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Full list of words from this list:

from easy to hard


     

1.  abash-----------cause to be embarrassed
2.  abate------------become less in amount or intensity
3.  abdicate----------give up power, duties, or obligations
4.  aberration---------a state or condition markedly different from the norm
5.  abhor----------feel hatred or disgust toward
6.  abject--------------of the most contemptible kind
7.  abnegate----------deny or renounce
8.  abortive-------failing to accomplish an intended result
9.  abridge-------------lessen, diminish, or curtail
10.  absolute

perfect or complete or pure

11.  absolve

grant remission of a sin to

12.  abstinent

self-restraining

13.  abstract

existing only in the mind

14.  abstruse

difficult to understand

15.  abysmal

exceptionally bad or displeasing

16.  accolade

a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

17.  accost

approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently

18.  acerbic

sour or bitter in taste


19.  acquiesce

agree or express agreement

20.  acrid

strong and sharp, as a taste or smell

21.  acrimonious

marked by strong resentment or cynicism

22.  acumen

shrewdness shown by keen insight

23.  acute

ending in a sharp point

24.  adamant

impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason

25.  address

speak to

26.  adherent

someone who believes and helps to spread a doctrine

27.  admonish

warn strongly; put on guard

28.  adroit

quick or skillful or adept in action or thought

29.  adulation

exaggerated flattery or praise

30.  adulterate

make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance


31.  adverse

in an opposing direction

32.  aesthetic

characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste

33.  affable

diffusing warmth and friendliness

34.  affectation

a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display

35.  affinity

a natural attraction or feeling of kinship

36.  affluent

having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

37.  agenda

a list of matters to be taken up, as at a meeting

38.  aggregate

a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together

39.  agnostic

a person who claims the existence of God is unknowable

40.  agrarian

relating to rural matters

41.  alacrity

liveliness and eagerness

42.  allege

report or maintain
43.  alleviate

provide physical relief, as from pain

44.  allocate

distribute according to a plan or set apart for a purpose

45.  alloy

a mixture containing two or more metallic elements

46.  allusion

passing reference or indirect mention

47.  aloof

distant, cold, or detached in manner

48.  altruism

the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others

49.  ambience

the atmosphere of an environment

50.  ambiguous

having more than one possible meaning

51.  ambivalent

uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow

52.  ameliorate

make better

53.  amenable

disposed or willing to comply

54.  amenity

something that provides value, pleasure, or convenience


55.  amiable

diffusing warmth and friendliness

56.  amnesty

a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense

57.  amoralism

the doctrine that moral distinctions are invalid

58.  amorous

inclined toward or displaying love

59.  amorphous

having no definite form or distinct shape

60.  anachronism

locating something at a time when it couldn't have existed

61.  analogy

drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity

62.  anarchy

a state of lawlessness and disorder

63.  anecdote

short account of an incident

64.  anguish

extreme distress of body or mind

65.  animosity

a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility

66.  anomaly

deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule


67.  antecedent

a preceding occurrence or cause or event

68.  antipathy

a feeling of intense dislike

69.  antithesis

exact opposite

70.  apartheid

a social policy of racial segregation

71.  apathy

an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

72.  aphorism

a short pithy instructive saying

73.  apocalypse

a cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the powers of evil

74.  apocryphal

being of questionable authenticity

75.  apotheosis

model of excellence or perfection of a kind

76.  appease

make peace with

77.  appreciate

increase the value of

78.  apprehensive

in fear or dread of possible evil or harm


79.  approbation

official acceptance or agreement

80.  appropriate

take possession of by force

81.  aptitude

inherent ability

82.  arbiter

someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue

83.  arbitrary

based on or subject to individual discretion or preference

84.  arcane

requiring secret or mysterious knowledge

85.  archaic

so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period

86.  archetype

something that serves as a model

87.  ardent

characterized by intense emotion

88.  arduous

characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion

89.  aristocratic

belonging to or characteristic of the nobility

90.  artful

marked by skill or cunning in achieving a desired end


91.  artifice

the use of deception or trickery

92.  ascendancy

the state when one person or group has power over another

93.  ascetic

someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline

94.  assiduous

marked by care and persistent effort

95.  assimilate

take up mentally

96.  assuage

provide physical relief, as from pain

97.  astute

marked by practical hardheaded intelligence

98.  atheist

someone who denies the existence of god

99.  attrition

a wearing down to weaken or destroy

100.  audacity

aggressive or outright boldness

101.  augment

enlarge or increase

102.  auspicious

indicating favorable circumstances and good luck


103.  austere

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor

104.  autocratic

characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule

105.  autonomous

existing as an independent entity

106.  avarice

reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth

107.  avow

declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true

