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Words to Use in an Essay: 300 Essay Words

Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

Words to use in the essay introduction, words to use in the body of the essay, words to use in your essay conclusion, how to improve your essay writing vocabulary.

It’s not easy to write an academic essay .

Many students struggle to word their arguments in a logical and concise way.

To make matters worse, academic essays need to adhere to a certain level of formality, so we can’t always use the same word choices in essay writing that we would use in daily life.

If you’re struggling to choose the right words for your essay, don’t worry—you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of over 300 words and phrases to use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essay.

The introduction is one of the hardest parts of an essay to write.

You have only one chance to make a first impression, and you want to hook your reader. If the introduction isn’t effective, the reader might not even bother to read the rest of the essay.

That’s why it’s important to be thoughtful and deliberate with the words you choose at the beginning of your essay.

Many students use a quote in the introductory paragraph to establish credibility and set the tone for the rest of the essay.

When you’re referencing another author or speaker, try using some of these phrases:

To use the words of X

According to X

As X states

Example: To use the words of Hillary Clinton, “You cannot have maternal health without reproductive health.”

Near the end of the introduction, you should state the thesis to explain the central point of your paper.

If you’re not sure how to introduce your thesis, try using some of these phrases:

In this essay, I will…

The purpose of this essay…

This essay discusses…

In this paper, I put forward the claim that…

There are three main arguments for…

Example: In this essay, I will explain why dress codes in public schools are detrimental to students.

After you’ve stated your thesis, it’s time to start presenting the arguments you’ll use to back up that central idea.

When you’re introducing the first of a series of arguments, you can use the following words:

First and foremost

First of all

To begin with

Example: First , consider the effects that this new social security policy would have on low-income taxpayers.

All these words and phrases will help you create a more successful introduction and convince your audience to read on.

The body of your essay is where you’ll explain your core arguments and present your evidence.

It’s important to choose words and phrases for the body of your essay that will help the reader understand your position and convince them you’ve done your research.

Let’s look at some different types of words and phrases that you can use in the body of your essay, as well as some examples of what these words look like in a sentence.

Transition Words and Phrases

Transitioning from one argument to another is crucial for a good essay.

It’s important to guide your reader from one idea to the next so they don’t get lost or feel like you’re jumping around at random.

Transition phrases and linking words show your reader you’re about to move from one argument to the next, smoothing out their reading experience. They also make your writing look more professional.

The simplest transition involves moving from one idea to a separate one that supports the same overall argument. Try using these phrases when you want to introduce a second correlating idea:

Additionally

In addition

Furthermore

Another key thing to remember

In the same way

Correspondingly

Example: Additionally , public parks increase property value because home buyers prefer houses that are located close to green, open spaces.

Another type of transition involves restating. It’s often useful to restate complex ideas in simpler terms to help the reader digest them. When you’re restating an idea, you can use the following words:

In other words

To put it another way

That is to say

To put it more simply

Example: “The research showed that 53% of students surveyed expressed a mild or strong preference for more on-campus housing. In other words , over half the students wanted more dormitory options.”

Often, you’ll need to provide examples to illustrate your point more clearly for the reader. When you’re about to give an example of something you just said, you can use the following words:

For instance

To give an illustration of

To exemplify

To demonstrate

As evidence

Example: Humans have long tried to exert control over our natural environment. For instance , engineers reversed the Chicago River in 1900, causing it to permanently flow backward.

Sometimes, you’ll need to explain the impact or consequence of something you’ve just said.

When you’re drawing a conclusion from evidence you’ve presented, try using the following words:

As a result

Accordingly

As you can see

This suggests that

It follows that

It can be seen that

For this reason

For all of those reasons

Consequently

Example: “There wasn’t enough government funding to support the rest of the physics experiment. Thus , the team was forced to shut down their experiment in 1996.”

