gre words list

1. aboveboard adjective: open and honest

Synonyms : straightforward

The mayor, despite his avuncular face plasteredabout the city, was hardly aboveboard - someconcluded that it was his ingratiating smile thatallowed him to engage in corrupt behavior and getaway with it.

2. abysmal adjective: extremely bad

Synonyms : abyssal , unfathomable

Coach Ramsey took his newest player off the fieldafter watching a few painful minutes of herabysmal performance.

3. acme noun: the highest point of achievement

Synonyms : elevation , height , meridian , peak ,pinnacle , summit , superlative , tiptop , top

The new Cessna airplanes will be the acme ofcomfort, offering reclining seats and amplelegroom.

4. adequate adjective: good enough for what you need

Synonyms : decent , enough

A very light jacket will be adequate for LosAngeles's warm winter.

5. advocate verb: speak, plead, or argue in favor of

Synonyms : preach

While the senator privately approved of gaymarriage, he was unwilling to advocate for thecause in a public venue.

noun: a person who pleads for a cause orpropounds an idea

Synonyms : advocator , exponent , proponent

Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate forthe rights of African-Americans in the UnitedStates.

This word has other definitions but these are themost important ones to study

6. affable adjective: likeable; easy to talk to

Synonyms : amiable , cordial , genial

For all his surface affability, Marco wasremarkably glum when he wasn't around otherpeople.

7. affluent adjective: wealthy

The center of the city had sadly become a pit ofpenury, while, only five miles away, multi-milliondollar homes spoke of affluence.

8. altruism noun: the quality of unselfish concern for thewelfare of others

Synonyms : selflessness

Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doingmissionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking noreward, apparently motivated only by altruism.

9. amiable adjective: friendly

Synonyms : affable , cordial , genial

Amy's name was very apt: she was so amiable thatshe was twice voted class president.

10. amply adverb: more than is adequate

Synonyms : fully

The boat was amply supplied for its year at sea - noman would go hungry or thirst.

11. amuck adverb: in a frenzied or uncontrolled state

Synonyms : amok , murderously

Wherever the bowl haircut teen-idol went, hislegions of screaming fans ran through the streetsamuck, hoping for a glance at his boyish face.

12. analogous adjective: similar in some respects but otherwisedifferent

Synonyms : correspondent

In many ways, the Internet's transformative effecton society has been analogous to that of theprinting press.

13. animosity noun: intense hostility

The governor's animosity toward his rival was onlyinflamed when the latter spread false lies regardingthe governor's first term.

14. antedate verb: precede in time

Synonyms : antecede , forego , forgo , precede ,predate, foredate

Harry was so unknowledgable that he was unawarethe Egyptian pharaohs antedated the AmericanRevolution.

Magoosh GRE Flashcards Basic All I - VIIStudy online at quizlet.com/_r2nxn

15. antiquated adjective: old-fashioned; belonging to anearlier period in time

Synonyms : antediluvian , archaic

Aunt Betty had antiquated notions aboutmarriage, believing that a man should court awoman for at least a year before receiving akiss.

16. apex noun: the highest point

Synonyms : acme , peak , vertex

The Ivy League is considered the apex of thesecondary education system.

17. aphorism noun: a short instructive saying about ageneral truth

Synonyms : apophthegm , apothegm

Nietzsche was known for using aphorisms,sometimes encapsulating a complexphilosophical thought in a mere sentence.

18. aphoristic adjective: something that is concise andinstructive of a general truth or principle

Sometimes I can't stand Nathan because hetries to impress everyone by being aphoristic,but he just states the obvious.

19. appreciable adjective: large enough to be noticed (usu.refers to an amount)

There is an appreciable difference betweenthose who say they can get the job done andthose who actually get the job done.

20. apprehension noun: fearful expectation

Synonyms : apprehensiveness , dread,misgiving

Test day can be one of pure apprehension, asmany students worry about their test scores.

21. archaic adjective: so old as to appear to belong to adifferent period

Synonyms : antediluvian , antiquated

Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke inarchaic English that was right out of JaneAusten's Pride and Prejudice--needless to say,she didn't have many friends.

22. ascendancy noun: the state that exists when one person orgroup has power over another

Synonyms : ascendance , ascendence ,ascendency , control , dominance

The ascendancy of the Carlsbad water poloteam is clear—they have a decade ofchampionships behind them.

23. ascribe verb: attribute or credit to

Synonyms : assign , attribute , impute

History ascribes The Odyssey and The Iliad toHomer, but scholars now debate whether hewas a historical figure or a fictitious name.

24. assail verb: attack in speech or writing

Synonyms : assault , attack , lash out , round ,snipe

In the weekly paper, the editor assailed thegovernor for wasting hundreds of thousandsof dollars in public projects that quicklyfailed.

25. assuage verb: make something intense less severe

Her fear that the new college would be filledwith unknown faces was assuaged when sherecognized her childhood friend standing inline.

26. augment verb: enlarge or increase; improve

Ideally, the restaurant's augmented menu willexpand its clientele and increase its profits.

27. autonomously adverb: In an autonomous or self-governingmanner.

Many of the factory workers are worried aboutbeing replaced by machines and computersthat will work completely autonomously.

28. avarice noun: greed (one of the seven deadly sins)

Synonyms : avaritia , covetousness , greed ,rapacity,avariciousness , covetousness ,cupidity

The Spanish conquistadors were known fortheir avarice, plundering Incan land andstealing Incan gold.

29. avert verb: turn away

Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, I avertedmy eyes as we drove by.

verb: ward off or prevent

Synonyms : avoid , debar , deflect , fend off , forefend ,forfend , head off , obviate , stave off , ward off

The struggling videogame company put all of itsfinances into one final, desperate project to avertbankruptcy.

30. avid adjective: marked by active interest and enthusiasm

Synonyms : zealous

Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking long hikesinto remote mountains to see some rare eagle.

31. badger verb: to pester

Synonyms : beleaguer , bug , pester , tease

Badgered by his parents to find a job, the 30-year-oldloafer instead joined a gang of itinerant musicians.

This word has other definitions but this is the mostimportant one to study

32. balk verb: refuse to comply

Synonyms : baulk , jib , resist

The students were willing to clean up the broken glass,but when the teacher asked them to mop the entirefloor, they balked, citing reasons why they needed toleave.

33. banish verb: expel from a community, residence, or location;drive away

Synonyms : ban , blackball , cast out , ostracise ,ostracize , shun

The most difficult part of the fast was banishingthoughts of food.This word has other definitions but this is the mostimportant one to study

34. beatific adjective: blissfully happy

Synonyms : angelic , angelical , sainted , saintlike ,saintly

Often we imagine all monks to wear the beatific smileof the Buddha, but, like any of us, a monk can have abad day and not look very happy.

35. becoming adjective: appropriate, and matches nicely

Synonyms : comely , comme il faut , decent ,decorous , seemly

Her dress was becoming and made her look evenmore beautiful.


36. begrudge verb: to envy someone for possessing or enjoyingsomething

Synonyms : resent

Sitting all alone in his room, Harvey begrudged thehappiness of the other children playing outside hiswindow.verb: to give reluctantly

We never begrudge money spent on ourselves.

37. behooves verb: to be one's duty or obligation

The teacher looked down at the student and said, "Itwould behoove you to be in class on time andcomplete your homework, so that you don't repeatfreshman English for a third straight year."

38. belittle verb: lessen the importance, dignity, or reputation of

Synonyms : diminish,denigrate , derogate ,minimize

A good teacher will never belittle his students, butwill instead empower them.

39. bellicose adjective: warlike; inclined to quarrel

Synonyms : battleful , combative

Known for their bellicose ways, the Spartans wereonce the most feared people from Peloponnesus toPersia.

40. benign adjective: kind

I remember my grandfather's face was wrinkled,benign, and calm.

adjective: (medicine) not dangerous to health; notrecurrent or progressive

The tumor located in your ear lobe seems to bebenign and should not cause you any trouble.

41. besiege verb: harass, as with questions or requests; cause tofeel distressed or worried

Synonyms : beleaguer , circumvent , hem in ,surround

After discovering a priceless artifact in herbackyard, Jane was besieged by phone calls, emails,and reporters all trying to buy, hold or see the rarepiece of history.

42. besmirch verb: damage the good name and reputation ofsomeone

Synonyms : asperse , calumniate , defame ,denigrate , slander , smear , smirch , sully

The prince's distasteful choice of words besmirchednot only his own name, but the reputation of theentire royal family.

43. bleak adjective: having a depressing or gloomy outlook

Synonyms : bare , barren , desolate , stark

Unremitting overcast skies tend to lead people tocreate bleak literature and lugubrious music -compare England's band Radiohead to any bandfrom Southern California.

44. boon noun: a desirable state

Synonyms : blessing

Modern technology has been a boon to the travelindustry.adjective: very close and convivial

He was a boon companion to many, and will besadly missed.

45. boorish adjective: ill-mannered and coarse or contemptiblein behavior or appearance

Synonyms : loutish , neandertal , neanderthal ,oafish , swinish

Bukowski was known for being a boorish drunkand alienating close friends and family.

46. brusquely adverb: in a blunt, direct manner

Synonyms : bluffly , bluntly , flat out , roundly

Not one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staffwould brusquely ask his subordinates anything hewanted, even coffee.

