debunk - expose as false, exaggerated, worthless; ridiculelavish - generous; openhanded; extravagant; wastefulplacate - pacify; conciliateinconsequential - insignificant; unimportantprevalent - widespread; generally acceptedsaturate - soak thoroughlyequivocal - ambiguous; intentionally misleadinginane - silly; senselessimpudence - impertinence; insolenceblighted - suffering from a disease; destroyedobliterate - destroy completelyrenounce - abandon; disown; repudiateperipheral - marginal; outerinsipid - lacking in flavor; dullarrogance - pride; haughtinesspolemical - aggressive in verbal attack

avarice - greediness for wealthincongruous - not fitting; absurdalleviate - relieverespite - interval of relief; time for rest; delay in punishmentexecute - put into effect; carry outcursory - casual; hastily donenurture - nourish; educate; fosterqualified - limited; restrictedautonomous - self-governingtirade - extended scolding; denunciation; harangueexhilarating - invigorating and refreshing; cheeringdisputatious - argumentative; fond of arguingrepugnant - loathsome; hatefulabstemious - sparing in eating and drinkingerudite - learned; scholarlyambivalence - the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes

distend - expand; swell outacknowledge - recognize; admitauthoritarian - subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating over another's willdeference - courteous regard for another's wishinsularity - narrow-mindedness; isolationlevity - lack of seriousness; lightnesshierarchy - arrangement by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranksmarred - damaged; disfigureddehydrate - remove water from; dry outpresumptuous - overconfident; impertinently bold; taking libertiesdigression - wandering away from the subjectaffirmation - positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledgenuance - shade of difference in meaning or color; subtle distinctionarable - fit for growing cropsservile - slavish; cringingprovincial - pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticated

susceptible - impressionable; easily influenced; having little resistance, as to a disease; receptive toincite - arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to existresplendent - dazzling; glorious; brillianteffervescence - inner excitement or exuberance; bubbling from fermentation or carbonationemend - correct; correct by a criticaspire - seek to attain; long forinherent - firmly established by nature or habitdiffuse - wordy; rambling; spread outravenous - extremely hungryredundant - superfluous; repetitious; excessively wordysubordinate - occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissiveprecarious - uncertain; riskyexuberance - overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishnesscomprehensive - thorough; inclusivesanction - approve; ratifyglacial - like a glacier; extremely cold

novelty - something new; newnessmalicious - hateful; spitefultranquility - calmness; peacedisperse - scatterfervor - glowing ardor; intensity of feelinghomogeneous - of the same kindanecdote - short account of an amusing or interesting eventsustain - experience; support; nourishlaconic - brief and to the pointconcise - brief and compactequanimity - calmness of temperament; composurelassitude - languor; wearinesswitticism - witty saying; wisecrackmeander - wind or turn in its courseseclusion - isolation; solituderecluse - hermit; loner

linger - loiter or dawdle; continue or persistluxuriant - abundant; rich and splendidrelegate - banish to an inferior position; delegate; assignsluggish - slow; lazy; lethargicdisparage - belittlelament - grieve; express sorrowcontract - compress or shrink; make a pledge; catch a diseasesycophant - servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes manoptimist - person who looks on the good sideiconoclastic - attacking cherished traditionsenmity - ill will; hatredexpedite - hastenambiguous - unclear, or doubtful in meaningzealot - fanatic; person who shows excessive zealsurreptitious - secret; furtive; sneaky; hiddenattribute - ascribe; explain

mercenary - interested in money or gaindepose - dethrone; remove from officelithe - flexible; suppleaustere - forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamentednonchalance - indifference; lack of concern; composureconstraint - compulsion, repression of feelingsartifact - object mad by human beings, either hand-made or mass-producedstrident - loud and harsh; insistentadulation - flattery; admirationsupplant - replace; usurpdepravity - extreme corruptionpreclude - make impossible; eliminateabridge - condense or shortenapocryphal - untrue; made updismiss - put away from consideration; rejectimpede - hinder; block; delay

restraint - moderation or self-control; controlling force; restrictionaudacious - daring; boldprofligate - dissipated; wasteful; wildly immoralparody - humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travestymeticulous - excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulouseuphemism - mild expression in place of an unpleasant oneinundate - overwhelm; flood; submergesurpass - exceedbraggart - boasterexacerbate - worsen; embitterperfunctory - superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasmmorose - ill-humored; sullen; melancholysuperfluous - unnecessary; excessive; overabundanttruncate - cut the top offmercurial - capricious; changing; fickledivergent - differing; deviating

