Lesson 2.1
accompany...syn: come with; be present or associated with an event or entity
adjust...syn: alter; alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
allocate...syn: assign; distribute according to a plan or set apart for a special purpose
alter...syn: change; cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
animate...syn: bring to life; heighten or intensify
behalf...syn: benefit; for someone's benefit
coalition...syn: combination; an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty
compound...syn: combination; make more intense, stronger, or more marked
consent...syn: agreement; permission to do something
consistent...syn: not varying; (sometimes followed by `with’) in agreement or consistent or reliable
console...syn: comfort; give moral or emotional strength to
consolidate...syn: combine; unite into one
consolidation...syn: combination; combining into a solid mass
construct...syn: build; make by combining materials and parts
derive...syn: come from; reason by deduction; establish by deduction
emerge...syn: come out; come out into view, as from concealment
facilitate...syn: assist; make easier
induce...syn: cause; cause to arise
ongoing...syn: continuous; currently happening
premise...syn: basis; a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn
proceed...syn: continue; continue talking
prohibit...syn: ban; command against
prospect...syn: chance; the possibility of future success
pursue...syn: chase; carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
relax...syn: be at ease; become less tense, rest, or take one’s ease
transform...syn: change; subject to a mathematical transformation
transition...syn: change; the act of passing from one state or place to the next
undertake...syn: attempt; enter upon an activity or enterprise
valid...syn: true or real; well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force
welfare...syn: benefit; governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need
Lesson 2.2
adapt...syn: get used to; make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
adequate...syn: enough; having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
adverse...syn: harmful; contrary to your interests or welfare
assure...syn: guarantee; make certain of
boundless...syn: endless; seemingly limitless in amount, number, degree, or especially extent
brochure...syn: document; a small book usually having a paper cover
colleague...syn: fellow worker; an associate that one works with
concentrate...syn: focus; make denser, stronger, or purer
conclude...syn: decide; decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion
decline...syn: drop; grow worse
definite...syn: exact; precise; explicit and clearly defined
determination...syn: firmness of purpose; devoting full strength and concentrated attention to something
ethnic...syn: cultural; distinctive of the ways of living of a particular group of people
eventual...syn: expected; expected to follow in the indefinite future from causes already operating
explicit...syn: expressed; precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
illustrate...syn: demonstrate; clarify by giving an example of
interpret...syn: explain; make sense of; assign a meaning to
investigate...syn: examine; investigate scientifically
liberal...syn: forward-thinking; a person who favors reform and the protection of civil liberties
margin...syn: edge; the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
occupy...syn: fill; keep busy with
precise...syn: exact; sharply exact or accurate or delimited
recover...syn: find again; get or find back; recover the use of
resolve...syn: firmness of purpose; bring to an end; settle conclusively
restore...syn: fix; return to its original or usable and functioning condition
retrieve...syn: get back; get or find back; recover the use of
severe...syn: difficult; intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
sublime...syn: grand; inspiring awe
sufficient...syn: enough; of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
tradition...syn: custom; an inherited pattern of thought or action
Lesson 2.3
attitude...syn: mindset; a complex mental state involving beliefs, feelings, and values
chronicle...syn: history; record in chronological order; make a historical record
communicate...syn: inform; transmit information
comprise...syn: include; be composed of
considerable...syn: important; large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
diagnosis...syn: identification; identifying the nature or cause of some phenomenon
duration...syn: length; the period of time during which something continues
emphasis...syn: importance; special importance or significance
encounter...syn: meeting; come together
equip...syn: make ready; provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose
ethic...syn: moral principle; the principles of right and wrong
execute...syn: kill; kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment
implication...syn: meaning; something that is inferred (deduced or entailed or implied)
incentive...syn: motive; a positive motivational influence
intermediate...syn: middle; lying between two extremes in time or space or state
isolate...syn: keep apart; place or set apart
minimize...syn: make seem unimportant; make small or insignificant
offset...syn: make up for; compensate for or counterbalance
orient...syn: locate; be oriented
parallel...syn: not intersecting; being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting
partial...syn: incomplete; being or affecting only a part; not total
psychology...syn: mind study; the science of mental life
refine...syn: improve; improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
regulate...syn: manage; fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
restrict...syn: limit; place restrictions on
revolution...syn: major change; a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
somewhat...syn: more or less; to a small degree or extent
statute...syn: law; an act passed by a legislative body
survive...syn: live on; continue to live through hardship or adversity
trek...syn: journey; journey on foot, especially in the mountains
Lesson 2.4
apparent...syn: seeming; clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
circumstance...syn: situation; a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
cite...syn: quote; make reference to
clause...syn: section; (grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate
constraint...syn: restriction; the state of being physically constrained
coordinate...syn: organize; bring order and organization to
detect...syn: notice; discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
dispatch...syn: speed; send away towards a designated goal
excerpt...syn: short selection; take out of a literary work in order to cite or copy
expose...syn: reveal; expose or make accessible to some action or influence
globe...syn: round figure; the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
hence...syn: so; (used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
interval...syn: period; a definite length of time marked off by two instants
lecture...syn: speech; a speech that is open to the public
logic...syn: reasoning; the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference
mutual...syn: shared; common to or shared by two or more parties
peripheral...syn: outside; on or near an edge or constituting an outer boundary; the outer area
pose...syn: position; introduce
practitioner...syn: physician or performer; someone who practices a learned profession
preliminary...syn: prior; denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
reject...syn: say no; refuse to accept or acknowledge
scenario...syn: situation; an outline or synopsis of a play (or, by extension, of a literary work)
spectrum...syn: range; an ordered array of the components of an emission or wave
substantial...syn: real; fairly large
substitute...syn: replace; put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
temporary...syn: short-term; not permanent; not lasting
transmit...syn: send; transfer to another
visible...syn: possible to see; capable of being seen; or open to easy view
voluntary...syn: optional; of your own free will or design; done by choice; not forced or compelled
warrant...syn: permit; show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for
Lesson 2.5
alloy...syn: blend; lower in value by increasing the base-metal content
appreciate...syn: value; recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
assumption...syn: supposition; a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn
assurance...syn: sureness; freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
breach...syn: break; act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
bulk...syn: volume; the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts
commence...syn: begin; take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
complement...syn: well-matched pair; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction
conform...syn: adapt; be similar, be in line with
decade...syn: ten years; a period of 10 years
doctrine...syn: belief; a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
enforce...syn: carry out; ensure observance of laws and rules
franchise...syn: voting; an authorization to sell a company’s goods or services in a particular place
furthermore...syn: additionally; in addition
fusion...syn: blending; an occurrence that involves the production of a union
imply...syn: suggest; express or state indirectly
initiate...syn: start; bring into being
insight...syn: understanding; clear or deep perception of a situation
interact...syn: act together; act towards each other; act together or towards others or with others
invoke...syn: call forth; summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
nevertheless...syn: any way; despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession)
offensive...syn: attacking; the action of attacking an enemy
peerless...syn: unique; eminent beyond or above comparison
rely...syn: trust; have confidence or faith in
reverse...syn: turn; change to the contrary
sanction...syn: approve; give sanction to
transit...syn: transportation; passing from one place to another
trigger...syn: start; lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun
utilize...syn: use; put into service
validate...syn: authorize; declare or make legally valid
Lesson 2.6
addiction...syn: dependence; the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else
aggregate...syn: collection; formed of separate units gathered into a mass or whole
alias...syn: false name; a name that has been assumed temporarily
assert...syn: declare; state categorically
clarify...syn: clear up; make clear and (more) comprehensible
collapse...syn: fall apart; break down, literally or metaphorically
confusion...syn: disorder; disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
consequent...syn: following; following or accompanying as a consequence
crucial...syn: essential; of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
devote...syn: dedicate; give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
distinct...syn: different; (often followed by `from’) not alike; different in nature or quality
eclipse...syn: cover; one celestial body obscures another
evolve...syn: develop; work out
exotic...syn: foreign; being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world
genealogy...syn: family tree; successive generations of kin
hypothesis...syn: expectation; a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations
inspect...syn: examine; look over carefully
intense...syn: forceful; possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
mortality...syn: death rate; the quality or state of being mortal
