Abash - to embarrass someone or make them feel uncomfortable

Her elder cousins abashed her by commenting on her shyness.

They tried not to be abashed by the unfamiliar luxury.

Abate - to become less intense or severe; to make something less intense or severe
The storm showed no signs of abating.
They waited for the crowd’s fury to abate.

Abdicate - to give up the position of being king, queen or emperor

He abdicated in favour of his son.
She was forced to abdicate the throne of Spain.

Aberration - a temporary change from the typical or usual way of behaving In a moment of aberration, she agreed to go
with him. The misconduct was an aberration from the norm for him. Abhor - to hate a way of behaving or thinking,
often because you think it is not moral Most decent people abhor corruption in government. She abhors any form of
cruelty towards animals. Abject - the state of being extremely unhappy, poor, unsuccessful, etc
They live in abject poverty. This policy has turned out to be an abject failure. Abortive - not successful; failed, An
abortive attempt or plan has to be stopped because it has failed: He tried to set up a meeting but his efforts proved
abortive. There was an abortive attempt to overthrow the government. Abridge - to make a book, play, or piece of
writing shorter by removing details and information that is not important: The book was abridged for children. She has
been asked to abridge the novel for radio. Absolute - very great or to the largest degree possible: I have
absolute faith in her judgment. Clean water is an absolute necessity. Absolve - to free someone from guilt, blame,
or responsibility for something: The report absolved her from/of all blame for the accident. The priest absolved him
(of all his sins). Abstinent - completely avoiding something such as alcohol or sex: He has now been abstinent
from alcohol for four years. I choose to be abstinent and will wait to have sex until after I am married. Abstract -
existing as an idea, feeling, or quality, not as a material object Truth and beauty are abstract concepts. All human beings
are capable of thinking in abstract terms. Abstruse - difficult to understand His interest lay in abstruse mathematical
problems. The subject is too abstruse to enlarge further upon here. Abysmal - extremely bad or of a very low standard
His manners are abysmal. The council has an abysmal record on education. Accolade - praise or an award for an
achievement that people admire Four restaurants have been awarded the highest accolade of a three-star rating. He
was finally awarded the ultimate accolade —British Hairdresser of the Year—in 2007. Accost - to go up to somebody
and speak to them, especially in a way that is rude or frightening She was accosted in the street by a complete stranger.
I'm usually accosted by beggars and drunks as I walk to the station. Acerbic - used to describe something that
is spoken or written in a way that is direct, clever, and cruel: The letter was written in her usual acerbic style.
The letters show the acerbic wit for which Parker was both admired and feared. Acquiesce - to accept something
without arguing, even if you do not really agree with it Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up.
She explained her plan and reluctantly he acquiesced. Acrid - having a strong, bitter smell or taste that is unpleasant
The fog was yellow and acrid and bit at the back of the throat. Clouds of acrid smoke issued from the building.
Acrimonious - full of anger, arguments, and bad feeling: His parents went through an acrimonious divorce.
Their marriage ended eight years ago in an acrimonious divorce. Acumen - the ability to understand and decide things
quickly and well He had demonstrated considerable business acumen. She has an acumen for handling finances that far
exceeds what one typically finds in our industry. Acute - very serious or severe There is an acute shortage of water.
The problem of poverty is particularly acute in rural areas. Adamant - determined not to change your mind or to be
persuaded about something Eva was adamant that she would not come. The government remained adamant that there
was no more money available. Address - details of where somebody lives or works and where letters, etc. Please note
my change of address. There was no return address on the envelope. Adherent - a person who supports a particular set
of ideas The movement has many enthusiastic adherents. We should not show animosity to adherents of other faiths.
Admonish - to tell someone that they have done something wrong: His mother admonished him for eating too quickly.
A warning voice admonished him not to let this happen. Adroit - very skilful and quick in the way you think or move:
She became adroit at dealing with difficult questions. She became adroit at dealing with difficult people. Adulation -
very great admiration or praise for someone, especially when it is more than is deserved: The band enjoy the adulation
of their fans wherever they go. As a born performer, she loves the excitement and she loves the adulation. Adulterate -
to make food or drink less pure by adding another substance to it The water supply had been adulterated with
chemicals from the soil. Saffron is very expensive, and is often adulterated with other plants. Adverse - having
a negative or harmful effect on something: This drug is known to have adverse side effects. It is clear that
these violent films have an adverse effect on children. Aesthetic - connected with beauty and art and the understanding
of beautiful things The works of art are judged on purely aesthetic grounds. The benefits of conservation are both
financial and aesthetic. Affable - friendly and easy to talk to: He struck me as an affable sort of a man. She
was quite affable at the meeting. Affectation - behaviour or speech that is not sincere: His little affectations irritated
her. He speaks clearly and without affectation. Affinity - a strong feeling that you understand somebody/something and
like them or it Sam was born in the country and had a deep affinity with nature. Humans have a special affinity for
dolphins. Affluent - having a lot of money or owning a lot of things: We live in an affluent neighborhood. The company's
success is attributed to its access to an affluent pool of talented employees. Agenda - a list of matters to be discussed at
a meeting: Safety at work is on the agenda for next month's meeting. There were several important items on the
agenda. Aggregate - something formed by adding together several amounts or things: The three smaller parties gained
an aggregate of 25 per cent of the vote. Snowflakes are loose aggregates of ice crystals. Agnostic - a person who
believes that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not Although he was raised a Catholic, he was an agnostic
for most of his adult life. He claims to be an agnostic on the question of man-made global warming. Agrarian -
connected with farming and the use of land for farming This is prime agrarian land. This part of
the country is mainly agrarian. Alacrity - great happiness or enthusiasm They accepted the offer with alacrity.
He invited us all to visit, and we agreed with alacrity. Allege - to say that someone has done
something illegal or wrong without giving proof: The woman alleged rape, but Reeves insisted it was consensual. He is
alleged to have mistreated the prisoners. Alleviate - to make something bad such as pain or problems less severe:
The drugs did nothing to alleviate her pain/suffering. A number of measures were taken to alleviate the problem.
Allocate - to give something to someone as their share of a total amount, to use in a particular way: More money
should be allocated for famine relief. The government is allocating £10 million for health education. Alloy - a metal that
is made by mixing two or more metals, or a metal and another substance: Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
The potential for political gains for the candidate is alloyed with risk. Allusion - something that is said or written that
refers to or mentions another person or subject in an indirect way Her novels are packed with literary allusions. His
statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. Aloof - not friendly or willing to take part in things:
She seemed rather aloof when in fact she was just shy. She stayed aloof while the argument went on around her.
Altruism - willingness to do things that bring advantages to others, even if it results in disadvantage for yourself: She's
not known for her altruism. Politicians are not necessarily motivated by pure altruism. Ambience - the character and
atmosphere of a place The gentle colour scheme creates a relaxing ambience. The city’s ambience, particularly on
the waterfront, is changing quickly. Ambiguous - that can be understood in more than one way; having different
meanings His reply to my question was somewhat ambiguous. The government has been ambiguous on this issue.
Ambivalent - having or showing both positive and negative feelings about somebody/something She seems to feel
ambivalent about her new job. He has an ambivalent attitude towards her. Ameliorate - to make better something that
was bad or not good enough Steps have been taken to ameliorate the situation. The new laws were designed to
ameliorate the problem of chronic debt Amenable - willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion They had three
very amenable children. You should find him amenable to reasonable arguments. Amenity - a feature or service that
makes a place pleasant, comfortable or easy to live in The hotel has excellent amenities. The new leisure centre will be
an amenity for local residents. Amiable - pleasant and friendly: He seemed an amiable young man. I've only met Jane
once but she seems amiable enough. Amnesty - a decision by a government that allows political prisoners to go free:
The president granted a general amnesty for all political prisoners. Most political prisoners were freed under
the terms of the amnesty. Amoral - not following any moral rules and not caring about right and wrong Guy was greedy,
amoral and dishonest. Business is an amoral activity focused coldly on success. Amorous - showing sexual desire and
love towards somebody Mary rejected Tony's amorous advances. The opera centres around the
amorous adventures/exploits of its handsome hero. Amorphous - having no definite shape, form or structure
The substance appears as dark red crystals or as an amorphous red powder. The
amorphous substance that results from the breakdown of sugar is known as caramel. Anachronism - a person, a custom
or an idea that seems old-fashioned and does not belong to the present For a historical drama,
the movie was filled with anachronisms. She said nuclear weapons were an anachronism in the post cold war era.
Analogy - a comparison between things that have similar features, often used to help explain a principle or idea:
He drew an analogy between the brain and a vast computer. There are no analogies with any previous legal cases.
Anarchy - a situation in which there is no organization and control, especially in society, because there is no effective
government Our nation is descending into anarchy. The country has been in a state of anarchy since
the inconclusive election. Anecdote - a short, interesting or funny story about a real person or event He told one or
two amusing anecdotes about his years as a policeman. The book is a rich store of anecdote. Anguish -
extreme unhappiness caused by physical or mental suffering: He suffered the anguish of watching his son go to prison.
In her anguish she forgot to leave a message. Animosity - a strong feeling of opposition, anger or hate They managed to
discuss their past disagreements without animosity. He felt no animosity towards his critics. Anomaly - a thing, situation,
etc. that is different from what is normal or expected The contradictions and anomalies in the old scheme were obvious.
There are areas of anomaly in the report. Antecedent - a thing or an event that exists or comes before another, and
may have influenced it Many people feel a great curiosity to find out about their antecedents. Charles
Babbage's mechanical calculating engines were the antecedents of the modern computer.. Antipathy -
a feeling of strong dislike, opposition, or anger: He is a private man with a deep antipathyto/towards the press. His
professional judgement was coloured by his personal antipathies. Antithesis - the opposite of something The current
establishment is the antithesis of democracy. He is the exact antithesis of what I find attractive in men. Apartheid - a
system of keeping groups of people separate and treating them differently, especially when this results in disadvantage
foe one group: Opponents of special schools see them as educational apartheid. He was an important leader in
the struggle against the apartheid regime. Apathy - the feeling of not being interested in or enthusiastic about
something, or things in general There is widespread apathy among the electorate. Such attitudes can only lead to
apathy. Aphorism - a short phrase that says something true or wise Johnson’s aphorism: ‘When a man is tired of
London, he is tired of life.’ Oscar Wilde was famous for such aphorisms as "Experience is the name everyone gives
to their mistakes". Apocalypse - the destruction of the world We're all waiting for the zombie apocalypse. Civilization is
on the brink of apocalypse. Apocryphal - well known, but probably not true It's a good story but I dare say it's
apocryphal. Most of the stories about him are apocryphal. Apotheosis - the best or most extreme example of
something: Most people agree that her acting career achieved its apotheosis in this movie.
Bad taste in clothes reached its apotheosis in the 1970s. Appease - to make somebody calmer or less angry by giving
them what they want The move was widely seen as an attempt to appease critics of the regime. They were given
a small pay rise but this was not enough to appease them. Appreciate - to recognize how good someone or something
is and to value them or it: Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Over the years he came to
appreciate the beauty and tranquillity of the river. Apprehensive - worried or frightened that something unpleasant
may happen The long delay had made me quite apprehensive. I'm very apprehensive about tomorrow's meeting.
Approbation - approval or agreement, often given by an official group: The council has finally indicated its approbation
of the plans. The King received the official approbation of the church. Appropriate - suitable, acceptable or correct for
the particular circumstances This may be an appropriate treatment for many patients. The book was written in a style
appropriate to the age of the children. Aptitude - natural ability or skill at doing something We will
take your personal aptitudes and abilities into account. His aptitude for dealing with children got him the job. Arbiter -
someone who makes a judgment, solves an argument, or decides what will be done: The
magazine's writers were regarded as arbiters of taste in the literary world. The law is the final arbiter of what is
considered obscene. Arbitrary - based on chance rather than being planned or based on reason: He played a few
arbitrary notes on the piano, to try it out. The choice of players for the team seemed completely arbitrary. Arcane -
mysterious and known only by a few people: He was the only person who understood all the arcane details of
the agreement. This argument may seem arcane to those not closely involved in the world of finance. Archaic - old and
no longer used The system is archaic and unfair and needs changing. He has archaic ideas about women. Archetype -
a typical example of something, or the original model of something from which others are copied:
The United States is the archetype of a federal society. She is the archetype of an American movie star. Ardent - very
enthusiastic and showing strong feelings about something/somebody They were ardent pacifists. He felt an ardent love
for his wife even after many years of marriage. Arduous - difficult, needing a lot of effort and energy: In those days,
a trip to the West was an arduous journey. The road back to political stability is long and arduous. Aristocratic -
belonging to a class of people who hold high social rank: His aristocratic manner alienated many voters. Her mother is
a member of a powerful aristocratic family. Artful - clever and skilful, especially in getting what you want: He
has shown himself to be an artful politician. The prime minister dealt with the interviewer's questions in a very artful
way. Artifice - the clever use of tricks to cheat somebody Pretending to faint was merely an artifice. Amazingly
for Hollywood, she seems almost entirely without artifice. Ascendancy - a position of power, strength, or success: They
are in danger of losing their political ascendancy. United gained the ascendancy after half-time. Ascetic -
avoiding physical pleasures and living a simple life, often for religious reasons: They live a very ascetic life. The ascetic
diet of the yogi consisted mainly of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Assiduous - working very hard and taking great care
that everything is done as well as it can be The government has been assiduous in the fight against inflation. She was
assiduous in her duties. Assimilate - to fully understand an idea or some information so that you are able to use it
yourself The committee will need time to assimilate this report. Some people can only assimilate change gradually.
Assuage - to make an unpleasant feeling less severe The government has tried to assuage the public's fears. His reply
did little to assuage my suspicions. Astute - able to understand a situation quickly and see how to take advantage of it:
It was an astute move to sell the shares then. She was astute enough to realize that what Jack wanted was her money.
Atheist - a person who believes that God or gods do not exist As an atheist, I do not accept this religious argument.
His father was an atheist. Attrition - a process of making somebody/something, especially your enemy, weaker by
repeatedly attacking them or creating problems for them It was a war of attrition. These were the economics not of
efficiency but of attrition. Audacity - behaviour that is brave but likely to shock or offend people He had the audacity to
say I was too fat. The sheer audacity of the plan amazed everyone. Augment - to increase the amount, value, size, etc.
of something He wrote magazine articles in order to augment his income. The band had been augmented by two extra
trombonists. Auspicious - showing signs that something is likely to be successful in the future It was not a very
auspicious beginning to his new career. We waited for an auspicious moment to make our request. Austere - simple
and plain; without any decorations Their clothes were always austere. The courtroom was a large, dark chamber, an
austere place. Autocratic - demanding that people obey completely, without asking or caring about anyone else’s
opinions: The president resigned after 30 years of autocratic rule. An autocratic management style often results in
high staff turnover and low employee morale. Autonomous - independent and having the power to
make your own decisions The country now has 17 autonomous regions, each with a distinct culture. Many elderly
people want to live autonomously. Avarice - an extremely strong wish to get or keep money or possessions: He may
have retained Winchester out of avarice, or his hold on Canterbury may not have been secure. The cruelty and avarice
of the leaders are the sole reasons why the country’s economy is in shambles. Avow - to say clearly and often publicly
what your opinion is, what you think is true, etc. An aide avowed that the president had known nothing of the deals. It
is a society in which homosexuality is rarely avowed. Avuncular - behaving in a kind and friendly way towards young
people, similar to the way a kind uncle treats his nieces or nephews His avuncular image belies his steely determination.
