Word Definition Example Sentence

v. to become less active, less As I began my speech, my feelings of nervousness

Abate
intense, or less in amount quickly abated.
adj. existing purely in the mind; not Julie had trouble understanding the appeal of
Abstract
representing actual reality the abstract painting.
Abysmal adj. extremely bad I got an abysmal grade on my research paper!
Accordingly adv. in accordance with All students must behave accordingly.
n. the act of gaining a skill or Language acquisition is easier for kids than it is for
Acquisition
possession of something adults.
The US has adapted many foreign foods to better suit the
v. to make suit a new purpose
tastes of Americans.
Adapt v. to accommodate oneself to a new
Dogs are known for their ability to quickly adapt to their
condition, setting, or situation
environments.
adj. having knowledge or skill (usu. Beth loves playing the piano, but she’s especially adept at
Adept
in a particular area) the violin.
adj. having sufficient qualifications Though his resume was adequate, the company doubted
Adequate
to meet a specific task or purpose whether he’d be a good fit.
n. the arrival or creation of The world has never been the same since the advent of
Advent
something (usu. historic) the light bulb.
An adversarial attitude will make you many enemies in
Adversarial adj. relating to hostile opposition
life.
n. someone who promotes or
I am an advocate for free higher education.
defends something
Advocate Environmental protesters often advocate for cleaner
v. to defend or promote something
energy practices.
(usu. a belief, theory, opinion, etc.)
adj. relating to beauty or refined The aesthetic decorations at the wedding reception made
Aesthetic
taste you feel as if you were a character in a fairy tale.
v. to be able to buy He’s saving money so he can afford to buy a new car.
Afford
v. to be able to spare I can’t afford to lose any more pencils!
v. to promote something (usu. a
Agitate They’re agitating for better health care.
cause)
Allow v. to permit or consent to US law allows citizens to speak freely.
v. to make a secretive mention of She alluded to the problem at hand but didn’t say
Allude
something anything more about it.
Altercation n. a noisy argument or confrontation Greg got into an altercation with a stranger at the bar.
Her ambiguous statement made me question whether she
Ambiguous adj. unclear or vague in meaning
could be trusted.
adj. having a powerful desire for Penny is so ambitious, she wants to be president
Ambitious
success or achievement someday.
n. the state of being uncertain or His ambivalence prevented him from immediately
Ambivalence
stuck between two or more options signing the contract.
Analogous adj. similar but not identical Green onions are considered analogous to spring onions.
v. to destroy or cause devastating
Annihilate The dictator sent orders to annihilate the group of rebels.
destruction
n. something different from the
Anomaly This result is an anomaly and very rarely happens.
norm
Anticipate v. assume to be likely to happen The party was just as fun as I had anticipated it would be.
Her antipathy toward the professor was obvious: she
Antipathy n. a strong feeling of dislike
rolled her eyes whenever he entered the classroom.
Apex n. the highest point of something The spring play was the apex of our school year.
Her apprehension to leave her house resulted in her
Apprehension n. fearful expectation of something
missing the train.
Articulate v. to clearly express in words She articulated her opinion on the price of the house.
adj. something made; not occurring Many candies use artificial flavors to make them taste
Artificial
naturally fruity.
His assertion that sharks are mammals made everyone
Assertion n. a strong declaration
laugh.
He lived in a small, austere cabin in the middle of the
adj. extremely plain woods.
Austere adj. stern and forbidding My boss had an austere expression on her face.
adj. relating to self-denial An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn’t for
everybody.
n. the quality of being real and true The police officer doubted the authenticity of the
Authenticity
instead of fake and contrived suspect’s story.
n. an intangible path or approach to
Avenue The company has decided to pursue other avenues.
something
adj. actively interested in or
Avid Gerald is an avid soccer fan.
enthusiastic about something
adj. relating to the foundation or You have to start with basic Russian before you can move
Basic
basis of something on to the advanced level.
v. to have as a characteristic She bears a strong resemblance to your mother.
v. to have (a child) Judy will bear her first child later this year.
Bear
v. to bring forth My garden is going to bear pumpkins this year.
v. to put up with I can’t bear her complaining any longer!
