GRE Word List

Commonly Used GRE Words

abate	to lessen to subside
abdication	giving up control authority
aberration	straying away from what is normal
abet	help/encourage smb (in doing wrong)
abeyance	suspended action
abhor	to hate to detest
abide	be faithful to endure
abjure	promise or swear to give up
abraded	rubbed off worn away by friction
abrogate	repeal or annul by authority
abscond	to go away suddenly (to avoid arrest)
abstruse	difficult to comprehend obscure
abut	border on
abysmal	bottomless extreme
acarpous	effete no longer fertile worn out
acclaimed	welcomed with shouts and approval
accolade	praise approval
accretion	the growing of separate things into one
accrue	accumulate
adamant	kind of stone inflexible
admonitory	containing warning
adorn	add beauty decorate
adulteration	making unpure poorer in quality
affable	polite and friendly
affinity	close connection relationship
aggravate	make worse irritate
agile	active quick-moving
agog	eager/excited
ail	trouble be ill
alacrity	eager and cheerful readiness
alcove	recess/partially enclosed place
ale	fermented alcoholic beverage similar to but heavier than beer
aleck	one who considers himself smarter than others
allegiance	duty support loyalty
alleviate	make (pain) easier to bear
alloy	to debase by mixing with something inferior
aloof	reserved indifferent
amalgamate	mix combine unite societies
ambidextrous	able to use the left hand or the right equally well
ambiguous	doubtful uncertain
ambivalent	having both of two contrary meanings
ambrosial	extremely pleasing to taste
ameliorate	improve make better
amortize	end (a debt) by setting aside money
anguish	severe suffering
animosity	strong dislike
antidote	medicine used against a poison or a disease
antithetical	direct opposing
apartheid	brutal racial discrimination
aplomb	self-confidence
apostate	one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions
apotheosis	deification glorification to godliness
appease	make quiet or calm
apprehensive	grasping understanding fear unhappy feeling about future
apprise	give notice to inform
approbation	approval
apropos	appropriate to the situation apt
apt	well-suited quick-witted
arabesque	a complex ornate design
arboreal	of connected with trees
ardor	enthusiasm
arduous	steep difficult ascent laborious
argot	jargon slang
arrant	in the highest degree
arrogance	proud superior manner of behaviour
articulate	speak distinctly connect by joints
ascend	go or come up
ascertain	get to know
ascetic	practicing self-denial austere stark
ascribe	consider to be the origin of or belonging to
aseptic	surgically clean
asperity	roughness harshness ill temper irritability
aspersion	slander
assail	with attack violently
assiduous	diligent hard-working sedulous
assuage	make something (pain desire) less
asterisk	the mark * (e.g.. omitted letters)
astringent	substance that shrinks
astute	clever quick at seeing to get an advantage
atonement	repayment death of Jesus
attenuate	make thin. weaken enervate
attune	bring into harmony
audacious	daring foolishly bold impudent
augury	omen sign
august	majestic venerable
auspicious	favorable successful prosperous
austere	severely moral and strict simple and plain
auxiliary	helping supporting
aver	affirm assert prove justify
aversion	strong dislike
avid	eager greedy
avow	admit. Declare openly
baleful	harmful ominous causing evil
balk	obstacle purposely to get on the way of
baneful	causing harm or ruin pernicious destructive
barrage	artificial obstacle built across a river
barren	not good enough unable to have young ones without value
bask	in enjoy warmth and light
beatify	to bless make happy or ascribe a virtue to
bedizen	to adorn especially in a cheap showy manner
belabor	beat hard
bellicose	belligerent pugnacious warlike
belligerent	(person nation) waging war
benefactor	person who has given help
benevolence	wish or activity in doing good
benign	kind and gentle mild (climate)
bequest	arrangement to give something at death
berate	scold sharply
bereft	rob or dispossess of something (material)
bewilder	puzzle confuse
bigot	stubborn narrow-minded person
bilge	bulge the protuberance of a cask
blandishment	flattery coaxing
blandness	polite manner comforting uninteresting
blatant	noisy and rough
blithe	cheerful casual carefree
bogus	sham counterfeit not genuine
boisterous	loud noisy rough lacking restraint
bolster	give greatly needed support
boorish	crude offensive rude
brash	hasty rush cheeky saucy
brass	yellow metal (mixing copper and zinc)
brazen	made of brass
breach	opening broken place breaking
brittle	easily broken
broach	bring up announce begin to talk about
brook	to tolerate endure
buoyant	able to float light-hearted
burgeon	grow forth send out buds
burnish	to polish rub to a shine
cabal	a scheme or plot a group of plotters
cadge	to beg to get by begging
cajole	use flattery or deceit to persuade
calipers	metal supports attached to the legs measuring instrument
calumny	slander aspersion
candid	frank straight-forward
cant	insincere talk/jargon
cantankerous	bad-tempered/quarrelsome
canvass	discuss thoroughly sort of touting
castigate	to chastise correct by punishing
castigation	severe punishment
catalyst	substance that causes speeding up
caustic	biting sarcastic
censure	expression of blame or disapproval a rebuke
