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WORDS AND RELATIONSHIPS
(PART I)
ABSCOND:To leave secretly
Syn: Flee, Decamp, Escape
Ex: Before the police could arrive, the thief ABSCONDED from the site.
Roots: Ab means away; Sconc means hide
Related Words: Abstain, Abjure, Abstemious, Ensconce, Conceal
ABATE: To reduce in amount, degree, or severity.
Syn: Lapse, Let up, Moderate, Relent, Slacken, Subside, Wane
Ex: As the storm ABATED, the sea became calm.
ABSTAIN: to choose not to do something
Syn: Refrain, Withhold
Ex:The doctor advised him to ABSTAIN from alcohol.
ABYSS: an extremely deep hole
Syn: Chasm, Void
Ex:The mountain trail ran along the edge of an ABYSS (n).
Related words: Abyssal: pertaining to great depth; Abysmal: extremely bad
ADULTERATE: to make impure
Syn: Doctor.Ex:The milkman ADULTERATED the milk with water.
Roots: Ad means to; Alter means other
Related words: Adultery:an illicit relationship
ADVOCATE: to speak in favor of
Syn: Back, Champion, Support
Ex: A vegetarian will always ADVOCATE a diet without meat.
Roots: Ad means to; Voc means call or speak to speak for another
Related Words: Convocation, Revocation, Advocacy
AESTHETIC: concerning the appreciation of beauty.
Syn: Artistic, Tasteful
Ex: Followers of the AESTHETIC Movement regarded the pursuit of beauty as the only purpose of art.
Roots: Aesth means sense or perception
Related Words: Anesthesia, Aesthete: someone unusually sensitive to beauty.
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ANALOGOUS: Similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
Syn: Alike, Comparable, Corresponding, Equivalent, Parallel, Similar
Ex:The term depression is ANALOGOUS to sadness and dejection.
Roots: Log means speak
Related Words: Analogy: a similarity between things otherwise dissimilar; Analogue: something similar in
some way to something else; Dialogue
ANOMALY: deviation from what is normal
Syn: Aberration, Abnormality, Deviation, Irregularity, Preternaturalness
Ex: It is an ANOMALY to have six fingers, instead of five, among humans.
Related words -: Anomalous: deviating from what is normal
ANTAGONIZE: to annoy or provoke to anger
Syn: Clash, Conflict, Incite, Irritate, Oppose, Pester, Provoke, Vex
Ex:The union leader ANTAGONIZED the labour against the companys officials.Roots: Anti means opposed; Agony means suffering
Related words - Antagonistic: tending to provoke conflict.
ANTIPATHY: extreme dislike
Syn: Animosity, Animus, Antagonism, Aversion, Hostility, Repellence
Ex:The ANTIPATHY between the French and the English led to recurrent eruptions of violence.
Roots: Anti means against; Pathos means suffering
Related Words: Empathy, Sympathy, Apathy, Pathology
APATHY: lack of interest or emotion
Syn: Coolness, Disinterest, Disregard, Impassivity, Indifference, Insensibility, Unconcern, Unresponsiveness.
Ex:The APATHY among voters is so great that fewer than half the eligible ones actually bother to do so.
Roots: A means not; Pathos means suffering
ARBITRATE: to judge a dispute between two opposing parties.
Syn: Adjudge, Adjudicate, Decide, Determine, J udge, Moderate, Referee
Ex: Since the couple could not arrive at a mutual agreement, they sought assistance of law to ARBITRATE
their divorce proceedings.
Related words -: Arbitration:a process by which a conflict is resolved
ARCHAIC: ancient, old-fashioned
Syn: Ancient, Antique, Bygone, Dowdy, Fusty, Obsolete, Old-fashioned, Outdated, Outmoded, Pass,
Prehistoric, Stale, Superseded, Vintage.
Ex: Her ARCHAIC computer was not compatible with the latest software.
Roots: Archae means old
Related word: Archaism: an outdated word or phrase, Archaeology
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ARDOR: intense and passionate feeling.
