WORD CATEGORY DEFINITION
afford action N to offer
catalyst action N something that sets something else in motion
refract action N to deflect or distort
skirt action N to evade or miss by a narrow margin
neophyte amateur N beginner
novice amateur N beginner
tyro amateur N beginner
dilettante amateur N an amateur or a dabbler
disheveled appearance - marked by disorder or disarray
embellish appearance + to beautify or enhance
flaccid appearance - limp or flabby
gilded appearance N 1) covered with gold or 2) deceptively attractive
ornate appearance + elaborately or excessively decorated
pallid appearance - dull or lacking color
resplendent appearance + brilliant and glorious
ruddy appearance + having a healthy reddish color
unkempt appearance - disorderly and untidy
variegated appearance N streaked or multicolored
veneer appearance N a façade or an ornamental facing
vestige appearance N a trace, mark, or visible sign
wan appearance - pale, haggard, and sickly
culpable bad - deserving blame or condemnation
debacle bad - a complete failure
deleterious bad - harmful, often in a subtle or unexpected way
egregious bad - conspicuously or flagrantly bad
flagrant bad - deliberately offensive and shocking
heinous bad - hatefully or shockingly evil
lurid bad - causing horror or revulsion
machination bad - a scheme to do harm
nefarious bad - offensively wicked, impious, or evil
odious bad - hateful
quagmire bad - a difficult situation or predicament
rancorous bad - marked by bitter, deep-seated ill will
rancorous bad - marked by bitter, deep-seated ill will
reprehensible bad - deserving of disapproval
repugnant bad - offensive and distasteful
audacious bold - 1) extremely bold or daring or 2) recklessly brave
avant-garde bold N cutting edge
brazen bold - shamelessly bold
effrontery bold - shameless boldness
foolhardy bold - adventurous, bold, or rash
gall bold - shameless boldness
intrepid bold + fearless
maverick bold - a loner or rebel
temerity bold - recklessness
abrasive bother - annoying or causing ill will
confound bother - to confuse or baffle
discombobulate bother - to upset or confuse
discomfit bother - to perplex or embarrass
encroach bother - to infringe or advance beyond the proper limits
encumber bother - to burden or hamper
exacerbate bother - to make worse
impinge bother - to infringe or advance beyond the proper limits
importune bother - to demand with insistency or to solicit
onerous bother - burdensome or troublesome
vex bother - to agitate or bother
conciliatory calm + willing to make amends
equanimity calm + a sense of calm and balance
mollify calm + to calm or soothe
pacify calm + to calm or soothe
placate calm + to soothe, especially by making concessions
propitiate calm + to calm or soothe
salve calm + 1) an ointment or 2) a soothing influence
serene calm + peaceful or calm
staid calm + sedate, self-restrained, sober
tranquil calm + peaceful or calm
endemic characteristic N prevalent in or native to a particular people or place
facile characteristic + easily accomplished or attained
soluble characteristic N 1) dissolvable or 2) solvable
vigilant characteristic + alert and watchful to avoid danger
viscous characteristic N thick and sticky
lucid clear + 1) clear or 2) sane
perspicuity clear + clarity
translucent clear N clear or transparent
astute clever + shrewd and crafty
didactic clever N designed to teach
pedagogue clever N an educator
perspicacious clever + having shrewd or keen insight
precocious clever + exceptionally early in development or occurrence
profundity clever + intellectual depth
prudence clever + wisdom
pundit clever N 1) a teacher or 2) someone who is learned
sagacious clever + wise or shrewd
amalgamate combine N to blend or combine
conflate combine N to merge or combine
eclectic combine N composed of elements drawn from various sources
fission combine N division
synergistic combine N intended to give advantage when combined
curt concise - noticeably or rudely brief
laconic concise - brief or terse (almost rudely so)
pithy concise + brief or terse
succinct concise + brief or terse
berate criticize - to scold
calumny criticize - slander
carp criticize - to find fault or complain incessantly
castigate criticize - to criticize or reprimand severely
caustic criticize - harsh or critical
censure criticize - to disapprove publicly and vehemently
debunk criticize - to expose as a sham
dende criticize - to ridicule harshly
denigrate criticize - to diminish or belittle
denounce criticize - to criticize publicly
detract criticize - to diminish or belittle
harangue criticize - to rant
impute criticize - to attribute falsely
maligner criticize - one who slanders
punitive criticize - involving punishment
rebuke criticize - to reprimand or criticize sharply
reprove criticize - to correct or rebuke
repudiate criticize - to refuse to acknowledge or recognize