centurion	leader of a unit of 100 soldiers
chary	cautious wary
chastened	corrected punished
chastisement	punishment
chauvinist	a blindly devoted patriot
chicanery	legal trickery/false argument
chisel	steel tool for shaping materials
churl	bad-tempered person
clamor	shout complain with a lot of noise
clientele	customers
clinch	come to grips/settle conclusively
cling	to resist separation
clot	half-solid lump formed from liquid
cloture	closing device (in Parliament) to end a debate by voting
coagulation	change to a thick and solid state
coalescing	coming together and uniting into one substance
coax	get smb to do something by kindness
coda	passage that completes a piece of music
coddle	treat with care and tenderness
coerce	compel to force to make obedient
coeval	of the same period coexisting
cogent	strong convincing
cogitate	think deeply mediate
cognizant	being fully aware of
cohort	a group or band of people
colander	bowl-shaped vessel with many holes used to drain off water
collusion	secret agreement for a deceitful purpose
combustion	process of burning
commemorate	keep the memory of
commodious	having plenty of space for what is needed
commuter	person who travels regularly
complaisance	tending to comply obliging willingness to please
compunction	feeling of regret for one's action
conceal	hide keep secret
conceit	over-high opinion of too much pride
conciliatory	reconciling soothing comforting mollifying
concord	agreement or harmony
concur	agree in opinion happen together
condense	increase in density strength make laconic
Conduce	To bring about
condone	forgive
congeal	make or become stiff and solid
conjoin	to join together
connoisseur	a person with good judgement (e.g.. in art)
connotation	suggestion in addition to
consequential	pompous self important
console	give comfort or sympathy to
conspicuous	easily seen remarkable
consternation	surprise and fear dismay
constrain	compel
constrict	make tight or smaller
consume	get to the end of
consummate	perfect/make perfect/complete
contemn	to scorn or despise
contentious	argumentative pugnacious combative quarrelsome
contiguous	touching neighboring near
contrite	filled with deep sorrow for wrongdoing
contumacious	insubordinate rebellious
conundrum	a riddle dilemma enigma
conviction	convincing firm belief
convoke	call together summon
convoluted	complicated coiled twisted
cordial	warm and sincere
cordon	line (of police acting as a guard)
cornucopia	abundant supply
corporeal	physical of or for the body
correlate	have a mutual relation
corroboration	additional strengthening evidence
countenance	to favor or approve of
counterfeit	forgery
countervail	counterbalance
covert	disguised
covetous	eagerly desirous
cower	crouch shrink back
coy	shy/modest (esp of a girl)
crass	very great (es. stupidity)
cravat	piece of linen worn as a necktie
craven	cowardly
crease	line made by crushing white line on the ground in cricket
credulity	too great a readiness to believe things
credulous	ready to believe things
crush	press lose shape subdue overwhelm
cryptic	secret with a hidden meaning
cumbersome	burdensome heavy and awkward to carry
curmudgeon	bad-tempered person
curriculum	course of study
cursory	quick hurried
curtail	make shorter then was planned
dainty	pretty/delicate(food)/difficult to please
daunt	intimidate make fearful
dawdler	person who is slow waste of time
dearth	shortage
debacle	a breakup overthrow sudden disaster
decorum	propriety properness
decree	order given by authority
decry	disapprove of
defer	postpone give way (to show respect)
deferential	showing respect
defiance	open disobedience or resistance
delineate	to portray depict sketch out
deluge	great flood heavy rush of water
demagogue	person appealing not to reasons
demur	to hesitate raise objections
denigrate	blacken belittle sully defame
denouement	an outcome or solution the unraveling of a plot
deplete	use until none remains
deposition	dethronement depositing
deprave	make morally bad corrupt
deprecate	protest against express disapproval of
dereliction	deserting and leaving to fall into ruins
derision	ridicule mockery deriding
derivative	unoriginal obtained from another source
derogatory	insulting tending to damage
descry	catch sight of see something in the distance
desiccant	substance used to absorb moisture
desuetude	cessation of use disuse
desultory	aimless haphazard digressing at random
deter	discourage hinder
detraction	slandering verbal attack aspersion
detumescence	diminishing or lessening of swelling
deviance	being different in moral standards (from normal)
dexterity	skill (esp. in handling)
diaphanous	transparent gauzy
diatribe	bitter and violent attack in words
didactic	intended to instruct
diffidence	shyness
dilate	speak comprehensively become wider large
disallow	refuse to allow or accept as a correct
discern	see with an effort but clearly
discomfit	confuse embarrass
disconcert	upset the self-possession of
discountenance	refuse to approve of
discourse	speech lecture
discredit	refuse to believe
discreet	careful/prudent
discrete	individually distinct
disdain	look on with contempt
disencumber	free from encumbrance
disheveled	untidy
disingenuous	sophisticated artful trying to deceive cunning
disinter	dig up from the earth
dislodge	move force from the place occupied
dismal	sad gloomy miserable