108.  avuncular

being or relating to an uncle

109.  awry

turned or twisted to one side

110.  axiom

a proposition that is not susceptible of proof or disproof

111.  banal

repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

112.  bane

something causing misery or death

113.  bastion

projecting part of a rampart or other fortification

114.  beget

have children
115.  belabor

work at or to absurd length

116.  beleaguer

surround so as to force to give up

117.  belie

be in contradiction with

118.  belittle

cause to seem lesser or inferior

119.  belligerent

characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight

120.  bemused

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements

121.  benefactor

a person who helps people or institutions

122.  benevolent

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding

123.  benign

not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive

124.  bequest

a gift of personal property by will

125.  bereaved

sorrowful through loss or deprivation

126.  beset

assail or attack on all sides


127.  blasphemy

the act of depriving something of its sacred character

128.  blatant

without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious

129.  blight

any plant disease resulting in withering without rotting

130.  blithe

carefree and happy and lighthearted

131.  bourgeois

being of the property-owning class

132.  bovine

any of various wild or domestic cattle

133.  brevity

the attribute of being short or fleeting

134.  broach

bring up a topic for discussion

135.  bucolic

idyllically rustic

136.  bureaucracy

a government administered primarily by nonelective officials

137.  burgeon

grow and flourish

138.  burlesque

a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor


139.  cacophony

loud confusing disagreeable sounds

140.  cadence

a recurrent rhythmical series

141.  cajole

influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

142.  callow

young and inexperienced

143.  candor

the quality of being honest and straightforward

144.  capitalism

an economic system based on private ownership of assets

145.  capitulate

surrender under agreed conditions

146.  capricious

determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity

147.  caricature

a representation of a person exaggerated for comic effect

148.  castigate

inflict severe punishment on

149.  catalyst

substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction

150.  categorical

not modified or restricted by reservations


151.  catharsis

purging the body to stimulate evacuation of the bowels

152.  catholic

comprehensive or broad-minded in tastes and interests

153.  caustic

capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

154.  celibacy

abstaining from sexual relations

155.  censure

harsh criticism or disapproval

156.  cerebral

of or relating to the brain

157.  chagrin

strong feelings of embarrassment

158.  charisma

personal attractiveness that enables you to influence others

159.  charlatan

a flamboyant deceiver

160.  chasm

a deep opening in the earth's surface

161.  chastise

scold or criticize severely

162.  chicanery

the use of tricks to deceive someone


163.  chimera

a grotesque product of the imagination

164.  choleric

characterized by anger

165.  chronic

long-lasting or characterized by long suffering

166.  chronicle

a record or narrative description of past events

167.  circuitous

deviating from a straight course

168.  circumlocution

an indirect way of expressing something

169.  circumscribe

draw a line around

170.  circumspect

careful to consider potential consequences and avoid risk

171.  circumvent

surround so as to force to give up

172.  civil

not rude

173.  clemency

leniency and compassion shown toward offenders

174.  cliche

a trite or obvious remark


175.  clique

an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose

176.  coalesce

fuse or cause to come together

177.  coerce

cause to do through pressure or necessity

178.  cogent

powerfully persuasive

179.  cognitive

relating to or involving the mental process of knowing

180.  cognizant

having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization

181.  coherent

sticking together

182.  colloquial

characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation

183.  collusion

secret agreement

184.  compelling

capable of arousing and holding the attention

185.  compendium

a concise but comprehensive summary of a larger work

186.  complacent

contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions


187.  complement

something added to embellish or make perfect

188.  complicity

guilt as a confederate in a crime or offense

189.  comprehensive

including all or everything

190.  comprise

be made of

191.  conciliatory

making or willing to make concessions

192.  concise

expressing much in few words

193.  concord

a harmonious state of things and of their properties

194.  concurrent

occurring or operating at the same time

195.  condescend

behave in a patronizing manner

196.  condone

excuse, overlook, or make allowances for

197.  conducive

tending to bring about; being partly responsible for

198.  confluence

a place where things merge or flow together


199.  congenial

suitable to your needs

200.  commensurate

corresponding in size or degree or extent

201.  congenital

present at birth but not necessarily hereditary

202.  congregate

come together, usually for a purpose

203.  conjecture

the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence

204.  conjure

summon into action or bring into existence

205.  connoisseur

an expert able to appreciate a field

206.  consecrate

give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

207.  consensus

agreement in the judgment reached by a group as a whole

208.  consonant

involving or characterized by harmony

209.  construe

make sense of; assign a meaning to

210.  consummate

make perfect; bring to perfection


211.  contentious

showing an inclination to disagree

212.  contiguous

having a common boundary or edge

213.  contingent

possible but not certain to occur