scorn criticize - contempt
sully criticize - to soil or tarnish (as of reputation)
vilify criticize - to slander or libel
vitiate criticize - to corrupt or abolish
vituperative criticize - using abusive and biting language
anathema curse - a curse
imprecate curse - to invoke evil upon or to curse
malediction curse - a curse
eradicate destroy - to eliminate or annihilate
raze destroy - to destroy or demolish
aloof detached - cool and detached
apathetic detached - lacking concern or interest
impassive detached - apathetic and insensitive
nonchalant detached N indifferently cool
phlegmatic detached - impassive and not easily agitated
sang-froid detached + self-position, especially under strain
self-possessed detached + calm and composed
stoic detached N unemotional
stolid detached N unemotional
unflappable detached + calm, cool, and collected
anomaly different - an irregularity or abnormality
disparate different N markedly distinct or different
idiosyncratic different N peculiar to a person
incongruous different - absurd or out of place
polarize different - to break up into opposing groups
abstruse difficult - hard to understand
conundrum difficult - an intricate and difficult problem
convoluted difficult - intricate or complicated
elusive difficult - 1) hard to grasp or 2) evasive
obscure difficult - 1) nameless or 2) evasive
paradoxical difficult - seeming to contradict
arid dry N extremely dry
desiccate dry N to dehydrate
parched dry N extremely dry
sere dry N dry and withered
alacrity effort - 1) eagerness or 2) cheerful readiness
assiduous effort + diligent and persistent
indefatigable effort + tireless
industrious effort + hard working
sedulous effort + diligent
zealous effort - fanatical
ardor emotion + passion
pathos emotion N sympathetic pity
enervated energy - lacking energy or vigor
frenetic energy - frantic or frenzied
languid energy - lacking energy or vigor
latent energy N 1) potential or 2) dormant
lethargic energy - lacking energy or vigor
quiescent energy N 1) latent or 2) tranquil
sprightly energy + spirited and lively
torpid energy - lacking energy or vigor
vivacious energy + spirited and lively
cloying excess - so much that it is disgusting
dissipated excess - extravagant in the pursuit of pleasure
dissolute excess - overly indulgent or lacking restraint
florid excess N 1) excessively decorated or 2) having a healthy reddish color
garish excess - tastelessly showy or excessively elaborate
inordinate excess - too much
inundate excess - 1) to overwhelm or 2) to flood
jaded excess - wearied by excess or overindulgence
lavish excess + extravagant or luxurious
ostentatious excess - characterized by showy display
pomp excess + ceremonial or showy display
profuse excess - abundant or extravagant
spate excess N a large number or amount
surfeit excess N an overabundant supply
exorbitant excess - exceeding reasonable limits
affectation false - a charade or pretense
bilk false - to defraud or cheat
disingenuous false - insincere or calculating
dissemble false - to disguise
dupe false - to deceive or cheat
duplicity false - deception
fallacious false - deceptive or misleading
feign false - to fake
guile false - deceitful cunning
impugn false - to call into question
mendacious false - dishonest
ostensible false - apparent, especially deceptively so
perfidious false - faithless or deceitful
ploy false - a trick
specious false - false, though appearing true
spurious false - artificial or counterfeit
subterfuge false - deception or evasion
surreptitious false - sly or underhanded
apprehension fear - 1) dread or 2) comprehension
consternation fear - dismay or fear
disquietude fear - anxiety
timorous fear - full of fear
tremulous fear - trembling or quaking
trepidation fear - fear
blandishment flatter N flattery
cajole flatter - to persuade by flattery or promises
emulate flatter N 1) to imitate or 2) to strive to equal or surpass
servile flatter - submissive or menial
sycophant flatter - an excessive self-seeking flatterer
toady flatter - an excessive self-seeking flatterer
wheedle flatter - to coax by flattery
docile flexible + 1) easily tought or managed or 2) obedient
lithe flexible + graceful and flexible
malleable flexible + flexible
mutable flexible + changeable
pliable flexible + flexible or yielding
tractable flexible + 1) easily tought or managed or 2) obedient
carouse food - to engage in a drunken revel
epicure food + one with a refined taste in food or wine
glutton food - 1) one who overeats or 2) one who endures
imbibe food N to drink
gourmand food + one who loves good food and drink
enfranchise free + to empower
extricate free + to untangle or free
reprieve free + temporary relief or delay of punishment
unfettered free + free and unrestrained
affable friendly + friendly
altruism friendly + unselfish concern for others
amiable friendly + friendly