disparate	essentially different
disproof	proof to the contrary
dissemble	speak or behave so as to hide something (in mind)
disseminate	distribute (esp. ideas)
dissent	have a different opinion refuse to assent
dissolution	disintegration looseness in morals
distraught	distracted violently upset in mind
divergence	getting farther apart from a point
divestiture	taking off getting rid of giving up
divulge	make known something secret
doggerel	trivial poorly constructed verse
dogmatic	positive certain arbitrary without room for discussion
dolt	stupid fellow
dormant	in a state of inactivity but awaiting development
dote	show much fondness center one's attention
drawl	slow way of speaking
droll	jesting
drone	male bee person who isn't self-employed
drowsiness	feeling sleepy half asleep
dubious	feeling doubt
dud	no use person something that fails
dulcet	melodious harmonious
dupe	cheat make a fool of
duplicity	deliberate deception
duress	threats to compel smb
dwarf	person or smb much below the usual size
dynamo	a generator something that produces electric current
earthenware	dishes made of baked clay
ebullience	exuberance outburst of feeling
ebullient	overflowing with enthusiasm showing excitement
ecumenical	representing the whole Christian world
edacious	voracious devouring
eddy	circular or spiral movement (e.g.. of wind)
edible	fit to be eaten/not poisonous
effete	infertile worn out weak
efficacy	production of a desired result
effluvia	outflow in a stream of particles a noxious odor or vapor
effrontery	boldness impudence arrogance
egress	way out exit
elaborate	worked out with much care in great detail
elegy	a lament a melancholy composition
elicit	draw out
eloquence	fluent speaking skillful use of language
emaciate	make thin and weak
embellish	make beautiful
embezzle	use in a wrong way for one's own benefit
emote	stir up excite
empirical	relying on experiment
encapsulate	enclose in capsule
encomium	warm or glowing praise eulogy panegyric
encumbrance	burden things that get on the way of
endearing	making dear or liked
endemic	epidemic
epiphany	A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.
endorse	write one's name on the back of
enduring	lasting
enervate	weaken deprive of strength attenuate
engender	cause produce give rise to
engrave	impress deeply
engrossing	taken up all the time or attention writing in large or formal
engulf	swallow up
enigma	something that is puzzling
enmity	hatred being an enemy
ensign	flag/badge
entangle	put into difficulties
enthral	please greatly/enslave (fig)
entice	tempt or persuade
entreat	ask earnestly
enunciate	pronounce (words)/express a theory
enzyme	catalyst
epicurean	devoted to pleasure (sensuous enjoyment)
epistle	letter
epithet	adjective
epitome	brief summary representative example a typical model
equable	steady regular
equanimity	calmness of temperament
equilibrium	state of being balanced
equipoise	equal distribution of weight equilibrium
equivocal	having a double or doubtful meaning suspicious
equivocate	try to deceive by equivocal language
eradicate	get rid of pull up by the roots
erratic	irregular in behaviour or opinion
erudite	learned scholarly
eschew	avoid
esoteric	abstruse intended only for a small circle of
espouse	marry give one's support to
eulogy	formal praise panegyric
euphoria	elation state of pleasant excitement
euthanasia	easy and painless death
evasive	tending to evade
evince	to show clearly to indicate
evoke	call up bring out
excoriation	severe criticism
exculpate	to clear from a charge of guilt
exhaustive	complete thorough
exigency	emergency an urgent situation
exoneration	set smb clear free (e.g.. from blame)
exorbitant	much too high or great
expatiate	to roam wander freely
expedient	likely to be useful for a purpose
expiation	ending expiring
exploit	brilliant achievement develop use selfishly
expostulate	argue earnestly to dissuade correct or protest
expurgate	to remove obscenity purify censor
exscind	to cut out cut away
extant	still in existence
extempore	without previous thought or preparation
extenuate	reduce the strength of lessen seriousness partially excuse
extinct	no longer active
extinguish	end the existence of/wipe or put out
extirpate	to destroy exterminate cut out exscind
extol	praise highly
extort	obtain by threats violence
extralegal	outside the law
extricable	that can be freed
extrovert	cheerful person
exuberance	state of growing vigorously being full of life
facetious	humorous funny jocular
facile	easily done
fagged	too tired, exhausted
fallacious	based on error
falter	waver/move in an uncertain manner
fatuous	without sense foolish self-satisfaction
fawn	young deer try to win smb's favor
feckless	lacking purpose or vitality ineffective careless
fecund	fertile
feint	pretend
felicitous	apt suitably expressed well chosen apropos
felon	person guilty of murder
ferment	substance become excited
ferocity	savage cruelty
ferret	discover by searching search
fervid	showing earnest feeling
fervor	warmth of feelings earnestness
fetid	stinking
fetter	to shackle put in chains
feud	bitter quarrel over a long period of time
fidelity	loyalty accuracy
fidget	move restlessly make nervous
figurehead	carved image on the prow of a ship
finesse	delicate way of dealing with a situation
finical	too fussy about food clothing etc.
