GRE High Frequency Words

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GRE High Frequency Words
Abate – v – subside or moderate. Aberrant – adj – abnormal or deviant Abeyance – n – suspended action Abscond – v – depart secretly and hide Abstemious – adj – sparing in eating and drinking temperate Admonish – v – warn; reprove. Adulterate – v – make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances Aesthetic – artistic dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful Aggregate – v – gather; accumulate Alacrity – n – cheerful promptness; eagerness Alleviate – v – relieve Amalgamate – v – combine; unite in one body Ambiguous – adj – unclear or doubtful in meaning Ambivalence – n – the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes Ameliorate – v – improve Anachronism – n – something or someone misplaced in time Analogous – adj – comparable Anarchy – n – absence of governing body; state of disorder Anomalous – adj – abnormal; irregular Antipathy – n – aversion; dislike Apathy – n - lack of caring; indifference Appease – v – pacify or soothe; relieve Apprise – v - inform Approbation – n – approval Appropriate – acquire; take possession of for one’s own use Arduous – adj – hard; strenuous Artless – adj – without guile; open and honest Ascetic – adj – practicing self-denial; austere Assiduous – adj- diligent Assuage – v – ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger) Attenuate – v – make thinner; weaken or lessen (in density, force, degree) Audacious – adj – daring bold Austere – forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented Autonomous – self-governing Aver – assert confidently or declare; as used in law, state, formally as a fact Banal – hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality Belie – contradict; give a false impression Beneficent – kindly; doing good Bolster – support; reinforce Bombastic – pompous; using inflated language Boorish – rude; insensitive Burgeon – grow forth Burnish – make shiny by rubbing; polish

Buttress – support; prop up Cacophonous – discordant; inharmonious Capricious – unpredictable; fickle Castigation-punishment; severe criticism Catalyst – agent that influences the pace of a chemical reaction while it remains unaffected and unchanged; person or thing that causes action Caustic – burning; sarcastically biting Chicanery – trickery; deception Coagulate – thicken; congeal; clot Coda – concluding section of a musical or literary composition; something that rounds out, summarizes, or concludes Cogent – convincing Commensurate – corresponding in extent, degree, amount; proportionate Compendium – brief; comprehensive summary Complaisant – trying to please; overly polite; obliging Compliant – yielding; conforming to requirements Conciliatory – reconciling; soothing Condone – overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse Confound – confuse; puzzled Connoisseur – person competent to act as a judge of art Contention – claim; thesis Contentious – quarrelsome Contrite – penitent; repentant Conundrum – riddle; difficult problem Converge – approach; tend to meet; come together Convoluted – coiled around; involved; intricate Craven – cowardly Daunt – intimidate; frighten Decorum – propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners Default – failure to act Deference – courteous regard for another’s wish Delineate – portray; depict; sketch Denigrate – blacken Deride – ridicule; make fun of Derivative; unoriginal; obtained from another source Desiccate – dry up Desultory – aimless; haphazard; digressing at random Deterrent – something that discourage; hindrance Diatribe – bitter scolding; invective Dichotomy – split; branching into two parts (usually contradictory) Diffidence – shyness Diffuse – wordy; rambling; spread out Digression – wandering away from the subject Dirge – lament with music Disabuse – correct a false impression; undeceive Discerning – mentally quick and observant; having insight

Discordant – not harmonious; conflicting Discredit – defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve Discrepancy – lack of consistency; difference Discrete – separate; unconnected; consisting of distinct parts Disingenuous – lacking genuine candor; insincere Disinterested; unprejudiced Disjointed – lacking coherence; separated at the joints Dismiss – eliminate from consideration; reject Disparage – belittle Disparate – basically different; unrelated Dissemble – disguise; pretend Disseminate – distribute; spread; scatter Dissolution – disintegration; looseness in morals Dissonance – discord; opposite of harmony Distend – expend; swell out Distill – purify; refine; concentrate Diverge – vary; go in different directions from the same point Divest – strip; deprive Document – provide written evidence Dogmatic – opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal Dormant – sleeping; lethargic; latent Dupe – someone easily fooled Ebullient – showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm Eclectic – selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources Efficacy – power to produce desired effect Effrontery – impudence; shameless boldness; sheer nerve; presumptuousness Elegy – poem or song expressing lamentation Elicit – draw out by discussion Embellish – adorn; ornament; enhance, as a story Empirical – based on experience Emulate – imitate; rival Endemic – prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country Enervate – weaken Engender – cause; produce Enhance – increase; improve Ephemeral – short-lived; fleeting Equanimity – calmness of temperament; composure Equivocate – lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth Erudite – learned; scholarly Esoteric – hard to understand; known only to the chosen few Eulogy – expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone’s death Euphemism – mild expression in place of an unpleasant one Exacerbate – worsen; embitter Exculpate – clear from blame Exigency – urgent situation; pressing needs or demands; state of requiring immediate attention Extrapolation – projection; conjecture

