Definition Example Sentence

Word
As I began my speech, my feelings of
nervousness quickly abated.
v. to become less active, less
Abate
intense, or less in amount
adj. existing purely in the mind; Julie had trouble understanding the appeal of
Abstract
not representing actual reality the abstract painting.
Abysmal adj. extremely bad I got an abysmal grade on my research paper!
Accordingly adv. in accordance with All students must behave accordingly.
n. the act of gaining a skill or Language acquisition is easier for kids than it is
Acquisition
possession of something for adults.
v. to make suit a new purpose The US has adapted many foreign foods to
v. to accommodate oneself to a better suit the tastes of Americans.
Adapt
new condition, setting, or Dogs are known for their ability to
situation quickly adapt to their environments.
adj. having knowledge or skill Beth loves playing the piano, but she’s
Adept
(usu. in a particular area) especially adept at the violin.
adj. having sufficient
Though his resume was adequate, the
Adequate qualifications to meet a specific
company doubted whether he’d be a good fit.
task or purpose
n. the arrival or creation of The world has never been the same since
Advent
something (usu. historic) the advent of the light bulb.
adj. relating to hostile An adversarial attitude will make you many
Adversarial
opposition enemies in life.
n. someone who promotes or
defends something I am an advocate for free higher education.
Advocate v. to defend or promote Environmental protesters often advocate for
something (usu. a belief, theory, cleaner energy practices.
opinion, etc.)
The aesthetic decorations at the wedding
adj. relating to beauty or
Aesthetic reception made you feel as if you were a
refined taste
character in a fairy tale.
Afford v. to be able to buy He’s saving money so he can afford to buy a
v. to be able to spare new car.
 I can’t afford to lose any more pencils!
v. to promote something (usu. a
Agitate They’re agitating for better health care.
cause)
Allow v. to permit or consent to US law allows citizens to speak freely.
v. to make a secretive mention She alluded to the problem at hand but didn’t
Allude
of something say anything more about it.
n. a noisy argument or Greg got into an altercation with a stranger at
Altercation
confrontation the bar.
adj. unclear or vague in Her ambiguous statement made me question
Ambiguous
meaning whether she could be trusted.
adj. having a powerful desire for Penny is so ambitious, she wants to be
Ambitious
success or achievement president someday.
n. the state of being uncertain
His ambivalence prevented him from
Ambivalence or stuck between two or more
immediately signing the contract.
options
Green onions are considered analogous to
Analogous adj. similar but not identical
spring onions.
v. to destroy or cause The dictator sent orders to annihilate the
Annihilate
devastating destruction group of rebels.
n. something different from the This result is an anomaly and very rarely
Anomaly
norm happens.
The party was just as fun as I had anticipated it
Anticipate v. assume to be likely to happen
would be.
Her antipathy toward the professor was
Antipathy n. a strong feeling of dislike obvious: she rolled her eyes whenever he
entered the classroom.
n. the highest point of
Apex The spring play was the apex of our school year.
something
n. fearful expectation of Her apprehension to leave her house resulted
Apprehension
something in her missing the train.
She articulated her opinion on the price of the
Articulate v. to clearly express in words
house.
adj. something made; not Many candies use artificial flavors to make
Artificial
occurring naturally them taste fruity.
His assertion that sharks are mammals made
Assertion n. a strong declaration
everyone laugh.
Austere adj. extremely plain He lived in a small, austere cabin in the middle
 of the woods.
adj. stern and forbidding My boss had an austere expression on her face.
adj. relating to self-denial An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn’t for
everybody.
n. the quality of being real and
The police officer doubted the authenticity of
Authenticity true instead of fake and
the suspect’s story.
contrived
n. an intangible path or The company has decided to pursue
Avenue
approach to something other avenues.
adj. actively interested in or
Avid Gerald is an avid soccer fan.
enthusiastic about something
adj. relating to the foundation You have to start with basic Russian before you
Basic
or basis of something can move on to the advanced level.
She bears a strong resemblance to your
v. to have as a characteristic
mother.
v. to have (a child)
Bear Judy will bear her first child later this year.
v. to bring forth
My garden is going to bear pumpkins this year.
v. to put up with
I can’t bear her complaining any longer!
