Learn Vocabulary

Method of Corelation and Association

2007-09-02T04:36:00.000-07:00

METHOD OF CORELATION AND ASSOCIATION:

Here is a trick that might help you remember quite a few words. It is called the method of correlation or also known as method of association.

In this method, you correlate or associate a word with another word which is related to the it (either in similarity or the opposite of it), and is similar in spelling or a part of the word.

Here I have given a few examples of the use of this method, but you should come up with more to help you learn better. In fact you could post your examples as comments to this blog below.

1) Appease - the word ease is the clue in appease. It tells us that the word appease means to ease something, or to soothe something or to mollify.

2) Abase - 'a' is a prefix which generally means 'lack of' or even just an opposite of the remainder of the word. Therefore a-base means to lose base or to lower one self, or to degrade or humiliate.

3) Aggrandize - from the part 'grandize' we get the meaning 'great' or 'powerful', thus to aggrandize is to increase in power or rank.

4) Anachronism - 'chronism' tells us that it is related to time. 'Ana' is a prefix. The word thus means something out of place in time.

5) Articulate - the English language has many 'articles' in the like 'a', 'the', etc. These articles connect different parts of speech such as nouns, verbs and adjectives to give meaning to the sentence. Thus an articulate person is one who can speak clearly and with proper meaning.

6) Ramification – This word can be associated with Lord Ram who was separated from everyone when he was sent to the forest to stay for a few years. Thus ramification can be remembered as separation.

Please feel free to put some of your own correlations as comments on this page. . .
More will be added by me later. But the important thing is to use this method.

Tips for Reading Comprehensions

2007-08-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

In most competitive examinations reading comprehensions account for anywhere between 20-50% of the allocated marks. This means that you have to be good at solving them in order to do well in these examinations. But more often than not, the reading comprehensions are not that simple, and are quite lengthy and time consuming. Thus most students complain of not being able to complete these exams satisfactorily. I have put together some of the best tips which I could find after doing some research on how to solve reading comprehensions.

What is Reading Comprehension?
Well reading comprehension involves a passage which has been written by someone, which you have to read, and then on the basis of the passage you are supposed to answer a few questions which are asked.

Type of Reading Comprehension:
It is important that you identify the class under which a reading comprehension lies. In general, there are two classes in which reading comprehensions can fall into: a) Science and b)Arts

Science: In case of a passage which is of the science class, it generally contains scientific data. They are easier as compared to those of the arts class. These passages should be tackled in a way so as to boost your speed- in the sense, you should read through the passage quickly but fast, and note down (either on paper or in your mind) what the main idea in each paragraph is. In such a passage, generally there is a lot of data and examples. More often, questions are asked on examples which you can refer back to, and you should not spend time in reading 10 examples, rather read the one example with respect to which they have asked the question. Thus it is important to read quickly but to know where what is.

Arts: In case of a passage which is of the Arts class, they are generally more difficult. These passages have some meaning into it, and more often require a careful reading. Thus when you read such a passage be careful to read it slowly, and note down (either on paper or in your mind) the important points of each paragraph. It is crucial that you read the passage well, or else you would be wasting time in rereading and in trying to understand by repetitive reading. Thus go slow the first time, but understand it.

IMPORTANT - A Few Articles You Should Read Before Your Exam:
It has been my observation that in the GRE exam, almost 7 out of 10 times a reading comprehension comes regarding African American Culture. So what I did was I searched the net for some articles on African American culture. If you read these articles prior to your exam, you are better equipped to tackle reading comprehensions regarding this subject. You can research the terms used in these articles and that should help you understand the topic better. Also these articles are written in a very scholastic manner, and hence they contain words which will help you boost your vocabulary as well. Here are the links to those articles and this is one of those things which you should not overlook:
African American : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_american
African American History : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American_history
African American Culture : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American_Culture
Harlem Renaissance : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Renaissance
African American Music : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American_music
African American Art : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American_art
African American Literature : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American_literature
Slave Narratives : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_narrative
American Civil Rights Movement : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_Rights_movement

Please go through each of these articles, and if time permits go through the subarticles in them which are actually links on the pages. If you want to do well in your exam, I would definitely recommend that you attack this area with prior preparation.

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For more information on the type of questions asked in Reading Comprehensions do check out: http://grehouse.blogspot.com/ they have a good article on that

Parts of Speech

2007-08-26T07:12:00.002-07:00

PARTS OF SPEECH
The GRE never directly tests your ability to classify words by part of speech, but you'll do better
if you can distinguish nouns, adjectives, and verbs.

Nouns
A noun names a person, place, or thing. A noun answers the questions "who," "where," or
"what." A noun can function as the subject ("The soliloquy was eloquentn) or object of a verb
("He wrote an eloquent soliloquyn).
If you know the meaning of the word, you can tell if it's a noun by thinking about the way it
would be used in a sentence.
If the word can function as the subject of a sentence, it's a noun.
If it can be replaced by a pronoun like he, she, it, or thq: it's a noun. - If you can put an article like the, a, an, or some in front of it, it's a noun.
If it has a plural form (usually the ending -s), it's a noun. If it has a possessive form
(usually the ending -'s), it's a noun.
If you don't know the meaning of a word, but it has one of the following suffutes, then
it's probably a noun.
-ACY
-AGE
-ANCE
- ANCY
-DOM
-ENCE
-ENCY
-ERY
-HOOD
-ICE
-ICS
-ISM
-IST
-ITY
-MENT
-NESS
-OGY
-OR
-RY
-SHIP
-SION
-TION
-TUDE
-URE

Adjectives
An adjective describes a noun, answering the questions "what kind," "which one," or "how
many." In a sentence, you will generally find adjectives right in front of the nouns they describe
("The book is full of sophomoric humor") or after a form of the verb be or some other linking
verb ("The book's humor is sophomoric").
If you know the meaning of a word, you can tell if it's an adjective by thinking about the way
the word would be used in a sentence. If the word can be used to describe a noun, it's an adjective.
Most adjectives have comparative and superlative forms (rife, rifer, rifest and sanguine,
more sanguine, most sanguine). Most adjectives can be turned into adverbs by adding -1y
(intemperately.)
If you don't know the meaning of a word, but it has one of the following suffixes, then it's
probably an adjective.
-ABLE
-AL
-ANE
-ANT
-AR
-ENT
-OUS
-FUL
-IBLE
-IC
-ILE
-INE
-ISH
-IVE
-LESS
-OSE

Verbs
A verb is a word that represents an action or state of being. Every sentence must have at least
one verb. The main verb usually comes right after the subject ("They squander their fortunes"),
but sometimes is separated from the subject ("The contestant with the second highest
vote total wins the consolation prize") and sometimes even precedes the subject ("Quickly
flow the years.")
If you know the meaning of the word, you can tell if it's a verb by thinking about the way the
word would be used in a sentence. If, with the addition of an -s, it can follow a pronoun like
he or it and make a sentence, it's a verb ("Hepanders"). If it has a past form ending in -ed (pandered)
and a progressive form ending in -ing (pandering), it's a verb.
If you don't know the meaning of a word, but it has one of the following suffixes, then it's
probably a verb.
-EN
-ESCE
-IFY
-IZE

Split-Personality Words
Remember that many words in the English language can function as more than one part of
speech. Here's a single word used as a noun, adjective, and verb:
As the test tube rested overnight, some precipitate formed. (noun)
It would be better to proceed with caution than to take precipitate action. (adjective)
Passage of the resolution could well precipitate rebellion. (verb)
When you see a word all by itself in an analogy or an antonym, with no sentence to show you
the word in use, you may not be able to tell at &st what part of speech it is. For example, if
you see the word brook out of context, don't assume you're looking at a noun. It can also be
a verb, as in: "She would brook no interference with her intentions." Instead, look at the
answer choices or the other word in an analogy's stem. They should make it pretty clear what
meaning they are testing.