When introducing an idea that bolsters one you’ve already stated, or adds another important aspect to that same argument, you can use the following words:

What’s more

Not only…but also

Not to mention

To say nothing of

Another key point

Example: The volcanic eruption disrupted hundreds of thousands of people. Moreover , it impacted the local flora and fauna as well, causing nearly a hundred species to go extinct.

Often, you'll want to present two sides of the same argument. When you need to compare and contrast ideas, you can use the following words:

On the one hand / on the other hand

Alternatively

In contrast to

On the contrary

By contrast

In comparison

Example: On the one hand , the Black Death was undoubtedly a tragedy because it killed millions of Europeans. On the other hand , it created better living conditions for the peasants who survived.

Finally, when you’re introducing a new angle that contradicts your previous idea, you can use the following phrases:

Having said that

Differing from

In spite of

With this in mind

Provided that

Nevertheless

Nonetheless

Notwithstanding

Example: Shakespearean plays are classic works of literature that have stood the test of time. Having said that , I would argue that Shakespeare isn’t the most accessible form of literature to teach students in the twenty-first century.

Good essays include multiple types of logic. You can use a combination of the transitions above to create a strong, clear structure throughout the body of your essay.

Strong Verbs for Academic Writing

Verbs are especially important for writing clear essays. Often, you can convey a nuanced meaning simply by choosing the right verb.

You should use strong verbs that are precise and dynamic. Whenever possible, you should use an unambiguous verb, rather than a generic verb.

For example, alter and fluctuate are stronger verbs than change , because they give the reader more descriptive detail.

Here are some useful verbs that will help make your essay shine.

Verbs that show change:

Accommodate

Verbs that relate to causing or impacting something:

Verbs that show increase:

Verbs that show decrease:

Deteriorate

Verbs that relate to parts of a whole:

Comprises of

Is composed of

Constitutes

Encompasses

Incorporates

Verbs that show a negative stance:

Misconstrue

Verbs that show a positive stance:

Substantiate

Verbs that relate to drawing conclusions from evidence:

Corroborate

Demonstrate

Verbs that relate to thinking and analysis:

Contemplate

Hypothesize

Investigate

Verbs that relate to showing information in a visual format:

Useful Adjectives and Adverbs for Academic Essays

You should use adjectives and adverbs more sparingly than verbs when writing essays, since they sometimes add unnecessary fluff to sentences.

However, choosing the right adjectives and adverbs can help add detail and sophistication to your essay.

Sometimes you'll need to use an adjective to show that a finding or argument is useful and should be taken seriously. Here are some adjectives that create positive emphasis:

Significant

Other times, you'll need to use an adjective to show that a finding or argument is harmful or ineffective. Here are some adjectives that create a negative emphasis:

Controversial

Insignificant

Questionable

Unnecessary

Unrealistic

Finally, you might need to use an adverb to lend nuance to a sentence, or to express a specific degree of certainty. Here are some examples of adverbs that are often used in essays:

Comprehensively

Exhaustively

Extensively

Respectively

Surprisingly

Using these words will help you successfully convey the key points you want to express. Once you’ve nailed the body of your essay, it’s time to move on to the conclusion.

The conclusion of your paper is important for synthesizing the arguments you’ve laid out and restating your thesis.

In your concluding paragraph, try using some of these essay words:

In conclusion

To summarize

In a nutshell

Given the above

As described

All things considered

Example: In conclusion , it’s imperative that we take action to address climate change before we lose our coral reefs forever.

In addition to simply summarizing the key points from the body of your essay, you should also add some final takeaways. Give the reader your final opinion and a bit of a food for thought.

To place emphasis on a certain point or a key fact, use these essay words:

Unquestionably

Undoubtedly

Particularly

Importantly

Conclusively

It should be noted

On the whole

Example: Ada Lovelace is unquestionably a powerful role model for young girls around the world, and more of our public school curricula should include her as a historical figure.

These concluding phrases will help you finish writing your essay in a strong, confident way.

There are many useful essay words out there that we didn't include in this article, because they are specific to certain topics.