Benevolent adj. kind, generous Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits.
n. a preconception that It’s important to avoid bias when investigating a
Bias
prevents objectivity crime.
adj. tinged with a feeling of The ending of the romance movie
Bittersweet
sadness was bittersweet.
v. to support, strengthen, or If we work together, we should be able to lift
Bolster
fortify and then bolster the couch.
The boost in profits was a welcome change.
n. an increase or growth
Boost In order to boost profits, you need to cater to
v. to increase or make grow
your customers.
n. an intense, loud fight A brawl broke out at school today after one
Brawl v. to fight loudly and student accused another of cheating.
disruptively The two students brawled for an hour.
n. the quality of being brief or The brevity of their time together made it all
Brevity
terse the more romantic.
Josh is candid about his desire to become an
Candid adj. direct, blunt
actor.
n. the trait of being honest and I admire her candor, especially when nobody
Candor
frank else bothers to speak up.
Capitalize v. to use to your advantage I’d like to capitalize on your math skills by
 having your work the cash register.
The spy was captured by the enemy.
v. to trap or take possession of
Your painting beautifully captures the
v. to successfully represent or
ephemerality of life.
Capture imitate
I was captured by her beauty.
v. to captivate, mesmerize
The cops captured the criminal three days after
v. to catch or seize
the incident.
adj. relating to the city or
Civic Voting is a civic duty.
citizens
adj. emotionally unattached
Her clinical approach to situations allows her to
Clinical (usu. used in medical or
handle them more effectively.
scientific setting)
Children of rich and famous people often
Clout n. special advantage or powerx`
believe they have a lot of clout.
The horse’s mane was coarse, as if it had never
adj. indicating a rough texture
been washed.
Coarse adj. lacking refinement or
The queen’s coarse way of speaking surprised
sophistication
the other members of royalty.
It wasn’t until after I booked my ticket that I
Coincide v. to happen at the same time
realized the concert coincided with my finals.
n. the use of payment to
This painting was commissioned by a rich
Commission request something (e.g., a
merchant in 1589.
service or product)
Comparable adj. able to be compared This novel is comparable to Huckleberry Finn.
We need to hire a competent web developer to
Competent adj. sufficiently qualified
create a good website for our company.
Though he had never won any awards or even
adj. satisfied, with no desire to
Complacent been published, he was complacent with his
change or improve
life as a poet.
This wine perfectly complements this platter of
Complement v. to make perfect or complete
gourmet cheese.
v. to be forced to agree or With no chance of winning the battle, the army
Concede surrender at last conceded.
v. to admit to a transgression Dan conceded to pranking his sister.
The plan to build the city was
Conceive v. to imagine or come up with
originally conceived in the early 1900s.
She couldn't condone her daughter's rebellious
Condone v. to overlook, approve, or allow
behavior.
 adj. able to bring about or be The noisy students hardly made the campus
Conducive
suitable for library conducive to studying.
The group conducted their research abroad last
v. to control or manage
Conduct year.
v. to behave a certain way
Be sure to conduct yourself accordingly.
v. to share something secretive She confided all of her biggest secrets in her
Confide
with someone best friend.
We are going to confine the use of this drinking
Confine v. to put limits on; to restrict
fountain.
After weeks of debating, the panel finally came
Consensus n. overall agreement
to a consensus.
v. to form or compose (part of) The desire for equality constituted the civil
Constitute
something rights movement.
She contemplated telling her teacher about the
Contemplate v. to think deeply about
cheating student.
v. to maintain or assert (an The president contends that the US
Contend
opinion) government will not negotiate with terrorists.
Contradict v. to be in contrast with The camera footage contradicts his alibi.
adj. highly debatable and Millions of viewers watched
Controversial
causing contention the controversial debate take place.
adj. abiding by accepted
Conventional She lives a conventional life in the suburbs.
standards
v. to pass on or transfer I have trouble conveying my thoughts in
Convey
(information) French.
Her religious convictions prevent her from
Conviction n. a firm belief in something
eating meat.
v. to provide evidence for; to The note signed by her father corroborates her
Corroborate
back up (a claim) claim that she was absent from class that day.