Word Groups

2007-08-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

Top 200 Words in the GRE and other words which are related or similar in meaning to them are grouped together so that you can learn it easier. The words are given along with it's meaning, a sentence in which it is used and also the words similar in meaning are given. A total of approximately 1500 words will be covered in just this one article. You must learn this if you want to do well...

ABATE: to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
As the hurricane's force ABATED, the winds dropped and the sea became calm.
Words with similar meanings:
EBB LAPSE LET UP
MODERATE RELENT SLACKEN
SUBSIDE WANE

ABSCOND: to leave secretly
The patron ABSCONDED from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the
back door.
Words with similar meanings:
FLEE DECAMP ESCAPE

ABSTAIN: to choose not to do something:
During Lent, practicing Catholics ABSTAIN from eating meat.
Words with similar meanings:
FORBEAR REFRAIN WITHHOLD

ABYSS: an extremely deep hole
The submarine dove into the ABYSS to chart the previously unseen depths.
Related words:
ABYSSAL: pertaining to great depth
ABYSMAL: extremely bad
Words with similar meanings:
CHASM VOID

ADULTERATE: to make impure
The restaurateur made his ketchup last longer by ADULTERATING it with water.
Related words:
UNADULTERATED: pure
ADULTERY an illicit relationship; an affair
Words with similar meanings:
DOCTOR

ADVOCATE: to speak in favor of
The vegetarian ADVOCATED a diet containing no meat.
Related words:
ADVOCACY: active support for
Words with similar meanings:
BACK CHAMPION SUPPORT

AESTHETIC: concerning the appreciation of beauty
Followers of the AESTHETIC Movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true
purpose of art.
Related words:
AESTHETE: someone unusually sensitive to beauty
AESTHETICISM: concern with beauty
Words with similar meanings:
ARTISTIC TASTEFUL

AGGRANDIZE: to increase in power, influence, and reputation
The supervisor sought to AGGRANDIZE himself by claiming that the achievements of his
staff were actually his own.
Words with similar meanings:
AMPLIFY APOTHEOSIZE AUGMENT
DIGNIFY ELEVATE ENLARGE
ENNOBLE EXALT GLORIFY
MAGNIFY SWELL UPLIFT
WAX

ALLEVIATE: to make more bearable:
Taking aspirin helps to ALLEVIATE a headache.
Words with similar meanings:
ALLAY ASSUAGE COMFORT
EASE LESSEN LIGHTEN
MITIGATE PALLIATE RELIEVE

AMALGAMATE: to combine; to mix together
Giant Industries AMALGAMATED with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products
Incorporated.
Related Words:
AMALGAM: a mixture, especially of two metals
Words with similar meanings:
ADMIX BLEND COMBINE
COMMINGLE COMMIX COMPOUND
FUSE INTERMINGLE INTERMIX
MERGE MINGLE MIX

AMBIGUOUS: doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
The directions he gave were so AMBIGUOUS that we disagreed on which way to turn.
Related Words:
AMBIGUITY: the quality of being ambiguous
Words with similar meanings:
CLOUDY DOUBTFUL DUBIOUS
EQUIVOCAL NEBULOUS INDETERMINATE
OBSCURE UNCLEAR VAGUE

AMELIORATE: to make better; to improve
The doctor was able to AMELIORATE the patient's suffering using painkillers.
Words with similar meanings:
AMEND BETTER IMPROVE
PACIFY UPGRADE

ANACHRONISM: something out of place in time
The aged hippie used ANACHRONISTIC phrases like groovy and far out that had not been
popular for years.
Words with similar meanings:
ARCHAISM INCONGRUITY

ANALOGOUS: similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
In a famous argument for the existence of God, the universe is ANALOGOUS to a mechanical
timepiece, the creation of a divinely intelligent “clockmaker.”
Related words
ANALOGY: a similarity between things that are otherwise dissimilar
ANALOGUE: something that is similar in some way to something else
Words with similar meanings:
ALIKE COMPARABLE CORRESPONDING
EQUIVALENT HOMOGENEOUS PARALLEL
SIMILAR

ANOMALY: deviation from what is normal
Albino animals may display too great an ANOMALY in their coloring to attract normally
colored mates.
Related words:
ANOMALOUS: deviating from what is normal
Words with similar meanings:
ABERRANCE ABERRATION ABNORMALITY
DEVIANCE DEVIATION IRREGULARITY
PRETERNATURALNESS

ANTAGONIZE: to annoy or provoke to anger
The child discovered that he could ANTAGONIZE the cat by pulling its tail.
Related Words:
ANTAGONISTIC: tending to provoke conflict
ANTAGONIST: someone who fights another
Words with similar meanings
CLASH CONFLICT
IRRITATE OPPOSE
PROVOKE VEX
INCITE
PESTER

ANTIPATHY: extreme dislike
The ANTIPATHY between the French and the English regularly erupted into open warfare.
Words with similar meanings:
ANIMOSITY ANIMUS ANTAGONISM
AVERSION ENMITY HOSTILITY
REPELLENCE

APATHY: lack of interest or emotion
The APATHY of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually
bother to do so.
Words with similar meanings:
COOLNESS DISINTEREST DISREGARD
IMPASSIVITY INDIFFERENCE INSENSIBILITY
LASSITUDE LETHARGY LISTLESSNESS
PHLEGM STOLIDITY UNCONCERN
UNRESPONSIVENESS

ARBITRATE: to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
Since the couple could not come to agreement, a judge was forced to ARBITRATE their
divorce proceedings.
Related words:
ARBITRATION: a process by which a conflict is resolved
ARBITRATOR: a judge
Words with similar meanings:
ADJUDGE ADJUDICATE DECIDE
DETERMINE JUDGE MODERATE
REFEREE RULE
ARCHAIC: ancient, old-fashioned
Her ARCHAIC Commodore computer could not run the latest software.
Related words:
ARCHAISM: an outdated word or phrase
Words with similar meanings:
ANCIENT ANTEDILUVIAN ANTIQUE
BYGONE DATED DOWDY
FUSTY OBSOLETE OLD-FASHIONED
OUTDATED OUTMODED PASSE
PREHISTORIC STALE SUPERANNUATED
SUPERSEDED VINTAGE

ARDOR: intense and passionate feeling
Bishop's ARDOR for landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of
the scenic Hudson Valley.
Related words:
ARDENT: expressing ardor; passionate
Words with similar meanings:
DEVOTION ENTHUSIASM FERVENCY
FERVIDITY FERVIDNESS FERVOR
FIRE PASSION ZEAL
ZEALOUSNESS