notable...syn: famous; worthy of notice
partition...syn: divide; a vertical structure that divides (as a wall divides one room from another)
proportion...syn: corresponding; the relation between things with respect to their quantity or degree
prototype...syn: early model; a standard or typical example
radical...syn: extreme; (used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm
rally...syn: excite; gather
simulate...syn: copy; reproduce someone’s behavior or looks
synthesis...syn: combination; the process of producing a chemical compound
terminate...syn: end; bring to an end or halt
termination...syn: end; a coming to an end of a contract period
undergo...syn: experience; pass through
Lesson 2.7
accommodate...syn: make room for; be agreeable or acceptable to
accumulate...syn: gather; get or gather together
adjacent...syn: next to; nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space
cant...syn: meaningless talk; stock phrases that have become nonsense through endless repetition
caption...syn: heading; provide with a caption, as of a photograph or a drawing
commodity...syn: goods; articles of commerce
denote...syn: mean; be a sign or indication of
enormous...syn: huge; extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
epic...syn: heroic poem; a long narrative poem telling of a hero’s deeds
finite...syn: limited; bounded or limited in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent
impair...syn: harm; make worse or less effective
incidence...syn: happening; the relative frequency of occurrence of something
inclusive...syn: including; including much or everything; and especially including stated limits
indigenous...syn: native; originating where it is found
injure...syn: hurt; cause injuries or bodily harm to
integral...syn: included; existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
levy...syn: impose; impose and collect
maximize...syn: make as great as possible; make as big or large as possible
minimal...syn: littlest; the least possible
notion...syn: idea; a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
overlap...syn: lie over; coincide partially or wholly
passport...syn: legal identification; any authorization to pass or go somewhere
rational...syn: logical; consistent with or based on or using reason
regime...syn: government; the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
reside...syn: live in; make one’s home in a particular place or community
sphere...syn: globe; a particular environment or walk of life
suspend...syn: hang; hang freely
therapeutic...syn: healing; tending to cure or restore to health
underlie...syn: influence; be or form the base for
violate...syn: go against; fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
Lesson 2.8
accelerate...syn: speed up; move faster
arbitrary...syn: random; based on individual preference or impulse
assemble...syn: put together; create by putting components or members together
attain...syn: reach; to gain with effort
beneficiary...syn: recipient; the recipient of funds or other benefits
colonial...syn: related to foreign settlements; of or relating to or characteristic of or inhabiting a colony
comparable...syn: similar; able to be compared or worthy of comparison
compress...syn: pack together; make more compact by or as if by pressing
contrary...syn: opposite to; very opposed in nature or character or purpose
depict...syn: picture; show in, or as in, a picture
disclose...syn: reveal; make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few
distinction...syn: recognition; a discrimination between things as different and distinct
dominate...syn: rule; be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
evident...syn: obvious; clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
feasible...syn: possible; capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are
gravity...syn: seriousness; (physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe
hierarchy...syn: order; a series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system
identical...syn: same; exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
meditation...syn: profound thought; continuous and profound contemplation on a deep subject
neutral...syn: objective; having no personal preference
norm...syn: standard; a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical
nutrient...syn: source of nourishment; any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy
passive...syn: not active; lacking in energy or will
perceive...syn: notice; to become aware of through the senses
precede...syn: occur earlier; be earlier in time; go back further
provincial...syn: rural person; of or associated with a province
rant...syn: scolding speech; talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
react...syn: respond; show a response or a reaction to something
subsidiary...syn: secondary; an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
viable...syn: possible; capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are
Lesson 2.9
acclaim...syn: approval; praise vociferously
affinity...syn: attraction; (immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody
affirm...syn: agree; establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
append...syn: add; add to the very end
badger...syn: bother; annoy persistently
beneficial...syn: useful; promoting or enhancing well-being
bias...syn: unfair opinion; a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
cease...syn: stop; put an end to a state or an activity
collaborate...syn: cooperate; work together on a common enterprise of project
constituent...syn: component; one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up
consume...syn: use; eat immoderately
conviction...syn: strong belief; an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
deprecate...syn: blame; express strong disapproval of; deplore
discrepancy...syn: difference; a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions
disseminate...syn: broadcast; cause to become widely known
endorse...syn: support; be behind; approve of
immune...syn: unaffected; a person who is immune to a particular infection
justify...syn: support; show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for
narrative...syn: story; a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events
negligence...syn: carelessness; failure to act with the prudence that a reasonable person would exercise
persist...syn: continue; continue to exist
predominant...syn: common; most frequent or common
presume...syn: assume; take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
profound...syn: deep; showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
provisional...syn: conditional; under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
sage...syn: wise; a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
susceptible...syn: available; (often followed by `of’ or `to’) yielding readily to or capable of
thesis...syn: theory; an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument
unify...syn: unite; become one
volatile...syn: capable of exploding; liable to lead to sudden change or violence
Lesson 2.10
aspire...syn: hope; have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
asylum...syn: hiding place; a shelter from danger or hardship
avid...syn: eager; (often followed by `for’) ardently or excessively desirous
confer...syn: discuss; have a conference in order to talk something over
constrain...syn: hold back; hold back
detach...syn: disconnect; cause to become detached or separated; take off
differentiate...syn: distinguish; mark as different
dissent...syn: disagree; withhold assent
efficacy...syn: effectiveness; capacity or power to produce a desired effect
forthcoming...syn: expected; at ease in talking to others
illuminate...syn: light up; make lighter or brighter
implicit...syn: hinted; implied though not directly expressed; inherent in the nature of something
inherent...syn: included; existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
intervene...syn: interrupt; get involved, so as to alter an action, or through force or threat of force
intrinsic...syn: essential; belonging to a thing by its very nature
malicious...syn: hateful; having the nature of or resulting from malice
manipulate...syn: influence; influence or control shrewdly or deviously
nonetheless...syn: however; despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession)
notorious...syn: ill famed; known widely and usually unfavorably
oblique...syn: indirect; slanting or inclined in direction or course or position
paramount...syn: essential; having superior power and influence
proliferation...syn: expansion; growth by the rapid multiplication of parts
prolong...syn: extend; lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
renovate...syn: fix up; restore to a previous or better condition
resign...syn: give up; leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
straightforward...syn: honest; free from ambiguity
subsidy...syn: financial aid; a grant paid by a government to an enterprise that benefits the public
symmetry...syn: exact matching of forms; (mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation
tentative...syn: experimental; under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
waive...syn: give up; do without or cease to hold or adhere to
Lesson 2.11
ample...syn: plentiful; more than enough in size or scope or capacity
anomaly...syn: odd item; deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
artifact...syn: saved item; a man-made object taken as a whole
autonomous...syn: self governing; (of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces
compensate...syn: pay back; adjust for
confine...syn: limit; place limits on (extent or access)
converge...syn: move toward a meeting point; be adjacent or come together
converse...syn: opposite; carry on a conversation
cosmic...syn: related to the universe; pertaining to or characteristic of the cosmos or universe
culinary...syn: related to cooking; of or relating to or used in cooking
depress...syn: push down; lower someone’s spirits; make downhearted
devise...syn: plan; come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
displace...syn: move; cause to move, usually with force or pressure
empirical...syn: practical; derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
esteem...syn: respect; the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded)
expedite...syn: rush; speed up the progress of; facilitate
hamper...syn: restrain; prevent the progress or free movement of
inhibit...syn: restrict; to put down by force or authority
justification...syn: reason; something that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary
manifest...syn: obvious; provide evidence for
maxim...syn: saying; a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
migrate...syn: move; move from one country or region to another and settle there
mock...syn: make fun; treat with contempt
motive...syn: reason; the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal
paradigm...syn: model; systematic arrangement of all the inflected forms of a word
proximity...syn: nearness; the property of being close together
restraint...syn: limitation; the act of controlling by restraining someone or something
rue...syn: regret; feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
subjective...syn: personal; taking place within the mind and modified by individual bias
successor...syn: replacement; a person who follows next in order
Lesson 2.12
augment...syn: add, increase; enlarge or increase
authenticate...syn: validate; establish the authenticity of something
coincidence...syn: a striking or unlikely combination of events
concede...syn: admit; admit (to a wrongdoing)
conceive...syn: understand; have the idea for