Facetious – joking (often inappropriately) Facilitate – help bring about; make less difficult Fallacious – false; misleading Fatuous – brainless; inane; foolish, yet smug Fawning – trying to please by behaving obsequiously, flattering, or cringing Felicitous – apt; suitably expressed; well chosen Fervor – glowing ardor; intensity of feeling Flag – droop; grow feeble Fledgling – inexperienced Flout – reject; mock; show contempt for Foment – stir up; instigate Forestall – prevent by taking action in advance Frugality – thrift, economy Futile – useless; hopeless; ineffectual Gainsay – deny Garrulous – loquacious; wordy; talkative Goad – urge on Gouge – overcharge Grandiloquent – pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language Gregarious – sociable Guileless – without deceit Gullible – easily deceived Harangue – long, passionate, and vehement speech Homogeneous – off the same kind Hyperbole – exaggeration; overstatement Iconoclastic – attacking cherished traditions Idolatry – worship of idols Immutable – unchangeable Impair – injure; hurt Impassive – without feeling; imperturbable; stoical Impede – hinder; block Impermeable – impervious; not permitting passage through its substance Imperturbable – calm placid Impervious – impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed Implacable – incapable of being pacified Implicit – understood but not stated Implode – burst inward Inadvertently – unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly Inchoate – recently begun; rudimentary; elementary Incongruity – lack of harmony; absurdity Inconsequential – insignificant; unimportant Incorporate – introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite Indeterminate – uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite Indigence – poverty Indolent – lazy Inert – inactive; lacking power to move

Ingenuous – naïve and trusting; young; unsophisticated Inherent – firmly established by nature or habit Innocuous – harmless Insensible – unconscious; unresponsive Insinuate – hint; imply; creep in Insipid – lacking in flavor; dull Insularity – narrow-mindedness; isolation Intractable – unruly; stubborn; unyielding Intransigence – refusal of any compromise; stubbornness Inundate – overwhelm; flood; submerge Inured – accustomed; hardened Invective – abuse Irascible – irritable; easily angered Irresolute – uncertain how to act; weak Itinerary – plan of a trip Laconic – brief and to the point Lassitude – languor; weariness Latent – potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden Laud – praise Lethargic – drowsy; dull Levee – earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding Levity – lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity Log – record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities Loquacious – talkative Lucid – easily understood Luminous – shining; issuing light Magnanimity – generosity Malingerer – one who feigns illness to escape duty Malleable – capable to being shaped by pounding; impressionable Maverick – rebel; nonconformist Mendacious – lying; habitually dishonest Metamorphosis – change of form Meticulous – excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous Misanthrope – one who hates mankind Mitigate – appease; moderate Mollify – soothe Morose – ill-humored; sullen; melancholy Mundane – worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday Negate – cancel out; nullify; deny Neophyte – recent convert; beginner Obdurate – stubborn Obsequious – slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic Obviate – make unnecessary; get rid of Occlude – shut; close Officious – meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one’s services Onerous – burdensome

Opprobrium – infamy; vilification Oscillate – vibrate pendulumlike; waver Ostentatious – showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention Paragon – model of perfection Partisan – one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party Pathological – pertaining to disease Paucity – scarcity Pedantic – showing off learning; bookish Penchant – strong inclination; liking Penury – severe poverty; stinginess Perennial – something long-lasting Perfidious – treacherous; disloyal Perfunctory – superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, enthusiasm Permeable – penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through Pervasive – spread throughout Phlegmatic – clam; not easily disturbed Piety – devoutness; reverence for God Placate – pacify; conciliate Plasticity – ability to be molded Platitude – trite remark Plethora – excess; overabundance Plummet – fall sharply Porous – full of pores; like a sieve Pragmatic – practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something Preamble – introductory statement Precarious – uncertain; risky Precipitate – rash; premature; hasty; sudden Precursor – forerunner Presumptuous – arrogant; taking liberties Prevaricate – lie Probity – uprightness; incorruptibility Problematic – doubtful; unsettled; questionable Prodigal – wasteful; reckless with money Profound – deep; not superficial; complete Prohibitive – tending to prevent the purchase or use of something Proliferate – grow rapidly; spread; multiply Propensity – natural inclination Propitiate – appease Propriety 0 fitness; correct conduct Proscribe – ostracize; banish; outlaw Pungent – stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic Qualified – limited; restricted Quibble - minor objection or complaint Quiescent – at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive Rarefied – made less dense (of a gas) Recalcitrant – obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly

