Test Vocabulary

The following is a list of high frequency vocabulary words found on multiple exams, such as the GRE and SAT. Make a study schedule and memorize the following terms to excel on your test.

aberrant: Markedly different from an accepted norm.

aberration: Deviation from a right, customary, or prescribed course.

SAT Test Study Guide with Practice Questions

abet: To aid, promote, or encourage the commission of (an offense).

abeyance: A state of suspension or temporary inaction.

abjure: To recant, renounce, repudiate under oath.

ablution: A washing or cleansing, especially of the body.

abrogate: To abolish, repeal.

abscond: To depart suddenly and secretly, as for the purpose of escaping arrest.

abstemious: Characterized by self denial or abstinence, as in the use of drink, food.

abstruse: Dealing with matters difficult to be understood.

abut: To touch at the end or boundary line.

accede: To agree.

acquiesce: To comply; submit.

acrid: Harshly pungent or bitter.

acumen: Quickness of intellectual insight, or discernment; keenness of discrimination.

adage: An old saying.

adamant: Any substance of exceeding hardness or impenetrability.

admonition: Gentle reproof.

adumbrate: To represent beforehand in outline or by emblem.

affable: Easy to approach.

aggrandize: To cause to appear greatly.

aggravate: To make heavier, worse, or more burdensome.

agile: Able to move or act quickly, physically, or mentally.

agog: In eager desire.

alacrity: Cheerful willingness.

alcove: A covered recess connected with or at the side of a larger room.

alleviate: To make less burdensome or less hard to bear.

aloof: Not in sympathy with or desiring to associate with others.

amalgamate: To mix or blend together in a homogeneous body.

ambidextrous: Having the ability of using both hands with equal skill or ease.

ambiguous: Having a double meaning.

ameliorate: To relieve, as from pain or hardship

anathema: Anything forbidden, as by social usage.

animadversion: The utterance of criticism or censure.

animosity: Hatred.

antediluvian: Of or pertaining to the times, things, events before the great flood in the days of Noah.

antidote: Anything that will counteract or remove the effects of poison, disease, or the like.

aplomb: Confidence; coolness.

apocryphal : Of doubtful authority or authenticity.

apogee: The climax.

apostate: False.

apotheosis: Deification.

apparition: Ghost.

appease: To soothe by quieting anger or indignation.

apposite: Appropriate.

apprise: To give notice to; to inform.

approbation: Sanction.

arboreal: Of or pertaining to a tree or trees.

ardor: Intensity of passion or affection.

argot: A specialized vocabulary peculiar to a particular group.

arrant: Notoriously bad.

ascetic: Given to severe self-denial and practicing excessive abstinence and devotion.

ascribe: To assign as a quality or attribute.

asperity: Harshness or roughness of temper.

assiduous: Unceasing; persistent

assuage: To cause to be less harsh, violent, or severe, as excitement, appetite, pain, or disease.

astringent: Harsh in disposition or character.

astute: Keen in discernment.

atonement: Amends, reparation, or expiation made from wrong or injury.

audacious: Fearless.

augury: Omen

auspicious: Favorable omen

austere: Severely simple; unadorned.

autocrat: Any one who claims or wields unrestricted or undisputed authority or influence.

auxiliary: One who or that which aids or helps, especially when regarded as subsidiary or accessory.

avarice: Passion for getting and keeping riches.

aver: To avouch, justify or prove

aversion: A mental condition of fixed opposition to or dislike of some particular thing.

avow: To declare openly.

baleful: Malignant.

banal: Commonplace.

bask: To make warm by genial heat.

beatify: To make supremely happy.

bedaub: To smear over, as with something oily or sticky.

bellicose: Warlike.

belligerent: Manifesting a warlike spirit.

benefactor: A doer of kindly and charitable acts.

benevolence: Any act of kindness or well-doing.

benign: Good and kind of heart.

berate: To scold severely.

bewilder: To confuse the perceptions or judgment of.

blandishment: Flattery intended to persuade.

blatant: Noisily or offensively loud or clamorous.

blithe: Joyous.