finicky	finical
fission	splitting or division (esp. of cells)
fixate	stare at
flak	criticism/anti-aircraft guns
flamboyant	brightly colored florid
flaunting	show off complacently
flax	pale yellow (hair) a plant
fledged	able to fly trained experienced
fleet	number of ships quick-moving
flinch	draw move back wince
flop	fail/move/fall clumsily
florid	very much ornamented naturally red (e.g.. of face)
flout	reject mock to go against (as in going against tradition)
fluke	lucky stroke
fluster	make nervous or confused
foible	defect of character (a person is wrongly proud)
foil	prevent from carrying out contrast
foment	put something warm (to lessen the pain)
foolproof	incapable of failure or error
foppish	like a man who pays too much attention to his clothes
forage	food for horses and cattle
forbear	refrain from be patient ancestor
forbearance	patience willingness to wait
ford	shallow place in a river (to cross)
forestall	prevent by taking action in advance preempt
forfeit	suffer the loss of something
forge	workshop for the shaping of metal to shape metal lead
forgery	counterfeit
forswear	renounce disallow repudiate
foster	nurture care for
fracas	noisy quarrel
fragile	easily injured broken or destroyed
fragrant	sweet-smelling
frantic	wildly excited with joy pain anxiety
frenetic	frantic frenzied
fret	worry irritation wear away
fringe	edge ornamental border part of hair over the forehead
froward	intractable not willing to yield or comply stubborn
frugal	careful economical
fulmination	bitter protest
fulsome	disgusting offensive due to excessiveness
gainsay	to deny to oppose
garble	make unfair selection from facts
garner	to gather and save to store up
garrulity	talkativeness
garrulous	too talkative
gaucherie	socially awkward tactless behavior
germane	relevant pertinent to
gist	the point general sense
glean	gather facts in small quantities
glib	ready and smooth but not sincere
glimmer	weak/unsteady light
gloat	over look at with selfish delight
glut	supply to much fill to excess
gnaw	waste away bite steadily
goad	something urging a person to action
gorge	eat greedily/narrow opening with a stream
gossamer	soft light delicate material
gouge	tool for cutting grooves in wood
gourmand	a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess
grandiloquent	using pompous words
grave	serious requiring consideration
graze	touch or scrape lightly in passing
gregarious	living in societies liking the company
grievous	causing grief or pain serious dire grave
grovel	crawl humble oneself
guile	deceit cunning
gullible	easily gulled
gush	burst out suddenly/talk ardently
gust	outburst of feeling sudden rain wind fire etc.
hack	cut roughly hired horse
halcyon	calm and peaceful
hallow	to make holy consecrate
harangue	a long passionate speech
harbinger	something or smb that foretells the coming of
harrow	to distress create stress or torment
haughty	arrogant conceited
heed	attention/give notice to
heinous	odious (of crime)
heresy	belief contrary to what is generally accepted
hermetic	sealed by fusion
heterogeneous	made up of different kinds
hew	make by hard work cut (by striking)
highbrow	(person) with superior tastes
hirsute	hairy shaggy
hoax	mischievous trick played on smb for a joke
hoi	polloi the masses the rabble
hollow	not soled with hole
holster	leather case for a pistol
homiletics	act of preaching
hone	stone used for sharpening tools
hoodwink	trick mislead
hospitable	liking to give hospitality
hubris	arrogant pride
hush	make or become silent
husk	worthless outside part of anything
hypocrisy	falsely making oneself appear to be good
iconoclast	person who attacks popular beliefs
idiosyncrasy	personal mannerism
idolatry	excessive admiration of
idyll	a carefree episode or experience
ignoble	dishonorable common undignified
ignominious	shameful dishonorable undignified disgraceful
illicit	unlawful forbidden
imbroglio	complicated and embarrassing situation
immaculate	pure faultless
imminent	likely to come or happen soon
immutable	that cannot be changed
impair	worsen diminish in value
impassive	unmoved feeling no sign of passion
impecunious	having little or no money
impede	hinder get in the way of
impediment	something that hinders (e.g. stammer)
impending	imminent being about to happen expected
imperative	urgent essential
imperious	commanding haughty arrogant
impermeable	that cannot be permeated
imperturbable	calm not capable of being excited
impervious	not allowing to pass through (of materials)
imperviousness	haughty arrogant commanding
impetuous	having sudden energy impulsive thrusting ahead forceful
impiety	lack of reverence or dutifulness
implacable	incapable of being placated unpleasable
implicate	show that smb has a share
implicit	implied though not plainly expressed
implosion	collapse bursting inward
importune	beg urgently solicit (of a prostitute)
imprecation	an invocation of evil a curse
impromptu	without preparation
impudent	rash indiscreet
impugned	challenged to be doubted
impute	to attribute to a cause or source ascribe
inadvertent	not paying proper attention
inane	silly senseless
inasmuch	since because
incense	make angry
incessant	often repeated continual
inchoate	not yet fully formed rudimentary elementary
incipient	beginning
incise	engrave make a cut in
incite	stir up rouse
inclined	directing the mind in a certain direction
incongruous	out of place not in harmony or agreement
incorrigibility	cannot be cured or corrected
incredulous	skeptical unwilling to believe
inculcate	fix firmly by repetition
incumbents	official duties