47. buck verb: resist

Synonyms : go against

The profits at our firm bucked the generaldownturn that affected the real estate industry.

48. buttress verb: make stronger or defensible

China's economy has been buttressed by a globaldemand for the electronic parts the countrymanufactures.

49. cadaverous adjective: emaciated; gaunt

Synonyms : bony ,haggard , pinched , skeletal ,wasted

Some actors take challenging roles in which theyhave to lose so much weight that they appearcadaverous.

50. candid adjective: a straightforward and honest look atsomething

Synonyms : blunt , forthright , frank , free-spoken ,outspoken , plainspoken , point-blank , straight-from-the-shoulder

Even with a perfect stranger, Charles was alwayscandid and would rarely hold anything back.

51. candidness noun: the quality of being honest andstraightforward in attitude and speech

Synonyms : candor , candour , directness ,forthrightness , frankness

Although I was unhappy that the relationshipended, I appreciated her candidness about why shewas ready to move on from the relationship.

52. cardinal adjective: of primary importance; fundamental

Synonyms : central , fundamental , key , primal

Most cultures consider gambling a cardinal sinand thus have outlawed its practice.

This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

53. carping adjective: persistently petty and unjustifiedcriticism

Synonyms : faultfinding

What seemed like incessant nagging and carpingabout my behavior from my mother turned out tobe wise and useful advice that has served me well.

54. catalyst noun: something that speeds up an event

Synonyms : accelerator

Rosa Park's refusal to give up her bus seat actedas a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement,setting into motion historic changes for African-Americans.

55. cavalier adjective: given to haughty disregard of others

Synonyms : high-handed

Percy dismissed the issue with a cavalier wave ofhis hand.

56. censor verb: to examine and remove objectionablematerial

Synonyms : ban

Every fall, high school English teachers areinundated by requests to censor their curriculum byremoving The Catcher in the Rye and Scarlet Letterfrom their reading lists.noun: an official who censors material

The censor insisted that every reference to drugsshould be removed from the manuscript.

57. cerebral adjective: involving intelligence rather thanemotions or instinct

Synonyms : intellectual

A cerebral analysis of most pop music finds it to besimple and childish, but that ignores the point--themusic's effect on the listener.


58. champion verb: to fight for a cause

Synonyms : defend

Martin Luther King Jr. championed civil rightsfiercely throughout his short life.


59. chauvinist noun: a person who believes in the superiority oftheir group

Synonyms : flag-waver , hundred-percenter , jingo ,jingoist , patrioteer

The chauvinist lives on both sides of the politicalspectrum, outright shunning anybody whose ideasare not consistent with his own.

60. check verb: to limit (usually modifying the growth ofsomething)

Deserted for six months, the property began to lookmore like a jungle and less like a residence - weedsgrew unchecked in the front yard

noun: the condition of being held back or limited

When government abuses are not kept in check,that government is likely to become autocratic.

This word has other definitions but these are themost important ones to study

61. checkered adjective: one that is marked by disreputablehappenings

One by one, the presidential candidates droppedout of the race, their respective checkered pasts -from embezzlement to infidelity - sabotaging theircampaigns.


62. chivalrous adjective: being attentive to women like an idealknight

Synonyms : gallant , knightly

Marco's chivalrous ways, like opening doors andpulling out chairs, was much appreciated by hisdate.

63. clemency noun: leniency and compassion shown towardoffenders by a person or agency charged withadministering justice

Synonyms : mercifulness , mercy

In the final moments of the trial, during his closingspeech, Phillips was nearly begging the judge forclemency.

64. coalesce verb: fuse or cause to grow together

Synonyms : blend , combine , commingle , conflate ,flux , fuse , immix , meld , merge , mix

Over time, the various tribes coalesced into a singlecommon culture with one universal language.

65. cogent adjective: clear and persuasive

Synonyms : telling , weighty

A cogent argument will change the minds of eventhe most skeptical audience.

66. cohesive adjective: well integrated, forming a united whole

A well-written, cohesive essay will keep on topic atall times, never losing sight of the main argument.

67. collusion noun: agreement on a secret plot

Synonyms : connivance

Many have argued that Lee Harvey Oswald,JFK's assassin, was in collusion with othercriminals; others maintain that Oswald wasa lone gunman.

68. colossal adjective: so great in size or force or extentas to elicit awe

Synonyms : prodigious , stupendous

Few appreciate the colossal scale of the sun:if hollow, it could contain a million Earths.

69. commendable adjective: worthy of high praise

Synonyms : applaudable , laudable ,praiseworthy

The efforts of the firefighters running intothe burning building were commendable.

70. complacent adjective: contented to a fault with oneself orone's actions

Synonyms : self-complacent , self-satisfied

After the water polo team won their sixthchampionship, they became complacent anddidn't even make it to the playoffs the nextyear.

71. complementary adjective: enhancing each other's qualities(for two things or more).

Synonyms : complemental , completing

The head waiter was careful to tell theamateur diners that red wine wascomplementary with beef, each bringing outsubtle taste notes in the other.

72. compound verb: make more intense, stronger, or moremarked

Synonyms : deepen , heighten , intensify

Her headache was compounded by theconstruction crew outside, which had sixjackhammers going at the same time.This word has other definitions but this isthe most important one to study

73. conducive adjective: making a situation or outcomemore likely to happen

Studying in a quiet room is conducive tolearning; studying in a noisy environmentmakes learning more difficult.

74. conniving verb: taking part in immoral and unethicalplots

The queen was so conniving that, with the helpof the prince, she tried to overthrow the king.

75. consecrate verb: to make holy or set apart for a highpurpose

Synonyms : bless , hallow , sanctify

At the church of Notre Dame in France, thenew High Altar was consecrated in 1182.

76. constraint noun: something that limits or restricts

Synonyms : restraint

We don't have many resources, so we'll have towork with some very tight constraints.

77. consummate adjective: having or revealing suprememastery or skill

Synonyms : masterful , masterly , virtuoso

Tyler was the consummate musician: he wasable to play the guitar, harmonica, and thedrum at the same time.

verb: to make perfect and complete in everyrespect

The restoration of the ancient church was onlyconsummated after a twenty years of labor.

This word has other definitions but these arethe most important ones to study

78. contemptuous adjective: scornful, looking down at otherswith a sneering attitude

Synonyms : disdainful , insulting , scornful

Always on the forefront of fashion, Vanessalooked contemptuously at anyone wearingdated clothing.

79. contrite adjective: to be remorseful

Synonyms : remorseful , rueful , ruthful

Though he stole his little sister's licorice stickwith malevolent glee, Chucky soon becamecontrite when his sister wouldn't stop crying.

80. conundrum noun: a difficult problem

Synonyms : brain-teaser , enigma , riddle

Computers have helped solve some of themathematical conundrums which havepuzzled man for many centuries.

81. convivial adjective: describing a lively atmosphere

The wedding reception was convivial; friendswho hadn't seen each other for ages drank andate together before heading to the dance floor.

82. convoluted adjective: highly complex or intricate

Synonyms : byzantine , involved , knotty ,tangled , tortuous

Instead of solving the math problem in threesimple steps, Kumar used a convoluted solutionrequiring fifteen steps.

83. cornucopia noun: an abundant supply of something good

Synonyms : profuseness , profusion , richness

The International Food Expo was a cornucopiaof culinary delights: gourmet foods from everycontinent were under one roof.

84. corroborate verb: to confirm or lend support to (usually anidea or claim)

Synonyms : affirm , confirm , substantiate ,sustain,bear out , support , underpin

Her claim that frog populations were fallingprecipitously in Central America wascorroborated by locals, who reported thatmany species of frogs had seemingly vanishedovernight.

85. cosmopolitan adjective: comprising many cultures; global inreach and outlook

Synonyms : ecumenical , general , oecumenical ,universal , world-wide , worldwide

There are few cities in the world as diverse andcosmopolitan as New York.

86. credence noun: belief in something

He placed no credence in psychics, claimingthat they offered no special powers beyond theability to make people part with their money.

87. creditable adjective: deserving of praise but not thatamazing

Critics agreed the movie was creditable, butfew gave it more than three out of five stars.

88. credulity noun: tendency to believe readily

Virginia's wide-eyed credulity as a five-year oldwas replaced by suspicion after she learnedthat Santa Claus didn't really exist.

89. cumbersome adjective: difficult to handle or use especiallybecause of size or weight

Synonyms : cumbrous

Only ten years ago, being an avid reader and atraveler meant carrying a cumbersomebackpack stuffed with books--these days weneed only an e-reader.

90. dearth noun: a lack or shortage

Synonyms : famine , shortage,paucity

I am surprised by the dearth of fast food chains;this is America and I assumed they were onevery street.

91. debase verb: reduce the quality or value of something

Synonyms : adulterate , dilute , load , stretch

The third-rate script so debased the film thatnot even the flawless acting could save it frombeing a flop.

92. debunk verb: expose as false ideas and claims,especially while ridiculing

Synonyms : expose

Richard Dawkins tries to debunk religiousbelief, but his ridicule tends to push people awayfrom his points rather than convince them.

93. decimation noun: destroying or killing a large part of thepopulation

The decimation after atomic bombs weredropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki isincomprehensible.

