abstract a. theoretical; not concrete; not applied or practical; difficult to understand |
admonish v. warn; counsel someone against something to be avoided |
advocate v. speak, plead, or argue in favour of; plead for; push for something |
alternative a. one of two or more things, ideas or courses of action that may be used; option; choice |
ambiguous a. unclear or doubtful in meaning |
analogy n. similarity in some respects; comparison based on similarity |
anarchy n. absence of governing body; state of disorder; political disorder and confusion |
assiduous a. constant in application or attention; diligent; unceasing or persistent |
assimilate v. incorporate and absorb into mind; make similar; cause to resemble |
augment v. make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity |
authentic a. not counterfeit or copied; valid; trustworthy |
belligerent a. inclined or eager to fight; aggressive |
bolster v. support or prop up with or as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion |
bureaucratic a. relating to structure and regulations in place to control activities in a large organization or a government |
circumvent v. surround an enemy; enclose or entrap; beat by cleverness and wit |
coalition n. partnership; league; state of being combined into one body |
cohesive a. cohering or tending to cohere; well integrated |
collaborate v. work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort |
comply v. yield assent; accord; agree, or acquiesce; adapt one's self; fulfill; accomplish |
concurrent a. simultaneous; coincident; occurring or operating at the same time |
connotation n. an idea that is implied or suggested |
constituent n. component or part; citizen, voter |
contingent a. possible, or liable, but not certain, to occur; incidental; casual. |
criteria n. standard, rule, or test on which a judgment or decision can be based |
demeanor n. conduct; management; way in which a person behaves |
deplore v. feel or express strong disapproval of; condemn; express sorrow or grief over; regret |
derogatory a. expressing low opinion; disparaging; belittling |
disparity n. difference; condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or degree |
disseminate v. distribute; spread; scatter like seeds |
dissident a. disagreeing, especially with a majority; rebellious |
distraught a. deeply agitated, as from emotional conflict; mad; insane |
divert v. distract; withdraw money and move into a different location |
docile a. obedient; ready and willing to be taught; easily managed or handled |
dormant a. sleeping; not active but capable of becoming active |
egocentric a. caring only about oneself; selfish; self-centered |
elusive a. difficult to describe; difficult to detect or grasp by mind |
emulate v. be a match or counterpart for; eager to equal or excel |
equitable a. marked by or having equity; just and impartial |
eradicate v. completely destroy; eliminate; exterminate |
estrange v. arouse hostility or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness |
exacerbate v. increase severity, violence, or bitterness of; aggravate |
expedite v. process fast and efficiently; execute quickly and efficiently |
fabricate v. build; put together out of components or parts |
facilitate v. help bring about; make less difficult |
fortuitous a. accidental; by chance; coming or occurring without any cause |
fraudulent a. cheating; deceitful; planning or using fraud; given to practice of fraud |
heinous a. grossly wicked; abominable; hateful; infamous |
hypothetical a. based on assumptions; supposed |
illicit a. illegal; unlawful; not authorized or permitted |
imminent a. near at hand; close in time; about to occur |
impetuous a. marked by sudden and violent force; hasty; impulsive and passionate |
incongruous a. not fitting; lacking in harmony or compatibility |
indigenous a. native; originating where it is found |
indiscriminate a. choosing at random; not marked by fine distinctions |
inherent a. firmly established by nature or habit |
jurisdiction n. authority; right and power to interpret and apply the law |
lax a. loose and not easily controlled; lacking in rigor or strictness |
meticulous a. excessively careful; marked by extreme care in treatment of details |
negligent a. careless; inattentive |
nonchalant a. behaving in a calm manner, often in a way that suggests you are not interested or do not care |
oblivious a. inattentive or unmindful; lacking all memory; forgetful |
obscure v. darken; make dim or indistinct; conceal in obscurity |
omnipotent a. all-powerful; having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force |
opportune a. timely; just in time; suited or right for a particular purpose |
oppose v. place in front of, or over against; set opposite; exhibit; confront; resist; withstand |
panacea n. remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all |
perfunctory a. done routinely and with little interest or care; acting with indifference; showing little interest or care |
precarious a. uncertain; risky; dangerously lacking in security or stability |
precipitate v. fall from clouds; hurl or throw violently; fall vertically, sharply, or headlong |
preclude v. make impossible, as by action taken in advance; prevent; eliminate |
preposterous a. contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; very silly or stupid; ridiculous |
proficient a. skilled; expert; having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude |
propensity n. natural inclination; tendency or preference; predilection |
qualitative a. relating to quality; having the character of quality |
quantitative a. expressed or expressible as a quantity; relating to measurement of quantity |
recalcitrant a. obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority |
redeem v. purchase back; regain possession of by payment; ransom or rescue from captivity; pay penalty; make amends for |
rejuvenate v. make young again; restore to youthful vigor or appearance |
relegate v. assign to obscure place, position, or condition; delegate; assign |
relinquish v. give up something with reluctance; retire from; give up or abandon |
repugnant a. arousing disgust or aversion; offensive or repulsive; hateful |
resilient a. elastic; having power of springing back or recover readily |
retrospect n. review; look back upon; remember |
sanction v. give authorization or approval to something; penalize a state, especially for violating international law |
spontaneous a. arising without external cause; growing without cultivation or human labor |
static a. having no motion; being at rest; fixed; stationary |
stringent a. demanding strict attention to rules and procedures; binding; rigid |
subordinate a. occupying lower rank; inferior; submissive |
subsidize v. support through finance; fund |
tenuous a. long and thin; slender; having little substance |
travesty n. comedy characterized by improbable situations; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous |
tumult n. noise, as made by a crowd; riot or uprising |
unilateral a. being on one side only; affecting but one side; one-sided. |
validate v. confirm; ratify; declare or make legally valid |
vindicate v. clear from blame; exonerate; maintain, uphold, or defend |
zealot n. fanatically committed person; person who shows excessive zeal |