abandon
/ə'bændən/ n. Syn. relinquish
lacking restraint or control; feeling of extreme emotional intensity; unbounded enthusiasm
abash
/ə'bæʃ/ v. Syn. embarrass
embarrass; make ashamed or uneasy; disconcert
abdicate
/'æbdɪkeɪt/ v. Syn. renounce
give up, renounce, abandon, lay down, or withdraw from, as a right or claim
abet
/ə'bɛt/ v. Syn. encourage
aid, usually in doing something wrong; encourage
abridge
/ə'brɪdʒ/ v. Syn. condense; shorten
condense; shorten; reduce length of written text
abrogate
/'æbroʊgeɪt/ a. Syn. abolish
abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority
abstemious
/æb'sti:mɪəs/ a. Syn. temperate
sparing or moderation in eating and drinking; temperate
academic
/ækə'dɛmɪk/ a. Syn. scholarly; collegiate; theoretical
related to school; not practical or directly useful; relating to scholarly organization; based on formal education
accede
/æk'si:d/ v. Syn. agree; assent; concede
agree; give consent, often at insistence of another; concede
accelerate
/ək'sɛləreɪt/ v. Syn. speed; hasten
move faster; cause to develop or progress more quickly; occur sooner than expected
accolade
/'ækəleɪd/ n. Syn. praise
award of merit; expression of approval; praise
accord
/ə'kɔ:d/ n. Syn. agreement; treaty
settlement or compromise of conflicting opinions; written agreement between two states
acrimonious
/ækrɪ'moʊnɪəs/ a. Syn. rancorous
bitter and sharp in language, tone, or manner
acumen
/'ækjʊmɛn, ə'kju:mɛn/ n. Syn. acuteness; insight
mental keenness; quickness of perception
admonish
/əd'mɒnɪʃ/ v. Syn. warn; reprove
warn; counsel someone against something to be avoided
admonition
/ædmɒ'nɪʃ(ə)n/ n. Syn. warning
gentle or friendly reproof; cautionary advice or warning
adversary
/'ædvəsərɪ/ n. Syn. opponent; contestant
opponent in contest; someone who offers opposition
adverse
/'ædvɜrs/ a. Syn. unfavorable; hostile
in opposing direction; harmful or unfavorable; acting or serving to oppose
adversity
/əd'vɜrsɪtɪ/ n. Syn. poverty; misfortune
state of misfortune, hardship, or affliction; misfortune
aesthetic
/i:s'θɛtɪk/ a. Syn. artistic; elegant
elegant or tasteful; of or concerning appreciation of beauty or good taste
affable
/'æfəb(ə)l/ a.
easily approachable; warmly friendly
affluent
/'æflʊənt/ a.
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
aggressive
/'əgrɛsɪv/ a.
making assaults; unjustly attacking; combative; hostile; tending to spread quickly
alacrity
/ə'lækrɪtɪ/ n.
cheerful promptness or willingness; eagerness; speed or quickness
alienate
/'eɪlɪəneɪt/ v. Syn. estrange; transfer; separate
cause to become unfriendly or hostile; transfer property or ownership; isolate or dissociate emotionally
allay
/ə'leɪ/ v. Syn. calm; pacify; relieve
calm; pacify; reduce the intensity of; relieve
allude
/ə'lu:d/ v. Syn. imply; refer
refer casually or indirectly, or by suggestion
allure
/ə'ljʊə(r)/ v. Syn. entice; attract
attract with something desirable; be highly, often subtly attractive
allusion
/ə'lu:ʒ(ə)n/ n. Syn. metaphor
indirect reference; symbolical reference or comparison; metaphor
ambiguous
/æm'bɪgjʊəs/ a.
