abhor (verb.)	to hate something very strongly · Synonyms: detest, loathe · e.g. My grandmother abhors waste and saves every scrap of ribbon for next year's gifts.
abridge (verb.)	to shorten a piece of writing or speech while keeping its main ideas; also, to limit or reduce a right · Synonyms: shorten, condense · e.g. The publisher abridged the 900-page novel into a version young readers could finish in a week.
abstruse (adj.)	very difficult to understand; obscure · Synonyms: obscure, complex · e.g. The philosopher's abstruse essay left most readers more confused than when they started.
accolade (noun.)	an award or expression of high praise · Synonyms: honor, tribute · e.g. The firefighter received the city's highest accolade for rescuing a family from the flood.
accrue (verb.)	to build up or increase gradually over time · Synonyms: accumulate, pile up · e.g. Interest accrues on the loan every month, so paying early saves money.
acerbic (adj.)	sharp and biting in tone; harshly critical · Synonyms: biting, caustic · e.g. Her acerbic remark about his late arrival made the whole room go quiet.
acquiesce (verb.)	to accept or agree to something quietly, often without wanting to · Synonyms: give in, comply · e.g. After a long argument, the club acquiesced to the new meeting time.
acumen (noun.)	the ability to make good, quick judgments, especially in a particular field · Synonyms: shrewdness, insight · e.g. Her business acumen helped the family restaurant survive a difficult year.
admonish (verb.)	to scold someone firmly but calmly; also, to warn or strongly advise · Synonyms: reprimand, caution · e.g. The judge admonished the lawyer for interrupting the witness.
adulation (noun.)	extreme or excessive praise and admiration · Synonyms: worship, adoration · e.g. The rookie quarterback was not prepared for the adulation that followed his first win.
advent (noun.)	the arrival or beginning of something important · Synonyms: arrival, dawn · e.g. The advent of the printing press made books far cheaper.
adversary (noun.)	an opponent or enemy · Synonyms: opponent, rival · e.g. In the final round, she faced her old adversary from the regional tournament.
affable (adj.)	friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to · Synonyms: friendly, genial · e.g. The affable shop owner greeted every customer by name.
affinity (noun.)	a natural liking for something; also, a natural tendency of one substance to combine with another · Synonyms: fondness, attraction · e.g. Ever since her first visit to the aquarium, Leah has had an affinity for sharks.
aggregate (noun.)	a whole formed by combining many parts; also, the sand and crushed stone mixed into concrete · Synonyms: total, sum · e.g. In the aggregate, small donations raised more money than the one large gift.
alacrity (noun.)	cheerful eagerness and speed · Synonyms: eagerness, readiness · e.g. She accepted the invitation with alacrity, replying within seconds.
allay (verb.)	to calm or reduce fear, worry, or suspicion · Synonyms: ease, soothe · e.g. The pilot's calm voice allayed the passengers' nerves during the bumpy landing.
allegory (noun.)	a story in which characters and events stand for larger ideas, often moral ones · Synonyms: parable, fable · e.g. The novel about a farm run by animals is often read as an allegory about power.
altruism (noun.)	unselfish concern for the well-being of others · Synonyms: selflessness, generosity · e.g. Her altruism showed when she gave her lunch to a classmate who had forgotten his.
ameliorate (verb.)	to make a bad or difficult situation better · Synonyms: improve, relieve · e.g. The new bus route ameliorated the long commute for students in the outer neighborhoods.
amenable (adj.)	willing to agree, cooperate, or accept a suggestion · Synonyms: agreeable, cooperative · e.g. The teacher was amenable to moving the quiz to Friday.
amorphous (adj.)	without a clear shape or form; vague and unorganized · Synonyms: shapeless, formless · e.g. The fog formed an amorphous gray mass over the harbor.
anachronism (noun.)	something that belongs to a different time period, especially one placed too early · Synonyms: misplacement in time · e.g. A character texting on a cell phone in a story set in 1920 would be an anachronism.
anecdote (noun.)	a short, interesting or funny story about a real event · Synonyms: story, tale · e.g. Grandpa told an anecdote about the day he met a famous jazz drummer.
animosity (noun.)	strong dislike or hostility · Synonyms: hostility, hatred · e.g. Years of unfair calls had left the fans with real animosity toward the referee.
annotate (verb.)	to add notes or comments to a text · Synonyms: mark up, comment on · e.g. Students annotated the poem, circling every image of light.
anomaly (noun.)	something that differs from what is normal or expected · Synonyms: irregularity, oddity · e.g. One student's perfect score on the impossible quiz was an anomaly.
antagonize (verb.)	to make someone hostile or angry · Synonyms: provoke, irritate · e.g. Don't antagonize your little sister right before the long car ride.
antithesis (noun.)	the direct opposite of something · Synonyms: opposite, reverse · e.g. The calm, quiet library was the antithesis of the noisy cafeteria.
apex (noun.)	the highest point of something; also, the pointed tip of a shape · Synonyms: peak, tip · e.g. At the apex of her career, the singer performed in forty countries.
appraise (verb.)	to judge the value, quality, or worth of something · Synonyms: evaluate, assess · e.g. The coach appraised each player's skills during tryouts.
apprise (verb.)	to inform or tell someone about something · Synonyms: inform, notify · e.g. Please apprise me of any changes to the schedule.
arbiter (noun.)	a person with the power to settle a dispute; also, someone whose opinions set standards · Synonyms: judge, authority · e.g. The principal served as the final arbiter in the argument over the field schedule.
archaic (adj.)	very old or old-fashioned; no longer in common use · Synonyms: outdated, antiquated · e.g. The museum displayed archaic tools used by the town's first settlers.
ardor (noun.)	great enthusiasm or passion · Synonyms: passion, zeal · e.g. The students cheered the team with ardor even in the pouring rain.
ascertain (verb.)	to find out for certain · Synonyms: determine, verify · e.g. The nurse took his temperature to ascertain whether he had a fever.
ascetic (adj.)	living a strict, simple life without comforts or pleasures · Synonyms: austere, self-denying · e.g. The monk's ascetic room held only a mat and a candle.