Recant – disclaim of disavow; retract a precious statement Recluse – hermit; loner Recondite – abstruse; profound; secret Refractory – stubborn, unmanageable Refute – disprove Relegate – banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign Reproach – express disapproval or disappointment Reprobate – person hardened in sin; devoid of a sense of decency Repudiate - disown; disavow Rescind – cancel Resolution – determination Resolve – determination; firmness of purpose Reticent – reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence Reverent – respectful; worshipful Sage – person celebrated for wisdom Salubrious – healthful Sanction – approve; ratify Satiate – satisfy fully Saturate – soak thoroughly Savor – enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality Secrete – hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism Shard – fragment, generally of pottery Skeptic – doubter; person who suspends judgment until having examined the evidence supporting a point of view Solicitous – worried, concerned Soporific – sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness Specious – seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally) Spectrum – color band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism Sporadic – occurring irregularly Stigma – token of disgrace; brand Stint – be thrifty; set limits Stipulate – make express conditions, specify Stolid – dull; impassive Striated – marked with parallel bands; grooved Strut – pompous walk Strut – supporting bar Subpoena – writ summoning a witness to appear Subside – settle down; descend; grow quiet Substantiate – establish by evidence; verity; support Supersede – cause to be set aside; replace; make obsolete Supposition – hypothesis; surmise Tacit – understood; not put into words Tangential – peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing Tenuous – thin; rare; slim Tirade – extended scolding; denunciation; harangue Torpor – lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy Tortuous – winding; full of curves

Tractable – docile; easily managed Transgression – violation of a law; sin Truculence – aggressiveness; ferocity Vacillate – waver; fluctuate Venerate – revere Veracious – truthful Verbose – wordy Viable – practical or workable; capable of maintaining life Viscous – sticky, gluey Vituperative – abusive; scolding Volatile – changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly Warranted – justified; authorized Wary – very cautious Welter – turmoil; bewildering jumble Whimsical – capricious; fanciful Zealot – fanatic; perso who shows excessive zeal (enthusiasm)

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ABATE (a-bate)

to reduce in amount, degree, or severity As the hurricane's force ______, the winds dropped and the sea became calm. (Why the HECK were you watching the sea during a hurricane!? RUN!!!)

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ABSCOND (ab-scond)

to leave secretly The patron ______ from the restaurant without paying his bill by sneaking out the back door. Bastard.

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ABSTAIN

to choose not to do something

(ab-stain) She ______ from choosing a mouthwatering dessert from the tray. (Well..good for her..i say, YOLO! Eat what ya want! :P)
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ABYSS (uh-bis)

an extremely deep hole The submarine dove into the ______ to chart the previously unseen depths. Yellow. Submarine. :P

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ADULTERATE (a·dul·ter·ate)

to make impure The chef made his ketchup last longer by ______ it with water. Easy A

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ADVOCATE (ad·vo·kate)

to speak in favor of The vegetarian ______ a diet containing no meat. So...they want to eat the animals' food?

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AESTHETIC

concerning the appreciation of beauty

Followers of the ______ Movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only true purpose of art. ..and the Beast

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AGGRANDIZE

to increase in power, influence, and reputation

The supervisor sought to ______ herself by claiming that the achievements of her staff were actually her own. Bitch.
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ALLEVIATE

to make more bearable Taking aspirin helps to ______ a headache. I'm sure if you are reading these cards, you could use an aspirin too....

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AMALGAMATE

to combine; to mix together Giant Industries ______ with Mega Products to form Giant-Mega Products Incoporated. Potions Class...

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AMBIGUOUS

doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways The directions he gave were so ______ that we disagreed on which way to turn. ...ask for directions?

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AMELIORATE

to make better; to improve The doctor was able to ______ the patient's suffering using painkillers.

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ANACHRONISM

something out of place in time The aged hippie used ______ phrases like "groovy" and "far out" that had not been popular for years.

SHAGGY!!
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ANALOGOUS

similar or alike in some way; equivalent to In the Newtonian construct for explaining the existence of God, the universe is ______ to a mechanical timepiece, the creation of a divinely intelligent "clockmaker." Geppetto made Pinocchio...?

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ANOMALY

deviation from what is normal Albino animals may display too great an ______ in their coloring to attract normally colored mates.

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ANTAGONIZE

to annoy or provoke to anger The child discovered that he could ______ the cat by pulling its tail. Kid best start running...

