Vocabulary List 1-250

Banal

ordinary

adj. drearily commonplace and often predictable

syn. unoriginal, trites, hackneyed

ant. new, fresh, original

Tardiness

lateness

n. not on schedule

syn. lateness

ant. punctuality

Lucid

clear

adj. easily understood, clear, intelligible

syn. understandable, rational

ant. incomprehensible, insane

Divergence

difference

n. a drawing apart; difference

syn. deviation, disparity, incongruity

ant. correspondence, similarity, uniformity

Ambiguous

uncertain

adj. open to various interpretations, uncertain

syn. equivocal, inexplicable, recondite

ant. comprehensible

Insinuate

imply

v. to convery a thought insidiously, suggest

Enigmatic

mysterious

adj. hard to explain, puzzling

syn. baffling, mysterious, inexplicable

ant. intelligible, unambiguous

Disconcert

upset

v. to distress or perturb mentally or emotionally

syn. upset, annoy, disquiet

ant. pacify, comfort

Virulent

hostile

adj. bitterly hostile or violent

syn. spiteful, hateful

ant. well-disposed

Advocacy

support

n. act of supporting, pleading for, or recommending

syn. support

ant. obstruction

Dissonance

disagreement

n. discord of sounds or ideas

syn. disharmony, disagreement, conflict, contention

ant. accord, harmony

Hackneyed

cliche

adj. commonplace, worn-out expressions or ideas

syn. cliche, unoriginal, trite, stale, banal

ant. fresh, creative

Extricate

free

v. to release from an entanglement or difficulty

syn. disengage, free, release

ant. imprison, confine, enslave

Notoriety

infamy

n. not favorably well known, negative publicity, ill fame

syn. infamy, opprobrium, obloquy

ant. renown, repute, honor

Pretentious

obnoxious

adj. full of claims to greater excellence or importance than the truth warrants

syn. snobby, haughty, supercilious

ant. humble, unaffected

Desolate

lifeless

adj. devoid of inhabitants, lifeless

syn. bleak, barren, gloomy, deserted

ant. animated, lively

Fickle

shallow

adj. likely to change

syn. inconstant, capricious

ant. predictable, constant

Rescind

take back

v. to take back; to make void or annul

syn. cancel,, nullify, vitiate

ant. validate, affirm

Impede

delay

v. to be an obstacle to

syn. hinder, obstruct, delay

ant. persuade, encourage, enable

Deplete

use up

v. to use up or empty out

syn. exhaust, spend, dissipate

ant. conserve, preserve, save

Heresy

sacrilege

n. an opinion or doctrine contrary to accepted beliefs

syn. sacrilege, profanation

ant. compliance

Novel

new

adj. strikingly new, unusual, or different

syn. innovative, unprecedented

ant. unoriginal, uncreative

Philanthropy

love of mankind

n. the effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind, as by charitable aid or donations

syn. charitableness

ant. miserliness

Fervor

passion

n. intensity of emotion; ardor

syn. enthusiasm, passion, ardor

ant. apathy, indifference

Dispassionate

disinterested

adj. devoid of or unaffected by passion or emotion

syn. disinterested, unbiased, stolid

ant. excited, enthusiastic, emotional

Appease

pacify

v. to bring peace, quiet, or calm to; to pacify

syn. soothe, placate, conciliate

ant. inflame, provoke, dissatisfy

Dawdle

move slowly

v. to waste time, be idle or delaying

syn. loaf, shirk, stall

ant. hasten, hurry, tail

Elated

happy

adj. or v. exultantly proud & joyful

syn. exuberant, ecstatic, jubilant

ant. depressed, discouraged

Squalid

filthy

adj. very dirty or grimy or poorly kept

syn. sooty, gritty, filthy

ant. washed, scrubbed, cleansed

Vitriolic

bitterly scathing

adj. bitterly scathing, caustic

syn. biting, caustic

ant. beneficial, healthful

Dearth

lack

n. extreme lack or scarcity

syn. meagerness, deficiency, exiguity

ant. plethora, abundance, profusion

Irascible

quick to anger

adj. easily provoked or inflamed with anger; prone to outbursts of temper

syn. irritable, grouchy, ill-tempered

ant. easygoing, affable, placid

Imperturbable

calm

adj. not liable to being moved or agitated

syn. calm, collected, unruffled

ant. excitable, ill-tempered, irascible

Zest

enthusiasm

n. spirited enjoyment, flavor or interest

syn. savor, spiciness, ebullience, vivacity

ant. passivity

Guile

cunning deceit

n. disposition to deceive

syn. artifice, duplicity, slyness

ant. honesty, forthrightness

Innocuous

harmless

adj. producing no ill effect

syn. harmless, insipid

ant. offensive, harmful

Amorphous

shapeless

adj. having no definite shape

syn. formless, shapeless

ant. structured, shapely

Amorous

passionate

adj. strongly attracted or disposed to love esp. sexual love

syn. lusty, ardent, romantic

ant. hateful

Insipid

tasteless

adj. not exciting the sense of taste; without flavor or power to excite interest or emotion