The doctor’s avuncular bedside manner put the nervous patient at ease. Awry - not in the intended way:
The strike has sent the plans for investment seriously awry. All my plans for the party had gone awry. Axiom - a rule or
principle that most people believe to be true It is a widely held axiom that governments should
not negotiate with terrorists. Euclid's axioms form the foundation of his system of geometry. Banal - very ordinary and
containing nothing that is interesting or important He knew how banal the question was as soon as he had asked it. She
murmured some banal phrases of encouragement. Bane - something that causes trouble and makes people unhappy
The neighbours' kids are the bane of my life. The poor train service has been the bane of commuters for years. Bastion -
a group of people or a system that protects a way of life or a belief when it seems that it may disappear Singapore was
the last bastion of British defences in South-East Asia. British public schools are regarded as one of
the last bastions of upper-class privilege. Beget - to be the father of: Poverty begets hunger, and hunger begets crime.
Violence begets violence. Belabor - to explain something more than necessary: There's no need to belabor the point. I
don’t want to belabor the point, but I still don’t think you understand. Beleaguer - to cause a lot
of problems or difficulties for someone: This is an issue that has beleaguered the shellfish industry for years. They
were beleaguered by enemy armies. Belie - to give a false impression of somebody/something My calm exterior belies
my deep inner fear. His gruff manner belied a gentle personality. Belittle - to make somebody, or the things that
somebody does, seem unimportant She felt her husband constantly belittled her achievements. By saying this, I do not
mean to belittle the importance of his role. Belligerent - aggressive and unfriendly He is always very belligerent towards
me. The belligerent countries are having difficulties funding the war. Bemused - showing that you are confused and
unable to think clearly I was bemused at his sudden anger. They seem slightly bemused by their fame. Benefactor -
someone who gives money to help an organization, society, or person The equipment was fHe was a great public
benefactor and gave land for building the sea wall. unded by friends and benefactors of the hospital. Benevolent - kind,
helpful and generous He was a benevolent old man and wouldn't hurt a fly. The colonel was benevolent, but not stupid.
Benign - kind and gentle; not hurting anybody He thought of himself as a benign leader. Her face was gentle and benign.
Bequest - money or property that you ask to be given to a particular person when you die He left a bequest to each of
his grandchildren. The library has received a generous bequest from a local businessman. Bereaved - having
a close relation or friend who has recently died: The bereaved parents wept openly. It is generally accepted that the
bereaved benefit from counselling. Beset - to affect somebody/something in an unpleasant or harmful way The team
was beset by injury all season. It's one of the most difficult problems besetting our modern way of life. Blasphemy -
behaviour or language that is offensive or shows a lack of respect for God or religion He was accused of blasphemy.
Madonna fans think that any criticism of her is blasphemy. Blatant - done in an obvious and open way without caring if
people are shocked The whole episode was a blatant attempt to gain publicity. It was a blatant lie. Blight - to have a
bad effect on something, especially by causing a lot of problems His career has been blighted by injuries.
His arrival cast a blight on the wedding day. Blithe - happy and without worry: She shows a blithe disregard for danger.
He drove with blithe disregard for the rules of the road. Bourgeois - a person who belongs to the middle class The hat
identified him as a bourgeois. I'd forgotten what a bourgeois you are. Bovine - connected with animals from
the cattle group: He had a gentle, slightly bovine expression. The virus can cause brain disease in humans and bovines.
Brevity - using only a few words or lasting only a short time: His essays are models of clarity and brevity. Brevity is,
in almost everything, a virtue. Broach - to begin a discussion of something difficult: She was dreading having to broach
the subject of money to her father. The report fails to broach some important questions. Bucolic - relating to
the countryside: The painting shows a typically bucolic scene with peasants. I do like peaceful life or I may call it bucolic
life. Bureaucracy - a system for controlling or managing a country, company, or organization that is operated by a large
number of officials employed to follow rules carefully: We need to reduce paperwork and bureaucracy in the company.
She is initiating a project to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy. Burgeon - to begin to grow or develop rapidly A new
wave of running clubs have burgeoned over the past decade. Manufacturers are keen to cash in on this burgeoning
demand. Burlesque - a performance or piece of writing which tries to make something look silly by representing it in a
humorous way The dance scene is in part a burlesque of Bollywood films. The political burlesques are not very hard-
hitting and rather bland. Cacophony - an unpleasant mixture of loud sounds: What a cacophony! As
we entered the farmyard we were met with a cacophony of animal sounds. Cadence - the regular rise and fall of
the voice: He delivered his words in slow, measured cadences. Cadence is usually the hardest aspect of
a foreign language to adopt. Cajole - to make somebody do something by talking to them and being very nice to them
He really knows how to cajole people into doing what he wants. I managed to cajole her out of leaving too early. Callow
- young and without experience Mark was just a callow youth of 16 when he arrived in Paris. His descriptions of the
music are callow to say the least. Candor - the quality of being honest and telling the truth, especially about
a difficult or embarrassing subject: "We really don't know what to do about it," she said with surprising candor.
"We want to help but really don’t know how," she said with surprising candor. Capitalism - an economic system in
which a country’s businesses and industry are controlled and run for profit by private owners rather than by the
government The former communist embraced capitalism and started his own company. She wrote that capitalism
was devastating the environment. Capitulate - to accept military defeat: They were finally forced to capitulate to the
terrorists' demands. Their forces capitulated five hours after the bombardment of the city began. Capricious -
changing mood or behaviour suddenly and unexpectedly: They had to contend with capricious economic forces. He was
a cruel and capricious tyrant. Caricature - a funny drawing or picture of somebody that exaggerates some of their
features He had unfairly presented a caricature of my views. The film gives a crude caricature of African history.
Castigate - to criticize someone or something severely: He castigated himself for being so stupid. The minister
castigated schools for falling standards in education. Catalyst - a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen
faster without being changed itself I see my role as being a catalyst for change. The riots were later seen as the catalyst
for the new political developments. Categorical - without any doubt or possibility of being changed: Catharsis - They
gave him a categorical assurance that he would not be hurt. He replied with a categorical assertion that no
such offer was made. Catholic - including many different types of thing: As a young person he had more
catholic tastes than he does now. Are they Catholic or Protestant? Caustic - Celibacy - the state of not
having sex, especially because you have made a religious promise not to: Celibacy is not exclusive to Catholic priests.
She chose celibacy after a pregnancy scare at 16. Censure - strong criticism or disapproval
His dishonest behaviour came under severe censure. The opposition forced a vote of censure on the government's
foreign policy. Cerebral - demanding or involving careful thinking and mental effort rather than feelings She makes
cerebral films that deal with important social issues. His poetry is very cerebral. Chagrin -
disappointment or anger, especially when caused by a failure or mistake To my chagrin, nobody wanted to hear me sing.
We grow lots of squash, much to my children’s chagrin. Charisma - the powerful personal quality that some people
have to attract and impress other people The President has great personal charisma. She relaxed and her natural
charisma started to shine through. Charlatan - a person who claims to have knowledge or skills that they do not really
have He knows nothing about medicine—he’s a complete charlatan. The self-proclaimed financial advisor turned out to
be a charlatan. Chasm - a very deep, narrow opening in rock, ice, or the ground Suddenly a huge chasm opened in the
earth. A chasm separates my generation from my parents'. Chastise - to criticize somebody for doing something wrong
He chastised the team for their lack of commitment. She chastised herself for not getting up and being more active.
Chicanery - the use of complicated plans and clever talk in order to trick people
The investigation revealed political chicanery and corruption at the highest levels. The politician was exposed for his
chicanery in rigging the election results. Chimera - a hope or dream that is very unlikely ever to come true
The supposed low cost of the system is something of a chimera. Animal chimeras have been made for years in
the study of developmental biology. Choleric - very angry or easily annoyed He was a choleric, self-important little man.
Jeanne was a choleric person and a miser. Chronic - lasting for a long time; difficult to cure There is a
chronic shortage of teachers. She suffers from chronic pain in her knees. Chronicle - a written record of events in the
order in which they happened Her latest novel is a chronicle of life in a Devon village. His one-man show chronicles
the life of Mark Twain. Circuitous - not straight or direct He took us on a circuitous route to the hotel. The journey was
circuitous and slow. Circumlocution - the use of more words than are necessary, instead of speaking or writing in a clear,
direct way Politicians are experts in circumlocution. During the press conference, the politician used circumlocution to
avoid answering questions from the media. Circumscribe - to limit something The power of the monarchy was
circumscribed by the new law. They are still highly circumscribed in their authority. Circumspect - thinking very carefully
about something before doing it, because there may be risks involved He was very circumspect in his financial affairs.
Officials were circumspect about saying what the talks had achieved. Circumvent -
to avoid something, especially cleverly or illegally Young people still want to circumvent their parents’ control. They
found a way of circumventing the law. Civil - connected with the people who live in a country There were concerns that
the economic reforms might lead to civil unrest. Helicopters are mainly used for military rather than civil use. Clemency
- kindness when giving a punishment He was executed by firing squad despite widespread pleas for clemency. His
lawyers appealed for clemency on the grounds of ill health. Cliche - a phrase or an idea that has been used so often that
it no longer has much meaning and is not interesting It has become a cliché to say that Prague is the most beautiful city
in Europe. Occasionally his writing slips into cliché. Clique - a small group of people who spend their time together and
do not allow others to join them The club is dominated by a small clique of intellectuals. Our golf club is run by a
very unfriendly clique. Coalesce - to come together to form one larger group, substance, etc. The puddles had
coalesced into a small stream. The theory is that galaxies coalesced from smaller groupings of stars. Coerce - to force
somebody to do something by using threats They were coerced into negotiating a settlement. They tried to coerce him
to sign away his rights. Cogent - strongly and clearly expressed in a way that influences what people believe She put
forward some cogent reasons for abandoning the plan. He makes a
cogent argument for improving early childhood education. Cognitive -
connected with thinking or conscious mental processes Some of her cognitive functions have been impaired. This is
both a cognitive and an emotional process. Cognizant - having knowledge or understanding of something We should be
cognizant of the fact that every complaint is not a justified complaint. The company was cognizant of the risks involved
in the project. Coherent - logical and well organized; easy to understand and clear The president has not presented a
coherent plan for dealing with it. She gave a clear, coherent account to the court. Colloquial - used in conversation but
not in formal speech or writing The group of friends used colloquial expressions to communicate with each other. The
language of the poem is colloquial, yet it is deep in its understanding of human emotions. Collusion - secret agreement
especially in order to do something dishonest or to trick people The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion
with the drug dealers. It is thought that they worked in collusion with the terrorist network. Commensurate - matching
something in size, importance, quality, etc. Salary will be commensurate with experience. The
agency’s workload has increased without any commensurate increase in staff. Compelling - that makes you pay
attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting Her latest book makes compelling reading. His eyes were
strangely compelling. Compendium - a short but complete account of a particular subject, especially in the form of
a book She put together a compendium of early American furniture. A compendium of environmental legislation was
being prepared. Complacent - feeling so satisfied with your own abilities or situation that you feel you do not need
to try any harder We can't afford to become complacent about any of our products. We must not become complacent
about progress. Complement - to make something else seem better or more attractive when combining with it The
excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list. The music complements her voice perfectly. Complicity -
involvement in a crime or some activity that is wrong She is suspected of complicity in the fraud. She did not suspect
him of complicity with the authorities. Comprehensive - complete and including everything that is necessary
We offer you a comprehensive training in all aspects of the business. He has written a fully comprehensive guide to
Rome. Comprise - to be the parts or members of something; to make up something Italian students comprise
60 percent of the class. The accommodation comprises six bedrooms and three living rooms. Conciliatory - having the
intention or effect of making angry people calm The report was highly conciliatory. The UK government was not in a
conciliatory mood. Concise - giving only the information that is necessary and important, using few words She gave us
clear and concise instructions. Make your answers clear and concise. Concord -
agreement and peace between countries and people The two parties signed a peace concord to end the long conflict.
The union negotiated a salary concord with the factory management. Concurrent - happening or existing at the
same time He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months.
The judge imposed concurrent sentences totalling 14 years for the attacks on the girls. Condescend - to do something
that you think it is below your social or professional position to do We had to wait almost an hour before he
condescended to see us. When giving a talk, be careful not to condescend to your audience. Condone -
to accept or allow behaviour that is wrong I don’t condone such rude behavior. The college cannot condone any
behaviour that involves illicit drugs. Conducive - providing the right conditions for something good to happen or exist
Such a noisy environment was not conducive to a good night's sleep. The soft lights and music were conducive to a
relaxed atmosphere. Confluence - the fact of two or more things becoming one The change has been brought on by a
confluence of factors. A confluence of events is pushing nuclear policy into the national spotlight. Congenial -
friendly and pleasant We spent a relaxed evening with congenial friends. His studies in Leiden proved congenial to him.
Congenital - existing since or before birth Children born to mothers who smoked were at risk of congenital heart
disease. Genetic screening can help reduce many congenital diseases. Congregate - to come together in
a large group of people or animals Young people often congregate in the main square in the evenings.
A crowd congregated around City Hall. Conjecture - an opinion or idea that is not based on definite knowledge and is
formed by guessing The truth of his conjecture was confirmed by the newspaper report. He
conjectured that the company would soon be in financial trouble. Conjure - to make something appear by magic, or as
if by magic Her grandfather taught her to conjure. In an instant, the magician had conjured (up) a dove from his hat.
Connoisseur - an expert on matters involving the judgement of beauty, quality or skill in art, food or music Only the true
connoisseur could tell the difference between these two wines. The mushrooms had
the chewy, savory flavor preferred by connoisseurs. Consecrate - to officially make something holy and able to be used
for religious ceremonies The church was completed and consecrated in the 1890s. She consecrated her life to God.
Consensus - a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people The general consensus in the office is
that he can't do his job. No clear consensus exists over the next stage of the plan. Consonant - a speech sound made by
completely or partly stopping the flow of air through the mouth or nose "Lullabies are beautifully consonant." She's got
some unpronounceable name that seems to be all consonants. Construe - to understand the meaning of a word, a
sentence or an action in a particular way He considered how the remark was to be construed. Any changes to
the plan would be construed as indecision. Consummate - perfect, or complete in every way She was a consummate
performer. He played the shot with consummate skill. Contentious - causing , involving,
or likely to cause disagreement and argument The director had a contentious relationship with the eccentric actor. Both
views are highly contentious. Contiguous - next to or touching another, usually similar, thing The countries are
contiguous. The bruising was not contiguous to the wound. Contingent -
a group of people representing an organization or country, or a part of a military force The largest contingent was from
the United States. Many large cities provided substantial contingents for the war effort. Contrite -
feeling very sorry and guilty for something bad that you have done She seemed genuinely contrite when she apologized.