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ANTIPATHY

extreme dislike The ______ between the French and the English regularly erupted into open warfare. Brussel sprouts.

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APATHY

lack of interest or emotion The ______ of voters is so great that less than half the people who are eligible to vote actually bother to do so.

Sasuke Uchiha :P
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ARBITRATE

to judge a dispute between two opposing parties Since the couple could not come to agreement, a judge was forced to ______ their divorce proceedings. Referee...

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ARCHAIC

ancient, old-fashioned Her ______ Commodore computer could not run the latest software. WOW. THAT is an old computer...

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ARDOR

intense and passionate feeling Bishop's ______ for the landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley. It's probably something akin to the way we feel about chocolate :P

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ARTICULATE

able to speak clearly and expressively She is such an ______ defender of labor that unions are among her strongest supporters. "I'm laughing out loud!" vs lol...rofl ;)

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ASSUAGE

to make something unpleasant less severe Serena used aspirin to ______ her pounding headace.

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ATTENUATE

to reduce in force or degree; to weaken The Bill of Rights ______ the traditional power of governments to change laws at will. ..what we need is a Bill of Responsibilities...

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AUDACIOUS

fearless and daring Her ______ nature allowed her to fulfill her dream of skydiving. Jack Sparrow. Captain Jack Sparrow.

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AUSTERE

severe or stern in appearance; undecorated The lack of decoration makes military barracks seem ______ to the civilian eye.

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BANAL

predictable, cliched, boring He usaed ______ phrases like "Have a nice day", or "Another day, another dollar." Twilight.

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BOLSTER

to support; to prop up The presecence of giant footprints ______ the argument that Sasquatch was in the area. Bras...

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BOMBASTIC

pompous in speech and manner The ranting of the radio talk-show host was

mostly ______; his boasting and outrageous claims had no basis in fact.

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CACOPHONY

harsh, jarring noise The junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable ______ as they tried to tune their instruments. My alarm clock >.<

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CANDID

impartial and honest in speech The observations of a child can be charming since they are ______ and unpretentious. "Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind."

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CAPRICIOUS

changing ones mind quickly and often Queen Elizabeth I was quite ______; her courtiers could never be sure which of their number would catch her fancy. The gossip that must have resulted!!O.O

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CASTIGATE

to punish or criticize harshly Many Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore ______ perpetrators of what would be considered minor crimes in the United States. 7.20.12. Their is not a harsh enough punishment.

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CATALYST

something that brings about a change in

something else The imposition of harsh taxes was the ______ that finally brought on the revolution. Chemistry!
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CAUSTIC

biting in wit Dorothy Parker gained her reputation for ______ wit from her cutting, yet clever, insults. Sounds like my sister! <3

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CHAOS

great disorder or confusion In many religious traditions, God created an ordered universe from ______. And yet,entropy is always increasing...

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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 ______. Ahem. Tell me again, who has the higher retention rate in colleges?

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CHICANERY

deception by means of craft or guile Dishonest used car sales people often use ______ to sell their beat-up old cars. So..they are too chicken to tell the truth?

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COGENT

convincing and well reasoned Swayed by the ______ argument of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the defendant. Pie tastes good. I should eat it.

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CONDONE

to overlook, pardon, or disregard Some theorists believe that failing to prosecute minor crimes is the same as ______ an air of lawlessness. I will NOT condone the fact that you ate the last cookie! >.<

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CONVOLUTED

intricate and complicated Although many people bought "A Brief History of Time," few could follow its ______ ideas and theories. A girl's thought-process.

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CORROBORATE

to provide supporting evidence Figerprints ______ the witness's testimony that he saw the defendant in the victim's apartment. NCIS or CSI?

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CREDULOUS

too trusting; gullible Although some four-year-olds believe in the Eatser Bunny, only the most ______ nine-yearolds also believe in him. DORI!!! <'(((><

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CRESCENDO

steadily increasing volume or force The______ of tension became unbearable as Evel Knievel prepared to jump his motorcycle over the school buses. Nuff said.

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DECORUM

appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety The countess complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the ______ appropriate for a visit to the palace. Cinderella didn't hear her :P

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DEFERENCE

respect, courtesy The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost ______. Respect the Pouch. RESPECT IT!

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DERIDE

to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock The awkward child was often ______ by his "cooler" peers. And they will all end up working for him.

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DESICCATE

to dry out thoroughly After a few weeks of lying in the desert's baking sands, the cow's carcass became completely ______. Jerky.