assiduous (adj.)	showing great care, attention, and steady effort · Synonyms: diligent, meticulous · e.g. Thanks to his assiduous practice, Marco mastered the difficult piano piece.
astute (adj.)	clever at noticing and understanding things; shrewd · Synonyms: perceptive, shrewd · e.g. An astute reader will notice the clue hidden in the first chapter.
attest (verb.)	to state that something is true; also, to serve as evidence of something · Synonyms: confirm, demonstrate · e.g. Several neighbors attested that the dog had been inside all night.
auspicious (adj.)	suggesting that the future will be successful; favorable · Synonyms: promising, favorable · e.g. Sunny skies on the first day of the fair were an auspicious sign.
avarice (noun.)	extreme greed for money or wealth · Synonyms: greed, covetousness · e.g. The pirate's avarice led him to bury his gold rather than share it with his crew.
aversion (noun.)	a strong dislike · Synonyms: dislike, distaste · e.g. My little brother has an aversion to anything green on his plate.
avid (adj.)	very enthusiastic and eager · Synonyms: enthusiastic, keen · e.g. An avid reader, she finished the whole series over winter break.
axiom (noun.)	a statement accepted as true without proof; a basic principle · Synonyms: principle, truism · e.g. It is an axiom in journalism that you check a fact twice before printing it.
banal (adj.)	so ordinary or overused that it is boring; unoriginal · Synonyms: trite, dull · e.g. The movie's banal ending was one the audience had seen a hundred times.
beguile (verb.)	to charm or delight, sometimes in order to trick · Synonyms: charm, deceive · e.g. The fox beguiled the crow with flattery until it dropped its cheese.
belie (verb.)	to give a false impression of; to hide or contradict the truth · Synonyms: disguise, contradict · e.g. His cheerful smile belied how nervous he felt about the audition.
belligerent (adj.)	hostile and aggressive; eager to fight · Synonyms: hostile, combative · e.g. The belligerent player argued with the referee after every call.
benefactor (noun.)	a person who gives money or other help to a person or cause · Synonyms: patron, donor · e.g. An unknown benefactor paid for the girl's college tuition.
berate (verb.)	to scold someone angrily and at length · Synonyms: scold, rebuke · e.g. The manager berated the cashier in front of customers, which embarrassed everyone in the store.
blight (noun.)	a disease that damages plants; also, anything that spoils or ruins a place or thing · Synonyms: plague, eyesore · e.g. A blight wiped out most of the chestnut trees in the eastern forests.
bombastic (adj.)	using grand, puffed-up language that sounds important but says little · Synonyms: pompous, grandiose · e.g. The bombastic announcer described the minor-league game as a clash of titans.
bravado (noun.)	a bold show of courage meant to impress others, often hiding fear · Synonyms: swagger, boasting · e.g. His bravado vanished the moment the dog started barking.
brazen (adj.)	bold and shameless, without embarrassment · Synonyms: shameless, audacious · e.g. In a brazen move, the thief returned to the store the next day to shop.
bureaucracy (noun.)	a system of government or organization with many rules, offices, and officials; often, slow official procedures · Synonyms: red tape, administration · e.g. It took three months of bureaucracy to get the new streetlight approved.
cacophony (noun.)	a harsh, jarring mixture of sounds · Synonyms: din, racket · e.g. The cacophony of car alarms woke the whole street.
cajole (verb.)	to persuade someone gently with flattery or coaxing · Synonyms: coax, sweet-talk · e.g. She cajoled her brother into lending her his bike.
callous (adj.)	showing no concern for other people's feelings or suffering · Synonyms: heartless, unfeeling · e.g. It was callous of him to laugh when his friend fell off the stage.
capitulate (verb.)	to give up resisting; to surrender · Synonyms: surrender, yield · e.g. After hours of begging, the parents capitulated and bought the puppy.
capricious (adj.)	changing suddenly and without reason; unpredictable · Synonyms: fickle, erratic · e.g. The cat's capricious moods meant she might purr or scratch at any moment.
cardinal (adj.)	of the greatest importance; chief · Synonyms: chief, fundamental · e.g. The cardinal goal of the club is to make every member feel welcome.
catharsis (noun.)	the release of strong emotions that brings a feeling of relief · Synonyms: release, purging · e.g. Watching the sad film and crying with her friends was a catharsis for Dana.
caveat (noun.)	a warning or condition attached to something · Synonyms: warning, condition · e.g. The offer came with a caveat: the price applied only to first-time customers.
chagrin (noun.)	annoyance or embarrassment caused by failure or disappointment · Synonyms: embarrassment, mortification · e.g. To his chagrin, Ben realized he had worn mismatched shoes to the interview.
charlatan (noun.)	a person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or skill; a fake · Synonyms: fraud, impostor · e.g. The charlatan claimed his machine could turn lead into gold.
circumspect (adj.)	careful to consider all risks before acting; cautious · Synonyms: cautious, prudent · e.g. Be circumspect about sharing personal information online.
clandestine (adj.)	done secretly, especially because it is not allowed · Synonyms: secret, covert · e.g. The students held a clandestine meeting to plan the teacher's surprise party.
coalesce (verb.)	to come together to form one mass or whole · Synonyms: merge, unite · e.g. The small protest groups coalesced into a single movement.
cognizant (adj.)	aware or having knowledge of something · Synonyms: aware, conscious · e.g. She was cognizant of the risks but decided to try anyway.
colloquial (adj.)	informal; used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing · Synonyms: informal, conversational · e.g. His colloquial style made the history podcast easy to follow.
commensurate (adj.)	matching in size, amount, or degree; in proportion · Synonyms: proportionate, equivalent · e.g. Her pay was commensurate with her experience.
compendium (noun.)	a collection of detailed information about a subject, gathered in one place · Synonyms: collection, compilation · e.g. The encyclopedia is a compendium of knowledge about the natural world.
complement (verb.)	to complete or improve something by adding what it lacks; to go well with · Synonyms: enhance, round out · e.g. The soft piano complemented the singer's powerful voice.