ARTICULATE: able to speak clearly and expressively
She is such an ARTICULATE defender of labor that unions are among her strongest supporters.
Words with similar meanings
ELOQUENT EXPRESSIVE FLUENT
LUClD SILVER-TONGUED SMOOTH-SPOKEN

ASSUAGE: to make something unpleasant less severe
Like many people, Philip Larkin used alcohol to ASSUAGE his sense of meaninglessness
and despair.
Words with similar meanings:
ALLAY
COMFORT
LIGHTEN
PACIFY
PROPITIATE
SWEETEN
ALLEVIATE
CONCILIATE
MITIGATE
PALLIATE
RELIEVE
APPEASE
EASE
MOLLIFY
PLACATE
SOOTHE

ATTENUATE: to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of government to change laws at will.
Words with similar meanings:
DEBILITATE DEVITALIZE DILUTE
ENERVATE ENFEEBLE RAREFY
SAP THIN UNDERMINE
UNDO UNNERVE WATER
WEAKEN

AUDACIOUS: fearless and daring
"And you, your majesty, may kiss my bum!" replied the AUDACIOUS peasant.
Related words:
AUDACITY the quality of being audacious
Words with similar meanings:
ADVENTURESOME AGGRESSIVE
BOLD BRAVE
DARING DAUNTLESS
FEARLESS GALLANT
HEROIC INTREPID
PLUCKY STOUT
ASSERTIVE
COURAGEOUS
DOUGHTY
GAME
METTLESOME
STOUTHEARTED
UNAFRAID UNDAUNTED VALIANT
VALOROUS VENTURESOME VENTUROUS

AUSTERE: severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
The lack of decoration makes Zen temples seem AUSTERE to the untrained eye.
Related words:
AUSTERITY: severity, especially poverty
Words with similar meanings:
BLEAK DOUR GRIM
HARD HARSH SEVERE

BANAL: predictable, clichéd, boring
He used BANAL phrases like Have a nice day, or Another day, another dollar.
Related words:
BANALIR the quality of being banal
Words with similar meanings:
BLAND BROMIDIC CLICHED
COMMONPLACE FATUOUS HACKNEYED
INNOCUOUS INSIPID JEJUNE
MUSTY PLATITUDINOUS PROSAIC
QUOTIDIAN SHOPWORN STALE
STEREOTYPIC THREADBARE TIMEWORN
TIRED TRITE VAPID
WORN-OUT

BOLSTER: to support; to prop up
The presence of giant footprints BOLSTERED the argument that Sasquatch was in the area.
Words with similar meanings:
BRACE BUTTRESS PROP
SUPPORT SUSTAIN UNDERPIN UPHOLD
BOMBASTIC: pompous in speech and manner
Mussolini's speeches were mostly BOMBASTIC; his boasting and outrageous claims had no
basis in fact.
Related words:
BOMBAST: pompous speech or writing
Words with similar meanings:
BLOATED DECLAMATORY FUSTIAN
GRANDILOQUENT GRANDIOSE HIGH-FLOWN
MAGNILOQUENT OROTUND PRETENTIOUS
RHETORICAL SELF-IMPORTANT

CACOPHONY: harsh, jarring noise
The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable CACOPHONY as they tried to
tune their instruments.
Words with similar meanings:
DISCORD CHAOS DISHARMONY
NOISE CLAMOR DIN

CANDID: impartial and honest in speech
The observations of a child can be charming since they are CANDID and unpretentious.
Words with similar meanings:
DIRECT FORTHRIGHT FRANK
HONEST OPEN SINCERE
STRAIGHT STRAIGHTFORWARD UNDISGUISED

CAPRICIOUS: changing one's mind quickly and often
Queen Elizabeth I was quite CAPRICIOUS; her courtiers could never be sure which of their
number would catch her fancy.
Related words:
CAPRICE: whim, sudden fancy
Words with similar meanings:
ARBITRARY CHANCE CHANGEABLE
ERRATIC FICKLE INCONSTANT
MERCURIAL RANDOM WHIMSICAL
WILLFUL

CASTIGATE: to punish or criticize harshly
Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore CASTIGATE perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the united States.
Words with similar meanings:
ADMONISH CHASTISE CHIDE
REBUKE REPRIMAND REPROACH
REPROVE SCOLD TAX
UPBRAID

CATALYST: something that brings about a change in something else
The imposition of harsh taxes was the CATALYST that finally brought on the revolution.
Related Words:
CATALYZE: to bring about a change in something else

CAUSTIC: biting in wit
Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for CAUSTIC wit from her cutting, yet clever, insults.
Words with similar meanings:
ACERBIC BITING
TRENCHANT
MORDANT

CHAOS: great disorder or confusion
In most religious traditions, God created an ordered universe from CHAOS.
Related Words:
CHAOTIC: jumbled, confused
Words with similar meanings:
CLUTTER CONFUSION DISARRANGEMENT
DISARRAY DISORDER DISORDERLINESS
DISORGANIZATION JUMBLE MESS
MUDDLE SCRAMBLE SNARL
TOPSY-TURVINESS TURMOIL

CHAUVINIST: someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
The attitude that men are inherently superior to women and therefore must be obeyed is
common among male CHAUVINISTS.
Words with similar meanings:
PARTISAN

CHICANERY: deception by means of craft or guile
Dishonest used car salesmen often use CHICANERY to sell their beat-up old cars.
Words with similar meanings:
ARTIFICE CONNMNG CRAFTINESS
DECEPTION DEVIOUSNESS MISREPRESENTATION
PETTIFOGGERY SHADINESS SNEAKINESS
SOPHISTRY SUBTERFUGE UNDERHANDEDNESS

COGENT: convincing and well reasoned
Swayed by the COGENT argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the
defendant.
Related words:
COGITATE: to think deeply
Words with similar meanings:
CONVINCING PERSUASIVE
SOUND TELLING
SOLID
VALID

CONDONE: to overlook, pardon, or disregard
Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as CONDONING
an air of lawlessness.
Words with similar meanings:
EXCULPATE EXCUSE
REMIT
PARDON

CONVOLUTED: intricate and complicated
Although many people bought A Brief History of Time, few could follow its CONVOLUTED
ideas and theories.
Words with similar meanings:
BYZANTINE COMPLEX ELABORATE
INTRICATE KNOTTY LABYRINTHINE
PERPLEXING TANGLED

CORROBORATE: to provide supporting evidence
Fingerprints CORROBORATED the witness's testimony that he saw the defendant in the
victim's apartment.
Words with similar meanings:
AUTHENTICATE BACK BEAR OUT
BUTTRESS CONFIRM SUBSTANTIATE
VALIDATE VERIFY

CREDULOUS: too trusting; gullible
Although some 4-year-olds believe in the Easter Bunny, only the most CREDULOUS 9-
year-olds also believe in him.
Related words:
CREDULITY the quality of being credulous
Words with similar meanings:
NANE SUSCEPTIBLE TRUSTING

CRESCENDO: steadily increasing volume or force
The CRESCENDO of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared to jump his
motorcycle over the school buses.