Syn: Devotion, Enthusiasm, Fire, Passion, Zeal,
Ex: His ARDOR for beauty was evident in his passionate description of the Taj Mahal.
Related words: Ardent: expressing ardor; passionate.
ARTICULATE: able to speak clearly and expressively
Syn: Expressive, F luent, Lucid, Silver-Tongued, Smooth-Spoken
Ex: It is essential that you ARTICULATE your ideas well if you want the committee to consider them.
ASSUAGE: to lessen, to calm
Syn: Alleviate, Appease, Comfort, Conciliate, Mollify, Pacify, Relieve, Soothe.
Ex:The teacher ASSUAGED the students fears with her motivating words.
ATTENUATE: to lessen in severity; to weaken
Syn: Dilute, Rarefy, Sap, Undermine, Undo, Unnerve, Weaken.Ex:The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of the government to change laws at will.
Roots: Ten means stretch
Related Words: Tension, Tenacious
AUDACIOUS: fearless and daring
Syn: Adventuresome, Assertive, Bold, Brave, Courageous, Daring, Doughty, Fearless, Gallant
Ex: An AUDACIOUS person will always stand up against the evil practices of society.
AUSTERE: severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
Syn: Bleak, Dour, Grim, Hard, Harsh, Severe
Ex:The plain architecture of the Zen temples seems AUSTERE to the layman.
Related words: Austerity: severity, especially poverty
BANAL: dull or stale because of overuse, boring
Syn: Hackneyed, Insipid, Stereotypic, Worn-out
Ex:The repetitive exhortations of the septuagenarian leader have become BANAL indeed.
Related words: BANALITY: the quality of being banal
BOLSTER: to support; to prop up
Syn: Brace, Buttress, Sustain, Underpin, Uphold.
Ex:The presence of pugmarks BOLSTERED the argument that the beast was hiding nearby.
BOMBASTIC: pompous in speech and manner
Syn: Declamatory, Rhetorical, Self-important
Ex: His speeches were mostly BOMBASTIC; his boasting and outrageous claims seemed baseless.
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CACOPHONY: harsh, jarring noise
Syn: Discord, Chaos, Disharmony, Noise,
Ex: Members of the junior high orchestra created an almost unbearable CACOPHONY as they tried to tune
their instruments.
Roots: Caco means bad; Phone means sound
CANDID: impartial, free from prejudice or bias
Syn: Forthright, Frank, Honest, Open, Sincere, Straightforward, Undisguised,
Ex: Professional journalists are expected to be CANDID.
Roots: Cand means light or bright
Related Words: Candle, Incandescent
CAPRICIOUS: changing ones mind quickly and often
Syn: Arbitrary, Chance, Changeable, Erratic, Fickle, Inconstant, Random, Whimsical, Willful
Ex:The king was quite CAPRICIOUS; passing a law on one day, and replacing it with another, the next.Roots: Cap means head
Related words: Per capita; Capital; Decapitate
CASTIGATE: to punish or criticize harshly
Syn: Admonish, Chide, Rebuke, Reproach, Scold
Ex: Americans are amazed at how harshly the authorities in Singapore CASTIGATE perpetrators of what
would be considered minor crimes in the United States.
CATALYST: a person or a thing that acts as the stimulus in bringing about or hastening the result.
Ex: The J allianwala Bagh massacre served as a CATALYST for young minds to fight for the freedom of the
nation.
CAUSTIC: biting
Ex: Dorothy Parker gained reputation for CAUSTIC wit from her cutting, yet clever, insinuations.
Roots: Caus or Caut means burn
Related Words: Cauterize, Holocaust
CHAOS: great disorder or confusion
Syn: Confusion, Disarrangement, Disarray, Disorder, Disorganization, Mess, Muddle, Turmoil
Ex:The children created a CHAOS when they learned that their trip had been postponed indefinitely.
Related Words: Chasm
CHAUVINIST: someone prejudiced in favour of a group he or she belongs to
Syn: Partisan
Ex:The attitude that men are inherently superior to women is common among male CHAUVINISTS.