unclear or doubtful in meaning
amiable
/'eɪmɪəb(ə)l/ a. Syn. agreeable; lovable
good-natured and likable; lovable; warmly friendly
analogous
/ə'næləgəs/ a. Syn. comparable
comparable; similar or alike
analogy
/ə'nælədʒɪ/ n. Syn. similarity; parallelism
similarity in some respects; comparison based on similarity
anarchy
/'ænəkɪ/ n. Syn. lawlessness; disorder
absence of governing body; state of disorder; political disorder and confusion
animus
/'ænɪməs/ n. Syn. enmity; disposition
feeling of enmity or ill will; attitude that informs one's actions; disposition
annals
/'æn(ə)lz/ n. Syn. records; history
chronological record of the events of successive years
anonymous
/ə'nɒnɪməs/ a. Syn. unknown; nameless
having no name; having unknown or unacknowledged name
anthology
/æn'θɒlədʒɪ/ n. Syn. collection
book of literary selections by various authors
antithesis
/æn'tɪθəsɪs/ n. Syn. contrast
contrast; direct contrast; opposition
apathetic
/æpə'θɛtɪk/ a.
feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent
apathy
/'æpəθɪ/ n. Syn. indifference
lack of caring; indifference
apprehend
/æprɪ'hɛnd/ v. Syn. arrest; perceive
take into custody; arrest a criminal; grasp mentally; perceive
apprehensive
/æprɪ'hɛnsɪv/ a.
capable of apprehending; knowing; conscious; relating to the faculty of apprehension; sensible; feeling; perceptive
apprise
/ə'praɪz/ v. Syn. inform
inform; give notice to; make aware
approbation
/æprə'beɪʃ(ə)n/ n. Syn. approval
expression of warm approval; praise
apt
/æpt/ a. Syn. appropriate; suitable
likely; exactly suitable; appropriate; quick to learn or understand
aptitude
/'æptɪtju:d/;/'æptɪtud/ n. Syn. intelligence; talent
inherent ability; quickness in learning and understanding
arbiter
/'ɑrbɪtə(r)/ n. Syn. judge
person with power to decide a dispute; judge
archetype
/'ɑrkɪtaɪp/ n. Syn. prototype
prototype; original model or type after which other similar things are patterned
arid
/'ærɪd/ a. Syn. dry; barren
dry; lacking moisture, especially having insufficient rainfall to support trees or plants
aristocracy
/ærɪs'tɒkrəsɪ/ n.
hereditary nobility; privileged class
articulate
/ɑr'tɪkjʊlət/ a. Syn. effective; distinct
expressing oneself easily in clear and effective language
ascetic
/ə'sɛtɪk/ a. Syn. austere; severe
leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial; austere
assiduous
/ə'sɪdjʊəs/;/ə'sɪdʒʊəs/ a. Syn. diligent; persistent
constant in application or attention; diligent; unceasing or persistent
asylum
/ə'saɪləm/ n. Syn. protection
place of refuge or shelter; protection
atheist
/'eɪθiɪst/ n. Syn. nonbeliever
nonbeliever; one who denies the existence of god
attribute
/ə'trɪbju:t/ n. Syn. trait
essential quality; reputation; honor
augment
/ɔ:g'mɛnt/ v. Syn. increase
make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity
auspicious
/ɔ:'spɪʃəs/ a. Syn. propitious
attended by favorable circumstances; marked by success; prosperous
authentic
/ɜr'θɛntɪk/ a. Syn. genuine; real; valid; trustworthy
not counterfeit or copied; valid; trustworthy
autocratic
/ɔtə'krætɪk/ a. Syn. dictatorial
having absolute, unchecked power; dictatorial
avarice
/'ævərɪs/ n.
greediness for wealth; insatiable desire of gain
awry
/ə'raɪ/ ad. Syn. distorted; crooked ; askew; amiss
in a position that is turned toward one side; away from correct course
banal
/bə'nɑrl/;/'beɪnl/ a. Syn. dull; commonplace; trite
obvious and dull; commonplace; lacking originality
bane
/beɪn/ n. Syn. curse
something causes misery or death; curse; fatal injury or ruin
banter
/'bæntə(r)/ n.
good-humored, playful conversation
baton
/'bæt(ə)n/;/bə'tɒn/ n.
staff or truncheon for various purposes, as one of a conductor in musical performances, one transferred by runners in a relay race
belie
/bɪ'laɪ/ v. Syn. contradict
contradict; give a false impression
bellicose
/'bɛlɪkoʊs/ a. Syn. warlike; belligerent
warlike or hostile in manner or temperament; showing or having impulse to be combative
benevolent
/bɪ'nɛvələnt/ a. Syn. generous; charitable
generous in providing aid to others; charitable
besmirch
/bɪ'smɜrtʃ/ v.