DECORUM: appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the DECORUM appropriate for
a visit to the palace.
Related words:
DECOROUS: conforming to acceptable standards
Words with similar meanings:
CORRECTNESS DECENCY ETIQUETTE
MANNERS MORES PROPRIETY
SEEMLINESS

DEFERENCE: respect, courtesy
The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost DEFERENCE.
Related words:
DEFER: to delay; to show someone deference
DEFERENT: courteous and respectful
Words with similar meanings:
COURTESY HONOR HOMAGE
OBEISANCE RESPECT REVERENCE
VENERATION

DERIDE: to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
The awkward child was often DERIDED by his "cooler" peers.
Related words:
DERISION: mockery and taunts
Words
DERISIVE: in a mocking manner
Words with similar meanings:
GIBE
RIDICULE
TAUNT
JEER
SCOFF
MOCK
SNEER

DESICCATE: to dry out thoroughly
After a few weeks of lying on the desert's baking sands, the cow's carcass became completely
DESICCATED.
Related words:
DESICCANT: something that removes water from another substance
Words with similar meanings:
DRY PARCH DEHYDRATE

DESULTORY: jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
Diane had a DESULTORY academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in 3 years.
Words with similar meanings:
AIMLESS DISCONNECTED ERRATIC
HAPHAZARD INDISCRIMINATE OBJECTLESS
PURPOSELESS RANDOM STRAY
UNCONSIDERED UNPLANNED

DIATRIBE: an abusive, condemnatory speech
The trucker bellowed a DIATRIBE at the driver who had cut him off.
Words with similar meanings:
FULMINATION HARANGUE INVECTIVE
JEREMIAD MALEDICTION OBLOQUY
TIRADE

DIFFIDENT: lacking self-confidence
Steve's DIFFIDENT manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature
and lack of experience in the field.
Words with similar meanings:
BACKWARD BASHFUL COY
DEMURE MODEST RETIRING
SELF-EFFACING SHY TIMID

DILATE: to make larger; to expand
When you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes DILATE to let in more light.
Words with similar meanings:
AMPLIFY DEVELOP ELABORATE
ENLARGE EXPAND EXPATIATE

DILATORY: intended to delay
The congressman used DILATORY measures to delay the passage of the bill.
Words with similar meanings:
DRAGGING FLAGGING LAGGARD
LAGGING SLOW SLOW-FOOTED
SLOW-GOING SLOW-PACED TARDY

DILETTANTE: someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
Jerry's friends were such DILETTANTES that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies
every week.
Words with similar meanings:
AMATEUR DABBLER SUPERFICIAL
TYRO

DIRGE: a funeral hymn or mournful speech
Melville wrote the poem A DIRGE for James McPherson for the funeral of a Union general
who was killed in 1864.
Words with similar meanings:
ELEGY LAMENT

DISABUSE: to set right; to free from error
Galilee's observations DISABUSED scholars of the notion that the Sun revolved around the
Earth.
Words with similar meanings:
CORRECT UNDECEIVE

DISCERN: to perceive; to recognize
It is easy to DISCERN the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping.
Related words:
DISCERNMENT: taste and cultivation
Words with similar meanings:
CATCH DESCRY DETECT
DIFFERENTIATE DISCRIMINATE DISTINGUISH
ESPY GLIMPSE KNOW
SEPARATE SPOT SPY
TELL

DISPARATE: fundamentally different; entirely unlike
Although the twins appear to be identical physically, their personalities are DISPARATE.
Words with similar meanings:
DIFFERENT DISSIMILAR DIVERGENT
DIVERSE VARIANT VARIOUS

DISSEMBLE: to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
The villain could DISSEMBLE to the police no longer-he admitted the deed and tore up
the floor to reveal the body of the old man.
Words with similar meanings:
ACT AFFECT ASSUME
CAMOUFLAGE CLOAK COUNTERFEIT
COVER UP DISGUISE DISSIMULATE
FAKE FEIGN MASK
MASQUERADE POSE PRETEND
PUT ON SHAM SIMULATE

DISSONANCE: a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
Cognitive DISSONANCE is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are
contradicted by new evidence.
Words with similar meanings:
CLASH CONTENTION DISCORD
DISSENSION DISSENT DISSIDENCE
FRICTION STRIFE VARIANCE

DOGMA: a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
Linus' central DOGMA was that children who believed in the Great Pumpkin would be
rewarded.
Words with similar meanings:
CREED DOCTRINE TEACHING
TENET

DOGMATIC: dictatorial in one's opinions
The dictator was DOGMATIG - he, and only he, was right.
Words with similar meanings:
AUTHORITARIAN BOSSY DICTATORIAL
DOCTRINAIRE DOMINEERING IMPERIOUS
MAGISTERIAL MASTERFUL OVERBEARING
PEREMPTORY

DUPE: to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
Bugs Bunny was able to DUPE Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit.
Words with similar meanings:
BEGUILE BETRAY BLUFF
COZEN DECEIVE DELUDE
FOOL HOODWINK HUMBUG
MISLEAD TAKE IN TRICK

ECLECTIC: selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
Budapest's architecture is an ECLECTIC mix of eastern and western styles.
Words with similar meanings:
SELECTIVE CATHOLIC BROAD

EFFICACY: effectiveness
The EFFICACY of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced; the drug completely
eliminated almost all bacterial infections for which it was administered.
Related Words:
EFFICACIOUS: effective; productive
Words with similar meanings:
DYNAMISM EFFECTIVENESS EFFICIENCY
FORCE POWER PRODUCTIVENESS
PROFICIENCY STRENGTH VIGOR

ELEGY: a sorrowful poem or speech
Although Thomas Gray's "ELEGY Written in a Country Churchyard" is about death and
loss, it urges its readers to endure this life, and to trust in spirituality.
Related Words:
ELEGIAC: like an elegy; mournful
Words with similar meanings:
DIRGE LAMENT

ELOQUENT: persuasive and moving, especially in speech
The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but also because
of its ELOQUENT words.
Words with similar meanings:
ARTICULATE EXPRESSIVE
MEANINGFUL SIGNIFICANT
FLUENT
SMOOTH-SPOKEN

EMULATE: to copy; to try to equal or excel
The graduate student sought to EMULATE his professor in every way, copying not only
how she taught, but also how she conducted herself outside of class.
Words with similar meanings:
APE IMITATE SIMULATE

ENERVATE: to reduce in strength
The guerrillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would ENERVATE the regular army.
Related Words:
UNNERVE: to deprive of strength or courage
Words with similar meanings:
DEBILITATE ENFEEBLE
WEAKEN
SAP

ENGENDER: to produce, cause, or bring about
His fear and hatred of clowns was ENGENDERED when he witnessed the death of his
father at the hands of a clown.
Words with similar meanings:
BEGET GENERATE PROCREATE
PROLIFERATE REPRODUCE SPAWN

ENIGMA: a puzzle; a mystery
Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the artist gained a reputation as something of
an ENIGMA.
Words with similar meanings:
CONUNDRUM PERPLEXITY