complicit (adj.)	involved with others in doing something wrong · Synonyms: guilty, involved · e.g. By helping hide the evidence, he became complicit in the scheme.
compound (verb.)	to make a problem worse; also, to combine parts into a whole · Synonyms: worsen, aggravate · e.g. Skipping breakfast compounded his headache.
conceit (noun.)	too much pride in oneself; also, in literature, a clever or extended comparison · Synonyms: vanity, extended metaphor · e.g. His conceit made it hard for him to admit he was wrong.
conciliatory (adj.)	meant to make peace or calm someone's anger · Synonyms: peacemaking, appeasing · e.g. She offered a conciliatory smile after the argument.
concoct (verb.)	to make something by mixing ingredients; also, to invent a story or excuse · Synonyms: invent, devise · e.g. The kids concocted a fruit punch from every juice in the fridge.
concur (verb.)	to agree; also, to happen at the same time · Synonyms: agree, coincide · e.g. The doctors concurred that she needed rest.
condescend (verb.)	to treat others as if one is better than them; also, to do something one considers beneath oneself · Synonyms: patronize, stoop · e.g. The tour guide condescended to the visitors, explaining simple things very slowly.
conducive (adj.)	making a certain result likely or possible · Synonyms: favorable, helpful · e.g. A quiet room is conducive to sleep.
confound (verb.)	to confuse or puzzle; also, to prove wrong · Synonyms: baffle, refute · e.g. The riddle confounded everyone at the table.
conjecture (noun.)	a guess or opinion formed without complete evidence · Synonyms: speculation, guess · e.g. Without the missing diary, any explanation of her decision is only conjecture.
connoisseur (noun.)	an expert judge of fine things, such as food, art, or music · Synonyms: expert, authority · e.g. The cheese connoisseur could name the region each sample came from.
consternation (noun.)	sudden alarm, worry, or dismay · Synonyms: dismay, alarm · e.g. To the coach's consternation, the star player sprained her ankle in warm-ups.
construe (verb.)	to interpret or understand something in a particular way · Synonyms: interpret, read · e.g. She construed his silence as agreement.
consummate (adj.)	complete or perfect in every way; also, extremely skilled · Synonyms: complete, accomplished · e.g. She was a consummate host who remembered every guest's favorite dish.
contentious (adj.)	likely to cause argument; also, tending to argue · Synonyms: controversial, disputed · e.g. The new homework policy was a contentious topic at the meeting.
contingent (adj.)	depending on something else happening · Synonyms: dependent, conditional · e.g. The picnic is contingent on good weather.
contract (verb.)	to shrink or become smaller; also, to catch an illness; also, to agree by contract · Synonyms: shrink, catch · e.g. Muscles contract when you lift something heavy.
contrite (adj.)	feeling deeply sorry for having done something wrong · Synonyms: remorseful, apologetic · e.g. The contrite student offered to repay the cost of the broken window.
convoluted (adj.)	extremely complicated and hard to follow · Synonyms: complicated, tangled · e.g. The convoluted directions had us driving in circles.
copious (adj.)	in large amounts; plentiful · Synonyms: abundant, plentiful · e.g. The garden produced copious tomatoes all summer.
corollary (noun.)	a natural result or consequence of something · Synonyms: consequence, result · e.g. A corollary of the new rule was that lunch lines grew much shorter.
countenance (verb.)	to tolerate or allow something · Synonyms: tolerate, permit · e.g. The teacher would not countenance cheating of any kind.
credence (noun.)	belief or acceptance that something is true · Synonyms: belief, trust · e.g. No one gave credence to the rumor that school would be canceled.
cryptic (adj.)	mysterious or puzzling; also, serving to hide or camouflage · Synonyms: mysterious, enigmatic · e.g. Her cryptic smile left us wondering what she knew.
culpable (adj.)	deserving blame · Synonyms: blameworthy, responsible · e.g. The investigation found the driver culpable for the accident.
debunk (verb.)	to show that a belief or claim is false · Synonyms: disprove, refute · e.g. The science fair project debunked the idea that gum stays in your stomach for seven years.
decorum (noun.)	behavior that is proper, polite, and right for a formal situation · Synonyms: propriety, dignity · e.g. Even when the ruling went against him, the lawyer kept his decorum and thanked the judge.
deduce (verb.)	to figure out a conclusion by reasoning from facts or clues · Synonyms: infer, conclude · e.g. From the muddy boots by the door, Lena deduced that her brother had walked home through the park.
defunct (adj.)	no longer existing, working, or in use · Synonyms: obsolete, extinct · e.g. The old token booths in the subway have been defunct for years.
demur (verb.)	to politely object or show unwillingness · Synonyms: object, hesitate · e.g. When asked to give a toast at dinner, Grandpa demurred, saying he'd rather listen.
denounce (verb.)	to publicly declare that something is wrong; to criticize harshly in public · Synonyms: condemn, criticize · e.g. The scientist denounced the fake study in a letter to the journal.
desolate (adj.)	empty and lonely; also, feeling very sad and alone · Synonyms: barren, forlorn · e.g. The beach was desolate in January, with no one but gulls in sight.
despondent (adj.)	very unhappy and without hope · Synonyms: hopeless, dejected · e.g. After his third failed audition, Marcus was despondent for a week.
deviate (verb.)	to move away from a usual or planned path, rule, or standard · Synonyms: stray, diverge · e.g. The pilot had to deviate from the flight plan to avoid a storm.
dexterity (noun.)	skill and quickness in using the hands (or the mind) · Synonyms: deftness, nimbleness · e.g. The surgeon's dexterity let her stitch together tiny blood vessels.
dichotomy (noun.)	a sharp division or contrast between two things · Synonyms: division, contrast · e.g. The novel explores the dichotomy between city life and country life.
diffuse (adj.)	spread out over a large area, not concentrated; (of writing or speech) wordy and unfocused · Synonyms: scattered, rambling · e.g. The diffuse glow of the streetlights made the fog look silver.
disconcerting (adj.)	unsettling; making someone feel uneasy or confused · Synonyms: unsettling, disturbing · e.g. It was disconcerting to hear my own voice played back on the recording.