boisterous: Unchecked merriment or animal spirits.

bolster: To support, as something wrong.

bombast: Inflated or extravagant language, especially on unimportant subjects.

boorish: Rude.

breach: The violation of official duty, lawful right, or a legal obligation.

brittle: Fragile.

broach: To mention, for the first time.

bumptious: Full of offensive and aggressive self-conceit.

buoyant: Having the power or tendency to float or keep afloat.

burnish: To make brilliant or shining.

cabal: A number of persons secretly united for effecting by intrigue some private purpose.

cacophony: A disagreeable, harsh, or discordant sound or combination of sounds or tones.

cajole: To impose on or dupe by flattering speech.

callow: Without experience of the world.

calumny: Slander.

candid: Straightforward.

cant: To talk in a singsong, preaching tone with affected solemnity.

capacious: Roomy.

capitulate: To surrender or stipulate terms.

captious: Hypercritical.

castigate: To punish.

cataract: Opacity of the lens of the eye resulting in complete or partial blindness.

caustic: Sarcastic and severe.

censure: To criticize severely; also, an expression of disapproval.

centurion: A captain of a company of one hundred infantry in the ancient Roman army.

chagrin: Keen vexation, annoyance, or mortification, as at one’s failures or errors.

chary: Careful; wary; cautious.

chicanery: The use of trickery to deceive.

circumlocution: Indirect or roundabout expression.

coddle: To treat as a baby or an invalid.

coerce: To force.

coeval: Existing during the same period of time; also, a contemporary.

cogent: Appealing strongly to the reason or conscience.

cogitate: Consider carefully and deeply; ponder.

cognizant: Taking notice.

colloquial: Pertaining or peculiar to common speech as distinguished from literary.

collusion: A secret agreement for a wrongful purpose.

comestible: Fit to be eaten.

commemorate: To serve as a remembrance of.

complaisance: Politeness.

complement: To make complete.

comport: To conduct or behave (oneself).

compunction: Remorseful feeling.

conceit: Self-flattering opinion.

conciliatory: Tending to reconcile.

concord: Harmony.

concur: To agree.

condense: To abridge.

conflagration: A great fire, as of many buildings, a forest, or the like.

confluence: The place where streams meet.

congeal: To coagulate.

conjoin: To unite.

connoisseur: A critical judge of art, especially one with thorough knowledge and sound judgment of art.

console: To comfort.

conspicuous: Clearly visible.

consternation: Panic.

constrict: To bind.

consummate: To bring to completion.

contiguous: Touching or joining at the edge or boundary.

contrite: Broken in spirit because of a sense of sin.

contumacious: Rebellious.

copious: Plenteous.

cornucopia: The horn of plenty, symbolizing peace and prosperity.

corporeal: Of a material nature; physical.

correlate: To put in some relation of connection or correspondence.

corroboration: Confirmation.

counterfeit: Made to resemble something else.

countervail: To offset.

covert: Concealed, especially for an evil purpose.

cower: To crouch down tremblingly, as through fear or shame.

crass: Coarse or thick in nature or structure, as opposed to thin or fine.

credulous: Easily deceived.

cupidity: Avarice.

cursory: Rapid and superficial.

curtail: To cut off or cut short.

cynosure: That to which general interest or attention is directed.

dearth: Scarcity, as of something customary, essential,or desirable.

defer: To delay or put off to some other time.

deign: To deem worthy of notice or account.

deleterious: Hurtful, morally or physically.

delineate: To represent by sketch or diagram.

deluge: To overwhelm with a flood of water.

demagogue: An unprincipled politician.

denizen: Inhabitant.

denouement: That part of a play or story in which the mystery is cleared up.

deplete: To reduce or lessen, as by use, exhaustion, or waste.

deposition: Testimony legally taken on interrogatories and reduced to writing, for use as evidence in court.

deprave: To render bad, especially morally bad.

deprecate: To express disapproval or regret for, with hope for the opposite.

deride: To ridicule.

derision: Ridicule.

derivative: Coming or acquired from some origin.

descry: To discern.