Benevolent adj. kind, generous Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits.
n. a preconception that prevents
Bias It’s important to avoid bias when investigating a crime.
objectivity
Bittersweet adj. tinged with a feeling of sadness The ending of the romance movie was bittersweet.
If we work together, we should be able to lift and
Bolster v. to support, strengthen, or fortify
then bolster the couch.
The boost in profits was a welcome change.
n. an increase or growth
Boost In order to boost profits, you need to cater to your
v. to increase or make grow
customers.
A brawl broke out at school today after one student
n. an intense, loud fight
Brawl accused another of cheating.
v. to fight loudly and disruptively
The two students brawled for an hour.
The brevity of their time together made it all the more
Brevity n. the quality of being brief or terse
romantic.
Candid adj. direct, blunt Josh is candid about his desire to become an actor.
I admire her candor, especially when nobody else bothers
Candor n. the trait of being honest and frank
to speak up.
I’d like to capitalize on your math skills by having your
Capitalize v. to use to your advantage
work the cash register.
 The spy was captured by the enemy.
v. to trap or take possession of
Your painting beautifully captures the ephemerality of
v. to successfully represent or
life.
Capture imitate
I was captured by her beauty.
v. to captivate, mesmerize
The cops captured the criminal three days after the
v. to catch or seize
incident.
Civic adj. relating to the city or citizens Voting is a civic duty.
adj. emotionally unattached (usu. Her clinical approach to situations allows her to handle
Clinical
used in medical or scientific setting) them more effectively.
Children of rich and famous people often believe they
Clout n. special advantage or power
have a lot of clout.
The horse’s mane was coarse, as if it had never been
adj. indicating a rough texture
washed.
Coarse adj. lacking refinement or
The queen’s coarse way of speaking surprised the other
sophistication
members of royalty.
It wasn’t until after I booked my ticket that I realized the
Coincide v. to happen at the same time
concert coincided with my finals.
n. the use of payment to request
This painting was commissioned by a rich merchant in
Commission something (e.g., a service or
1589.
product)
Comparable adj. able to be compared This novel is comparable to Huckleberry Finn.
We need to hire a competent web developer to create a
Competent adj. sufficiently qualified
good website for our company.
adj. satisfied, with no desire to Though he had never won any awards or even been
Complacent
change or improve published, he was complacent with his life as a poet.
This wine perfectly complements this platter of gourmet
Complement v. to make perfect or complete
cheese.
With no chance of winning the battle, the army at
v. to be forced to agree or surrender
Concede last conceded.
v. to admit to a transgression
Dan conceded to pranking his sister.
The plan to build the city was originally conceived in the
Conceive v. to imagine or come up with
early 1900s.
Condone v. to overlook, approve, or allow She couldn't condone her daughter's rebellious behavior.
adj. able to bring about or be The noisy students hardly made the campus
Conducive
suitable for library conducive to studying.
v. to control or manage The group conducted their research abroad last year.
Conduct
v. to behave a certain way Be sure to conduct yourself accordingly.
v. to share something secretive with
Confide She confided all of her biggest secrets in her best friend.
someone
Confine v. to put limits on; to restrict We are going to confine the use of this drinking fountain.
After weeks of debating, the panel finally came to
Consensus n. overall agreement
a consensus.
v. to form or compose (part of) The desire for equality constituted the civil rights
Constitute
something movement.
She contemplated telling her teacher about the cheating
Contemplate v. to think deeply about
student.
 The president contends that the US government will not
Contend v. to maintain or assert (an opinion)
negotiate with terrorists.
Contradict v. to be in contrast with The camera footage contradicts his alibi.
adj. highly debatable and causing Millions of viewers watched the controversial debate take
Controversial
contention place.
Conventional adj. abiding by accepted standards She lives a conventional life in the suburbs.
v. to pass on or transfer
Convey I have trouble conveying my thoughts in French.
(information)
Conviction n. a firm belief in something Her religious convictions prevent her from eating meat.
v. to provide evidence for; to back The note signed by her father corroborates her claim that
Corroborate
up (a claim) she was absent from class that day.