ENUMERATE: to count, list, or itemize
Moses returned from the mountain with tablets on which the commandments were ENUMERATED.
Words with similar meanings:
CATALOG INDEX TABULATE

EPHEMERAL: lasting a short time
The lives of mayflies seem EPHEMERAL to us, since the flies' average life span is a matter
of hours.
Words with similar meanings:
EVANESCENT FLEETING MOMENTARY
TRANSIENT

EQUIVOCATE: to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
When faced with criticism of his policies, the politician EQUIVOCATED and left all parties
thinking he agreed with them.
Related Words:
EQUIVOCAL: undecided; trying to deceive
EQUIVOCATION: the act or state of equivocating
Words with similar meanings:
AMBIGUOUS EVASIVE WAFFLING

ERRATIC: wandering and unpredictable
The plot seemed predictable until it suddenly took a series of ERRATIC turns that surprised
the audience.
Related Words:
ERRANT: straying, mistaken, roving
Words with similar meanings:
CAPRICIOUS INCONSTANT
WHIMSICAL
IRRESOLUTE

ERUDITE: learned, scholarly, bookish
The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering of the most ERUDITE, well published
individuals in the field.
Related Words:
ERUDITION: extensive knowledge or learning
Words with similar meanings:
SCHOLASTIC LEARNED WISE

ESOTERIC: known or understood by only a few
Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the ESOTERIC world of particle
physics.
Words with similar meanings:
ABSTRUSE ARCANE OBSCURE

ESTIMABLE: admirable
Most people consider it ESTIMABLE that Mother Teresa spent her life helping the poor of
India.
Related Words:
ESTEEM: high regard
Words with similar meanings:
ADMIRABLE COMMENDABLE CREDITABLE
HONOWLE LAUDABLE MERITORIOUS
PRAISEWORTHY RESPECTABLE VENERABLE
WORTHY

EULOGY: speech in praise of someone
His best friend gave the EULOGY, outlining his many achievements and talents.
Words with similar meanings:
COMMEND EXTOL LAUD

EUPHEMISM: use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
The funeral director preferred to use the EUPHEMISM "sleeping" instead of the word
"dead."
Words with similar meanings:
CIRCUMLOCUTION WHITEWASH

EXACERBATE: to make worse
It is unwise to take aspirin to try to relieve heartburn; instead of providing relief, the drug
will only EXACERBATE the problem.
Words with similar meanings:
ANNOY AGGRAVATE INTENSIFY
IRRITATE PROVOKE

EXCULPATE: to clear from blame; prove innocent
The adversarial legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and to EXCULPATE
those who are innocent.
Words with similar meanings:
ABSOLVE ACQUIT CLEAR
EXONERATE VINDICATE

EXIGENT: urgent; requiring immediate action
The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was EXIGENT to stop the source of the
bleeding.
Words with similar meanings:
CRITICAL IMPERATIVE NEEDED
URGENT

EXONERATE: to clear of blame
The fugitive was EXONERATED when another criminal confessed to committing the crime.
Words with similar meanings:
ABSOLVE ACQUIT CLEAR
EXCULPATE VINDICATE

EXPLICIT: clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
The owners of the house left a list of EXPLICIT instructions detailing their house-sitters'
duties, including a schedule for watering the house plants.
Related Words:
EXPLICABLE: capable of being explained
EXPLICATE: to give a detailed explanation
Words with similar meanings:
CANDID FRANK
UNEQUIVOCAL
STRAIGHTFORWARD

FANATICAL: acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
The stormtroopers were FANATICAL in their devotion to the Emperor, readily sacrificing
their lives for him.
Words with similar meanings:
EXTREMIST FIERY FRENZIED
ZEALOUS

FAWN: to grovel
The understudy FAWNED over the director in hopes of being cast in the part on a permanent
basis.
Words with similar meanings:
BOOTLICK GROVEL TOADY
PANDER

FERVID: intensely emotional; feverish
The fans of Maria Callas were particularly FERVID, doing anything to catch a glimpse of
the great opera singer.
Related Words:
FERVENT: enthusiastic
FERVOR: passion
Words with similar meanings:
BURNING IMPASSIONED
VEHEMENT
PASSIONATE
ZEALOUS

FLORID: excessively decorated or embellished
The palace had been decorated in an excessively FLORID style; every surface had been
carved and gilded.
Words with similar meanings:
BAROQUE ELABORATE FLAMBOYANT
ORNATE OSTENTATIOUS ROCOCO

FOMENT: to arouse or incite
The protesters tried to FOMENT feeling against the war through their speeches and
demonstrations.
Words with similar meanings:
AGITATE IMPASSION
INSTIGATE KINDLE
INFLAME

FRUGALITY: a tendency to be thrifty or cheap
Scrooge McDuck's FRUGALITY was so great that he accumulated enough wealth to fill a
giant storehouse with money.
Words with similar meanings:
ECONOMICAL PARSIMONY PRUDENCE
SPARING

GARRULOUS: tending to talk a lot
The GARRULOUS parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking.
Words with similar meanings:
EFFUSIVE LOQUACIOUS

GREGARIOUS: outgoing, sociable
She was so GREGARIOUS that when she found herself alone she felt quite sad.
Words with similar meanings:
AFFABLE CONGENIAL COMMUNICATIVE
SOCIABLE

GUILE: deceit or trickery
Since he was not fast enough to catch the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to GUILE
in an effort to trap his enemy.
Related Words:
GUILELESS: innocent, without trickery
Words with similar meanings:
ARTIFICE CHICANERY CONNIVERY
DUPLICITY

GULLIBLE: easily deceived
The con man pretended to be a bank officer so as to fool GULLIBLE bank customers into
giving him their account information.
Related Words:
GULL: a person who is easily tricked
Words with similar meanings:
CREDULOUS EXPLOITABLE NAIVE

HOMOGENOUS: of a similar kind
The class was fairly HOMOGENOUS, since almost all of the students were senior journalism
majors.
Related Words:
HOMOGENIZED: thoroughly mixed together
Words with similar meanings:
CONSISTENT STANDARDIZED UNIFORM
UNVARYING

ICONOCLAST: one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an ICONOCLAST.
Words with similar meanings:
MAVERICK NONCONFORMIST REBEL
REVOLUTIONARY

IMPERTURBABLE: not capable of being disturbed
The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she seemed
IMPERTURBABLE, even when faced with the wildest tantrums.
Related Words:
PERTURB: to disturb greatly
Words with similar meanings:
COMPOSED DISPASSIONATE IMPASSIVE
SERENE STOICAL

IMPERVIOUS: impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
A good raincoat will be IMPERVIOUS to moisture.
Words with similar meanings:
RESISTANT IMPREGNABLE

IMPETUOUS: quick to act without thinking
It is not good for an investment broker to be IMPETUOUS, since much thought should be
given to all the possible options.
Related Words:
IMPETUS: impulse
Words with similar meanings:
IMPULSIVE PRECIPITATE RASH
RECKLESS SPONTANEOUS

IMPLACABLE: unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
His rage at the betrayal was so great that he remained IMPLACMLE for weeks.
Related Words:
PLACATE: to make peaceful
Words with similar meanings:
INEXORABLE INTRANSIGENT IRRECONCILABLE
RELENTLESS REMORSELESS UNFORGIVING
UNRELENTING