amicable friendly + friendly
auspicious friendly + favorable or promising success
benefactor friendly + a donor or patron
benevolent friendly + kind and gracious
benign friendly + kind and gracious
boon friendly + a blessing or benefit
camaraderie friendly + friendship or fellowship
gregarious friendly + outgoing or sociable
munificence friendly + lavish generosity
solicitude friendly + care or concern
innocuous good + harmless
predilection good + an established preference for something
prepossessing good + 1) attractive or 2) tending to create a favorable impression
trove good + a treasure or a valuable collection
utopia good + an ideal place
absolve guilt + to clear of guilt or blame
exculpate guilt + to clear of guilt or blame
exonerate guilt + to clear of guilt or blame
vindicate guilt + to clear of guilt or blame
elated happy + thrilled
euphoria happy + an overwhelming feeling of happiness
exultant happy + triumphant
felicitous happy + delightful
fortuitous happy + fortunate or lucky
jubilant happy + triumphant
revel happy + 1) to celebrate or 2) to have a wild party
sanguine happy + optimistic
serendipity happy + good luck
abhor hatred - to detest utterly
antipathy hatred - dislike or distaste
aversion hatred - dislike and opposition
enmity hatred - mutual hatred or ill will
loathe hatred - to hate
acrimony hostile - bitterness or harshness
antagonism hostile - active hostility or opposition
bellicose hostile - quarrelsome or eager to fight
belligerent hostile - warlike and hostile
cataclysmic hostile - resulting from a violent upheaval
contentious hostile - argumentative
feral hostile - wild, undomesticated, or brutal
glacial hostile - cold or frigid
inflammatory hostile - causing anger or disorder
livid hostile - very angry or enraged
melee hostile - a brawl
ominous hostile - menacing or threatening
pugnacious hostile - quarrelsome or combative
tempestuous hostile - violent
truculent hostile - fierce
tumult hostile - a riot or uprising
turbulent hostile - causing disturbance or agitation
virulence hostile - venomous hostility
buffoonery humor + the use of tricks, jokes, or odd gestures to entertain
frivolity humor + silliness
jocular humor + joking
jocund humor + merry or lightheaded
levity humor - excessive or unbecoming silliness
crux important N the main or pivotal point
paramount important + primary or superior in importance
preeminent important + primary or outstanding
watershed important N a crucial turning point
circuitous indirect N indirect
clandestine indirect - secret or subversive
desultory indirect - aimless or random
oblique indirect N indirect
serpentine indirect N 1) winding or 2) tempting
sinuous indirect N 1) winding or 2) complex
tangential indirect N only slightly related
bereft lack - deprived
dearth lack - an inadequate supply
derelict lack - 1) lacking a sense of duty or 2) abandoned
desolate lack - deserted and barren
diffident lack - lacking self-confidence
disinterested lack N impartial
incredulity lack N disbelief
insular lack N isolated or provincial
pariah lack - a social outcast
remiss lack - negligent or lacking a sense of duty
renunciation lack - self-denial
alleviate lessen + to relieve
curtail lessen N to lessen or shorten
dissipate lessen N to scatter and vanish gradually
mitigate lessen + to relieve
wane lessen N to become less active or intense
circumscribe limit N 1) to encircle or 2) to constrict
delimit limit N to determine or set a limit
hindrance limit - an impediment or blockade
morass limit - something that hinders or overwhelms
pinion limit - to bind or restrain
proscribe limit - to forbid
suppress limit - 1) to put down by authority or force or 2) to subdue
clamorous loud - offensively loud and insistent
obstreperous loud - unruly and loud
raucous loud - loud and disorderly
strident loud - harsh or loud
vociferous loud - offensively loud and insistent
archetype model N a prototype or a perfect example
epitome model + a representative example
paradigm model N model or framework
frugal money N economical or penny-pinching
mendicant money N a beggar
miser money - a stingy person
opulent money + 1) luxurious or 2) wealthy
parsimonious money - stingy
pecuniary money N financial
penurious money - 1) stingy or 2) poor
remuneration money N compensation
decadent morality - 1) marked by decay or 2) self-indulgent
indecorous morality - immoral or inappropriate
indiscretion morality - an act outside of accepted morals
scrupulous morality + moral
turpitude morality - depravity
vile morality - morally despicable
arable nature + suitable for farming
arboreal nature N of or pertaining to trees
intrinsic nature N built-in
polar nature N 1) cold or 2) opposite
banal ordinary - unoriginal or trite
bourgeois ordinary - 1) mediocre or 2) middle-class
derivative ordinary - unoriginal or trite
drab ordinary - dull and monotonous