concurrent...syn: simultaneous; occurring or operating at the same time
degradation...syn: shame; changing to a lower state (a less respected state)
discrete...syn: separate; constituting a separate entity or part
dispose...syn: throw away; give, sell, or transfer to another
dissertation...syn: thesis; a treatise advancing a new point of view resulting from research
emulate...syn: adopt as a role model; strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
endure...syn: suffer; put up with something or somebody unpleasant
gale...syn: storm; a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
hardy...syn: strong; having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
ideology...syn: value system; an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation
incline...syn: slope; have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
instruct...syn: teach; impart skills or knowledge to
intangible...syn: abstract; impossible to feel or touch
itinerary...syn: travel plan; an established line of travel or access
likewise...syn: similarly; in like or similar manner
muse...syn: think over; reflect deeply on a subject
prey...syn: victim; a person who is the aim of an attack
proponent...syn: advocate; a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
revoke...syn: take back; fail to follow suit when able and required to do so
secular...syn: worldly; someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person
severity...syn: seriousness; used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather
singular...syn: unique; unusual or striking
strut...syn: walk pompously; to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
transient...syn: temporary; one who stays for only a short time
trivial...syn: unimportant; (informal) small and of little importance
Lesson 2.13
accolade...syn: award; a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
awe...syn: amaze; an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
carp...syn: complain; raise trivial objections
censor...syn: ban; forbid the public distribution of ( a movie or a newspaper)
concur...syn: agree; be in accord; be in agreement
confrontation...syn: conflict; a bold challenge
contention...syn: argument; a point asserted as part of an argument
enumerate...syn: count; specify individually
equate...syn: consider equal; consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous
ethereal...syn: delicate; characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
fabricate...syn: construct; put together out of artificial or natural components or parts
homogeneous...syn: alike; all of the same or similar kind or nature
incumbent...syn: current holder of an office; the official who holds an office
infer...syn: conclude; reason by deduction; establish by deduction
ironic...syn: amusing; humorously sarcastic or mocking
lament...syn: complaint; express grief verbally
lethal...syn: deadly; of an instrument of certain death
paradox...syn: apparent contradiction; (logic) a statement that contradicts itself
perpetual...syn: ageless; continuing forever or indefinitely
predecessor...syn: ancestor; one who precedes you in time (as in holding a position or office)
pristine...syn: clean; completely free from dirt or contamination
propagate...syn: breed; transmit from one generation to the next
prudent...syn: careful; careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment
ratify...syn: authorize; approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
recession...syn: decline; the state of the economy declines
repertoire...syn: collection; a collection of works that an artist or company can perform
serenity...syn: calm; a disposition free from stress or emotion
sever...syn: cut; set or keep apart
veneer...syn: covering; cover with veneer
vie...syn: compete; compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
Lesson 2.14
amplify...syn: expand; increase in size, volume or significance
captivate...syn: fascinate; attract; cause to be enamored
contingent...syn: depending on; a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
contradict...syn: differ; be in contradiction with
demolition...syn: destruction; an event (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something
deter...syn: discourage; try to prevent; show opposition to
discern...syn: distinguish; detect with the senses
disclaim...syn: deny; renounce a legal claim or title to
disparity...syn: difference; inequality or difference in some respect
eclectic...syn: drawn from many different sources; selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
elicit...syn: evoke; call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
frantic...syn: distressed; excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
fraudulent...syn: fake; intended to deceive
fugitive...syn: fleeing; someone who flees from an uncongenial situation
idiom...syn: expression; a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
imbalance...syn: difference; a lack of balance or state of disequilibrium
inconsistency...syn: difference; the relation between propositions that cannot both be true at the same time
intimidate...syn: frighten; make timid or fearful
nostalgia...syn: fond remembrance of the past; longing for something past
nurture...syn: foster; help develop, help grow
perennial...syn: enduring; lasting three seasons or more
pervasive...syn: far reaching; spreading or spread throughout
pore...syn: examine; any tiny hole admitting passage of a liquid (fluid or gas)
saturate...syn: fill completely, soak; infuse or fill completely
surpass...syn: exceed; distinguish oneself
terrestrial...syn: earthly; of or relating to or inhabiting the land as opposed to the sea or air
trough...syn: feed box; a narrow depression (as in the earth or between ocean waves or in the ocean bed)
turbulence...syn: disturbance; unstable flow of a liquid or gas
ubiquitous...syn: ever present; being present everywhere at once
underscore...syn: emphasize; give extra weight to (a communication)
Lesson 2.15
adversary...syn: opponent; someone who offers opposition
anarchy...syn: lawlessness; state of lawless disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)
apprenticeship...syn: instruction; the position of apprentice
chaotic...syn: mixed up; lacking a visible order or organization
climax...syn: high point; the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
coincide...syn: occur at the same time or in the same place; go with, fall together
consequential...syn: important; having important issues or results
convene...syn: meet; meet formally
exemplary...syn: model; worthy of imitation
forgo...syn: give up; do without or cease to hold or adhere to
humane...syn: kind; pertaining to or concerned with the humanities
implicate...syn: involve, entangle; bring into intimate and incriminating connection
intermittent...syn: irregular; stopping and starting at irregular intervals
latent...syn: inactive; potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
marshal...syn: organize; a law officer having duties similar to those of a sheriff
opaque...syn: not transparent or translucent; not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy
parody...syn: humorous imitation; a composition that imitates somebody’s style, usually in a humorous way
prologue...syn: introduction; an introduction to a play
promulgate...syn: make known; state or announce
prone...syn: lying down; having a tendency (to); often used in combination
reputable...syn: honorable; having a good reputation
restrain...syn: hold back; keep under control; keep in check
satire...syn: mockery; witty language used to convey insults or scorn
skeptical...syn: nonbelieving; denying or questioning the tenets of especially a religion
stereotype...syn: overly narrow representation; a conventional or formulaic conception or image
subpoena...syn: legal summons; serve or summon with a subpoena
titanic...syn: huge; of great force or power
unprecedented...syn: new; having no precedent; novel
utopia...syn: Paradise; ideally perfect state, especially in its social and political and moral aspects
vanguard...syn: leading position; the leading units moving at the head of an army
Lesson 2.16
agile...syn: quick; moving quickly and lightly
alleviate...syn: relieve; provide physical relief, as from pain
betray...syn: show; break the trust of; reveal unintentionally
boycott...syn: refuse to do business with; refuse to sponsor; refuse to do business with
commemorate...syn: preserve in memory; mark by some ceremony or observation
covert...syn: secret; a flock of coots
devious...syn: scheming; indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading
disperse...syn: scatter; distribute loosely
dissolution...syn: separation; separation into component parts
distill...syn: purify; remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate
glossy...syn: polished; a magazine printed on good quality paper
heed...syn: pay attention; pay close attention to; give heed to
invert...syn: reverse; make an inversion (in a musical composition)
linger...syn: remain; remain present although waning or gradually dying
paragon...syn: perfection; an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
pastoral...syn: rural; of or relating to a pastor
permeable...syn: possible to fill or pass through; allowing fluids or gases to pass or diffuse through
precedent...syn: prior example; an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
problematic...syn: presenting difficulty; open to doubt or debate
purge...syn: removal; oust politically
recurrent...syn: repeating; recurring again and again
reiterate...syn: repeat; to say, state, or perform again
relic...syn: saved item; an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
remnant...syn: saved item; a small part or portion that remains after the main part no longer exists
renegade...syn: rebel; break with established customs
sect...syn: religious order; a subdivision of a larger religious group
stringent...syn: rigorous; demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
superficial...syn: seeming; concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious
supersede...syn: replace; take the place or move into the position of
vantage...syn: point from which one sees; place or situation affording a comprehensive view
Lesson 2.17
ambulatory...syn: able to walk; relating to or adapted for walking
analogous...syn: similar; similar or equivalent in some respects though otherwise dissimilar
analogy...syn: similarity; an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others
ancillary...syn: supplementary; furnishing added support
anecdote...syn: story; short account of an incident (especially a biographical one)
anomalous...syn: abnormal; deviating from the general or common order or type
aria...syn: song; an elaborate song for solo voice
artisan...syn: skilled person; a skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft
authoritarian...syn: absolutist; characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty
bland...syn: tasteless; lacking taste or flavor or tang
cessation...syn: stopping; a stopping
deplete...syn: use up; use up (resources or materials)
distort...syn: warp; make false by mutilation or addition; as of a message or story
energize...syn: stimulate; cause to be alert and energetic
erode...syn: wear away; become ground down or deteriorate
exhaustive...syn: thorough; performed comprehensively and completely
galvanize...syn: stimulate; to stimulate to action
inadvertent...syn: accidental; happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally
jabber...syn: talk; talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
jargon...syn: technical language; a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
mural...syn: wall painting; a painting that is applied to a wall surface