discreet (adj.)	careful not to attract attention or reveal private things; also, modest and not showy · Synonyms: tactful, unobtrusive · e.g. Please be discreet; nobody else knows about the surprise party.
disillusion (verb.)	to show someone that something they believed in or admired is not as good as they thought · Synonyms: disenchant, disappoint · e.g. The behind-the-scenes tour disillusioned Ben about how glamorous filmmaking is.
disinterested (adj.)	not influenced by personal gain; fair and impartial (often misused to mean "uninterested") · Synonyms: impartial, neutral · e.g. The contest needed a disinterested judge who didn't know any of the bakers.
dismissive (adj.)	showing that you think something is not worth considering · Synonyms: scornful, disdainful · e.g. He gave a dismissive wave when I suggested we ask for directions.
disposition (noun.)	a person's usual mood or nature; also, the way something is arranged, handled, or given away · Synonyms: temperament, nature · e.g. With her sunny disposition, Rosa could cheer up anyone.
dissent (noun.)	disagreement with an official or widely held opinion · Synonyms: disagreement, objection · e.g. The proposal passed with only one voice of dissent.
dissipate (verb.)	to scatter and fade away; also, to waste foolishly · Synonyms: disperse, squander · e.g. By noon the morning fog had dissipated.
dissonance (noun.)	a harsh, clashing mix of sounds; also, a clash or lack of agreement between ideas or actions · Synonyms: discord, clash · e.g. The orchestra tuned up in a burst of dissonance.
divergent (adj.)	differing from each other; moving or going in different directions · Synonyms: differing, contrasting · e.g. The twins had divergent tastes in music.
divulge (verb.)	to reveal information, especially a secret · Synonyms: reveal, disclose · e.g. The magician refused to divulge how the trick worked.
duplicity (noun.)	deceitfulness; saying one thing while secretly doing another · Synonyms: deceit, double-dealing · e.g. The spy's duplicity fooled even his closest friends.
effusive (adj.)	expressing feelings, like praise or thanks, in an overflowing, unrestrained way · Synonyms: gushing, lavish · e.g. Her effusive thank-you note went on for three pages.
elucidate (verb.)	to make something clear; to explain · Synonyms: clarify, explain · e.g. The teacher drew a diagram to elucidate the water cycle.
eminent (adj.)	famous and respected within a field · Synonyms: distinguished, renowned · e.g. An eminent astronomer visited our school.
encompass (verb.)	to include completely; also, to surround or enclose · Synonyms: include, surround · e.g. The course encompasses everything from ancient Egypt to modern China.
endemic (adj.)	native to and found only in a certain place; also, common and widespread within a group or area · Synonyms: native, prevalent · e.g. Kangaroos are endemic to Australia.
engender (verb.)	to cause or produce a feeling or situation · Synonyms: cause, generate · e.g. The coach's honesty engendered trust among the players.
entrenched (adj.)	firmly established and difficult to change · Synonyms: ingrained, deep-rooted · e.g. The habit of skipping breakfast was entrenched by the time she reached high school.
enumerate (verb.)	to name things one by one; to list · Synonyms: list, itemize · e.g. She enumerated the reasons she deserved a later curfew.
epiphany (noun.)	a sudden, powerful realization or insight · Synonyms: revelation, realization · e.g. Halfway through the hike, Joel had an epiphany about what he wanted to study.
epitome (noun.)	a perfect example of something · Synonyms: embodiment, model · e.g. With her calm voice and endless patience, Ms. Lee is the epitome of a good teacher.
equanimity (noun.)	calmness and composure, especially in a stressful situation · Synonyms: composure, calm · e.g. She accepted the bad news with equanimity.
equivocate (verb.)	to use vague or unclear language to avoid giving a direct answer · Synonyms: hedge, evade · e.g. When asked if he'd finished his homework, Sam equivocated.
erudite (adj.)	having or showing great knowledge gained from study · Synonyms: learned, scholarly · e.g. The erudite professor could quote poetry in five languages.
espouse (verb.)	to adopt and support a cause, belief, or way of life · Synonyms: support, champion · e.g. The club espoused the idea that anyone could learn to code.
euphemism (noun.)	a mild or indirect word used in place of one that seems harsh or unpleasant · Synonyms: polite term, softened phrase · e.g. "Let go" is a euphemism for "fired."
exalt (verb.)	to praise very highly; also, to raise to a higher rank or position · Synonyms: glorify, elevate · e.g. The poem exalts the beauty of an ordinary city sidewalk.
exorbitant (adj.)	far too high in price or amount · Synonyms: excessive, outrageous · e.g. The stadium charged an exorbitant twelve dollars for a bottle of water.
expedite (verb.)	to make something happen faster · Synonyms: speed up, hasten · e.g. Paying an extra fee will expedite your passport application.
extrapolate (verb.)	to estimate or predict something by extending known facts or trends · Synonyms: project, infer · e.g. From the first week's sales, we extrapolated that we'd sell 400 tickets.
extricate (verb.)	to free someone or something from a difficult situation or tangle · Synonyms: free, disentangle · e.g. It took twenty minutes to extricate the kite from the tree.
exuberant (adj.)	full of energy, excitement, and cheer; also, growing thickly and plentifully · Synonyms: enthusiastic, lush · e.g. The exuberant puppy leaped at everyone who came through the door.
fancy (noun.)	a liking or desire, often a sudden one; also, imagination · Synonyms: liking, whim · e.g. On a sudden fancy, we took the ferry to Staten Island just to see the view.
fastidious (adj.)	very careful about accuracy, detail, or cleanliness; hard to please · Synonyms: meticulous, fussy · e.g. My fastidious cat refuses to eat from a bowl with a single crumb in it.
fathom (verb.)	to understand something difficult; also, to measure the depth of water · Synonyms: comprehend, grasp · e.g. I can't fathom why anyone would get up at 4 a.m. to go fishing.
feign (verb.)	to pretend to feel, have, or be something · Synonyms: pretend, fake · e.g. Leo feigned a cough to get out of the spelling bee.