This ingredient seems to counteract the other
Counteract v. to work in opposition to
ones.
Make sure to include a counterargument in
n. an argument used to criticize
Counterargument your essay so that you can show you’ve
or dismantle another argument
considered the topic from all perspectives.
Bill’s idea to take a shortcut was
adj. hindering the achievement
Counterproductive ultimately counterproductive: it took us twice
of a goal
as long to get to the train station.
Culmination n. the final act or climax The culmination of the performance was
 unforgettable.
Teachers don’t just pass on new information to
Cultivate V . to foster the growth of students—they cultivate their academic
potential.
v. to declare formally and with The president decreed that Halloween would
Decree
authority henceforth be a national holiday.
Her deference to the elderly makes her the
Deference n. respect; regard perfect candidate for an internship at the
retirement center.
adj. not enough in degree or I feel as though the sources for my paper
Deficient
amount are deficient.
Could you demonstrate the dance move for me?
v. to do as an example This book’s use of words such as “grim” and
Demonstrate
v. gives evidence for “bleak” demonstrates the author’s mournful
tone.
She demurred at my request to transfer to a
Demur v. to object to
different department.
v. to (over)use over time (usu. The lost campers quickly depleted their supply
Deplete
resources) of food.
Desolate adj. bare, barren, empty The moon is one giant, desolate landscape.
Devise v. to come up with (a plan) Lana devised a plan to make herself famous.
n. a problem, usually requiring The main dilemma is whether to pay for a
Dilemma
a choice between two options commercial or not.
n. conscientiousness; the
Diligence quality of being committed to a Diligence and confidence will get you far in life.
task
v. to become smaller in scope The itchiness of mosquito bites usually starts
Diminish
or degree to diminish after a few days.
When the police didn’t explain what was
adj. hopeless and dangerous or
Dire happening right away, Jane knew that the
fearful
situation must be dire.
Disputes over money caused intense discord in
Discord n. disagreement
the family.
n. a lack of respect and strong
He looked at me with such disdain that I
Disdain dislike (toward something or
immediately knew the job wouldn’t work out.
someone)
Dismay n. hopelessness, stress, or To Nick’s dismay, he got an F on the test.
consternation Many were dismayed by the town’s
 v. to fill with woe or
implementation of metered parking.
apprehension
A good boss is stern but never disparages his
Disparage v. to belittle or speak down to
or her employees.
v. to send off a message or The mother dispatched her daughter to their
Dispatch
messenger neighbor’s house.
Lately, there’s been
Diversification n. the act of becoming diverse noticeable diversification of students at higher
institutions.
n. a principle, theory, or
Devoutly religious people often live their lives
Doctrine position, usu. advocated by a
according to their doctrines.
religion or gov’t
n. power and authority (usu. The country claimed to have dominion over
Dominion over a territory) parts of Russia.
n. a legal territory Puerto Rico is a dominion of the US.
The gray clouds in the sky made the day
Dreary adj. sad, gloomy, dull
feel dreary.
The man’s claims to the throne
Dubious adj. doubtful, questionable were dubious since nobody knew where he’d
come from.
adj. peculiar or odd; deviating
Eccentric She’s a little eccentric but still fun to be around.
from the norm
After cheating on the exam, Emily began to feel
Egregious adj. extremely bad
as though she’d made an egregious mistake.
adj. having refined or
His speech was not only eloquent but also
Eloquent expressive communication skills
extremely compelling.
(in speaking or writing)
Our town made news when
adj. superior or distinguished;
Eminent the eminent magician came to perform at our
high in position or status
local theater.
v. to discharge, give forth, or Plants consume carbon dioxide
Emit
release and emit oxygen.
adj. very expressive; using Her emphatic smile told me she was excited to
Emphatic
emphasis ride the roller coaster.
adj. derived from experience, You need empirical evidence to support your
Empirical
observation, or an experiment claim.
v. to equip or bestow (usu. a According to the myth, the gods endowed him
Endow
quality or ability) with the gift of healing.
 v. to withstand, sustain, or hold I can’t endure this wait any longer. Will Stanford
Endure
out against accept or reject me?
A doctoral program entails long nights and a
Entail v. to involve or include
heavy workload.