obsess...syn: think about something constantly; haunt like a ghost; pursue
pivot...syn: swivel; turn on a pivot
plethora...syn: abundance; extreme excess
recount...syn: tell; narrate or give a detailed account of
rhetoric...syn: sophistication in speaking; using language effectively to please or persuade
sinister...syn: threatening; threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
stipulate...syn: specify; specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement
subordinate...syn: subsidiary; an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
tense...syn: tighten; a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
Lesson 2.18
affix...syn: attach; attach to
avert...syn: avoid; prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
babble...syn: chat; utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way
bestow...syn: confer; present
boon...syn: blessing; a desirable state
bustle...syn: activity; move or cause to move energetically or busily
cliché...syn: commonplace; a trite or obvious remark
coda...syn: concluding section; the closing section of a musical composition
compendium...syn: collection; a publication containing a variety of works
confound...syn: confuse; be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly
craven...syn: coward; lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
cumbersome...syn: awkward; difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight
diverge...syn: branch off; move or draw apart
elucidate...syn: clarify; make clear and (more) comprehensible
emanate...syn: come from; proceed or issue forth, as from a source
exemplify...syn: be example; be characteristic of
ferment...syn: agitate; a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
fluctuate...syn: change; cause to fluctuate or move in a wavelike pattern
fluency...syn: command of language; powerful and effective language
indict...syn: accuse; accuse formally of a crime
ingenious...syn: clever; showing inventiveness and skill
nocturnal...syn: active at night; belonging to or active during the night
perpetrate...syn: commit; perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
pique...syn: annoy; tightly woven fabric with raised cords
rectify...syn: correct; math: determine the length of
respiration...syn: breathing technique; the metabolic processes whereby organisms obtain energy
shackle...syn: bond; a restraint that confines or restricts freedom
submissive...syn: compliant; willing to submit to orders or wishes of others
tedious...syn: boring; so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
wary...syn: careful; marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
Lesson 2.19
antidote...syn: cure; a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison
apprehension...syn: dread; fearful expectation or anticipation
ascendant...syn: dominant; position or state of being dominant or in control
autopsy...syn: death report; an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death
aversion...syn: dislike; a feeling of intense dislike
calamity...syn: disaster; an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
curtail...syn: cut back; place restrictions on
cynical...syn: distrustful; believing the worst of human nature and motives
delineate...syn: describe; outline; show the form or outline of
discredit...syn: disgrace; cause to be distrusted or disbelieved
dispel...syn: drive away; force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
dissipate...syn: disappear slowly; to cause to separate and go in different directions
divergent...syn: different; diverging from another or from a standard
innovate...syn: create; bring something new to an environment
jeopardize...syn: endanger; pose a threat to; present a danger to
lofty...syn: elevated; of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
misrepresent...syn: deceive; represent falsely
negate...syn: eliminate; be in contradiction with
pathological...syn: diseased; of or relating to the practice of pathology
potency...syn: effectiveness; the power or right to give orders or make decisions
resilient...syn: enduring; recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
resonant...syn: echoing; characterized by resonance
savory...syn: delicious; morally wholesome or acceptable
subside...syn: decrease; wear off or die down
temperament...syn: disposition; your usual mood
thrifty...syn: economical; careful and diligent in the use of resources
unearth...syn: dig up; bring to light
vertigo...syn: dizziness; a reeling sensation; a feeling that you are about to fall
vigor...syn: energy; forceful exertion
wane...syn: diminish; grow smaller
Lesson 2.20
brittle...syn: fragile; having little elasticity; hence easily cracked or fractured or snapped
caricature...syn: exaggerated cartoon; represent in or produce a caricature of
clique...syn: exclusive group; an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
coercion...syn: force; the act of compelling by force of authority
commensurate...syn: equivalent; corresponding in size or degree or extent
cull...syn: gather; remove something that has been rejected
decipher...syn: figure out; convert code into ordinary language
dogma...syn: fixed belief; a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof
dupe...syn: fool; fool or hoax
ebb...syn: flow back, flow out; flow back or recede
fawn...syn: flatter; a color or pigment varying around a light grey-brown color
flattery...syn: give insincere compliments; excessive or insincere praise
impart...syn: give; transmit (knowledge or skills)
impeccable...syn: faultless; without fault or error
intrepid...syn: fearless; invulnerable to fear or intimidation
libel...syn: false and malicious statement; print slanderous statements against
perpetuate...syn: extend; cause to continue or prevail
peruse...syn: examine; examine or consider with attention and in detail
predetermine...syn: establish in advance; determine beforehand
reciprocate...syn: give or act in return; act, feel, or give mutually or in return
relinquish...syn: give up; part with a possession or right
relish...syn: enjoy; derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
renounce...syn: give up; give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations
repel...syn: force back; cause to move back by force or influence
rift...syn: gap; a gap between cloud masses
savor...syn: enjoy; derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
secrete...syn: give off; generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
shimmer...syn: gleam; shine with a weak or fitful light
spurious...syn: false; plausible but false
unravel...syn: figure out; become or cause to become undone by separating the fibers or threads of
Lesson 2.21
adversity...syn: hardship; a state of misfortune or affliction
allude...syn: indicate; make a more or less disguised reference to
apathy...syn: indifference; an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
calligraphy...syn: handwriting; beautiful handwriting
colossal...syn: huge; so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
corrosive...syn: hurtful; of a substance, especially a strong acid
daunt...syn: intimidate; cause to lose courage
deduce...syn: infer; reason by deduction; establish by deduction
delusion...syn: illusion; (psychology) an incorrect belief that is held in spite of evidence to the contrary
detrimental...syn: harmful; (sometimes followed by `to’) causing harm or injury
diligent...syn: hard working; quietly and steadily persevering especially in detail or exactness
dormant...syn: inactive; in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
foresight...syn: insight into the future; providence by virtue of planning prudently for the future
impede...syn: hinder; be a hindrance or obstacle to
incarcerate...syn: imprison; lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
innate...syn: inherent; not established by conditioning or learning
irrational...syn: illogical; not consistent with or using reason
loathe...syn: hate; find repugnant
luminous...syn: glowing; softly bright or radiant
lurk...syn: hide; lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
monumental...syn: impressive; relating or belonging to or serving as a monument
obnoxious...syn: irritating; causing disapproval or protest
preamble...syn: introduction; a preliminary introduction to a statute (usually explaining its purpose)
rancid...syn: ill smelling; corrupt
repress...syn: keep back; put down by force or intimidation
serendipity...syn: good fortune; good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
sporadic...syn: intermittent; recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
subdue...syn: keep down; put down by force or intimidation
thwart...syn: hinder; hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
travail...syn: labor; use of physical or mental energy; hard work
Lesson 2.22
abate...syn: lessen; make less active or intense
arrogance...syn: pride; overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
bourgeois...syn: middle-class; a capitalist who engages in industrial commercial enterprise
conspicuous...syn: obvious; obvious to the eye or mind
contentious...syn: quarrelsome; inclined to dispute, even to engage in law suits
cryptic...syn: mysterious; of an obscure nature
disparate...syn: not alike; fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
dissident...syn: protester; a person who dissents from some established policy
endemic...syn: local; a disease that is constantly present to a greater or lesser degree
exalt...syn: praise; praise, glorify, or honor
hackneyed...syn: overused; repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
incite...syn: prompt; give an incentive for action
inert...syn: motionless; unable to move or resist motion
infraction...syn: offense; a crime less serious than a felony
legislate...syn: make laws; make laws, bills, etc. or bring into effect by legislation
levee...syn: landing place; a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)
lucrative...syn: profitable; producing a sizeable profit
meek...syn: mild; humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
overt...syn: obvious; open and observable; not secret or hidden
parable...syn: moral story; a short moral story (often with animal characters)
podium...syn: pulpit; a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
porous...syn: permeable; able to absorb fluids
rejuvenate...syn: make young again; cause (a stream or river) to erode, as by an uplift of the land
replenish...syn: refill; fill something that had previously been emptied
ruthless...syn: pitiless; without mercy or pity
scamp...syn: rascal; perform hastily and carelessly
stigma...syn: mark of disgrace; the apical end of the style where deposited pollen enters the pistil
stint...syn: period, duration; subsist on a meager allowance
tranquil...syn: peaceful; (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
whimsical...syn: playful; determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
Lesson 2.23
abridge...syn: shorten; reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
abstain...syn: say no; refrain from voting
bloat...syn: swell; become bloated or swollen or puff up
deterrent...syn: restraint; something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
deviate...syn: stray; turn aside; turn away from
disjoint...syn: separate; part; cease or break association with
glimmer...syn: sparkle; a flash of light (especially reflected light)
gratify...syn: satisfy; make happy or satisfied
hiatus...syn: suspension; an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
malice...syn: spitefulness; feeling a need to see others suffer
mercenary...syn: soldier of fortune; a person hired to fight for another country than their own