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DESULTORY

jumping from one thing to another; disconnected Diane had a ______ academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in three years. Spiderman

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DIATRIBE

an abusive, condemnatory speech The trucker bellowed a ______ at the driver who had cut him off. Bad guys talk too much

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DIFFIDENT

lacking self-confidence Steve's ______ manner during the job interview stemmed from his nervous nature and lack of experience in the field. Just breath and plunge in!

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DILATE

to make larger; to expand When you enter a darkened room, the pupils of your eyes ______ to let in more light. It's really cool!

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DILATORY

intended to delay The congressman used ______ measures to delay the passage of the bill. That one kid in class that gets the professor to tell stories....is a master.

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DILETTANTE

someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic Jerry's friends were such ______ that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week. A new job every week!? Where do they FIND them!?

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DIRGE

a funeral hymn or mournful speech Melville wrote a poem "A ______for James McPherson" for the funeral of a Union general who was killed in 1864.

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DISABUSE

to set right; to free from error Galileo's observations ______ scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the earth. Physics.

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DISCERN

to perceive; to recognize It is easy to ______ the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping. Please tell me you didn't eat it with a spoon...

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DISPARATE

fundamentally different; entirely unlike Although the twins appear to be identical physically, their personalities are ______. Black and white.

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DISSEMBLE

to present a false appearance; to disguise one's

real intentions or character The villain could ______ to the police no longerhe admitted the deed and tore up the floor to reveal the body of the old man. O.o.....
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DISSONANCE

a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds Cognitive ______ is the inner conflict produced when long-standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence.

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DOGMA

a firmly held opinion; often a religious belief Linus's central ______ was that children who believed in the Great Pumpkin would be rewarded. PEANUTS!!!

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DOGMATIC

dictorial in one's opinions The dictator was ______- he, and only he, was right. Stubborn?

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DUPE

to deceive; a person who is easily deceived Bugs Bunny was able to ______ Elmer Fudd by dressing up as a lady rabbit. HAHA!!! Miss these cartoons!

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ECLECTIC

selecting from or made up from a variety of

sources Budapest's architecture is an ______ mix of Eastern and Western styles.
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EFFICACY

effectiveness The ______ of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced; the drug completely eliminated almost all bacterial infections for which it was administered.

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ELEGY

a sorrowful poem or speech Although Thomas Gray's "______ Written in a Country Churchyard" is about death and loss, it urges its readers to endure this life and to truest in spirituality.

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ELOQUENT

persuasive and moving, especially in speech The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but also because of its ______ words. I love this word.

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EMULATE

to copy; to try to equal or excel The graduate student sought to ______ his professor in every way, copying not only how she taught but also how she conducted herself outside of class. Don't forget to be your own person! :D

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ENERVATE

to reduce in strength

The guerrillas hoped that a series of surprise attacks would ______ the regular army. Lex & Kent
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ENGENDER

to produce, cause, or bring about His fear and hatred of clowns ______ when he witnessed the death of his father at the hands of a clown. O.o

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ENIGMA

a puzzle; a mystery Speaking in riddles and dressed in old robes, the artist gained a reputation as something of an ______. BATMAN.

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ENUMERATE

to count, list, or itemize Moses returned from the mountain with tablets on which the commandments were ______. It's as easy as 1,2,3!

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EPHEMERAL

lasting a short time The lives of mayflies seem ______ to us, since the flies's average life span is a matter of hours. Ice cream melts so fast!

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EQUIVOCATE

to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead

When faced with criticism of her policies, the politician ______ and left all parties thinking she agreed with them. i.e. Sarcasm.
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ERRATIC

wandering and unpredictable The plot seemed predictable until it suddenly took a series of ______ turns that surprised the audience. Harry Potter

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ERUDITE

learned, scholarly, bookish The annual meeting of philosophy professors was a gathering of the most ______, well-published individuals in the field. Hermione

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ESOTERIC

known or understood by only a few Only a handful of experts are knowledgeable about the ______ world of particle physics. The GRE.

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ESTIMABLE

admirable Most people consider it ______ that Mother Teresa spent her life helping the poor of India.

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EULOGY

speech in praise of someone His best friend gave the ______, outlining his many achievements and talents.

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EUPHEMISM

use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one The funeral director preferred to use the ______sleeping instead of the word dead. Fudge Muffins.

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EXACERBATE

to make worse It is unwise to take aspirin to try to relieve heartburn; instead of providing relief, the drug will only ______ the problem. What is with all the aspirin!?

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EXCULPATE

to clear from blame; prove innocent The adversarial legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and to ______those who are innocent.

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EXIGENT

urgent; requiring immediate action The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was ______ to stop the source of the bleeding.

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EXONERATE

to clear of blame The fugitive was ______ when another criminal confessed to committing the crime.

