abstract
a. theoretical; not concrete; not applied or practical; difficult to understand |
admonish
v. warn; counsel someone against something to be avoided |
advocate
v. speak, plead, or argue in favour of; plead for; push for something |
alternative
a. one of two or more things, ideas or courses of action that may be used; option; choice |
ambiguous
a. unclear or doubtful in meaning |
analogy
n. similarity in some respects; comparison based on similarity |
anarchy
n. absence of governing body; state of disorder; political disorder and confusion |
assiduous
a. constant in application or attention; diligent; unceasing or persistent |
assimilate
v. incorporate and absorb into mind; make similar; cause to resemble |
augment
v. make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity |
authentic
a. not counterfeit or copied; valid; trustworthy |
belligerent
a. inclined or eager to fight; aggressive |
bolster
v. support or prop up with or as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion |
bureaucratic
a. relating to structure and regulations in place to control activities in a large organization or a government |
circumvent
v. surround an enemy; enclose or entrap; beat by cleverness and wit |
coalition
n. partnership; league; state of being combined into one body |
cohesive
a. cohering or tending to cohere; well integrated |
collaborate
v. work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort |
comply
v. yield assent; accord; agree, or acquiesce; adapt one's self; fulfill; accomplish |
concurrent
a. simultaneous; coincident; occurring or operating at the same time |
connotation
n. an idea that is implied or suggested |
constituent
n. component or part; citizen, voter |
contingent
a. possible, or liable, but not certain, to occur; incidental; casual. |
criteria
n. standard, rule, or test on which a judgment or decision can be based |
demeanor
n. conduct; management; way in which a person behaves |
deplore
v. feel or express strong disapproval of; condemn; express sorrow or grief over; regret |
derogatory
a. expressing low opinion; disparaging; belittling |
disparity
n. difference; condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or degree |
disseminate
v. distribute; spread; scatter like seeds |
dissident
a. disagreeing, especially with a majority; rebellious |
distraught
a. deeply agitated, as from emotional conflict; mad; insane |
divert
v. distract; withdraw money and move into a different location |
docile
a. obedient; ready and willing to be taught; easily managed or handled |
dormant
a. sleeping; not active but capable of becoming active |
egocentric
a. caring only about oneself; selfish; self-centered |
elusive
a. difficult to describe; difficult to detect or grasp by mind |
emulate
v. be a match or counterpart for; eager to equal or excel |
equitable
a. marked by or having equity; just and impartial |
eradicate
v. completely destroy; eliminate; exterminate |
estrange
v. arouse hostility or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness |
exacerbate
v. increase severity, violence, or bitterness of; aggravate |
expedite
v. process fast and efficiently; execute quickly and efficiently |
fabricate
v. build; put together out of components or parts |
facilitate
v. help bring about; make less difficult |
fortuitous
a. accidental; by chance; coming or occurring without any cause |
fraudulent
a. cheating; deceitful; planning or using fraud; given to practice of fraud |
heinous
a. grossly wicked; abominable; hateful; infamous |
hypothetical
a. based on assumptions; supposed |
illicit
a. illegal; unlawful; not authorized or permitted |
imminent
a. near at hand; close in time; about to occur |
impetuous
a. marked by sudden and violent force; hasty; impulsive and passionate |
incongruous
a. not fitting; lacking in harmony or compatibility |
indigenous
a. native; originating where it is found |
indiscriminate
a. choosing at random; not marked by fine distinctions |
inherent
a. firmly established by nature or habit |
jurisdiction
n. authority; right and power to interpret and apply the law |
lax
a. loose and not easily controlled; lacking in rigor or strictness |
meticulous
a. excessively careful; marked by extreme care in treatment of details |
negligent
a. careless; inattentive |
nonchalant
a. behaving in a calm manner, often in a way that suggests you are not interested or do not care |
oblivious
a. inattentive or unmindful; lacking all memory; forgetful |
obscure
v. darken; make dim or indistinct; conceal in obscurity |
omnipotent
a. all-powerful; having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force |
opportune
a. timely; just in time; suited or right for a particular purpose |
oppose
v. place in front of, or over against; set opposite; exhibit; confront; resist; withstand |
panacea
n. remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all |
perfunctory
a. done routinely and with little interest or care; acting with indifference; showing little interest or care |
precarious
a. uncertain; risky; dangerously lacking in security or stability |
precipitate
v. fall from clouds; hurl or throw violently; fall vertically, sharply, or headlong |
preclude
v. make impossible, as by action taken in advance; prevent; eliminate |
preposterous
a. contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; very silly or stupid; ridiculous |
proficient
a. skilled; expert; having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude |
propensity
n. natural inclination; tendency or preference; predilection |
qualitative
a. relating to quality; having the character of quality |
quantitative
a. expressed or expressible as a quantity; relating to measurement of quantity |
recalcitrant
a. obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority |
redeem
v. purchase back; regain possession of by payment; ransom or rescue from captivity; pay penalty; make amends for |
rejuvenate
v. make young again; restore to youthful vigor or appearance |
relegate
v. assign to obscure place, position, or condition; delegate; assign |
relinquish
v. give up something with reluctance; retire from; give up or abandon |
repugnant
a. arousing disgust or aversion; offensive or repulsive; hateful |
resilient
a. elastic; having power of springing back or recover readily |
retrospect
n. review; look back upon; remember |
sanction
v. give authorization or approval to something; penalize a state, especially for violating international law |
spontaneous
a. arising without external cause; growing without cultivation or human labor |
static
a. having no motion; being at rest; fixed; stationary |
stringent
a. demanding strict attention to rules and procedures; binding; rigid |
subordinate
a. occupying lower rank; inferior; submissive |
subsidize
v. support through finance; fund |
tenuous
a. long and thin; slender; having little substance |
travesty
n. comedy characterized by improbable situations; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous |
tumult
n. noise, as made by a crowd; riot or uprising |
unilateral
a. being on one side only; affecting but one side; one-sided. |
validate
v. confirm; ratify; declare or make legally valid |
vindicate
v. clear from blame; exonerate; maintain, uphold, or defend |
zealot
n. fanatically committed person; person who shows excessive zeal |