monarchy...syn: royalty; an autocracy governed by a monarch who usually inherits the authority
moratorium...syn: suspension; a legally authorized postponement before some obligation must be discharged
obligatory...syn: required; morally or legally constraining or binding
perverse...syn: stubbornly resistant; marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict
precipitate...syn: speed; bring about abruptly
provocative...syn: stimulating; serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate
refractory...syn: stubborn; lining consisting of material with a high melting point
rescind...syn: revoke; cancel officially
retaliation...syn: revenge; action taken in return for an injury or offense
retract...syn: take back; formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
rigor...syn: severity; something hard to endure
slag...syn: residue; convert into slag
sluggish...syn: slow moving; moving slowly
stifle...syn: smother; conceal or hide
tactile...syn: related to the sense of touch; of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch
turmoil...syn: shaking; a violent disturbance
typhoon...syn: storm; a tropical cyclone occurring in the western Pacific or Indian oceans
uniformity...syn: sameness; a condition in which everything is regular and unvarying
verbose...syn: talkative; using or containing too many words
Lesson 2.24
abet...syn: assist; assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
affluent...syn: wealthy; an affluent person; a person who is financially well off
attenuate...syn: weaken; weaken the consistency of (a chemical substance)
degenerate...syn: worsen; grow worse
enterprising...syn: active and adventuresome; marked by initiative and readiness to undertake new projects
eschew...syn: avoid; avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
espouse...syn: adopt; choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
estrange...syn: alienate; remove from customary environment or associations
fledgling...syn: beginner; any new participant in some activity
guile...syn: trickery; shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
heresy...syn: unorthodoxy; any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or orthodox position
hermitage...syn: the residence of a recluse; the abode of a hermit
indifferent...syn: uncaring; marked by a lack of interest
insolvent...syn: bankrupt; someone who has insufficient assets to cover their debts
invalidate...syn: void; declare invalid
migratory...syn: traveling; used of animals that move seasonally
oblivion...syn: unconsciousness; the state of being disregarded or forgotten
ominous...syn: threatening; threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
ordeal...syn: trouble; a severe or trying experience
pretentious...syn: arrogant; intended to attract notice and impress others
prodigy...syn: very gifted young person; an unusually gifted or intelligent (young) person
ramble...syn: wander; continue talking or writing in a desultory manner
rampant...syn: widespread; unrestrained and violent
relegate...syn: banish; refer to another person for decision or judgment
reluctance...syn: unwillingness; (physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)
resumption...syn: beginning again; beginning again
skeptic...syn: unbeliever; someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs
Spartan...syn: unembellished; a resident of Sparta
translucent...syn: transmitting light; allowing light to pass through diffusely
turbulent...syn: troubled; characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
Lesson 2.25
amalgamate...syn: combine; to bring or combine together or with something else
antiseptic...syn: decontaminator; thoroughly clean and free of or destructive to disease-causing organisms
aver...syn: declare; report or maintain
caustic...syn: bitter; any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue
coalesce...syn: blend; mix together different elements
cogent...syn: convincing; powerfully persuasive
complacency...syn: contentedness; the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself
corroborate...syn: confirm; establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
culpable...syn: blameful; deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious
decadence...syn: degeneration; the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities
demeanor...syn: conduct; (behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
derelict...syn: deserted; a person without a home, job, or property
discord...syn: conflict; be different from one another
engender...syn: cause; call forth
epilogue...syn: conclusion; a short speech addressed to the audience by an actor at the end of a play
fiasco...syn: catastrophe; a sudden and violent collapse
fissure...syn: crack; break into fissures or fine cracks
hypocritical...syn: deceitful; professing feelings or virtues one does not have
immutable...syn: changeless; not subject or susceptible to change or variation in form or quality or nature
implode...syn: collapse inward; burst inward
infallible...syn: dependable; incapable of failure or error
mesmerize...syn: captivate; attract strongly, as if with a magnet
obliterate...syn: destroy; mark for deletion, rub off, or erase
panacea...syn: cure all; (Greek mythology) the goddess of healing
pedantic...syn: bookish; marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
reprimand...syn: criticize; rebuke formally
reproach...syn: criticism; a mild rebuke or criticism
smolder...syn: burn without flame; burn slowly and without a flame
succinct...syn: concise; briefly giving the gist of something
vise...syn: clasp; a holding device attached to a workbench
Lesson 2.26
antagonism...syn: hostility; a state of deep-seated ill-will
attrition...syn: gradual reduction; erosion by friction
buoyant...syn: floaty; tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
burgeon...syn: grow; grow and flourish
candor...syn: honesty; ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty
clemency...syn: forgiveness; good weather with comfortable temperatures
culmination...syn: high point; a final climactic stage
demean...syn: disgrace; reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
dichotomy...syn: division; being twofold; a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses
eloquence...syn: fluency; powerful and effective language
ephemeral...syn: fleeing; lasting a very short time
giddy...syn: excited and silly; having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
gouge...syn: dig or poke out; force with the thumb
immigrate...syn: enter; migrate to a new environment
incapacitate...syn: disable; make unable to perform a certain action
incoherent...syn: disconnected; without logical or meaningful connection
intractable...syn: hard to manage; not tractable; difficult to manage or mold
inundate...syn: flood; fill quickly beyond capacity; as with a liquid
kindle...syn: excite; catch fire
philanthropist...syn: humanitarian; someone who makes charitable donations intended to increase human well-being
piety...syn: devotion; righteousness by virtue of being pious
plummet...syn: fall; drop sharply
posterity...syn: future generations; all of the offspring of a given progenitor
protract...syn: extend; lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
rebut...syn: disprove or contradict; overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
remorse...syn: guilt; a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
shard...syn: fragment; a broken piece of a brittle artifact
supposition...syn: guess; a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
transcendent...syn: extraordinary; exceeding or surpassing usual limits especially in excellence
unwarranted...syn: groundless; incapable of being justified or explained
Lesson 2.27
acumen...syn: insight; a tapering point
administrate...syn: manage; work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of
ameliorate...syn: improve; to make better
arbiter...syn: judge; someone with the power to settle matters at will
bungle...syn: mistake; make a mess of, destroy or ruin
condescend...syn: lower oneself; behave in a patronizing and condescending manner
deleterious...syn: hurtful; harmful to living things
delirium...syn: madness; state of violent mental agitation
didactic...syn: instructional; instructive (especially excessively)
dirge...syn: lament; a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
dissonance...syn: lack of harmony; a conflict of people’s opinions or actions or characters
dwindle...syn: lessen; become smaller or lose substance
extraneous...syn: inessential; not pertinent to the matter under consideration
impromptu...syn: improvised; an extemporaneous speech or remark
metamorphosis...syn: major change; the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult
muddle...syn: jumble; a confused multitude of things
nullify...syn: invalidate; declare invalid
painstaking...syn: meticulous; characterized by extreme care and great effort
perjury...syn: lying while under oath; criminal offense of making false statements under oath
profane...syn: irreligious; characterized by profanity or cursing
proliferate...syn: increase; grow rapidly
provident...syn: looking ahead wisely; providing carefully for the future
recumbent...syn: lying down; lying down; in a position of comfort or rest
savant...syn: learned person; someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
scanty...syn: inadequate; lacking in amplitude or quantity
seclusion...syn: isolation; the quality of being secluded from the presence or view of others
sloth...syn: laziness; a disinclination to work or exert yourself
smelt...syn: melt or fuse; extract (metals) by heating
synoptic...syn: inclusive or general; presenting a summary or general view of a whole
viscous...syn: jelly-like; having a relatively high resistance to flow
Lesson 2.28
antecedent...syn: predecessor; someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
archaic...syn: out of date; so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
arduous...syn: requiring great effort; characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
aristocracy...syn: nobility; a privileged class holding hereditary titles
averse...syn: opposing; (usually followed by `to’) strongly opposed
burnish...syn: polish; polish and make shiny
disinterest...syn: neutrality; tolerance attributable to a lack of involvement
extol...syn: praise; praise, glorify, or honor
extrapolation...syn: prediction; an inference about the future based on known facts and observations
fervor...syn: passion; feelings of great warmth and intensity
hindrance...syn: obstacle; something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
incessant...syn: never-ending; uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
incisive...syn: penetrating; having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
indiscriminate...syn: random; failing to make or recognize distinctions
infernal...syn: related to hell; characteristic of or resembling Hell
insurrection...syn: rebellion; organized opposition to authority
laud...syn: praise; praise, glorify, or honor
methodical...syn: organized; characterized by method and orderliness
optimist...syn: positive thinker; a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
pacifist...syn: peace lover; someone opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes
progenitor...syn: predecessor; an ancestor in the direct line
quibble...syn: objection; evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections
reactionary...syn: opposed to change or progress; an extreme conservative; an opponent of progress or liberalism
rebuff...syn: repel; reject outright and bluntly
satirical...syn: mocking; exposing human folly to ridicule