Counteract v. to work in opposition to This ingredient seems to counteract the other ones.
Make sure to include a counterargument in your essay so
n. an argument used to criticize or
Counterargument that you can show you’ve considered the topic from all
dismantle another argument
perspectives.
Bill’s idea to take a shortcut was
adj. hindering the achievement of a
Counterproductive ultimately counterproductive: it took us twice as long to
goal
get to the train station.
Culmination n. the final act or climax The culmination of the performance was unforgettable.
Teachers don’t just pass on new information to students—
Cultivate v. to foster the growth of
they cultivate their academic potential.
v. to declare formally and with The president decreed that Halloween would henceforth
Decree
authority be a national holiday.
Her deference to the elderly makes her the perfect
Deference n. respect; regard
candidate for an internship at the retirement center.
Deficient adj. not enough in degree or amount I feel as though the sources for my paper are deficient.
Could you demonstrate the dance move for me?
v. to do as an example
Demonstrate This book’s use of words such as “grim” and
v. gives evidence for
“bleak” demonstrates the author’s mournful tone.
She demurred at my request to transfer to a different
Demur v. to object to
department.
v. to (over)use over time (usu.
Deplete The lost campers quickly depleted their supply of food.
resources)
Desolate adj. bare, barren, empty The moon is one giant, desolate landscape.
Devise v. to come up with (a plan) Lana devised a plan to make herself famous.
n. a problem, usually requiring a The main dilemma is whether to pay for a commercial or
Dilemma
choice between two options not.
n. conscientiousness; the quality of
Diligence Diligence and confidence will get you far in life.
being committed to a task
v. to become smaller in scope or The itchiness of mosquito bites usually starts
Diminish
degree to diminish after a few days.
adj. hopeless and dangerous or When the police didn’t explain what was happening right
Dire
fearful away, Jane knew that the situation must be dire.
Disputes over money caused intense discord in the
Discord n. disagreement
family.
 n. a lack of respect and strong
He looked at me with such disdain that I immediately
Disdain dislike (toward something or
knew the job wouldn’t work out.
someone)
n. hopelessness, stress, or To Nick’s dismay, he got an F on the test.
Dismay consternation Many were dismayed by the town’s implementation of
v. to fill with woe or apprehension metered parking.
A good boss is stern but never disparages his or her
Disparage v. to belittle or speak down to
employees.
v. to send off a message or The mother dispatched her daughter to their neighbor’s
Dispatch
messenger house.
Lately, there’s been noticeable diversification of students
Diversification n. the act of becoming diverse
at higher institutions.
n. a principle, theory, or position, Devoutly religious people often live their lives according
Doctrine
usu. advocated by a religion or gov’t to their doctrines.
n. power and authority (usu. over a The country claimed to have dominion over parts of
Dominion territory) Russia.
n. a legal territory Puerto Rico is a dominion of the US.
Dreary adj. sad, gloomy, dull The gray clouds in the sky made the day feel dreary.
The man’s claims to the throne were dubious since
Dubious adj. doubtful, questionable
nobody knew where he’d come from.
adj. peculiar or odd; deviating from
Eccentric She’s a little eccentric but still fun to be around.
the norm
After cheating on the exam, Emily began to feel as though
Egregious adj. extremely bad
she’d made an egregious mistake.
adj. having refined or expressive
His speech was not only eloquent but also extremely
Eloquent communication skills (in speaking
compelling.
or writing)
adj. superior or distinguished; high Our town made news when the eminent magician came to
Eminent
in position or status perform at our local theater.
Emit v. to discharge, give forth, or release Plants consume carbon dioxide and emit oxygen.
Her emphatic smile told me she was excited to ride the
Emphatic adj. very expressive; using emphasis
roller coaster.
adj. derived from experience,
Empirical You need empirical evidence to support your claim.
observation, or an experiment
v. to equip or bestow (usu. a quality According to the myth, the gods endowed him with the
Endow
or ability) gift of healing.
v. to withstand, sustain, or hold out I can’t endure this wait any longer. Will Stanford accept
Endure
against or reject me?
A doctoral program entails long nights and a heavy
Entail v. to involve or include
workload.