insolvent - bankrupt unable to repay one's debtsdeplore - regret; disapprove ofexalt - raise in rank or dignity; praisecorrode - destroy by chemical actiondesiccate - dry upfalter - hesitatenotoriety - ill fame; disreputeevanescent - fleeting; vanishingarticulate - effective; distinctaversion - firm dislikeapathy - lack of emotion; indifferenceincidental - not essential; minorbolster - support; reinforceperpetuate - make something last; preserve from extinctioneulogy - expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's deathlaggard - slow; sluggish

complacency - self-satisfaction; smugnessexemplify - serve as an example of; embodycliche - phrase dulled in meaning by repetitiongratify - pleasebenevolent - generous, charitableingenious - clever; resourcefulpiety - religious devotion; godlinessdissent - disagreescrutinize - examine closely and criticallyinsuperable - insurmountable; unbeatablespurn - reject; scorndebilitate - weaken; enfeebleimpair - injure; hurtantidote - medicine to counteract a poison or diseasedisseminate - distribute; scatter; spreadphenomena - observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation

innovation - exchange; introduction of something newquiescent - at rest; dormant; temporarily inactivecordial - gracious; heartfeltdevious - roundabout; erratic; not straightforwarddupe - someone easily fooledhardy - sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weatherindefatigable - tirelessresolve - determination; firmness of purposeendorse - approve; supportassuage - ease or lessen; satisfyquerulous - fretful; whiningpariah - social outcastvirulent - extremely poisonous; hostile; bittermundane - worldly as opposed to spiritual; everydayrectify - set right; correctabstruse - obscure; profound; difficult to understand

miserly - stingy; meanprattle - babblecompliance - readiness to yield; conformity in fulfilling requirementsproximity - nearnessquell - extinguish; put down; quietanomaly - irregularityintervene - come betweentemper - moderate; tone down or restrain tougheninnate - inbornlofty - very higharchaic - antiquatedverbose - wordyarbitrary - capricious, randomly chosendetrimental - harmful; damagingthrive - prosper; flourishflagrant - conspicuously wicked; blatant; outrageous

hypothetical - based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposedvaporize - turn into vapordecorum - propriety; orderliness and good taste in mannersmirth - merriment; laughterconsensus - general agreementfurtive - stealthy; sneakyimmutable - unchangeablefrugality - thrift; economyunprecedented - novel; unparalleledindifferent - unmoved or unconcerned by; mediocremunificent - very generousebullient - showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasmturmoil - great commotion and confusiondisdain - view with scorn or contemptquandary - dilemmaatrophy - waste away

document - provide written evidencerescind - cancelpretentious - ostentatious; pompous; making unjustified claims; overly ambitionsinclusive - tending to include allflorid - ruddy; reddish; flowerywhimsical - capricious; fancifulexpedient - suitable; practical; politicassiduous - diligentascetic - practicing self-denial; austereimpecunious - without moneyreticence - reserve; uncommunicativeness; inclination to silenceardent - intense; passionate; zealoususurp - seize another power or rankproliferation - rapid growth; spread; multiplicationidiosyncrasy - individual trait, usually odd in nature; eccentricityjocular - said or done in jest

candor - frankness; open honestyreprimand - reprove severely; rebukeexemplary - serving as a model; outstandingdespondent - depressed; gloomydoctrine - teachings, in general; particular principle taughtfitful - spasmodic; intermittentbequeath - leave to someone by a willimplausible - unlikely; unbelievableanimosity - active enmitycarping - finding faulteclectic - composed of elements drawn from disparate sourcescacophonous - discordant; inharmoniousturbulence - state of violent agitationreserve - self-control; formal but distant mannerdubious - questionable; filled with doubtgullible - easily deceived

extol - praise; glorifyfallow - plowed but now sowed; uncultivatedpragmatic - practical; concerned with the practical worth or impact of somethinghypocritical - pretending to be virtuous; deceivingresolution - determination; resolvediligence - steadiness of effort; persistent hard workinnocuous - harmlessadversity - unfavorable fortune, hardshipsubmissive - yielding; timidbuttress - prop upglutton - someone who eats too muchominous - threateningcharlatan - quack; pretender to knowledgerebuttal - refutation; response with contrary evidenceindict - chargeprecocious - advanced in development

emulate - irritate, rivalbrevity - conciseness; short and to the pointcomposure - mental calmnesscensure - blame; criticizecredulity - belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivetevacillate - waver; fluctuateadversary - opponentbelie - contradict; give a false impression.oblivion - obscurity; forgetfulnesspredecessor - former occupant of a postdiminution - lessening; reduction in sizeprofane - violate; desecrate; treat unworthilyanalogous - comparableparsimony - stinginess; excessive frugalitydenounce - condemn; criticizeprudent - cautious; careful