94. degrade verb: reduce in worth or character, usuallyverbally

Synonyms : demean , disgrace , put down , takedown

Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy'sfaults in front of their friends, publiclydegrading the poor girl.

95. delegate verb: give an assignment to (a person)

Synonyms : assign , depute , designate

Since the senior manager had to go on manyinternational business trips, she was forced todelegate many of her responsibilities to twolower-level managers.


96. deliberate verb: think about carefully; weigh the pros andcons of an issue

Synonyms : consider , debate , moot , turn over

Emergency situations such as this call forimmediate action and leave no room to deliberateover options.


97. demean verb: to insult; to cause someone to lose dignity orrespect

Synonyms : degrade , disgrace , put down , takedown

At first the soccer players bantered back and forth,but as soon as one of the players becamedemeaning, calling the other's mother a waterbuffalo, the ref whipped out a red card.

98. demure adjective: to be modest and shy

Synonyms : coy , overmodest

The portrait of her in a simple white blouse wassweet and demure.

99. deride verb: treat or speak of with contempt

The nun derided the students for trying to sneakinsects and worms into the classroom.

100. derisive adjective: abusing vocally; expressing contemptor ridicule

Synonyms : gibelike , jeering , mocking , taunting

I was surprised by her derisive tone; usually, sheis sweet, soft spoken, and congenial.

101. derogative adjective: expressed as worthless or in negativeterms

Synonyms : derogatory , disparaging

Never before have we seen a debate between twopolitical candidates that was so derogative andfilthy.

102. desecrate verb: to willfully violate or destroy a sacred place

Synonyms : outrage , profane , violate

After desecrating the pharaoh's tomb, thearchaeologist soon fell victim to a horribleillness.

103. destitute adjective: poor enough to need help from others

Synonyms : impoverished , indigent , necessitous, needy , poverty-stricken

Jean Valjean, is at first destitute, but through thegrace of a priest, he makes something of his life.

adjective: completely wanting or lacking(usually "destitute of")

Synonyms : barren , devoid , free , innocent

Now that the mine is closed, the town is destituteof any economic activity.

104. deter verb: turn away from by persuasion

Synonyms : dissuade

His mother tried to deter him from joining thearmy, but he was too intoxicated with the idea ofwar to listen.

verb: try to prevent; show opposition to

Synonyms : discourage

The government's primary job should involvedeterring paths to war, not finding ways to startthem.

105. detrimental adjective: (sometimes followed by "to") causingharm or injury

Synonyms : damaging , prejudicial ,prejudicious

Many know that smoking is detrimental to yourhealth, but processed sugar in large quantities isequally bad.

106. devolve verb: pass on or delegate to another

Synonyms : degenerate , deteriorate , drop

The company was full of managers known fordevolving tasks to lower management, but neverdoing much work themselves.verb: grow worse (usually "devolve into")

The dialogue between the two academicsdevolved into a downright bitter argument.

107. diabolical adjective: to be extremely wicked like the devil

Synonyms : demonic , diabolic , fiendish , hellish, infernal , satanic , unholy,devilish , diabolic ,mephistophelean , mephistophelian

The conspirators, willing to dispatch anyonewho stood in their way, hatched a diabolicalplan to take over the city.

108. differentiate verb: be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait(sometimes in positive sense)

Synonyms : distinguish , mark

Mozart's long melodic lines differentiate hiscompositions from other works of late 18thcentury music.

verb: evolve so as to lead to a new species ordevelop in a way most suited to the environment

Synonyms : specialise , specialize , speciate

Animals on Madagascar differentiated fromother similar animal species due to many yearsof isolation on the island.

109. dilapidated adjective: in terrible condition

Synonyms : bedraggled , broken-down , derelict, ramshackle , tatterdemalion , tumble-down

The main house has been restored but thegazebo is still dilapidated and unuseable.

110. diligent adjective: characterized by care andperseverance in carrying out tasks

Synonyms : persevering

Michael was a diligent gardener, never leavinga leaf on the ground and regularly wateringeach plant.

111. discord noun: lack of agreement or harmony

Synonyms : strife

Despite all their talented players, the team wasfilled with discord--some players refused totalk to others--and lost most of their games.

112. discreet adjective: careful to protect one's speech oractions in order to avoid offense or gain anadvantage

The professor thought that he was discreet,subtly wiping the stain off of his shirt, but assoon as he stepped off the podium a member ofthe audience pointed out the large ketchupstain.

113. discriminate verb: recognize or perceive the difference

Synonyms : know apart,separate

Sarah couldn't discriminate between a goodwine and a bad wine, so she avoided winetastings.


114. disenfranchise verb: deprive of voting rights

Synonyms : disfranchise

The U.S. Constitution disenfranchisedwomen until 1920 when they were given theright to vote.

115. disheartened adjective: made less hopeful or enthusiastic

Synonyms : demoralised , demoralized ,discouraged

After the visiting team scored nine times, thehome team's fans were disheartened, someleaving the game early.

116. disparate adjective: two things are fundamentallydifferent

With the advent of machines capable oflooking inside the brain, fields as disparateas religion and biology have been broughttogether by scientists trying to understandwhat happens in the brain when people havea religious experience.

117. dispatch noun: the property of being prompt andefficient

Synonyms : despatch , expedition ,expeditiousness

She finished her thesis with dispatch,amazing her advisors who couldn't believeshe hadn't written 60 scholarly pages soquickly.

verb: dispose of rapidly and without delayand efficiently

As soon as the angry peasants stormed thecastle, they caught the king and swiftlydispatched him.

This word has other definitions but these arethe most important ones to study

118. docile adjective: easily handled or managed;willing to be taught or led or supervised ordirected

Synonyms : gentle

Barnyard animals are considerably moredocile than the wild animals.

119. dog verb: to pursue relentlessly; to hound

Synonyms : chase , chase after , give chase , go after ,tag , tail , track , trail

Throughout his life, he was dogged by insecuritiesthat inhibited personal growth.


120. dupe verb: to trick or swindle

Synonyms : befool , cod , fool , gull , put on , put oneacross , put one over , slang , take in

Once again a get-rich-fast Internet scheme hadduped Harold into submitting a $5,000 check to asham operation.

noun: a person who is easily tricked or swindled

Synonyms : victim

The charlatan mistook the crowd for a bunch ofdupes, but the crowd was quickly on to him anddecried his bald-faced attempt to bilk them.

121. eccentric adjective: highly unconventional or unusual(usually describes a person)

Synonyms : eccentric person , flake , geek , oddball

Mozart was well-known for his eccentricities, oftenspeaking words backward to confuse those aroundhim.

122. egotist noun: a conceited and self-centered person

Synonyms : egoist , swellhead

An egotist, Natasha had few friends because of herinability to talk about anything except her dream ofbecoming the next American Idol.

123. eke verb: To live off meager resources, to scrape by

Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was ableto eke out an existence on canned food.

124. elaborate adjective: marked by complexity and richness ofdetail

Synonyms : luxuriant

Thomas, on returning from Morocco, replacedhis dirty gray carpet with an elaborate one he'dbrought back with him.

verb: explain in more detail

Synonyms : dilate , enlarge , expand , expatiate ,exposit , expound , flesh out , lucubrate

Most high school physics teachers findthemselves elaborating the same point over andover again, since many concepts confuse students.

125. elude verb: escape understanding

Synonyms : bilk , evade

Even a basic understanding of physics can eludemost high schools students.

126. elusive adjective: difficult to capture or difficult toremember

Synonyms : baffling , knotty , problematic ,problematical , tough

Many first time skydivers say that describing theact of falling from the sky is elusive.

127. embellish verb: make more attractive by adding ornament,colour, etc.; make more beautiful

Synonyms : adorn , beautify , decorate , grace ,ornament , fancify , prettify

McCartney would write relativelystraightforward lyrics, and Lennon wouldembellish them with puns and poetic images.

128. embroiled adjective: involved in argument or contention

Synonyms : entangled

These days we are never short of a D.C. politicianembroiled in scandal—a welcome phenomenonfor those who, having barely finished feasting onthe sordid details of one imbroglio, can sink theirteeth into a fresh one.

129. empathetic adjective: showing understanding and readycomprehension of other peoples' states andemotions

Synonyms : empathic

Most discrimination and hatred is based on alack of empathetic awareness of people that havethe same aspirations and fears.

130. emulate verb: strive to equal or match, especially byimitating; compete with successfully

To really become fluent in a new language,emulate the speech patterns and intonation ofpeople who speak the language.

131. endemic adjective: native; originating where it is found

Synonyms : autochthonal , autochthonic ,autochthonous , indigenous

Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, butironically, the potato is not endemic to Ireland.

132. enmity noun: a state of deep-seated ill-will

Synonyms : antagonism , hostility

Charles rude remark toward Sarah yesterday wasdue to his illness, not due to any real enmitytoward Sarah.

133. entice verb: get someone to do something through (oftenfalse or exaggerated) promises

Synonyms : lure , tempt

Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on avacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on thebeach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.

134. enumerate verb: determine the number or amount of

Synonyms : count , number , numerate

The survey enumerates the number of happyworkers and the number of unhappy workers.

verb: specify individually, one by one

Synonyms : itemise , itemize , recite

I sat and listened as she enumerated all of thethings she did not like about the past threemonths.