Her expression was contrite. Contrived - artificial and difficult to believe I enjoyed the film, but felt the ending was
a bit contrived. The letter was full of contrived excuses. Conventional - traditional and ordinary
He despises their conventional attitudes. She's very conventional in her views. Convivial - cheerful and friendly in
atmosphere or character The talks ended on a convivial note. We passed a convivial evening at the McCabes’ house.
Copious - in large amounts, or more than enough He took copious notes during the lecture. She supports her theory
with copious evidence. Corollary - a situation, an argument or a fact that is the natural and direct result of another one
Unfortunately, violence is the inevitable corollary of such a revolutionary change in society. In rural areas, the corollary
of increased car ownership has been a rapid decline in the provision of public transport. Corroborate - to provide
evidence or information that supports a statement, theory, etc. The evidence was corroborated by two independent
witnesses. Recent research seems to corroborate his theory. Cosmopolitan - containing people of different types or
from different countries, and influenced by their culture The club has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. New York is
a highly cosmopolitan city. Countenance - the appearance or expression of someone's face He was
of noble countenance. We will not give/lend countenance to any kind of terrorism. Coup - a sudden change of
government that is illegal and often violent He was sentenced to death for his part in the attempted coup. He seized
power in a military coup in 2008. Covenant - a formal agreement or promise between two or more people
The contract contained a restrictive covenant against building on the land. The tenant failed to repair the damage and
was in breach of covenant. Covert - secret or hidden, making it difficult to notice He stole a covert glance at her across
the table. Every measure, both overt and covert, is being taken against terrorists. Covet - to want something very much,
especially something that belongs to somebody else He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician.
She always coveted power but never quite achieved it. Credulous - too ready to believe things and therefore easy to
trick The con man was able to easily sell his wonder products to credulous buyers. The credulous tourist fell for the
scam. Criterion - a standard or principle by which something is judged, or with the help of which a decision is made She
failed to meet the strict selection criteria. By this criterion, very few people are suitable. Cryptic -
mysterious and difficult to understand I got a cryptic text message from Sam. Her cryptic smile left me wondering about
her true intentions. Culinary - connected with cooking or kitchens Savour the culinary delights of Mexico. My
culinary skills are limited to boiling water. Culminate - to end with a particular result, or at a particular point Their
many years of research have finally culminated in a cure for the disease. Months of hard work culminated in success.
Culpable - responsible and deserving blame for having done something wrong The landowner could be proved culpable
for starting the fire. The prime minister is highly culpable in this affair. Cursory - done quickly and without giving enough
attention to details He gave the report a rather cursory look. He gave the picture a cursory glance. Curtail - to limit
something or make it last for a shorter time Spending on books has been severely curtailed. The lecture was curtailed
by the fire alarm going off. Cynic - a person who believes that people only do things to help themselves, rather than for
good or sincere reasons Cynics will say that there is not the slightest chance of success. I'm too much of a cynic
to believe that he'll keep his promise. Daunt - to make somebody feel nervous and less confident about doing
something She was a brave woman but she felt daunted by the task ahead. The prospect of going in a helicopter rather
daunts me. Dearth - a lack of something; the fact of there not being enough of something There was a dearth of
reliable information on the subject. The region is suffering from a dearth of medical specialists. Debacle -
a complete failure, especially because of bad planning and organization He should take responsibility for the debacle
and resign. Let’s hope this is the end of the debacle over player transfer fees. Debauchery - behaviour involving too
much sex, alcohol or drugs He was arrested for debauchery. The bachelor party was a night of debauchery. Debilitate -
to make someone or something physically weak The troops were severely debilitated by hunger and disease. Prolonged
strike action debilitated the industry. Decadent - having or showing low standards, especially moral ones, and an
interest only in pleasure and fun rather than serious things Champagne and chocolates for breakfast - how decadent!
There was something very decadent about filling ourselves with so much rich food. Decimate - to kill a large number of
something, or to reduce something severely Populations of endangered animals have been decimated. The rabbit
population was decimated by the disease. Decorous - behaving politely and in a controlled way His manner, as ever,
was decorous. When Bill walked away from a fight in church, he behaved in a decorous manner. Deduce -
to reach an answer or a decision by thinking carefully about the known facts We cannot deduce very
much from these figures. We deduce from his behaviour that he is trying to gain attention. Defame - to harm somebody
by saying or writing bad or false things about them The newspaper denies any intention to defame the senator’s
reputation. Mr Turnock claimed the editorial had defamed him. Deference - respect and politeness
He treats her with such deference. The flags were lowered out of deference to the bereaved family. Definitive -
not able to be changed or improved The police have no definitive proof of her guilt. The definitive version of the text is
ready to be published. Degenerate - to become worse in quality Her health degenerated quickly. The march
degenerated into a riot. Deleterious - harmful and damaging These drugs have a proven deleterious effect on
the nervous system. The use of pesticides can have deleterious effects on the environment. Delineate - to describe,
draw or explain something in detail The ship's route is clearly delineated on the map.
The main characters are clearly delineated in the first chapter. Delude - to make someone believe something that is
not true He's deluding himself if he thinks he's going to be promoted this year. Don't be deluded into thinking that we
are out of danger yet. Deluge - a severe flood; a sudden very heavy fall of rain This little stream can become a deluge
when it rains heavily. When the snow melts, the mountain stream becomes a deluge. Demagogue - a political leader
who tries to win support by using arguments based on emotion rather than reason His merits as a demagogue and
political writer are undeniable. The Democrats are demagoguing that issue. Depravity - the state of being morally bad,
or an action that is morally bad The story was gross and full of sexual depravity. People were shocked by the depravity
of her actions. Deprecate - to feel and express strong disapproval of something We deprecate this use
of company funds for political purposes. He always deprecates my achievements. Deride - to laugh at someone or
something in a way that shows you think they are stupid or of no value He derided my singing as pathetic. The play was
derided by the critics. Derogatory - showing a critical attitude and lack of respect for somebody He made some
derogatory comment/remark about her appearance. She was upset by derogatory comments made about her clothes.
Desiccate - to remove the moisture from something so it becomes completely dry;
to lose all moisture and become completely dry Intensive farming has desiccated the land. The global economy is
desiccating by the day. Despondent - unhappy and with no hope or enthusiasm She started to feel despondent
about ever finding a job. There are times when it is hard not to feel despondent. Despot - a person, especially a ruler,
who has unlimited power over other people, and often uses it unfairly and cruelly The king was regarded as having
been an enlightened despot. It is the story of a military coup which brings a brutal despot to power. Destitute - without
money, food and the other things necessary for life When he died, his family was left completely destitute. The war left
her completely destitute. Desultory - without a clear plan or purpose and showing little effort or interest She made a
desultory attempt at conversation. I wandered about in a desultory fashion. Dexterous - having
the ability to perform a difficult action quickly and skilfully with the hands Baseball players have to be fast and
dexterous. She has the strong, dexterous hands of a surgeon. Dialectical - discovering what
is true by considering opposite theories Plato's dialogues contain many instances of dialectical argument. Contradiction
is after all what dialectical thinking is all about. Dictum - a short statement, especially one expressing advice or
a general truth He followed the famous American dictum "Don't get mad, get even". Every storyteller should remember
Aristotle’s dictum that a story must have a beginning, a middle and an end. Didactic - designed to teach people
something, especially a moral lesson The story is not written in a didactic style. This form of didactic literature was
popular in Victorian times. Diffident - shy and not confident of your abilities He was modest and diffident about his own
success. She felt diffident about speaking in public. Digress - to start to talk about something that is not connected with
the main point of what you are saying The lecturer temporarily digressed from her subject to deal with a related theory.
To digress for a moment, I would like to remind you that there will be no classes next week. Dilettante - doing or
studying something without being serious about it and not having much knowledge He's a bit of a dilettante
as far as wine is concerned. To serious artists, he was merely a dilettante. Discern - to see, recognize,
or understand something that is not clear I could just discern a figure in the darkness. It is difficult to discern
any pattern in these figures. Discreet - careful in what you say or do, in order to keep something secret or to avoid
causing difficulty for somebody or making them feel embarrassed He was always very discreet about his love affairs.
You ought to make a few discreet enquiries before you sign anything. Discrete - clearly separate or different
in shape or form The organisms can be divided into discrete categories. These small companies now have their own
discrete identity. Discriminate - to recognize that there is a difference between people or things; to show a difference
between people or things The computer program was unable to discriminate between letters and numbers. A number
of features discriminate this species from others. Disdain - the feeling that somebody/something is not good enough to
deserve your respect or attention She treated him with disdain. He regards the political process with disdain.
Disinterested - not influenced by personal feelings, or by the chance of getting some advantage for yourself Her advice
appeared to be disinterested. I was merely a disinterested spectator in the whole affair. Disparage - to suggest that
somebody/something is not important or valuable I don't mean to disparage your achievements. It is never right to
disparage people based on ethnicity. Disparate - made up of parts or people that are very different from each other The
machine can keep the disparate parts of the system coordinated. When he took over, the party was composed of
disparate reactionary groups. Disseminate - to spread information, knowledge, etc. so that it reaches many people
Their findings have been widely disseminated. One of the organization's aims is to disseminate information about
the disease. Dissipate - to gradually become or make something become weaker until it disappears
The heat gradually dissipates into the atmosphere. His anger dissipated as the situation became clear. Dissolution - the
act or process of ending an official organization or legal agreement The company was set up following the dissolution of
the Soviet Union. After the dissolution of communist rule in 1989, things began to open up. Distend - to swell (=
become larger and rounder than before) or make something swell because of pressure from inside
During digestion, sugar may produce wind that distends the stomach. The medication I take causes my lower belly to
distend. Distinguish - to recognize the difference between two people or things It's important to
distinguish between business and pleasure. English law clearly distinguishes between murder and manslaughter. Docile
- quiet and easy to influence, persuade, or control The animal looked remarkably docile. It is a cheap and docile
workforce. Doctrinaire - based on and following fixed beliefs rather than considering practical problems He has
a somewhat doctrinaire approach to running the company. With a doctrinaire attitude, the politician pressured his
constituents to follow his policies blindly. Dogmatic - being certain that your beliefs are right and that others should
accept them, without paying attention to evidence or other opinions There is a danger of becoming too dogmatic about
teaching methods. He was strident and dogmatic in giving his opinions. Domestic - relating to a person's own country
The election campaign has been focused mainly on domestic issues. Domestic opinion had turned against the war.
Dormant - not active or growing now but able to become active or to grow in the future During the winter the seeds lie
dormant in the soil. These investments have remained dormant for several years. Dubious - thought not to
be completely true or not able to be trusted I was rather dubious about the whole idea. These claims are dubious and
not scientifically proven. Duplicity - dishonest talk or behaviour, especially by saying different things to two people They
were accused of duplicity in their dealings with both sides. The novel is full of duplicity, which makes it difficult to trust
anyone. Ebullient - full of confidence, energy and good humour He was openly ebullient after the election. She sounded
as ebullient and happy as ever. Eccentric - considered by other people to be strange or unusual His behaviour grew
increasingly eccentric as time went on. She was the classic eccentric old lady, living with a houseful of cats. Eclectic - not
following one style or set of ideas but choosing from or using a wide variety She has very eclectic tastes in literature. His
house is an eclectic mixture of the antique and the modern. Edify - to improve someone's mind It is not clear whether
the purpose is to edify, or simply to make money. No doubt Hamish will edify us on the subject. Efface -
to remove something intentionally In his art he effaces himself almost completely. The whole country had tried to
efface the memory of the old dictatorship. Effusion - a sudden and uncontrolled expression of strong emotion
Each girl felt guilty of a maudlin effusion of sentiment. They were welcomed with effusions of joy wherever they went.
Egalitarian - a person who believes that everyone is equal and should have the same rights and opportunities The
party's principles are basically egalitarian. He described himself as ‘an egalitarian’. Egocentric - thinking only about
yourself and not about what other people need or want He was a supremely egocentric man. In the film he appears
egocentric and opinionated. Egregious - extremely bad in a way that is very noticeable It was an egregious error for
a statesman to show such ignorance. The judge said it was the most egregious act he had ever seen! Elicit - to get
or produce something, especially information or a reaction Her tears elicited great sympathy from her audience. They
were able to elicit the support of the public. Elliptical - with a word or words left out of a sentence deliberately
His message was written in a deliberately elliptical style. I painted the elliptical shaped Easter egg with pastel colors.
Elusive - difficult to find, define or achieve The answers to these questions remain as elusive as ever. Further movie
roles have proved somewhat elusive for the young actor. Emigrate - to leave a country permanently and go to live in
another one Many people who emigrated experienced poverty and racism when they arrived. Millions of Germans
emigrated from Europe in the nineteenth century. Eminent - famous and respected, especially in a particular profession
The commission consisted of fifteen eminent political figures. This shows eminent good sense. Empirical - based on
experiments or experience rather than ideas or theories We have no empirical evidence that the industry is in trouble.
Empirical studies show that some forms of alternative medicine are extremely effective. Emulate -
to copy something achieved by someone else and try to do it as well as they have She hopes to emulate her sister's
sporting achievements. They hope to emulate the success of other software companies. Encroach - to
take control or possession of something in a gradual way and often without being noticed Gradually the negative
feelings encroached into her work. The growing town soon encroached on the surrounding countryside. Endemic -
regularly found in a particular place or among a particular group of people and difficult to get rid of Malaria is endemic
in many of the hotter regions of the world. Some of these problems are endemic to big US cities. Enervate - to make
somebody feel weak and tired The alcohol appeared to enervate Jason's ability to focus at work. The wrestler's plan
was to deliver a crushing blow which would enervate his opponent. Enfranchise - to give
a person or group of people the right to vote in elections Women in Britain were first enfranchised in 1918. The
suffragettes fought for years to enfranchise women. Engender - to make a feeling or situation exist Her latest book has
engendered a lot of controversy. The place engendered immediate feelings of friendship and belonging. Enigma -
something that is mysterious and seems impossible to understand completely He is an enigma to most people. Even
after years he still remains an enigma to me. Enormity - very great size or importance I don't think you realize the
enormity of the problem. People are still coming to terms with the enormity of the disaster. Ephemeral - lasting for only
a short time: Fame in the world of rock and pop is largely ephemeral. It is a critic’s job to follow every ephemeral
fashion. Epigram - a short saying or poem that expresses an idea in a clever, funny way The cute epigram on the
Valentine’s card made me smile. He always used to end his lectures with a witty summarizing epigram. Epitome - a
perfect example of something He was the epitome of the fashionable gentleman. He is the epitome of a modern young
man. Equanimity - a calm state of mind that means that you do not become angry or upset, especially in difficult
situations She accepted the prospect of her operation with equanimity. In spite of her financial troubles,
she faced the future with equanimity. Equitable - treating everyone fairly and in the same way She charged that women
are being denied equitable pay. We need to construct an equitable and efficient method of local taxation. Equivocal -
not having one clear or definite meaning or intention; able to be understood in more than one way She gave an
equivocal answer, typical of a politician. Women were less equivocal than men on the subject of fidelity in marriage.