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EXPLICIT

clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression

The owners of the hourse left a list of ______ instructions detailing their house-sitter's duties, including a schedule for watering the house plants.

Really...the house plants?

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FANATICAL

acting excessively enthusiastic;filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion The stormtroopers were ______ in their devotion to the emperor, readily sacrificing their lives for him. Kaplan appreciates the awesomeness that is STAR WARS!

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FAWN

to grovel The understudy ______ over the director in hopes of being cast in the part on a permanent basis. Bambi.

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FERVID

intensely emotional;feverish The fans of Maria Callas were unusually ______, doing anything to catch a glimpse of the great opera singer. You give me fever...

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FLORID

excessively decorated or embellished The alace had been decorated in a ______ style;every surface had been carved and gilded.

Is it just me, or did you think "flower" too?
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FOMENT

to arouse or incite The protesters tried to ______ feeling against the war through their speeches and demonstrations. Not to be confused with ferment...

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FRUGALITY

a tendency to be thrifty or cheap Scrooge McDuck's ______ was so great that he accumulated enough wealth to fill a giant storehouse with money. Scrooge...purdy much sums it up.

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GARRULOUS

tending to talk a lot The ______ parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking. Think of a media character! :D

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GREGARIOUS

outgoing, sociable She was so ______ that when she found herself alone, she felt quite sad. The opposite of introverted...

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GUILE

deceit or trickery Since he was not fast enough to ctahc the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to ______ in an effort to trap his enemy. Meep Meep!!

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GULLIBLE

easily deceived The con man pretended to be a bank officer so as to fool ______ bank customers into giving him their account information. I actually wrote gullible on the ceiling once; best prank ever! :P

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HOMOGENEOUS

of a similar kind The class was fairly ______, since almost all of the students were senior journalism majors. Genetics.

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ICONOCLAST

one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions His lack of regard for traditional beliefs soon established him as an ______. A clashing icon?

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IMPERTURBABLE

not capable of being disturbed The counselor had so much experience dealing with distraught children that she seemed ______, even when faces with the wildest tantrums. The dead.

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IMPERVIOUS

impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected A good raincoat will be ______ to moisture.

Fortresses and castles!
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IMPETUOUS

quick to act without thinking It is not good for an investment broker to be ______, since much thought should be given to all the possible options. Naruto, Luffy, Black Star, Natsu, etc. etc.

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IMPLACABLE

unable to be calmed down or made peaceful His rage at the betrayal was so great that he remained ______ for weeks.

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INCHOATE

not fully formed; disorganized The ideas expressed in Nietzsche's mature work also appear in an ______ form in his earliest writing. Puzzles/Babies

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Definition

INGENIOUS

showing innocence or childlike simplicity She was so ______ that her friends feared that her innocence and trustfulness would be exploited when she visited the big city. The game!

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INIMICAL

hostile, unfriendly Even though the children had grown up together, they were ______ to each other at school. #sibilingissues

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Definition

INNOCUOUS

harmless Some snakes are poisonous, but most species are ______ and pose no danger to humans. Coral vs. King

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INSIPID

lacking interest or flavor The critic claimed that the painting was ______, containing no interesting qualities at all. plain pasta

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Definition

INTRANSIGENT

uncompromising, refusing to be reconciled The professor was ______ on the deadline, insisting that everyone turn the assignment in at the same time. Man, I hated when that happened :/

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Definition

INUNDATE

to overwhelm; to cover with water The tidal wave ______ Atlantis, which was lost beneath the water. Love the Disney movie!

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IRASCIBLE

easily made angry Attila the Hun's ______and violent nature made all who dealt with him fear for their lives. THE HULK

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Definition

LACONIC

using few words

She was a ______ poet who built her reputation on using words as sparingly as possible. Yoda!
Term Definition

LAMENT

to express sorrow; to grieve The children continued to ______ the death of the goldfish weeks after its demise. Sad word :'(

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Definition

LAUD

to give praise; to glorify Parades and fireworks were staged to ______ the success of the rebels. Loud parties!

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Definition

LAVISH

to give unsparingly (v.); extremely generous or extravagant (adj.) She ______ the puppy with so many treats that it soon became overweight and spoiled. Spoiled. Exactlyyyy.

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Definition

LETHARGIC

acting in an indifferent or slow, sluggish manner The clerk was so ______that, even when the store was slow, he always had a long line in front of him. LAZZZZZZZZZZZZZY.

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Definition

LOQUACIOUS

talkative

She was naturally ______, which was a problem in situations in which listening was more important than talking. The words is very..elegant... though.
Term Definition

LUCID

clear and easily understood The explanations were written in a simple and ______ manner so that students were immediately able to apply what they learned. Clear water.

