A

1 Absurdity something that is unreasonable or logically flawed

2 Abyss hole so deep as to appear bottomless

3 Acquiesce agree, accept without protest

4 Acumen exactness

5 Admonish to scold someone

6 Advocate to argue in favor of

7 Affable polite and friendly, easy to talk to

8 Affliction suffering, distress

9 Affluent wealthy, abundant

10 Agitate shake up or stir up

11 Alienate to isolate

12 Ambiguous without clarity, difficult to figure out

13 Amiable very friendly, showing a lot of warmth

14 Analogy drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect

15 Annex take possession or control of something

16 Annihilate to destroy

17 Arduous demanding great effort, strenuous

18 Aroma smell

19 Atone make up for something, ask forgiveness

20 Attribute the quality or characteristic of someone or something

21 Avarice greed

B

1 Babble to talk foolishly

2 Badmouth to abuse someone verbally

3 Baffled puzzled, confused

4 Baker’s Dozen Thirteen (because bakers usually add one extra roll to each batch)

5 Baleful full of evil or hatred

6 Ballgame A particular situation that is radically different from the preceding situation

7 Banish to forcibly send someone away

8 Barb a stinging remark

9 Belated too late

10 Bellicose inclined to fighting

11 Benevolent kind or charitable

12 Berserk violently destructive, in a wild rage or anger

13 Besiege to surround with the intent to capture

14 Bestow to give as a gift, to present

15 Biased favoring one person or side over another

16 Bilateral having or involving two sides

17 Binge to overeat or over drink

18 Bittersweet something that is sad and happy at the same time

19 Bizarre very different from what is normal or usual

20 Blasé no interest or excitement, something is totally common

21 Bliss perfect happiness

22 Body Shopping sending professionally qualified persons to other countries to work

23 Bolster to encourage or support

24 Burgeon to grow or develop rapidly

C

1 Cajole to influence gently

2 Camaraderie friendliness and mutual trust

3 Cameo a small part in a movie/play etc.

4 Candid frank and informal

5 Cannibalize use parts from one machine to repair another one

6 Captor person who kidnaps somebody

7 Cargo luggage or boxes

8 Carnage mass killing of people

9 Carte Blanche unrestricted authority and freedom

10 Catch 22 situation in which you cannot do one thing until you do another thing, but you

cannot do the second thing until you do the first thing, so you're stuck

11 Caveat it is a warning that you have take something into account before you act or carry

out plans

12 Chafe to rub against and cause itching / deep marks

13 Chic smart and stylish

14 Chore ordinary everyday tasks

15 Cite quote or mention as an example

16 Clout power or influence

17 Cogent persuasive and well thought out

18 Communiqué an official bulletin or announcement

19 Compunction feeling of deep regret

20 Concoct invent, prepare by mixing together

21 Concur agree (accept)

22 Confiscate to forcibly take away something

23 Covet desire, to want something desperately

D

1 Dapper neat and smart

2 De Facto the current reality or truth

3 Debase to insult or pull down one's character

4 Debonair care-free or self-confident manner

5 Debut first appearance in public

6 Decorum appropriate manners and conduct

7 Déjà Vu feeling or familiarity, as if you have already experienced it

8 Deportment behavior or manners

9 Deprive take away something from someone

10 Despicable something absolutely horrible or evil

11 Detour a round-about way

12 Devout earnestly religious

13 Dexterous Skilful in physical movements; especially of the hands

14 Diffident lack of confidence

15 Diligent hard-working

16 Discreet careful not to say or do the wrong thing

17 Discretion personal choice

18 Divulge reveal

19 Docile easily trained or controlled

20 Dovetail to join together

21 Drought a long period of dry weather

22 Dumbfounded astonished

23 Dupe to trick or fool someone

E

1 Echelon level of responsibility or importance in an organization

2 Eerie mysterious or weird

3 Efface remove completely or to rub off

4 Efficacious something that produces the desired result

5 Elan Distinctive and stylish elegance

6 Elicit to call for something or to bring out something

7 Elucidate make clear or explain

8 Emancipate liberate

9 Embrace hug (hold-cuddle)