incursion	a raid a sudden attack
indefatigability	not easily exhaustible tirelessness
indelible	that cannot be rubbed out
indigence	poverty
indigenous	native
indistinct	not easily heard seen clearly marked
indolence	laziness
indomitable	not easily discouraged or subdued
indulge	gratify give way to satisfy allow oneself
indulgent	inclined to indulge
ineffable	to great to be described in words
ineluctable	certain inevitable
inept	unskillful said or done at the wrong time
ineptitude	quality of being unskillful
inferno	hell
infuriate	fill with fury or rage
infuse	put pour fill
ingenuous	naive young artless frank honest sincere
ingest	take in by swallowing
inimical	harmful or friendly
inimitable	defying imitation unmatchable
innocuous	causing no harm
inscrutable	incapable of being discovered or understood
insensible	unconscious unresponsive unaffected
insinuate	suggest unpleasantly make a way for something gently
insipid	without taste or flavor
insouciant	unconcerned carefree
insularity	narrow-mindedness isolated
insurrection	rising of people to open resistance to
interdict	prohibit forbid
interim	as an installment
intersperse	place here and there
intransigence	unwillingness to compromise stubbornness intractability
intransigent	uncompromising
intrepid	fearless brave undaunted
introspection	examining one's own thoughts and feelings
inundate	flood cover by overflowing
inured	accustomed to adapted
invective	abusive language curses
inveigh	to attack verbally denounce deprecate
inveterate	deep-rooted. long-established
invincible	too strong to be defeated
involute	complex
irascible	irritable easily angered
irate	angry
ire	anger
irksome	tiresome
irresolute	hesitating undecided
irrevocable	final and unalterable
itinerate	to travel from place to place to peregrinate
jabber	talk excitedly utter rapidly
jagged	notched, rough
jibe	gibe make fun of
jocular	meant as a joke
judicious	sound in judgment wise
knit	draw together unite firmly
labyrinthine	to entangle the state of affairs
lachrymose	causing tears tearful
lackluster	(of eyes) dull
lament	show feel great sorrow
lassitude	weariness tiredness
latent	present but not yet active developed or visible
laudatory	expressing or giving praise
lavish	giving or producing freely liberally or generously
legacy	something handed down from ancestors
levee	formal reception/embankment
levity	lack of seriousness
libel	statement that damages reputation
liberality	free giving generosity
libertine	immoral person
lien	legal claim until a debt on it is repaid
limn	paint portray
limp	lacking strength walking unevenly
lionize	treat as a famous person
lithe	bending twisting
loll	rest to sit or stand in a lazy way hang (dog's tongue)
lope	move along with long strides
loquacious	talkative garrulous
lucubrate	write in scholarly fashion
luculent	easily understood lucid clear
lugubrious	mournful excessively sad
lull	become quiet or less active
lumber	move in a clumsy/noisy way
luminary	star light-giving body
lurk	be out of view ready to attack
lustrous	being bright polished
macabre	gruesome suggesting death
macerate	make or become soft by soaking in water
machination	plot scheme (esp. evil)
maladroit	tactless clumsy
malapropism	misuse of a word (for one that resembles it)
malevolence	wishing to do evil
malign	injurious speak ill of smb tell lie
malinger	to fake illness or injury in order to shirk a duty
malleable	yielding easily shaped moldable adapting
manacle	chains for the hands or feet
massacre	cruel killing of a large number of people
matriculation	be admitted enter a university as a student
maudlin	sentimental in a silly or tearful way
maul	hurt by rough handling
maverick	rebel nonconformist
mellifluous	sweetly flowing
mendacity	dishonesty
mendicant	a beggar
mercurial	quick changeable in character fleeting
meretricious	attractive on the surface but of little value
mesmerize	hypnotize
meticulous	giving great attention to details
mettle	quality of endurance or courage
mettlesome	courageous high-spirited
middling	fairly good but not very good
minatory	menacing threatening
mince	pronounce or speak affectedly euphemize
misanthrope	person who hates mankind
mischievous	harmful causing mischief
miser	person who loves wealth and spends little
misogynist	one who hates women/females
mite	Avery small amount, portion, or particle
moderation	quality of being limited not extreme
mollify	make calmer or quieter
molt	moult lose hair feathers before new growing
morbid	diseased unhealthy (e.g.. about ideas)
morose	ill-tempered unsocial
muffler	cloth worn round the neck/silencer
multifarious	varied motley greatly diversified
mundane	worldly as opposed to spiritual commonplace everyday
myriad	very great number
nadir	lowest weakest point
nascent	coming into existence emerging
nebulous	cloud-like hazy vague indistinct
negligent	taking too little care
neophyte	person who has been converted to a belief
nexus	a connection tie or link
nibble	show some inclination to accept (an offer)
noisome	offensive disgusting (smell)
nonchalant	not having interest
nonplused	greatly surprised
nostrum	a quack remedy an untested cure
noxious	harmful
nugatory	trifling/worthless
obdurate	hardened and unrepenting stubborn inflexible
obfuscate	to darken make obscure muddle
oblivious	unaware having no memory
obloquy	abusively detractive language sharp criticism vituperation
obsequious	too eager to obey or serve
obstreperous	noisy loud
obtain	to be established accepted or customary
obtrusive	projecting prominent undesirably noticeable