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Definition

LUMINOUS

bright, brilliant, glowing The park was bathed in ______ sunshine, which warmed the bodies and the souls of the visitors. Lumos maxima!

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Definition

MALINGER

to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill A common way to avoid the draft was by ______pretending to be mentally or physically ill so as to avoid being taken by the army. MOOOOOOM!!! I don't wanna go to school this morning! :P

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Definition

MALLEABLE

capable of being shaped Gold is the ______ of precious metals; it can easily be formed into almost any shape. Those easily influenced...

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Definition

METAPHOR

a figure of speech comparing two different things;

a symbol The ______ "a sea of troubles" suggests a lot of troubles by comparing their number to the vastness of the sea. Oh English Lit....
Term Definition

METICULOUS

extremely careful about details To find all the clues at the crime scene, the investigators ______ examined every inch of the house.

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Definition

MISANTHROPE

a person who dislikes others The character Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" is such a ______ that even the sight of children singing makes him angry. Not to be confused with a lycanthrope...

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Definition

MITIGATE

to soften; to lessen A judge may ______ a sentence if she decides that a person committed a crime out of need.

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Definition

MOLLIFY

to calm or make less severe Their argument was so intense that it was difficult to believe any compromise would ______ them.

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Definition

MONOTONY

lack of variation The ______ of the sound of the dripping faucet almost drove the research assistant crazy.

drip, drip, drip...drip
Term Definition

NAIVE

lacking sophistication or experience Having never traveled before, the elementary school students were more ______ than their high school counterparts on the field trip.

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Definition

OBDURATE

hardened in feeling; resistant to persuasion The president was completely ______ on the issue, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind. Bull-headed

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Definition

OBSEQUIOUS

overly submissive and eager to please The ______ new associate made sure to compliment her supervisor's tie and agree with him on every issue. Suck-up.

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Definition

OBSTINATE

stubborn, unyielding The ______ child could not be made to eat any food that he disliked.

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Definition

OBVIATE

to prevent; to make unnecessary The river was shallow enough to wade across at many points, which ______the need for a bridge.

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Definition

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 ______ by the moon. Beaver dam
Term Definition

ONEROUS

troublesome and oppressive; burdensome The assignment was so extensive and difficult to manage that it proved ______ to the team in charge of it. All those research papers >.<

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Definition

OPAQUE

impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light The heavy buildup of dirt and grime on the windows almost made them ______. Sounds like you need a new maid....

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Definition

OPPROBRIUM

public disgrace After the scheme to embezzle the elderly was made public, the treasurer resigned in utter ______.

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Definition

OSTENTATION

excessive showiness The ______ of the Sun King's court is evident in the lavish decoration and luxuriousness of his palace at Versailles.

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Definition

PARADOX

a contradiction or dilemma It is a ______ that those most in need of medical

attention are often those least able to obtain it. Time warp continuum
Term Definition

PARAGON

model of excellence or perfection She is the ______ of what a judge should be: honest, intelligent, hardworking, and just. An Olympian!

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Definition

PEDANT

someone who shows off learning The graduate instructor's tedious and excessive commentary on the subject soon gained her a reputation as a ______. Know-it-all

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Definition

PERFIDIOUS

willing to betray one's trust The actress's ______ companion revealed all of her intimate secrets to the gossip columnist. The traitor

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Definition

PERFUNCTORY

done in a routine way; indifferent The machienelike bank teller processed the transaction and gave the waiting customer a ______ smile. Cashiers

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Definition

PERMEATE

to penetrate This miraculous new cleaning fluid is able to ______ stains and dissolve them in minutes!

Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean!
Term Definition

PHILANTHROPY

charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art owes much of its collection to the ______ of private collectors who willed their estates to the museum.

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Definition

PLACATE

to soothe or pacify The burglar tried to ______ the snarling dog by saying, "Nice doggy," and offering a treat.

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Definition

PLASTIC

able to be molded, altered, or bent The new material was very ______ and could be formed into products of vastly different shapes.

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Definition

PLETHORA

excess Assuming that more was better, the defendant offered the judge a ______ of excuses. You know what happens when you ass-u-me! :P

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Definition

PRAGMATIC

practical as opposed to idealistic While daydreaming gamblers think they can get rich by frequenting casinos, ______ gamblers realize that the odds are heavily stacked against them.

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Definition

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 ______ marriage to end in divorce. And here I thought we were talking about chemistry....
Term Definition

PREVARICATE

to lie or deviate from the truth Rather than admit that he had overslept again, the employee ______ and claimed that heavy traffic had prevented him from arriving at work on time. Big kid word for "fibbing!"