soil, smear so as to make dirty or stained
biased
/'baɪəs(ɪ)d/ a. Syn. slanted; prejudiced
favoring one person or side over another; prejudiced
bizarre
/bɪ'zɑr(r)/ a. Syn. fantastic
fantastic; violently contrasting; strangely unconventional in style or appearance
bland
/blænd/ a. Syn. soothing; mild; agreeable
lacking stimulating or mild; agreeable
blandishment
/'blændɪʃmənt/ n. Syn. flattery
flattery; speech or action expressive of affection or kindness, and tending to win the heart
blemish
/'blɛmɪʃ/ v.
mark with deformity; injure or impair, as anything which is excellent; make defective, either the body or mind
blight
/blaɪt/ v.
blast; prevent the growth and fertility of; destroy the happiness of; ruin; frustrate
blithe
/blaɪð/ a. Syn. gay; joyous; heedless
gay; joyous; carefree and lighthearted
bombastic
/bɒm'bæstɪk/ a. Syn. pompous
pompous; using inflated language; high-sounding but with little meaning
boorish
/'bʊərɪʃ/ a. Syn. rude; clumsy; illiterate
rude and clumsy in behavior; ungentlemanly; awkward in manners
bucolic
/bju:'kɒlɪk/ a. Syn. rustic; pastoral
rustic; pastoral; agricultural; relating to country affairs, or to shepherd's life and occupation
buffoon
/bʌ'fu:n/ n.
one who makes a practice of amusing others by low tricks, antic gestures; droll; mimic; clown
bulwark
/'bʊlwək/ n.
earthwork or other strong defense; person who defends
bumptious
/'bʌmpʃəs/ a.
offensively self-assertive; liable to give or take offense; forward; pushing
cabal
/kə'bæl/ n.
small group of persons secretly united to promote their own interests
cacophonous
/kə'kɒfənəs/ a. Syn. discordant; inharmonious
discordant; inharmonious; sounding harshly; ill-sounding
cadaverous
/kə'dævərəs/ a. Syn. pale
like corpse; pale; Having appearance or color of dead human body
callous
/'kæləs/ a.
emotionally hardened; unfeeling; toughened
candid
/'kændɪd/ a. Syn. straightforward; frank
straightforward; frank; free from prejudice; impartial
candor
/kændə(r)/ n. Syn. frankness
frankness; quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
cantankerous
/kæn'tæŋkərəs/ a. Syn. irritable
ill humored; irritable; marked by ill-tempered contradiction or opposition; ugly; malicious
capricious
/kə'prɪʃəs/ a. Syn. unpredictable; fickle; arbitrary
fickle; impulsive and unpredictable; apt to change opinions suddenly
captious
/'kæpʃəs/ a.
intended to confuse in an argument
caricature
/kærɪkə'tjʊə(r)/ n. Syn. distortion; burlesque
representation that is deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic effect
castigate
/'kæstɪgeɪt/ v. Syn. punish
criticize severely; punish; revise or make corrections to publication
celestial
/sɪ'lɛstɪəl/;/sə'lZstʃl/ a. Syn. heavenly
relating to the sky or the heavens; supremely good; god or angel
chauvinist
/'ʃoʊvɪnɪst/ n.
person with prejudiced belief in superiority of own kind
chicanery
/ʃɪ'keɪnərɪ/ n. Syn. trickery; deception
mean or unfair artifice to obscure truth; deception by trickery or sophistry
chronic
/'krɒnɪk/ a.
lasting for long period; marked by frequent recurrence, as certain diseases
circumspect
/'sɜrkəmspɛkt/ a. Syn. prudent; cautious
carefully aware of all circumstances; cautious
circumvent
/sɜrkəm'vɛnt/ v. Syn. outwit
surround an enemy; enclose or entrap; beat by cleverness and wit
civil
/'sɪv(ə)l/ a. Syn. civic
having to do with citizens or the state; courteous and polite
clamorous
/'klæmərəs/ a.