INCHOATE: not fully formed; disorganized
The ideas expressed in Nietzsche's mature work also appear in an INCHOATE form in his
earliest writing.
Words with similar meanings:
AMORPHOUS INCOHERENT INCOMPLETE
UNORGANIZED

INGENUOUS: showing innocence or childlike simplicity
She was so INGENUOUS that her friends feared that her innocence and trustfulness would
be exploited when she visited the big city.
Related Words:
INGENUE: a naive girl or young woman
DISINGENUOUS: giving a false impression of innocence
Words with similar meanings:
ARTLESS GUILELESS INNOCENT
NAIVE SIMPLE UNAFFECTED

INIMICAL: hostile, unfriendly
Even though a cease-fire had been in place for months, the two sides were still INIMICAL
to each other.
Words with similar meanings:
ADVERSE ANTAGONISTIC DISSIDENT
RECALCITRANT

INNOCUOUS: harmless
Some snakes are poisonous, but most species are INNOCUOUS and pose no danger to
humans.
Words with similar meanings:
BENIGN HARMLESS INOFFENSIVE

INSIPID: lacking interest or flavor
The critic claimed that the painting was INSIPID, containing no interesting qualities at all.
Words with similar meanings:
BANAL. BLAND DULL
STALE VAPID

INTRANSIGENT: uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
The professor was INTRANSIGENT on the deadline, insisting that everyone turn the
assignment in at the same time.
Words with similar meanings:
IMPLACABLE INEXORABLE IRRECONCILABLE
OBDURATE OBSTINATE REMORSELESS
RIGID ' UNBENDING UNRELENTING
UNYIELDING

INUNDATE: to overwhelm; to cover with water
The tidal wave INUNDATED Atlantis, which was lost beneath the water.
Words with similar meanings:
DELUGE DROWN ENGULF
FLOOD SUBMERGE

IRASCIBLE: easily made angry
Attila the Hun's IRASCIBLE and violent nature made all who dealt with him fear for their
lives.
Related Words:
IRATE: angry
Words with similar meanings:
CANTANKEROUS IRRITABLE
TESTY
ORNERY

LACONIC: using few words
She was a LACONIC poet who built her reputation on using words as sparingly as
possible.
Words with similar meanings:
CONCISE CURT PITHY
TERSE TACITURN

LAMENT: to express sorrow; to grieve
The children continued to LAMENT the death of the goldfish weeks after its demise.
Words with similar meanings:
BEWAIL DEPLORE GRIEVE
MOURN
LAUD: to give praise; to glorify
Parades and fireworks were staged to LAUD the success of the rebels.
Related words:
LAUDABLE: worth of praise
LAUDATORY: expressing praise
Words with similar meanings:
ACCLAIM APPLAUD
COMPLIMENT EXALT
HAIL PRAISE
COMMEND
EXTOL

LAVISH: to give unsparingly (v.); extremely generous or extravagant (adj.)
She LAVISHED the puppy with so many treats that it soon become overweight and spoiled.
Words with similar meanings:
BESTOW CONFER EXUBERANT
EXTRAVAGANT OPULENT PROFUSE
PRODIGAL, LUXURIANT SUPERABUNDANT

LETHARGIC: acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner
The clerk was so LETHARGIC that, even when the store was slow, he always had a long line
in front of him.
Words with similar meanings:
APATHETIC LANGUID LACKADAISICAL
LISTLESS TORPID

LOQUACIOUS: talkative
She was naturally LOQUACIOUS, which was a problem in situations in which listening was
more important than talking.
Related Words:
ELOQUENCE: powerful, convincing speaking
LOQUACI'PI: the quality of being loquacious
Words with similar meanings:
EFFUSIVE GARRULOUS VERBOSE

LUCID: clear and easily understood
The explanations were written in a simple and LUCID manner so that students were immediately
able to apply what they learned.
Related Words:
LUCIDITY: clarity
LUCENT: glowing with light
Words with similar meanings:
CLEAR COHERENT EXPLICIT
INTELLIGIBLE LIMPID

LUMINOUS: bright, brilliant, glowing
The park was bathed in LUMINOUS sunshine which warmed the bodies and the souls of
the visitors.
Related Words:
ILLUMINATE: to shine light on
LUMINARY: an inspiring person
Words with similar meanings:
INCANDESCENT LUCENT LUSTROUS
RADIANT RESPLENDENT

MALINGER: to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
A common way to avoid the draft was by MALINGERING-pretending to be mentally or
physically ill so as to avoid being taken by the Army.
Related Words:
LINGER: to be slow in leaving
Words with similar meanings:
SHIRK SLACK

MALLEABLE: capable of being shaped
Gold is the most MALLEABLE of precious metals; it can easily be formed into almost any
shape.
Words with similar meanings:
ADAPTABLE DUCTILE PLASTIC
PLIABLE PLIANT

METAPHOR: a figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol
The METAPHOR "a sea of troubles" suggests a lot of troubles by comparing their number
to the vastness of the sea.
Related Words:
METAPHORICAL: standing as a symbol for something else
Words with similar meanings:
ANALOGY COMPARISON

METICULOUS: extremely careful about details
To find all the clues at the crime scene, the investigators METICULOUSLY examined every
inch of the area.
Words with similar meanings:
CONSCIENTIOUS PRECISE SCRUPULOUS

MISANTHROPE: a person who dislikes others
The character Scrooge in A Christmas Carol is such a MISANTHROPE that even the sight
of children singing makes him angry.

MITIGATE: to soften; to lessen
A judge may MITIGATE a sentence if she decides that a person committed a crime out of
need.
Words with similar meanings:
ALLAY ALLEVIATE ASSUAGE
EASE LIGHTEN MODERATE
MOLLIFY PALLIATE TEMPER

MOLLIFY: to calm or make less severe
Their argument was so intense that is was difficult to believe any compromise would
MOLLIFY them.
Words with similar meanings:
APPEASE ASSUAGE . CONCILIATE
PACIFY

MONOTONY: lack of variation
The MONOTONY of the sound of the dripping faucet almost drove the research assistant
crazy.
Related Words:
MONOTONE: a sound that is made at the same tone or pitch
Words with similar meanings:
DRONE TEDIUM

NAIVE: lacking sophistication or experience
Having never traveled before, the hillbillies were more NAIVE than the people they met in
Beverly Hills.
Related Words:
NAIVETE: the state of being naive
Words with similar meanings:
ARTLESS CREDULOUS GUILELESS
INGENUOUS SIMPLE UNAFFECTED

OBDURATE: hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion
The President was completely OBDURATE on the issue, and no amount of persuasion
would change his mind.
Words with similar meanings:
INFLEXIBLE INTRANSIGENT RECALCITRANT
TENACIOUS UNYIELDING

OBSEQUIOUS: overly submissive and eager to please
The OBSEQUIOUS new associate made sure to compliment her supervisor's tie and agree
with him on every issue.
Related Words:
OBEISANCE: a physical show of respect or submission, such as a bow
Words with similar meanings:
COMPLIANT DEFERENTIAL SERVILE
SUBSERVIENT

