A:
Aberration /ˌæb.ɪˈreɪ.ʃən/ - A departure from what is
normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is
unwelcome.
Amicable /ˈæm.ɪ.kə.bl/ - Characterized by
friendliness and a lack of conflict.
Astute /əˈstjuːt/ - Having the ability to accurately
assess situations or people and turn this to one's
advantage.
Alacrity /əˈlæk.rə.ti/ - Promptness in response;
cheerful readiness.
Aplomb /əˈplɒm/ - Selfconfidence or assurance,
especially when in a demanding situation.
B:
Belligerent /bəˈlɪdʒ.ər.ənt/ - Hostile and aggressive.
Benevolent /bɪˈnev.ə.lənt/ - Wellmeaning and kindly.
Boisterous /ˈbɔɪ.stər.əs/ - Noisy, energetic, and
cheerful.
Belie /bɪˈlaɪ/ - Fail to give a true notion or
impression of (something); disguise or contradict.
Bequeath /bɪˈkwiːð/ - Leave (property) to a person
or other beneficiary by a will.
C:
Capitulate /kəˈpɪt.jʊ.leɪt/ - Cease to resist an
opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender.
Cacophony /kəˈkɒf.ə.ni/ - A harsh, discordant
mixture of sounds.
Circumvent /ˌsɜː.kəmˈvent/ - Find a way around (an
obstacle).
Complacent /kəmˈpleɪ.sənt/ - Showing smug or
uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's
achievements.
Conundrum /kəˈnʌn.drəm/ - A confusing and difficult
problem or question.
D:
Deleterious /ˌdel.ɪˈtɪə.ri.əs/ - Causing harm or
damage.
Diaphanous /daɪˈæf.ə.nəs/ - (especially of fabric)
light, delicate, and translucent.
Disparate /ˈdɪs.pər.ət/ - Essentially different in kind;
not allowing comparison.
Disseminate /dɪˈsem.ɪ.neɪt/ - Spread or disperse
(something, especially information) widely.
Dogmatic /dɒɡˈmæt.ɪk/ - Inclined to lay down
principles as incontrovertibly true.
E:
Ebullient /ɪˈbʌl.jənt/ - Cheerful and full of energy.
Eclectic /ɪˈklek.tɪk/ - Deriving ideas, style, or taste
from a broad and diverse range of sources.
Ephemeral /ɪˈfem.ər.əl/ - Lasting for a very short
time.
Epitome /ɪˈpɪt.ə.mi/ - A person or thing that is a
perfect example of a particular quality or type.
Esoteric /ˌes.əˈter.ɪk/ - Intended for or likely to be
understood by only a small number of people with
special knowledge.
F:
Facetious /fəˈsiː.ʃəs/ - Treating serious issues with
deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.
Fervent /ˈfɜː.vənt/ - Having or displaying a
passionate intensity.
Fiasco /fiˈæs.kəʊ/ - A complete failure, especially a
ludicrous or humiliating one.
Fluctuate /ˈflʌk.tjʊ.eɪt/ - Rise and fall irregularly in
number or amount.
Fortuitous /fɔːˈtjuː.ɪ.təs/ - Happening by chance
rather than intention.
G:
Garrulous /ˈɡær.ə.ləs/ - Excessively talkative,
especially on trivial matters.
Gregarious /ɡrɪˈɡeəriəs/ - Fond of company;
sociable.
Gullible /ˈɡʌl.ə.bl/ - Easily deceived or tricked
because of a lack of critical judgment.
Grandiose /ˈɡræn.di.əʊs/ - Impressive and imposing
in appearance or style, especially pretentiously so.
Gratuitous /ɡrəˈtjuː.ɪ.təs/ - Uncalled for; lacking
good reason; unwarranted.
H:
Harangue /həˈræŋ/ - A lengthy and aggressive
speech.
Heuristic /hjʊˈrɪs.tɪk/ - Enabling a person to discover
or learn something for themselves.
Hubris /ˈhjuː.brɪs/ - Excessive pride or selfconfidence,
often leading to downfall.
Hapless /ˈhæp.ləs/ - Unfortunate or unlucky.
Hegemony /hɪˈɡɛməni/ - Leadership or dominance,
especially by one state or social group over others.
I:
Iconoclast /aɪˈkɒn.ə.klæst/ - A person who attacks or
criticizes cherished beliefs or institutions.
Idiosyncrasy /ˌɪd.i.əˈsɪŋ.krə.si/ - A mode of behavior
or way of thought peculiar to an individual.
Immutable /ɪˈmjuː.təbl/ - Unchanging over time;
unalterable.
Ineffable /ɪnˈɛf.ə.bəl/ - Too great or extreme to be
expressed or described in words.
Inexorable /ɪˈnɛk.sər.ə.bəl/ - Impossible to stop or
prevent.
J:
Juxtapose /ˈdʒʌkstəˌpoʊz/ - To place or deal with
close together for contrasting effect.
Jocund /ˈdʒɒk.ənd/ - Cheerful and lighthearted.
Jettison /ˈdʒɛtɪs(ə)n/ - Abandon or discard
(someone or something that is no longer wanted).
Jingoism /ˈdʒɪŋ.ɡəʊ.ɪz.əm/ - Extreme patriotism,
especially in the form of aggressive or warlike
foreign policy.
Jocular /ˈdʒɒk.jʊ.lər/ - Fond of or characterized by
joking; humorous or playful.
K:
Kowtow /kaʊˈtaʊ/ - Act in an excessively subservient
manner.
Kudos /ˈkuː.dɒs/ - Praise and honor received for an
achievement.
Kindle /ˈkɪn.dəl/ - Ignite; to arouse a feeling or
emotion.
Kinetic /kɪˈnɛtɪk/ - Relating to or resulting from
motion.
Knell /nɛl/ - The sound of a bell, especially when
rung solemnly for a death or funeral.
L:
