Abrogate – repeal or do way with / abrogate means to abolish or avoid.

When someone cuts in front of you in

line, they are abrogating your right to be the next one served. When you cut in line, you are abrogating your
responsibility to those who were in line before you.

Impertinent – not showing proper respect; rude “an impertinent question” / not pertinent to a particular matter;
irrelevant “talk of “rhetoric” and “strategy” is impertinent to this process”

Frenzied – wildly excited and uncontrolled

Rustic – relating to the countryside; rural / made in a plain and simple fashion “rustic poetry”

An unsophisticated country person “they paused to watch the rustics dance and carouse”

Reprobate – an unprincipled person (often used humorously or affectionately) “he had to present himself as
more of a loveable reprobate than a spirit of corruption”

Depraved – morally corrupt; wicked

Lavish – sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious

Saturnine – slow and gloomy “a saturnine temperament” / dark in coloring and moody and mysterious “his
saturnine face and dark watchful eyes”

Nascent – just coming into existence and begging to display signs of future potential “the nascent space
industry”

Turgid – swollen and distended or congested “a turgid and fast-moving river” / tediously pompous or bombastic
“some turgid verses on the death of Prince Albert”

Unwary – not cautious; not aware of possible dangers or problems “accidents can happen to the unwary
traveler”

Brawn – physical strength in contrast to intelligence “commando work required as much brain as brawn”

Panegyric – eulogy, tribute, speech of praise; a public speech or published text in praise of someone or
something. “Vera’s panegyric on friendship”

Indolent – wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy “they were indolent and addicted to a life of pleasure”

Concatenation – a series of things, “The artwork is a concatenation of forms and symbols divided between
messy on the left and smooth on the right”

Ponderous – slow and clumsy because of great weight. “her footsteps were heavy and ponderous”

Suffice – be enough of adequate “a quick look should suffice” / meet the needs of “simple mediocrity cannot
suffice them”

Extradite – hand over (a person accused or convicted of a crime) to the jurisdiction of the foreign state in which
the crime was committed. “Greece refused to extradite him to Italy”

Enigmatic – difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious. “he took the money with an enigmatic smile”

Recondite – little known; abstruse. “the book is full of recondite information”

Brooding – showing deep unhappiness of thought “he stared with brooding eyes”

Forlorn – pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely “forlorn figures at bus stops”

Renege – go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract. “have reneged on their promise to us”

Actuarial – relating to actuaries or their work of compiling and analyzing statistics to calculate insurance risks
and premiums

Preferential – of or involving preference or partiality; constituting a favor or privilege “preferential interest rates
may be offered to employees”

Beleaguer – in a very difficult situation “the board is supporting the beleaguered director amid calls for his
resignation” / surrounded by armed forces aiming to capture it or force surrender; besieged “he led a relief force
to the aid of the beleaguered city”

Fiat – a formal authorization or proposition; a decree “adopting a legislative review program, rather than trying
to regulate by fiat”

Scion – a young shoot or twig of a plant, especially one cut for grafting or rooting / a decendant of a notable
family “he was the scion of a wealthy family”

Abiding – lasting a long time; enduring

Abide – accept or act in accordance with “I said I would abide by their decision”

Incur – become subject to as a result of one’s own behavior or actions “I will pay any expenses incurred”

Founder – fail or break down, typically as a result of a particular problem or setback “the talks foundered on the
issue of reform”

Erratic – not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable “her breathing was erratic”

Attenuate – reduce the force, effect, or value of “this research provides a glimmer of hope that coral reefs can
attenuate the effects of ocean acidification”

Incumbent – necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility

Behoove – it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something; it is incumbent on

“It behooves any coach to study his predecessors”

Hardy – robust; capable of enduring difficult conditions

Grudge – a persistent unwilling to give, grant, or allow (something) “he grudged the work and time that the
meting involved” / a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury “she held a
grudge against her former boss”

Cajole – persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery

Repudiate – refuse to accept or be associated with “she has repudiated policies associated with previous party
leaders”

Paradox – a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true

Outcast – a person who has been rejected by society or a social group

Lascivious – lecherous; sexually perverted

Sartorial – relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress/ “sartorial elegance”