seep...syn: ooze; pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
stagnant...syn: motionless; not circulating or flowing
subtlety...syn: nuance; a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
subvert...syn: overturn; cause the downfall of; of rulers
whittle...syn: pare; cut small bits or pare shavings from
Lesson 2.29
allusion...syn: suggestion; passing reference or indirect mention
aloft...syn: suggestion; at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
appease...syn: soothe; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
arable...syn: suitable for farming; (of farmland) capable of being farmed productively
balk...syn: resist; refuse to comply
bastion...syn: support; a group that defends a principle
clandestine...syn: secret; conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
connotation...syn: suggestion; what you must know in order to determine the reference of an expression
conundrum...syn: riddle; a difficult problem
crass...syn: rude; (of persons) so unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility
deface...syn: spoil the appearance; mar or spoil the appearance of
deference...syn: respect; a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard
evocative...syn: suggestive; serving to bring to mind
fetter...syn: shackle; restrain with fetters
frivolous...syn: silly; not serious in content or attitude or behavior
grandeur...syn: splendor; the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand
insidious...syn: sneaky; beguiling but harmful
lampoon...syn: ridicule; ridicule with satire
malign...syn: slander; evil or harmful in nature or influence
plagiarize...syn: steal; take without referencing from someone else’s writing or speech
preempt...syn: seize precedence; acquire for oneself before others can do so
propriety...syn: suitableness; correct or appropriate behavior
sate...syn: satisfy; fill to satisfaction
shamble...syn: shuffle; walk by dragging one’s feet
sobriety...syn: seriousness; the state of being sober and not intoxicated by alcohol
stalwart...syn: sturdy, tough; a person who is loyal to their allegiance (especially in times of revolt)
tacit...syn: silent; implied by or inferred from actions or statements
tiller...syn: steering mechanism; grow shoots in the form of stools or tillers
undulate...syn: rise and fall; stir up (water) so as to form ripples
virtuoso...syn: superstar; someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
Lesson 2.30
admonish...syn: warn; admonish or counsel in terms of someone’s behavior
amenable...syn: willing; disposed or willing to comply
atrophy...syn: wasting away; a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse
blasphemy...syn: swearing; blasphemous language (expressing disrespect for God or for something sacred)
buttress...syn: support; reinforce with a buttress
digress...syn: wander; lose clarity or turn aside from the main subject in writing or speaking
divest...syn: take away; take away possessions from someone
egregious...syn: very bad; conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
exhilarate...syn: thrill; fill with sublime emotion
expedient...syn: useful, practical; serving to promote your interest
frail...syn: weak; physically weak
impervious...syn: unaffected; not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
larceny...syn: theft; the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
meander...syn: wander; to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
navigable...syn: travelable; able to be sailed on or through safely
oblivious...syn: unaware; (followed by `to’ or `of’) lacking conscious awareness of
oscillate...syn: swing back and forth; be undecided about something
patronize...syn: support; assume sponsorship of
precarious...syn: unstable; affording no ease or reassurance
prodigal...syn: wasteful; a recklessly extravagant consumer
quagmire...syn: swamp; a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
quip...syn: witty comment; make jokes or quips
ruse...syn: trick; a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)
scapegoat...syn: victim; someone who is punished for the errors of others
stanza...syn: verse; a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem
superfluous...syn: unnecessary; serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
transgression...syn: violation; the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle
trifle...syn: toy; waste time; spend one’s time idly or inefficiently
vagabond...syn: wanderer; anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place
veracity...syn: truth; unwillingness to tell lies
Lesson 2.31
approbation...syn: approval; official approval
banal...syn: commonplace; repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
bestial...syn: brutal; resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility
blare...syn: blast; make a strident sound
cede...syn: yield; give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another
composure...syn: calmness; steadiness of mind under stress
concoct...syn: combine; make a concoction (of) by mixing
cursory...syn: casual; hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
depravity...syn: corruption; moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
discordant...syn: conflicting; not in agreement or harmony
encrusted...syn: coated; form a crust or a hard layer
encumber...syn: burden; hold back
enunciate...syn: articulate; speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
exonerate...syn: acquit; pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
forthright...syn: candid; characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
incipient...syn: beginning; only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
incongruous...syn: absurd; lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
inure...syn: accustom to hardship; cause to accept or become hardened to; habituate
leaven...syn: add yeast, cause to rise; cause to puff up with a leaven
mutable...syn: changeable; capable of or tending to change in form or quality or nature
outlandish...syn: bizarre; conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
pacify...syn: calm down; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
presumptuous...syn: assuming; excessively forward
profusion...syn: abundance; the property of being extremely abundant
rile...syn: agitate; cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
scrupulous...syn: conscientious; having scruples; arising from a sense of right and wrong; principled
simile...syn: comparison; a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds
tractable...syn: cooperative; easily managed (controlled or taught or molded)
unanimity...syn: agreement; everyone being of one mind
voluminous...syn: ample; large in volume or bulk
Lesson 2.32
aberrant...syn: deviant; markedly different from an accepted norm
aloof...syn: distant; remote in manner
altercation...syn: fight; noisy quarrel
auspicious...syn: encouraging; auguring favorable circumstances and good luck
circumscribe...syn: enclose; draw a line around
denigrate...syn: criticize or belittle; cause to seem less serious; play down
disconcert...syn: disturb; cause to feel embarrassment
dissuade...syn: deter; turn away from by persuasion
ductile...syn: flexible; easily influenced
exuberance...syn: enthusiasm; joyful enthusiasm
flout...syn: disregard; treat with contemptuous disregard
hyperbole...syn: exaggeration; extravagant exaggeration
impermeable...syn: extremely dense; preventing especially liquids to pass or diffuse through
inordinate...syn: excessive; beyond normal limits
interminable...syn: endless; tiresomely long; seemingly without end
monotony...syn: dullness; the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety
overbear...syn: dominate; bear too much
parch...syn: dry; cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat
perdition...syn: damnation; (Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil
precocious...syn: early; characterized by very early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
prodigious...syn: extraordinary; so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
pulverize...syn: crush; make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust
quandary...syn: dilemma; a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant one
quiescent...syn: dormant; not active or activated
reprehensible...syn: deplorable; bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
sordid...syn: filthy; morally degraded
stoic...syn: disinterested; seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
trepidation...syn: fear; a feeling of alarm or dread
vilify...syn: criticize; spread negative information about
vindictive...syn: cruel; disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
Lesson 2.33
animosity...syn: hatred; a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
apprise...syn: inform; inform (somebody) of something
blithe...syn: happy; lacking or showing a lack of due concern
brandish...syn: flourish; move or swing back and forth
camaraderie...syn: friendship; the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
congenial...syn: friendly; suitable to your needs
contagion...syn: infection; any disease easily transmitted by contact
disembark...syn: get off; go ashore
draconian...syn: harsh; unusually or unreasonably harsh or severe
enmity...syn: hostility; a state of deep-seated ill-will
goad...syn: incite; give heart or courage to
hermetic...syn: isolated; completely sealed; completely airtight
impel...syn: force; urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate
industrious...syn: hardworking; characterized by hard work and perseverance
inquisitor...syn: interrogator; a questioner who is excessively harsh
insinuate...syn: imply; introduce or insert (oneself) in a subtle manner
laborious...syn: grueling; characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
malleable...syn: flexible; easily influenced
mortify...syn: humiliate; practice self-denial of one’s body and appetites
notoriety...syn: infamy; the state of being known for some unfavorable act or quality
peremptory...syn: imperious; offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power
pessimism...syn: having a negative outlook; the feeling that things will turn out badly
pliable...syn: flexible; susceptible to being led or directed
premonition...syn: forewarning; a feeling of evil to come
promontory...syn: high ground; a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)
recluse...syn: hermit; one who lives in solitude
repulsion...syn: horror; the force by which bodies repel one another
ruddy...syn: flushed; inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
sequester...syn: isolate; requisition forcibly, as of enemy property
verdant...syn: green; characterized by abundance of verdure
Lesson 2.34
acquittal...syn: pardon; a judgment of not guilty
antiquated...syn: out-of-date; obsolete or old-fashioned
antithesis...syn: opposition; exact opposite
boor...syn: jerk; a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement
charlatan...syn: pretender; a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes
diminution...syn: lessening; change toward something smaller or lower
elate...syn: make happy; fill with high spirits; fill with optimism
elegy...syn: lament; a mournful poem; a lament for the dead
emancipate...syn: liberate; give equal rights to; of women and minorities
fanaticism...syn: obsession; excessive intolerance of opposing views
forbearance...syn: patience; good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
foreshadow...syn: presage; indicate by signs
fortuitous...syn: lucky; having no cause or apparent cause
garble...syn: mix up; make false by mutilation or addition; as of a message or story
gibberish...syn: nonsense; unintelligible talking