Languid /ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪd/ - Displaying or having a
disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow
and relaxed.
Litigious /lɪˈtɪdʒ.əs/ - Inclined to or showing an
inclination to dispute or disagree, especially in law.
Lethargic /lɪˈθɑː.dʒɪk/ - Affected by lethargy;
sluggish and apathetic.
Lucid /ˈluː.sɪd/ - Expressed clearly; easy to
understand.
Luminous /ˈluː.mɪ.nəs/ - Full of or shedding light;
bright or shining, especially in the dark.
M:
Malleable /ˈmæl.i.ə.bəl/ - (of a metal or other
material) able to be hammered or pressed
permanently out of shape without breaking or
cracking.
Mellifluous /məˈlɪf.lu.əs/ - (of a voice or words)
sweet or musical; pleasant to hear.
Mercurial /mɜːˈkjʊər.i.əl/ - Subject to sudden or
unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
Munificent /mjuːˈnɪf.ɪ.sənt/ - More generous than is
usual or necessary.
Myopic /maɪˈɒp.ɪk/ - Lacking imagination, foresight,
or intellectual insight.
N:
Nefarious /nɪˈfeə.ri.əs/ - (typically of an action or
activity) wicked, villainous, or criminal.
Nomenclature /ˌnəʊ.mənˈkleɪ.tʃər/ - The devising or
choosing of names for things, especially in a science
or other discipline.
Nonchalant /ˈnɒnʃələnt/ - Feeling or appearing
casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety,
interest, or enthusiasm.
Nebulous /ˈnɛbjʊləs/ - In the form of a cloud or haze;
hazy.
Nocturnal /nɒkˈtɜːnəl/ - Done, occurring, or active at
night.
O:
Obfuscate /ˈɒb.fʌ.skeɪt/ - Render unclear,
unintelligible, or difficult to understand.
Oblique /əˈbliːk/ - Neither parallel nor at a right
angle to a specified or implied line; slanting.
Onerous /ˈɒnərəs/ - Involving a burden or obligation
that is difficult to bear.
Opulent /ˈɒpjʊlənt/ - Ostentatiously rich and
luxurious or lavish.
Ostentatious /ˌɒs.tenˈteɪ.ʃəs/ - Characterized by
vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress
or attract notice.
P:
Pernicious /pəˈnɪʃəs/ - Having a harmful effect,
especially in a gradual or subtle way.
Pecuniary /pɪˈkjuːniəri/ - Relating to or consisting of
money.
Prolific /prəˈlɪfɪk/ - (of a person, animal, or plant)
producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring.
Panacea /ˌpæn.əˈsiː.ə/ - A solution or remedy for all
difficulties or diseases.
Proclivity /prəˈklɪv.ə.ti/ - A tendency to choose or do
something regularly; an inclination or predisposition
toward a particular thing.
Q:
Quagmire /ˈkwæɡ.maɪər/ - A soft boggy area of land
that gives way underfoot; a complex or difficult
situation.
Quell /kwɛl/ - Suppress (a feeling, especially an
unpleasant one).
Quixotic /kwɪkˈsɒtɪk/ - Extremely idealistic;
unrealistic and impractical.
Quotidian /kwəʊˈtɪdɪən/ - Of or occurring every day;
daily.
Quintessential /kwɪnˈtɛs.ən.ʃəl/ - Representing the
most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
R:
Rambunctious /ræmˈbʌŋkʃəs/ - Uncontrollably
exuberant; boisterous.
Recalcitrant /rɪˈkæl.sɪ.trənt/ - Having an obstinately
uncooperative attitude toward authority or
discipline.
Resplendent /rɪˈsplɛn.dənt/ - Attractive and
impressive through being richly colorful or
sumptuous.
Ruminate /ˈruː.mɪ.neɪt/ - Think deeply about
something.
Reticent /ˈrɛt.ɪ.sənt/ - Not revealing one's thoughts
or feelings readily.
S:
Serendipity /ˌsɛr.ənˈdɪp.ɪ.ti/ - The occurrence and
development of events by chance in a happy or
beneficial way.
Sagacious /səˈɡeɪʃəs/ - Having or showing keen
mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd.
Sycophant /ˈsɪk.ə.fənt/ - A person who acts
obsequiously toward someone important in order to
gain advantage; a flatterer.
Surreptitious /ˌsʌr.əpˈtɪʃ.əs/ - Kept secret, especially
because it would not be approved of.
Sanguine /ˈsæŋ.ɡwɪn/ - Optimistic or positive,
especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
T:
Trepidation /ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən/ - A feeling of fear or
agitation about something that may happen.
Taciturn /ˈtæsɪtɜːn/ - Reserved or uncommunicative
in speech; saying little.
Tantamount /ˈtæn.tə.maʊnt/ - Equivalent in
seriousness to; virtually the same as.
Truncate /trʌŋˈkeɪt/ - Shorten (something) by
cutting off the top or the end.
Turgid /ˈtɜː.dʒɪd/ Swollen and distended or
congested; (of language or style) tediously
pompous or bombastic.
U: W:
Ubiquitous /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/- Present, appearing, or Wily /ˈwaɪli/ - Skilled at gaining an advantage,
found everywhere. especially deceitfully.