obtuse	blunt/stupid
obviate	to make unnecessary get rid of
occluded	blocked up
odious	repulsive hateful
odium	contempt dislike aversion
odor	smell favor reputation
officious	too eager or ready to help offer advice
ominous	threatening
onerous	needing effort burdensome
opaqueness	dullness/not allowing light to pass through
opprobrious	showing scorn or reproach
ossify	to turn to bone to settle rigidly into an idea
ostensible	seeming appearing as such professed
ostentation	display to obtain admiration or envy
ostracism	shut out from society refuse to meet talk
overhaul	examine thoroughly to learn about the condition
overweening	presumptuously arrogant overbearing immoderate being a jerk
paean	song of praise or triumph
palate	roof of the mouth sense of taste
palatial	magnificent
palliate	lessen the severity of
palpability	can be felt touched understood
palpitate	tremble beat rapidly and irregularly
panegyric	formal praise eulogy
paradigm	a model example or pattern
parenthesis	sentence within another one something separated
pariah	an outcast a rejected and despised person
parley	negotiation, discussion between enemies
parsimonious	too economical miserly
partisan	one-sided committed to a party biased or prejudiced
patron	regular customer person who gives support
paucity	scarcity a lacking of
peccadillo	small sin small weakness in one's character
pedantic	bookish showing off learning
pedestrian	commonplace trite unremarkable
pellucid	transparent easy to understand
penchant	strong inclination a liking
penitent	feeling or showing regret
penurious	poor/stingy
penury	extreme poverty
peregrination	traveling about wandering
peremptory	urgent imperative unchallengeable ending debate
perfidious	treacherous faithless
perfidy	treachery breaking of faith
perfunctory	done as a duty without care
perilous	dangerous
peripatetic	wandering
perish	be destroyed decay
perjury	willful FALSE statement unlawful act
permeate	spread into every part of
pernicious	harmful injurious
perpetrate	be guilty commit (a crime)
personable	pleasing in appearance attractive
perspicacity	quick judging and understanding
pertain	belong as a part have reference
pest	destructive thing or a person who is nuisance
petrified	taken away power (to think feel act)
petrify	to make hard rocklike
petrous	like a rock hard stony
petulant	unreasonably impatient
philistine	a smug ignorant person one who lacks knowledge
phlegmatic	calm sluggish temperament unemotional
picaresque	involving clever rogues or adventurers
pied	of mixed colors
pinch	be too tight take between the thumb and finger
pine	waste away through sorrow or illness
pious	dutiful to parents devoted to religion
piquant	agreeably pungent stimulating
pique	hurt the pride or self-respect stir (curiosity)
pitfall	covered hole as a trap unsuspected danger
pith	essential part force soft liquid substance
pivotal	of great importance (others depend on it)
placate	soothe pacify calm
plaintive	mournful melancholy sorrowful
plaque	flat metal on a wall as a memorial
platitude	a trite or banal statement unoriginality
plea	request
plead	address a court of law as an advocate
plethora	glut
pliant	pliable easily bent shaped or twisted
plod	continue doing something without resting
pluck	pull the feathers off pick (e.g.. flowers)
plumb	get to the root of
plummet	fall plunge steeply
plunge	move quickly suddenly and with force
poignant	deeply moving keen
poncho	large piece of cloth
ponderous	heavy bulky dull
portent	omen marvelous threatening
precarious	uncertain risky dangerous
precepts	rules establishing standards of conduct
preclude	prevent make impossible
precursory	preliminary anticipating
predilection	special liking mental preference
predominate	have more power than others
preen	tidy/show self-satisfaction
premature	doing or happening something before the right time
preponderance	greatness in number strength weight
presage	warning sign
presumption	arrogance
preternatural	not normal or usual
prevalent	common
prevaricate	to equivocate to stray from the truth
prim	neat formal
pristine	primitive unspoiled pure as in earlier times unadulterated
probity	uprightness incorruptibility principle
proclivity	inclination
procrastination	keeping on putting off
prodigal	wasteful reckless with money
prodigious	enormous wonderful
profane	worldly having contempt for God
profligacy	shameless immorality
profligate	wasteful prodigal licentious extravagant
profundity	depth
profuse	abundant/lavish
proliferate	grow reproduce by rapid multification
prolix	tiring because too long
prone	prostrate inclined to (undesirable things)
propagation	increasing the number spreading extending
propinquity	nearness in time or place affinity of nature
propitiatory	conciliatory appeasing mitigating
propitious	auspicious presenting favorable circumstances
prosaic	everyday mundane commonplace trite pedestrian
proscribe	denounce as dangerous
protracted	prolonged
provident	frugal looking to the future
provisional	of the present time only
provoke	make angry vax
prudence	careful forethought
prudish	easily shocked excessively modest
prune	dried plum silly person
pry	get something inquire too curiously
pucker	wrinkle
pugnacious	fond of in the habit of fighting
puissance	strength
punctilious	precise paying attention to trivialities
pundit	pedant authority on a subject
pungency	sharpness stinging quality
purvey	provide supply
pusillanimous	cowardly craven
putrefaction	becoming rotten
pyre	large pile of wood for burning
quack	person dishonestly claiming to something