If you're writing about biology, for example, you will need to use different terminology than if you're writing about literature.

So how do you improve your vocabulary skills?

The vocabulary you use in your academic writing is a toolkit you can build up over time, as long as you take the time to learn new words.

One way to increase your vocabulary is by looking up words you don’t know when you’re reading.

Try reading more books and academic articles in the field you’re writing about and jotting down all the new words you find. You can use these words to bolster your own essays.

You can also consult a dictionary or a thesaurus. When you’re using a word you’re not confident about, researching its meaning and common synonyms can help you make sure it belongs in your essay.

Don't be afraid of using simpler words. Good essay writing boils down to choosing the best word to convey what you need to say, not the fanciest word possible.

Finally, you can use ProWritingAid’s synonym tool or essay checker to find more precise and sophisticated vocabulary. Click on weak words in your essay to find stronger alternatives.

There you have it: our compilation of the best words and phrases to use in your next essay . Good luck!

Good writing = better grades

ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of all your assignments.

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument. Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

By: Author Sophia

Posted on Last updated: October 25, 2023

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How to Write a Great Essay in English! This lesson provides 100+ useful words, transition words and expressions used in writing an essay. Let’s take a look!

The secret to a successful essay doesn’t just lie in the clever things you talk about and the way you structure your points.

Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

Overview of an essay.

Useful Phrases for Proficiency Essays

Developing the argument

• The first aspect to point out is that…
• Let us start by considering the facts.
• The novel portrays, deals with, revolves around…
• Central to the novel is…
• The character of xxx embodies/ epitomizes…

The other side of the argument

• It would also be interesting to see…
• One should, nevertheless, consider the problem from another angle.
• Equally relevant to the issue are the questions of…
• The arguments we have presented… suggest that…/ prove that…/ would indicate that…
• From these arguments one must…/ could…/ might… conclude that…
• All of this points to the conclusion that…
• To conclude…

Ordering elements

• Firstly,…/ Secondly,…/ Finally,… (note the comma after all these introductory words.)
• As a final point…
• On the one hand, …. on the other hand…
• If on the one hand it can be said that… the same is not true for…
• The first argument suggests that… whilst the second suggests that…
• There are at least xxx points to highlight.

Adding elements

• Furthermore, one should not forget that…
• In addition to…
• Moreover…
• It is important to add that…

Accepting other points of view

• Nevertheless, one should accept that…
• However, we also agree that…

Personal opinion

• We/I personally believe that…
• Our/My own point of view is that…
• It is my contention that…
• I am convinced that…
• My own opinion is…

Others’ opinions

• According to some critics… Critics:
• believe that
• suggest that
• are convinced that
• point out that
• emphasize that
• contend that
• go as far as to say that
• argue for this

Introducing examples

• For example…
• For instance…
• To illustrate this point…

Introducing facts

• It is… true that…/ clear that…/ noticeable that…
• One should note here that…

Saying what you think is true

• This leads us to believe that…
• It is very possible that…
• In view of these facts, it is quite likely that…
• Doubtless,…
• One cannot deny that…
• It is (very) clear from these observations that…
• All the same, it is possible that…
• It is difficult to believe that…

Accepting other points to a certain degree

• One can agree up to a certain point with…
• Certainly,… However,…
• It cannot be denied that…

Emphasizing particular points

• The last example highlights the fact that…
• Not only… but also…
• We would even go so far as to say that…

Moderating, agreeing, disagreeing

• By and large…
• Perhaps we should also point out the fact that…
• It would be unfair not to mention the fact that…
• One must admit that…
• We cannot ignore the fact that…
• One cannot possibly accept the fact that…

Consequences

• From these facts, one may conclude that…
• That is why, in our opinion, …
• Which seems to confirm the idea that…
• Thus,…/ Therefore,…
• Some critics suggest…, whereas others…
• Compared to…
• On the one hand, there is the firm belief that… On the other hand, many people are convinced that…