rancor - bitterness; hatredefface - rub outantagonism - hostility; active resistanceobstinate - stubborn; hard to control or treatstagnant - motionless; stale; dullcondone - overlook; forgive; give tacit approvalsoporific - sleep-causing; marked by sleepinessdiscourse - formal discussion; conversationgarrulous - loquacious; wordy; talkativeduplicity - double-dealing; hypocrisystolid - unruffled; impassive; dullstupefy - make numb; stun; amazedogmatic - opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinalcajole - coax; wheedledevise - think up; invent; plancurtail - shorten; reduce

virtuoso - highly skilled artistconflagration - great fireconverge - approach; tend to meet; come togetherhackneyed - commonplace; tritelurid - wild; sensational; graphic; gruesomecommemorate - honor the memory ofanarchist - person who seeks to overturn the established governmentconfluence - flowing together; crowdimplement - put into effect; supply with toolsrecount - narrate or tell; count over againfeasible - practicalimpeccable - faultlessironic - resulting in an unexpected and contrary outcomeaesthetic - artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautifulintractable - unruly; stubborn; unyieldingtorpor - lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy

facilitate - help bring about; make less difficultdiscerning - mentally quick and observant; having insightfathom - comprehend; investigatediscrepancy - lack of consistency; differencecryptic - mysterious; hidden; secretsubstantiate - establish by evidence; verify; supportmitigate - appease; moderatereverent - respectful; worshipfulgravity - seriousnessspurious - false; counterfeit; forged; illogicalelicit - draw out by discussionsedentary - requiring sittingfanaticism - excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or causelaud - praisephilanthropist - lover of mankind; doer of goodobscure - darken; make unclear

labyrinth - mazesuccinct - brief; tense; compactillusory - deceptive; not realabstract - theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentationalgregarious - sociableinexorable - relentless; unyielding; implacablepernicious - very destructivederide - ridicule; make fun ofpaucity - scarcityguile - deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunningabate - subside; decrease, lessenvoluble - fluent; glib; talkativeterrestrial - earthly; pertaining to the landapprehension - fearcircumlocution - indirect or roundabout expressionorator - public speaker

scrupulous - conscientious; extremely thoroughedify - instruct; correct morallyuniformity - sameness; monotonynefarious - very wickedeloquence - expressiveness; persuasive speechenigma - puzzle; mysterydelineate - portray; depict; sketchdisparity - difference; condition of inequalityantediluvian - antiquated. extremely ancientascendancy - controlling influence; dominationmosaic - picture made of colorful small inlaid tilesaggregate - gather; accumulateconcur - agreereprove - censure; rebukeheresy - opinion contrary to popular beliefraze - destroy completely

frivolous - lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently care-freecompile - assemble; gather; accumulateindiscriminate - choosing at random; confusedculpable - deserving blamematerialism - preoccupation with physical comforts and objectssavory - tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeabletaciturn - habitually silent; talking littleelusive - evasive, baffling; hard to grasptrepidation - fear; nervous apprehensionincorrigible - not correctablelistless - lacking in spirit or energyremorse - guilt; self-reproachunkempt - disheveled; uncared for in appearancedeleterious - harmfuldetached - emotionally removed; calm and objective; physically unconnectedstatic - unchanging; lacking development

threadbare - worn through till the threads show; shabby and poorprodigal - wasteful; reckless with moneyantiquated - old-fashioned; obsoletefastidious - difficult to please; squeamishresigned - accepting one's fate; unresisting; patiently submissiverepel - drive away; disgustrecant - disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess errorincisive - cutting; sharpsage - person celebrated for wisdomemaciated - thin and wastedpredator - creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits othersaloof - apart; reservedgratuitous - given freely; unwarranted; uncalled forvolatile - changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidlyopportunist - individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstancescriterion - standard used in judging

artisan - manually skilled worker; craftsmanpessimism - belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominessopaque - dark; not transparentdeterrent - something that discourages; hindranceundermine - weaken; sappitfall - hidden danger; concealed trapdilatory - delayingbleak - cold or cheerless; unlikely to be favorablevindicate - clear from blame; exonerate; justify or supporthedonist - one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in lifealtruistic - unselfishly generous; concerned for otherstrite - hackneyed; commonplacevenerate - revereexcerpt - selected passagesteadfast - loyal; unswervingcomplementary - serving to complete something