quaff	drink deeply
quail	lose courage turn frightened
qualm	feeling of doubt temporary feeling of sickness
quandary	state of doubt or perplexity
quell	suppress subdue
quibble	try to avoid by sophistication
quiescence	state of being passive/motionless
quiescent	at rest dormant torpid
quirk	habit or action peculiar to smb or something
quixotic	generous unselfish
quotidian	banal everyday
rabble	mob crowd the lower classes of populace
raconteur	person who tells anecdotes
raffish	low vulgar base tawdry
ramify	to be divided or subdivided to branch out
rancorous	feeling bitterness spitefulness
rant	use extravagant language
rapacious	greedy (esp for money)
rarefy	to make thin to make less dense to purify or refine
rave	act with excessive enthusiasm
reactionary	opposing progress
rebuff	snub
recalcitrant	disobedient
recant	take back as being FALSE give up
recast	cast or fashion anew
recidivism	relapse into antisocial or criminal behavior
reciprocity	granting of privileges in return for similar
recitals	a number of performance of music
recluse	person who lives alone and avoids people
recompense	make payment to reward punish
reconcile	settle a quarrel restore peace
recondite	little known abstruse
recreancy	cowardice a cowardly giving up
recuperate	become strong after illness loss exhaustion
redeem	get back by payment compensate
redoubtable	formidable causing fear
refine	make or become pure cultural
refractory	stubborn unmanageable untractable
refulgent	shining brilliant
regale	to delight or entertain to feast
regicide	crime of killing a king
reiterate	say or do again several times
rejuvenation	becoming young in nature or appearance
relapse	fall back again
reminiscent	viewing the past
remonstrate	to protest object
render	deliver provide represent
renovate	restore something to better condition
renowned	celebrated famous
repast	meal
repel	refuse to accept/cause dislike
repine	at be discontented with
reproach	scold upbraid
reprobate	person hardened in sin one devoid of decency
repudiate	disown refuse to accept or pay
repulsive	causing a feeling of disgust
requite	repay give in return
rescind	repeal/annul/cancel
resigned	unresisting submissive
resilience	quality of quickly recovering the original shape
resort	to frequently visit
restive	refusing to move reluctant to be controlled
resuscitation	coming back to consciousness
retard	check hinder
reticent	reserved untalkative silent taciturn
retrospective	Looking back on past
revere	have deep respect for
reverent	feeling or showing deep respect
riddle	puzzling person or thing
rift	split crack dissension
rivet	fix take up secure metal pin
roll	call calling of names
rotund	rich and deep plump and round
ruffian	violent cruel man
rumple	make rough
sagacious	having sound judgment perceptive wise like a sage
salacious	obscene
salubrious	healthful
salutary	remedial wholesome causing improvement
sanctimony	self-righteousness hypocritical with FALSE piety
sanction	approval (by authority) penalty
sanguine	cheerful confident optimistic
sanity	health of mind soundness of judgment
sash	long strip worn round the waist
satiate	satisfy fully
saturnine	gloomy dark sullen morose
savant	person of great learning
savor	taste flavor something
sawdust	tiny bits of wood
scabbard	sheath for the blade
scent	smell (especially pleasant)
scorch	become discolored/dry up/go at high speed
scribble	write hastily
scurvy	mean contemptible
secular	material (not spiritual) living outside monasteries
sedulous	persevering
seminal	like a seed constituting a source originative
sententious	short and pithy full of maxims/proverbs
sequence	succession connected line of
sere	make hard and without feeling
sermon	reproving a person for his faults
serrated	having a toothed edge
serration	having a toothed edge
servile	like a slave lacking independence
sever	break off
severance	severing
shallow	little depth not earnest
shard	piece of broken earthenware
sheath	cover for the blade of a weapon or a tool
shrewd	astute showing sound judgement
shrill	sharp piercing
shun	keep away from avoid
shunt	send from one track to another lay aside evade discussion
sidestep	step to one side
simper	(give a) silly/self-conscious smile
sinuous	winding undulating serpentine
skiff	small boat
skit	short piece of humorous writing
slack	sluggish dull not tight
slake	to assuage to satisfy allay
slate	king of blue-grey stone propose criticize
sluggard	lazy slow-moving person
slur	join sounds/words (indistinct)
smolder	burn slowly without flame
snare	trap
snub	treat with contempt
soar	rise fly high
sober	self-controlled
sobriety	quality or condition of being sober
sodden	soaked saturated
soggy	heavy with water
solvent	of the power of forming a solution
somatic	of the body
soot	black powder in smoke
sophisticated	complex subtle refined
sophistry	fallacious reasoning faulty logic
sophomoric	self-assured though immature affected bombastic overblown
soporific	producing sleep
sordid	wretched comfortless contemptible
spear	weapon with a metal point on a long shaft
specious	illogical of questionable truth or merit
splenetic	bad-tempered irritable
splice	join (two ends)
sponge	porous rubber for washing live at once expense
spurious	FALSE counterfeit
spurn	have nothing to do reject or refuse
squalid	foul filthy
squander	spend wastefully
squat	crouch/settle without permission
stanch	to stop the flow of a fluid
steeply	rising or falling sharply
stentorian	extremely loud and powerful
stickler	person who insists on importance of something
stigma	mark of shame or disgrace