Her face will forever be entrenched in my
Entrenched adj. firmly established
memory.
I can’t enumerate how many times I’ve had to
Enumerate v. to specify or count
remind my students when their papers are due.
n. excessive jealousy His envy of her is quite obvious.
Envy
v. to admire and be jealous of She envies her coworker's social skills.
adj. having no fixed course;
Erratic The car became erratic after slipping on ice.
deviating from the norm
They established a law that made it illegal to
v. to enact
drive after drinking any amount of alcohol.
Establish v. to found (a business, group,
Our group established a new branch in
school, etc.)
Chicago.
Evoke v. to draw forth or call up Horror movies are great at evoking fear.
v. to make worse or increase The doctor told me not to run as it
Exacerbate
the severity of can exacerbate my knee injury.
v. to do something extremely She was a well-rounded student
Excel
well or to be superior in but excelled especially in science.
Exert v. to put into use (usu. as effort) Don’t exert all of your energy at once.
adj. invigorating, stimulating, or The music playing at the club was catchy
Exhilarating
exciting and exhilarating.
v. to use up (as in energy or Be careful not to expend all your energy in the
Expend
money) first half of a marathon.
The shoddy company exploited its workers by
Exploit v. to use selfishly or for profit
paying them extremely low wages.
In grad school, advisors facilitate students’
Facilitate v. to aid the progress of
research and offer constructive criticism.
The feasibility of her project was doubtful;
n. the practicality or possibility
Feasibility she’d have to go all the way to Antarctica and
of something
back before the school year ended.
The lion is just one wild animal known for
Ferocity n. viciousness, violence
its ferocity.
adj. related to (government) Fiscal policy is how the government uses
Fiscal
money money to influence the economy.
 v. to prosper, grow, or make After one year, the tiny plants
Flourish
fast progress had flourished into a breathtaking garden.
Stocks can fluctuate on a daily basis, making it
Fluctuate v. to be unstable; to rise and fall
difficult to determine when to buy or sell one.
The civilians accused their leader
Foment v. to stir up
of fomenting political unrest.
adj. capable of being predicted I can't imagine aliens visiting us in
Foreseeable
or anticipated the foreseeable future.
Frankly adv. directly, clearly I frankly don’t see the point in learning to drive.
His freewheeling attitude often got him in
Freewheeling adj. carefree
trouble at work.
adj. the most essential or most A thesis is arguably the most fundamental part
Fundamental
basic part of an essay.
adj. thrilling, exciting, The galvanizing performance left everyone
Galvanizing
stimulating spellbound.
I became interested in geriatric medicine
Geriatric adj. relating to old age shortly after my grandfather passed away from
cancer.
The voices around the corner sounded
Hostile adj. harmful, dangerous
angry, hostile even.
adj. supposed; related to a For my physics homework, I must come up with
Hypothetical
hypothesis a hypothetical situation.
adj. publicly shameful or The politician's expensive campaign ultimately
Ignominious
humiliating ended in ignominious defeat.
v. to transmit, bestow, or Parents must impart common sense to their
Impart
disclose children.
n. the equal and objective To ensure impartiality, we require everyone to
Impartiality
treatment of opposing views follow these general guidelines.
adj. impressive (esp. in size or The old mansion was imposing in its huge size
Imposing
appearance) and gothic architecture.
If it’s not too much of an imposition, could you
Imposition n. an unnecessary burden
proofread my paper?
adj. not cautious or prudent; Backpacking abroad can be fun, but don’t
Imprudent
rash be imprudent about money.
Incite v. to encourage or stir up Her hateful words incited anger in the crowd.
n. apathy, emotional The girl’s indifference toward her brother upset
Indifference
detachment their parents.
 adv. randomly; with little or no
Indiscriminately Lottery winners are chosen indiscriminately.
distinction
v. to give into; to satisfy or My friend loves to indulge in cheesy romance
Indulge
gratify movies.
v. to guess, conclude, or derive You can infer from this quotation that the
Infer
by reasoning writer didn’t care for “pretty” language.
adj. novel or new (esp. as an Her invention was incredibly innovative and
Innovative
idea or invention) won her multiple awards.