214.  contrite

feeling or expressing pain or sorrow

215.  contrived

artificially formal

216.  conventional

following accepted customs and proprieties

217.  convivial

occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company

218.  copious

large in number or quantity

219.  corollary

an inference following from the proof of another proposition

220.  corroborate

give evidence for

221.  cosmopolitan

composed of people from many parts of the world

222.  countenance

the appearance conveyed by a person's face


223.  coup

a sudden and decisive change of government by force

224.  covenant

a signed written agreement between two or more parties

225.  covert

secret or hidden

226.  covet

wish, long, or crave for

227.  credulous

disposed to believe on little evidence

228.  criterion

the ideal in terms of which something can be judged

229.  cryptic

having a secret or hidden meaning

230.  culinary

of or relating to or used in cooking

231.  culminate

end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage

232.  culpable

deserving blame or censure as being wrong or injurious

233.  cursory

hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

234.  curtail

terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end


235.  cynic

someone who is critical of the motives of others

236.  daunt

cause to lose courage

237.  dearth

an insufficient quantity or number

238.  debacle

a sudden and complete disaster

239.  debauchery

a wild gathering

240.  debilitate

make weak

241.  decadent

relating to indulgence in something pleasurable

242.  decimate

kill in large numbers

243.  decorous

characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste

244.  deduce

reason from the general to the particular

245.  defame

charge falsely or with malicious intent

246.  deference

a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others


247.  definitive

clearly formulated

248.  degenerate

grow worse

249.  deleterious

harmful to living things

250.  delineate

represented accurately or precisely

251.  delude

be dishonest with

252.  deluge

fill or cover completely, usually with water

253.  demagogue

a leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions

254.  denizen

a person who inhabits a particular place

255.  depravity

a corrupt or degenerate act or practice

256.  deprecate

express strong disapproval of; deplore

257.  deride

treat or speak of with contempt

258.  derogatory

expressive of low opinion


259.  desiccate

lose water or moisture

260.  despondent

without or almost without hope

261.  despot

a cruel and oppressive dictator

262.  destitute

poor enough to need help from others

263.  desultory

marked by lack of definite plan, purpose, or enthusiasm

264.  dexterous

skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands

265.  dialectical

relating to reasoning by the exchange of logical arguments

266.  dictum

an authoritative declaration

267.  didactic

instructive, especially excessively

268.  diffident

lacking self-confidence

269.  digress

wander from a direct or straight course

270.  dilettante

an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention


271.  discern

perceive, recognize, or detect

272.  discreet

marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint

273.  discrete

constituting a separate entity or part

274.  discriminate

marked by the ability to see or make fine distinctions

275.  disdain

lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

276.  disinterested

unaffected by concern for one's own welfare

277.  disparage

express a negative opinion of

278.  disparate

fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind

279.  disseminate

cause to become widely known

280.  dissipate

cause to separate and go in different directions

281.  dissolution

separation into component parts

282.  distend

cause to expand as if by internal pressure


283.  distinguish

mark as different

284.  docile

easily handled or managed

285.  doctrinaire

a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions

286.  dogmatic

pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative

287.  domestic

of or relating to the home

288.  dormant

inactive but capable of becoming active

289.  dubious

fraught with uncertainty or doubt

290.  duplicity

the act of deceiving or acting in bad faith

291.  ebullient

joyously unrestrained

292.  eccentric

conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual

293.  eclectic

someone who selects what seems best of various styles

294.  edify

make understand
295.  efface

remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing

296.  effusion

an unrestrained expression of emotion

297.  egalitarian

favoring social equality

298.  egocentric

limited to or caring only about yourself and your own needs

299.  egregious

conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

300.  elicit

call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response

301.  emulate

strive to equal or match, especially by imitating

302.  elliptical

rounded like an egg

303.  emigrate

leave one's country of residence for a new one

304.  eminent

standing above others in quality or position

305.  empirical

derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

306.  encroach

advance beyond the usual limit


307.  endemic

native to or confined to a certain region

308.  enervate

weaken physically, mentally, or morally

309.  enfranchise

grant freedom to, as from slavery or servitude

310.  engender

call forth

311.  enigma

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

312.  enormity

the quality of extreme wickedness

313.  ephemeral

anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day

314.  epigram

a witty saying

315.  epitome

a standard or typical example

316.  equanimity

steadiness of mind under stress

317.  equitable

fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience

318.  equivocal

open to two or more interpretations


319.  erudite

having or showing profound knowledge

320.  esoteric

understandable only by an enlightened inner circle

321.  espouse

choose and follow a theory, idea, policy, etc.