OBSTINATE: stubborn, unyielding
The OBSTINATE child could not be made to eat any food that he disliked.
Words with similar meanings:
INTRANSIGENT MULISH PERSISTENT
PERTINACIOUS STUBBORN TENACIOUS

OBVIATE: to prevent; to make unnecessary
The river was shallow enough to wade across at many points, which OBVIATED the need
for a bridge.
Words with similar meanings:
FORESTALL PRECLUDE PROHIBIT

OCCLUDE: to stop up; to prevent the passage of
A shadow is thrown across the Earth's surface during a solar eclipse, when the light from the
sun is OCCLUDED by the moon.
Words with similar meanings:
BARRICADE BLOCK
OBSTRUCT
CLOSE

ONEROUS: troublesome and oppressive; burdensome
The assignment was so extensive and difficult to manage that it proved ONEROUS to the
team in charge of it.
Words with similar meanings:
ARDUOUS BACKBREAKING BURDENSOME
CUMBERSOME DIFFICULT EXACTING
FORMIDABLE HARD LABORIOUS
OPPRESSIVE RIGOROUS TAXING
TRYING

OPAQUE: impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light
The heavy buildup of dirt and grime on the windows almost made them OPAQUE.
Related Words:
OPACITY the quality of being obscure and indecipherable
Words with similar meanings:
OBSCURE

OPPROBRIUM: public disgrace
After the scheme to embezzle the elderly was made public, the treasurer resigned in utter
OPPROBRIUM.
Words with similar meanings:
DISCREDIT DISGRACE DISHONOR
DISREPUTE IGNOMINY INFAMY
OBLOQUY SHAME

OSTENTATION: excessive showiness
The OSTENTATION of the Sun King's court is evident in the lavish decoration and luxuriousness
of his palace at Versailles.
Related Words:
OSTENSIBLE: apparent
Words with similar meanings:
CONSPICUOUSNESS FLASHINESS PRETENTIOUSNESS
SHOWINESS

PARADOX: a contradiction or dilemma
It is a PAR4DOX that those most in need of medical attention are often those least able to
obtain it.
Words with similar meanings:
INCONGRUITY AMBIGUITY

PARAGON: model of excellence or perfection
She is the PARAGON of what a judge should be: honest, intelligent, hardworking, and just.
Words with similar meanings:
APOTHEOSIS IDEAL QUINTESSENCE
STANDARD

PEDANT: someone who shows off learning
The graduate instructor's tedious and excessive commentary on the subject soon gained her
a reputation as a PEDANT.
Related Words:
PEDANTIC: making an excessive display of learning

PERFIDIOUS: willing to betray one's trust
The actress's PERFIDIOUS companion revealed all of her intimate secrets to the gossip
columnist.
Related Words:
PERFIDY: deceit, treachery
Words with similar meanings:
DISLOYAL FAITHLESS TREACHEROUS
TRAITOROUS

PERFUNCTORY: done in a routine way; indifferent
The machinelike bank teller processed the transaction and gave the waiting customer a
PERFUNCTORY smile.
Words with similar meanings:
APATHETIC AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL

PERMEATE: to penetrate
This miraculous new cleaning fluid is able to PERMEATE stains and dissolve them in minutes!
Related Words:
IMPERMEABLE: unable to be permeated
Words with similar meanings:
IMBUE INFUSE SUFFUSE

PHILANTHROPY: charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art owes much of its collection to the
PHILANTHROPY of private collectors who willed their estates to the museum.
Related Words:
PHILANTHROPIST: someone who is generous and desires to promote goodness
Words with similar meanings:
HUMANITARIANISM ALTRUISM

PLACATE: to soothe or pacify
The burglar tried to PLACATE the snarling dog by saying, "Nice doggy," and offering it a treat
Related Words:
PLACID: tolerant; calm
IMPLACABLE: unable to be made peaceful
Words with similar meanings:
APPEASE CONCILIATE MOLLIFY

PLASTIC: able to be molded, altered, or bent
The new material was very PLASTIC and could be formed into products of vastly different
shape.
Words with similar meanings:
ADAPTABLE DUCTILE MALLEABLE
PLIANT

PLETHORA. excess
Assuming that more was better, the defendant offered the judge a PLETHORA of excuses.
Words with similar meanings:
GLUT OVERABUNDANCE SUPERFLUITY
SURFEIT

PRAGMATIC: practical as opposed to idealistic
While daydreaming gamblers think they can get rich by frequenting casinos, PRAGMATIC
gamblers realize that the odds are heavily stacked against them.
Related Words:
PRAGMATISM: a practical approach to problem solving
Words with similar meanings:
REALISTIC RATIONAL

PRECIPITATE: to throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
Upon learning that the couple married after knowing each other only two months, friends
and family members expected such a PRECIPITATE marriage to end in divorce.
Related Words:
PRECIPITOUS: very steep
PRECIPICE: a steep cliff
PRECIPITATION: weather phenomena, like rain or snow, that fall from the sky
Words with similar meanings:
ABRUPT HASTY HEADLONG
HURRIED ILL-CONSIDERED Impetuous
IMPULSIVE PROMPT RASH
RECKLESS SUDDEN

PREVARICATE: to lie or deviate from the truth
Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee PREVARICATED and claimed
that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work on time.
Words with similar meanings:
EQUIVOCATE LIE PERJURE

PRISTINE: fresh and clean; uncorrupted
Since concerted measures had been taken to prevent looting, the archeological site was still
PRISTINE when researchers arrived.
Words with similar meanings:
INNOCENT UNDAMAGED

PRODIGAL: lavish, wasteful
The PRODIGAL Son quickly wasted all of his inheritance on a lavish lifestyle devoted to
pleasure.
Related Words:
PRODIGALITY: excessive or reckless spending
Words with similar meanings:
EXTRAVAGANT LAVISH
SPENDTHRIFT WASTEFUL
PROFLIGATE

PROLIFERATE: to increase in number quickly
Although he only kept two guinea pigs initially, they PROLIFERATED to such an extent
that he soon had dozens.
Related Words:
- PROLIFIC: very productive or highly able to reproduce rapidly
Words with similar meanings:
BREED MULTIPLY
PROPAGATE REPRODUCE
PROCREATE
SPAWN

PROPITIATE: to conciliate; to appease
The management PROPITIATED the irate union by agreeing to raise wages for its members.
Related Words:
PROPITIOUS: advantageous, favorable
Words with similar meanings:
APPEASE CONCILIATE
PACIFY PLACATE
MOLLIFY

PROPRIETY: correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
The aristocracy maintained a high level of PROPRIETY, adhering to even the most minor
social rules.
Related Words:
APPROPRIATE: suitable for a particular occasion or place
Words with similar meanings:
DECENCY DECORUM
SEEMLINESS
MODESTY

PRUDENCE: wisdom, caution, or restraint
The college student exhibited PRUDENCE by obtaining practical experience along with her
studies, which greatly strengthened her resume.
Related Words:
PRUDE: someone who is excessively concerned with propriety
PRUDISH: prissy and puritanical
Words with similar meanings:
ASTUTENESS CIRCUMSPECTION DISCRETION
FRUGALITY JUDICIOUSNESS PROVIDENCE
THRIFT

