1b) abstruse )adj) difficult to understand 2b) accolade (noun) an award, or praise 3b) acrimony (noun) words or behavior filled with harshness, anger, or bitterness 4b) adroit (adj) skillful in the use of the hands, or in handling difficult situations 5b) affable (adj) friendly; easygoing 6b) alienate (verb) to push someone away, or cause him to separate from people 7b) altruistic (adj) unselfish; caring 8b) ambiguous (adj) unclear: vague: having several possible interpretations 9b) ameliorate (verb) to make an unpleasant situation better: to improve 10b) amorphous (adj) without form or shape 11b) anarchy (noun) a lack of order; chaos 12b) antagonistic (adj) in hostile competition: opposing 13b) antithesis (noun) opposite 14b) apex (noun) top; highest pint; summit 15b) arbitrary (adj) selected by random choice and without solid reason 16b) archaic (adj) old; antiquated 17b) articulate (adj) able to speak clearly and effectively 18b) ascetic (noun) person who rejects physical comfort and luxury for self-discipline 19b) assail (verb) attack with words or force 20b) assuage (verb) relieve; ease; pacify 21b) atrophy (verb) waste away; wither 22b) augment (verb) make larger; increase 23b) austere (adj) stern; plain; without luxuries 24b) banal (adj) boring; trite; insipid 25b) belie (verb) to give an impression that is the opposite of the way things really are; to misrepresent 26b) benediction (noun) good wishes; a blessing 27b) benign (adj) gentle; kind-hearted; mild 28b) blight (noun) decay; disease; widespread death 29b) bombast (noun) speech or writing intended to impress the audience; pompous 30b) bumptious (adj) pushy; obnoxiously self-assertive 31b) cajole (verb) to fool with flattery of false promises; coax; deceive 32b) capitulate (verb) surrender; yield 33b) castigate (verb) scold; punish 34b) celerity (noun) speed 35b) chasten (verb) punish; discipline; castigate 36b) choler (noun) anger 37b) circumspect ( adj) cautious 38b) cloister (noun) secluded or isolated from the outside world; also, a place of seclusion 39b) coerce (verb) to force someone by threatening or physically overpowering him 40b) compliant (adj) to change you behavior at someone else’s request; conforming; obeying; yielding 41b) concede (verb) admit reluctantly; yield 42b) concur (verb) agree 43b) confound (verb) to mix up (in your mind); or, to confuse someone else 44b) consummate (verb) to complete or make whole 45b) contingent (adj) dependent upon other circumstances; conditional 46b) contrite (adj) sorry; penitent 47b) converge (verb) move together to meet at a common point 48b) convivial (adj) fond of parties; sociable 49b) cordial (adj) friendly; welcoming; gracious 50b) corroborate (verb) support with evidence; tell the same story; confirm 51b) cryptic (adj) hidden; secret; mysterious 52b) cupidity (noun) greed, especially for money 53b) daunted (dismayed; disheartened; discouraged (made less courageous) 54b) defame (verb) to say things harmful to a person’s reputation; malign; vilify 55b) denounce (verb) criticize; condemn 56b) deplore (verb) to express regret or disapproval; complain; criticize 57b) deride (verb) make fun of; ridicule 58b) despot (noun) tyrant 59b) desultory (adj) lacking a plan; aimless 60b) diatribe (noun) a bitterly critical speech 61b) dilatory (adj) causing lateness; stalling 62b) disclose (verb) provide information; reveal 63b) discourse (noun) exchange of ideas; conversation 64b) disparage (verb) say negative things; belittle 65b) disperse (verb) spread around; scatter 66b) dissolution (noun) separation into parts; the process of dissolving 67b) divergence (noun) the act of splitting off into different directions 68b) dogmatic (adj) sticking to widely-accepted beliefs, even when faced with contrary evidence; closed-minded 69b) eccentric (adj) different from most, especially in personality or behavior 70b) efface (verb) erase 71b) efficacy (noun) the ability to produce desired results 72b) eloquence (noun) powerfully effective speech 73b) emulate (verb) imitate 74b) endorse (verb) promote; recommend 75b) enhance (verb) intensify; improve 76b) enmity (noun) mutual hatred 77b) eradicate (verb) remove completely and permanently; exterminate 78b) erudition (noun) the knowledge acquired through many years of