grandiose...syn: pretentious; impressive because of unnecessary largeness or grandeur
impotent...syn: powerless; lacking power or ability
inanimate...syn: lifeless; belonging to the class of nouns denoting nonliving things
indelible...syn: permanent; cannot be removed or erased
listless...syn: lacking interest; lacking zest or vivacity
nadir...syn: low-point; an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything
neophyte...syn: novice; a plant that is found in an area where it had not been recorded previously
obfuscate...syn: make obscure; make obscure or unclear
occlude...syn: obstruct; occlude
opulence...syn: luxury; wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
preeminent...syn: leading; greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement
soliloquy...syn: monologue; speech you make to yourself
tarry...syn: linger; be about
tirade...syn: outburst; a speech of violent denunciation
trite...syn: overused; repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
Lesson 2.35
absolve...syn: release from blame; grant remission of a sin to
altruism...syn: selflessness; the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
altruistic...syn: selfless; showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
audacious...syn: reckless; invulnerable to fear or intimidation
chastise...syn: scold; censure severely
clairvoyant...syn: psychic; someone who has the power of clairvoyance
decorum...syn: propriety; propriety in manners and conduct
deplore...syn: regret; express strong disapproval of
desecrate...syn: profane; violate the sacred character of a place or language
discernible...syn: recognizable; perceptible by the senses or intellect
erudite...syn: scholarly; having or showing profound knowledge
fester...syn: rot; ripen and generate pus
forestall...syn: prevent; keep from happening or arising; make impossible
germane...syn: relevant; relevant and appropriate
obviate...syn: prevent; do away with
opportunist...syn: profit-seeker; a person who places expediency above principle
preposterous...syn: ridiculous; incongruous; inviting ridicule
proscribe...syn: prohibit; command against
raucous...syn: rowdy; unpleasantly loud and harsh
recuperate...syn: recover; regain or make up for
repudiate...syn: renounce; cast off
reverent...syn: respectful; feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
rummage...syn: search; search haphazardly
scavenge...syn: seek; clean refuse from
sedition...syn: rebellion; an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority
spat...syn: quarrel; a quarrel about petty points
squabble...syn: quarrel; a quarrel about petty points
venerate...syn: revere; regard with feelings of respect and reverence
voracious...syn: ravening; excessively greedy and grasping
whiff...syn: puff of air; a short light gust of air
Lesson 2.36
ambivalent...syn: undecided; uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
apostate...syn: unorthodox; a disloyal person who deserts his cause or religion or political party
austere...syn: stark; severely simple
defame...syn: slander; charge falsely or with malicious intent
euphemism...syn: substitution of a more polite expression
gregarious...syn: talkative; (of animals) tending to form a group with others of the same species
imperceptible...syn: unnoticeable; impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses
inane...syn: silly; devoid of intelligence
indisputable...syn: undeniable; not open to question; obviously true
infinitesimal...syn: tiny; (mathematics) a variable that has zero as its limit
inkling...syn: slight idea; a slight suggestion or vague understanding
introspective...syn: thoughtful; given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences
loath...syn: unwilling; unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
miserly...syn: stingy; (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity
orator...syn: speaker; a person who delivers a speech or oration
outwit...syn: to exceed in cleverness; beat through cleverness and wit
paucity...syn: shortage; an insufficient quantity or number
pummel...syn: strike; strike, usually with the fist
pungency...syn: sharpness; wit having a sharp and caustic quality
scuffle...syn: struggle; disorderly fighting
servitude...syn: servanthood; state of subjection to an owner or master or forced labor imposed as punishment
solemnity...syn: seriousness; a trait of dignified seriousness
stalemate...syn: standstill; subject to a stalemate
surreptitious...syn: sneaky; marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
timidity...syn: shyness; fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions
totter...syn: sway; move without being stable, as if threatening to fall
unscathed...syn: unharmed; not injured
unsightly...syn: ugly; unpleasant to look at
warble...syn: sing; sing or play with trills, alternating with the half note above or below
whet...syn: sharpen; make keen or more acute
Lesson 2.37
abject...syn: wretched; of the most contemptible kind
acrimonious...syn: bitter; marked by strong resentment or cynicism
affluence...syn: wealth; abundant wealth
beneficent...syn: benevolent; doing or producing good
brusque...syn: abrupt; marked by rude or peremptory shortness
cajole...syn: coax; influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
castigate...syn: chasten; censure severely
chaff...syn: waste; be silly or tease one another
coagulate...syn: clot; change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state
comely...syn: attractive; according with custom or propriety
corrode...syn: wear away; cause to deteriorate due to the action of water, air, or an acid
equanimity...syn: calmness; steadiness of mind under stress
equivocal...syn: conflicting; open to two or more interpretations
exigency...syn: urgent situation; a pressing or urgent situation
fastidious...syn: careful; giving careful attention to detail
gingerly...syn: carefully; in a gingerly manner
harangue...syn: criticism; deliver a harangue to; address forcefully
idolatry...syn: worship; religious zeal; the willingness to serve God
itinerant...syn: wanderer; a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment
luxuriant...syn: abundant; marked by complexity and richness of detail
maelstrom...syn: whirlpool; a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)
placate...syn: appease; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
polemical...syn: controversial; of or involving dispute or controversy
prattle...syn: chatter; speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
rejoinder...syn: comeback; a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
staid...syn: calm; characterized by dignity and propriety
swindler...syn: cheater; a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud
tedium...syn: boredom; the feeling of being bored by something tedious
tortuous...syn: convoluted; highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious
turbid...syn: cloudy; (of liquids) clouded as with sediment
Lesson 2.38
affable...syn: genial; diffusing warmth and friendliness
assiduous...syn: diligent; marked by care and persistent effort
avarice...syn: greed; reprehensible acquisitiveness
contortion...syn: distortion; the act of twisting or deforming the shape of something (e.g., yourself)
desiccate...syn: dry out; preserve by removing all water and liquids from
despondent...syn: depressed; without or almost without hope
dissemble...syn: feign; make believe with the intent to deceive
distend...syn: dilate; become wider
downcast...syn: depressed; directed downward
explicate...syn: explain; make plain and comprehensible
extricate...syn: disentangle; release from entanglement of difficulty
fallacious...syn: false; containing or based on a fallacy
forebode...syn: foretell; make a prediction about; tell in advance
garish...syn: gaudy; tastelessly showy
genteel...syn: cultured; marked by refinement in taste and manners
glower...syn: glare; look at with a fixed gaze
imbibe...syn: drink; take in, also metaphorically
impertinent...syn: disrespectful; characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
insubordination...syn: disobedience; defiance of authority
morose...syn: gloomy; showing a brooding ill humor
portend...syn: foreshadow; indicate by signs
quixotic...syn: fanciful; not sensible about practical matters; idealistic and unrealistic
ramshackle...syn: falling apart; in deplorable condition
recapitulate...syn: go over; summarize briefly
remiss...syn: delinquent; failing in what duty requires
revulsion...syn: disgust; intense aversion
specious...syn: false; plausible but false
stupor...syn: daze; the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens
swill...syn: drink; feed pigs
vicissitude...syn: fluctuation; a variation in circumstances or fortune in the development of something
Lesson 2.39
antipathy...syn: hatred; a feeling of intense dislike
covetous...syn: greedy; showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another’s advantages
credulity...syn: gullibility; tendency to believe readily
dross...syn: impurity; worthless or dangerous material that should be removed
facetious...syn: kidding; cleverly amusing in tone
feint...syn: maneuver; deceive by a mock action
glutton...syn: lover of food; a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
heckle...syn: interrupt a public speaker; comb with a heckle
impassable...syn: impossible to pass; incapable of being passed
implacable...syn: impossible to please; incapable of being placated
incongruity...syn: incompatibility; the quality of disagreeing; being unsuitable and inappropriate
incorrigible...syn: impossible to correct; impervious to correction by punishment
inviolable...syn: invulnerable; incapable of being transgressed or dishonored
jaunty...syn: lighthearted; marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
laggard...syn: lazy person; someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind
languid...syn: lethargic; lacking spirit or liveliness
leniency...syn: indulgence; mercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerant
lethargic...syn: lacking energy; deficient in alertness or activity
neologism...syn: invented word; a newly invented word or phrase
perfectionism...syn: having extremely high standards; a feeling that anything less than perfect is unacceptable
perfunctory...syn: inattentive; hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
ponderous...syn: heavy; slow and laborious because of weight
prelate...syn: high priest; a senior clergyman and dignitary
privation...syn: lack; a state of extreme poverty
restive...syn: jittery; being in a tense state
salutary...syn: healthful; tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health
sanctimonious...syn: hypocritically pious in manner; excessively or hypocritically pious
sycophant...syn: kiss-up; a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
toady...syn: kiss-up; try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
unseemly...syn: improper; not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
Lesson 2.40
abeyance...syn: pause; temporary cessation or suspension
adulation...syn: praise; servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise
adulterate...syn: pollute; corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
aplomb...syn: poise; great coolness and composure under strain
apocryphal...syn: of doubtful authenticity; being of questionable authenticity
begrudge...syn: resent; be envious of; set one’s heart on
contrite...syn: remorseful; feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
defeatist...syn: pessimistic; someone who is resigned to defeat without offering positive suggestions
deign...syn: patronize; do something that one considers to be below one’s dignity
demur...syn: object; take exception to