A vampire’s thirst for blood is said to
Insatiable adj. can’t be satisfied
be insatiable.
The culture’s norms were an inversion of our
Inversion n. a reversal
own.
v. to call on; to appeal to (e.g., a
Invoke The shaman attempted to invoke a demon.
higher power)
The couple’s differences were
adj. incapable of being in
Irreconcilable ultimately irreconcilable, giving them no choice
harmony or agreed upon
but to break up.
Susan lamented her missed chance at going to
Lament v. to feel sorrow for; to mourn
Europe with her high school class.
Locomotion n. movement Physics involves the study of locomotion.
Writing books isn’t a
adj. capable of making a lot of
Lucrative particularly lucrative career, unless you’re J.K.
money; profitable
Rowling.
The malicious spirit drove out the inhabitants
Malicious adj. harmful, spiteful
from their home.
adj. capable of being molded or Children’s minds are malleable but only for so
Malleable
changed long.
adj. superficial; focus on Many people accuse Americans of
Materialistic
material possessions being materialistic.
adj. extravagant or exaggerated The melodramatic play was well liked by the
Melodramatic
(as of a melodrama) audience.
They moved into a modest house in the
adj. simple and humble countryside.
Modest
adj. small in size or amount I received a modest sum of money for my help
at the company event.
Dr. Nguyen modified the gene so that it
Modify v. to change, alter, or tweak
wouldn’t carry the disease.
Momentous adj. historically significant Her win in the election was momentous.
We are looking for novel ways to approach the
Novel adj. new, innovative
project.
n. a subtle difference in Body-language experts even understand
Nuance
meaning the nuances of facial expressions.
Null adj. legally void and ineffective The government declared their marriage null.
n. judgment based on
In scientific research, objectivity is of utmost
Objectivity observations instead of
importance.
emotions or opinions
Historians assumed record players would
adj. no longer used; rare or
Obsolete be obsolete by now, but in fact they’re making a
uncommon
huge comeback.
Gods are omnipotent beings who can control
Omnipotent adj. almighty and all powerful
human destiny.
At the onset of her career as a lawyer, things
Onset n. the beginning or early stages
were looking up.
The new employee opined at the company
Opine v. to openly express an opinion
meeting.
adj. highly detailed and That ornate silverware must be worth
Ornate
decorated thousands of dollars!
v. to remove or force out of Sick and tired of putting up with his bad moods,
Oust
(usu. a position or office) the pirates ousted their captain.
adj. predominant, superior, Our paramount concern is the safety of our
Paramount
most important employees.
Upon entering the abandoned house, Kate
Peculiar adj. strange, bizarre experienced a peculiar feeling, as if someone
was watching her.
According to the news, nobody perished in the
Perish v. to die; to pass away
fire.
They will persecute anyone who doesn’t agree
Persecute v. to cause suffering to
with their views of the world.
Petulant children are especially difficult to care
Petulant adj. cranky, pouty, irritable
for.
Many believe that composers such as
Pinnacle n. highest level or degree Beethoven and Mozart represent
the pinnacle of classical music.
Pitiable adj. deserving pity The frail-looking dog was pitiable, so I gave it
 some food and took it inside to care for it.
adj. reasonable and possibly Her story is plausible, but that doesn’t mean
Plausible
true she’s telling the truth.
The literary critic postulates that romanticism
Postulate v. to assert
and naturalism are actually interconnected.
adj. having great influence The bald eagle is a potent symbol of the US.
Potent adj. having a strong, chemical The potion was definitely potent—it healed my
effect wounds immediately!
It’s not necessarily more pragmatic to study
Pragmatic adj. practical, useful
engineering than it is to study philosophy.
n. an example or subject from This change in law is without
Precedent
earlier in time historical precedent.
n. someone who comes before My predecessor gave me many tips for running
Predecessor
you (usu. in position or office) the office.
The directions for our essay prescribe a length
v. to command orders
of at least ten pages.
Prescribe v. to issue authorization for
A doctor must prescribe you this medication
medications
before you can begin taking it.
n. basic truth, assumption, or Remember the universal principle: treat others
Principle
rule as you want them to treat you.
v. to command against, to
Prohibit Alcohol was prohibited in the US in the 1920s.
outlaw
adj. punctual, on time She is always prompt when it comes to turning
n. a cue to begin something; in her homework.