10 Empathy to feel or share someone else's problems or feelings

11 Enchant to delight someone

12 Endeavor to make an effort, to try very hard

13 Endorse approve, support a claim or statement

14 Enigma a mysterious or baffling thing

15 Entourage a group of followers or attendants

16 Epitome a perfect example

17 Equity fairness or impartiality

18 Erudite very knowledgeable

19 Evince to show openly or clearly

20 Exacerbate to aggravate or make something worse

21 Exploit to use for selfish advantage or profit

22 Extensive far-reaching

23 Extol to praise highly

F

1 Facet the different sides or aspects of someone or something

2 Faux Pas a mistake or error especially in manners or behavior

3 Fiasco a complete failure

4 Finesse highly refined skill or technique

5 Flaunt to show off something so that everyone can see it

6 Fledgling young and inexperienced person

7 Flimsy lacking strength

8 Flummox to confuse

9 Foray an expedition / journey or an attempt to do something

10 Forebear ancestor

11 Forfeit to give up something / accept defeat

12 Foster to promote the development of someone or something

13 Fraud a cheat or scoundrel

14 Frugal careful with money or expenditures

15 Furtive very shy or secretive looks

16 Fuse combine

G

1 Gaffe a blunder or mistake

2 Gambit a risky plan

3 Game Plan a carefully planned course of action

4 Gamut the entire range or collection of something

5 Garrulous to talk a lot

6 Gaudy too bright and showy

7 Generic having a wide range of applications

8 Genre a category or group

9 Ghastly death-like, pale and ill

10 Gibberish foolish talk

11 Glitch an error or unexpected result

12 Gloat to boast and make the other person feel bad

13 Glut an excessive supply

14 Go-Getter an achiever / one who is full of vigor and energy

15 Gorge to eat greedily

16 Grotesque distorted or ugly

17 Gruesome disgusting / difficult to see

18 Grumble to complain

19 Gullible easily fooled

20 Gutsy full of guts and bravery

H

1 Hapless having no luck / unfortunate

2 Harass worry, trouble

3 Harness to control so as to use the power

4 Heap to pile up or collect

5 Hectic very busy / active

6 Heed to take note of or to listen

7 Heretic one who believes in the opposite of what most people believe in

8 Hiatus a break or interruption of continuity

9 Hindsight ability to see, after the event what should have been done

10 Holocaust vast destruction and loss of life

11 Hone to sharpen

12 Hover to stay still in the air / to stay close to someone or something

13 Hum-Drum tedious and dull

14 Hustle to push or force someone to do something

15 Hypochondriac a person who believes he is always ill or infected with a disease

I

1 Icon someone who is considered the perfect representative

2 Imbecile very foolish or stupid

3 Imbue to permeate or saturate into someone or something

4 Impasse a situation from which there appears to be no way out

5 Impede to block or hinder

6 Imperative essential

7 In Toto completely with nothing omitted

8 Incarcerate to put into prison

9 Incentive a reward for performance

10 Incisive sharp and penetrating or cutting

11 Indigenous native or something that is local

12 Indigenous originating or occurring naturally in that place

13 Inept clumsy and incompetent

14 Infallible incapable of making an error

15 Innuendo an indirect hit or comment

16 Insatiate never satisfied

17 Instigate Provoke or stir up

18 Interim a time period between 2 events

19 Intrepid fearless

20 Intrepid unusually brave

21 Iota a very small amount

22 Irate angry

J

1 Jaunt a short journey

2 Jejune dry and uninteresting

3 Jeopardize to put someone or something in danger

4 Jeopardy danger

5 Jet-Lag a disruption of body cycles when flying to distant time zones

6 Jettison to throw or drop off someone or something from a ship or plane or a project etc.

7 Jiffy a very short time

8 Joint Venture when 2 companies join together to form a separate company

9 Jostle to bump or push someone

10 Juvenile a young animal or person

11 Juxtapose to put side by side

K

1 Kaleidoscopic constantly changing

2 Kaput destroyed or defeated

3 Keel Over to turn or fall over, to capsize

4 Killjoy someone who spoils other people's fun

5 Kindle to stimulate or arouse interest

6 Kindred similar in nature

6 Kink a person's weird ideas, habits, behaviors etc.

7 Kleptomania An irresistible impulse to steal but the person has no interest in money