hackneyed ordinary - unoriginal or trite
insipid ordinary - dull, unoriginal, or bland
mundane ordinary - commonplace and ordinary
nondescript ordinary - dull
perfunctory ordinary N automatic or mechanical
prosaic ordinary - 1) dull or unimaginable or 2) having to do with prose
utilitarian ordinary N 1) practical or 2) designed to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number
aestheticism philosophy + refined sensitivity toward the beauty of art or being
anthropocentrism philosophy N interpreting everything through human experience
cynical philosophy - distrustful, especially of human nature
dogmatic philosophy - devoted to a viewpoint based on insufficiently-examined premises
espouse philosophy + to take up and support a cause
ethos philosophy N the distinguishing cultural characteristic
hedonism philosophy - the doctrine that pleasure is the sole good in life
jurisprudence philosophy N the science or philosophy of law
libertarian philosophy N an advocate of the doctrine of free will
pragmatist philosophy N one with a practical approach to problems and affairs
volition philosophy N will, choice, or decision
adulation praise + excessive admiration or devotion
ascribe praise + to credit or attribute to
encomium praise + formal praise
eulogy praise + a speech in praise of someone
exalt praise + to praise or honor
extol praise + to praise highly
paean praise + song of triumph or thanksgiving
plaudit praise + applause or praise
rhapsodize praise + to use extravagant enthusiasm
tout praise + to praise publicly, often extravagantly
venerate praise + to respect or admire greatly
clairvoyance predict N supernatural vision
inauspicious predict - ill-omened
portend predict N to foreshadow (often something bad)
prognosticate predict N to foretell or predict
efficacious productive + able to produce a desired effect
engender productive N to produce or originate
fecund productive + fertile
proliferate productive N to reproduce or multiply
prolific productive + fertile or highly productive
propagate productive N to grow or reproduce
chauvinism proud - an attitude of superiority or undue partiality
contemptuous proud - disdainful or defiant
egotist proud - one with an exaggerated sense of self-importance
haughty proud - blatantly and disdainfully proud
narcissistic proud - self-absorbed and egocentric
pompous proud - arrogant and self-important
pretentious proud - self-important
asceticism religion - 1) extreme self-denial or 2) severity
credo religion + a guiding principle
ethereal religion + 1) heavenly or 2) intangible
heretic religion - one who dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine
iconoclast religion N one who destroys religious images or beliefs
idolatrous religion - 1) worshipping false gods or 2) immoderately devoted to something
impenitent religion - feeling no regret or remorse for sins
impious religion - lacking in reverence or proper respect
inviolable religion + 1) unassailable or 2) sacred
irreverent religion - lacking proper respect or seriousness
profane religion - 1) obscene or 2) sacrilegious
sacrosanct religion + most sacred or holy
sanctimonious religion - hypocritically devout
talisman religion N a good-luck charm
flippancy respect - unbecoming silliness or lack of respect
homage respect + respect or allegiance or honor
ignominy respect - disgrace
obeisance respect + 1) honor or respect or 2) a bow
affront rude - to insult or offend
brusque rude - abrupt or rude
cantankerous rude - cranky
curmudgeon rude - a grumpy, rude person
dour rude - gloomy and harsh
fractious rude - unruly and irritable
insolent rude - boldly rude or disrespectful
obtrusive rude - meddling
petulant rude - rude and irritable
querulous rude - irritable and complaining
autonomous rule + self-governing and independent
despot rule - a dictator
emissary rule N the agent of another
potentate rule + a ruler or king
supplant rule - to supersede, especially by force
usurp rule - to seize or assume wrongfully
vanquish rule N to conquer or overcome
contrite sad N apologetic or remorseful
forlorn sad - sad, lonely, and abandoned
lugubrious sad - mournful or dismal
morose sad - sullen and gloomy
somber sad - gloomy and melancholy
aggrandize size N 1) to enlarge or 2) to increase the reputation of
augment size N to make larger
colossus size + something gigantic or very powerful
diminutive size N exceptionally or notably small
gargantuan size N of tremendous size or volume
grandiose size + great in scope or intent
modicum size N a moderate or small amount
ponderous size - 1) very heavy or 2) lifeless and dull
prodigious size + enormous
adept skilled + highly skilled
adroit skilled + skillful, clever, or resourceful
consummate skilled + extremely skilled and accomplished
ingenious skilled + inventive
prodigy skilled + a highly talented child
proficient skilled + 1) competent or 2) expert