speaking and repeating loud words; full of clamor; calling or demanding loudly or urgently; vociferous; noisy; bawling; loud
clandestine
/klæn'dɛstɪn/ a. Syn. secret
secret; conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
coalesce
/koʊə'lɛs/ v. Syn. combine; fuse; mix
combine; fuse; grow together; come together so as to form one whole; unite
coalition
/koʊə'lɪʃ(ə)n/ n. Syn. partnership; league; union
partnership; league; state of being combined into one body
coercion
/koʊ'ɛrfɛn/ n.
use of force to get someone to obey
cogent
/'koʊdʒənt/ a. Syn. convincing
reasonable and convincing; based on evidence; forcefully persuasive
collusion
/kə'lu:ʒ(ə)n/ n.
secret agreement for an illegal purpose; conspiracy
commodious
/kə'moʊdɪəs/ a.
spacious and comfortable; fit; proper; convenient
compatible
/kəm'pætɪb(ə)l/ a. Syn. harmonious
harmonious; having similar disposition and tastes
compensation
/kɒmpɛn'seɪʃ(ə)n/ n.
something given or received as payment as for a service or loss or injury
compunction
/kəm'pʌŋkʃ(ə)n/ n.
feeling of deep regret; strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt
concede
/kən'si:d/ v. Syn. admit; yield
admit; yield; give up physical control of another
condole
/kən'doʊl/ v. Syn. grieve
grieve; express sympathy; speak sympathetically to one in pain, grief, or misfortune
condolence
/kən'doʊləns/ n.
expression of sympathy with another in sorrow or grief.
confederate
/kən'fɛdərət/ n. Syn. ally; collaborator
ally; form a group or unite
congenial
/kən'dʒi:nɪəl/ a. Syn. compatible
compatible
conjecture
/kən'dʒɛktʃə(r)/ v.
believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
consensus
/kən'sɛnsəs/ n. Syn. Agreement; accord
general agreement or accord; opinion reached by a group as a whole
consternation
/kɒnstə'neɪʃ(ə)n/ n. Syn. dismay; shock; fear
intense state of fear or dismay; astonishment combined with terror
construction
/kən'strʌkʃ(ə)n/ n.
act of constructing or building something
consummate
/'kɒnsəmeɪt/ a.
carried to the utmost extent or degree; of the highest quality; complete; perfect
contemptuous
/kən'tɛmptjʊəs/ a. Syn. scornful
scornful; expressing contempt; showing a lack of respect
convivial
/kən'vɪvɪəl/ a. Syn. festive
festive; occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
copious
/'koʊpɪəs/ a. Syn. plentiful
plentiful; containing plenty; affording ample supply
corpulent
/'kɔ:pjʊlənt/ a. Syn. fat
very fat; large in body; overweight
cosmopolitan
/kɒzmə'pɒlɪt(ə)n/ a. Syn. sophisticated
sophisticated; of worldwide scope
coterie
/'koʊtərɪ/ n.
group that meets socially; an exclusive circle of people with common purpose
countenance
/'kaʊntɪnəns/ v. Syn. approve; tolerate
give sanction or support to; tolerate or approve
credence
/'kri:dəns/ n. Syn. credit; faith
credit; faith
credible
/'krɛdɪb(ə)l/ a.
capable of being credited or believed; worthy of belief; entitled to confidence; trustworthy
credulous
/'krɛdjʊləs/;/'krɛdʒələs/ a.
apt to believe on slight evidence; easily imposed upon; unsuspecting; believed too readily
cringe
/krɪndʒ/ v.
shrink or recoil, as in fear, disgust or embarrassment; bend or crouch with base humility
crucial
/'kru:ʃ(ə)l/ a.
of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis; of the greatest importance
cryptic
/'krɪptɪk/ a.
having hidden meaning; mystifying; using code or cipher
curb
/kɜrb/ v.
bend or curve; guide and manage, or restrain
cursory
/'kɜrsərɪ/ a. Syn. casual
casual; brief or broad; not cautious, nor detailed
curt
/kɜrt/ a.
having been shortened; effectively cut short; rudely brief or abrupt, as in speech or manner
cynical
/'sɪnɪk(ə)l/ a.