Dissension – disagreement that leads to discord

Communicative – ready to talk or impart information

Abscond – to depart clandestinely; to steal off and hide

Axiomatic – taken as a given; possessing self-evident truth

Canonical – following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standards

Capricious – inclined to change one’s mind impulsively; erratic, unpredictable

Convoluted – complex or complicated

Disabuse – to undeceive; to set right

Effrontery – extreme boldness; presumptuousness

Eloquent – well-spoken, expressive, articulate

Enervate – to weaken; to reduce in vitality

Ennui – a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement

“he succumbed to ennui and despair”

Exigent – urgent, pressing; requiring immediate action or attention

Extemporaneous – improvised; done without preparation

Fulminate – to loudly attack or denounce

Ingenuous – artless; rank and candid; lacking in sophistication

Magnanimity – the quality of being generously noble in mind and heart, especially in forgiving

Nascent – coming into being; in early developmental stages

Nebulous – vague

Neologism – a new rod, expression, or usage; the creation or use of new words or senses

Noxious – harmful, injurious

Obviate – to anticipate and make unnecessary “the Venetian blinds obviated the need for curtains” / avoid,
prevent “a parachute can be used to obviate disaster”

Paean – a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving

Perfunctory – cursory; done without care or interest

Perspicacious – acutely perceptive; having keen discernment

Prattle – to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner

Prescience – foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior tgo their occurring

Prevaricate – to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead

Qualms – misgivings; reservation; causes for hesitancy

Misgiving – a feeling of doubt or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something “we have
misgivings about the way the campaign is being run”

Recant – to retract, esp. a previously held belief

Refute – to disprove; to successfully argue against

Relegate – to forcibly assign, esp. to a lower place or position

Reticent – not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily

“she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs”

Squander – to waste by spending or using irresponsibly

Stupefy – to stun, baffle, or amaze

Tortuous – winding, twisting; excessively complicated “the route is remote and tortuous”
Truculent – fierce and cruel; eager to fight; savage

Waver – to move to and fro; to sway; to be unsettled in opinion

Adulation – excessive praise; intense adoration

Canon – an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature

Castigation – severe criticism or punishment

Caustic – burning or stinging ; causing corrosion

Chary – wary; cautious; sparing

Cogent – appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; convincing

Complaisance – the willingness to comply to the wishes of others

Contentious – argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement

Contrite – regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness (noun : contrition)

Culpable – deserving blame

Demur – to question or oppose

Discretion – cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsible decisions (being discreet)

Elegy – a mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead

Emollient – soothing, esp. to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens or smoothes the skin

Exonerate – remove from blame

Facetious – playful; humorous;

Surreptitious – kept secret, esp. because it would not be approved of

Furtive – marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious

Harangue – to deliver a forceful or angry speech; ranting speech or writing

Heretical – violating accepted dogma or convention

Impecunious – lacking funds, without money

Innocuous – harmless; causing no damage

Intransigent – impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason / refusing to compromise

Inveigle – to obtain by deception or flattery

Odious – evoking intense aversion or dislike

Penurious – penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous / extremely poor

Preen – to dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care

Prodigious – abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary

Putrefy – to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor

Quaff – to drink deeply

Quiescence – stillness; motionless; quality of being at rest

Redoubtable – awe-inspiring; worthy of honor

Sanction – authoritative permission or approval; to give permission or authority

Derision – contemptuous ridicule or mockery

Supplant – to take the place of; to supersede

Torpid – lethargic; sluggish; dormant

Urbane – courteous and refined in manner

Amalgamate – to combine several elements into a whole

Aver – to state as a fact; to declare or assert

Bombastic – pompous; grandiloquent

Diatribe – a harsh denunciation

Dissemble – to disguise

Fervent – greatly emotional or zealous

Germane – pertinent; relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter

Grandiloquence – pompous speech or expression

Hackneyed – rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage

Halcyon – calm and peaceful

Idolatrous – given to intense or excessive devotion to something

Impassive – reaving no emotion

Imperturbable – marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness

Implacable – not capable of being appeased or significantly changed

Impunity – immunity from punishment or penalty

Impugn – dispute the truth, validity, integrity, or honesty of; call into question

Inchoate – in an initial stage; not fully formed / rudimentary “a still inchoate democracy”