322.  ethereal

characterized by lightness and insubstantiality

323.  euphemism

an inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one

324.  evanescent

short-lived; tending to vanish or disappear

325.  exacerbate

make worse

326.  exacting

requiring precise accuracy

327.  exalt

praise, glorify, or honor

328.  exasperate

make furious

329.  exemplify

be characteristic of

330.  exhaustive

performed comprehensively and completely


331.  exhort

spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts

332.  exigency

a pressing or urgent situation

333.  existential

relating to or dealing with the state of being

334.  exonerate

pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

335.  expatriate

a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country

336.  expedient

appropriate to a purpose

337.  expedite

process fast and efficiently

338.  explicit

precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable

339.  extol

praise, glorify, or honor

340.  extraneous

not belonging to that in which it is contained

341.  extrapolate

draw from specific cases for more general cases

342.  extricate

release from entanglement or difficulty


343.  extrovert

a person directed toward others as opposed to the self

344.  exult

express great joy

345.  fabrication

the act of making a product from raw materials

346.  facetious

cleverly amusing in tone

347.  facile

arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth

348.  faction

a dissenting clique

349.  farcical

broadly or extravagantly humorous

350.  fastidious

giving careful attention to detail

351.  fatalist

someone who feels powerless to change his or her destiny

352.  fatuous

devoid of intelligence

353.  fauna

all the animal life in a particular region or period

354.  fecund

capable of producing offspring or vegetation


355.  felicity

state of well-being characterized by contentment

356.  fervor

feelings of great warmth and intensity

357.  fetter

restrain with shackles

358.  fidelity

the quality of being faithful

359.  figurative

not literal

360.  finesse

subtly skillful handling of a situation

361.  flagrant

conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible

362.  flaunt

display proudly

363.  flout

treat with contemptuous disregard

364.  foible

a minor weakness or peculiarity in someone's character

365.  foment

try to stir up

366.  forbear

refrain from doing


367.  forego

do without or cease to hold or adhere to

368.  forsake

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

369.  fortuitous

lucky; occurring by happy chance

370.  founder

fail utterly; collapse

371.  fraternal

like or characteristic of or befitting a brother

372.  frenetic

fast and energetic in an uncontrolled or wild way

373.  frugal

avoiding waste

374.  furtive

secret and sly

375.  futile

unproductive of success

376.  garrulous

full of trivial conversation

377.  gauche

lacking social polish

378.  genre

a kind of literary or artistic work


379.  genteel

marked by refinement in taste and manners

380.  gesticulate

show, express, or direct through movement

381.  glut

supply with an excess of

382.  grandiloquent

puffed up with vanity

383.  grandiose

impressive because of unnecessary largeness or magnificence

384.  gratuitous

unnecessary and unwarranted

385.  gravity

a manner that is serious and solemn

386.  gregarious

temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others

387.  guile

shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception

388.  hackneyed

repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

389.  hapless

unfortunate and deserving pity

390.  harbinger

something indicating the approach of something or someone


391.  hedonism

an ethical system that values the pursuit of pleasure

392.  hegemony

the dominance or leadership of one social group over others

393.  heresy

a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion

394.  hermetic

completely sealed or airtight

395.  heyday

the period of greatest prosperity or productivity

396.  hiatus

an interruption in the intensity or amount of something

397.  hierarchy

a series of ordered groupings within a system

398.  histrionic

overly dramatic or emotional

399.  homily

a sermon on a moral or religious topic

400.  homogeneous

all of the same or similar kind or nature

401.  husbandry

the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock

402.  hyperbole

extravagant exaggeration
403.  hypothetical

a conjectural possibility or circumstance

404.  iconoclast

someone who attacks cherished ideas or institutions

405.  ideology

an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group

406.  idiosyncrasy

a behavioral attribute peculiar to an individual

407.  idyllic

charmingly simple and serene

408.  ignominy

a state of dishonor

409.  illicit

contrary to accepted morality or convention

410.  immigrate

come into a new country and change residency

411.  imminent

close in time; about to occur

412.  immutable

not subject or susceptible to change or variation

413.  impartial

