Word Definition Example Sentence adj.

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