccadillo
a petty misdeed
74. pedantic
marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
75. pedestrian
a person who travels by foot
76. pejorative
expressing disapproval
77. penchant
a strong liking
78. penitent
feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds
79. peremptory
putting an end to all debate or action
80. perennial
lasting three seasons or more
81. perfidy
an act of deliberate betrayal
82. perfunctory
hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
83. peripatetic
traveling especially on foot
84. periphery
the outside boundary or surface of something
85. perjury
criminal offense of making false statements under oath
86. permeate
spread or diffuse through
87. pernicious
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
exceedingly harmful
88. perquisite
an incidental benefit for certain types of employment
89. pertinent
being of striking appropriateness
90. perturb
disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried
91. peruse
examine or consider with attention and in detail
92. pervade
spread or diffuse through
93. petulant
easily irritated or annoyed
94. philanthropy
the act of donating money or time to promote human welfare
95. philistine
a person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits
96. pious
having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity
97. pivotal
being of crucial importance
98. placate
cause to be more favorably inclined
99. plaintive
expressing sorrow
100. platitude
a trite or obvious remark
101. plebeian
of or associated with the great masses of people
102. plethora
extreme excess
103. poignant
keenly distressing to the mind or feelings
104. polarize
cause to concentrate about two conflicting positions
105. polemic
a controversy, especially over a belief or dogma
106. ponderous
having great mass and weight and unwieldiness
107. portent
a sign of something about to happen
108. postulate
maintain or assert
109. pragmatic
concerned with practical matters
110. precedent
an example that is used to justify similar occurrences
111. precept
rule of personal conduct
112. precipitate
bring about abruptly
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
113. precipitous
extremely steep
114. preclude
make impossible, especially beforehand
115. precursor
something indicating the approach of something or someone
116. predilection
a predisposition in favor of something
117. preeminent
greatest in importance or degree or significance
118. preempt
acquire for oneself before others can do so
119. premise
a statement that is held to be true
120. prepossess
cause to be preoccupied
121. prerogative
a right reserved exclusively by a person or group
122. prevail
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
123. pristine
immaculately clean and unused
124. prodigal
recklessly wasteful
125. prodigious
great in size, force, extent, or degree
126. prodigy
an unusually gifted or intelligent person
127. profane
grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred
128. profess
confess one's faith in, or allegiance to
129. proficient
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
130. profligate
unrestrained by convention or morality
131. profound
situated at or extending to great depth
132. profuse
produced or growing in extreme abundance
133. proletariat
a social class comprising those who do manual labor
134. proliferate
grow rapidly
135. prolific
intellectually productive
136. promulgate
state or announce
137. propensity
a natural inclination
138. propitious
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
164. recalcitrant
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
165. recant
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
166. reciprocal
concerning each of two or more persons or things
167. reclusive
withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
168. recondite
difficult to penetrate
169. recrimination
mutual accusations
170. redolent
having a strong pleasant odor
171. redundant
more than is needed, desired, or required
172. refute
overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
173. reiterate
to say, state, or perform again
174. relegate
assign to a lower position
175. relentless
never-ceasing
176. relinquish
turn away from; give up
177. remonstrate
argue in protest or opposition
178. Renaissance
period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages
179. renounce
turn away from; give up
180. reparation
something done or paid in expiation of a wrong
181. repercussion
a remote or indirect consequence of some action
182. replenish
fill something that had previously been emptied
183. replete
filled to satisfaction with food or drink
184. reprehensible
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
185. reprisal
a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime
186. reproach
express criticism towards
187. reprove
take to task
188. repudiate
refuse to acknowledge, ratify, or recognize as valid
189. requisite
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
215. sensory
relating to or concerned in sensation
216. sentient
endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness
217. sequester
keep away from others
218. serendipity
good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
219. servile
submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior
220. singular
being a single and separate person or thing
221. slander
words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another
222. sloth
a disinclination to work or exert yourself
223. solicitous
full of anxiety and concern
224. solvent
capable of meeting financial obligations
225. soporific
sleep inducing
226. sordid
foul and run-down and repulsive
227. spawn
the mass of eggs deposited by fish or amphibians or mollusks
228. specious
plausible but false
229. sporadic
recurring in scattered or unpredictable instances
230. spurious
plausible but false
231. squalor
sordid dirtiness
232. squander
spend thoughtlessly; throw away
233. stagnation
a state of inactivity
234. static
not in physical motion
235. staunch
firm and dependable especially in loyalty
236. steadfast
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
237. stigmatize
to condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
238. stipulate
make an express demand or provision in an agreement
239. stoic
seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
240. stratum
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
266. temerity
fearless daring
267. temperate
not extreme
268. tenable
based on sound reasoning or evidence
269. tenacious
stubbornly unyielding
270. tenet
a religious doctrine proclaimed as true without proof
271. tentative
hesitant or lacking confidence; unsettled in mind or opinion
272. tenuous
very thin in gauge or diameter
273. terse
brief and to the point
274. theology
the rational and systematic study of religion
275. tirade
a speech of violent denunciation
276. torpor
a state of motor and mental inactivity
277. touchstone
a basis for comparison
278. tout
advertize in strongly positive terms
279. transcend
be greater in scope or size than some standard
280. transgress
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
281. transient
lasting a very short time
282. trepidation
a feeling of alarm or dread
283. turpitude
a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice
284. ubiquitous
being present everywhere at once
285. unconscionable
greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
286. unctuous
unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating
287. uniform
clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a group
288. unremitting
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
289. unwitting
not aware or knowing
290. urbane
showing a high degree of refinement
291. usurp
A DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULT WORDS
NORMAN LEWIS
317. vociferous
conspicuously and offensively loud
318. volatile
liable to lead to sudden change or violence
319. volition
the act of making a choice
320. wanton
lewd or lascivious woman
321. willful
done by design
322. wistful
showing pensive sadness
323. zealous
marked by active interest and enthusiasm