135. err verb: to make an error

Synonyms : mistake , slip

He erred in thinking that "indigent" and"indignant" were synonyms.

136. errant adjective: to be wandering; not sticking to acircumscribed path

Unlike his peers, who spent their hours studyingin the library, Matthew preferred errant walksthrough the university campus.

137. erratic adjective: unpredictable; strange andunconventional

Synonyms : fickle , mercurial , quicksilver

It came as no surprise to pundits that thePresident's attempt at re-election floundered;even during his term, support for his policieswas erratic, with an approval rating jumpinganywhere from 30 to 60 percent.

138. euphoria noun: a feeling of great (usually exaggerated)elation

Synonyms : euphory

The euphoria of winning her first gold medal inthe 100 meter dash overwhelmed Shelly-AnnFraser and she wept tears of immense joy.

139. evasive adjective: avoiding or escaping from difficultyor danger or commitment

His responses were clearly evasive; he obviouslydid not want to take on any responsibility or anynew work.

adjective: deliberately vague or ambiguous

Every time I call the bank, I receive the sameevasive answers about our mortgage and neverget a clear response.

140. evenhanded adjective: without partiality

Teachers often have trouble being evenhanded toall of their varied students.

141. exasperate verb: to irritate intensely

Synonyms : aggravate , exacerbate , exacerbate ,worsen, incense , infuriate

As a child, I exasperated my mother withstrings of never-ending questions.

142. excruciating adjective: extremely painful

Synonyms : agonising , agonizing , harrowing ,torturesome , torturing , torturous

After the boulder rolled a couple of feet, pinningmy friend's arm, he experienced excruciatingpain.

143. exemplify verb: be characteristic of

Synonyms : represent

Lincoln exemplified the best of not only America,but also the potential greatness that existswithin each person.

verb: clarify by giving an example of

Synonyms : illustrate , instance

Please present some case studies that exemplifythe results that you claim in your paper.

144. exhort verb: to strongly urge on; encourage

Synonyms : barrack , cheer , inspire , pep up ,root on , urge , urge on

Nelson's parents exhorted him to study medicine,urging him to choose a respectable profession;intransigent, Nelson left home to become agraffiti artist.

145. extenuating adjective: making less guilty or more forgivable

The jury was hardly moved by the man's pleathat his loneliness was an extenuating factor inhis crime of dognapping a prized pooch.

146. facetious adjective: cleverly amusing in tone

Synonyms : bantering , tongue-in-cheek

Facetious behavior will not be tolerated duringsex eduation class; it's time for all of you to treatthese matters like mature adults.

147. fawn verb: try to gain favor by extreme flattery

Synonyms : bootlick , kotow , kowtow , suck up ,toady , truckle

The media fawned over the handsome new CEO,praising his impeccable sense of style instead ofasking more pointed questions.

148. ferret verb: to search for something persistently

Synonyms : ferret out

Ever the resourceful lexicographer, Fenton wasable to ferret out the word origin of highlyobscure words.


149. fete verb: to celebrate a person

Synonyms : celebrate

After World War II, war heroes were feted at firstbut quickly forgotten.

150. fickle adjective: liable to sudden unpredictable change,esp. in affections or attachments

Synonyms : erratic , mercurial , quicksilver

She was so fickle in her politics, it was hard topinpoint her beliefs; one week she would embrace aside, and the next week she would denounce it.

151. finagle verb: achieve something by means of trickery ordevious methods

Synonyms : manage , wangle

Steven was able to finagle one of the last seats on thetrain by convincing the conductor that his torn stubwas actually a valid ticket.

152. fledgling adjective: young and inexperienced; describing anynew participant in some activity

Synonyms : callow , unfledged,entrant , fledgeling ,freshman , neophyte , newbie , newcomer , starter,

Murray has years of experience in family practice,but he is just a fledgling in surgery.

153. fleece verb: to deceive

Synonyms : gazump , hook , overcharge , pluck ,plume , rob , soak , surcharge

Many people have been fleeced by Internet scamsand never received their money back.


154. flounder verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties

Synonyms : stagger

Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, butironically, when she has deal with taxes, sheflounders.

155. flush adjective: to be in abundance

Synonyms : bloom , blossom , efflorescence , flower ,heyday , peak , prime

The exam's passage is flush with difficult words,words that you may have learned only yesterday.


156. foible noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive andpeculiar to an individual

Synonyms : idiosyncrasy , mannerism

When their new roommate sat staring at an oaktree for an hour, Marcia thought it indicated amental problem, but Jeff assured her it was aharmless foible.

157. foolhardy adjective: marked by defiant disregard for dangeror consequences

Synonyms : heady , rash , reckless

The police regularly face dangerous situations, sofor a police officer not to wear his bullet-proofvest is foolhardy.

158. forthright adjective: characterized by directness in manneror speech; without subtlety or evasion

Synonyms : blunt , candid , frank , free-spoken ,outspoken , plainspoken , point-blank , straight-from-the-shoulder

I did not expect the insurance agent to give us anystraight answers, but I was pleasantly surprisedby how forthright he was.

159. futile adjective: producing no result or effect;unproductive of success

Synonyms : ineffectual , otiose ,unavailing,bootless , fruitless , sleeveless , vain

I thought I could repair the car myself, but aftertwo days of work with no success, I have to admitthat my efforts were futile.

160. genial adjective: agreeable, conducive to comfort

Synonyms : kind

Betty is a genial young woman: everyone she meetsis put at ease by her elegance and grace.

161. genteel adjective: marked by refinement in taste andmanners

Synonyms : civilised , civilized , cultivated ,cultured , polite

A live string quartet would provide a more genteelair to the wedding than would a folk singer.

162. glean verb: collect information bit by bit

Synonyms : harvest , reap

Herb has given us no formal statement about hisbackground, but from various hints, I havegleaned that he grew up in difficult circumstances

163. glib adjective: (of a person) speaking with ease butwithout sincerity

Synonyms : pat , slick

I have found that the more glib the salesman, theworse the product.

164. goad verb: urge on with unpleasant comments

Synonyms : prick,needle

Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim,through a steady stream of taunts, goaded himinto signing up for it.

165. grovel verb: show submission or fear

Synonyms : cower , crawl , creep , cringe , fawn

Every time Susan comes to the office, Frankgrovels as if she were about to fire.

166. guffaw verb: laugh boisterously

Synonyms : laugh loudly

Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mockpain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow,fang-like teeth.

167. hamper verb: prevent the progress or free movement of

Synonyms : cramp , halter , strangle

As the rain water began to collect in pools on thehighway, it began to hamper the flow of traffic.


168. hamstrung verb: made ineffective or powerless

The FBI has made so many restrictions on thelocal police that they are absolutely hamstrung,unable to accomplish anything.

169. heyday noun: the pinnacle or top of a time period orcareer

Synonyms : bloom , blossom , efflorescence ,flower , flush , peak , prime

During the heyday of Prohibition, bootlegginghad become such a lucrative business that manywho had been opposed to the 18th Amendmentbegan to fear it would be repealed.

170. hodgepodge noun: a confusing mixture or jumble

Synonyms : farrago , gallimaufry , hotchpotch ,melange , mingle-mangle , mishmash ,oddments , odds and ends , omnium-gatherum ,ragbag

Those in attendance represented a hodgepodgeof the city's denizens: chimney sweepers could beseen sitting elbow to elbow with stockbrokers.

171. hound verb: to pursue relentlessly

Synonyms : hunt , trace

An implacable foe of corruption, Eliot Nesshounded out graft in all forms - he even helpednab Al Capone.


172. humdrum adjective: dull and lacking excitement

Synonyms : commonplace , prosaic ,unglamorous , unglamourous,monotonous

Having grown up in a humdrum suburb, Jacobrelished life in New York City after moving.

173. illicit adjective: contrary to or forbidden by law

Synonyms : illegitimate , outlaw , outlawed ,unlawful

Though Al Capone was engaged in many illicitactivities, he was finally arrested for income taxevasion, a relatively minor offense.

174. immaterial adjective: not relevant

Synonyms : extraneous , impertinent ,orthogonal, incorporeal

The judge found the defendant's commentsimmaterial to the trial, and summarilydismissed him from the witness stand.

175. impeccable adjective: without fault or error

Synonyms : faultless , immaculate

He was impeccably dressed in the latest fashionwithout a single crease or stain.

176. impede verb: be a hindrance or obstacle to

Synonyms : hinder,block , close up , jam ,obstruct , obturate , occlude

Since the police sergeant had to train the pair ofnew hires, progress in his own case wasimpeded.

177. impending adjective: close in time; about to occur

Synonyms : at hand , close at hand , imminent, impendent

The impending doom of our world has been adiscussed and debated for 2000 years - maybeeven longer.

178. impermeable adjective: does not allow fluids to passthrough

The sand bags placed on the river formed animpermeable barrier, protecting the townfrom flooding.

179. implicate verb: convey a meaning; imply

Synonyms : entail

By saying that some of the guests wereuncomfortable, the manager implicated to thehotel staff that it needed to be more dilligent.

verb: to indicate in wrongdoing, usually acrime

The crime boss was implicated for a long listof crimes, ranging from murder to disturbingthe peace.

180. imponderable adjective: impossible to estimate or figure out

According to many lawmakers, the hugevariety of factors affecting society makedevising an efficient healthcare system animponderable task.