free from undue bias or preconceived opinions

414.  impeccable

without error or flaw


415.  imperial

belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler

416.  impervious

not admitting of passage or capable of being affected

417.  impetuous

characterized by undue haste and lack of thought

418.  implement

a piece of equipment or a tool used for a specific purpose

419.  impotency

the quality of lacking strength or power

420.  impugn

attack as false or wrong

421.  inane

devoid of intelligence

422.  inaugurate

commence officially

423.  incandescent

emitting light as a result of being heated

424.  incantation

a ritual reciting of words believed to have a magical effect

425.  incense

make furious

426.  incessant

uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing


427.  incipient

only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

428.  incisive

demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

429.  incongruous

lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness

430.  incorrigible

impervious to correction by punishment

431.  increment

the amount by which something increases

432.  indifferent

marked by a lack of interest

433.  indigenous

originating where it is found

434.  indigent

poor enough to need help from others

435.  indignant

angered at something unjust or wrong

436.  indolent

disinclined to work or exertion

437.  indulgent

given to yielding to the wishes of someone

438.  ineffable

defying expression or description


439.  inept

generally incompetent and ineffectual

440.  inert

slow and apathetic

441.  inexorable

impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason

442.  infamous

known widely and usually unfavorably

443.  infatuated

marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness

444.  infer

conclude by reasoning

445.  infinitesimal

immeasurably small

446.  ingenuous

lacking in sophistication or worldliness

447.  inherent

existing as an essential constituent or characteristic

448.  injunction

a judicial remedy to prohibit a party from doing something

449.  innate

present at birth but not necessarily hereditary

450.  innocuous

not injurious to physical or mental health


451.  insatiable

impossible to fulfill, appease, or gratify

452.  insidious

working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way

453.  insinuate

suggest in an indirect or covert way; give to understand

454.  insipid

lacking taste or flavor or tang

455.  insolent

marked by casual disrespect

456.  instigate

provoke or stir up

457.  insular

relating to or characteristic of or situated on an island

458.  insurgent

in opposition to a civil authority or government

459.  integral

existing as an essential constituent or characteristic

460.  integrate

make into a whole or make part of a whole

461.  intractable

difficult to manage or mold

462.  intransigent

impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason


463.  intrinsic

belonging to a thing by its very nature

464.  introspective

given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences

465.  inundate

fill or cover completely, usually with water

466.  invective

abusive language used to express blame or censure

467.  inveterate

habitual

468.  irascible

quickly aroused to anger

469.  ironic

displaying incongruity between what is expected and what is

470.  irrevocable

incapable of being retracted

471.  itinerant

traveling from place to place to work

472.  judicious

marked by the exercise of common sense in practical matters

473.  juxtapose

place side by side

474.  kinetic

relating to the motion of material bodies and their forces


475.  labyrinth

complex system of paths in which it is easy to get lost

476.  laconic

brief and to the point

477.  lament

a cry of sorrow and grief

478.  lampoon

ridicule with satire

479.  languish

become feeble

480.  largess

liberality in bestowing gifts

481.  latent

potentially existing but not presently evident or realized

482.  laud

praise, glorify, or honor

483.  legacy

a gift of personal property by will

484.  lethargic

deficient in alertness or activity

485.  levity

a manner lacking seriousness

486.  libel

a false and malicious publication


487.  litigate

engage in legal proceedings

488.  loquacious

full of trivial conversation

489.  lucid

transparently clear; easily understandable

490.  lugubrious

excessively mournful

491.  luminous

softly bright or radiant

492.  machination

a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends

493.  magnanimous

noble and generous in spirit

494.  magnate

a very wealthy or powerful businessperson

495.  malaise

a feeling of mild sickness or depression

496.  malfeasance

wrongful conduct by a public official

497.  malignant

dangerous to health

498.  malinger

avoid responsibilities and duties, often by faking illness


499.  malleable

capable of being shaped or bent

500.  mandate

a formal statement of a command to do something


Created on October 27, 2013 (updated November 

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