stigmatize	describe smb scornfully
sting	something sharp
stingy	spending using unwillingly
stint	to be thrifty to set limits
stipple	paint with dots
stipulate	state or put forward as a necessary condition
stolid	showing no emotion impassive
stray	wander lose one's way
streak	long thin move very fast
striated	striped grooved or banded
stride	walk with long steps
strut	a supporting bar
stygian	hence dark gloomy
stymie	to hinder obstruct or block
subdue	overcome bring under control
sublime	extreme astounding
submerge	put under water liquid sink out of sight
suborn	induce by bribery or something to commit perjury
subpoena	written order requiring a person to appear in a low court
substantiation	giving facts to support (statement)
subsume	include under a rule
succor	assistance relief in time of distress
suffice	be enough
suffocate	cause or have difficulty in breathing
sullied	to be stained or discredited
summarily	briefly without delay
sumptuous	magnificent
sundry	various miscellaneous separate
supercilious	disdainful characterized by haughty scorn
superfluous	more then is needed or wanted
superimpose	put something on the top
supersede	take the place of
supine	lying on the back slow to act passive
suppliant	asking humbly beseeching
supplicate	make a humble petition to
suppress	prevent from being known put an end to
surcharge	additional load/charge
surfeit	satiate feed to fulness or to excess
susceptibility	sensitiveness
swerve	change direction suddenly
sycophant	person who flatter to the rich and powerful
synopsis	summary or outline
taciturn	untalkative silent
tadpole	form of a frog when it leaves the egg
talon	claw of a bird of prey
tamp	tap or drive down by repeated light blows
tamper	interfere with
tangential	suddenly changeable
tarnished	lost brightness
tassel	bunch of threads
taunt	contemptuous reproach hurtful remark
taut	tightly stretched
tautology	a repetition a redundancy
tawdry	cheap gaudy showy tacky
teetotal	oppose to alcohol
telltale	That gives warning or information
temerity	boldness brashness intrepidness
temperance	abstinence from alcohol self-control moderation
temperate	showing self-control
tenacity	firmness persistency adhesiveness tending to hang on
tenuous	insubstantial flimsy weak
tepid	lukewarm
terse	brief and to the point
testiness	witness/evidence
thrift	care economy thriving prosperous
thwart	obstruct/frustrate
timid	shy easily frightened
timorous	fearful timid afraid
toady	obsequious flatterer
tonic	something giving strength or energy
topple	be unsteady and overturn
torment	severe pain or suffering
torpid	sleeping sluggish lethargic dormant
torque	twisting force causing rotation
tortuous	devious/not straightforward
tout	person who worries others to buy something to use his service
tractable	easily controlled or guided
transgress	break go beyond (a limit)
transient	temporary fleeting
transitory	brief
travesty	parody/imitation
trenchant	forceful effective vigorous extremely perceptive incisive
trepidation	alarm excited state of mind
trickle	flow in drops
trifling	unimportant
trite	not new
truce	(agreement) stop of fighting for a time
truculence	aggressiveness ferocity
trudge	walk heavily
turbid	muddy having the sediment stirred up
turbulence	being uncontrolled violent
turgid	excessively ornate swollen or bloated
turmoil	trouble disturbance
turpitude	wickedness shamefulness
turquoise	greenish-blue precious stone
tyro	tiro beginner
ubiquitous	present everywhere
ulterior	situated beyond
umbrage	offense resentment
uncouth	rough awkward
underbid	make a lower bid then smb else
undermine	weaken gradually at the base make something under
undulate	to move in wavelike fashion fluctuate
unearth	discover and bring to light
unencumbered	easy-going trifle
unfeigned	not pretended sincere
unscathed	unharmed unhurt
untoward	unfortunate inconvenient
upbraid	scold reproach
urbane	elegant refined in manners
vacillation	being uncertain hesitating
vagary	strange act or idea
vain	without use result conceited
valiant	brave
valorous	brave
vanquish	conquer
variegate	To mark with different shade or colors
veer	change direction
venal	ready to do something dishonest
veneer	surface appearance covering the TRUE nature
veneration	regard with deep respect
veracity	truth
verdant	fresh and green
verisimilitude	appearing TRUE or real
veritable	real rightly named
verve	spirit vigor enthusiasm
vestige	trace or sign
vex	annoy distress trouble
vigilance	watchfulness self-appointed group who maintain order
vigilant	member of a vigilance committee
vigorous	strong energetic
vilify	slander say evil things
vindictive	having a desire to revenge
virago	a loud domineering woman a scold or nag
visceral	of the internal organs of the body
viscous	sticky/semi-fluid
vitiate	lower the quality weaken the strength
vituperate	curse abuse in words
vivacious	lively high-spirited
volatile	changeable inconstant fickle unstable explosive
volubility	fluency verbosity easy use of spoken language
voluble	fluent
waffle	talk vaguely and without much result
waft	scent waving movement carry lightly through
wag	merry person
warmonger	person who stirs up war
warrant	authority written order guarantee
wean	to turn away (from a habit)
weigh	measure hoe heavy something is
welter	turmoil a bewildering jumble
wend	to go proceed
whimsical	full of odd and fanciful ideas
wince	show bodily or mental pain
woo	try to win
writ	written order
xenophile (zen-uh-fahyl)	a person who is attracted to foreign peoples, cultures, or customs
yarn	tale story fibers for knitting