Erudite - having or showing great knowledge that is gained from academic study He's the author of an
erudite book on Scottish history. She could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion. Esoteric - likely to be
understood or enjoyed by only a few people with a special knowledge or interest He has an
esoteric collection of old toys and games. She has a somewhat esoteric taste in clothes. Espouse -
to become involved with or support an activity or opinion He espoused conservative political views. They espoused the
notion of equal opportunity for all in education. Ethereal - light and delicate, especially in an unnatural way In a
translucent sky, the domes and spires of the city looked almost ethereal. The windows give the church an ethereal glow.
Euphemism - a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word "Senior citizen" is a
euphemism for "old person". The article made so much use of euphemism that often its meaning was unclear.
Evanescent - disappearing quickly from sight or memory Talk is evanescent, writing leaves footprints. The evanescent
tints of the sky fade into the gray. Exacerbate - to make something worse, especially a disease or problem His
aggressive reaction only exacerbated the situation. Her allergy was exacerbated by the dust. Exacting - demanding a lot
of effort, care, or attention All our aircraft meet exacting safety standards. He was an exacting man to work for. Exalt -
to raise someone to a higher rank or more powerful position He was exalted as a pillar of the community. His son was
exalted to a high position in the government through family connections. Exasperate - to annoy somebody very much
Her moods exasperated him. She was clearly exasperated by all my questions. Exemplify - to be or give
a typical example of something American fashion is exemplified by jeans and T-shirts. His food exemplifies Italian
cooking at its best. Exhaustive - complete and including everything This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Exhaustive
research has been carried out into the effects of the drug. Exhort - to try hard to persuade somebody to do something
The governor exhorted the prisoners not to riot. The party leader exhorted his members to start preparing for
government. Exigency - a need or demand that you must deal with immediately He put financial exigency before
personal sentiment. Economic exigency obliged the government to act. Existential - relating to existence or being alive
There is no answer to that existential question. The biggest existential threat to humans is probably still nuclear war.
Exonerate - to show or state that someone or something is not guilty of something The president cannot be exonerated
from responsibility for this problem. We have proof which will completely exonerate him. Expatriate - someone who
does not live in their own country My family lived as expatriates in Hong Kong before I was born. There are
many multinational companies and expatriates working in the region. Expedient - an action that is useful or necessary
for a particular purpose, but not always fair or right It might be expedient not to pay him until the work is finished. It
would not be politically expedient to propose new fees. Expedite - to make a process happen more quickly
Something needs to be done to expedite the process. We have developed rapid order processing to expedite deliveries
to customers. Explicit - clear and easy to understand, so that you have no doubt what is meant I gave her very
explicit directions how to get here. She made some very explicit references to my personal life. Extol -
to praise something or someone very much Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. His book extolling
the benefits of vegetarianism sold thousands of copies. Extraneous - not directly connected with or related to
something We do not want any extraneous information on the page. We must not be distracted by extraneous issues,
she said. Extrapolate - to guess or think about what might happen using information that is already known Try not to
extrapolate too much from your own experience. We have extrapolated these results from research done in other
countries. Extricate - to remove something or set something free with difficulty He had managed to extricate himself
from most of his official duties. It took hours to extricate the car from the sand. Extrovert -
an energetic person who enjoys being with other people I think it helps if you have an extrovert personality. She's a real
extrovert and loves to socialize and meet new people. Exult - to feel and show that you are very excited and happy
because of something that has happened She seems to exult in her power. He exulted in the publicity he received.
Fabrication - false information that is invented in order to trick people; the act of inventing such information Her story
was a complete fabrication from start to finish. The evidence he gave in court was a complete fabrication. Facetious -
not serious about a serious subject, in an attempt to be funny or to appear clever I make so much money that we never
have to worry – I’m being facetious. Stop being facetious; this is serious. Facile - produced without effort or careful
thought He does not permit himself facile answers. It seems too facile to blame everything on his mishandling of the
crisis. Faction - a group within a larger group, especially one with slightly different ideas from the main group There are
rival factions within the administration. The president’s advisors represent every faction of his party. Farcical - silly and
not worth taking seriously There were farcical scenes at the meeting. Such a farcical situation could never happen in
Germany. Fastidious - giving too much attention to small details and wanting everything to be correct and perfect They
were too fastidious to eat in a fast-food restaurant. He is very fastidious about how a suitcase should be packed. Fatalist
- a person who believes that events are decided by fate and cannot be controlled It's wrong to take this
fatalist's view of global warming. He urged delegates to prove the fatalists wrong, and win the election. Fatuous - stupid,
not correct, or not carefully thought about Their arguments are completely fatuous. It was a fatuous choice to carry so
many glass cups at once. Fauna - all the animals living in an area or in a particular period of history While she was in
Hawaii, she studied the local flora and fauna. The forest’s fauna are safeguarded by local wildlife life protection laws
Fecund - able to produce a lot of crops, fruit, babies, young animals, etc. They sometimes become fecund after a long
lapse of years. Felicity - A woman with six children has proved that she is not only fecund but fertile. Fervor - very
strong feelings about something She kissed him with unusual fervour. The speech aroused nationalist fervour. Fetter -
to keep someone within limits or stop them from making progress He felt fettered by petty rules and regulations.
He felt fettered by a nine-to-five office existence. Fidelity - the quality of being loyal to somebody/something They still
maintain fidelity to their religious tradition. The story is told with great fidelity to the original. Figurative - used not
with their basic meaning but with a more imaginative meaning, in order to create a special effect Of course, she was
using the term "massacre" in the figurative sense. But in this instance, the allusion is purely figurative. Finesse - great
skill in dealing with people or situations, especially in a light and careful way It was
a disappointing performance that lacked finesse. She has handled these difficult negotiations with real finesse. Flagrant
- (of an action) that shocks you because it is done in a very obvious way and shows no respect for people, laws, etc. He
showed a flagrant disregard for anyone else's feelings. Such a claim would be a flagrant internal contradiction. Flaunt -
to show or make obvious something you are proud of in order to get admiration He's got a lot of money but he doesn't
flaunt it. He did not believe in flaunting his wealth. Flout - to show that you have no respect for a law, etc. by openly not
obeying it They think they can flout the law and get away with it. Many motorcyclists flout the law by
not wearing helmets. Foible - a silly habit or a strange or weak aspect of a person’s character that is not considered
serious by other people We all have our little foibles. He often writes about the workings of government and the foibles
of politicians. Foment - to create trouble or violence or make it worse The song was banned on the grounds that it
might foment racial tension. They accused him of fomenting political unrest. Forebear - a person in your family who
lived a long time ago I'll come back to the land of my forebears. Egypt is revered as the forebear of western civilization.
Forego - to decide not to have or do something that you would like to have or do Since I’m on a diet, I decided to
forego my friend’s dessert offer. Pam chose to forego eating out for a year so she could save money for a trip to Europe.
Forsake - to leave someone for ever, especially when they need you He decided to forsake politics for journalism. He
had made it clear to his wife that he would never forsake her. Fortuitous - happening by chance, especially a lucky
chance that brings a good result His success depended on a fortuitous combination of circumstances. The discovery of
the files was fortuitous. Founder - someone who establishes an organization She is the founder
and managing director of the company. The statue commemorates the founder of the college. Fraternal - connected
with the relationship that exists between brothers The president's official visit marks the start of a more
fraternal relationship between the two countries. The lifelong friends shared a fraternal bond. Frenetic - involving a lot
of energy and activity in a way that is not organized After weeks of frenetic activity, the job was finally finished. She
rushed from city to city at a frenetic pace. Frugal - using only as much money or food as is necessary The monks lead a
frugal existence in their isolated monastery. He built up his savings by being very frugal. Furtive - behaving in a way that
shows that you want to keep something secret and do not want to be noticed He made one or two furtive phone calls.
The look in his eyes became furtive. Futile - having no purpose because there is no chance of success She made one last
futile effort to unlock the door. All my attempts to cheer her up proved futile. Garrulous - talking a lot, especially about
unimportant things I had talked too much about myself and felt like a garrulous old fool. The normally garrulous
commentator had nothing to say. Gauche - shy or uncomfortable when dealing with people and often saying or doing
the wrong thing She had grown from a gauche teenager to a self-assured young woman. It was gauche to invite them
just two days before the party. Genre - a particular type or style of literature, art, film or music that you can recognize
because of its special features Crime fiction is a genre which seems likely to stay with us for many years. The band is not
representative of any particular musical genre. Genteel - quiet and polite, often in an exaggerated way; from, or
pretending to be from, a high social class The mansion had an atmosphere of genteel elegance and decay.
The game seemed to be a more genteel version of American football. Gesticulate - to move your hands and arms about
in order to attract attention or make somebody understand what you are saying There was a
man outside the window gesticulating wildly. He was gesticulating to his players from the sidelines. Glut - a situation in
which there is more of something than is needed or can be used The fall in demand for coffee could cause a glut in
the market. This country is glutted with tasty, inexpensive high-calorie foods. Grandiloquent - using long or complicated
words in order to impress people Her speech was full of grandiloquent language, but it contained no new ideas. We are
told in grandiloquent terms that we have got command of the sea. Grandiose -
larger and containing more detail than necessary, or intended to seem important or great The grandiose scheme for a
journey across the desert came to nothing. He could no longer live the grandiose lifestyle to which he had become
accustomed. Gratuitous - done without any good reason or purpose and often having harmful effects It was a
completely gratuitous insult which the singer’s agent was forced to apologize for. There were too many
gratuitous personal insults throughout the debate. Gravity - serious behaviour, speech or appearance They were asked
to behave with the gravity that was appropriate in a court of law. I don't think you realise the gravity of the situation.
Gregarious - ​ liking to be with other people She’s very outgoing and gregarious. Hugh was a popular and gregarious
man. Guile - the use of clever but dishonest behaviour in order to trick people George was a man completely lacking in
guile. The president will need to use all her political guile to stay in power. Hackneyed - used too often and therefore
boring The plot of the film is just a hackneyed boy-meets-girl scenario. Hapless - unlucky and usually unhappy Often the
hapless victims have no warning that the flood is on its way. Many children are hapless victims of this war. Harbinger -
a sign that shows that something is going to happen soon, often something bad Everyone knows the groundhog is the
harbinger of a change in seasons. The sight of a full moon is a harbinger of a spooky night. Hedonism - the belief that
pleasure is the most important thing in life The idea of carnalism is often associated with hedonism. Since my mother
believes in hedonism, she often will go to resorts and spas because they bring her pleasure. Hegemony - the position of
being the strongest and most powerful and therefore able to control others The
three nations competed for regional hegemony. The president of the company has hegemony over his employees.
Heresy - a belief or an opinion that is against the principles of a particular religion; the fact of holding such beliefs He
was burned at the stake for heresy in the 15th century. She committed the heresy of playing a Lady Gaga song on
a classical music station. Hermetic - tightly closed so that no air can escape or enter He entered the hermetic world of
the monastery at a young age. It is necessary to wet the skin in order that it may work properly and form a hermetic
valve. Heyday - the most successful or popular period of someone or something In its heyday, Pittsburgh was
a center of the steel and coal industries. The band’s heyday was in the 1980s, when they released several hit albums.
Hiatus - a break in activity when nothing happens After a five-month hiatus, the talks resumed.
Peace talks resumed this week after a five-month hiatus. Hierarchy - a system in which people or things
are arranged according to their importance There was a clear hierarchy of power in the company. Some monkeys have
a very complex social hierarchy. Histrionic - showing a lot of emotion in order to persuade others or attract attention
She put on a histrionic display of grief at the funeral. Children are all naturally histrionic and will be amused in doing this.
Homily - a speech or piece of writing giving advice on the correct way to behave, etc. He launched into a homily
on family relationships. She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. Homogeneous - consisting
of parts or people that are similar to each other or are of the same type The population of
the village has remained remarkably homogeneous. Old people are not a homogeneous group, as some people seem to
think. Husbandry - the careful use of money, food, supplies, etc. He gave a lecture on crop and animal husbandry.
Animal-husbandry is an important aspect of agriculture. Hyperbole - a way of speaking or writing that makes something
sound better, more exciting, more dangerous, etc. than it really is The film is being promoted with all the usual
hyperbole. Although he’s not given to hyperbole, Ron says we are light-years ahead of our time. Hypothetical - based
on situations or ideas that are possible and imagined rather than real and true I wasn't asking about anybody in
particular—it was a purely hypothetical question. He dismissed the questions as purely hypothetical. Iconoclast - a
person who strongly opposes generally accepted beliefs and traditions Her reputation as an iconoclast preceded her.
The iconoclast's art was often controversial. Ideology - a set of beliefs or principles, especially one on which
a political system, party, or organization is based The people are caught between two opposing ideologies. These
businesses have a core ideology of which profit is but one ideal. Idiosyncrasy - ​ a person’s particular way of behaving,
thinking, etc., especially when it is unusual; an unusual feature One of her many idiosyncrasies is
always smelling a book before opening it. We are all individuals, unique beings with our own special qualities and
idiosyncrasies. Idyllic - peaceful and beautiful; perfect, without problems The island was an idyllic vacation spot before
the tourists came and filled the area with waste. The cottage sounds idyllic. Ignominy - public shame and loss of honour
The incumbent party experienced the ignominy of total defeat in the last election. They suffered the ignominy of defeat.
Illicit - not allowed by the law I dumped my boyfriend because of his illicit drug habit. The greedy company president
did not hesitate to engage in illicit practices to increase the size of his annual bonus. Immigrate - to come to live in a
different country He immigrated with his parents in 1895 and grew up on Long Island. His family immigrated to
Canada shortly after the war started, and has lived here ever since. Imminent - coming or likely to happen very soon
The system is in imminent danger of collapse. He gave a dire warning that an earthquake was imminent. Immutable -
that cannot be changed; that will never change Some people regard grammar as an immutable set of rules.
The laws of physics are assumed to be immutable. Impartial - not supporting one person or group more than another
The jury has to give an impartial verdict after listening to all of the evidence. Public broadcasting is supposed to be
strictly impartial during an election campaign. Impeccable - without mistakes or faults Our staff take pride in providing
impeccable service. She came to the company with impeccable credentials. Imperial - belonging or relating to
an empire or the person or country that rules it The building is a reminder of the country's imperial past.
The glittering ceremony conjured up images of Russia's imperial past. Impervious - not affected or influenced by
something He is impervious to criticism and rational argument. She was impervious to his charms. Impetuous - acting or
done quickly and without thinking carefully about the results Then, impetuous as I was, I bought a new car before
I even got a job. The governor may now be regretting her impetuous promise to reduce unemployment by half.
