v.

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

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