Entrenched adj. firmly established Her face will forever be entrenched in my memory.
I can’t enumerate how many times I’ve had to remind my
Enumerate v. to specify or count
students when their papers are due.
n. excessive jealousy His envy of her is quite obvious.
Envy
v. to admire and be jealous of She envies her coworker's social skills.
adj. having no fixed course;
Erratic The car became erratic after slipping on ice.
deviating from the norm
 v. to enact They established a law that made it illegal to drive after
Establish v. to found (a business, group, drinking any amount of alcohol.
school, etc.) Our group established a new branch in Chicago.
Evoke v. to draw forth or call up Horror movies are great at evoking fear.
v. to make worse or increase the The doctor told me not to run as it can exacerbate my
Exacerbate
severity of knee injury.
v. to do something extremely well or She was a well-rounded student but excelled especially in
Excel
to be superior in science.
Exert v. to put into use (usu. as effort) Don’t exert all of your energy at once.
adj. invigorating, stimulating, or The music playing at the club was catchy
Exhilarating
exciting and exhilarating.
Be careful not to expend all your energy in the first half
Expend v. to use up (as in energy or money)
of a marathon.
The shoddy company exploited its workers by paying
Exploit v. to use selfishly or for profit
them extremely low wages.
In grad school, advisors facilitate students’ research and
Facilitate v. to aid the progress of
offer constructive criticism.
The feasibility of her project was doubtful; she’d have to
n. the practicality or possibility of
Feasibility go all the way to Antarctica and back before the school
something
year ended.
Ferocity n. viciousness, violence The lion is just one wild animal known for its ferocity.
Fiscal policy is how the government uses money to
Fiscal adj. related to (government) money
influence the economy.
v. to prosper, grow, or make fast After one year, the tiny plants had flourished into a
Flourish
progress breathtaking garden.
Stocks can fluctuate on a daily basis, making it difficult
Fluctuate v. to be unstable; to rise and fall
to determine when to buy or sell one.
The civilians accused their leader of fomenting political
Foment v. to stir up
unrest.
adj. capable of being predicted or
Foreseeable I can't imagine aliens visiting us in the foreseeable future.
anticipated
Frankly adv. directly, clearly I frankly don’t see the point in learning to drive.
His freewheeling attitude often got him in trouble at
Freewheeling adj. carefree
work.
adj. the most essential or most basic A thesis is arguably the most fundamental part of an
Fundamental
part essay.
Galvanizing adj. thrilling, exciting, stimulating The galvanizing performance left everyone spellbound.
I became interested in geriatric medicine shortly after my
Geriatric adj. relating to old age
grandfather passed away from cancer.
Hostile adj. harmful, dangerous The voices around the corner sounded angry, hostile even.
adj. supposed; related to a For my physics homework, I must come up with
Hypothetical
hypothesis a hypothetical situation.
adj. publicly shameful or The politician's expensive campaign ultimately ended
Ignominious
humiliating in ignominious defeat.
Impart v. to transmit, bestow, or disclose Parents must impart common sense to their children.
 n. the equal and objective treatment To ensure impartiality, we require everyone to follow
Impartiality
of opposing views these general guidelines.
adj. impressive (esp. in size or The old mansion was imposing in its huge size and gothic
Imposing
appearance) architecture.
If it’s not too much of an imposition, could you proofread
Imposition n. an unnecessary burden
my paper?
Backpacking abroad can be fun, but don’t
Imprudent adj. not cautious or prudent; rash
be imprudent about money.
Incite v. to encourage or stir up Her hateful words incited anger in the crowd.
The girl’s indifference toward her brother upset their
Indifference n. apathy, emotional detachment
parents.
adv. randomly; with little or no
Indiscriminately Lottery winners are chosen indiscriminately.
distinction
Indulge v. to give into; to satisfy or gratify My friend loves to indulge in cheesy romance movies.
v. to guess, conclude, or derive by You can infer from this quotation that the writer didn’t
Infer
reasoning care for “pretty” language.
adj. novel or new (esp. as an idea or Her invention was incredibly innovative and won her
Innovative
invention) multiple awards.