8 Knave dishonest person

9 Knead to massage by thumping and squeezing with hands

10 Knee-Jerk to react or respond instinctively without thought

11 Kudos credit or praise for an achievement

L

1 Lacerate to cut or tear especially flesh

2 Lackey a follower who carries out another's orders like a servant

3 Laconic brief and concise

4 Lacuna a gap in understanding or a loophole

5 Laggard one who is slow and usually falls behind

6 Lament to feel very sorry about something

7 Latent something that exists but does not show itself

8 Lateral Thinking a method that uses unorthodox ideas to solve problems

9 Laurels honor or distinction obtained gained by outstanding achievement

10 Lethargy laziness

11 Leverage a means of accomplishing a purpose using power, influence and information

12 Levity lack of seriousness

13 Liaison A channel for communication between groups

14 Lieu another word for place (e.g. in place of (or) in lieu of)

15 Liquidate to pay off or settle debts

16 Lithe graceful and sleek

17 Livid very angry

18 Loafer lazy person with no constructive work

19 Loquacious very talkative

20 Low-Down the true story / facts

21 Lucrative highly profitable

22 Ludicrous ridiculous, laughable or absurd

23 Lustrous bright, shining

M

1 Maestro a master of his art-from

2 Magnanimous Generous, understanding, and tolerant

3 Malign Speak unfavorably about someone or something

4 Marginalize exclude or ignore a certain section of people

5 Martyr a person who undergoes death or suffering for his beliefs

6 Maverick one who is unorthodox in his ideas, attitudes etc.

7 Meager very small amount

8 Meander wander around aimlessly or follow a winding path

9 Meddle to interfere in someone else's business

10 Memoir An account of the author's personal experiences

11 Mend to repair

12 Metamorphosis transform

13 Meticulous excessively careful about details

14 Mettle inner strength, capable of rising to challenges

15 Mirth state of happiness

16 Misconstrue to interpret wrongly

17 Misery extreme sadness

18 Misogamist a person who hates marriage

19 Modus Operandi the style or manner of working, the method used to achieve a goal

20 Mollify to soothe the temper of someone, to pacify or appease

21 Momentary just for a few seconds

22 Monopoly when one company controls the entire market

23 Mundane dull, boring, monotonous

N

1 Nadir lowest possible point

2 Naïve having a simple nature and can easily be fooled

3 Narcissistic excessive admiration of oneself

4 Nascent just beginning or developing, very early stages

5 Natty trim and smart in appearance

6 Nausea feeling of sickness - feel like vomiting

7 Nefarious extremely wicked

8 Neglect pay no attention to someone or something

9 Niche a position or place specially adapted to the person in question

10 Nifty smart and stylish

11 Nimble mentally quick

12 Nitty-Gritty most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience

13 Nocturnal only active in the night like bats

14 No-Frills basic, without any additional comforts or features

15 Noisome an offensive or horrible smell

16 Nomenclature a system or set of names used in a specific branch of learning or activity

17 Nonchalant lack of interest or excitement

18 Nostalgia a longing for things and places that are far away or in the past

19 Novice a beginner in any occupation

20 Nuance A small difference in meaning, opinion or attitude

21 Nugget a piece of something valuable e.g. information, gold etc.

O

1 Obeisance to show deep respect by bowing or folding hands

2 Obese very fat

3 Obfuscate deliberately make something unclear by confusing the situation even further

4 Obituary a notice of death that comes in the newspaper

5 Obnoxious very disagreeable or unpleasant

6 Obsolete no longer useful, outdated

7 Obstinate stubborn

8 Obtuse very slow to understand anything, dim-witted

9 Offshoot anything that branches off or derives from a main source

10 Oligarchy a form of government in which power is restricted to a few important people

11 Ominous threatening

12 Omnipresent present in all places at the same time

13 Onus burden or responsibility

14 Oodles a very large quantity

15 Opportunist someone who uses every opportunity to achieve his goals

16 Ornate heavily decorated

17 Ostensible offered as real or genuine

18 Ostentatious meant to attract notice

19 Ostracize to banish or exclude someone