Prompt instructions I had to write an essay based on a prompt.
v. to incite, propel, or cause to The possibility of a scholarship prompted him
act to apply to Harvard.
v. to put into law or formally The ruler will at last promulgate an amnesty
Promulgate
declare with the neighboring countries.
v. to bring criminal action
Prosecute The suspect was prosecuted yesterday.
against someone (in a trial)
adj. intending to provoke, Her nude paintings are considered
Provocative
inspire, or arouse quite provocative.
adj. involving qualities of
Qualitative something (features and I noticed a qualitative change in her paintings.
content)
adj. involving quantities
Quantitative We must conduct a quantitative analysis.
(numbers and amounts)
Quirk n. a strange habit His biggest quirk is his love of old marbles.
v. to split into two or more Cars ramified throughout the world in the
Ramify
branches twentieth century.
adj. without attention to danger Her rash decision to pass the car nearly
Rash
or risk resulted in a crash.
He’s got raw talent as a singer, but he needs to
adj. unrefined
work on his performance skills.
Raw adj. not processed; uncooked
In some countries, such as Japan, it is normal to
(as in food)
eat raw fish.
adv. right away and without Water was readily available at different points
Readily
difficulty in the race.
n. thinking again about a The judges’ reconsideration of her
Reconsideration
previously made choice performance resulted in her victory.
The reform made it so that only those 18 and
n. a change for the better;
older can legally drive.
Reform improvement
The government reformed its vague policies on
v. to improve via change
marijuana use
v. to prove to be untrue, The student refuted the professor’s claim in
Refute
unfounded, or incorrect class.
v. to strengthen or add support We can use these pipes to reinforce the
Reinforce
to structure.
Max reluctantly agreed to see the horror movie
Reluctantly adv. somewhat unwillingly
with his friends.
v. to give up (usu. power or a Our CEO renounced her position yesterday.
Renounce position) He renounced his friend after he caught her
v. to cast off stealing money from him.
The mother reproached her daughter’s school
Reproach v. to criticize
for making students come in during a blizzard.
The father repudiated his son’s marriage.
v. to refuse to recognize as true
Repudiate She repudiated her son once she found out
v. to cast off
he’d married someone without telling her.
Water retention can make you weigh more on
Retention n. the act of keeping something
certain days.
Satiated adj. satisfied (usu. in hunger) I felt satiated after eating a snack.
adj. having practical intelligence My brother is not very savvy when it comes to
Savvy
or knowledge using public transportation.
Scandalous adj. morally offensive, often The scandalous politician decided it was best to
causing damage to one’s resign from office.
 reputation
It’s difficult for me not to scorn those who use
Scorn v. to look down on with disdain
improper grammar.
adj. paying great attention to I am a scrupulous proofreader and never miss
Scrupulous
detail an error.
v. to examine carefully and
Scrutinize The teacher scrutinized her students’ essays.
critically
v. to produce or release (a
Secrete Trees secrete a sticky substance called sap.
substance)
I am of the sentiment that you should never
n. opinion give out your passwords to anyone.
Sentiment
n. a tender or moving gesture Even though I’m not a big fan of porcelain dolls,
I appreciated the sentiment.
adj. so thin that light can shine The curtains on the window were so sheer you
Sheer
through could clearly see inside the house.
This math problem is so simple even a first
adj. easy; not complex grader can solve it.
Simple
adj. undecorated The simple beauty of the ocean is what makes it
memorable.
Medieval peasants believed sinister demons
Sinister adj. ominous, evil
could harm humans.
n. the joining of commonalities
I stood in solidarity with other female students
Solidarity or common purposes among a
by refusing to wear the school’s sexist uniform.
group
adv. insufficiently, meagerly, or
Sparingly Due to my condition, I must eat salt sparingly.
in a restricted manner
Frogs typically spawn in ponds.
v. to release eggs
Spawn The topic spawned an ongoing debate among
v. to call forth or generate
his family members.
Spur v. to stimulate or incite Her bravery spurred others to act.