Insatiable adj. can’t be satisfied A vampire’s thirst for blood is said to be insatiable.
Inversion n. a reversal The culture’s norms were an inversion of our own.
v. to call on; to appeal to (e.g., a
Invoke The shaman attempted to invoke a demon.
higher power)
The couple’s differences were
adj. incapable of being in harmony
Irreconcilable ultimately irreconcilable, giving them no choice but to
or agreed upon
break up.
Susan lamented her missed chance at going to Europe
Lament v. to feel sorrow for; to mourn
with her high school class.
Locomotion n. movement Physics involves the study of locomotion.
adj. capable of making a lot of Writing books isn’t a particularly lucrative career, unless
Lucrative
money; profitable you’re J.K. Rowling.
The malicious spirit drove out the inhabitants from their
Malicious adj. harmful, spiteful
home.
adj. capable of being molded or
Malleable Children’s minds are malleable but only for so long.
changed
adj. superficial; focus on material
Materialistic Many people accuse Americans of being materialistic.
possessions
adj. extravagant or exaggerated (as
Melodramatic The melodramatic play was well liked by the audience.
of a melodrama)
They moved into a modest house in the countryside.
adj. simple and humble
Modest I received a modest sum of money for my help at the
adj. small in size or amount
company event.
Dr. Nguyen modified the gene so that it wouldn’t carry
Modify v. to change, alter, or tweak
the disease.
Momentous adj. historically significant Her win in the election was momentous.
Novel adj. new, innovative We are looking for novel ways to approach the project.
 Body-language experts even understand the nuances of
Nuance n. a subtle difference in meaning
facial expressions.
Null adj. legally void and ineffective The government declared their marriage null.
n. judgment based on observations
Objectivity In scientific research, objectivity is of utmost importance.
instead of emotions or opinions
adj. no longer used; rare or Historians assumed record players would be obsolete by
Obsolete
uncommon now, but in fact they’re making a huge comeback.
Gods are omnipotent beings who can control human
Omnipotent adj. almighty and all powerful
destiny.
At the onset of her career as a lawyer, things were looking
Onset n. the beginning or early stages
up.
Opine v. to openly express an opinion The new employee opined at the company meeting.
That ornate silverware must be worth thousands of
Ornate adj. highly detailed and decorated
dollars!
v. to remove or force out of (usu. a Sick and tired of putting up with his bad moods, the
Oust
position or office) pirates ousted their captain.
adj. predominant, superior, most
Paramount Our paramount concern is the safety of our employees.
important
Upon entering the abandoned house, Kate experienced
Peculiar adj. strange, bizarre
a peculiar feeling, as if someone was watching her.
Perish v. to die; to pass away According to the news, nobody perished in the fire.
They will persecute anyone who doesn’t agree with their
Persecute v. to cause suffering to
views of the world.
Petulant adj. cranky, pouty, irritable Petulant children are especially difficult to care for.
Many believe that composers such as Beethoven and
Pinnacle n. highest level or degree
Mozart represent the pinnacle of classical music.
The frail-looking dog was pitiable, so I gave it some food
Pitiable adj. deserving pity
and took it inside to care for it.
Her story is plausible, but that doesn’t mean she’s telling
Plausible adj. reasonable and possibly true
the truth.
The literary critic postulates that romanticism and
Postulate v. to assert
naturalism are actually interconnected.
The bald eagle is a potent symbol of the US.
adj. having great influence
Potent The potion was definitely potent—it healed my wounds
adj. having a strong, chemical effect
immediately!
It’s not necessarily more pragmatic to study engineering
Pragmatic adj. practical, useful
than it is to study philosophy.
n. an example or subject from
Precedent This change in law is without historical precedent.
earlier in time
n. someone who comes before you My predecessor gave me many tips for running the
Predecessor
(usu. in position or office) office.
The directions for our essay prescribe a length of at least
v. to command orders
ten pages.
Prescribe v. to issue authorization for
A doctor must prescribe you this medication before you
medications
can begin taking it.
 Remember the universal principle: treat others as you
Principle n. basic truth, assumption, or rule
want them to treat you.