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CHICANERY: deception by means of craft or guile
Ex: Dishonest salesmen indulge in CHICANERY to sell beat-up old cars.
COGENT: convincing and well reasoned
Syn: Convincing, Persuasive, Sound, Valid
Ex: Swayed by the COGENT argumentation of the defense, the jury had no choice but to acquit the
defendant.
Roots: Co means together; ag means act
Related Words: Agent, Cooperate, Common
CONDONE: to overlook, pardon, or disregard
Syn: Exculpate, Excuse, Remit.
Ex:The teacher CONDONED the unruly behaviour of the students.
Roots: Con means together; Don means give
Related Words: Convocation, Donation
CONVOLUTED: rolled up, intricate and complicated
Syn: complex, knotty, tangled, intricate
Ex: It is very difficult to interpret the CONVOLUTED theories propounded in this book.
Roots: Con means together; vol means roll
Related Words: Revolution, Involve
CORROBORATE. To confirm, bolster, support
Syn: Authenticate, Back, Bear out, Buttress, Confirm, Substantiate, Validate
Ex: The forensic evidence CORROBORATED the witnesss testimony that he had seen the accused in the
victims apartment.
Roots: Co means together; Rob means strengthen
Related Words: Robust
CREDULOUS: tending to believe too readily, gullible
Syn: Naive, Susceptible, Trusting,
Ex: Only the most CREDULOUS person could believe in the existence of fairies.
Roots: Cred means faith or trust
Related Words: Incredible, Discredit, Credence
CRESCENDO: steadily increasing volume or force
Ex: It became difficult for me to concentrate on my studies because of the CRESCENDO of voices emanating
from the neighbourhood festivities.
Roots: Cre means make; Scend means going towards
Related Words: Adolescent, Crescent
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DEBONAIR Affable, charming, urbane, well-bred
Ex:The DEBONAIR young man is always elegantly dressed and displays easy mannerism.
Roots: From French De, Bon, and Air Of good birth
Related Words: Bonjour, Bonanza
DECORUM: appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
Syn: Correctness, Decency, Etiquette, Manners
Ex: Students are expected to maintain DECORUM in the classroom.
Roots: Decor means elegance
Related Words: Decorate
DEFERENCE: respect, courtesy
Syn: Honor, Homage, Respect, Reverence,
Ex:The young law clerk treated the well known juror with DEFERENCE.
DERIDE: to speak of or treat with contempt; to make
Syn: gibe, jeer, mock, scoff, sneer
Ex:The awkward child was often DERIDED by his peers.
Roots: De means down or out; Ride
Related Words: Derision, Decrease
DESICCATE: to dry out thoroughly
Syn: Dry, Parch, Dehydrate
Ex:You will have to DESICCATE these fruits in order to preserve them.
DIATRIBE: to scold, condemnatory speech
Ex:The trucker bellowed a DIATRIBE at the driver who had overtaken him.
Roots: Dia means across; Trib means difficulty
Related Words: Diagram, Diagnose, Tribulations
DESULTORY: jumping from on thing to another; disconnected
Syn: Aimless, Erratic, Haphazard, Purposeless, Random, Stray
Ex:The discussion was dull and DESULTORY.
Roots: De means down or out; Sult means jump
Related Words: Result, Insult
DIFFIDENT: shy, timid
Syn: Backward, Bashful, Coy, Demure, Modest, Retiring Shy, Timid
Ex:You cannot afford to be DIFFIDENT in such a competitive workplace.
Roots: Fid means faith
Related Words: Confidence, Hi Fidelity, Infidel
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DILATE: to make larger; to expand
Syn: Amplify, Develop, Elaborate, Enlarge, Expand, Expatiate
Ex: When you enter a dark room, the pupils of your eyes DILATE to let in more light.
Roots: Latus means side to stretch to sides
Related Words: Multilateral, Relate
DILATORY: intended to delay.
Syn: Dragging, Laggard, Lagging, Slow, Slow-Going, Slow-Paced, Tardy
Ex:The opposition used DILATORY measures to delay the passing of the bill.