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 1

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 2

Phrases For Balanced Arguments

Introduction

• It is often said that…
• It is undeniable that…
• It is a well-known fact that…
• One of the most striking features of this text is…
• The first thing that needs to be said is…
• First of all, let us try to analyze…
• One argument in support of…
• We must distinguish carefully between…
• The second reason for…
• An important aspect of the text is…
• It is worth stating at this point that…
• On the other hand, we can observe that…
• The other side of the coin is, however, that…
• Another way of looking at this question is to…
• What conclusions can be drawn from all this?
• The most satisfactory conclusion that we can come to is…
• To sum up… we are convinced that…/ …we believe that…/ …we have to accept that…

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 3

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Words To Use In Essays: Amplifying Your Academic Writing

Use this comprehensive list of words to use in essays to elevate your writing. Make an impression and score higher grades with this guide!

Words play a fundamental role in the domain of essay writing, as they have the power to shape ideas, influence readers, and convey messages with precision and impact. Choosing the right words to use in essays is not merely a matter of filling pages, but rather a deliberate process aimed at enhancing the quality of the writing and effectively communicating complex ideas. In this article, we will explore the importance of selecting appropriate words for essays and provide valuable insights into the types of words that can elevate the essay to new heights.

Words To Use In Essays

Using a wide range of words can make your essay stronger and more impressive. With the incorporation of carefully chosen words that communicate complex ideas with precision and eloquence, the writer can elevate the quality of their essay and captivate readers.

This list serves as an introduction to a range of impactful words that can be integrated into writing, enabling the writer to express thoughts with depth and clarity.

Significantly

Furthermore

Nonetheless

Nevertheless

Consequently

Accordingly

Subsequently

In contrast

Alternatively

Implications

Substantially

Transition Words And Phrases

Transition words and phrases are essential linguistic tools that connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs within a text. They work like bridges, facilitating the transitions between different parts of an essay or any other written work. These transitional elements conduct the flow and coherence of the writing, making it easier for readers to follow the author’s train of thought.

Here are some examples of common transition words and phrases:

Furthermore: Additionally; moreover.

However: Nevertheless; on the other hand.

In contrast: On the contrary; conversely.

Therefore: Consequently; as a result.

Similarly: Likewise; in the same way.

Moreover: Furthermore; besides.

In addition: Additionally; also.

Nonetheless: Nevertheless; regardless.

Nevertheless: However; even so.

On the other hand: Conversely; in contrast.

These are just a few examples of the many transition words and phrases available. They help create coherence, improve the organization of ideas, and guide readers through the logical progression of the text. When used effectively, transition words and phrases can significantly guide clarity for writing.

Strong Verbs For Academic Writing

Strong verbs are an essential component of academic writing as they add precision, clarity, and impact to sentences. They convey actions, intentions, and outcomes in a more powerful and concise manner. Here are some examples of strong verbs commonly used in academic writing:

Analyze: Examine in detail to understand the components or structure.

Critique: Assess or evaluate the strengths and weaknesses.

Demonstrate: Show the evidence to support a claim or argument.

Illuminate: Clarify or make something clearer.

Explicate: Explain in detail a thorough interpretation.

Synthesize: Combine or integrate information to create a new understanding.

Propose: Put forward or suggest a theory, idea, or solution.

Refute: Disprove or argue against a claim or viewpoint.

Validate: Confirm or prove the accuracy or validity of something.

Advocate: Support or argue in favor of a particular position or viewpoint.

Adjectives And Adverbs For Academic Essays

Useful adjectives and adverbs are valuable tools in academic writing as they enhance the description, precision, and depth of arguments and analysis. They provide specific details, emphasize key points, and add nuance to writing. Here are some examples of useful adjectives and adverbs commonly used in academic essays:

Comprehensive: Covering all aspects or elements; thorough.

Crucial: Extremely important or essential.

Prominent: Well-known or widely recognized; notable.

Substantial: Considerable in size, extent, or importance.