Prohibit v. to command against, to outlaw Alcohol was prohibited in the US in the 1920s.
She is always prompt when it comes to turning in her
adj. punctual, on time
homework.
n. a cue to begin something;
Prompt I had to write an essay based on a prompt.
instructions
The possibility of a scholarship prompted him to apply to
v. to incite, propel, or cause to act
Harvard.
The ruler will at last promulgate an amnesty with the
Promulgate v. to put into law or formally declare
neighboring countries.
v. to bring criminal action against
Prosecute The suspect was prosecuted yesterday.
someone (in a trial)
adj. intending to provoke, inspire, or
Provocative Her nude paintings are considered quite provocative.
arouse
adj. involving qualities of
Qualitative I noticed a qualitative change in her paintings.
something (features and content)
adj. involving quantities (numbers
Quantitative We must conduct a quantitative analysis.
and amounts)
Quirk n. a strange habit His biggest quirk is his love of old marbles.
Cars ramified throughout the world in the twentieth
Ramify v. to split into two or more branches
century.
adj. without attention to danger or Her rash decision to pass the car nearly resulted in a
Rash
risk crash.
He’s got raw talent as a singer, but he needs to work on
adj. unrefined
his performance skills.
Raw adj. not processed; uncooked (as in
In some countries, such as Japan, it is normal to
food)
eat raw fish.
adv. right away and without
Readily Water was readily available at different points in the race.
difficulty
n. thinking again about a previously The judges’ reconsideration of her performance resulted
Reconsideration
made choice in her victory.
The reform made it so that only those 18 and older can
n. a change for the better;
legally drive.
Reform improvement
The government reformed its vague policies on marijuana
v. to improve via change
use.
v. to prove to be untrue, unfounded,
Refute The student refuted the professor’s claim in class.
or incorrect
Reinforce v. to strengthen or add support to We can use these pipes to reinforce the structure.
Max reluctantly agreed to see the horror movie with his
Reluctantly adv. somewhat unwillingly
friends.
v. to give up (usu. power or a Our CEO renounced her position yesterday.
Renounce position) He renounced his friend after he caught her stealing
v. to cast off money from him.
The mother reproached her daughter’s school for making
Reproach v. to criticize
students come in during a blizzard.
v. to refuse to recognize as true
Repudiate The father repudiated his son’s marriage.
v. to cast off
 She repudiated her son once she found out he’d married
someone without telling her.
Water retention can make you weigh more on certain
Retention n. the act of keeping something
days.
Satiated adj. satisfied (usu. in hunger) I felt satiated after eating a snack.
adj. having practical intelligence or My brother is not very savvy when it comes to using
Savvy
knowledge public transportation.
adj. morally offensive, often The scandalous politician decided it was best to resign
Scandalous
causing damage to one’s reputation from office.
It’s difficult for me not to scorn those who use improper
Scorn v. to look down on with disdain
grammar.
Scrupulous adj. paying great attention to detail I am a scrupulous proofreader and never miss an error.
Scrutinize v. to examine carefully and critically The teacher scrutinized her students’ essays.
v. to produce or release (a
Secrete Trees secrete a sticky substance called sap.
substance)
I am of the sentiment that you should never give out your
n. opinion passwords to anyone.
Sentiment
n. a tender or moving gesture Even though I’m not a big fan of porcelain dolls, I
appreciated the sentiment.
adj. so thin that light can shine The curtains on the window were so sheer you could
Sheer
through clearly see inside the house.
This math problem is so simple even a first grader can
adj. easy; not complex solve it.
Simple
adj. undecorated The simple beauty of the ocean is what makes it
memorable.
Medieval peasants believed sinister demons could harm
Sinister adj. ominous, evil
humans.
n. the joining of commonalities or I stood in solidarity with other female students by
Solidarity
common purposes among a group refusing to wear the school’s sexist uniform.
adv. insufficiently, meagerly, or in a
Sparingly Due to my condition, I must eat salt sparingly.
restricted manner
Frogs typically spawn in ponds.
v. to release eggs
Spawn The topic spawned an ongoing debate among his family
v. to call forth or generate
members.