181. impregnable adjective: immune to attack; incapable ofbeing tampered with

Synonyms : inviolable , secure , strong ,unassailable , unattackable

As a child, Amy would build pillow castlesand pretend they were impregnable fotresses.

182. inadvertent adjective: happening by chance orunexpectedly or unintentionally

Synonyms : accidental

Although Prohibition was rooted in nobleideals, the inadvertent and costlyconsequences of making alcohol illegal in theU.S. led its the repeal.

183. inarticulate adjective: without or deprived of the use ofspeech or words

Synonyms : unarticulate

Although a brilliant economist, Professor Blackwas completely inarticulate, a terrible lecturer.

184. incense verb: make furious

Synonyms : exasperate , infuriate

When Herb bought football tickets for a game onthe day of their wedding anniversary, Jill wasincensed.


185. incessant adjective: uninterrupted in time and indefinitelylong continuing

Synonyms : ceaseless , constant , never-ending ,perpetual , unceasing , unremitting

I don't mind small children in brief doses, but Ithink the incessant exposure that their parentshave to them would quickly wear me down.

186. inclement adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy

After a week of inclement weather, we finally areable to go outside and enjoy the sun.

adjective: used of persons or behavior; showingno mercy

Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, wasinclement to Christians during his reign,persecuting them violently.

187. incumbent adjective: necessary (for someone) as a duty orresponsibility

Middle managers at times make importantdecisions, but real responsibility for thefinancial well-being of the corporation isultimately incumbent on the CEO.

188. indict verb: to formally charge or accuse of wrong-doing

The bankrobber was indicted on several majorcharges, including possession of a firearm.

189. indigenous adjective: originating in a certain area

Synonyms : autochthonal , autochthonic ,autochthonous , endemic

The plants and animals indigenous to Australiaare notably different from those indigenous tothe U.S - one look at a duckbill platypus and youknow you're not dealing with an opossum.

190. indignant adjective: feeling anger over a perceivedinjustice

Synonyms : incensed , outraged , umbrageous

When the cyclist swerved into traffic, it forcedthe driver to brake and elicited an indignantshout of "Hey, punk, watch where you're going!"

191. industrious adjective: characterized by hard work andperseverance

Synonyms : hardworking , tireless , untiring

Pete was an industrious student, completingevery assignment thoroughly and on time.

192. inflammable adjective: extremely controversial, incendiary

It only takes one person to leave aninflammable comment on an Internet threadfor that thread to blow up into pages uponpages of reader indignation.

193. ingenuity noun: the power of creative imagination

Synonyms : cleverness , ingeniousness ,inventiveness

Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he wasable to fashion his son Icarus with a pair ofwings, using wax to hold them together.

194. inkling noun: a slight suggestion or vagueunderstanding

Synonyms : glimmer , glimmering , intimation

Lynne speaks four Romance languages, but shedoesn't have an inkling about how East Asianlanguages are structured.

195. insipid adjective: dull and uninteresting

Synonyms : bland , flat , flavorless , flavourless ,savorless , savourless , vapid

The movie director was known for hiringbeautiful actors in order to deflect attentionaway from the insipid scripts he would typicallyuse.

196. insolvent adjective: unable to pay one's bills; bankrupt

With credit card bills skyrocketing, ashockingly large number of Americans are trulyinsolvent.

197. intermittent adjective: stopping and starting at irregularintervals

The intermittent thunder continued and thenight was punctuated by cracks of lightning - asurreal sleepless night.

198. inundate verb: to flood or overwhelm

Synonyms : deluge , submerge, flood , swamp

The newsroom was inundated with false reportsthat only made it more difficult for thenewscasters to provide an objective account of thebank robbery.

199. irascible adjective: quickly aroused to anger

Synonyms : choleric , hot-tempered , hotheaded ,quick-tempered , short-tempered

If Arthur's dog is not fed adequately, he becameshighly irascible, even growling at his own shadow.

200. irk verb: irritate or vex

Synonyms : gall

My little sister has a way of irking and annoyingme like no other person.

201. irresolute adjective: uncertain how to act or proceed

He stood irresolute at the split in the trail, not surewhich route would lead back to the camp.

202. jargon noun: a characteristic language of a particulargroup

Synonyms : argot , cant , lingo , patois , slang ,vernacular

To those with little training in medicine, thejargon of doctors can be very difficult tounderstand.

203. jocular adjective: characterized by jokes and good humor

Synonyms : jesting , jocose , joking

My uncle was always in a jocular mood at familygatherings, messing up people's hair and tellingknock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen.

204. junta noun: an aggressive takeover by a group (usuallymilitary)

As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is, someanalysts believe that were a junta suddenly to gainpower, it could be even more unpredictable andbellicose than the current leadership

205. label noun: a name or phrase given to a group of thingsto identify them (often negative)

verb: to give a label to something

Synonyms : mark , tag

The meaning of the label ""punk"" has changedgreatly in the last 30 years.

Children are often unkind and label others wholook different as outsiders.

206. laborious adjective: characterized by effort to the point ofexhaustion; especially physical effort

Synonyms : arduous , backbreaking , grueling ,gruelling , hard , heavy , operose , punishing ,toilsome

The most laborious job I've had was working 20hours a day as a fisherman in King Salmon,Alaska.

207. leery adjective: openly distrustful and unwilling toconfide

Synonyms : mistrustful , suspicious , untrusting ,wary

Without checking his references and talking toprevious employers, I am leery of hiring thecandidate.

208. lethargic adjective: lacking energy

Synonyms : unenrgetic

Nothing can make a person more lethargic than abig turkey dinner.

209. lucid adjective: (of language) transparently clear; easilyunderstandable

Synonyms : crystal clear , limpid , luculent ,pellucid , perspicuous

Though Walters writes about physics and timetravel, his writing is always lucid, so readers withlittle scientific training can understand difficultconcepts.

210. macabre adjective: suggesting the horror of death anddecay; gruesome

Synonyms : ghastly , grim , grisly ,sick

Edgar Allen Poe was considered the master of themacabre; his stories vividly describe the momentleading up to - and often those moments after - agrisly death.

211. malady noun: a disease or sickness

Synonyms : illness , sickness , unwellness

The town was struck by a malady throughoutthe winter that left most people sick in bed fortwo weeks.

212. malevolent adjective: wishing or appearing to wish evil toothers; arising from intense ill will or hatred

Synonyms : evil , malefic , malign

Villians are known for their malevolent nature,oftentimes inflicting cruetly on others just forenjoyment.

213. malleable adjective: capable of being shaped or bent ordrawn out

Synonyms : ductile , pliable , pliant , tensile ,tractile

The clay became malleable and easy to workwith after a little water was added.

adjective: easily influenced

Synonyms : ductile

My little brother is so malleable that I canconvince him to sneak cookies from thecupboard for me.

214. malodorous adjective: having an unpleasant smell

Synonyms : ill-smelling , malodourous , stinky ,unpleasant-smelling

Some thermally active fountains spew sulfurfumes--the air around them is sometimes somalodorous that many have to plug their noses.

215. martial adjective: suggesting war or military life

Synonyms : warlike,soldierlike , soldierly ,warriorlike

Americans tend to remember Abraham Lincolnas kindly and wise, not at all martial, despitethe fact that he was involved in the fiercest warAmerica has even fought.

216. maxim noun: a short saying expressing a general truth

Synonyms : axiom

Johnson initially suggests that the secret tobusiness can be summarized in a single maximbut then requires a 300-page book to explainexactly what he means.

217. meander verb: to wander aimlessly

Synonyms : thread , wander , weave , wind

A casual observer might have thought thatPeter was meandering through the city, but thatday he was actually seeking out those placeswhere he and his long lost love had once visited.

218. melancholy noun: a deep, long-lasting sadness

Hamlet is a figure of tremendous melancholy:he doesn't have a truly cheerful scenethroughout the entire play.

219. melee noun: a wild, confusing fight or struggle

Synonyms : battle royal , scrimmage

After enduring daily taunts about my name, Ibecame enraged and pummeled the schoolyardbully and his sycophantic friends in a brutalmelee.

220. mesmerize verb: to spellbind or enthrall

Synonyms : bewitch , magnetise , magnetize ,mesmerise

The plot and the characters were so welldeveloped that many viewers were mesmerized,unable to move their eyes from the screen foreven a single second.

221. misanthrope noun: a hater of mankind

Synonyms : misanthropist

Kevin is such a misanthrope that he refused toattend the Christmas party, claiming thateveryone's happiness was "fake" and"annoying."

222. miscreant noun: a person who breaks the law

Synonyms : reprobate

"Come back you miscreant!" yelled the womanwho just had her purse stolen.

223. miser noun: a person who doesn't like to spend money(because they are greedy)

Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal,wisely spending the little that he earned.

224. misogynist noun: a person who dislikes women inparticular

Synonyms : woman hater

Many have accused Hemingway of being a quietmisogynist, but recently unearthed letters argueagainst this belief.

225. moment noun: significant and important value

Synonyms : consequence , import

Despite the initial hullabaloo, the play was of nogreat moment in Hampton's writing career, andwithin a few years the public quickly forgot hisforay into theater arts.


226. moot adjective: open to argument or debate; undecidablein a meaningless or irrelevant way

Synonyms : arguable , debatable , disputable

Since the Board just terminated Steve as the CEO,what the finance committe might have thought ofhis proposed marketing plan for next year is now amoot point.