Valid: Well-founded or logically sound; acceptable or authoritative.

Effectively: In a manner that produces the desired result or outcome.

Significantly: To a considerable extent or degree; notably.

Consequently: As a result or effect of something.

Precisely: Exactly or accurately; with great attention to detail.

Critically: In a careful and analytical manner; with careful evaluation or assessment.

Words To Use In The Essay Introduction

The words used in the essay introduction play a crucial role in capturing the reader’s attention and setting the tone for the rest of the essay. They should be engaging, informative, and persuasive. Here are some examples of words that can be effectively used in the essay introduction:

Intriguing: A word that sparks curiosity and captures the reader’s interest from the beginning.

Compelling: Conveys the idea that the topic is interesting and worth exploring further.

Provocative: Creates a sense of controversy or thought-provoking ideas.

Insightful: Suggests that the essay will produce valuable and thought-provoking insights.

Startling: Indicates that the essay will present surprising or unexpected information or perspectives.

Relevant: Emphasizes the significance of the topic and its connection to broader issues or current events.

Timely: Indicates that the essay addresses a subject of current relevance or importance.

Thoughtful: Implies that the essay will offer well-considered and carefully developed arguments.

Persuasive: Suggests that the essay will present compelling arguments to convince the reader.

Captivating: Indicates that the essay will hold the reader’s attention and be engaging throughout.

Words To Use In The Body Of The Essay

The words used in the body of the essay are essential for effectively conveying ideas, providing evidence, and developing arguments. They should be clear, precise, and demonstrate a strong command of the subject matter. Here are some examples of words that can be used in the body of the essay:

Evidence: When presenting supporting information or data, words such as “data,” “research,” “studies,” “findings,” “examples,” or “statistics” can be used to strengthen arguments.

Analysis: To discuss and interpret the evidence, words like “analyze,” “examine,” “explore,” “interpret,” or “assess” can be employed to demonstrate a critical evaluation of the topic.

Comparison: When drawing comparisons or making contrasts, words like “similarly,” “likewise,” “in contrast,” “on the other hand,” or “conversely” can be used to highlight similarities or differences.

Cause and effect: To explain the relationship between causes and consequences, words such as “because,” “due to,” “leads to,” “results in,” or “causes” can be utilized.

Sequence: When discussing a series of events or steps, words like “first,” “next,” “then,” “finally,” “subsequently,” or “consequently” can be used to indicate the order or progression.

Emphasis: To emphasize a particular point or idea, words such as “notably,” “significantly,” “crucially,” “importantly,” or “remarkably” can be employed.

Clarification: When providing further clarification or elaboration, words like “specifically,” “in other words,” “for instance,” “to illustrate,” or “to clarify” can be used.

Integration: To show the relationship between different ideas or concepts, words such as “moreover,” “furthermore,” “additionally,” “likewise,” or “similarly” can be utilized.

Conclusion: When summarizing or drawing conclusions, words like “in conclusion,” “to summarize,” “overall,” “in summary,” or “to conclude” can be employed to wrap up ideas.

Remember to use these words appropriately and contextually, ensuring they strengthen the coherence and flow of arguments. They should serve as effective transitions and connectors between ideas, enhancing the overall clarity and persuasiveness of the essay.

Words To Use In Essay Conclusion

The words used in the essay conclusion are crucial for effectively summarizing the main points, reinforcing arguments, and leaving a lasting impression on the reader. They should bring a sense of closure to the essay while highlighting the significance of ideas. Here are some examples of words that can be used in the essay conclusion:

Summary: To summarize the main points, these words can be used “in summary,” “to sum up,” “in conclusion,” “to recap,” or “overall.”

Reinforcement: To reinforce arguments and emphasize their importance, words such as “crucial,” “essential,” “significant,” “noteworthy,” or “compelling” can be employed.

Implication: To discuss the broader implications of ideas or findings, words like “consequently,” “therefore,” “thus,” “hence,” or “as a result” can be utilized.