DILETTANTE: someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic.
Syn: Amateur, Dabbler, Superficial, Tyro
Ex: I consider myself but a DILETTANTE in the exalted company of veterans.
DIRGE: a natural hymn or mournful speech.Syn: Elegy, Lament
Ex:The DIRGE at the funeral service was highly emotive.
DISABUSE: clarify
Syn: Correct, Undeceive,
Ex: Galileos observations DISABUSED the notion that the Sun revolved around the Earth.
Roots: Dis, Ab and Use
DISCERN: to perceive; to recognize
Syn: Catch, Detect, Differentiate, Discriminate, Distinguish,
Ex: It is easy to DISCERN the difference between butter and margarine.
DISPARATE: fundamentally different; entirely unlike
Syn: Different, Dissimilar, Divergent, Diverse, Variant, Various
Ex: Although the twins appear to be identical, they have DISPARATE personalities.
Roots: Dis means apart; Par means equal
Related Words: Apartheid, parity, Compare
DISSEMBLE: to present a false appearance; to disguise ones real intentions or character
Syn: Act, Counterfeit, Cover up, Disguise, Dissimulate, Fake, Feign, Mask, Pose, Pretend
Ex: Not being able to DISSEMBLE his naivety, he blurted out the truth.
Roots: Dis means apart; Sim means copy
Related Words: Simulate
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DISSONANCE: disharmony, conflict
Syn: Clash, Contention, Discord, Dissension, Dissent, Friction, and Variance
DISSONANCE occurs when long-standing beliefs are controverted by new evidence.
Roots: Dis means apart; Son means sound
Related Words: Consonance, Resonance, Sonorous
DOGMA: a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
Syn: Creed, Doctrine, Teaching, Tenet
Ex: Religious DOGMA held Sati in high esteem in 16th and the 17th century India.
Roots: Dox means opinion
Related Words: Paradox, Orthodox, Dogmatic
DOGMATIC: dictatorial in ones opinions
Syn: Authoritarian, Bossy, Dictatorial, Domineering, Masterful, Overbearing,
Ex: DOGMATIC beliefs preclude logical argumentation.DUPE: to deceive
Ex:The thief was able to DUPE the police by disguising himself as a woman.
ECLECTIC: selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
Syn: Selective, Broad
Ex: He has an ECLECTIC taste in art, ranging from Picasso to M. F. Hussein.
Roots: Lect means choose
Related Words: Elect, Select
EFFICACY: effectiveness
Syn: Dynamism, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Proficiency
Ex: A drug, if overused, loses its EFFICACY.
Related words: EFFICACIOUS: effective; productive
ELEGY: a sorrowful poem or speech
Syn: Dirge, Lament
Ex: Upon conclusion of the ELEGY, the coffin was closed
ELOQUENT: persuasive and moving, especially in speech
Syn: Articulate, Expressive, Fluent, Meaningful, Significant, Smooth-Spoken.
Ex:The defense lawyer made an ELOQUENT plea for his clients acquittal.
Roots: Loq means speak
Related Words: Loquacious, Breviloquent
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ERUDITE: learned, scholarly, bookish
Syn: Scholastic, Learned, Wise
The symposium on philosophy professors was a gathering of the most ERUDITE individuals in the field.
ESOTERIC: known or understood by only a few
Syn: Abstruse, Arcane, Obscure
Ex:The ESOTERIC concept of existentialism is not easily understood.
Roots: Eso means within
Related Words: Exoteric
ESTIMABLE: something that can be estimated or evaluated, worthy of esteem
Syn: Admirable, Respected, Appreciable, Meritorious, Praiseworthy, Respectable, Venerable
Ex: Most people consider it ESTIMABLE that Mother Teresa spent her life serving the poor.
Related words: Esteem: regard
EULOGY: speech in praise of someone
Ex: Shakespeares EULOGY for his beloved is expressed in his sonnets.