duplicity...syn: misrepresentation; a fraudulent or duplicitous representation
frugality...syn: reluctance to spend; prudence in avoiding waste
headstrong...syn: obstinate; habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition
hedonist...syn: pleasure seeker; someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures
idiosyncrasy...syn: peculiarity; a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
indomitable...syn: persevering; impossible to subdue
misanthrope...syn: people-hater; someone who dislikes people in general
misconstrue...syn: misinterpret; interpret in the wrong way
nondescript...syn: ordinary-looking; lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting
pallid...syn: pale; abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress
platitude...syn: overused phrase; a trite or obvious remark
recalcitrant...syn: obstinate; stubbornly resistant to authority or control
recant...syn: retract; formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
reprove...syn: rebuke; take to task
reticence...syn: reserve; the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary
satirize...syn: ridicule; ridicule with satire
servile...syn: meek; submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior
truism...syn: overused phrase; an obvious truth
urbane...syn: refined; showing refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience
welter...syn: rolling or tumbling; a confused multitude of things
Lesson 2.41
abrade...syn: scrape; wear away
abscond...syn: run off; run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
assuage...syn: soothe; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
congeal...syn: solidify; become gelatinous
debase...syn: shame; corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
demure...syn: shy; affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
dishevel...syn: tangle; disarrange or rumple
dregs...syn: sediment; sediment that has settled at the bottom of a liquid
egotism...syn: selfishness; an exaggerated opinion of your own importance
firebrand...syn: troublemaker; a piece of wood that has been burned or is burning
fitful...syn: spasmodic; occurring in spells and often abruptly
foment...syn: stir up; try to stir up public opinion
furtive...syn: sneaky; marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
ignoble...syn: shameful; completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose
immobility...syn: stillness; remaining in place
indefatigable...syn: tireless; showing sustained enthusiastic action with unflagging vitality
indolent...syn: slothful; disinclined to work or exertion
insensible...syn: unfeeling; incapable of physical sensation
insipid...syn: tasteless; lacking taste or flavor or tang
insubstantial...syn: unreal; lacking material form or substance; unreal
martinet...syn: tyrant; someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms
petulant...syn: sulky; easily irritated or annoyed
probity...syn: truthfulness; complete and confirmed integrity; having strong moral principles
rivulet...syn: stream; a small stream
satiate...syn: satisfy; fill to satisfaction
saunter...syn: stroll; walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
skulk...syn: slink; lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
stratagem...syn: scheme; a maneuver in a game or conversation
striated...syn: striped; mark with stripes or striations
unrequited...syn: unreturned; not returned in kind
Lesson 2.42
acrimony...syn: bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
chauvinist...syn: bigot; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
claustrophobia...syn: fear of enclosed spaces; a morbid fear of being closed in a confined space
desultory...syn: goalless; marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose
ebullient...syn: enthusiastic; joyously unrestrained
felicitous...syn: fortunate; exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style
foible...syn: weak point; a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
gainsay...syn: contradict; take exception to
impassive...syn: expressionless; having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
impudence...syn: disrespect; an impudent statement
inarticulate...syn: voiceless; without or deprived of the use of speech or words
incorporeal...syn: bodiless; without material form or substance
indubitable...syn: certain; too obvious to be doubted
ingratiate...syn: gain others' favor for; gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
invective...syn: vilification; abusive language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will
irascible...syn: angry; quickly aroused to anger
irksome...syn: annoying; so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
omnivorous...syn: eating all types of food; feeding on both plants and animals
prate...syn: chatter; speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
prescience...syn: foresight; the power to foresee the future
profligate...syn: extravagant; a dissolute man in fashionable society
protuberance...syn: bulge; something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings
puerile...syn: immature; of or characteristic of a child
remonstrance...syn: complaint; the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
reprobate...syn: disgraceful person; reject (documents) as invalid
sinuous...syn: winding; curved or curving in and out
ungainly...syn: awkward; lacking grace in movement or posture
uproarious...syn: hilarious; uncontrollably noisy
vacillate...syn: fluctuate; be undecided about something
wheedle...syn: coax; influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
Lesson 2.43
commiserate...syn: sympathize; to feel or express sympathy or compassion
dawdle...syn: linger; take one’s time; proceed slowly
disabuse...syn: rid; free somebody (from an erroneous belief)
fatuous...syn: stupid; devoid of intelligence
fetid...syn: stinking; offensively malodorous
garrulous...syn: talkative; full of trivial conversation
iconoclastic...syn: rebellious; characterized by attack on established beliefs or institutions
inchoate...syn: not yet organized; only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
ingenuous...syn: innocent; characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious
intransigence...syn: stubbornness; the trait of being intransigent; stubbornly refusing to compromise
jocular...syn: joking; characterized by jokes and good humor
magnanimity...syn: largess; liberality in bestowing gifts; extremely liberal and generous of spirit
officious...syn: intrusive; intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
perfidious...syn: treacherous; tending to betray
portly...syn: stout; euphemisms for `fat’
prurient...syn: lustful; characterized by lust
raconteur...syn: narrator; a person skilled in telling anecdotes
rarefy...syn: refine; lessen the density or solidity of
rectitude...syn: righteousness; righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest
remunerative...syn: lucrative; for which money is paid
saccharine...syn: sickly sweet; overly sweet
sodden...syn: soaked; wet through and through; thoroughly wet
stolid...syn: placid; having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
taciturn...syn: silent; habitually reserved and uncommunicative
tempestuous...syn: stormy; characterized by violent emotions or behavior
torpor...syn: lethargy; a state of motor and mental inactivity with a partial suspension of sensibility
turgid...syn: pompous; ostentatiously lofty in style
upbraid...syn: reproach; express criticism towards
verisimilitude...syn: lifelikeness; the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true
voluble...syn: talkative; marked by a ready flow of speech
Lesson 2.44
anticlimax...syn: letdown; a disappointing decline after a previous rise
blandishment...syn: flattery; flattery intended to persuade
braggart...syn: boastful person; a very boastful and talkative person
censorious...syn: critical; harshly critical or expressing censure
chary...syn: cautious; characterized by great caution and wariness
condole...syn: comfort; express one's sympathetic grief, on the occasion of someone's death
deducible...syn: possible to infer; capable of being deduced
effervescence...syn: enthusiasm; the process of bubbling as gas escapes
enervate...syn: weaken; weaken mentally or morally
exculpate...syn: exonerate; pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
imperturbable...syn: calm; not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure
impiety...syn: unrighteousness; unrighteousness by virtue of lacking respect for a god
importune...syn: plead; beg persistently and urgently
ingrate...syn: ungrateful person; a person who shows no gratitude
inopportune...syn: unlucky; not opportune
insularity...syn: isolation; the state of being isolated or detached
irresolute...syn: indecisive; uncertain how to act or proceed
mawkish...syn: maudlin; effusively or insincerely emotional
opprobrium...syn: disgrace; state of disgrace resulting from public abuse
penury...syn: poverty; a state of extreme poverty or destitution
prevaricate...syn: equivocate; be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information
propitiate...syn: appease; make peace with
punctilious...syn: precise; marked by precise accordance with details
querulous...syn: complaining; habitually complaining
recondite...syn: mysterious; difficult to penetrate
salubrious...syn: healthy; promoting health; healthful
soporific...syn: causing sleep; a drug that induces sleep
spendthrift...syn: wasteful; someone who spends money prodigally
stodgy...syn: uninteresting; heavy and starchy and hard to digest
venturesome...syn: daring; disposed to venture or take risks
Lesson 2.45
abstemious...syn: restraining; sparing in consumption of especially food and drink
castigation...syn: chastisement; a severe scolding
cogitate...syn: think about; consider carefully and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one’s mind
complaisant...syn: agreeable; showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
diffidence...syn: shyness; lack of self-confidence
disavowal...syn: repudiation; denial of any connection with or knowledge of
disinclination...syn: unwillingness; that toward which you are inclined to feel dislike
disputatious...syn: argumentative; inclined to disagree, even to engage in law suits
equivocate...syn: use ambiguous language; be deliberately unclear in order to mislead
expurgate...syn: cleanse; edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
grandiloquent...syn: excessively heightened speech; lofty in style
impecunious...syn: penniless; not having enough money to pay for necessities
jocose...syn: joking; characterized by jokes and good humor
lassitude...syn: sluggishness; a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)
Lilliputian...syn: tiny; a very small person (resembling a Lilliputian)
malingerer...syn: slacker; someone shirking their duty by feigning illness or incapacity
mellifluous...syn: smooth and sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear
mendacious...syn: untruthful; given to lying
mutinous...syn: rebellious; disposed to or in a state of mutiny
nonentity...syn: unimportant person; the state of not existing
obdurate...syn: stubborn; stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
obtrude...syn: stick out; push to thrust outward
pugnacity...syn: belligerence; a natural disposition to be hostile
slapdash...syn: sloppy; in a careless or reckless manner
somnolent...syn: sleepy; inclined to or marked by drowsiness
traduce...syn: slander; speak unfavorably about
truculence...syn: belligerence; obstreperous and defiant aggressiveness
veracious...syn: true; habitually speaking the truth
vituperative...syn: hateful; marked by harshly abusive criticism