Call to action: If applicable, words that encourage further action or reflection can be used, such as “we must,” “it is essential to,” “let us consider,” or “we should.”

Future perspective: To discuss future possibilities or developments related to the topic, words like “potential,” “future research,” “emerging trends,” or “further investigation” can be employed.

Reflection: To reflect on the significance or impact of arguments, words such as “profound,” “notable,” “thought-provoking,” “transformative,” or “perspective-shifting” can be used.

Final thought: To leave a lasting impression, words or phrases that summarize the main idea or evoke a sense of thoughtfulness can be used, such as “food for thought,” “in light of this,” “to ponder,” or “to consider.”

How To Improve Essay Writing Vocabulary

Improving essay writing vocabulary is essential for effectively expressing ideas, demonstrating a strong command of the language, and engaging readers. Here are some strategies to enhance the essay writing vocabulary:

• Read extensively: Reading a wide range of materials, such as books, articles, and essays, can give various writing styles, topics, and vocabulary. Pay attention to new words and their usage, and try incorporating them into the writing.
• Use a dictionary and thesaurus:  Look up unfamiliar words in a dictionary to understand their meanings and usage. Additionally, utilize a thesaurus to find synonyms and antonyms to expand word choices and avoid repetition.
• Create a word bank: To create a word bank, read extensively, write down unfamiliar or interesting words, and explore their meanings and usage. Organize them by categories or themes for easy reference, and practice incorporating them into writing to expand the vocabulary.
• Contextualize vocabulary: Simply memorizing new words won’t be sufficient; it’s crucial to understand their proper usage and context. Pay attention to how words are used in different contexts, sentence structures, and rhetorical devices. 

How To Add Additional Information To Support A Point

When writing an essay and wanting to add additional information to support a point, you can use various transitional words and phrases. Here are some examples:

Furthermore: Add more information or evidence to support the previous point.

Additionally: Indicates an additional supporting idea or evidence.

Moreover: Emphasizes the importance or significance of the added information.

In addition: Signals the inclusion of another supporting detail.

Furthermore, it is important to note: Introduces an additional aspect or consideration related to the topic.

Not only that, but also: Highlights an additional point that strengthens the argument.

Equally important: Emphasizes the equal significance of the added information.

Another key point: Introduces another important supporting idea.

It is worth noting: Draws attention to a noteworthy detail that supports the point being made.

Additionally, it is essential to consider: Indicates the need to consider another aspect or perspective.

Using these transitional words and phrases will help you seamlessly integrate additional information into your essay, enhancing the clarity and persuasiveness of your arguments.

Words And Phrases That Demonstrate Contrast

When crafting an essay, it is crucial to effectively showcase contrast, enabling the presentation of opposing ideas or the highlighting of differences between concepts. The adept use of suitable words and phrases allows for the clear communication of contrast, bolstering the strength of arguments. Consider the following examples of commonly employed words and phrases to illustrate the contrast in essays:

However: e.g., “The experiment yielded promising results; however, further analysis is needed to draw conclusive findings.”

On the other hand: e.g., “Some argue for stricter gun control laws, while others, on the other hand, advocate for individual rights to bear arms.”

Conversely: e.g., “While the study suggests a positive correlation between exercise and weight loss, conversely, other research indicates that diet plays a more significant role.”

Nevertheless: e.g., “The data shows a decline in crime rates; nevertheless, public safety remains a concern for many citizens.”

In contrast: e.g., “The economic policies of Country A focus on free-market principles. In contrast, Country B implements more interventionist measures.”

Despite: e.g., “Despite the initial setbacks, the team persevered and ultimately achieved success.”

Although: e.g., “Although the participants had varying levels of experience, they all completed the task successfully.”

While: e.g., “While some argue for stricter regulations, others contend that personal responsibility should prevail.”

Words To Use For Giving Examples

When writing an essay and providing examples to illustrate your points, you can use a variety of words and phrases to introduce those examples. Here are some examples:

For instance: Introduces a specific example to support or illustrate your point.