study 79b) ethereal (adj) heavenly; fine; delicately beautiful 80b) euphemism (noun) a word or phrase that’s used to make an unpleasant idea sound better 81b) exacerbate (verb) to make a bad situation worse 82b) expunge (verb) erase 83b) extemporaneous (adj) done without planning; improvised 84b) extraneous (adj) unnecessary; irrelevant 85b) exuberant (adj) uncontrollably joyous 86b) fastidious (adj) difficult to please 87b) fickle (adj) lacking loyalty; unpredictably changeable; erratic 88b) flagrant (adj) openly and obviously evil; glaring; conspicuous 89b) flippancy (noun) treating a serious situation with arrogant humor or disrespect 90b) foresight (noun) the ability to see ahead, anticipate, or predict 91b) fulminate (verb) to explode, either with sound or anger 92b) futile (adj) hopelessly ineffective; useless; in vain 93b) garish (adj) flashy; gaudy 94b) garrulous (adj) very talkative; loquacious 95b) germane (adj) relevant; fitting 96b) glutton (noun) a person who consumes huge quantities of food or drink; someone with great endurance 97b) gregarious (adj) sociable; extroverted; enjoying companionship 98b) hackneyed (adj) unoriginal; trite 99b) haphazard (adj) without plan or direction 100b) harbor (verb) to provide shelter or refuge; hide 101b) hedge (veb) to avoid giving a definite or clear answer, thereby escaping responsibility or blame 102b) heinous (adj) shockingly evil 103b) hiatus (noun) gap; interruption; a break in the continuity of a process; a pause 104b) homage (noun) respect paid to someone or something; tribute; honor 105b) hyperbole (noun) extreme exaggeration 106b) idolatry (noun) the worship of objects or people as gods 107b) imminent (verb) to fill, as with a strong dye or a strong feeling 108b) impair (verb) weaken in strength or value 109b) impassive (adj) without feeling; expressionless 110b) impetuous (adj) making quick decisions and taking sudden action; hasty; impulsive 111b) impudence (noun) rudness; insolence 112b) inane (adj) silly; insignificant 113b) incessant (adj) continuous; endless 114b) incite (verb) arouse to action; stir up; foment 115b) incongruous (adj) out of place 116b) incredulous (adj) unwilling or unable to believe 117b) indigent (adj) very poor 118b) induce (verb) cause to happen; bring about 119b) infallible (adj) incapable of making a mistake 120b) infer (verb) to figure out, based on given information; conclude; deduce 121b) ingenuous (adj) naïve; unsophisticated; inexperienced 122b) innocuous (adj) harmless; inoffensive 123b) inscrutable (adj) mysterious 124b) insolent (adj) rude; haughty 125b) intermittent (adj) occurring at intervals; periodic; not constant or continual 126b) intrinsic (adj) located within the very nature of an object or person; inherent 127b) irascible (adj) easily angered 128b) irresolute (adj) indecisive; unsure 129b) jargon (noun) specialized language used by a particular group 130b) jaunty (adj) lively; perky; sprightly 131b) jettison (verb) to throw overboard; to discard 132b) jubilant (adj) filled with joy 133b) juncture (noun) point in time, especially a crucial one; joint or connection 134b) lionize (verb) to put someone onto a pedestal; to treat with great respect 135b) loath (adj) reluctant; unwilling 136b) lofty (adj) at a great height; elevated; noble 137b) lucid (adj) easy to understand; transparent; clear-thinking 138b) lugubrious (adj) mournful 139b) magnate (noun) a person of great power 140b) malefactor (noun) person who tries to hurt others; criminal 141b) malign (verb) to say evil or harmful things about someone; defame; vilify 142b) marred (adj) spoiled, scratched, blemished 143b) meander (verb) wander in a carefree manner; follow a winding course; ramble 144b) mendacity (noun) a lie; a false statement 145b) minute (adj) very small in size 146b) mitigate (verb) make less severe; mollify 147b) monologue (noun) a long, uninterrupted 148b) mundane (adj) ordinary; earthly (not spiritual); practical; temporary 149b) nefarious (adj) extremely evil 150b) neophyte (noun) beginner 151b) nostalgic (adj) wishing for a return to the way things used to be; longing for the past; homesick 152b) nuance (noun) slight degree; shade of difference 153b) nurture (verb) provide care and support; nourish: train or educate 154b) objurgate (verb) scold; castigate; denounce 155b) obscure (adj) hazy; unfamiliar; difficult to understand 156b) obsolete (adj) no longer usable; outdated 157b) obtuse (adj) dull; blunt; unintelligent; lacking sharpness 158b) onerous (adj) burdensome; oppressive 159b) opportunist (noun) someone who takes advantage of the situation 160b) opulence (noun) luxury; wealth; riches 161b) paltry (adj) worthless; insignificant; petty 162b) parity (noun) equality or equivalence; balance among a group of rivals 163b) partisan (adj) blindly devoted to a cause or organization 164b) pecuniary (noun) a strong liking; attraction 165b) perfunctory (adj) without enthusiasm or thoroughness; routine; “going through the motions” 166b) perspicacity (noun) mental sharpness; keen insight; shrewdness 167b) pervade (verb) to spread to every part 168b) phlegmatic (adj) calm; unemotional 169b) pithy (adj) to the point; concise 170b) platitude (noun) dull, trite statement 171b) pompous (adj) filled with self-importance; arrogant; obnoxiously proud 172b) portent (noun) warning sign; omen; indication 173b) precarious (adj) risky; uncertain 174b) precocious (adj) mature at a young age 175b) predilection (noun) a preference for something 176b) prevalent (adj) widely-accepted; common; prevailing 177b) prodigal (adj) wasteful, especially of money; extravagant 178b) profound (adj) penetrating beyond the superficial; filled with wisdom and insight; deep 179b) protract (verb) extend in time or space 180b) proximity (noun) nearness; closeness 181b) puerile (adj) childish 182b) quandary (noun) a state of confusion of doubt; dilemma 183b) quell (verb) to calm; pacify 184b) rampant (adj) unrestrained; widespread 185b) rebuff (verb) to ignore or reject strongly; snub 186b) recant (verb) take back something you’ve said; withdraw a statement or belief 187b) recondite (adj) hidden; difficult to understand; profound 188b) redundant (adj) more than what is necessary; repetition of words or ideas of speech or writing 189b) relevancy (noun) having a clear relationship to the matter at hand 190b) reprimands (verb) scold; criticize 191b) repudiate (verb) disown; reject 192b) resolve (noun) determination; strong will 193b) revere (verb) greatly respect 194b) rudimentary (adj) undeveloped; fundamental; elementary 195b) salutary (adj) promoting health, or having some beneficial effect 196b) sanguine (adj) optimistic; cheerful 197b) scanty (adj) small in quantity; insufficient 198b) scrutinize (verb) examine closely; inspect carefully 199b) sectarian (adj) limited to the beliefs of a small group, such as a religious sect; narrow scope 200b) sententious (adj) short and to the point; terse 201b) servile (adj) like a slave; subservient; submissive 202b) slander (noun) negative oral remarks about another person that are untrue 203b) solemn (adj) serious; somber; grave 204b) sonorous (adj) loud, full in sound; booming 205b) sporadic (adj) occurring infrequently and without predictability; occasional 206b) stagnant (adj) motionless; unchanging; dull 207b) stealth (noun) secretive behavior 208b) stymie (verb) block; get in the way of; hamper 209b) sublime (adj) of very special quality; noble 210b) succinct (adj) short and to the point; concise 211b) sumptuous ( adj) rich; magnificent 212b) surreptitious (adj) secret 213b) sycophant (noun) someone who flatters in order to gain favor; wimpy follower 214b) taciturn (adj) quiet 215b) tantamount (adj) equal; comparable 216b) tenacious (adj) strong; persistent; determined to hold on 217b) tenuous (adj) thin; flimsy 218b) thrifty (adj) careful about managing money 219b) tirade (noun) a long and bitter speech; diatribe 220b) translucent (adj) permitting light to pass through 221b) trite (adj) overused; common; stale 222b) turbulence (noun) violent disturbance 223b) ubiquitous (adj) existing everywhere at the same time 224b) undermine (verb) to weaken by wearing away the foundation; to sabotage 225b) unerring (adj) without making a mistake 226b) unkempt (adj) messy; sloppy 227b) upbraid (verb) criticize severely; scold 228b) usury (noun) the practice of charging a very high rate of interest on loans 229b) vacuous (adj) empty; stupid; purposeless 230b) valedictory (noun) a farewell speech 231b) vapid (adj) dull; boring; lacking flavor