skeptical of motives of others; selfishly calculating; negative or pessimistic
dearth
/dɜrθ/ n. Syn. scarcity
scarcity; shortage of food; famine from failure or loss of crops
deference
/'dɛfərəns/ n. Syn. respect
willingness to carry out the wishes of others; great respect
deity
/'di:ɪtɪ/ n. Syn. god; divinity
god; divinity; supernatural things
delectable
/dɪ'lɛktəb(ə)l/ a. Syn. delightful; delicious
delightful; delicious; extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
delete
/dɪ'li:t/ v. Syn. erase
erase; strike out; remove or make invisible
delineate
/dɪ'lɪnɪeɪt/ v. Syn. portray; depict; sketch
portray; depict; draw or trace outline of; sketch out
delinquent
/dɪ'lɪŋkwənt/ a.
failing in duty; offending by neglect of duty.
deluge
/'dɛlju:dʒ/ n. Syn. flood; rush
great flood; heavy downpour; any overflowing of water
demagogue
/'dɛməgɒg/ n.
person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people
demeanor
/dɪ'mi:nə(r)/ n. Syn. behavior
conduct; management; way in which a person behaves
demure
/dɪ'mjʊə(r)/ a. Syn. grave; serious
modest and reserved in manner or behavior
denounce
/dɪ'naʊns/ v. Syn. condemn; criticize; announce
condemn openly; criticize; make known in formal manner
deplete
/dɪ'pli:t/ v. Syn. reduce; exhaust
decrease fullness of; use up or empty out
deprecate
/'dɛprɪkeɪt/ v. Syn. belittle
express disapproval of; protest against; belittle
depreciate
/dɪ'pri:ʃɪeɪt/ v.
lessen price or value of; think or speak of as being of little worth; belittle
devastation
/dɛvəs'teɪʃən/ n.
an event that results in total destruction; the state of being decayed or destroyed
devious
/'di:vɪəs/ a.
departing from correct or accepted way; misleading; not straightforward
devoid
/dɪ'vɔɪd/ a. Syn. barren; empty
completely lacking; barren or empty
devout
/dɪ'vaʊt/ a. Syn. pious
expressing devotion or piety; earnest in religious field
dilemma
/daɪ'lɛmə/ n. Syn. predicament
predicament; state of uncertainty or between equally unfavorable options
disconcert
/dɪskən'sɜrt/ v. Syn. confuse; upset; embarrass
confuse; frustrate by throwing into disorder; embarrass
disconsolate
/dɪs'kɒnsələt/ a. Syn. sad
sad; cheerless; gloomy; hopeless or not expecting
discourse
/'dɪskɔ:s/ n. Syn. conversation
formal, lengthy discussion of a subject; verbal exchange; conversation
discrete
/dɪ'skri:t/ a. Syn. separate; distinct
separate; consisting of unconnected distinct parts
discursive
/dɪ'skɜrsɪv/ a.
tending to depart from main point or cover a wide range of subjects
disparate
/'dɪspərət/ a. Syn. unrelated
fundamentally distinct or different in kind; entirely dissimilar
disparity
/dɪ'spærɪtɪ/ n. Syn. difference
difference; condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or degree
dispassionate
/dɪ'spæʃ(ə)nət/ a. Syn. calm; impartial
calm; impartial; unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
dispatch
/dɪ'spætʃ/ n. Syn. expedition; sending off
act of sending off something; property of being prompt and efficient; message usually sent in haste
dispel
/dɪ'spɛl/ v. Syn. scatter
scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
dissent
/dɪ'sɛnt/ v. Syn. disagree
differ in opinion or feeling; withhold assent or approval
dissolute
/'dɪsəlu:t/ a.
lacking moral restraint; indulging in sensual pleasures or vices
distraught
/dɪ'strɔ:t/ a. Syn. upset
deeply agitated, as from emotional conflict; mad; insane
diverse
/daɪ'vɜrs/ a. Syn. various
differing in some characteristics; various
diversify
/daɪ'vɜrsɪfaɪ/ v. Syn. vary
give variety to; spread out activities or investments
divulge
/daɪ'vʌldʒ/ v. Syn. reveal
reveal; make known to public
dogmatic
/dɒg'mætɪk/;/dɔ:gmætɪk/ a. Syn. opinionated; doctrinal
stubbornly adhering to insufficiently proven beliefs; inflexible, rigid
dynamic
/daɪ'næmɪk/ a. Syn. energetic
energetic; vigorously active