desiccant: Any remedy which, when applied externally, dries up or absorbs moisture, as that of wounds.

desuetude: A state of disuse or inactivity.

desultory: Not connected with what precedes.

deter: To frighten away.

dexterity: Readiness, precision, efficiency, and ease in any physical activity or in any mechanical work.

diaphanous: Transparent.

diatribe: A bitter or malicious criticism.

didactic: Pertaining to teaching.

diffidence: Self-distrust.

diffident: Affected or possessed with self-distrust.

dilate: To enlarge in all directions.

dilatory: Tending to cause delay.

disallow: To withhold permission or sanction.

discomfit: To put to confusion.

disconcert: To disturb the composure of.

disconsolate : Hopelessly sad; also, saddening; cheerless.

discountenance: To look upon with disfavor.

discredit: To injure the reputation of.

discreet: Judicious.

disheveled: Disordered; disorderly; untidy.

dissemble: To hide by pretending something different.

disseminate: To sow or scatter abroad, as seed is sown.

dissent: Disagreement.

dissolution: A breaking up of a union of persons.

distraught: Bewildered.

divulge: To tell or make known, as something previously private or secret.

dogmatic: Making statements without argument or evidence.

dormant: Being in a state of or resembling sleep.

dubious: Doubtful.

duplicity: Double-dealing.

earthenware: Anything made of clay and baked in a kiln or dried in the sun.

ebullient: Showing enthusiasm or exhilaration of feeling.

edacious: Given to eating.

edible: Suitable to be eaten.

educe: To draw out.

effete: Exhausted, as having performed its functions.

efficacy: The power to produce an intended effect as shown in the production of it.

effrontery: Unblushing impudence.

effulgence: Splendor.

egregious: Extreme.

egress: Any place of exit.

elegy: A lyric poem lamenting the dead.

elicit: To educe or extract gradually or without violence.

elucidate: To bring out more clearly the facts concerning.

emaciate: To waste away in flesh.

embellish: To make beautiful or elegant by adding attractive or ornamental features.

embezzle: To misappropriate secretly.

emblazon: To set forth publicly or in glowing terms.

encomium: A formal or discriminating expression of praise.

encumbrance: A burdensome and troublesome load.

endemic: Peculiar to some specified country or people.

enervate: To render ineffective or inoperative.

engender: To produce.

engrave: To cut or carve in or upon some surface.

enigma: A riddle.

enmity: Hatred.

entangle: To involve in difficulties, confusion, or complications.

entreat: To ask for or request earnestly.

Epicurean: Indulging, ministering, or pertaining to daintiness of appetite.

epithet: Word used adjectivally to describe some quality or attribute of is objects, as in “Father Aeneas”.

epitome: A simplified representation.

equable: Equal and uniform; also, serene.

equanimity: Evenness of mind or temper.

equanimity : Calmness; composure.

equilibrium: A state of balance.

equivocal: Ambiguous.

equivocate: To use words of double meaning.

eradicate: To destroy thoroughly.

errant: Roving or wandering, as in search of adventure or opportunity for gallant deeds.

erratic: Irregular.

erroneous: Incorrect.

erudite: Very-learned.

eschew: To keep clear of.

espy: To keep close watch.

eulogy: A spoken or written laudation of a person’s life or character.

euphonious: Characterized by agreeableness of sound.

evanescent: Fleeting.

evince: To make manifest or evident.

evoke: To call or summon forth.

exacerbate: To make more sharp, severe, or virulent.

exculpate: To relieve of blame.

exhaustive: Thorough and complete in execution.

exigency: A critical period or condition.

exigency : State of requiring immediate action; also, an urgent situation; also, that which is required in a

exorbitant: Going beyond usual and proper limits.

expatiate: To speak or write at some length.

expedient: Contributing to personal advantage.

expiate: To make satisfaction or amends for.

explicate: To clear from involvement.

expostulate: To discuss.

expropriate: To deprive of possession; also, to transfer (another’s property) to oneself.

extant: Still existing and known.

extempore: Without studied or special preparation.

extenuate: To diminish the gravity or importance of.