Placate – to make less angry

Insipid – vapid; lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge

Misanthrope – one who hates all other humans

Obdurate – unyielding; hardhearted; intractable

Obsequious – exhibiting a fawning attentiveness

Occlude – to obstruct or block / stop, close up, or obstruct “thick make up can occlude the pores”

Opprobrium – disgrace; contempt; scorn

Penury – poverty; destitution

Pervasive - having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout

Pine – to yearn intensely; to languish; to lose vigor

Pirate – to illegally use or reproduce

Pith – the essential or central part

Pithy – precise and brief

Placate – to appease; to calm by making concessions

Platitude – a superficial remark, esp. one offered as meaningful

Plummet – to plunge or drop straight down

Polemical – controversial; argumentative

Prodigal – recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish

Profuse – given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant

Queries – questions; inquiries; doubts in the mind; reservations

Querulous – prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish – easily irritated or annoyed

Recalcitrant – obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage

Repudiate – to refuse to have anything to do with; to disown

Rescind – to invalidate; to repeal; to retract

Salubrious – promoting health or well-being

Specious – plausible, but false

Spurious – lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit

Subpoena – a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony

Surfeit – an overabundant supply; excess; to feed or supply to excess

Tenacity – the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued; persistent determination

Tenuous – having littles substance or strength; flimsy; weak

Aggrandize – to increase in intensity, power, influence or prestige

Astringent – having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe; something with a tightening effect on
tissue

Credulous – gullible

Decorum – polite or appropriate conduct or behavior

Derision – scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment

Desiccate – to dry out or dehydrate; to make dry or dull

Disparage – to slight or belittle

Divulge – to disclose something secret

Fawn – to flatter or praise excessively

Flout – to show contempt for, as in a rule or conversation

Garrulous – pointlessly talkative; talking too much

Glib – marked by ease or informality; nonchalant(indifferent, blithe unconcern); lacking in depth; superficial
Hubris – overbearing presumption or pride; arrogance

Inimical – damaging; harmful; injurious

Neophyte – a recent convert; a beginner; a novice

Phlegmatic – calm; sluggish; unemotional

Presumptuous – overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties

Probity – adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness

Proclivity – predisposition, propensity, penchant

Prosaic – dull; lacking in spirit or imagination

Quotidian – occurring or recurring daily; commonplace

Rarefy – to make or become thin, less dense; to refine

Recondite – hidden; concealed; difficult to understand; obscure

Refulgent – radiant; shiny; brilliant

Renege – to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise

Sedulous – diligent; hardworking; careful; persistent

Sparse – thin; not dense; arranged at widely spaced intervals

Tout – to publicly praise or promote

Trenchant – sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating

Unfeigned – genuine; not false or hypothetical

Untenable – indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable

Variegated – multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color

Vexation – annoyance; irritation

Vituperate – to use harsh condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate

Alloy – to commingle; to debase by mixing with something inferior; unalloyed means pure

Actually – literally, in fact, in reality, in truth, indeed, in effect, surprisingly, as it happens

Need – require / demand / call for / necessitate / obligation /requirement / exigency / essential / requisite / wish

Appropriate – to take for one’s own use; to confiscate

August – majestic, venerable

Bent – leaning, inclination, proclivity, tendency

Broach – to bring up; to announce; to begin to talk about

Brook – to tolerate; to endure; to countenance

Cardinal – major, as in cardinal sin

Chauvinist – a blindly devoted patriot

Consequential – pompous, self-important

Die – a tool used for shaping, as in a tool-and-die shop

Essay – to test or try; to attempt; to experiment

Exact – to demand; to call for; to require; to take

Fell – to cause to fall by striking

Fell – inhumanely cruel, evil

Flag – to sag or droop; to become spiritless; to decline

Ford – to wade across the shallow part of a river or stream (wade: walk with effort through water)

Grouse – to complain or grumble

Guy – a rope, cord, or cable attached to something as a brace or guide; to steady or reinforce using a guy: think
guide

Intimate – to imply, suggest, or insinuate

List – to tilt or lean to one side

Lumber – to move heavily and clumsily

Meet – fitting, proper

Milk – to exploit; to squeeze every last ounce of

Mince – to pronounce or speak affectedly; to euphemize, to speak too carefully. Also, to take tiny steps; to tiptoe