For example: Give an example to clarify or demonstrate your argument.

Such as: Indicates that you are providing a specific example or examples.

To illustrate: Signals that you are using an example to explain or emphasize your point.

One example is: Introduces a specific instance that exemplifies your argument.

In particular: Highlights a specific example that is especially relevant to your point.

As an illustration: Introduces an example that serves as a visual or concrete representation of your point.

A case in point: Highlights a specific example that serves as evidence or proof of your argument.

To demonstrate: Indicates that you are providing an example to show or prove your point.

To exemplify: Signals that you are using an example to illustrate or clarify your argument.

Using these words and phrases will help you effectively incorporate examples into your essay, making your arguments more persuasive and relatable. Remember to give clear and concise examples that directly support your main points.

Words To Signifying Importance

When writing an essay and wanting to signify the importance of a particular point or idea, you can use various words and phrases to convey this emphasis. Here are some examples:

Crucially: Indicates that the point being made is of critical importance.

Significantly: Highlights the importance or significance of the idea or information.

Importantly: Draws attention to the crucial nature of the point being discussed.

Notably: Emphasizes that the information or idea is particularly worthy of attention.

It is vital to note: Indicates that the point being made is essential and should be acknowledged.

It should be emphasized: Draws attention to the need to give special importance or focus to the point being made.

A key consideration is: Highlight that the particular idea or information is a central aspect of the discussion.

It is critical to recognize: Emphasizes that the understanding or acknowledgment of the point is crucial.

Using these words and phrases will help you convey the importance and significance of specific points or ideas in your essay, ensuring that readers recognize their significance and impact on the overall argument.

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Useful phrases for your essays (advanced level)

Here you have some phrases to include in your essays (CEFR C1-C2). Hope you like it and find it useful !!

Introducing the phenomenon to be discussed

• More and more families are choosing to have only one child.
• The trend nowadays is towards having smaller families.
• Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of ……………
• Recent research indicates that the number of teenagers who smoke is increasing.
• Hardly a week goes by without another report of …………….. appearing in the media.
• This raises the issue of whether ……………..
• Although most people would generally agree that …………… few would deny that …………….

Stating your opinion

• As I see it,
• It seems to me that ………… I would also say that ….
• I am convinced that ……………
• I am inclined to believe that ………………
• There is no doubt in my mind that ………………
• One of the drawbacks of ……. is ……….
• However, one of the benefits is that …………

Changing topic

• As regards the causes for this, …………..
• Concerning the causes for this, ………
• As for the causes, ………..

Presenting arguments

• One justification often given for ……….. is that……………..
• Advocates/Proponents would claim that ………………
• Those who object to …………….. often argue that ……………….
• Another objection is that ……
• However, it should not be forgotten that …………..
• ……….. are opposed to ……………. on the grounds that ……………..
• From the point of view of ……………..
• According to ………………..

Describing causes

• One factor which has led to ………… is …………..
• One of the factors which has brought this about is ………
• The problem often stems from ………………..
• The situation has been exacerbated by …………….
• ………….. has only made the situation worse.
• One consequence of ……………. is …………….

Proposing steps and measures

• As regards the most appropriate response to this situation, one suggestion would be to ………
• The first step to be taken would be to ……..
• To alleviate the situation people should ………..
• In addition they ought to ……………
• To begin to tackle this situation society/individuals/the government need/s to ……….
• ………….. would certainly ameliorate the situation.
• This can only be dealt with if …………
• To overcome this problem, …………..
• Were the government to ……………, the situation would doubtless improve.
• Individuals can do a great deal to …………
• The burden of responsiblity lies in the hands of ……..
• It is vitally important that ………
• Legislation should be introduced to control ……………..
• It would be a grave error if we ……………..
• All in all it seems to me that ………..
• The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that …………………..
• All things considered, ………….
• On balance, I tend to believe that …………
• The world would surely be a better place to live in if …………..
• If people stopped ….ing, we would have/ we could look forward to a ……………
• The prospects for the future will be bleak/grim unless ……………….