extinct: Being no longer in existence.

extinguish: To render extinct.

extirpate: To root out; to eradicate.

extol: To praise in the highest terms.

extort: To obtain by violence, threats, compulsion, or the subjection of another to some necessity.

extraneous: Having no essential relation to a subject.

exuberance: Rich supply.

facetious: Amusing.

facile: Not difficult to do.

factious: Turbulent.

fallacious: Illogical.

fatuous: Idiotic

fawn: A young deer.

feint: Any sham, pretense, or deceptive movement.

felon: A criminal or depraved person.

ferocity: Savageness.

fervid: Intense.

fervor: Ardor or intensity of feeling.

fidelity: Loyalty.

finesse: Subtle contrivance used to gain a point.

flamboyant: Characterized by extravagance and in general by want of good taste.

flippant: Having a light, pert, trifling disposition.

florid: Flushed with red.

flout: To treat with contempt.

foible: A personal weakness or failing.

foment: To nurse to life or activity; to encourage.

foppish: Characteristic of one who is unduly devoted to dress and the niceties of manners.

forbearance: Patient endurance or toleration of offenses.

forfeit: To lose possession of through failure to fulfill some obligation.

forgery: Counterfeiting.

forswear: To renounce upon oath.

fragile: Easily broken.

frantic: Frenzied.

frugal: Economical.

fugacious: Fleeting.

fulminate: To cause to explode.

fulsome: Offensive from excess of praise or commendation.

gainsay: To contradict; to deny.

gamut: The whole range or sequence.

garrulous: Given to constant trivial talking.

germane: Relevant.

gesticulate: To make gestures or motions, as in speaking, or in place of speech.

glimmer: A faint, wavering, unsteady light.

gossamer: Flimsy.

gourmand: A connoisseur in the delicacies of the table.

grandiloquent: Speaking in or characterized by a pompous or bombastic style.

gregarious: Sociable, outgoing

grievous: Creating affliction.

guile: Duplicity.

gullible: Credulous.

halcyon: Calm.

harangue: A tirade.

harbinger: One who or that which foreruns and announces the coming of any person or thing.

head: Adv. Precipitately, as in diving.

heinous: Odiously sinful.

heresy: An opinion or doctrine subversive of settled beliefs or accepted principles.

heterogeneous: Consisting of dissimilar elements or ingredients of different kinds.

hirsute: Having a hairy covering.

hoodwink: To deceive.

hospitable: Disposed to treat strangers or guests with generous kindness.

hypocrisy: Extreme insincerity.

iconoclast: An image-breaker.

idiosyncrasy: A mental quality or habit peculiar to an individual.

ignoble: Low in character or purpose.

ignominious: Shameful.

illicit: Unlawful.

imbroglio: A misunderstanding attended by ill feeling, perplexity, or strife.

imbue : To dye; to instill profoundly.

immaculate: Without spot or blemish.

imminent: Dangerous and close at hand.

immutable: Unchangeable.

impair: To cause to become less or worse.

impassive: Unmoved by or not exhibiting feeling.

impecunious: Having no money.

impede: To be an obstacle or to place obstacles in the way of.

imperative: Obligatory.

imperious: Insisting on obedience.

imperturbable: Calm.

impervious: Impenetrable.

impetuous: Impulsive.

impiety: Irreverence toward God.

implacable: Incapable of being pacified.

implicate: To show or prove to be involved in or concerned

implicit: Implied.

importunate: Urgent in character, request, or demand.

importune: To harass with persistent demands or entreaties.

impromptu: Anything done or said on the impulse of the moment.

improvident: Lacking foresight or thrift.

impugn: To assail with arguments, insinuations, or accusations.

impute: To attribute.

inadvertent: Accidental.

inane: Silly.

incessant: Unceasing.

inchoate: Incipient.

incipient: Initial.

incite: To rouse to a particular action.

incongruous: Unsuitable for the time, place, or occasion.

inculcate: To teach by frequent repetitions.

indelible: That can not be blotted out, effaced, destroyed, or removed.

indigence: Poverty.