Roots: Eu means good; Log means speak or learn
Related Words: Eugenics, Euphemism, Biology, Psychology
EUPHEMISM: a mild inoffensive word or phrase used instead of one thought to be harsh or embarrassing
(good word)
Syn: Circumlocution, Whitewash
Ex: Remains is a EUPHEMISM for corpse.
EXACERBATE: to make worse
Syn: Annoy, Aggravate, Intensify, Irritate, Provoke
Ex: It is unwise to take aspirin to relieve heartburn. Instead of providing relief, it may EXACERBATE the
problem.
Roots: Ex means out or beyond; Acer means bitter
Related Words: Acrimonious, Acrid
EXCULPATE: to clear from blame; prove innocent
Syn: Absolve, acquit, Clear, Exonerate, Vindicate
Ex: The adversarial legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and to EXCULPATE those who
are innocent.
Roots: Ex means out; Culp means fault
Related Words: Culprit, Inculpate, Culpable
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EXIGENT: calling for immediate action or attention
Syn: Critical, Imperative, Needed, Urgent.
Ex:The patient was losing blood so rapidly that it was EXIGENT to stop the source of the bleeding.
Related Words: Urge, Urgent, Emergent, Exigency
EXONERATE: to clear of blame
Syn: Absolve, Acquit, Clear, Exculpate, Vindicate
The accused was EXONERATED when no charges could be proven against him.
Roots: Ex means out; Oner means burden
Related Words: Exculpate, Onerous, Onus
EXPLICIT: clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
Syn: Candid, Frank, Straightforward, Unequivocal
Ex: Linda left a list of EXPLICIT instructions for the baby-sitter.
Roots: Ex means out; Plic means fold free from foldsRelated Words: Implicit, Implicate, Complicity
EXTEMPORE: Offhand, spontaneously, unprepared
Ex: He appears to have perfected the art of EXTEMPORE speech.
Roots: Ex means out; Tempor means time
Related Words: Temporary, Temporaneous
FANATICA: filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
Syn: Extremist, Fiery, Frenzied, Zealous
Ex:Your FANATICAL attitude could pose many problems to the resolution of this issue.
FAWN: to act servile, cringe and flatter
Syn: Bootlick, Grovel, Toady, Pander
Ex: Mohan was disliked by his staff as he always FAWNED upon the seniors to gain favours.
FERVID: intensely emotional; feverish
Syn: Burning, Impassioned, Passionate, Vehement, Zealous.
Ex: Lucy is a FERVID Michael J ackson fan.
Roots: Ferv means bubble
Related Words: Fervour, Effervescent
FLORID: excessively decorated or embellished, decorated with flowers
Syn: Elaborate, Ornate
Ex:The FLORID decorations were ruined by the rain.
Related Words: Flower
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FOMENT: to arouse or incite
Syn: Agitate, Impassion, Inflame, Instigate, Kindle
Ex: Politicians often FOMENT trouble for their own vested interests.
Related Words: Fomentation
FRUGALITY: a tendency to be thrifty, calculating
Syn: Economical, Parsimony, Prudence, Sparing
Ex: FRUGALITY is not a matter of choice, but a necessity for the poor.
GARRULOUS: tending to talk a lot
Syn: Effusive, Loquacious
The GARRULOUS parakeet bothered its owner with its continuous talking.
GREGARIOS: outgoing, sociable
Syn: Affable, Congenial, Communicative, SociableEx: She is GREGARIOUS by nature.
Roots: Greg means herd or group
Related Words: Segregate, Aggregate, Congregation
GUILE: deceit or trickery
Syn: Artifice, Chicanery, Conniver, Duplicity
Ex: A child does not possess any GUILE.
GULLIBLE: easily cheated or tricked.
Syn: Nave
Ex: He is GULLIBLE enough to be fooled by just about anybody.
HOMOGENOUS: of a similar kind
Syn: Consistent, Standardized, Uniform, Unvarying
Ex: Since all the students in the class were science graduates, the class was fairly HOMOGENOUS.
Roots: Homo means same; Gen means birth
Related Words: Genus, Heterogeneous