or spark 232b) verbose (adj) very talkative; loquacious 233b) vestige (noun) something left behind; a visible trace or evidence of something that has vanished 234b) virulent (adj) poisonous or destructive; filled with hate or anger; harsh 235b) volatile (adj) capable of evaporating, exploding, or changing moods very quickly 236b) waive (verb) to voluntarily abandon a legal right or priviledge; relinquish; postpone 237b) wanton (adj) excessive; uncontrolled; lustful 238b) wastrel (noun) person who wastes his money 239b) wither (verb) dry out; shrivel up; lose life or energy 240b) xenophobia (noun) the fear or hatred of anything foreign 241b) yoke (verb) to link, or join together; marry 242b) zenith (noun) the highest point; apex 243b) adversary (noun) opponent; enemy 244b) animosity (noun) a feeling of resentment, hostility, or enmity 245b) authoritarian (adj) having complete control over many people 246b) blasphemy (noun) disrespect toward God or something sacred 247b) comprehensive (adj) covering completely: having brad scope 248b) debilitate (verb) to weaken 249b) depravity (noun) corruption; perversion; evil 250b) deterrent (noun) something that prevents or discourages an act 251b) didactic (adj) intended to teach; informative; instructional 252b) diminution (noun) the act of decreasing 253b) disinclination (noun) tending to avoid; aversion 254b) disputatious (adj) tending to argue; or, controversial 255b) dissonance (noun) clashing sounds; lack of agreement 256b) dubious (adj) doubtful; questionable 257b) elaborate (verb) expand and explanation to include more details 258b) emaciated (adj) extremely thin; wasted away 259b) engender (verb) cause to exist; produce 260b) equanimity (noun) calmness; composure 261b) erroneous (adj) in error; false; mistaken 262b) exemplary (adj) deserving imitation; serving as an example 263b) exhaustive (adj) complete; thorough 264b) expedient (adj) useful for reaching a desired end 265b) facilitate (verb) make easier 266b) fluctuate (verb) to go up and down or back and fourth 267b) gesticulate (verb) to gesture dramatically when speaking 268b) grandiose (adj) large; grand; filled with splendor 269b) haughty (adj) proud to the point of being arrogant 270b) hypothetical (adj) not necessarily real; based upon supposition 271b) implication (noun) necessary result of an action; connection 272b) impugn (verb) to attack with words; to accuse of being false 273b) incidental (adj) happening by chance or luck; accidental 274b) inclusive (adj) covering or including everything 275b) indefatigable (adj) having endless energy; tireless 276b) indiscriminate (adj) without careful consideration; haphazard 277b) inherent (adj) having a certain quality by nature; intrinsic 278b) instigate (verb) to cause; to act; urge; incite 279b) intangible (adj) not capable or being touched or perceived 280b) interlocutor (noun) someone who participates in conversation 281b) methodical (adj) step-by-step; sequential; systematic 282b) nascent (adj) recently born or created 283b) notoriety (noun) fame, usually obtained by doing something bad 284b) oblivion (noun) the state of being forgotten 285b) obtrusive (adj) sticking out; or, pushy 286b) opalescent (adj) reflecting a rainbow or color; dazzling 287b) parochial (adj) having a narrow view; restricted; local 288b) perturbation (noun) disturbance 289b) plethora (noun) over-abundance; excess 290b) pragmatic (adj) practical 291b) prevarication (noun) a lie; mendacity 292b) prolific (adj) productive; fertile 293b) quiescent (adj) calm; inactive; latent 294b) quixotic (adj) idealistic; impractical (from Don Quixote) 295b) rectify (verb) to fix; to correct 296b) renounce (verb) to reject past beliers or actions; repudiate 297b) rescind (verb) take back; remove; void 298b) sagacity (noun) wisdom; shrewdness 299b) saturate (verb) fully satisfy; fill to capacity; soak 300b) sedulous (adj) hard-working and careful of details; diligent 301b) stalwart (adj) strong; unwavering 302b) staunch (adj) standing firm; solidly loyal 303b) strident (adj) harsh sounding 304b) submissive (adj) tame; subservient; obsequious 305b) tedious (adj) long and drawn-out; tiresome; boring 306b) vehement (adj) strongly expressed; powerful 307b) viable (adj) capable of living or functioning