indigenous: Native.

indistinct: Vague.

indolence: Laziness.

indolent: Habitually inactive or idle.

indomitable: Unconquerable.

indulgent: Yielding to the desires or humor of oneself or those under one’s care.

ineffable: Unutterable.

ineluctable: Impossible to avoid.

inept: Not fit or suitable.

inexorable: Unrelenting.

infuse: To instill, introduce, or inculcate, as principles or qualities.

ingenuous: Candid, frank, or open in character or quality.

inimical: Adverse.

innocuous: Harmless.

inscrutable: Impenetrably mysterious or profound.

insensible: Imperceptible.

insinuate: To imply.

insipid: Tasteless.

insouciant: Nonchalant.

insurrection: The state of being in active resistance to authority.

interdict: Authoritative act of prohibition.

interim: Time between acts or periods.

intransigent: Not capable of being swayed or diverted from a course.

intrepid: Fearless and bold.

introspection: The act of observing and analyzing one’s own thoughts and feelings.

inundate: To fill with an overflowing abundance.

inure: To harden or toughen by use, exercise, or exposure.

invalid: One who is disabled by illness or injury.

invective: An utterance intended to cast censure, or reproach.

inveigh: To utter vehement censure or invective.

inveterate: Habitual.

invidious: Showing or feeling envy.

invincible: Not to be conquered, subdued, or overcome.

iota: A small or insignificant mark or part.

irascible: Prone to anger.

irate: Moved to anger.

ire: Wrath.

irksome: Wearisome.

itinerant: Wandering.

itinerate: To wander from place to place.

jocular: Inclined to joke.

jovial: Merry.

judicious: Prudent.

junta: A council or assembly that deliberates in secret upon the affairs of government.

lachrymose: Given to shedding tears.

lackadaisical: Listless.

languid: Relaxed.

lascivious: Lustful.

lassitude: Lack of vitality or energy.

latent: Dormant.

laudable: Praiseworthy.

laudatory: Pertaining to, expressing, or containing praise.

legacy: A bequest.

levee: An embankment beside a river or stream or an arm of the sea, to prevent overflow.

levity: Frivolity.

lexicon: A dictionary.

libel: Defamation.

licentious: Wanton.

lien: A legal claim or hold on property, as security for a debt or charge.

listless: Inattentive.

lithe: Supple.

loquacious: Talkative.

lugubrious: Indicating sorrow, often ridiculously.

luminary: One of the heavenly bodies as a source of light.

lustrous: Shining.

malaise: A condition of uneasiness or ill-being.

malcontent: One who is dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs.

malevolence: Ill will.

malign: To speak evil of, especially to do so falsely and severely.

malleable: Pliant.

massacre: The unnecessary and indiscriminate killing of human beings.

maudlin: Foolishly and tearfully affectionate.

mawkish: Sickening or insipid.

mellifluous: Sweetly or smoothly flowing.

mendacious: Untrue.

mendicant: A beggar.

meretricious: Alluring by false or gaudy show.

mesmerize: To hypnotize.

meticulous: Over-cautious.

mettle: Courage.

mettlesome: Having courage or spirit.

microcosm: The world or universe on a small scale.

mien: The external appearance or manner of a person.

mischievous: Fond of tricks.

miscreant: A villain.

miser: A person given to saving and hoarding unduly.

misnomer: A name wrongly or mistakenly applied.

moderation: Temperance.

modicum: A small or token amount.

mollify: To soothe.

molt: To cast off, as hair, feathers, etc.

monomania: The unreasonable pursuit of one idea.

morbid: Caused by or denoting a diseased or unsound condition of body or mind.

mordant: Biting.

moribund: On the point of dying.

morose: Gloomy.

multifarious: Having great diversity or variety.

mundane: Worldly, as opposed to spiritual or celestial.

munificent: Extraordinarily generous.

myriad: A vast indefinite number.

nadir: The lowest point.

nefarious: Wicked in the extreme.

negligent: Apt to omit what ought to be done.

neophyte: Having the character of a beginner.

noisome: Very offensive, particularly to the sense of smell.