impregnable - invulnerableamorphous - formless; lacking shape or definitionornate - excessively or elaborately decoratedsporadic - occurring irregularlyavert - prevent; turn awaydisinclination - unwillingnessprolific - abundantly fruitfuldeprecate - express disapproval of; protest against; belittledisclose - revealrhetorical - pertaining to effective communication; insincere in languagepervasive - pervading; spread throughout every partterse - concise; abrupt; pithyretract - withdraw; take backignominy - deep disgrace; shame or dishonortrifling - trivial; unimportantcensorious - critical

fell - cut or knock down; bring downsquander - wasteprofound - deep; not superficial; completereprehensible - deserving blameenhance - increase; improvetentative - hesitant; not fully worked out or developedaugment - increase; add tomisnomer - wrong name; incorrect designationprofusion - overabundance; lavish expenditure; excessinert - inactive; lacking power to movepacifist - one opposed to force; antimilitaristegotistical - excessively self-centered; self-important, conceiteddiscordant - not harmonious; conflictingdegradation - humiliation; debasement; degenerationodious - hateful; vileinduce - persuade; bring about

incontrovertible - indisputable; not open to questionhamper - obstructconjecture - surmise; guessintimidate - frightenrobust - vigorous; strongesoteric - hard to understand; known only to the chosen fewembellish - adorn; ornamentextricate - free; disentangleillicit - illegalrepudiate - disown; disavowdiscount - disregard; dismissanachronistic - having an error involving time in a storyobdurate - stubbornerroneous - mistaken; wrongcorrugated - wrinkled; ridgedcontentious - quarrelsome

acrid - sharp; bitterly pungentastute - wise; shrewd; keeninadvertently - unintentionally; by oversight; carelesslylampoon - ridiculesomber - gloomy; depressing; dark; drabadvocate - urge; plead forconciliatory - reconciling; soothingpenury - severe povertyexhaustive - thorough; comprehensivereplete - filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly suppliedconcede - admit; yieldtantamount - equivalent in effect or valueinstigate - urge; start; provokeineffable - unutterable; cannot be expressed in speechopulence - extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundancecombustible - easily burned

coalesce - combine; fuseaffable - easily approachable; warmly friendly.rigor - severityscanty - meager; insufficientcoercion - use of force to get someone to obeyintrepid - fearlessacclaim - applaud; announce with great approvalsatirical - mockingratify - approve formally; confirm; verifyfallacious - false; misleadingostentatious - showy; pretentiouspithy - concise; meaningful; substantial; meatyequitable - fair; impartialaccessible - easy to approach; obtainablesuperficial - trivial; shallowexplicit - totally clear; definite; outspoken

acrimonious - bitter in words or mannerhaughtiness - pride; arrogancebeguile - mislead or deludeacquiesce - assent; agree without protestingpartisan - one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a partysurfeit - satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anythinginvert - turn upside down or inside outappease - pacify or sooth; relievecolloquial - pertaining to conversational or common speechraucous - harsh and shrill; disorderly and boisterousdiffidence - shynessremission - temporary moderation of disease symptoms; cancellation of debt; forgiveness or pardonnegate - cancel out; nullify; denyramble - wander aimlesslyunwarranted - unjustified; groundless; undeservedrant - rave; talk excitedly; scold

quagmire - soft, wet, boggy land; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneselfskeptic - doubter; person who suspends judgment until the evidence supporting a point of view has been examinedmollify - soothemisanthrope - one who hates mankindconviction - judgment that someone is guilty of a crimeextraneous - not essential, superfluousexonerate - acquit; exculpateaccolade - award of meritcapricious - unpredictable; fickle; fancifulvilify - slanderfoolhardy - rashponderous - weighty; unwieldycalculated - deliberately planned; likelyelucidate - explain; enlighten

ephemeral - short-lived; fleetingviable - practical or workable; capable of maintaining lifecorroborate - confirm; supportconfound - confuse; puzzlelethargic - drowsy; dulltransient - momentary; temporary; staying for a short timevigor - active strengthcontend - struggle, compete, assert earnestlyelegy - poem or song expressing lamentationelated - overjoyed; in high spiritsirreproachable - blameless; impeccableexploit - make use of, sometimes unjustlyintegrity - uprightness; wholenesscertitude - certaintydiscriminating - able to see differences; prejudicedmethodical - systematic

derivative - unoriginal; derived from another sourcesubside - settle down; descend; grow quietindolent - lazyantipathy - aversion, disliketenacity - firmness; persistence