Implement - to make something that has been officially decided start to happen or be used The changes to
the national health system will be implemented next year. The decision was hard to implement. Impotent - not having
the power or ability to change or improve a situation They were virtually impotent against the power of the large
companies. You feel so impotent when your child is ill and you cannot help them. Impugn - to cause people to doubt or
not trust someone’s character, honesty, or ability He could no longer work as a doctor because his reputation had been
impugned. There were no real grounds for impugning the decision. Inane - extremely silly or with
no real meaning or importance I wish you’d stop making these inane remarks! There are too many
inane quiz shows on television these days. Inaugurate - to introduce a new public official or leader at a special
ceremony He will be inaugurated (as) President in January. The moon landing inaugurated a new era in space
exploration. Incandescent - showing extreme anger or happiness He was incandescent with rage. The mountain's snow-
white peak was incandescent against the blue sky. Incantation - words that are believed to have
a magical effect when spoken or sung Around the fire, tribal elders chanted incantations. She recited an
incantation designed to protect the planet. Incense - a substance that produces a pleasant smell when you burn it, used
particularly in religious ceremonies The editor said a lot of readers would be incensed by my article on class. Incense
burned in a corner of the room. Incessant - never stopping, especially in an annoying or unpleasant way She raised her
voice above the incessant beat of the music. There was the incessant traffic noise in narrow streets. Incipient -
just beginning or just coming into existence Since the rumor is incipient, we can stop it by telling the truth immediately.
He has a black mustache and an incipient potbelly. Incisive - expressing an idea or opinion in a clear and direct way
that shows good understanding of what is important He had a clear, incisive mind. The guide’s incisive comments give
us a new perspective on the painting. Incongruous - strange, and not suitable in a particular situation
It seems incongruous to have a woman as the editor of a men's magazine. The two of them made an incongruous
couple. Incorrigible - having bad habits that cannot be changed or improved I'm an incorrigible optimist. She thought
the children were incorrigible brats. Increment - one of a series of amounts that increase a total She was in
the habit of saving in small increments each week. The substance was heated in small temperature increments.
Indifferent - having or showing no interest in somebody/something Most staff were indifferent about the plans. The
government cannot afford to be indifferent to public opinion. Indigenous - coming from a particular place and having
lived there for a long time before other people came there; relating to, belonging to or developed by these people The
indigenous population has long suffered exclusion and profound injustice. Several indigenous African languages are
used in the country. Indigent - very poor We are a non-profit agency that provides legal services to indigent clients. The
common law made children responsible for maintaining aged and indigent parents. feeling or showing anger and
surprise because you think that you have been treated unfairly Indignant - feeling or showing anger and surprise
because you think that you have been treated unfairly She wrote an indignant letter to the paper complaining about
the council's action. He became very indignant when it was suggested he had made a mistake. Indolent -
showing no real interest or effort I was an indolent creature who could not imagine action. The natives were allowed to
live the indolent life of the tropics. Indulgent - allowing someone to have or do what they want, especially when this is
not good for them He had been a strict father but was indulgent to his grandchildren. Mothers tend to be less indulgent
towards daughters. Ineffable - too great or beautiful to describe in words The model’s beauty is ineffable and has
everyone tongue-tied. I am caught up in its ineffable splendour. Inept - not skilled or effective He made some
particularly inept remarks. He was always pretty inept at sports. Inert - not moving or not able to move The president
has to operate within an inert political system. The inert figure of a man could be seen lying in the front of the car.
Inexorable - continuing without any possibility of being stopped Aging is an inexorable process. This is where the
inexorable logic of the theory breaks down. Infamous - well known for being bad or evil The list included the infamous
George Drake, a double murderer. He's infamous for his bigoted sense of humour. Infatuated - having
a strong but unreasonable feeling of love or attraction for someone or something He’s behaving like an infatuated
teenager. She was infatuated with her boss. Infer - to reach an opinion or decide that something is true on the basis of
information that is available It is reasonable to infer that the government knew about these deals. It is difficult to infer
anything from such evidence. Infinitesimal - extremely small Even in infinitesimal amounts, this poison can kill you. The
risk of getting AIDS from a health-care worker is infinitesimal. Ingenuous - honest, innocent and willing to trust people
You're too ingenuous. It is ingenuous to suppose that money did not play a part in his decision. Inherent - existing as
a natural or basic part of something I have an inherent distrust of lawyers. The drug has certain inherent side effects.
Injunction - an official order given by a law court, usually to stop someone from doing something She took out an
injunction to prevent the press from publishing the information. The court has issued an injunction
to prevent distribution of the book. Innate - that you have when you are born Her dance expresses the innate beauty of
the human spirit. Many children seem to have an innate sense of justice. Innocuous - completely harmless
Some mushrooms look innocuous but are in fact poisonous. It seemed a perfectly innocuous remark. Inordinate - far
more than is usual or expected They spent an inordinate amount of time and money on the production. The strike has
led to inordinate delays. Insatiable - always wanting more of something; not able to be satisfied There seems to be
an insatiable demand for more powerful computers. Like so many politicians, he had an insatiable appetite for power.
Insidious - spreading gradually or without being noticed, but causing serious harm Cancer is an insidious disease. The
insidious effects of smoking can lead to serious health problems. Insinuate - to suggest indirectly that something
unpleasant is true She insinuated (that) I’m getting fat. The article insinuated that he was appointed because of family
connections. Insipid - not having a strong taste or character, or having no interest or energy The soup lacks the right
seasoning and tastes insipid. Instead of playing an insipid game of cat and mouse, you'll learn about the person you're
hiring. Insolent - rude and not showing respec The captain put the insolent soldier on report. The maid's answer was
even more insolent than before. Instigate - to make something start or happen, usually something official
The government will instigate new measures to combat terrorism. We will instigate a comprehensive review of defence
policy. Insular - interested only in your own country or group and not willing to accept different or foreign ideas The
British are often accused of being insular. Some insular antiquaries have found a different solution of the ancient
proverb. Insurgent - someone who is fighting against the government in their own country All approaches to
the capital are now under the control of the insurgents. The insurgent leader was captured and brought to justice.
Integral - necessary and important as a part of a whole He's an integral part of the team and we can't do without him.
He's an integral part of the team and we can't do without him. Integrate - to combine two or more things so that they
work together; to combine with something else in this way These programs can be integrated with your existing
software. He proposes to integrate our reserve forces more closely with the regular forces. Intractable -
very difficult or impossible to control, manage, or solve We are facing an intractable problem. There was no pleasing
this intractable man. Intransigent - refusing to change your opinions or behaviour Unions claim that
the management continues to maintain an intransigent position. He was a man of strong views and
intransigent positions. Intrinsic - being an extremely important and basic characteristic of a person or thing Maths is an
intrinsic part of the school curriculum. Each human being has intrinsic dignity and worth. Introspective - tending to
think a lot about your own thoughts, feelings, etc. She is famous for her introspective songs about failed relationships.
There were a lot of family problems and Jim became increasingly introspective. Inundate - to give someone so
much work or so many things that they cannot deal with it all We have been inundated with requests for help. Fans
inundated the radio station with calls. Invective - rude language and unpleasant remarks that somebody shouts when
they are very angry The gesture infuriated him and he let out a stream of invective. The invective used in the debate
was offensive to some. Inveterate - done as a habit and not likely to change He was an inveterate traveller. I
never trust anything he says - the man's an inveterate liar. Irascible - becoming angry very easily She's becoming more
and more irascible as she grows older. Because Charles is very irascible, you have to be mindful of what you say to him.
Ironic - showing that you really mean the opposite of what you are saying He was greeted with ironic cheers from
opposition MPs. She sent him a faintly ironic sideways glance. Irrevocable - impossible to change The court’s ruling is
irrevocable. The irrevocable loan facility agreed today has a term of 15 years. Itinerant - travelling from one place to
another, usually to work for a short period Many fruitpickers were itinerant, following the seasons from farm to farm.
He was the son of an itinerant oil field worker. Judicious - careful and sensible; showing good judgement It is curable
with judicious use of antibiotics. We should make judicious use of the resources available to us. Juxtapose - to put
things or people next to each other, esp. in order to compare them
The exhibition juxtaposes architectural drawings with photographs of the buildings as constructed. In the exhibition,
abstract paintings are juxtaposed with shocking photographs. Kinetic - of or produced by movement In the comic book,
the superhero’s kinetic power allows him to move faster than the speed of light. Kinetic learners are students who learn
better when they are allowed to be active. Labyrinth - a complicated series of paths, which it is difficult to find your way
through Finally, through a labyrinth of corridors she found his office. We lost our way in the labyrinth of streets. Laconic
- using only a few words to say something She had a laconic wit. His laconic comment was, ‘Too bad!’ Lament -
to express sadness and feeling sorry about something He lamented his students’ lack of interest in the classics. In the
poem he laments the destruction of the countryside. Lampoon - to criticize somebody/something publicly in a
humorous way that makes them/it look silly The magazine is famed for its merciless political lampoons. During his
two terms as president, he was often lampooned for his love of junk food. Languish - to be forced to stay somewhere or
suffer something unpleasant for a long time She continues to languish in a foreign prison. Members
of Congress have introduced plans, but those have languished. Largesse - willingness to give money, or money given
to poor people by rich people She is not noted for her largesse. The medical foundation will be the main beneficiary of
the millionaire's largesse. Latent - present, but not yet active, developed, or obvious These children have a huge reserve
of latent talent. Latent ethnic tensions exploded into the open yesterday. Laud - to praise somebody/something He was
lauded for his courage. The president lauded the rise of market economies around the world. Legacy -
money or property that you receive from someone after they die An elderly cousin had left her a small legacy. The
Greeks have a rich legacy of literature. Lethargy - the state of not having any energy or enthusiasm for doing things
They will need to shake off their lethargy if they want to win the game. The report criticizes the lethargy shown by
employers when it comes to job creation. Levity - humour or lack of seriousness, especially during a serious occasion
The joke provided a moment of levity in an otherwise dreary meeting. Let's inject some levity into this dull meeting.
Libel - a piece of writing that contains bad and false things about a person He
was arrested and held briefly on charges of libelling the president. He sued the newspaper for libel. Litigate - to take a
claim or disagreement to court It is not necessarily right to litigate in every dispute. The case is still being litigated.
Loquacious - having the habit of talking a lot He is particularly loquacious on the topic of politics. He was loquacious at
times, at other times morose. Lucid - clearly expressed; easy to understand In a rare lucid moment, she called me by my
name. The author’s prose is lucid and entertaining. Lugubrious - sad and serious The mysterious postman is the perfect
example of a lugubrious character. Their sound is lugubrious in the extreme. Luminous -
producing or reflecting bright light, especially in the dark The make-up refects light and gives the skin a luminous glow. I
hated the luminous yellow colour of the plastic. Machination - a secret and complicated plan I don’t want to get
involved in all his machinations. Saddam's machinations make that precarious situation even more volatile.
Magnanimous - very kind and generous towards an enemy or someone you have defeated The team's manager was
magnanimous in victory, and praised the losing team. The regime had to decide whether to be magnanimous in victory.
Magnate - a person who is very rich and successful in business or industry Jacqueline
Kennedy married the Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis. The tech magnate invested heavily in renewable
energy startups. Malaise - a general feeling of being ill, unhappy or not satisfied, or that something is wrong in society,
without being able to explain or identify what is wrong The latest crime figures are merely symptomatic of a wider
malaise in society. We were discussing the roots of the current economic malaise. Malfeasance -
an example of dishonest and illegal behaviour, especially by a person in authority These laws were put
in place to discourage malfeasance by public officials. The memo set strict ground rules for dealing with corporate
malfeasance. Malignant - (of a tumour or disease) that cannot be controlled and is likely to cause death The process by
which malignant cancer cells multiply isn't fully understood. He developed a malignant hatred for the land of his birth.
Malinger - to pretend to be ill in order to avoid having to work They weren't sure if she was really ill, or just malingering.
As private investigators, we can help businesses identify dishonest and malingering employees. Malleable - that can be
hit or pressed into different shapes easily without breaking or cracking Lead and tin are malleable metals. He had an
actor's typically malleable features. Mandate - the authority given to an elected group of people, such as a government,
to perform an action or govern a country The party was elected with a mandate to reduce the size of government.
Troops moved into the country to restore order under a UN mandate. Manifest - to show something clearly, especially
a feeling, an attitude or a quality The workers chose to manifest their dissatisfaction in a series of strikes. Social
tensions were manifested in the recent political crisis. Manifesto - a written statement in which a group of people
explain their beliefs and aims, especially one published by a political party to say what they will do if they win an
election In their election manifesto, the Liberal
Democrats proposed increasing taxes to pay for improvements in education. Labour won the election on this manifesto.
Marshal - to bring together or organize people or things in order to achieve a particular aim They had marshalled
an armada of 1,000 boats to help clear up the oil. It is unlikely that the rebels will be able to marshal as
much firepower as the government troops. Martial - connected with fighting or war Since my father brings his job as a
colonel home, he runs our family in a martial way by assigning everyone a rank and duties. The military has a strict
martial code of conduct. Martyr - a person who is killed because of their religious or political beliefs Putting him to
death would only make him a martyr. The soldier became a martyr when he threw himself on the live grenade to save
his squad. Matriculate - to be formally admitted to study at a university or college I had to matriculate if I wanted to do
a degree. She matriculated in 1995. Maudlin - talking in a silly, emotional way, often feeling sorry for yourself He gets
very maudlin after a few drinks. Upon being dumped by his girlfriend, Jason started to act in a maudlin behavior that
annoyed everyone. Maverick - thinking and acting in an independent way, often behaving differently from
the expected or usual way She is more maverick while I am slightly more conventional. She
has established a reputation as a maverick. Maxim - a short statement of a general truth, principle,
or rule for behaviour There is some truth in the old maxim, ‘You get what you pay for.’ If you follow a few simple
maxims, your business should be a success. Mediate - to talk to two separate people or groups involved in
a disagreement to try to help them to agree or find a solution to their problems Negotiators were called in to
mediate between the two sides. The two envoys have succeeded in mediating an end to the war. Mellifluous - having
a pleasant and flowing sound The sound of the rain was mellifluous and calming. The poet's mellifluous words flowed
like honey. Mendacious - not telling the truth The politician’s mendacious statements were quickly exposed by the
media. Some of these statements are misleading and some are downright mendacious. Mendicant - living by asking
people for money and food She abandoned her job and her career, and lived as a homeless mendicant on the streets of
Philadelphia. Male members of the mendicant orders also acted as nurses in the Middle Ages. Mentor - an experienced
person who advises and helps somebody with less experience over a period of time She was a friend and mentor to
many young actors. His former coach had remained his mentor throughout his career. Mercenary - interested only in
the money that can be obtained from a situation He had some mercenary scheme to marry a wealthy widow. Six years
ago, he became a mercenary for a private military corporation. Mercurial - often changing or reacting in a way that is
unexpected Advertising is a mercurial business. She was entertaining but unpredictable, with mercurial mood swings.
Metamorphosis - a process in which somebody/something changes completely into something different She had
undergone an amazing metamorphosis from awkward schoolgirl to beautiful woman. Under the new editor,
the magazine has undergone a metamorphosis. Microcosm - a small place, society, or situation that has the
same characteristics as something much larger The audience was selected to create a microcosm of American society.
The family is a microcosm of society. Milieu - the social environment that you live or work in It is a study of
the social and cultural milieu in which Michelangelo lived and worked. The findings of the report refer to a particular
social and cultural milieu. Minuscule - extremely small All she gave him to eat was two minuscule pieces of toast.