fidelity (noun.)	faithfulness and loyalty; also, accuracy in copying or reproducing something · Synonyms: loyalty, accuracy · e.g. The dog's fidelity to its owner was legendary.
flagrant (adj.)	obvious and shocking (used for something wrong done openly) · Synonyms: blatant, glaring · e.g. Copying the entire essay was a flagrant violation of the rules.
flippant (adj.)	not showing proper seriousness; joking about something that deserves respect · Synonyms: glib, offhand · e.g. When the teacher asked why his project was late, Jake's flippant answer earned him a detention.
flout (verb.)	to openly ignore or disobey a rule or custom · Synonyms: defy, disregard · e.g. Drivers who flout the speed limit near schools face heavy fines.
fluid (adj.)	able to flow easily; also, smooth and graceful, or likely to change · Synonyms: flowing, changeable · e.g. The dancer's fluid movements made the routine look effortless.
foible (noun.)	a minor weakness or odd habit in someone's character · Synonyms: quirk, weakness · e.g. Grandpa's one foible was insisting on drinking coffee from the same chipped mug.
forestall (verb.)	to prevent or delay something by acting ahead of time · Synonyms: prevent, preempt · e.g. The city trimmed the old trees to forestall damage from winter storms.
forgo (verb.)	to give up or go without something · Synonyms: give up, relinquish · e.g. She decided to forgo dessert so she could save room for popcorn at the movie.
forthright (adj.)	direct and honest in what one says · Synonyms: frank, candid · e.g. My doctor is forthright; she tells me exactly what I need to hear.
fortuitous (adj.)	happening by lucky chance · Synonyms: lucky, accidental · e.g. Our fortuitous meeting at the bus stop led to a lifelong friendship.
founder (verb.)	to fail or collapse; also, of a ship, to fill with water and sink · Synonyms: fail, sink · e.g. The project foundered when the team ran out of money.
fractious (adj.)	irritable and quarrelsome; hard to control · Synonyms: unruly, quarrelsome · e.g. The fractious toddler refused his nap and threw his blocks across the room.
frenetic (adj.)	fast, energetic, and wild in an uncontrolled way · Synonyms: frantic, hectic · e.g. The frenetic pace of the newsroom left her exhausted.
gamut (noun.)	the complete range of something · Synonyms: range, spectrum · e.g. Her emotions ran the gamut from joy to terror during the roller-coaster ride.
garner (verb.)	to gather or collect, especially support, praise, or attention · Synonyms: gather, earn · e.g. Her science project garnered attention from a local news station.
garrulous (adj.)	extremely talkative, especially about unimportant things · Synonyms: chatty, talkative · e.g. Our garrulous neighbor can talk for an hour about her tomatoes.
gratuitous (adj.)	unnecessary and without good reason; uncalled-for (also, given free) · Synonyms: unnecessary, uncalled-for · e.g. The movie's gratuitous explosions added nothing to the story.
guile (noun.)	sly cleverness used to trick people · Synonyms: cunning, craftiness · e.g. The fox in the fable used guile to steal the crow's cheese.
hapless (adj.)	unlucky · Synonyms: unlucky, unfortunate · e.g. The hapless tourist dropped his phone into the fountain.
harrowing (adj.)	extremely distressing; frightening and painful to go through · Synonyms: agonizing, terrifying · e.g. After a harrowing night lost in the woods, the hikers were found safe.
homogeneous (adj.)	made of parts that are all the same kind; evenly mixed or uniform · Synonyms: uniform, consistent · e.g. The class was surprisingly homogeneous; almost everyone had grown up on the same block.
hubris (noun.)	excessive pride or self-confidence that leads to trouble · Synonyms: arrogance, overconfidence · e.g. The champion's hubris made him skip training, and he lost to a newcomer.
hyperbole (noun.)	deliberate exaggeration used for effect · Synonyms: exaggeration, overstatement · e.g. Saying "I've told you a million times" is hyperbole.
iconoclast (noun.)	a person who attacks or rejects cherished beliefs or traditions · Synonyms: rebel, nonconformist · e.g. An iconoclast in the kitchen, the chef served dessert first.
idiosyncrasy (noun.)	an odd habit or way of behaving that is special to one person · Synonyms: quirk, peculiarity · e.g. One of my dad's idiosyncrasies is eating cereal with a fork.
illusory (adj.)	seeming real but not actually real; based on an illusion · Synonyms: deceptive, false · e.g. The safety of the thin ice was illusory.
imminent (adj.)	about to happen very soon · Synonyms: impending, approaching · e.g. Dark clouds warned that a storm was imminent.
impassioned (adj.)	filled with or showing strong feeling · Synonyms: fervent, heartfelt · e.g. She gave an impassioned speech about saving the neighborhood library.
impeccable (adj.)	perfect; without any flaws · Synonyms: flawless, perfect · e.g. His impeccable manners impressed everyone at the dinner.
imperious (adj.)	arrogant and bossy; expecting to be obeyed · Synonyms: domineering, overbearing · e.g. With an imperious wave, the director ordered everyone off the stage.
impervious (adj.)	not letting liquid or anything else pass through; also, not affected by something · Synonyms: impenetrable, unaffected · e.g. She seemed impervious to the cold, wearing shorts in January.
impetuous (adj.)	acting quickly without thinking; impulsive · Synonyms: impulsive, rash · e.g. In an impetuous moment, Lily cut her own bangs.
implacable (adj.)	impossible to calm, satisfy, or win over; relentless · Synonyms: relentless, unforgiving · e.g. The implacable desert sun beat down on the travelers.
impoverish (verb.)	to make poor; also, to drain something of its richness or strength · Synonyms: bankrupt, deplete · e.g. The long drought impoverished many farming families.
impunity (noun.)	freedom from punishment or bad consequences · Synonyms: exemption, immunity · e.g. The bully acted with impunity because no teacher ever saw him.
inane (adj.)	silly and pointless; lacking sense · Synonyms: silly, senseless · e.g. The show's inane jokes made me change the channel.
incisive (adj.)	clear, sharp, and direct in thinking or expression · Synonyms: sharp, penetrating · e.g. Her incisive question exposed the flaw in his argument.