protégé skilled + one who is trained by a mentor
savant skilled + one with specialized knowledge
virtuoso skilled + one skilled in the fine arts
fetid smell - smelly
malodorous smell - smelly
noisome smell - smelly
odoriferous smell - 1) smelly or 2) fragrant
putrid smell - rotten, stinking
rancid smell - 1) rotten or 2) offensive in smell or taste
blasé sophisticated - 1) sophisticated or 2) tired of pleasure
cerebral sophisticated + intellectual
cosmopolitan sophisticated + 1) sophisticated or 2) universal
erudite sophisticated + 1) intellectual 2) learned
esoteric sophisticated + requires specialized knowledge to be understood
urbane sophisticated + sophisticated and polished
cacophonous sound - inharmonious
cadent sound + rhythmic
sonorous sound + producing a deep and resonant sound
troubadour sound N a traveling poet-musician
admonish speech N to exhort or caution
aphorism speech N proverb
bombast speech N lofty, inflated speech
cogent speech + convincing and believable
colloquial speech N 1) conversational or 2) unacceptably informal
demagogue speech - a political agitator
elocutionist speech + an effective public speaker
exhort speech N to urge or advise
flatulent speech - 1) pretentious and inflated or 2) full of gas
glib speech - insincere or superficial
grandiloquent speech N using lofty, inflated language
incantation speech N magical spell or charm
ineffable speech N indescribable or unspeakable
interlocutor speech N one who takes part in a conversation
maxim speech N a proverb
opine speech N to express an opinion
orator speech + a skilled public speaker
oxymoron speech N a figure of speech characterized by seeming contradictions
promulgate speech N to announce or declare
quip speech + a witty or smart observation
regale speech + to entertain lavishly
requisition speech N a formal request
formidable strong + 1) awe-inspiring or 2) causing fear
fortitude strong + courage or strength of mind
impregnable strong + invincible
incontrovertible strong + indisputable
indomitable strong + invincible
tenable strong + defensible
unassailable strong + invincible
virile strong + 1) vigorous or 2) manly
immutable stubborn + cannot be changed
inexorable stubborn N relentless
intransigent stubborn - uncompromising or stubborn
obdurate stubborn - stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
obstinate stubborn - stubborn
tenacious stubborn + persistent
anachronistic time - not in its correct historical or chronological time
antiquated time - outdated or related to the past
archaic time N from an earlier time period
contemporaneous time N during the same time
dated time - 1) outmoded or 2) old-fashioned
dilatory time - characterized by procrastination or delay
ephemeral time N fleeting
evanescent time N fleeting
interminable time N having or seeming to have no end
iterative time N repetitive
obsolete time - 1) no longer useful or 2) old-fashioned
precipitate time N to bring about abruptly
recommence time N to begin again
recursive time N repetitive
transient time N fleeting
aver true + to declare or prove to be true
corroborate true + to support with evidence or authority
fealty true + faithfulness or loyalty
fidelity true + faithfulness or loyalty
veracity true + truthfulness or accuracy
verisimilitude true + the appearance of truth
ambiguous uncertain - uncertain or fluctuating, especially in decision making
amorphous uncertain N lacking definite form
dubious uncertain - doubtful or uncertain
equivocate uncertain - to use evasive language
precarious uncertain - dependent on uncertain premises
quandary uncertain - a state of doubt
vacillate uncertain - to waver or be indecisive
pervasive universal N universal or spread throughout
ubiquitous universal N universal
capricious unpredictable - unpredictable or changing suddenly
impetuous unpredictable - rash or spontaneous
mercurial unpredictable - volatile, especially in temperament
undulating unpredictable N waving or fluctuating
whimsical unpredictable - fanciful or unpredictable
boor unsophisticated - a rude and unrefined person
crass unsophisticated - coarse and unsophisticated
lout unsophisticated - a brute or crude person
lummox unsophisticated - a clumsy, stupid person
tawdry unsophisticated - cheap and gaudy
verdant unsophisticated - 1) naive or 2) green
circumlocution wordy - 1) indirect speech or 2) wordiness
loquacious wordy - excessively talkative
verbiage wordy N 1) useless words or 2) diction
verbose wordy - wordy
voluble wordy N talkative
emend writing N to change or correct, usually by textual alterations
epigraph writing N an inscription
epistolary writing N contained in letters
epitaph writing N an inscription on a tomb
expurgate writing - to censor or erase
missive writing N a written communication
tome writing N a large or scholarly book
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