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Definition

PRISTINE

fresh and clean; uncorrupted Since concerted measuures had been taken to prevent looting, the archaeological site was still ______ when researchers arrived. Raise your hand if you thought of water!

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Definition

PRODIGAL

lavish, wasteful The PRODIGAL son quickly wasted all of his inheritance on a lavish lifestyle devoted to pleasure. Not to be confused with Prodigy...

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Definition

PROLIFERATE

to increase in number quickly Although she only kept two guinea pigs initially, they ______ to such an extent that she soon had dozens.

...like rabbits they are
Term Definition

PROPITIATE

to conciliate; to appease The management ______ the irate union by agreeing to raise wages for its members. "To make nice"

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Definition

PROPRIETY

correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs The aristocracy maintained a high level of ______, adhering to even the most minor social rules. Medieval politics, manners, & titles

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Definition

PRUDENCE

wisdom, caution, or restraint The college student exhibited ______ by obtaining practical experience along with her studies, which greatly strengthened her resume. But the real question is, "Did she get a job in her field?"

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Definition

PUNGENT

sharp and irritating to the senses The smoke from the burning tires was extremely ______ Rotten fish

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Definition

QUIESCENT

motionless Many animals are ______ over the winter months, minimizing activity in order to conserve energy.

Bears in torpor.
Term Definition

RAREFY

to make thinner or sparser Since the atmosphere ______ as altitudes increase, the air at the top of very tall mountains is too thin to breathe. Threatened => Endangered species

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Definition

REPUDIATE

to reject the validity of The old woman's claim that she was Russian royalty was ______ when DNA tests showed she was of no relation to them. Rejected.

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Definition

RETICENT

silent, reserved Physically small and ______ in her speech, Joan Didion often went unnoticed by those upon whom she was reporting. Alison Z!

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Definition

RHETORIC

effective writing or speaking Lincoln's talent for ______ was evident in his beautifully expressed Gettysburg Address.

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Definition

SATIATE

to satisfy fully or overindulge His desire for power was so great that nothing less than complete control of the country could ______ it.

too.much.food.
Term Definition

SOPORIFIC

causing sleep or lethargy The movie proved to be so ______ that soon loud snores were heard throughout the theater. Lectures by Mick W!

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Definition

SPECIOUS

deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious The student's ______ excuse for being late sounded legitimate but was proved otherwise when her teacher called her home. Half-truths

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Definition

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 ______ for her adultery. Easy A!

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Definition

STOLID

unemotional;lacking sensitivity The prisoner appeared ______ and unaffected by the judge's harsh sentence.

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Definition

SUBLIME

lofty or grand The music was so ______ that it transformed the rude surroundings into a special place.

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Definition

TACIT

done without using words Although not a word had been said, everyone in the room knew that a ______ agreement had been made about which course of action to take. That moment when you look at someone and have a conversation with your eyes.

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Definition

TACITURN

silent, not talkative The clerk's ______ nature earned him the nickname "Silent Bob." Can we fix it!? Yes we can! Bob the Builder....

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Definition

TIRADE

long harsh speech or verbal attack Observers were shocked at the manager's ______ over such a minor mistake. Angry attack!

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Definition

TORPOR

extreme mental and physical sluggishness After surgery, the patient experienced ______ until the anesthesia wore off. Bears!!

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Definition

TRANSITORY

temporary, lasting a brief time The reporter lived a ______ life, staying in one place only long enough to cover the current story. My current job....

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Definition

VACILLATE

to sway physically; to be indecisive

The customer held up the line as he ______ between ordering chocolate chip or rocky road ice cream.
Term Definition

VENERATE

to respect deeply In a traditional Confucian society, the young ______their elders, deferring to the elders' wisdom and experience.

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Definition

VERACITY

filled with truth and accuracy She had a reputation for ______, so everyone trusted her description of events.

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Definition

VERBOSE

wordy The professor's answer was so ______ that his student forgot what the original question had been. BEEN THERE!

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Definition

VEX

to annoy The old man who loved his peace and quiet was ______ by his neighbor's loud music.

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Definition

VOLATILE

easily aroused or changeable; lively or explosive His ______ personality mad it difficult to predict his reaction to anything. TRINITROTOLUENE!

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Definition

WAVER

to fluctuate between choices If you ______ too long before making a decision about which testing site to register for, you may not get your first choice.

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Definition

WHIMSICAL

acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable The ballet was ______, delighting the children with its imaginative characters and unpredictable sets. Tinker Bell :P

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Definition

ZEAL

passion, excitement She brought her typical ______ to the project, sparking enthusiasm in the other team members. DONE! :D

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