Nice – exacting, fastidious, extremely precise / meticulous

Occult – hidden, concealed, beyond comprehension

Pied - multicolored, usually in blotches

Pine – to lose vigor (as through grief); to yearn

Plastic – moldable, pliable, not rigid

Pluck – courage, spunk, fortitude

Prize – to pry, to press or force with a lever; something taken by force. Spoils

Rail – to complain about bitterly

Rent – torn; an opening or tear caused by such to lose courage; to turn frightened

Qualify – to limit

Sap – to enervate or weaken the vitality of / a fool or nitwit

Scurvy – contemptible, despicable

Singular – exceptional, unusual, odd

Strut – the supporting structural cross-part of a wing

Table – to remove(as a parliamentary motion) from consideration

Tender – to proffer or offer

Waffle – to equivocate; to change one’s position

Wag – wit, joker

Abjure – to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant; to avoid

Adumbrate – to foreshadow vaguely or intimate; to suggest or outline sketchily; to obscure or overshadow

Anathema – a solemn ecclesiastical (religious) curse; accursed or thoroughly loathed person or thing

Anodyne – soothing; something that assuages or allays pain or comforts

Apogee – farthest or highest point; culmination; zenith

Apostate – one how abandons long-held religious or political convictions

Asperity – severity, rigor; roughness, harshness; acrimony, irritability

Asseverate – to aver, allege, or assert

Assiduous – diligent, sedulous, hard-working

Augury – omen, portent

Calumniate – to slander, to make a false accusation; calumny means slander, aspersion

Captious – disposed to point out trivial faults; calculated to confuse or entrap in argument

Cavil – to find fault without good reason

Celerity – speed, alacrity; think accelerate

Contumacious – insubordinate, rebellious; contumely means insult, scorn, aspersion

Debacle – rout, fiasco, complete failure

Descry – to catch sight of

Desuetude – disuse

Diaphanous – transparent, gauzy

Dirge – a song of grief or lamentation

Encomium – glowing and enthusiastic praise; panegyric, tribute, eulogy

Eschew – to shun or avoid

Excoriate – to censure scathingly, to upbraid

Execrate – to denounce, to feel loathing for, to curse, to declare to be evil

Exegesis – critical examination, explication

Expiate – to atone or make amends for

Extirpate – to destroy, to exterminate, to cut out, to exscind

Fractious – quarrelsome, rebellious, unruly, refractory, irritable

Gainsay – to deny, to dispute, to contradict, to oppose

Imbroglio – difficult or embarrassing situation

Ineluctable – certain, inevitable

Inimitable – one of a kind, peerless

Insouciant – unconcerned, carefree, heedless

Inveterate – deep rooted, ingrained, habitual

Jejune – vapid, uninteresting, nugatory; childish, immature, puerile

Lubricious – lewd, wanton, greasy, slippery

Nugatory – of no value or importance

Meretricious – cheap, gaudy, tawdry, flashy, showy

Minatory – menacing, threatening (minotaur)

Nonplussed – baffled, bewildered, at a loss for what to do or think

Obstreperous – noisily and stubbornly defiant, aggressively boisterous

Palliate – to make something seem less serious, to gloss over, to make less severe or intense

Panegyric – formal praise, eulogy, encomium; panegyrical means expressing elaborate praise

Pellucid – transparent, easy to understand, limpid

Peroration – the concluding part of a speech; flowery, rhetorical speech

Plangent – pounding, thundering, resounding

Prolix – long-winded, verbose; prolixity means verbosity

Propitiate – to appease; to conciliate; propitious means auspicious, favorable

Puerile – childish, immature, jejune, nugatory

Pusillanimous – cowardly, craven

Remonstrate – to protest, to object

Salacious – lustful, lascivious, bawdy

Salutary – remedial, wholesome, causing improvement

Saturnine – gloomy, dark, sullen, morose

Sententious – aphoristic or moralistic, epigrammatic; tending to moralize excessively

Stentorian – extremely loud and powerful

Stygian – gloomy, dark

Sycophant – toady; servile, self-seeking flatterer; parasite

Tendentious – biased; showing marked tendencies

Tyro – novice, greenhorn, rank amateur

Voluble – fluent, verbal, having easy use of spoken language