syn. bland, tasteless, dull, flat

ant. flavorful, savory, tasty, exciting

Affable

easy to talk to

easy to talk to, pleasant, friendly

syn. sociable, convivial, gregarious

ant. antisocial, withdrawn

Astute

shrewd

adj. of keen perception or discernment

syn. perceptive, perspicacious, shrewd

ant. unperceptive, stupid

Indigent

impoverished

adj. lacking means of comfortable subsistence

syn. needy, poor, destitute

ant. wealthy, rich

Ludicrous

absurd

adj. laughable from singularity or grotesqueness

syn. ridiculous, asinine, fatuous

ant. sensible

Sanction

authorize

v. to give permission or approval

syn. consent, permit, allow

ant. forbid, prohibit

Meritorious

praiseworthy

adj. deserving reward or praise

syn. laudable, praiseworthy

ant. undeserving, blameworthy

Rigorous

tough

adj. requiring great effort, energy, or exertion

syn. arduous, formidable, tough

ant. simple, easy

Solemn

grave

adj. deeply earnest, serious, and sober; somber

syn. dour, grave, sincere

ant. trivial, frivolous

Negligence

failure to act

n. failure to exercise care; a lapse or omission

syn. dereliction, laxity

ant. observance, care

Conspicuous

obvious

adj. easy to notice; obvious

syn. evident, observable

ant. imperceptible

Advocate

defender

n. or v. a supporter or defender; to speak in favor of

syn. champion, promotion; espouse

ant. adversary, opponent; oppose

Culpable

blameworthy

adj. deserving censure, blameworthy

syn. guilty, reprehensible

ant. praiseworthy, laudable

Solicit

petition

v. to seek to obtain by persuasion, entreaty, or formal application

syn. importune, entreat, petition

ant. distribute

Vacillate

waver

v. to swing indecisively from one action to another

syn. waver, fluctuate, hesitate

ant. decide

Pontificate

speak pompously

v. to deliver oracular or dogmatic speeches or opinions, speak pompously

syn. orate, harangue, rant, rave, bluster

ant. intimate, suggest, imply

Dirge

funeral hymn

adj. solemn or funeral song

syn. requiem, lament

ant. paean

Diatribe

condemning speech

n. a bitter, denunciation, or satirical speech or writing; a condemning speech

syn. tirade, jeremiad, philippic

ant. panegyric, commendation

Panegryric

praise

n. formal or elaborate encomium; written or spoken eulogy in praise of a person or achievement

syn. tribute, praise, encomium

ant. denunciation, condemnation, diatribe

Altercation

noisy quarrel

n. noisy argument or quarrel, wordy dispute

syn. argument, quarrel, contention, fray

ant. conciliation

Antiquated

out-of-date

adj. grown old, obsolete, or obsolescent

syn. old-fashion, out-of-date, vintage, antediluvian, hoary

ant. young, new, fresh, chic

Meander

wandered

v. to follow a winding course

syn. wander, drift, ramble

ant. rush, bolt, run

Digress

turn away

v. to deviate from the main point or direction, esp. in speech or writing

syn. stray, ramble, get off topic

Laudable

praiseworthy

adj. deserving commendation

syn. praiseworthy, meritorious, exemplary

ant. undeserving, discreditable

Diversity

variety

n. pertaining to variety, difference, or dissimilarity

syn. heterogeneity, multifariousness, multiplicity, variegation

ant. homogeneity, similarity, conformity, uniformity

Discernment

judgment

n. the act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment

syn. perception, insight, discrimination, judgement

ant. blindness, obtuseness

Mollify

calm

v. to soften in temper or disposition; to reduce in intensity

syn. calm, pacify, soothe, appease, placate

ant. provoke, aggravate, inflame

Propitate

arouse

v. to appease and render favorable; calm through making concessions

syn. appease, conciliate, pacify, mollify

ant. provoke, aggravate, inflame

Ignominy

disgrace

n. shame, disgrace, ill repute

syn. dishonor, obloquy, opprobrium

ant. grace, honor

Precipitous

steep

adj. extremely steep; extremely rapid, rash, or hasty

syn. head-long, steep, rash, hasty, sudden

ant. flat, considered

Temerity

recklessness

n. foolhardy disregard of danger

syn. recklessness, foolishness, imprudence

ant. caution, wariness, prudence

Ingenuous

honest

adj. lacking in worldliness or sophistication; openly straightforward or frank

syn. innocent, unsuspecting, rusting

ant. suspicious

Profound

wise

adj. possessed of or exhibiting wisdom

syn. sagacious, deep

ant. stupid, shallow

Condescend

lower oneself

v. to agree to do something one regards as beneath one’s rank or dignity

syn. deign

Dissent

dispute

n. or v. disagreement; to withhold approval

syn. contention, dissidence; conflict, dispute

ant. harmony, accord; concur

Volition

free will

n. a conscious choice; decision

syn. free will, discretion

Didactic

moralizing

adj. intended to instruct, moralize excessively

syn. preachy

Circumspect

careful

adj. heedful of all circumstances affecting a situation; watchful

syn. cautious, careful, prudent

ant. foolhardy, impractical

Contumacious

rebellious

adj. willfully and persistently resistant to authority; rebellious

syn. rebellious, obstreperous

ant. compliant, obedient

Deprecate

speak poorly of

v. to express disapproval of; speak poorly of

syn. disparage, diminish, denigrate

ant. esteem, favor

Duplicity

deception

n. deception by means of speaking or seeming to act one way while acting another

syn. double-dealing, hypocrisy, deception, treachery

ant. fidelity, forthrightness, truthfulness

Chicanery

trickery

n. duplicity, esp. when accomplished legally; deceit

syn. trickery, duplicity, fraudulence

ant. truthfulness

Unconscionable

without scruples

adj. without scruples, unprincipled

syn. unscrupulous, dishonest, unethical

ant. moral, ethical

Amicability

good will

n. friendliness, good will, benevolence

syn. brotherhood, fraternity, companionship

ant. hostility, antagonism

Sedulous

assiduous

adj. persevering and constant in effort or application; assiduous

syn. persevering, industrious, diligent, assiduous

ant. lazy, idle, slothful