incite (verb.)	to stir up or provoke strong feelings or action, often trouble · Synonyms: provoke, stir up · e.g. The referee's bad call incited boos from the crowd.
incredulous (adj.)	unable or unwilling to believe something · Synonyms: disbelieving, skeptical · e.g. Her incredulous stare told me she didn't buy my excuse.
incumbent (adj.)	required as a duty (incumbent on someone); also, currently holding an office · Synonyms: obligatory, required · e.g. It is incumbent on the team captain to welcome new players.
indelible (adj.)	impossible to remove or forget · Synonyms: permanent, unforgettable · e.g. The marker left an indelible stain on the couch.
indiscriminate (adj.)	done without careful choice; random and unselective · Synonyms: random, unselective · e.g. Indiscriminate use of pesticides harms helpful insects.
indomitable (adj.)	impossible to defeat or discourage · Synonyms: unconquerable, unyielding · e.g. Her indomitable spirit carried her through months of physical therapy.
inept (adj.)	lacking skill; clumsy and incompetent · Synonyms: incompetent, clumsy · e.g. I'm so inept at cooking that I once burned a pot of water.
inexorable (adj.)	impossible to stop or prevent · Synonyms: relentless, unstoppable · e.g. The inexorable rise of the tide swallowed our sandcastle.
infallible (adj.)	never wrong; incapable of making mistakes · Synonyms: unerring, foolproof · e.g. Even the best weather forecasts are not infallible.
ingenuous (adj.)	innocent, trusting, and sincere; naive · Synonyms: naive, guileless · e.g. The ingenuous child believed every word of the tall tale.
ingrained (adj.)	firmly fixed and hard to change · Synonyms: deep-rooted, deep-seated · e.g. Saying "please" was ingrained in her from childhood.
insipid (adj.)	lacking flavor; also, dull and uninteresting · Synonyms: bland, dull · e.g. The movie's insipid plot put me to sleep.
insurmountable (adj.)	too great to be overcome · Synonyms: overwhelming, impossible · e.g. The team faced an insurmountable lead in the final minutes.
interminable (adj.)	seemingly endless; boringly long · Synonyms: endless, never-ending · e.g. The interminable lecture put half the class to sleep.
intractable (adj.)	hard to control, manage, or solve · Synonyms: stubborn, unmanageable · e.g. Traffic downtown has become an intractable problem.
inure (verb.)	to make someone used to something unpleasant, so it no longer bothers them · Synonyms: accustom, harden · e.g. Years of practicing outdoors had inured the runners to the bitter January wind.
invective (noun.)	harsh, insulting, or abusive language · Synonyms: insults, abuse · e.g. The reviewer's column was pure invective, with not one kind word for the play.
irascible (adj.)	easily made angry; quick-tempered · Synonyms: cranky, hot-tempered · e.g. The irascible landlord yelled at anyone who parked within ten feet of his driveway.
irreverent (adj.)	showing a playful or cheeky lack of respect for things people usually treat seriously · Synonyms: disrespectful, cheeky · e.g. The irreverent cartoon poked fun at the town's stuffy statue of its founder.
irrevocable (adj.)	impossible to change, reverse, or take back · Synonyms: permanent, final · e.g. Once she mailed the letter, her decision to quit the team was irrevocable.
juncture (noun.)	a particular point in time, especially an important one; also, a place where things join · Synonyms: point, crossroads · e.g. At this juncture in the season, every game decides whether the team makes the playoffs.
latitude (noun.)	freedom to act or choose as one wishes; also, distance north or south of the equator · Synonyms: freedom, leeway · e.g. The coach gave her captains latitude to run practice however they wanted.
lofty (adj.)	very high; also, noble and grand, or proud and acting superior · Synonyms: elevated, haughty · e.g. The students set the lofty goal of planting a thousand trees by June.
magnitude (noun.)	great size, extent, or importance · Synonyms: size, importance · e.g. Rescue workers were stunned by the magnitude of the flood damage.
malevolent (adj.)	wishing or intending to harm others; evil · Synonyms: wicked, spiteful · e.g. The malevolent troll in the story laid traps along the forest path.
mar (verb.)	to spoil or damage the appearance or quality of something · Synonyms: spoil, blemish · e.g. A single typo marred her otherwise perfect essay.
misnomer (noun.)	a name that is wrong or misleading · Synonyms: wrong name, mislabel · e.g. "Koala bear" is a misnomer, since koalas are not bears at all.
modicum (noun.)	a small amount of something · Synonyms: bit, trace · e.g. With a modicum of patience, you can teach a parrot to say hello.
myopic (adj.)	nearsighted; also, not thinking about the future · Synonyms: short-sighted, narrow-minded · e.g. Skipping practice to rest before the big game was a myopic plan.
nebulous (adj.)	vague, unclear, or not well defined · Synonyms: vague, hazy · e.g. His plans for the summer were nebulous at best.
negligent (adj.)	failing to take proper care or do what one is responsible for · Synonyms: careless, neglectful · e.g. The negligent dog owner let his puppy run loose near the highway.
nominal (adj.)	existing in name only; also, very small in amount · Synonyms: token, minimal · e.g. The camp charges only a nominal fee so that every family can afford it.
oblique (adj.)	indirect or not straightforward; also, slanting at an angle · Synonyms: indirect, slanted · e.g. She made an oblique comment about the messy kitchen instead of asking him to clean it.
obsequious (adj.)	too eager to please or obey; overly flattering · Synonyms: fawning, servile · e.g. The obsequious salesman complimented every outfit she tried on.
opulent (adj.)	rich, expensive, and luxurious · Synonyms: luxurious, lavish · e.g. The opulent mansion had a ballroom, two pools, and gold faucets.
ostracize (verb.)	to exclude someone from a group or society · Synonyms: exclude, shun · e.g. The group ostracized anyone who disagreed with its leader.
panacea (noun.)	a cure or solution for all problems · Synonyms: cure-all, universal remedy · e.g. Extra homework is not a panacea for low test scores.