Spur v. to stimulate or incite Her bravery spurred others to act.
Squalid adj. run-down, sordid, or sleazy The squalid cabin needed a new roof and an exterminator.
adj. very plain; devoid of any details Looking out at the stark landscape, I felt a keen sense of
Stark
or features isolation.
adj. motionless The ball is static.
Static
adj. changeless Her life has been static for the past three years.
adj. lower in rank The subordinate officers work every day.
n. someone lower in rank My subordinate will check you in.
Subordinate
v. to make dependent on or put at a You aren’t my boss—you can’t subordinate me to the
lower rank role of receptionist!
adv. happening later or after
Subsequently I subsequently went home.
something
 I was shocked to find a substantial amount of money
Substantial adj. very large in amount or degree
beneath the park bench.
v. to strengthen with new evidence It is important for scientists to substantiate their theories
Substantiate
or facts whenever possible.
Subtle adj. hard to detect or analyze I detected in her expression a subtle hint of irritation.
adj. enough; just meeting a
Sufficient These boxes should be sufficient for our move.
requirement
The bartender was a surly fellow who wasn’t afraid to
Surly adj. unfriendly; inclined to anger
start a fight.
They managed to surmount the language barrier by using
Surmount v. to get on top of or overcome
a translation app.
Children are more susceptible to certain illnesses than
Susceptible adj. to be vulnerable (to something)
adults are.
Her tactful attitude toward our class made her one of my
Tactful adj. skilled at dealing with people
favorite teachers.
Taut adj. pulled tight The rubberband was taut and ready to be fired.
adj. abundantly filled (usu. with Doorknobs are not as clean as they look and are
Teeming
living organisms) often teeming with germs.
She had a hostile temperament, making her intimidating
Temperament n. usual mood or feelings
to most people.
We haven’t made any official arrangements yet, but
Tentative adj. not yet finalized
the tentative location for our wedding is Hawaii.
adj. see-through; so thin that light Stained window glass isn’t as transparent as regular
Transparent can shine through window glass is.
adj. truthful or easy to perceive She was transparent about her plans to end her marriage.
The journey was becoming treacherous, but they
Treacherous adj. dangerous and unstable
continued on regardless.
adj. very large, good, or bad in
Tremendous Tremendous news! You don’t have to repay your loans!
degree or size
Ubiquitous adj. being everywhere at once Cell phones are ubiquitous these days.
Though the dress was cheap and unadorned, it was by far
Unadorned adj. undecorated, plain
her favorite one on the rack.
v. to weaken or subvert (usu. Parents should take care not to
Undermine
gradually or secretly) constantly undermine their children.
v. to emphasize or give additional This sentence seems to underscore the overall meaning of
Underscore
weight to the passage.
v. to move as ripples or in a wavy Belly dancers are known for their ability to
Undulate
pattern skillfully undulate their stomachs.
The unilateral decision was deemed unfair by the other
Unilateral adj. one-sided
party involved.
Unjust adj. unfair; not justified The court’s decision is unjust—he should not go free.
Unmitigated adj. downright, utter, total My speech was an unmitigated disaster!
adj. completely new and never
Unprecedented The number of protestors was unprecedented.
having happened before; historic
We plan to unveil our plans for the new company project
Unveil v. to make visible; to reveal
on Sunday.
 He had the urge to tell his parents about his acceptance to
n. desire or impulse
Urge Columbia but decided against it.
v. to encourage or persuade
She urged her sister to apply to Stanford.
Validate v. to prove or declare valid Your selfish actions do not validate your feelings for me.
n. ability to be done in a practical or
Viability The viability of the solution is questionable.
useful way
Vital adj. urgently necessary It is vital that you respond by the deadline.
My brother quickly broke his vow to never eat chocolate
Vow v. to promise
again.
Wanting to look cool in front of your friends
Warrant v. to prove to be reasonable
doesn’t warrant breaking the law.
n. production of an amount The farmer’s annual pumpkin yield exceeded 10,000.
Yield v. to give way to or surrender to Cars turning right on red must yield to oncoming traffic.
v. to produce or supply Our experiment yielded many unique-looking vegetables.