PUNGENT: sharp and irritating to the senses
The smoke from the burning tires was extremely PUNGENT.
Words with similar meanings:
ACRID CAUSTIC PIQUANT
POIGNANT STINGING

QUIESCENT: motionless
Many animals are QUIESCENT over the winter months, minimizing activity in order to
conserve energy.
Related Words:
QUIESCENCE: state of rest or inactivity
Words with similar meanings:
LATENT DORMANT

RAREFY: to make thinner or sparser
Since the atmosphere RAREFIES as altitudes increase, the air at the top of very tall
mountains is too thin to breathe.
Related Words:
RAREFACTION: the process of making something less dense
Words with similar meanings:
ATTENUATE THIN

REPUDIATE: to reject the validity of
The old woman's claim that she was Russian royalty was REPUDIATED when DNA tests
showed she was of no relation to them.
Words with similar meanings:
DENY DISAVOW DlSCLAIM
DISOWN RENOUNCE

RETICENT: silent, reserved
Physically small and RETICENT in her speech, Joan Didion often went unnoticed by
those upon whom she was reporting.
Words with similar meanings:
COOL INTROVERTED LACONIC
STANDOFFISH TACITURN UNDEMONSTRATIVE

RHETORIC: effective writing or speaking
Lincoln's talent for RHETORIC was evident in his beautifully expressed Gettysburg
Address.
Words with similar meanings:
ELOQUENCE ORATORY

SATIATE: to satisfy fully or overindulge
His desire for power was so great that nothing less than complete control of the country
could SATIATE it.
Related Words:
SATE: to fully satisfy or overindulge
INSATIABLE:
incapable of being satisfied
Words with similar meanings:
CLOY GLUT
SURFEIT
GORGE

SOPORIFIC: causing sleep or lethargy
The movie proved to be so SOPORIFIC that soon loud snores were heard throughout the
theater.
Related Words:
SOPOR: deep sleep
Words with similar meanings:
HYPNOTIC NARCOTIC SLUMBEROUS
SOMNOLENT

SPECIOUS: deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
The student's SPECIOUS excuse for being late sounded legitimate, but was proved otherwise
when his teacher called his home.
Words with similar meanings:
ILLUSORY OSTENSIBLE PLAUSIBLE
SPURIOUS SOPHISTICAL

STIGMA: a mark of shame or discredit
In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne was required to wear the letter "A" on her clothes as a
public STIGMA for her adultery.
Related Words:
STIGMATIZE: to disgrace; to label with negative terms or reputation
Words with similar meanings:
BLEMISH BLOT OPPROBRIUM
STAIN TAINT

STOLID: unemotional; lacking sensitivity
The prisoner appeared STOLID and unaffected by the judge's harsh sentence.
Words with similar meanings:
APATHETIC IMPASSIVE INDIFFERENT
PHLEGMATIC STOICAL UNCONCERNED

SUBLIME: lofty or grand
The music was so SUBLIME that it transformed the rude surroundings into a special place.
Related Words:
SUBLIMATE: to elevate or convert into something of higher worth
SUBLIMINAL: existing outside conscious awareness
Words with similar meanings:
AUGUST EXALTED GLORIOUS
GRAND h4AGNIFICENT MAJESTIC
NOBLE REGAL RESPLENDENT
SUPERB

TACIT: done without using words
Although not a word had been said, everyone in the room knew that a TACIT agreement
had been made about which course of action to take.
Related Words:
TACITURN: silent, not talkative
Words with similar meanings:
IMPLICIT IMPLIED UNDECLARED
UNSAID UNUTTERED

TACITURN: silent, not talkative
The clerk's TACITURN nature earned him the nickname "Silent Bob."
Related Words:
TACIT: done without using words
Words with similar meanings:
LACONIC RETICENT

TIRADE: long, harsh speech or verbal attack
Observers were shocked at the manager's TIRADE over such a minor mistake.
Words with similar meanings:
DIATRIBE FULMINATION HARANGUE
OBLOQUY REVILEMENT VILIFICATION

TORPOR: extreme mental and sluggishness
After surgery, the patient experienced TORPOR until the anesthesia wore off.
Related Words:
TORPID: sluggish, lacking movement
Words with similar meanings:
APATHY LANGUOR

TRANSITORY: temporary, lasting a brief time
The reporter lived a TRANSITORY life, staying in one place only long enough to cover the
current story.
Related Words:
TRANSIT: to pass through; to change or make a transition
TRANSIENT: passing quickly in and out of existence; one who stays a short time
Words with similar meanings:
EPHEMERAL EVANESCENT FLEETING
Impermanent MOMENTARY

VACILLATE: to sway physically; to be indecisive
The customer held up the line as he VACILLATED between ordering chocolate chip or
rocky road ice cream.
Words with similar meanings:
DITHER FALTER FLUCTUATE
OSCILLATE WAVER

VENERATE: to respect deeply
In a traditional Confucian society, the young VENERATE their elders, deferring to the
elders' wisdom and experience.
Related Words:
VENERABLE: old, worthy of respect
Words with similar meanings:
ADORE HONOR
REVERE
IDOLIZE

VERACIM: filled with truth and accuracy
She had a reputation for VERACITY, so everyone trusted her description of events.
Related Words:
VERITY: truth
VERACIOUS: truthful, accurate
Words with similar meanings:
CANDOR EXACTITUDE FIDELITY
PROBITY

VERBOSE: wordy
The professor's answer was so VERBOSE that his student forgot what the original question
had been.
Related Words:
VERBALIZE: to put into words
VERBATIM: to quote using the exact words, word for word
VERBIAGE: lots of words that are usually superfluous
Words with similar meanings:
LONG-WINDED LOQUACIOUS PROLIX
SUPERFLUOUS

VEX: to annoy
The old man who loved his peace and quiet was VEXED by his neighbor's loud music.
Related Words:
VEXATION: a feeling of irritation
Words with similar meanings:
ANNOY BOTHER CHAFE
EXASPERATE IRK NETTLE
PEEVE PROVOKE

VOLATILE: easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive
His VOLATILE personality made it difficult to predict his reaction to anything.
Words with similar meanings:
CAPRICIOUS ERRATIC FICKLE
INCONSISTENT INCONSTANT MERCURIAL.
TEMPERAMENTAL

WAVER: to fluctuate between choices
If you WAVER too long before making a decision about which testing site to register for,
you may not get your first choice.
Words with similar meanings:
DITHER FALTER FLUCTUATE
OSCILLATE VACILLATE

WHIMSICAL: acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
The ballet was WHIMSICAL, delighting the child with its imaginative characters and
unpredictable sets.
Related Words:
WHIM: a fancy or sudden notion
Words with similar meanings:
CAPRICIOUS ERRATIC FRIVOLOUS
FLIPPANT

ZEAL: passion, excitement
She brought her typical ZEAL to the project, sparking enthusiasm in the other team
members.
Related Words:
ZEALOT: a fanatic
Words with similar meanings:
ARDENCY FERVOR
PASSION