Mid Frequency SAT (1350 Words, Lessons 2.1-2.45)

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