Salaries are a minuscule part of the budget. Misanthropic - hating and avoiding other people The misanthropic artist
preferred to work alone in his studio. His misanthropic attitude made it difficult for him to make friends. Mitigate - to
make something less harmful, unpleasant, or bad Soil erosion was mitigated by the planting of trees. It is unclear how
to mitigate the effects of tourism on the island. Mollify - to make someone less angry or upset I tried to mollify her by
giving her flowers. She was not mollified by his apology. Monolithic - very large, united, and difficult to change
Unfortunately there was no way to make the monolithic project smaller. Since the changes are not monolithic, it should
only take Sarah a day or two to remodel the kitchen. Moribund - not active or successful The figures show a
moribund remortgage market. The banks are moribund with capital controls still in place to avoid disaster. Morose -
​ unhappy, in a bad mood and not talking very much Michael became morose and withdrawn after he lost his job. She
seems a bit morose today. Mortify - to make someone very embarrassed The thought of the incident still mortified her.
I was mortified when I realized I had forgotten our lunch date. Mundane - very ordinary and therefore not interesting I
lead a pretty mundane existence. Mundane matters such as paying bills and shopping for food do not interest her.
Munificent - very generous with money A former student has donated a munificent sum of money to the college. He
enjoys being munificent on a princely scale. Myopia - a condition in which someone cannot clearly see things that
are far away Research has suggested that children who play sport are less susceptible to myopia. People's myopia
often blinded them from seeing the bigger picture. Myriad - extremely large in number They offered no solution for
all our myriad problems. There’s a myriad of insects on the island. Narcissism - the habit of admiring yourself too much,
especially your appearance The performance was dominated by the preening narcissism of the group's lead singer. Her
book presents him as a case study in narcissism. Nebulous - unclear and lacking form; vague She has a few
nebulous ideas about what she might want to do in the future, but nothing definite. After the car accident, his
memories were quite nebulous. Nefarious - criminal; extremely bad The company's CEO seems to have been involved in
some nefarious practices/activities. They can hack your account and use the information for nefarious purposes.
Neologism - a new word or expression or a new meaning of a word The neologism became so popular it was added to
most dictionaries. The ultra-niche neologism both invites and repels my understanding. Nepotism - giving unfair
advantages to your own family if you are in a position of power, especially by giving them jobs He was guilty of
nepotism and corruption. He resigned amid allegations of nepotism and petty corruption. Nihilism - the belief that life
has no meaning or purpose and that religious and moral principles have no value Adopting nihilism can be a way to
embrace the uncertainty and unpredictability of life. It may not be easy, but I will stick to nihilism and embrace the
meaninglessness of life. Nominal - being something in name only, and not in reality She's the
nominal head of our college - the real work is done by her deputy. He remained in nominal control of the business for
another ten years. Nostalgia - a sad feeling mixed with pleasure when you think of happy times in the past She is filled
with nostalgia for her own college days. Hearing her voice again filled him with nostalgia. Notorious - famous for
something bad The canal is notorious for its pollution. The country is notorious for its appalling prison conditions. Novel
- new and original, not like anything seen before Keeping a sheep in the garden is a novel way
of keeping the grass short! A novel virus in swine is closely related to the human hepatitis E virus. Noxious - poisonous
or harmful They died from inhaling noxious fumes. Besides being annoying, the mosquito is a noxious insect that can
carry and transmit a number of potentially fatal diseases. Nuance - a very slight difference in meaning, sound, colour or
somebody’s feelings that is not usually very obvious The painter has managed to capture every nuance of the
woman's expression. Spectators may not understand all the nuances of the game. Obdurate - ​ refusing to change your
mind or your actions in any way The president remains obdurate on immigration. Some members of the committee are
likely to prove obdurate on this matter. Obfuscate - to make something
less clear and harder to understand, especially intentionally She was criticized for using arguments that obfuscated
the main issue. Companies deliberately obfuscate figures in complicated annual reports. Oblique - not expressed or
done in a direct way She made several oblique references to the current financial situation. Through the window came
the last few oblique rays of evening sunshine. Oblivion - a state in which you are not aware of what is happening
around you, usually because you are unconscious or asleep He was another minor poet who was consigned to oblivion.
Hundreds of homes were bombed into oblivion during the first weeks of the war. Obscure - not well known He was
born around 1650 but his origins remain obscure. The sun was obscured by clouds. Obsequious - trying too hard to
please somebody, especially somebody who is important She is embarrassingly obsequious to anyone in authority. The
waiters came hurrying forward with obsequious smiles on their faces. Obtuse - slow or unwilling to understand
something He was either completely ignorant or being wilfully obtuse. She was the most obtuse person I’d ever met.
Officious - too ready to tell people what to do or to use the power you have to give orders He's an officious little man
and widely disliked in the company. The officious neighbor constantly interfered in our family matters, offering
unsolicited advice on how to raise our children. Onerous - difficult to do or needing a lot of effort
She found the duties of motherhood onerous. The tax bill was aimed at lifting the onerous tax burden from the backs of
the middle class. Opaque - not clear enough to see through or allow light through As the lens becomes more opaque,
the patient notices a reduction in vision. The windows were nearly opaque with grime. Opulent -
expensive and luxurious He lived an opulent lifestyle that included sports cars and enormous homes. The museum
displayed opulent paintings and sculptures from the Renaissance era. Orthodox - considered traditional, normal,
and acceptable by most people We would prefer a more orthodox approach/solution to the problem. At that time the
orthodox view was that secondary education should be selective. Ostensible - appearing or claiming to be one thing
when it is really something else Their ostensible goal was to clean up government corruption, but their real aim was
to unseat the government. The ostensible reason for his absence was illness. Ostentatious - showing your wealth or
status in a way that is intended to impress people They criticized the ostentatious lifestyle of their leaders. His
ostentatious display of wealth made him the talk of the town. Pacify - to make somebody who is angry or upset become
calm and quiet He pacified his crying child with a bottle. The speech was designed to pacify the irate crowd. Painstaking
- extremely careful and correct, and involving a lot of effort He was described by his colleagues as a
painstaking journalist. The event had been planned with painstaking attention to detail. Palliate -
to reduce the bad effects of something They tried to palliate the hardship of their lives. The drugs palliate pain but have
no effect on inflammation. Palpable - that is easily noticed by the mind or the senses The tension in the room was
almost palpable. His statement is palpable nonsense. Paltry - too small to be considered as important or useful This
account offers a paltry 1 per cent return on your investment. She made some paltry excuse and left. Panacea -
something that will solve all the problems of a particular situation There is no single panacea for the problem of
unemployment. Technology is not a panacea for all our problems. Paradigm - a model of something, or a
very clear and typical example of something The war was a paradigm of the destructive side of human nature.
His ruthless accumulation of wealth stands as a paradigm of greed in the business world. Paradox - a person, thing or
situation that has two opposite features and therefore seems strange It's a curious paradox that drinking a lot
of water can often make you feel thirsty. The author tackles one of the deepest paradoxes of life. Parochial - only
interested in small issues that happen in your local area and not interested in more important things They need to be
better informed and less parochial in their thinking. The US coverage of the summit has been extremely parochial.
Parody - something that is such a bad or an unfair example of something that it seems silly The trial was a parody of
justice. His personality made him an easy subject for parody. Parsimonious - extremely unwilling to spend money She's
too parsimonious to heat the house properly. I had to be a little parsimonious with the fresh thyme. Partisan - showing
too much support for one person, group or idea, especially without considering it carefully Most newspapers are
politically partisan. The speakers were encouraged by a large partisan crowd. Patent - the official legal right to make
or sell an invention for a particular number of years The device was protected by patent. Edison took out a patent on
the light bulb. Paternal - behaving or feeling as a father does toward his child The coach feels very paternal towards
his team. Her weakness made him feel very paternal towards her. Pathology - the scientific study of disease He came to
the United States to study pathology in 1983. There is a lack of knowledge about the underlying pathology of
the disease. Patriarch - a powerful man in a family In my house, my father is the patriarch of the family. James became
the patriarch of his household after his father died. Patrician - a person of high social rank She is descended from
a long line of patricians. At least he possessed good manners, as a true patrician should. Patronize - to treat somebody
in a way that seems friendly, but which shows that you think that they are not very intelligent, experienced, etc. Some
television programmes tend to patronize children. Stop patronizing me - I understand the play as well as you do.
Paucity - the fact that there is too little of something There is a paucity of information on the ingredients of
many cosmetics. The authorities had to cope with the paucity of information about the effects of the storm. Peccadillo -
a small unimportant thing that somebody does wrong The writer confessed to a few sexual peccadilloes.
He dismissed what had happened as a mere peccadillo. Pedantic - too worried about small details or rules She can be a
bit pedantic when it comes to organizing her workspace. My English teacher is so pedantic about grammar that she
corrects even the tiniest mistakes. Pedestrian - a person walking in the street and not travelling in a vehicle A few
pedestrians sheltered from the rain in doorways. The death rate for pedestrians hit by cars is unacceptably high.
Pejorative - expressing disapproval, or suggesting that something is not good or is of no importance
Make sure students realize that "fat" is a pejorative word. I'm using the word ‘academic’ here in a pejorative sense.
Penchant - a liking for or a habit of doing something, esp. something that other people might not like Her
penchant for disappearing for days at a time worries her family. She has a penchant for champagne. Pensive - thinking
deeply about something, especially because you are sad or worried She sat with a pensive expression on her face.
James was more pensive than usual. Peremptory - expecting to be obeyed immediately and without any questions The
letter was peremptory in tone. In his usual peremptory manner, he ordered us all into the conference room. Perennial -
lasting a very long time, or happening repeatedly or all the time We face the perennial problem of not having
enough money. Colonialism in different forms is a perennial theme of history. Perfidy - unfair treatment of somebody
who trusts you In Act 2 he learns of Giovanni’s perfidy and swears revenge. He was punished for his perfidy against the
company. Perfunctory - done quickly, without taking care or interest She asked a few perfunctory questions about
my family and then ended the conversation. They only made a perfunctory effort. Peripatetic - going from place to
place, for example in order to work More funding needs to be given to the peripatetic outreach services. She was a
peripatetic traveler, always moving from one place to another. Periphery - the outer edge of an area Houses have
been built on the periphery of the factory site. The ring road runs around the periphery of the city centre. Perjury - the
crime of telling a lie in court after you have sworn to tell the truth The defence witnesses were found guilty of perjury.
She was sentenced to two years in jail for committing perjury. Permeate - to spread through something and
be present in every part of it Dissatisfaction with the government seems to have permeated every section of society.
The air was permeated with the odour of burning rubber. Pernicious - having a very harmful effect on
somebody/something, especially in a way that is not easily noticed The cuts in government funding have had a
pernicious effect on local health services. The book focuses on the pernicious effects of slavery. Perquisite - something
you receive as well as your wages for doing a particular job The perquisites of this job include health insurance and
a performance bonus. Use of the company's jet is a perquisite of the job. Pertinent - appropriate to a particular
situation Chapter One is pertinent to the post-war period. Please keep your comments pertinent to the topic under
discussion. Perturb - to make somebody worried or anxious News of the arrest perturbed her greatly. Her sudden
appearance did not seem to perturb him in the least. Peruse - to read something, especially in a careful way A copy of
the report is available for you to peruse at your leisure. He opened a newspaper and began to peruse the personal ads.
Pervade - to spread through and be easy to notice in every part of something The film movie is a reflection of
the violence that pervades our culture. The entire house was pervaded by a sour smell. Petulant -
easily annoyed and complaining in a rude way like a child He plays the part of a petulant young man in the film. Her
tone of voice became abrupt and petulant. Philanthropy - the activity of helping the poor, especially by giving
them money Minnesota has long been considered a beacon of philanthropy. Hospitals were built as a result of private
philanthropy and government intervention. Philistine - a person who does not like or understand art, literature, music,
etc. In artistic matters he’s a complete philistine. She dismissed critics of her work as philistines. Pious - having or
showing a deep respect for God and religion She is a pious follower of the faith, never missing her prayers. They are a
pious family who regularly participates in religious events. Pivotal - important because other things depend on it
Accountancy, law and economics are pivotal to a successful career in any financial services area. She played a
pivotal role in the civil rights movement. Placate - to stop someone from feeling angry She saw the anger in his eyes and
stepped forward with a placating smile. The concessions did little to placate the students. Plaintive - used
to describe something that sounds slightly sad I love the plaintive sound of the bagpipes. The plaintive funeral hymn
brought tears to my eyes. Platitude - a statement that has been repeated so often that it is meaningless The politician
ended his speech with a platitude about every man’s right to vote. Our coach used every platitude she could think of to
make us feel better after our big loss. Plebeian - connected with ordinary people or people of the lower social classes
Such recreational activities were an essential part of plebeian culture. He retained a plebeian taste in food and drink.
Plethora - an amount that is greater than is needed or can be used The report contained a plethora of detail. The
plethora of regulations is both contradictory and confusing. Poignant - causing or having a very sharp feeling of sadness
The photograph awakens poignant memories of happier days. The monument is a poignant reminder of those
who died in the war. Polarize - to separate or make people separate into two groups with completely opposite opinions
Two developments have polarized the debate. The issue has polarized public opinion. Polemic - a speech or a piece of
writing that argues very strongly for or against something/somebody She has published a fierce anti-war polemic. Her
speech was memorable for its polemic rather than its substance. Ponderous - slow and awkward because of being
very heavy or large He had a slow and ponderous manner. She watched the cow's ponderous progress. Portent -
a sign that something bad is likely to happen in the future We shall try to reach an agreement but the portents are not
good. For the economy, the portents are extremely gloomy. Postulate - an idea that is suggested or accepted as
a basic principle before a further idea is formed or developed from it Astronomers postulate that
the comet will reappear in 4000 years. Some linguists have postulated a change in English pronunciation from around
1600. Pragmatic - solving problems in a practical and sensible way rather than by having fixed ideas or theories
In business, the pragmatic approach to problems is often more successful than an idealistic one. We must be ruthlessly
pragmatic and intensely focused. Precedent - We must be ruthlessly pragmatic and intensely focused.
The judgment on pension rights has established/set a precedent. This law sets a very dangerous precedent for
all businesses. Precept - a rule about how to behave or what to think This policy goes
against common precepts of decency. Lawyers are supposed to follow a strict precept of ethics. Precipitate - to make
something happen suddenly or sooner than expected His resignation precipitated a leadership crisis.
An invasion would certainly precipitate a political crisis. Precipitous - very steep, high and often dangerous Over the
past 18 months, there has been a precipitous fall in car sales. The company has seen a
precipitous decline in advertising revenue.My lack of interest in the subject precluded me from gaining much
enjoyment out of it. Preclude - to prevent something or make it impossible, or prevent someone from doing something
His contract precludes him from discussing his work with anyone outside the company. My lack of interest in the
subject precluded me from gaining much enjoyment out of it. Precursor - something that comes before another and
may lead to it or influence its development Sulphur dioxide is the main precursor of acid rain. Opponents fear this
would be a precursor to development of the entire canyon Predilection - a strong liking or preference Ever since she
was a child, she has had a predilection for spicy food. Her predilection for art led her to pursue a career as a painter.