nostrum: Any scheme or recipe of a charlatan character.

noxious: Hurtful.

nugatory: Having no power or force.

obdurate: Impassive to feelings of humanity or pity.

obfuscate: To darken; to obscure.

oblique: Slanting; said of lines.

obsequious: Showing a servile readiness to fall in with the wishes or will of another.

obstreperous: Boisterous.

obtrude: To be pushed or to push oneself into undue prominence.

obtrusive: Tending to be pushed or to push oneself into undue prominence.

obviate: To clear away or provide for, as an objection or difficulty.

odious: Hateful.

odium: A feeling of extreme repugnance, or of dislike and disgust.

officious: Intermeddling with what is not one’s concern.

ominous: Portentous.

onerous: Burdensome or oppressive.

onus: A burden or responsibility.

opprobrium: The state of being scornfully reproached or accused of evil.

ossify: To convert into bone.

ostentation: A display dictated by vanity and intended to invite applause or flattery.

ostracism: Exclusion from intercourse or favor, as in society or politics.

ostracize: To exclude from public or private favor.

palate: The roof of the mouth.

palatial: Magnificent.

palliate: To cause to appear less guilty.

palpable: Perceptible by feeling or touch.

panacea: A remedy or medicine proposed for or professing to cure all diseases.

panegyric: A formal and elaborate eulogy, written or spoken, of a person or of an act.

panoply: A full set of armor.

paragon: A model of excellence.

Pariah: A member of a degraded class; a social outcast.

paroxysm: A sudden outburst of any kind of activity.

parsimonious: Unduly sparing in the use or expenditure of money.

partisan: Characterized by or exhibiting undue or unreasoning devotion to a party.

pathos: The quality in any form of representation that rouses emotion or sympathy.

paucity: Fewness.

peccadillo: A small breach of propriety or principle.

pedestrian: One who journeys on foot.

pellucid: Translucent.

penchant: A bias in favor of something.

penurious: Excessively sparing in the use of money.

penury: Indigence.

peregrination: A wandering.

peremptory: Precluding question or appeal.

perfidy: Treachery.

perfunctory: Half-hearted.

peripatetic: Walking about.

perjury: A solemn assertion of a falsity.

permeate: To pervade.

pernicious: Tending to kill or hurt.

persiflage: Banter.

perspicacity: Acuteness or discernment.

perturbation: Mental excitement or confusion.

petrify: To convert into a substance of stony hardness and character.

petulant: Displaying impatience.

phlegmatic: Not easily roused to feeling or action.

physiognomy: The external appearance merely.

pious: Religious.

pique: To excite a slight degree of anger in.

placate: To bring from a state of angry or hostile feeling to one of patience or friendliness.

platitude: A written or spoken statement that is flat, dull, or commonplace.

plea: An argument to obtain some desired action.

plenary: Entire.

plethora: Excess; superabundance.

plumb: A weight suspended by a line to test the verticality of something.

plummet: A piece of lead for making soundings, adjusting walls to the vertical.

poignant: Severely painful or acute to the spirit.

polyglot: Speaking several tongues.

ponderous: Unusually weighty or forcible.

portend: To indicate as being about to happen, especially by previous signs.

portent: Anything that indicates what is to happen.

precarious: Perilous.

preclude: To prevent.

precocious: Having the mental faculties prematurely developed.

predominate: To be chief in importance, quantity, or degree.

premature: Coming too soon.

presage: To foretell.

prescience: Knowledge of events before they take place.

presumption: That which may be logically assumed to be true until disproved.

preternatural: Extraordinary.

prevalent: Of wide extent or frequent occurrence.

prevaricate: To use ambiguous or evasive language for the purpose of deceiving or diverting attention.

prim: Stiffly proper.

pristine: Primitive.

probity: Virtue or integrity tested and confirmed.

proclivity: A natural inclination.

procrastination: Delay.

prodigal: One wasteful or extravagant, especially in the use of money or property.

prodigious: Immense.

profligacy: Shameless viciousness.

profligate: Recklessly wasteful

profuse: Produced or displayed in overabundance.