parody (noun.)	a humorous imitation of a work, style, or person · Synonyms: spoof, send-up · e.g. The class wrote a parody of a famous poem, replacing the roses with pizza.
perennial (adj.)	lasting for a very long time or happening again and again; (of plants) living for several years · Synonyms: recurring, enduring · e.g. Traffic on the bridge is a perennial problem for commuters.
perpetuate (verb.)	to make something, often something bad, continue for a long time · Synonyms: prolong, keep alive · e.g. Repeating rumors only perpetuates them.
pertinent (adj.)	relevant; directly related to the subject · Synonyms: relevant, applicable · e.g. Please include only pertinent details in your lab report.
philanthropy (noun.)	the desire to help others, especially by giving money to good causes · Synonyms: charity, generosity · e.g. Thanks to one family's philanthropy, the park got a new playground.
platitude (noun.)	a remark that has been used so often it has lost its meaning · Synonyms: cliché, truism · e.g. Instead of real advice, he offered platitudes like "Just do your best."
plethora (noun.)	a very large amount, often more than needed · Synonyms: abundance, glut · e.g. The new phone offers a plethora of features most people never use.
plumb (verb.)	to measure the depth of water; also, to explore something deeply · Synonyms: probe, fathom · e.g. The novel plumbs the depths of a family's grief.
poised (adj.)	calm and self-controlled; also, ready to act at any moment · Synonyms: composed, ready · e.g. The poised speaker handled every tough question with ease.
polarize (verb.)	to divide people into two sharply opposed groups · Synonyms: divide, split · e.g. The new dress code polarized the student body.
posterity (noun.)	all future generations of people · Synonyms: future generations, descendants · e.g. The town recorded the elders' songs for posterity.
precipitate (verb.)	to make something happen suddenly; in chemistry, to make a solid separate out of a liquid · Synonyms: trigger, hasten · e.g. The storm precipitated a power outage across the city.
precocious (adj.)	showing skills or interests much earlier than usual for one's age · Synonyms: advanced, gifted · e.g. The precocious toddler could name every planet.
predecessor (noun.)	a person who held a job or position before someone else · Synonyms: forerunner, former holder · e.g. The new mayor promised to finish the projects her predecessor had started.
presumptuous (adj.)	too bold; taking liberties without permission · Synonyms: overbold, forward · e.g. It was presumptuous of him to invite himself to the party.
prodigy (noun.)	a young person with exceptional talent · Synonyms: genius, wonder child · e.g. The chess prodigy beat a grandmaster at age eleven.
proponent (noun.)	a person who supports or argues for an idea or cause · Synonyms: advocate, supporter · e.g. She is a strong proponent of recycling programs.
prosaic (adj.)	ordinary and dull; lacking imagination · Synonyms: mundane, commonplace · e.g. After the thrilling trip, returning to prosaic chores was hard.
protagonist (noun.)	the main character in a story; also, a leading supporter of a cause · Synonyms: main character, champion · e.g. The protagonist of the novel is a girl searching for her lost brother.
proximity (noun.)	nearness in space, time, or relationship · Synonyms: nearness, closeness · e.g. The hotel's proximity to the beach made it popular.
quell (verb.)	to put an end to something, such as a disturbance or a feeling · Synonyms: suppress, calm · e.g. The mayor's speech quelled fears about the bridge's safety.
rebuttal (noun.)	an argument or statement that answers and tries to disprove another · Synonyms: counterargument, refutation · e.g. Her rebuttal showed that her opponent's statistics were outdated.
recluse (noun.)	a person who lives alone and avoids other people · Synonyms: hermit, loner · e.g. The recluse in the cabin hadn't gone into town in years.
recount (verb.)	to tell the story of something in detail · Synonyms: narrate, describe · e.g. In her diary, she recounts every day of the voyage.
redress (verb.)	to set right a wrong or unfair situation · Synonyms: remedy, correct · e.g. The school took steps to redress the unfair grading policy.
relate (verb.)	to tell a story or report events; also, to show a connection between things · Synonyms: tell, connect · e.g. Can you relate what happened at the meeting?
remiss (adj.)	careless about doing one's duty · Synonyms: negligent, lax · e.g. The babysitter was remiss in letting the kids stay up past midnight.
renounce (verb.)	to formally give up a right, claim, or belief · Synonyms: give up, relinquish · e.g. He renounced his title so he could live as an ordinary citizen.
reprehensible (adj.)	deserving strong blame or disapproval · Synonyms: shameful, disgraceful · e.g. Leaving the injured dog by the road was a reprehensible act.
respite (noun.)	a short break or relief from something difficult or unpleasant · Synonyms: relief, break · e.g. The cool library offered a respite from the summer heat.
resurgence (noun.)	a rise or return of something after a period of decline · Synonyms: revival, comeback · e.g. The town saw a resurgence of interest in its old trolley line.
retiring (adj.)	shy and preferring to avoid attention; also, leaving one's job for good · Synonyms: shy, reserved · e.g. The retiring poet never gave readings in public.
retract (verb.)	to take back a statement; also, to pull something back in · Synonyms: withdraw, pull back · e.g. The newspaper retracted the false story the next day.
reverberate (verb.)	to echo again and again; also, to have effects that spread widely · Synonyms: echo, resound · e.g. The thunder reverberated through the valley.
salient (adj.)	most noticeable or important; also, sticking out · Synonyms: prominent, key · e.g. The coach reviewed the salient moments of the game on video.
sanguine (adj.)	cheerfully optimistic, especially in a difficult situation · Synonyms: optimistic, hopeful · e.g. Despite the injury, the coach was sanguine about the season.
satire (noun.)	the use of humor, exaggeration, or mockery to criticize people or ideas · Synonyms: mockery, spoof · e.g. The play was a satire of a town obsessed with its lawns.
scale (verb.)	to climb up something steep; also, to change the size of something (as in "scale back") · Synonyms: climb, reduce · e.g. The climbers scaled the icy cliff before noon.
sedentary (adj.)	involving a lot of sitting and little exercise; also, staying in one place rather than moving around · Synonyms: inactive, settled · e.g. Long hours at a computer can lead to a sedentary lifestyle.