Preeminent - more important or powerful than all others He was the preeminent scientist of his day. Dickens was pre-
eminent among English writers of his day. Preempt - to prevent something from happening by taking action to stop it
State laws preempted local governments from restricting newspaper displays. A good training course will pre-empt
many problems. Premise - an idea or theory on which a statement or action is based His reasoning is based on the
premise that all people are equally capable of good and evil. He premised
his argument on several incorrect assumptions. Prerogative - a right or advantage belonging to a particular person or
group because of their importance or social position In many countries education is still the prerogative of the rich.
Making such decisions is not the sole prerogative of managers. Prevail - to exist or be very common at a particular time
or in a particular place Those beliefs still prevail among certain social groups. This attitude still prevails among
the middle classes. Pristine - fresh and clean, as if new The car seemed to be in pristine condition. Their uniforms have
to be kept pristine at all times Prodigal - too willing to spend money or waste time, energy or materials The
prodigal landlord spends the money as fast as he receives it. There have been rumours that he has been
prodigal with company funds. Prodigious - very large or powerful and causing surprise; impressive
She wrote a truly prodigious number of novels. He had a prodigious appetite for both women and drink. Prodigy - a
young person whose intelligence or skill is unusually good for their age He read in the paper about
a mathematical prodigy who was attending university at the age of twelve. Mozart was an infant prodigy, composing
music at the age of four. Profane - showing no respect for a god or a religion, often through language His letter is too
profane to print, but it is very funny, too. The comedian’s routine was filled with profane language that shocked the
audience. Profess - to claim that something is true or correct, especially when it is not She continues to profess
her innocence. I don't profess to be an expert in this subject. Proficient - skilled and experienced She's
proficient in two languages. With practice, you should become proficient within six months. Profligate - using money,
time, materials, etc. in a careless way The profligate use of antibiotics has led to the evolution of resistant bacteria. The
opposition criticized the government’s profligate spending plans. Profound -
showing a clear and deep understanding of serious matters The report has profound implications for schools. His
mother's death when he was aged six had a very profound effect on him. Profuse - produced or given in large amounts
She was admitted to St Mary's Hospital with profuse bleeding. The company accepted blame and sent us
profuse apologies. Proletariat - the class of ordinary people who earn money by working, especially those who do not
own any property Industrialism had created a proletariat in Russia. Marx wrote of the class struggle between the
bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Proliferate - to increase rapidly in number or amount Small businesses have
proliferated in the last ten years. Books and articles on the subject have proliferated over the last year. Prolific -
producing a great number or amount of something He was probably the most prolific songwriter of his generation.
Picasso was extremely prolific during his Cubist years. Promulgate - to spread an idea, a belief, etc. among many people
The new law was finally promulgated in the autumn of last year. The new constitution was promulgated in 2006.
Propensity - a tendency to behave in a particular way He's well-known for his natural propensity for indiscretion.
The poll confirmed Americans’ growing propensity to invest in the stock market. Propitious - likely to produce a
successful result With the economy in recession, it was not a propitious time to start a company. This did not seem a
propitious moment for launching into a lengthy explanation. Proponent - a person who supports an idea or course of
action She is among the most outspoken proponents of the plan. He is one of
the leading proponents of capital punishment. Proprietary - relating to owning something, or relating to or like
an owner The company has a proprietary right to the property. This is proprietary software, and you have
no right to copy it without a license from the owner. Propriety - moral and social behaviour that is considered to be
correct and acceptable She was careful always to behave with propriety. The company had acted in accordance with all
legal proprieties. Prosaic - ordinary and not showing any imagination Only a few prosaic tables and chairs remained by
the time we got to the auction. They exchanged a few very prosaic words. Proscribe - to say officially that something is
banned Membership of any proscribed organization is a serious matter. Torture
and summary execution of political prisoners are proscribed by international law. Proselytize - to try to persuade other
people to accept your beliefs, especially about religion or politics He was also remarkable for the proselytizing zeal with
which he wrote his political pamphlets. Missionaries were sent to proselytize in rural areas of the country. Protagonist -
​ the main character in a play, film or book Key protagonists of the revolution were hunted down and executed. The
main protagonist is a cruel, selfish man. Protract - to make something last for a long time or last longer than necessary I
have no desire to protract the process. Their guest did not protract his stay an hour longer. Provident - careful in
planning for the future, especially by saving money The more provident of them had taken out insurance against
flooding. The provident couple attended a seminar on how to budget their income. Provincial - relating to an area that
is governed as part of a country or an empire The majority of young professionals in the capital have moved there from
provincial towns. The provincial government announced new funding for education. Provisional - arranged for the
present time only and likely to be changed in the future These dates are only provisional. We accept provisional
bookings by phone. Proximity - the state of being near in space or time The best thing about the location of
the house is its proximity to the town centre. The area has a number of schools in close proximity to each other.
Prudent - sensible and careful when you make judgements and decisions; avoiding unnecessary risks The minister had a
reputation for being prudent and discreet. Most prudent employers see the benefit of having an organized workforce.
Purported - claimed but not proved to be true A recent study into the purported health benefits of the drink was
not conclusive. The new brand of potato chips is purported to be lower in cholesterol, fat, and calories. Putative -
generally thought to be or to exist, even if this may not really be true The putative leader of
the terrorist cell was arrested yesterday. The putative cause of the accident is still under investigation. Qualify - to have
or achieve the necessary skills He qualified as a doctor last year. It took her nine years to qualify as an architect.
Qualitative - connected with what something is like or how good it is, rather than with how much of it there is There are
qualitative differences between the two products. There has been a qualitative change in the relationship between
the public and the government. Querulous - often complaining, especially in a weak high voice
He became increasingly dissatisfied and querulous in his old age. He complained in a querulous voice about having been
woken up. Quixotic - having or involving ideas or plans that show imagination but are usually not practical This is
a vast, exciting and some say quixotic project. Many think these attempts to make lawyers behave are quixotic.
Ramification - the possible result of a decision or action These findings have interesting theoretical and practical
ramifications. These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications. Rancor - ​ feelings of hate and a
desire to hurt other people, especially because you think that somebody has done something unfair to you
They cheated me, but I feel no rancor toward/against them. She learned to accept criticism without rancour. Rapacious
- wanting more money or goods than you need or have a right to The vulture as landlord is more
dreadfully rapacious than he is as a bird. He describes the world of finance as ‘a casino full of rapacious capitalists’.
Rebuke - the act of speaking severely to somebody because they have done something wrong He was silenced by her
stinging rebuke. He received a stern rebuke from the manager. Rebut - to argue that a statement or claim is not true
She has rebutted charges that she has been involved in any financial malpractice. This presumption can be rebutted by
evidence showing the contrary. Recalcitrant - unwilling to obey rules or follow instructions; difficult to control He was
like a teacher encouraging a recalcitrant pupil.
Tenants petitioned their recalcitrant landlord to finish repairs to their building. Recant -
to announce in public that your past beliefs or statements were wrong and that you no longer agree with them After
a year spent in solitary confinement, he publicly recanted (his views). Anderson recanted, saying his brother had told
him to lie. Reciprocal - involving two people or organizations who agree to help each other by behaving in the same
way or by giving each other similar advantages The two colleges have a reciprocal arrangement whereby students from
one college can attend classes at the other. We have agreed to exchange information about our two companies,
but strictly on a reciprocal basis. Reclusive - living alone and avoiding going outside or talking to other people
She became increasingly reclusive after the tragedy. There may be a chance to meet the reclusive author. Recondite -
not known about by many people and difficult to understand We had to work from material that was both complex and
recondite. It is not a recondite or esoteric question. Recrimination - arguments between people who are blaming each
other The peace talks broke down and ended in bitter mutual recrimination(s). We spent the rest of the evening in
mutual recrimination Redolent - smelling strongly of something or having qualities (especially smells) that make
you think of something else The mountain air was redolent with the scent of pine needles. The album is a heartfelt cry,
redolent of a time before radio and television. Redundant -
having lost your job because your employer no longer needs you To keep the company alive, half the workforce is
being made redundant. She was made redundant a year ago and hasn't found any work since. Refute - to prove that
something is wrong She tried to think how to refute the argument on moral grounds. This study cannot provide data to
confirm or refute this hypothesis. Reiterate - to repeat something that you have already said, especially to emphasize it
He reiterated his view that it was time to withdraw from the region. She reiterated that she had never seen him before.
Relegate - to give somebody a lower or less important position, rank, etc. than before She was then relegated to the
role of assistant. He relegated the incident to the back of his mind. Relentless - continuing in a severe or extreme way
The sun was relentless. The team kept up the relentless pressure in the second half. Relinquish - to stop having
something, especially when this happens unwillingly They had relinquished all hope that she was alive. He refused to
relinquish control of his company. Remonstrate - to complain to someone or about something I went to the boss to
remonstrate against the new rules. They remonstrated with the official about the decision. Renaissance - a
new growth of activity or interest in something, especially art, literature, or music The British film industry is currently
enjoying something of a renaissance. Opera is enjoying a long-awaited renaissance. Renounce - to
say formally or publicly that you no longer own, support, believe in, or have a connection with something She formally
renounced her citizenship. Her ex-husband renounced his claim to the family house. Reparation -
payment for harm or damage The company paid reparations to the victims of the explosion. It was thought by some
that they had not paid enough wartime reparations. Repercussion - an indirect and usually bad result of an action or
event that may happen some time afterwards Any decrease in tourism could have serious repercussions for
the local economy. Anne felt the repercussions of the earlier incident. Replenish - to fill something again,
or return something to its earlier condition We need to replenish our cookie supply. Allow me to replenish your glass.
Replete - full, especially with food After two helpings of dessert, Sergio was at last replete. This car has
an engine replete with the latest technology. Reprehensible - ​ morally wrong and deserving criticism His conduct was
thoroughly reprehensible. Domestic violence is increasingly coming to be viewed as totally reprehensible. Reprisal - a
violent or aggressive act towards somebody because of something bad that they have done towards you
The attack was in reprisal for the kidnapping of their leaders. They did not want to give evidence for fear of reprisals.
Reproach - to criticize or find fault with someone He’s still reproaching himself for the accident. He listened to his wife's
bitter reproaches. Reprove - to tell somebody that you do not approve of something that they have done
The teacher gently reproved the boys for not paying attention. He reproved her for rushing away. Repudiate -
to refuse to accept or obey something or someone; reject The evidence presented at the trial has since been
repudiated. The buyer is entitled to repudiate the contract within a reasonable period of time. Requisite -
necessary or needed for a particular purpose She lacks the requisite experience for the job. A good book is a
requisite for long journeys. Resolute - ​ strong and determined They stood resolute against the enemy. Their
resolute opposition to new working methods was difficult to overcome. Respite - a pause or rest from
something difficult or unpleasant We worked for hours without respite. There was no respite from the suffocating heat.
Reticent - unwilling to speak about your thoughts or feelings She was shy and reticent. Most of the students were
reticent about answering questions. Revere - to admire and respect somebody/something very much Nelson Mandela
is revered for his brave fight against apartheid. Her name is revered in Spain. Rhetoric - speech or writing intended to
be effective and influence people His speech was dismissed as mere rhetoric by the opposition. Behind all the rhetoric,
his relations with the army are tense. Rigorous - done carefully and with a lot of attention to detail The second team
adopted a much more rigorous approach to the problem. The work failed to meet their rigorous standards. Robust -
strong and healthy She was almost 90, but still very robust. The company is taking a more robust approach to
management. Rogue - a person who behaves badly, but despite this is quite attractive He's a bit of a rogue, but very
charming. A rogue employee might tap into the computer. Rudimentary - dealing with only the most basic matters or
ideas Her knowledge is still only rudimentary. They were given only rudimentary training in the job. Ruminate - to think
deeply about something She ruminated for weeks about whether to tell him or not. He ruminated over his loss. Rustic -
simple and often rough in appearance; typical of the countryside The property has a certain rustic charm. We stayed in
rustic cabins, with no electricity. Saccharine - too sweet or too polite I don't trust her, with her saccharine smiles.
Longfellow’s later poems are regarded as saccharine. Sacrilege - an act of treating a holy thing or place without respect
Muslims consider it sacrilege to wear shoes inside a mosque. It would be a sacrilege to put a neon sign on
that beautiful old building. Sacrosanct - so important that there cannot be any change or question His time with
his children was sacrosanct. I'm willing to help on any weekday, but my weekends are sacrosanct. Sagacious - showing
good judgement and understanding People love dogs because they are sagacious animals. Wise and full of insight, the
sagacious leader would live on to better the world. Salient - most important or easy to notice She pointed out
the salient features of the new design. The salient fact about the case is that it involves an American. Salutary -
causing improvement of behaviour or character The effects of such a decision would not be salutary. The cost of the
war should be a salutary warning to other governments. Sanctimonious - giving the impression that you feel you are
better and more moral than other people I’m fed up with his sanctimonious attitude. I wish she’d stop being so
sanctimonious. Sanguine - cheerful and confident about the future They are less
sanguine about the prospects for peace. He tends to take a sanguine view of the problems involved. Sardonic - showing
that you think that you are better than other people and do not take them seriously Her voice had a sardonic, mocking
tone that frightened Connie. He looked at her with sardonic amusement. Scintillate - to say very clever, exciting,
or funny things The stars scintillate with a mesmerizing glow in the night sky. The fireflies scintillate with a flickering
glow in the summer night air. Scrupulous - doing everything correctly and exactly as it should be done Her report is
scrupulous in its detail. You must be scrupulous about hygiene when you're preparing a baby's feed. Scrutinize - to look
at or examine somebody/something carefully She leaned forward to scrutinize their faces. The statement was carefully
scrutinized before publication. Secular - not having any connection with religion We live in a largely secular society. He
strengthened the secular traditions of the state. Sedition - the use of words or actions that are intended to encourage
people to oppose a government He himself was tried for sedition and sentenced to ten years in jail. In some nations,
the government censors television networks in order to prevent sedition. Segregate - to keep one thing separate from
another The psychiatric section is segregated from the rest of the prison. The women were segregated from the male
workers in the factory Sensory - connected with your physical senses The show reflects the sensory overload of
contemporary culture, with all the flashing screens and blaring music. Sentient - able to see or feel things through the
senses There was no sign of any sentient life or activity. It is hard for a sentient person to understand how
any parents could treat their child so badly. Sequester - to take control of somebody’s property or assets until a debt
has been paid The judge will sequester the jury members to protect them from external influences. The man decided to
sequester his most valuable items in a safe. Serendipity - the fact of something interesting or pleasant happening by
chance The lottery is something one wins by serendipity not by design. It was serendipity that we found this place.