20 Oversight an unintentional careless mistake

21 Overt not hidden, something that can easily seen and observed

22 Overtone a hint or suggestion of something felt, perceived or believed

23 Overwrought over-worked and fatigued

P

1 Pageant a spectacular display or exhibition

2 Palindrome a word or sentence that reads the same way backwards

3 Pallid pale, weak

4 Panacea a remedy for all diseases

5 Panache Distinctive and stylish elegance

6 Pandemonium wild disorder and noise

7 Paradigm a pattern, example or model

8 Paragon apparently perfect person or thing

9 Paranoia A psychological disorder characterized by imaginary beliefs

10 Pariah an outcast, someone who is shunned by society

11 Parity state or condition of being the same in power, rank, value etc.

12 Parsimonious very stingy with money

13 Passé out of date and old fashioned

14 Paucity smallness of number or quantity, scarcity

15 Penchant a strong liking or inclination towards something

16 Pensive thoughtful yet sad state of mind

17 Penury extreme poverty

18 Per Se by itself

19 Perch take up a high position

20 Perchance by chance, accidentally

21 Perilous very dangerous

22 Perky self-confident and lively

23 Perpetrate to be guilty of doing something

24 Perseverance persistence in an effort, purpose or enterprise

25 Perturb to emotionally disturb someone

26 Pervade spread through every part of something

27 Petite physically delicate or small-made

28 Petrify to scare someone very badly

29 Petulant impatient or rude

30 Philanthropist Someone who makes charitable donations intended to increase human well-being

31 Placid calm and undisturbed

32 Plausible seemingly probable but open to doubt

33 Plethora a superabundance or excess of something

Q

1 Q.E.D quad erat demon stratum - so it is proved or demonstrated

2 Quack An untrained person who pretends to be a physician and who dispenses medical advice

3 Quaint sweet and old fashioned in a pleasing way

4 Qualm an uneasy feeling to do something, usually out of shyness

5 Quandary state of uncertainty

6 Quarantine forcibly isolating those who have been infected by diseases

7 Quench to satisfy or put an end to

8 Quick-Fix a quick and temporary solution to a problem

9 Quintessence the purest form or the perfect example of something

10 Quixotic overly idealistic and therefore foolish

R

1 Refurbished make clean, as if like new

2 Rejoicing happiness, joy

3 Reticent in the habit of saying little

4 Reverberate Fill for a short time with sound and echoes

5 Rigor The quality of being hard to endure, uninviting or formidable

6 Rotund round, fat or obese

S

1 Salvage Prevent being ruined, destroyed, lost, or harmed

2 Scattered Occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

3 Scrutiny close examination

4 Shatter to break into many pieces

5 Shunned avoided, kept away from

6 Sketchy Giving only major points; lacking completeness

7 Solicit beseech (seek)

8 Sporadic happening from time to time

9 Stifled suppressed, kept back

10 Strive to make great efforts, to struggle

11 Subsequent following

12 Subside wane (drop)

13 Succumb yield, die

T

1 Taciturn unspoken, silent

2 Tamper Play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly

3 Tantalize raise hopes that cannot be realized

4 Tentative uncertain, probable

5 Torpid dull and slow

6 Tranquil serene (calm)

7 Treacherous not to be trusted,

8 Tremor Shaking or trembling

9 Tyro a beginner

U

1 Ubiquitous present everywhere

2 Ulterior beyond what is seen or expressed

3 Umbrage a sense of injury or offense

4 Uncanny strange and mysterious

5 Uncouth crude, without manners

6 Undermine to weaken or destroy someone's efforts

7 Unwieldy difficult to move

8 Uproar noise and excitement

V

1 Vanity a foolish pride

2 Veer Turn sharply; change direction abruptly

3 Vehemence forcefulness; intensity

4 Vigilance watchfulness

5 Vindicate prove the truth

W

1 Wan looking ill, not bright

2 Wanton undisciplined, unmanageable

3 Whet sharpen

4 Wile a trick

5 Wrinkle make small lines

X

1 Xanadu an imaginary exotic and beautiful place

2 Xenophobia hatred and distrust of foreigners

Y

1 Yardstick a test or standard used in measuring

2 Yen a strong longing or desire for something

Z

1 Zany clownish, foolish

2 Zealot a person who is obsessed with is religion or beliefs

3 Zenith the highest possible point

4 Zephyr a soft, gentle wind or breeze