prolix: Verbose.

propinquity: Nearness.

propitious: Kindly disposed.

prosaic: Unimaginative.

proscribe: To reject, as a teaching or a practice, with condemnation or denunciation.

protuberant: Bulging.

provident: Anticipating and making ready for future wants or emergencies.

prudence: Caution.

puerile: Childish.

pugnacious: Quarrelsome.

punctilious: Strictly observant of the rules or forms prescribed by law or custom.

pungency: The quality of affecting the sense of smell.

pusillanimous: Without spirit or bravery.

pyre: A heap of combustibles arranged for burning a dead body.

qualm: A fit of nausea.

quandary: A puzzling predicament.

quibble: An utterly trivial distinction or objection.

quiescence: Being quiet, still, or at rest; inactive

quiescent: Being in a state of repose or inaction.

Quixotic: Chivalrous or romantic to a ridiculous or extravagant degree.

quotidian: Of an everyday character; ordinary.

raconteur: A person skilled in telling stories.

ramify: To divide or subdivide into branches or subdivisions.

rapacious: Sieze by force, avaricious

raucous: Harsh.

reactionary: Pertaining to, of the nature of, causing, or favoring reaction.

rebuff: A peremptory or unexpected rejection of advances or approaches.

recalcitrant: Marked by stubborn resistance.

recant: To withdraw formally one’s belief (in something previously believed or maintained).

reciprocity: Equal mutual rights and benefits granted and enjoyed.

recluse: One who lives in retirement or seclusion.

recondite: Incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding.

recrudescent: Becoming raw or sore again.

recuperate: To recover.

redoubtable: Formidable.

redress: To set right, as a wrong by compensation or the punishment of the wrong-doer.

refractory: Not amenable to control.

regale: To give unusual pleasure.

regicide: The killing of a king or sovereign.

reiterate: To say or do again and again.

relapse: To suffer a return of a disease after partial recovery.

remonstrate: To present a verbal or written protest to those who have power to right or prevent a wrong.

renovate: To restore after deterioration, as a building.

repast: A meal; figuratively, any refreshment.

repel: To force or keep back in a manner, physically or mentally.

repine: To indulge in fretfulness and faultfinding.

reprobate: One abandoned to depravity and sin.

repudiate: To refuse to have anything to do with.

repulsive: Grossly offensive.

requisite: Necessary.

requite: To repay either good or evil to, as to a person.

rescind: To make void, as an act, by the enacting authority or a superior authority.

resilience: The power of springing back to a former position

resonance: Able to reinforce sound by sympathetic vibrations.

respite: Interval of rest.

restive: Resisting control.

retinue: The group of people who accompany an important person during travels.

revere: To regard with worshipful veneration.

reverent: Humble.

ribald: Indulging in or manifesting coarse indecency or obscenity.

risible: Capable of exciting laughter.

rotund: Round from fullness or plumpness.

ruffian: A lawless or recklessly brutal fellow.

ruminate: To chew over again, as food previously swallowed and regurgitated.

sagacious: Able to discern and distinguish with wise perception.

salacious: Having strong sexual desires.

salient: Standing out prominently.

salubrious: Healthful; promoting health.

salutary: Beneficial.

sanction: To approve authoritatively.

sanguine: Cheerfully confident; optimistic.

sardonic: Scornfully or bitterly sarcastic.

satiate: To satisfy fully the appetite or desire of.

satyr: A very lascivious person.

savor: To perceive by taste or smell.

scabbard: The sheath of a sword or similar bladed weapon.

scintilla: The faintest ray.

scribble: Hasty, careless writing.

sedulous: Persevering in effort or endeavor.

sequence: The order in which a number or persons, things, or events follow one another in space or time.

severance: Separation.

shrewd: Characterized by skill at understanding and profiting by circumstances.

sinecure: Any position having emoluments with few or no duties.

sinuous: Curving in and out.

skiff: Usually, a small light boat propelled by oars.

sluggard: A person habitually lazy or idle.

solace: Comfort in grief, trouble, or calamity.