semblance (noun.)	an outward appearance of something, often when the reality is missing; a small degree · Synonyms: appearance, trace · e.g. After the fire drill, the teacher tried to restore some semblance of order.
serendipity (noun.)	the luck of finding something good by accident · Synonyms: happy accident, fortunate chance · e.g. By pure serendipity, she found her lost ring while planting tulips.
singular (adj.)	remarkable or unusual; also, referring to just one (as in grammar) · Synonyms: extraordinary, unique · e.g. She had a singular talent for remembering faces.
solace (noun.)	comfort during a time of sadness or trouble · Synonyms: comfort, consolation · e.g. After the loss, the team found solace in their friendship.
sporadic (adj.)	happening now and then, at irregular times · Synonyms: occasional, irregular · e.g. The town had only sporadic snow this winter.
spurn (verb.)	to reject with scorn or contempt · Synonyms: reject, snub · e.g. The proud knight spurned the offer of help.
squalid (adj.)	extremely dirty and unpleasant, usually because of poverty or neglect · Synonyms: filthy, wretched · e.g. The squalid shed had a leaking roof and rats in the corners.
static (adj.)	not moving or changing; also, relating to electric charge · Synonyms: unchanging, stationary · e.g. Prices stayed static all year.
staunch (adj.)	very loyal and committed · Synonyms: loyal, steadfast · e.g. He remained a staunch friend through every hard time.
stigma (noun.)	a mark of shame or disgrace connected with something · Synonyms: disgrace, shame · e.g. There was once a stigma attached to wearing glasses in school.
stipulate (verb.)	to state clearly as a requirement, especially in an agreement · Synonyms: require, specify · e.g. The lease stipulates that no pets are allowed.
stock (adj.)	commonly used and predictable; standard and unoriginal · Synonyms: standard, stereotyped · e.g. The villain was a stock character with a twirling mustache.
sublime (adj.)	so beautiful or grand that it fills one with awe · Synonyms: awe-inspiring, magnificent · e.g. The sunset over the canyon was sublime.
supplant (verb.)	to take the place of something or someone, often by force · Synonyms: replace, displace · e.g. Digital cameras supplanted film cameras within a decade.
synthesis (noun.)	the combining of separate parts or ideas into a whole · Synonyms: combination, fusion · e.g. Her theory was a synthesis of ideas from biology and physics.
tantamount (adj.)	equal in effect or meaning to something else · Synonyms: equivalent, the same as · e.g. Ignoring the warning was tantamount to asking for trouble.
temperate (adj.)	mild in climate; also, showing self-control and moderation · Synonyms: moderate, restrained · e.g. Coastal towns often have temperate weather year-round.
tender (verb.)	to formally offer something, such as a resignation or payment · Synonyms: offer, submit · e.g. The coach tendered her resignation at the end of the season.
tenet (noun.)	a principle or belief held as true by a group · Synonyms: principle, belief · e.g. Respect for others is a basic tenet of the club.
terse (adj.)	using very few words, in a way that seems rude or unfriendly · Synonyms: curt, abrupt · e.g. His terse reply ended the conversation.
thwart (verb.)	to prevent someone from doing something they plan · Synonyms: block, frustrate · e.g. A flat tire thwarted their plans for an early start.
tirade (noun.)	a long, angry speech of criticism · Synonyms: rant, outburst · e.g. The customer launched into a tirade about the cold soup.
transcend (verb.)	to go beyond the usual limits of something · Synonyms: surpass, rise above · e.g. Great art can transcend the time in which it was made.
turbulent (adj.)	full of disorder or sudden change; also, (of air or water) moving roughly · Synonyms: chaotic, stormy · e.g. The turbulent river flipped the canoe.
unequivocal (adj.)	completely clear, with no doubt about the meaning · Synonyms: clear, absolute · e.g. Her answer was an unequivocal yes.
upheaval (noun.)	a sudden, major change or disruption; also, the lifting up of part of the earth's crust · Synonyms: disruption, uplift · e.g. Moving to a new country was a huge upheaval for the family.
usurp (verb.)	to take a position of power by force or without the right to it · Synonyms: seize, take over · e.g. The ambitious duke usurped the throne while the king was at war.
vacillate (verb.)	to keep going back and forth between choices or opinions · Synonyms: waver, hesitate · e.g. She vacillated between the two colleges for weeks.
vehement (adj.)	showing strong, forceful feeling · Synonyms: passionate, forceful · e.g. The students made a vehement protest against the cut to recess.
venerable (adj.)	deserving great respect because of age, wisdom, or long service · Synonyms: respected, revered · e.g. The venerable judge had served on the court for forty years.
veracity (noun.)	truthfulness; accuracy · Synonyms: truthfulness, accuracy · e.g. The jury questioned the veracity of the witness's story.
verbose (adj.)	using more words than needed · Synonyms: wordy, long-winded · e.g. The verbose speaker talked for an hour without making a point.
vestige (noun.)	a small trace of something that once existed · Synonyms: trace, remnant · e.g. A few stone steps are the last vestige of the old castle.
vex (verb.)	to annoy, frustrate, or puzzle someone · Synonyms: annoy, frustrate · e.g. The missing puzzle piece vexed her all afternoon.
vicarious (adj.)	felt or experienced through another person's actions rather than one's own · Synonyms: secondhand, indirect · e.g. Grandpa got a vicarious thrill from watching us ride the roller coaster.
vilify (verb.)	to speak or write about someone in a very harsh, insulting way · Synonyms: slander, denounce · e.g. The papers vilified the inventor as a fraud.
virtuoso (noun.)	a person with outstanding skill, especially in music or art · Synonyms: master, maestro · e.g. The virtuoso played the violin as if it were part of her body.
voracious (adj.)	wanting or consuming great amounts of something; very eager · Synonyms: insatiable, ravenous · e.g. The voracious caterpillars ate every leaf on the bush.
whimsical (adj.)	playful, fanciful, and charmingly unusual · Synonyms: playful, fanciful · e.g. The whimsical garden had gnomes reading tiny books.