227. morose adjective: ill-tempered and not inclined to talk;gloomy

Synonyms : dark , dour , glowering , glum , moody ,saturnine , sour , sullen

After Stanley found out he was no longer able to goon vacation with his friends, he sat in his roommorosely.

228. morph verb: To undergo dramatic change in a seamlessand barely noticeable fashion.

The earnestness of the daytime talk shows of the1970's has morphed into something far moresensational and vulgar: today guests actuallystandup and threaten to take swings at one another.

229. muted adjective: softened, subdued

Synonyms : hushed , quiet , subdued

Helen preferred muted earth colors, such as greenand brown, to the bright pinks and red her sisterliked.


230. obdurate adjective: stubbornly persistent in changing anopinion or action

Synonyms : cussed , obstinate , unrepentant

No number of pleas and bribes would get him tochange his obdurate attitude.

231. obliging adjective: showing a cheerful willingness to dofavors for others

Synonyms : complaisant

Even after all his success, I found him to beaccommodating and obliging, sharing with mehis "secret tips" on how to gain wealth and makefriends.

232. obstinate adjective: resistant to guidance or discipline;stubbornly persistent

Synonyms : cussed , obdurate , unrepentant,contrary , perverse , wayward

The coach suggested improvements Sarah mightmake on the balance beam, but she remainedobstinate, unwilling to modify any of the habitsthat made her successful in the past.

233. ornate adjective: marked by elaborate rhetoric andelaborated with decorative details

Synonyms : flowery

The ornate Victorian and Edwardian homesspread throughout San Francisco are my favoritepart of the city.

234. paradoxical adjective: seemingly contradictory butnonetheless possibly true

Synonyms : self-contradictory

That light could be both a particle and a waveseems paradoxical, but nonetheless, it is true.

235. pastoral adjective: relating to the countryside in apleasant sense

Synonyms : arcadian , bucolic

Those who imagine America's countryside as apastoral region are often disappointed to learnthat much of rural U.S. is filled with cornfieldsextending as far as the eye can see.

236. patronize verb: treat condescendingly

Synonyms : condescend , patronise

She says she genuinely wanted to help me, butinstead she patronized me, constantly pointingout how I was inferior to her.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

237. paucity noun: a lack of something

Synonyms : dearth

There is a paucity of jobs hiring today thatrequire menial skills, since most jobs have eitherbeen automated or outsourced.

238. peevish adjective: easily irritated or annoyed

Synonyms : cranky , fractious , irritable ,nettlesome , peckish , pettish , petulant , scratchy ,techy , testy , tetchy

Our office manager is peevish, so the rest of ustip-toe around him, hoping not to set off anotherone of his fits.

239. perennial adjective: lasting an indefinitely long time;eternal; everlasting

Even at the old-timers games, Stan Musial wouldget the loudest cheer: he was a perennial favoriteof the fans there.


240. perpetuate verb: cause to continue

If you do not let him do things for himself, youare merely perpetuating bad habits that will beeven harder to break in the future.

241. perquisite noun: a right reserved exclusively by a particularperson or group (especially a hereditary orofficial right)

Synonyms : exclusive right , prerogative ,privilege

Even as the dishwasher at the French restaurant,Josh quickly learned that he had the perquisite ofbeing able to eat terrific food for half the pricediners would pay.

242. pertinent adjective: having precise or logical relevance tothe matter at hand

Synonyms : apposite , apt

While the salaries of the players might drawattention in the media, such monetary figures arenot pertinent to the question of who plays the beston the field.

243. perturb verb: disturb in mind or cause to be worried oralarmed

Synonyms : cark , disorder , disquiet , distract ,trouble , unhinge

Now that Henry is recovering from a majorillnesses, he no longer lets the little trivialities, suchas late mail, perturb him.

244. peruse verb: to read very carefully

Instead of perusing important documents, people alltoo often rush to the bottom of the page and plastertheir signatures at the bottom.

245. pine verb: to yearn for

Synonyms : ache , languish , yearn , yen

Standing forlornly by the window, she pined for herlost love.This word has other definitions but this is the mostimportant one to study

246. pinnacle noun: the highest point

Synonyms : acme , elevation , height , meridian , peak, summit , superlative , tiptop , top

At its pinnacle, the Roman Empire extended acrossmost of the landmass of Eurasia, a feat notparalleled to the rise of the British Empire in the18th and 19th century.

247. piquant adjective: having an agreeably pungent taste

Synonyms : savory , savoury , spicy , zesty

The chef, with a mere flick of the salt shaker, turnedthe bland tomato soup into a piquant meal.

248. pithy adjective: concise and full of meaning

Synonyms : sententious

I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy andinsightful prose; it always gives me something tothink about.

249. pittance noun: a small amount (of money)

Vinny's uncle beamed smugly about how he'd offeredhis nephew fifty dollars for his Harvard tuition; eventwice the amount would have been a mere pittance.

250. placid adjective: not easily irritated

Synonyms : equable , even-tempered , good-tempered

Doug is normally placid, so we were all shocked tosee him yelling at the television when the Mets lostthe game.

251. plodding adjective: (of movement) slow and laborious

Synonyms : leaden

Charlie may seem to run at a plodding pace, buthe is an ultramarathoner, meaning he runsdistances of up to 100 miles, and can run for tenhours at a stretch.

252. ploy noun: a clever plan to turn a situation to one'sadvantage

Synonyms : gambit,stratagem

Dennis arranged an elaborate ploy, involving 14different people lying for him in differentsituations, so that it could appear that he wasmeeting Mary completely by chance at thewedding reception.

253. powwow noun: an informal meeting or discussion

Before the team takes the field, the coach alwayscalls for a powwow so that he can make sure allthe players are mentally in the right place.

254. precarious adjective: fraught with danger

Synonyms : parlous , perilous , touch-and-go

People smoke to relax and forget their cares, butironically, in terms of health risks, smoking isfar more precarious than either mountain-climbing or skydiving.

255. precedent noun: an example that is used to justify similaroccurrences at a later time

Synonyms : case in point

The principal explained that even though onestudent had done modelling work outside ofschool, the outfits that student wore in thosephotographs in no way established a precedentfor what could be worn at school dances.

256. preempt verb: take the place of or have precedence over

Synonyms : displace

A governmental warning about an imminentterrorist attack would preempt ordinary networkprogramming on television.

257. preemptive adjective: done before someone else can do it

Just as Martha was about to take the only cookieleft on the table, Noah preemptively swiped it.

258. presumption noun: an assumption that is taken forgranted

Synonyms : given , precondition

When Mr. Baker found out the family carwas gone, he acted under the presumptionthat his rebellious son had taken the car,calling his son's phone and yelling at him;only later did Mr. Baker realize that Mrs.Baker had simply gone out to get her nailsdone.

noun: audacious (even arrogant) behaviorthat you have no right to

The new neighbor quickly gained areputation for her presumption; she hadinvited herself to several neighbors' homes,often stopping over at inopportune times andasking for a drink.

259. presumptuous adjective: excessively forward

Synonyms : assuming , assumptive

Many felt that Barney was presumptuous inmoving into the large office before themanagement even made any officialannouncement of his promotion

260. prevail verb: be widespread in a particular area at aparticular time; be current:

During the labor negotiations, an air ofhostility prevailed in the office.

verb: prove superior

Before the cricket match, Australia washeavily favored, but India prevailed

261. pristine adjective: Unspoiled, untouched (usu. ofnature)

The glacial lake was pristine and we filledour canteens to drink deeply.

adjective: Immaculately clean and unused

Drill sergeants are known for demandingpristine cabinets, uniforms, and beds, andoften make new recruits clean and clean andclean until they meet the expected highstandards.

262. profuse adjective: plentiful; pouring out in abundance

Synonyms : exuberant , lush , luxuriant , riotous

During mile 20 of the Hawaii Marathon,Dwayne was sweating so profusely that hestopped to take off his shirt, and ran theremaining six miles wearing nothing more thanskimpy shorts.

263. profusion noun: the property of being extremely abundant

Synonyms : cornucopia , profuseness , richness

When Maria reported that she had been visited byJesus Christ and had proof, a profusion ofreporters and journalists descended on the town.

264. proponent noun: a person who pleads for a cause orpropounds an idea

Synonyms : advocate , advocator , exponent

Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-EarthTheory flies all over the world in an effort to winmore adherents.

265. provisional adjective: under terms not final or fully workedout or agreed upon

Synonyms : probationary , provisionary ,tentative

Until the corporate office hands down adefinitive decision on use of the extra offices, wewill share their use in a provisionalarrangement.

266. pugnacious adjective: eager to fight or argue; verballycombative

The comedian told one flat joke after another,and when the audience started booing, hepugnaciously spat back at them, "Hey, you thinkthis is easy - why don't you buffoons give it ashot?"

267. qualm noun: uneasiness about the fitness of an action

Synonyms : misgiving , scruple

While he could articulate no clear reason whyHarkner's plan would fail, he neverless feltqualms about committing any resources to it.

268. quandary noun: state of uncertainty or perplexity especiallyas requiring a choice between equally unfavorableoptions

Synonyms : dilemma

Steve certainly is in a quandary: if he doesn't callElaine, she will blame him for everything, but if hedoes call her, the evidence of where he currently iscould cost him his job.