Servile - wanting too much to please somebody and obey them Parents have no right to demand servile obedience
from their children. As a waiter you want to be pleasant to people without appearing totally servile. Singular - of
an unusual quality or standard; noticeable It was a building of singular grace and beauty. He showed a
singular lack of skill in painting. Sinister - seeming evil or dangerous; making you think something bad will happen
The ruined house had a sinister appearance. There was a sinister undertone in his words. Slander -
a false spoken statement about someone that damages their reputation, or the making of such a statement
She regarded his comment as a slander on her good reputation. Many teachers saw the statement as a gross slander on
their profession. Sloth - the bad habit of being lazy and unwilling to work The report criticizes the government's sloth
in tackling environmental problems. Sloth bears are among the least known bear species. Sobriety - the state of not
being drunk I can assure you I'm in a state of complete sobriety. He's celebrating 12 months of sobriety. Solicitous -
showing care and helpful attention to someone He made a solicitous enquiry after her health. She was very solicitous
for our welfare. Solvent - having enough money to pay all the money that is owed to other people
Many insurance companies are under pressure to increase premiums to stay solvent. The company is solvent and has
no outstanding debts. Soporific - causing sleep or making a person want to sleep His talking has a soporific effect. The
slow and steady rhythm of a train is soporific. Sordid - dirty and unpleasant There are lots of really sordid apartments in
the city's poorer areas. It was a shock to discover the truth about his sordid past. Spawn - to cause something new, or
many new things, to grow or start suddenly The new economic freedom has spawned hundreds of
new small businesses. The band's album spawned a string of hit singles. Specious - seeming right or true but actually
wrong or false His whole argument is specious. Although he could not deliver on them, the salesman made us several
specious promises1. Sporadic - happening sometimes; not regular or continuous The findings are derived from sporadic
and statistically unreliable surveys. She makes sporadic trips to Europe. Spurious - false, although seeming to be real or
true They made spurious claims of personal injury. He had managed to create the entirely spurious impression that the
company was thriving. Squalor - dirty and unpleasant conditions These people are forced to live in squalor. He had lost
his job and was living in squalor. Squander - to waste money, time, etc. in a stupid or careless way She squandered her
chances of winning. Government should not squander the taxpayers’ money. Stagnation - the fact of no longer
developing or making progress We are seeing stagnation in the market for cows and sheep. The black colour of
the water is due to stagnation. Static - not moving, changing or developing Oil prices have remained static for the last
few months. Sales were up 5% on last year, but pre-tax profits remained static. Staunch - always showing strong
support in your opinions and attitude He gained a reputation as being a staunch defender/supporter of civil rights. His
staunch faith gave spiritual strength to many. Steadfast - not changing in your attitudes or aims He remained steadfast
in his determination to bring the killers to justice. The group remained steadfast in its support for the
new system, even when it was criticized in the newspapers. Stigmatize - to treat someone or
something unfairly by disapproving of him, her, or it People should not be stigmatized on the basis of race.
Anybody standing in line can see when they pay with Food Stamps, and it stigmatizes them. Stipulate - to state clearly
and definitely that something must be done, or how it must be done She agreed to buy the car, but
stipulated racing tyres and a turbo-powered engine. A delivery date is stipulated in the contract. Stoic - a person who is
able to suffer pain or trouble without complaining or showing what they We knew she must be in pain, despite her
stoic attitude. He showed a stoic resignation towards his fate. Stratum - one of the parts or layers into which
something is separated The report shows that drugs have penetrated every stratum of American society. Excavated
coins can often be dated from other objects in the same stratum. Stricture - a severe criticism, especially of somebody’s
behaviour She merely ignored any strictures on the way she dressed. The strictures of the United Nations have failed to
have any effect on the warring factions. Strife - violent or angry disagreement He led the union through
several years of labor strife. 20 years of civil strife have left the country's economy in ruins. Stringent - very strict and
that must be obeyed Safety standards were less stringent in those days. We need to introduce more
stringent security measures such as identity cards. Stymie - to prevent something from happening or someone
from achieving a purpose He found himself stymied by an old opponent. Financial difficulties have stymied the
company’s growth. Subjugate - to defeat somebody/something; to gain control over somebody/something Her
personal ambitions had been subjugated to (= considered less important than) the needs of her family. Reporters must
subjugate personal political convictions to their professional commitment to balance. Sublime - of very high quality or
great beauty The book has sublime descriptive passages. The location of the hotel is sublime. Subordinate - having
a lower or less important position The individual's needs are subordinate to those of the group. In some societies
women are still subordinate to men. Substantive - dealing with real, important or serious matters The report concluded
that no substantive changes were necessary. Substantive research on the subject needs to be carried out. Subtle - not
very obvious or easy to notice The room was painted a subtle shade of pink. There are subtle differences between the
two versions. Subversive - a person who tries to destroy or damage a government or political system by attacking it
secretly or indirectly He was a known political subversive. The FBI had the duty of obtaining evidence of
subversive activity. Succinct - expressed clearly and in a few words Keep your answers as succinct as possible.
Keep your letter succinct and to the point. Succumb - to not be able to fight an attack, a temptation, etc. They were all
offered bribes and some of them succumbed. She succumbed to the temptation of another drink. Supercilious -
behaving towards other people as if you think you are better than they are The dress shop assistant was very
supercilious. He spoke in a haughty, supercilious voice. Superficial - never thinking about things that
are serious or important The book shows only a superficial understanding of the historical context. The movie bears a
fairly superficial resemblance to the original novel. Superfluous - unnecessary or more than you need or want She gave
him a look that made words superfluous. The report was marred by a mass of superfluous detail. Surfeit - an amount
that is too large The country has a surfeit of cheap labour. Indigestion can be brought on by a surfeit of rich food.
Surreptitious - done secretly, without anyone seeing or knowing She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch. They
were seen leaving the premises in a surreptitious manner. Surrogate - replacing someone else or used instead of
something else For some people, reading travel books is a surrogate for actual travel. She saw him as a sort of surrogate
father. Sycophant - a person who praises important or powerful people too much and in a way that is not sincere,
especially in order to get something from them The prime minister is surrounded by sycophants. The advisers are
sycophants and they will never tell him to retire. Synthesis - the mixing of different ideas, influences, or things to make
a whole that is different, or new The artist’s work is a synthesis of different styles and techniques. Proteins are essential
to the synthesis of muscles and body tissue. Tacit - not expressing or talking about something directly or openly
The leader has plenty of tacit supporters worldwide, including a number in Europe. By tacit agreement, the subject was
never mentioned again. Taciturn - tending not to say very much, in a way that seems unfriendly He's a reserved,
taciturn person. The taciturn man sat alone at the bar. Tangential - having only a slight or indirect connection with
something The matter you raise is rather tangential to this discussion. During the student’s presentation, she was so
nervous her speech was filled with tangential thoughts that were not related to each other. Tangible - ​ that you can
touch or feel The tension between them was almost tangible. We need tangible evidence if we're going to
take legal action. Tantamount - having the same bad effect as something else If he resigned it would be tantamount to
admitting that he was guilty. Her silence was tantamount to an admission of guilt. Tautological - saying the same thing
twice in different words, when this is unnecessary The phrase “free gift” is tautological because all gifts are inherently
free. Using the phrase “true fact” is tautological because a fact is, by definition, true. Temerity - a willingness to do or
say something that shocks or upsets other people She had the temerity to call me a liar. Most patients do not have the
temerity to challenge their medical diagnosis. Temperate - neither very hot nor very cold In winter, the birds fly from
the Arctic to more temperate zones. These plants are only found in temperate regions. Tenable - easy to defend
against attack or criticism a tenable position His theory is no longer tenable in the light of the recent discoveries. The
old idea that this work was not suitable for women was no longer tenable. Tenacious - that does not stop holding
something or give up something easily; determined The baby took my finger in its tenacious little fist. The party has
kept its tenacious hold on power for more than twenty years. Tenet - one of the principles on which
a belief or theory is based This is one of the central tenets of their moral thinking. A major tenet of the
women’s movement has been that society needs their talents. Tentative - not definite or certain because you may want
to change it later We made a tentative arrangement to meet on Friday. We have tentative plans to go to Hawaii
in February. Tenuous - so weak or uncertain that it hardly exists His links with the organization turned out to be, at best,
tenuous. The police have only found a tenuous connection between the two robberies. Terse - using few words and
often not seeming polite or friendly He was shouting terse orders for vehicles to pull over. The president issued a terse
statement denying the charges. Theology - the study of religion and religious belief His theology studies focus on the
relationship between God and humanity. She is pursuing a degree in theology to become a minister. Tirade -
a long, angry speech expressing strong disapproval She launched into a tirade of abuse against politicians. My father’s
tirades against politicians were famous. Torpor - the state of not being active and having no energy or enthusiasm The
bear was in a state of torpor during the winter months. She fell into a deep torpor after the surgery. Touchstone -
an established standard or principle by which something is judged Perfect service is the touchstone of a fine restaurant.
Grammar was regarded as the touchstone of all language performance. Tout - to advertise, talk about,
or praise something or someone repeatedly, especially as a way of encouraging people to like, accept,
or buy something She's being touted as the next leader of the party. There were hundreds of taxis at the airport, all
touting for business/custom. Transcend - to be or go beyond the usual limits of something What we felt for each other
transcended all other emotions. The best films are those which transcend national or cultural barriers. Transgress - to
go beyond the limit of what is morally or legally acceptable They had transgressed the bounds of decency. Those are
the rules, and anyone who transgresses will be severely punished. Transient - lasting for only a short time; temporary
A glass of whisky has only a transient warming effect. The city has a large transient population. Trepidation - great
worry or fear about something unpleasant that may happen He knocked on the door with some trepidation.
We view future developments with some trepidation. Turpitude - very bad behaviour Theft is a crime involving moral
turpitude. In less than an hour, the judge decided to execute the killer for his moral turpitude. Ubiquitous -
found or existing everywhere Blue is derived from the ubiquitous indigo plant. The mobile phone, that most ubiquitous
of consumer-electronic appliances, is about to enter a new age. Unconscionable - morally unacceptable It would be
unconscionable for her to keep the money. To make people feel shame or guilt for being ill is unconscionable. Unctuous
- friendly or giving praise in a way that is not sincere and that is therefore unpleasant His impression of the president
was unctuous and poorly done. His unctuous hand gestures let everyone know he was upset about the encounter.
Uniform - the same; not changing or different in any way The office walls and furniture are a uniform grey.
Small businesses are demanding that they receive uniform treatment from the banks. Unremitting -
never stopping, becoming weaker, or failing He suffered from unremitting pain in his back. The soldiers faced
unremitting attacks from the enemy. Unwitting - not aware of what you are doing or of the situation you are involved in
The two women claimed they were the unwitting victims of
a drug dealer who planted a large quantity of heroin in their luggage. He became an unwitting accomplice in the crime.
Urbane - good at knowing what to say and how to behave in social situations; appearing relaxed and confident His
urbane manners impressed me. He was charming and urbane, full of witty conversation. Usurp - to take control of
a position of power, especially without having the right to Local control is being usurped by central government. He
attempted to usurp the principal's authority. Utilitarian - designed to be useful and practical rather than attractive Like
many factories, it's a very ugly utilitarian building. The old hospital was demolished in 1911 and replaced with a much
more utilitarian building. Utopia - an imaginary place or state in which everything is perfect No society can profess itself
to be a utopia. Their utopia is slowly turning into our dystopia. Vacillate - to keep changing your opinion or thoughts
about something, especially in a way that annoys other people The country’s leaders are still vacillating between
confrontation and compromise. The president continues to vacillate over foreign policy. Vapid - not showing interest or
intelligence The vapid conversation bored her. He's attractive, but vapid. Vehement - showing very strong feelings,
especially anger They launched a vehement attack on the government's handling of environmental issues. Venal -
prepared to do things that are not honest or moral in return for money They are accused of being involved in
venal practices. The venal police officer accepted the money the drug dealers gave him to look away from their illegal
deals. Venerate - to honour or very much respect a person or thing Robert Burns is Scotland's most venerated poet. The
monk was subsequently venerated as a saint. Veracity - the quality of being true; the habit of telling the truth They
questioned the veracity of her story. They had no reason to doubt his veracity. Verbose - using or containing more
words than are necessary He was a notoriously verbose after-dinner speaker. The editors received streams of verbose
articles from young hopeful journalists. Verisimilitude - the quality of seeming true or of having the appearance of
being real She has included photographs in the book to lend verisimilitude to the story. To add verisimilitude, the stage
is covered with sand for the desert scenes. Vernacular - the language spoken by ordinary people in a particular country
or region His vernacular identified him as a Frenchman. Because she spoke in the southern vernacular, she often used
the word “ya’ll” in conversation. Vestige - a small part of something that still exists after the rest of it has stopped
existing These old buildings are the last vestiges of a colonial past. The government has to remove any last vestiges of
corruption. Vicarious - felt or experienced by watching or reading about somebody else doing something, rather than
by doing it yourself He got a vicarious thrill out of watching his son score the winning goal. She took
vicarious pleasure in her friend's achievements. Vicissitude - one of the many changes and problems in a situation or in
your life, that you have to deal with The vicissitudes of life led the once positive man to become cynical and negative.
My vicissitude in college was tackling seven classes and a job. Vilify - to say or write unpleasant things about
somebody/something so that other people will have a low opinion of them They were vilified by the press as
‘international terrorists’. A campaign was mounted to vilify the leaders of the organization. Vindicate - to prove that
something is true or that you were right to do something, especially when other people had a different opinion I have
every confidence that this decision will be fully vindicated. The investigation vindicated her complaint about
the newspaper. Vindictive - having or showing a wish to harm someone because you think that
they harmed you; unwilling to forgive He accused her of being vindictive. She liked to believe that she wasn’t vindictive
by nature. Virtuoso - a person who shows very great skill at doing something, especially playing a musical instrument He
was a virtuoso violinist. Her retelling of The Comedy of Errors is virtuoso. Virulent - dangerous and spreading quickly, or
(of poison) having an effect very quickly A particularly virulent strain of flu has recently claimed a number of lives in
the region. Pestilence is a deadly or virulent epidemic disease. Visionary - original and showing the ability to think about
or plan the future with great imagination and intelligence She has long been recognized as a visionary leader in
the green technology sector. She was a visionary physician who was always thinking of better ways to care for her
patients in the future. Vitiate - to destroy or reduce the effect of something He said that
American military power should never again be vitiated by political concerns. The negative reviews could vitiate the
reputation of the restaurant. Vitriolic - full of anger and hate He does not deserve the vitriolic criticism he has received.
The newspaper launched a vitriolic attack on the president. Vocation - a type of work or way of life that you believe is
especially suitable for you She feels that she missed her vocation by not working with children. She struggled for years
to find her true vocation. Vociferous - expressing your opinions or feelings in a loud and confident way Opposition from
senior party members became increasingly vociferous. Local activist groups have become increasingly vociferous as
the volume of traffic passing through the village has increased. Volatile - changing easily from one mood to another He
was a very volatile character when playing. She was a more volatile personality than her sister. Volition - the power to
choose something freely or to make your own decisions His volition to succeed drove him to work tirelessly. The
student chose to study abroad of her own volition. Wanton - causing harm or damage deliberately and for no
acceptable reason He displayed a wanton disregard for the facts. She accused him of wanton betrayal and left him.
Willful - done deliberately, although the person doing it knows that it is wrong I think he showed a
willful disregard for safety. The man’s willful silence was a way to intentionally hurt his wife and avoid talking out their
issues. Wistful - thinking sadly about something that you would like to have, especially something in the past that you
can no longer have I thought about those days in Spain and grew wistful. I became wistful when I saw my ex-boyfriend
with his new love. Zealous - showing great energy and enthusiasm for something, especially because you feel strongly
about it He thought the reporters were too zealous in their attempts to get into the event. He congratulated the
participants for their zealous participation.