solvent: Having sufficient funds to pay all debts.

somniferous: Tending to produce sleep.

somnolent: Sleepy.

sonorous: Resonant.

sophistry: Reasoning sound in appearance only, especially when designedly deceptive.

soporific: Causing sleep; also, something that causes sleep.

sordid: Filthy, morally degraded

specious: Plausible.

spurious: Not genuine.

squalid: Having a dirty, mean, poverty-stricken appearance.

stanch: To stop the flowing of; to check.

stigma: A mark of infamy or token of disgrace attaching to a person as the result of evil-doing.

stingy: Cheap, unwilling to spend money.

stolid: Expressing no power of feeling or perceiving.

submerge: To place or plunge under water.

subterfuge: Evasion.

succinct: Concise.

sumptuous: Rich and costly.

supercilious: Exhibiting haughty and careless contempt.

superfluous: Being more than is needed.

supernumerary: Superfluous.

supersede: To displace.

supine: Lying on the back.

supplicate: To beg.

suppress: To prevent from being disclosed or punished.

surcharge: An additional amount charged.

surfeit: To feed to fullness or to satiety.

susceptibility: A specific capability of feeling or emotion.

sybarite: A luxurious person.

sycophant: A servile flatterer, especially of those in authority or influence.

synopsis: A syllabus or summary.

taciturn: Disinclined to conversation.

taut: Stretched tight.

temerity: Foolhardy disregard of danger; recklessness.

terse: Pithy.

timorous: Lacking courage.

torpid: Dull; sluggish; inactive.

torrid: Excessively hot.

tortuous: Abounding in irregular bends or turns.

tractable: Easily led or controlled.

transgress: To break a law.

transient: One who or that which is only of temporary existence.

transitory: Existing for a short time only.

travail: Hard or agonizing labor.

travesty: A grotesque imitation.

trenchant: Cutting deeply and quickly.

trepidation: Nervous uncertainty of feeling.

trite: Made commonplace by frequent repetition.

truculence: Ferocity.

truculent: Having the character or the spirit of a savage.

turbid: In a state of turmoil; muddled

turgid: Swollen.

turpitude: Depravity.

tutelage: The act of training or the state of being under instruction.

tyro: One slightly skilled in or acquainted with any trade or profession.

ubiquitous: Being present everywhere.

ulterior: Not so pertinent as something else to the matter spoken of.

umbrage: A sense of injury.

unctuous: Oily.

undermine: To subvert in an underhand way.

undulate: To move like a wave or in waves.

untoward: Causing annoyance or hindrance.

upbraid: To reproach as deserving blame.

vagary: A sudden desire or action

vainglory: Excessive, pretentious, and demonstrative vanity.

valorous: Courageous.

vapid: Having lost sparkling quality and flavor.

variegated: Having marks or patches of different colors; also, varied.

vehement: Very eager or urgent.

venal: Mercenary, corrupt.

veneer: Outside show or elegance.

venial: That may be pardoned or forgiven, a forgivable sin.

veracious: Habitually disposed to speak the truth.

veracity: Truthfulness.

verbiage: Use of many words without necessity.

verbose: Wordy.

verdant: Green with vegetation.

veritable: Real; true; genuine.

vestige: A visible trace, mark, or impression, of something absent, lost, or gone.

vicissitude: A change, especially a complete change, of condition or circumstances, as of fortune.

vigilance: Alert and intent mental watchfulness in guarding against danger.

vigilant: Being on the alert to discover and ward off danger or insure safety.

virago: Loud talkative women, strong statured women

virtu: Rare, curious, or beautiful quality.

visage: The face, countenance, or look of a person.

vitiate: To contaminate.

vituperate: To overwhelm with wordy abuse.

vivify: To endue with life.

vociferous: Making a loud outcry.

volatile: Changeable.

voluble: Having great fluency in speaking.

wean: To transfer (the young) from dependence on mother’s milk to another form of nourishment.

whimsical: Capricious.

winsome: Attractive.

Zeitgeist: The intellectual and moral tendencies that characterize any age or epoch.