Unctuous /ˈʌŋk.tjʊəs/ - Excessively or ingratiatingly Winsome /ˈwɪnsəm/ - Attractive or appealing in

flattering; oily. appearance or character.

Unassailable /ˌʌn.əˈseɪ.lə.bl/ - Unable to be attacked, Writhe /raɪð/ - Make continual twisting, squirming
questioned, or defeated. movements or contortions of the body.

Unilateral /ˌjuː.nɪˈlæt.ər.əl/ - Involving only one part Wane /weɪn/ - Decrease in vigor, power, or extent;
or side. become weaker.

Usurp /juːˈzɜːp/ - Take (a position of power or Wistful /ˈwɪs.t.fəl/ - Having or showing a feeling of
importance) illegally or by force. vague or regretful longing.

V: X:
Verbose /vəːˈbəʊs/ - Using or expressed in more Xenophobia /ˌzɛnəˈfoʊbiə/ - Dislike of or prejudice
words than are needed. against people from other countries.

Vex /vɛks/ - Make (someone) feel annoyed, Xanadu /ˈzænəduː/ - An idealized place of great or
frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters. idyllic magnificence and beauty.

Vicarious /vɪˈkɛːrɪəs/ - Experienced in the Xanthous /ˈzænθəs/ - Yellow or yellowish in color.

imagination through the feelings or actions of
another person.
Xerophyte /ˈzɛrəˌfaɪt/ - A plant that is adapted to
survive in dry or arid conditions.
Visceral /ˈvɪsərəl/ - Relating to deep inward feelings
rather than to the intellect.
Xerox /ˈzɪərɒks/ - To make a photocopy.
Vitriol /ˈvɪ.tri.əl/ - Cruel and bitter criticism.
Y:
Yearn /jɜːn/ - Have an intense feeling of longing for
something, typically something that one has lost or
been separated from.

Yonder /ˈjɒndər/ - At some distance in the direction

indicated; over there.

Yield /jiːld/ - Produce or provide (a natural,

agricultural, or industrial product).

Yarn /jɑːrn/ - Spun thread used for knitting, weaving,

or sewing.

Yare /jɛər/ - Quick, agile, or lively in movement;

ready.

Z:
Zenith /ˈzɛnɪθ/ - The highest point reached by a
celestial or other object.

Zealous /ˈzɛləs/ - Showing great energy or

enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.

Zephyr /ˈzɛfər/ - A soft, gentle breeze.

Zest /zɛst/ - Great enthusiasm and energy.

Ziggurat /ˈzɪɡ.ə.ræt/ - A rectangular stepped tower,

sometimes surmounted by a temple.