The squalid cabin needed a new roof and an
Squalid adj. run-down, sordid, or sleazy
exterminator.
adj. very plain; devoid of any Looking out at the stark landscape, I felt a keen
Stark
details or features sense of isolation.
adj. motionless The ball is static.
Static
adj. changeless Her life has been static for the past three years.
Subordinate adj. lower in rank The subordinate officers work every day.
n. someone lower in rank My subordinate will check you in.
 v. to make dependent on or put You aren’t my boss—you can’t subordinate me
at a lower rank to the role of receptionist!
adv. happening later or after
Subsequently I subsequently went home.
something
adj. very large in amount or I was shocked to find a substantial amount of
Substantial
degree money beneath the park bench.
It is important for scientists
v. to strengthen with new
Substantiate to substantiate their theories whenever
evidence or facts
possible.
I detected in her expression a subtle hint of
Subtle adj. hard to detect or analyze
irritation.
adj. enough; just meeting a
Sufficient These boxes should be sufficient for our move.
requirement
adj. unfriendly; inclined to The bartender was a surly fellow who wasn’t
Surly
anger afraid to start a fight.
They managed to surmount the language
Surmount v. to get on top of or overcome
barrier by using a translation app.
adj. to be vulnerable (to Children are more susceptible to certain
Susceptible
something) illnesses than adults are.
adj. skilled at dealing with Her tactful attitude toward our class made her
Tactful
people one of my favorite teachers.
Taut adj. pulled tight The rubberband was taut and ready to be fired.
adj. abundantly filled (usu. with Doorknobs are not as clean as they look and are
Teeming
living organisms) often teeming with germs.
She had a hostile temperament, making her
Temperament n. usual mood or feelings
intimidating to most people.
We haven’t made any official arrangements yet,
Tentative adj. not yet finalized but the tentative location for our wedding is
Hawaii.
Stained window glass isn’t as transparent as
adj. see-through; so thin that
regular window glass is.
Transparent light can shine through
She was transparent about her plans to end her
adj. truthful or easy to perceive
marriage
The journey was becoming treacherous, but
Treacherous adj. dangerous and unstable
they continued on regardless.
adj. very large, good, or bad in Tremendous news! You don’t have to repay
Tremendous
degree or size your loans!
Ubiquitous adj. being everywhere at once Cell phones are ubiquitous these days.
Though the dress was cheap and unadorned, it
Unadorned adj. undecorated, plain
was by far her favorite one on the rack.
v. to weaken or subvert (usu. Parents should take care not to
Undermine
gradually or secretly) constantly undermine their children.
v. to emphasize or give This sentence seems to underscore the overall
Underscore
additional weight to meaning of the passage.
v. to move as ripples or in a Belly dancers are known for their ability to
Undulate
wavy pattern skillfully undulate their stomachs.
The unilateral decision was deemed unfair by
Unilateral adj. one-sided
the other party involved.
The court’s decision is unjust—he should not go
Unjust adj. unfair; not justified
free.
Unmitigated (სრული;
adj. downright, utter, total My speech was an unmitigated disaster!
აბსოლუტური)
adj. completely new and never
Unprecedented having happened before; The number of protestors was unprecedented.
historic
We plan to unveil our plans for the new
Unveil v. to make visible; to reveal
company project on Sunday.
He had the urge to tell his parents about his
n. desire or impulse
Urge acceptance to Columbia but decided against it.
v. to encourage or persuade
She urged her sister to apply to Stanford.
Your selfish actions do not validate your
Validate v. to prove or declare valid
feelings for me.
n. ability to be done in a
Viability The viability of the solution is questionable.
practical or useful way
Vital adj. urgently necessary It is vital that you respond by the deadline.
My brother quickly broke his vow to never eat
Vow (პირობა) v. to promise
chocolate again.
Wanting to look cool in front of your friends
Warrant (ამართლებს) v. to prove to be reasonable
doesn’t warrant breaking the law.
The farmer’s annual pumpkin yield exceeded
10,000.
n. production of an amount
Cars turning right on red must yield to
Yield v. to give way to or surrender to
oncoming traffic.
v. to produce or supply
Our experiment yielded many unique-looking
vegetables.