269. quip noun: a witty saying or remark

Synonyms : epigram,crack , sally , wisecrack

In one of the most famous quips about classicalmusic, Mark Twain said: "Wagner's music is betterthan it sounds."

verb: to make a witty remark, to say in jest

Synonyms : gag

When a old English teacher criticized Churchill forending a sentence with a preposition, he quipped,"This is the kind of criticism up with which we willnot put!"

270. raffish adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionalityor disreputableness

Synonyms : devil-may-care , rakish

The men found him raffish, but the women adoredhis smart clothes and casual attitude.

271. raft noun: a large number of something

Synonyms : batch , deal , flock , good deal , greatdeal , hatful , heap , lot , mass , mess , mickle , mint ,mountain , muckle , passel , peck , pile , plenty , pot ,quite a little , sight , slew , spate , stack , tidy sum ,wad

Despite a raft of city ordinances passed by anoverzealous council, noise pollution continuedunabated in the megalopolis.This word has other definitions but this is the mostimportant one to study

272. rakish adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionalityor disreputableness

Synonyms : devil-may-care , raffish

As soon as he arrived in the city, the rakish youngman bought some drugs and headed straight forthe seedy parts of town.

273. rankle verb: gnaw into; make resentful or angry

Synonyms : eat into , fret , grate

His constant whistling would rankle her,sometimes causing her to leave in a huff.

274. rash adjective: marked by defiant disregard for dangeror consequences; imprudently incurring risk

Synonyms : foolhardy , heady , reckless

Although Bruce was able to make the delivery intime with a nightime motorcycle ride in the rain,Susan criticized his actions as rash.


275. redress noun: an act of making something right

Synonyms : remediation , remedy

Barry forgot his wife's birthday two years in arow, and was only able to redress his oversight bysurprising his wife with a trip to Tahiti.

276. relegate verb: assign to a lower position

Synonyms : break , bump , demote , kickdownstairs

When Dexter was unable to fulfill his basic duties,instead of firing him, the boss relegated him tokitchen cleanup.

277. remiss adjective: to be negligent in one's duty

Synonyms : delinquent , derelict , neglectful

Remiss in his duty to keep the school functioningefficiently, the principal was relieved of hisposition after only three months.

278. renege verb: fail to fulfill a promise or obligation

Synonyms : go back on , renege on , renegue on

We will no longer work with that vendor since ithas reneged on nearly every agreement.

279. replete adjective: completely stocked or furnished withsomething

Only weeks after the hurricane made landfall, thelocal supermarket shelves were replete with goods,so quick was the disaster relief response.

280. reprobate noun: a person who is disapproved of

Synonyms : miscreant

Those old reprobates drinking all day down by theriver-they are not going to amount to much.

281. reservation noun: an unstated doubt that prevents you fromaccepting something wholeheartedly

Synonyms : arriere pensee , mental reservation

I was initially excited by the idea of a trip toWashington, D.C. but now that I have read aboutthe high crime statistics there, I have somereservations.


282. resignation noun: the acceptance of something unpleasantthat can't be avoided

Synonyms : surrender

Since Jack could not think of a convincingreason why he had to miss the seminar, heattended it with a sense of resignation.This word has other definitions but this is themost important one to study

283. resolve verb: reach a conclusion after a discussion ordeliberation

Synonyms : conclude

After much thought, Ted resolved not to travelabroad this summer because he didn't have muchmoney in his bank account.


284. respite noun: a pause from doing something (as work)

Synonyms : break , recess , time out,relief , rest , rest period

Every afternoon, the small company has a respitein which workers play foosball or board games.

285. retiring adjective: to be shy, and to be inclined to retractfrom company

Synonyms : reticent , self-effacing

Nelson was always the first to leave soirees -rather than mill about with "fashionable" folk,he was retiring, and preferred the solitude of hisgarret.


286. retract verb: pull inward or towards a center;formally reject or disavow a formerly heldbelief, usually under pressure

Synonyms : draw in,abjure , forswear , recant, resile

Email is wonderfully efficient, but oncesomething awkward or damaging has beensent, there is no way to retract it.

287. rile verb: cause annoyance in; disturb, especiallyby minor irritations

Synonyms : annoy , bother , chafe , devil , getat , get to , gravel , irritate , nark , nettle , rag ,vex

Dan is usually calm and balanced, but ittakes only one intense glare from Sabrina torile him.

288. robust adjective: sturdy and strong in form,constitution, or construction

Chris preferred bland and mild beers, butBhavin preferred a beer with more robustflavor.

289. sanctimonious adjective: making a show of being pious;holier-than-thou

Synonyms : holier-than-thou , pharisaic ,pharisaical , pietistic , pietistical , self-righteous

Even during the quiet sanctity of eveningprayer, she held her chin high, asanctimonious sneer forming on her face asshe eyed those who were attending church forthe first time.

290. sanguine adjective: cheerful; optimistic

Synonyms : florid , rubicund , ruddy

With the prospect of having to learn 3,000words during the course of the summer, Paulwas anything but sanguine.

291. savvy noun: a perceptive understanding

Synonyms : apprehension , discernment ,understanding

Although a great CEO, he did not have thepolitical savvy to win the election.

verb: get the meaning of something

Synonyms : apprehend , compass , comprehend ,dig , get the picture , grasp , grok

The student savvies the meaning of astrophysicswith little effort.adjective: well-informed or perceptive

With his savvy business partner, the companywas able to turn a profit within a year.

292. scintillating adjective: describes someone who is brilliantand lively

Synonyms : aglitter , coruscant , fulgid , glinting, glistering , glittering , glittery , scintillant ,sparkly, bubbling , effervescent , frothy

Richard Feynman was renowned for hisscintillating lectures—the arcana of quantumphysics was made lucid as he wrote animatedlyon the chalkboard.

293. screed noun: an abusive rant (often tedious)

Joey had difficulty hanging out with his formerbest friend Perry, who, during his entire cup ofcoffee, enumerated all of the government'sdeficiencies--only to break ranks and launch intosome screed against big business.

294. sentimental adjective: effusively or insincerely emotional,especially in art, music, and literature

Synonyms : bathetic , drippy , hokey , kitschy ,maudlin , mawkish , mushy , schmaltzy ,schmalzy , slushy , soppy , soupy

I don't like romanticism for the same reason Idon't like melodramatic acting and soap operas- overly sentimental.

295. serendipity noun: the instance in which an accidental,fortunate discovery is made

By pure serendipity, Sarah discovered, at a fleamarket in Peoria, a matching earring to replacethe one that fell down the storm drain backhome.

296. serene adjective: calm and peaceful

Synonyms : tranquil , unagitated

I'd never seen him so serene; usually, he was aknot of stress and anxiety from hours of tradingon the stock exchange.

297. slapdash adjective: carelessly and hastily put together

Synonyms : haphazard , slipshod , sloppy

The office building had been constructed in aslapdash manner, so it did not surprise officialswhen, during a small earthquake, a large crackemerged on the façade of the building.

298. smattering noun: a slight or superficial understanding of asubject; a small amount of something

Synonyms : handful

I know only a smattering of German, but Helen isable to read German newspapers and conversewith natives.

299. smug adjective: marked by excessive complacency orself-satisfaction

Synonyms : self-satisfied

When Phil was dating the model, he had a smugattitude that annoyed his buddies.

300. snide adjective: expressive of contempt; derogatory ormocking in an indirect way

Synonyms : sneering , supercilious

The chairman interpreted Taylor's questionabout promotions as a snide remark, but in allinnocence Taylor was trying to figure out thecompany's process.

301. snub verb: refuse to acknowledge; reject outright andbluntly

Synonyms :cut , disregard , ignore, rebuff , repel

Wheeler was completely qualified for thecommittee, but the board snubbed him, choosingan obviously lesser qualified candidate instead.

302. sordid adjective: involving ignoble actions and motives;arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul andrun-down and repulsive

Synonyms : seamy , seedy , sleazy ,squalid,flyblown

The nightly news simply announced that thesenator had had an affair, but the tabloidpublished all the sordid details of theinteraction.


303. spendthrift noun: one who spends money extravagantly

Synonyms : scattergood , spend-all , spender

Taking weekly trips to Vegas, Megan was aspendthrift whose excesses eventually caught upto her.

304. spurn verb: reject with contempt

Synonyms : disdain , freeze off , pooh-pooh ,reject , scorn , turn down

She spurned all his flattery and proposals, andso he walked off embarrassed and sad.

305. squander verb: spend thoughtlessly; waste time, money, oran opportunity

Synonyms : blow , waste,consume , ware

Fearing his money would be squandered by hisfamily, he gave all of it to charity when he died.

306. staid adjective: characterized by dignity and propriety

Synonyms : sedate

Frank came from a staid environment, so he wasshocked that his college roommate soldnarcotics.

307. start verb: to suddenly move in a particular direction

All alone in the mansion, Henrietta started whenshe heard a sound.


308. steadfast adjective: marked by firm determination orresolution; not shakable

Synonyms : firm , steady , stiff , unbendable ,unfaltering , unshakable , unwavering

A good captain needs to be steadfast, continuingto hold the wheel and stay the course even duringthe most violent storm.

309. stem verb: to hold back or limit the flow or growth ofsomething

To stem the tide of applications, the prestigious Ivyrequires that each applicant score at least 330 on theRevised GRE.


310. stipend noun: a regular allowance (of money)

He was hoping for a monthly allowance loan fromthe government, but after no such stipend wasforthcoming he realized he would have to seek othermeans of paying for his college tuition.

311. stolid adjective: having or revealing little emotion orsensibility; not easily aroused or excited

Synonyms : impassive

Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, butthey actually have passionate emotional lives.

312. stymie verb: hinder or prevent the progress oraccomplishment of

Synonyms : block , blockade , embarrass , hinder ,obstruct , stymy

The engineers found their plans stymied at every turnand were ultimately able to make almost no progresson the project.

313. summit noun: the peak or highest point

Synonyms : acme , elevation , height , meridian , peak, pinnacle , superlative , tiptop , top, crest , crown

After hiking for two days, the climbers finallyreached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

noun: a meeting of high-level leaders

Since climate change policy has been mired incongressional fighting, this summit should help setthe goals for president's next term.

314. surly adjective: inclined to anger or bad feelings withovertones of menace

Synonyms : ugly

Every morning, Bhavin was a surly unhappy person,but once he ate breakfast, he became loving, laughing,and a joy to be around.

315. tact noun: consideration in dealing with others andavoiding giving offense

Synonyms : tactfulness

In a tremendous display of tact, Shelly was able tomaintain a strong friendship with Marcia, eventhough Marcia's husband, Frank, confessed to findingShelley more attractive than Marcia.

316. tarnish verb: make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; alsoused metaphorically

Synonyms : defile , maculate , stain , sully

Pete Rose was one of the best baseball players of hisgeneration, but his involvement with gambling onbaseball games has tarnished his image in the eyes ofmany.

317. tawdry adjective: tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy

Synonyms : brassy , cheap , flash , flashy , garish ,gaudy , gimcrack , loud , meretricious , tacky , tatty ,trashy,cheapjack , shoddy

Carol expected to find New York City magical, theway so many movies had portrayed it, but she wassurprised how often tawdry displays took the place ofgenuine elegance.

318. taxing adjective: use to the limit; exhaust

Synonyms : burdensome , onerous

The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so taxingthat I could barely speak or stand up.


319. telling adjective: significant and revealing of another factor

Her unbecoming dress was very telling when it cameto her sense of fashion.


320. telltale adjective: revealing

The many telltale signs of chronic smoking includeyellow teeth, and a persistent, hacking cough.

321. tender verb: offer up something formally

Synonyms : bid

The government was loath to tender more money inthe fear that it might set off inflation.


322. thoroughgoing adjective: very thorough; complete

Synonyms : exhaustive , thorough

As a thoroughgoing bibliophile, one who hadturned his house into a veritable library, heshocked his friends when he bought a Kindle.

323. thrifty adjective: spending money wisely

Synonyms : careful

He was economical, spending his moneythriftily and on items considered essential.

324. thwart verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, ordesires) of

Synonyms : baffle , bilk , cross , foil ,frustrate , queer , scotch , spoil

I wanted to spend a week in New York thisautumn, but the high costs of travel andlodging thwarted my plans.

325. tirade noun: an angry speech

Synonyms : broadside , philippic

In terms of political change, a tiradeoftentimes does little more than make theperson speaking red in the face.

326. tout verb: advertize in strongly positive terms;show off

Synonyms : blow , bluster , boast , brag , gas ,gasconade , shoot a line , swash , vaunt

At the conference, the CEO touted theextraordinary success of his company'sResearch & Development division.

327. transitory adjective: lasting a very short time

Synonyms : ephemeral , fugacious , passing ,short-lived , transient

If we lived forever and life was nottransitory, do you think we would appreciatelife less or more?

328. travail noun: use of physical or mental energy; hardwork; agony or anguish

Synonyms : effort , elbow grease , exertion ,sweat

While they experienced nothing but travailsin refinishing the kitchen, they completed themaster bedroom in less than a weekend.

329. tribulation noun: something, especially an event, thatcauses difficulty and suffering

Synonyms : trial , visitation

As of 2013, nearly 1.5 million Syrians havefled their country hoping to escape thetribulations of a civil war tearing theircountry to pieces.

330. tumult noun: a state of chaos, noise andconfusion

Synonyms : garboil , tumultuousness ,uproar,commotion , din , ruckus , ruction ,rumpus

Riots broke out just in front of ourapartment building, and the tumultcontinued late into the night.

331. uncanny adjective: suggesting the operation ofsupernatural influences; surpassing theordinary or normal

Synonyms : eldritch , unearthly ,weird,preternatural

Reggie has an uncanny ability to connectwith animals: feral cats will readilyapproach him, and sometimes even wildbirds will land on his finger.

332. uncompromising adjective: not making concessions

Synonyms : inflexible , sturdy

The relationship between Bart and Hildaultimately failed because they were bothso uncompromising, never wanting tochange their opinions.

333. unconscionable adjective: unreasonable; unscrupulous;excessive

Synonyms : exorbitant , extortionate ,outrageous , steep , usurious

The lawyer's demands were sounconscionable that rather than pay anexorbitant sum or submit himself to anyother inconveniences, the defendantdecided to find a new lawyer.

334. underwrite verb: to support financially

Synonyms : subvent , subvention

The latest symphony broadcast was madepossible with underwriting from theCarnegie Endowment.

335. unnerve verb: to make nervous or upset

Synonyms : enervate , faze , unsettle

At one time unnerved by math problems, shebegan avidly "Magoosh-ing", and soonbecame adept at even combinations andpermutations questions.

336. unprecedented adjective: having never been done or knownbefore; novel

When America first created its nationalparks, the idea of setting aside the mostbeautiful land in a country wasunprecedented in the history of mankind.

337. unruly adjective: (of persons) noisy and lacking inrestraint or discipline; unwilling to submitto authority

Synonyms : boisterous , rambunctious ,robustious , rumbustious,disobedient

Walk in to any preschool and I am sure thatyou will find an unruly and chaotic scene -unless it's nap time.

338. unseemly adjective: not in keeping with acceptedstandards of what is right or proper in politesociety

Synonyms : indecent , indecorous ,unbecoming , uncomely , untoward

He acted in an unseemly manner, insultingthe hostess and then speaking ill of herdeceased husband.

339. urbane adjective: showing a high degree ofrefinement and the assurance that comesfrom wide social experience

Synonyms : polished , refined , svelte

Because of his service as an intelligenceofficer and his refined tastes, W. SomersetMaugham became the inspiration for theurbane and sophistcate spy James Bond.

340. vacuous adjective: devoid of intelligence, matter, orsignificance

Synonyms : asinine , fatuous , inane ,mindless,empty , hollow

To the journalist's pointed question, thesenator gave a vacuous response, mixing afew of his overall campaign slogans withplatitudes and completely avoiding thecontroversial subject of the question.

341. vanquish verb: come out better in a competition, race, orconflict

Synonyms : beat , beat out , crush , shell , trounce

For years, Argentina would dominate in WorldCup qualifying matches, only to be vanquished byone of the European countries during the latestages of the tournament.

342. variance noun: the quality of being different

The cynic quipped, "There is not much variance inpoliticians; they all seem to lie".

343. veneer noun: covering consisting of a thin superficiallayer that hides the underlying substance

Mark Twain referred to the Victorian Period inAmerica as the "Gilded Age", implying the amplemoral corruption that lay beneath a mere veneer ofrespectability

344. vicarious adjective: felt or undergone as if one were takingpart in the experience or feelings of another

The advent of twitter is a celebrity stalker's dream,as he or she can - through hundreds of intimate"tweets" - vicariously live the life of a famousperson.

345. vie verb: compete for something

Synonyms : compete , contend

While the other teams in the division actively viefor the championship, this team seems contentsimply to go through the motions of playing.

346. vindictive adjective: to have a very strong desire for revenge

Though the other girl had only lightly poked fun ofVanessa's choice in attire, Vanessa was sovindictive that she waited for an entire semester toget the perfect revenge.

347. virago noun: an ill-tempered or violent woman

Synonyms : amazon

Poor Billy was the victim of the virago's invective -she railed at him for a good 30-minutes about howhe is the scum of the earth for speaking loudly onhis cellphone in public.

348. voracious adjective: very hungry; approaching an activitywith gusto

Synonyms : edacious , esurient , rapacious ,ravening , ravenous , wolfish

Steven was a voracious reader, sometimesfinishing two novels in the same day.

349. wanton adjective: without check or limitation; showing no moral restraints to one's anger, desire, or appetites

Synonyms : easy , light , loose , promiscuous , sluttish

Due to wanton behavior and crude language, the drunk man was thrown out of the bar and asked to never return.

350. wax verb: to gradually increase in size or intensity

Synonyms : climb , mount , rise

Her enthusiasm for the diva's new album only waxed with each song; by the end of the album, it was her favorite CD yet.This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

351. whimsical adjective: determined by impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason

Synonyms : capricious , impulsive

Adults look to kids and envy their whimsical nature at times, wishing that they could act without reason and play withoutlimitation.

352. zenith noun: the highest point; culmination

At the zenith of his artistic career, Elvis was outselling any other artist on the charts.