I think you should also have a few pages somewhere where you can keep a record of other useful essay phrases that you come across in your reading. Write them down and practise using them in your own writing.

Look out for more advanced expressions that you can use in place of phrases that weren’t even impressive at the B2 level – phrases like “solve the problem”. Here are a few alternative problem and solution phrases to get you going.:

a  crisis  in education which must be  addressed

something that must  be tackled  /  be dealt with

a  challenge  which must  be met

something must be done  to restore  law and order in the inner cities

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17 academic words and phrases to use in your essay

(Last updated: 20 October 2022)

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We have helped 10,000s of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students to maximise their grades in essays, dissertations, model-exam answers, applications and other materials. If you would like a free chat about your project with one of our UK staff, then please just reach out on one of the methods below.

For the vast majority of students, essay writing doesn't always come easily. Writing at academic level is an acquired skill that can literally take years to master – indeed, many students find they only start to feel really confident writing essays just as their undergraduate course comes to an end!

If this is you, and you've come here looking for words and phrases to use in your essay, you're in the right place. We’ve pulled together a list of essential academic words you can use in the introduction, body, and conclusion of your essays .

Whilst your ideas and arguments should always be your own, borrowing some of the words and phrases listed below is a great way to articulate your ideas more effectively, and ensure that you keep your reader’s attention from start to finish.

It goes without saying (but we'll say it anyway) that there's a certain formality that comes with academic writing. Casual and conversational phrases have no place. Obviously, there are no LOLs, LMFAOs, and OMGs. But formal academic writing can be much more subtle than this, and as we've mentioned above, requires great skill.

So, to get you started on polishing your own essay writing ability, try using the words in this list as an inspirational starting point.

Words to use in your introduction

The trickiest part of academic writing often comes right at the start, with your introduction. Of course, once you’ve done your plan and have your arguments laid out, you need to actually put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and begin your essay.

You need to consider that your reader doesn’t have a clue about your topic or arguments, so your first sentence must summarise these. Explain what your essay is going to talk about as though you were explaining it to a five year old – without losing the formality of your academic writing, of course! To do this, use any of the below words or phrases to help keep you on track.

1. Firstly, secondly, thirdly

Even though it sounds obvious, your argument will be clearer if you deliver the ideas in the right order. These words can help you to offer clarity and structure to the way you expose your ideas. This is an extremely effective method of presenting the facts clearly. Don’t be too rigid and feel you have to number each point, but using this system can be a good way to get an argument off the ground, and link arguments together.

2. In view of; in light of; considering

These essay phrases are useful to begin your essay. They help you pose your argument based on what other authors have said or a general concern about your research. They can also both be used when a piece of evidence sheds new light on an argument. Here’s an example: The result of the American invasion has severely impaired American interests in the Middle East, exponentially increasing popular hostility to the United States throughout the region, a factor which has proved to be a powerful recruitment tool for extremist terrorist groups (Isakhan, 2015). Considering [or In light of / In view of] the perceived resulting threat to American interests, it could be argued that the Bush administration failed to fully consider the impact of their actions before pushing forward with the war.

3. According to X; X stated that; referring to the views of X

Introducing the views of an author who has a comprehensive knowledge of your particular area of study is a crucial part of essay writing. Including a quote that fits naturally into your work can be a bit of a struggle, but these academic phrases provide a great way in.

Even though it’s fine to reference a quote in your introduction, we don’t recommend you start your essay with a direct quote. Use your own words to sum up the views you’re mentioning, for example:

As Einstein often reiterated, experiments can prove theories, but experiments don’t give birth to theories.

Rather than:

“A theory can be proved by experiment, but no path leads from experiment to the birth of a theory.” {Albert Einstein, 1954, Einstein: A Biography}.

See the difference?

And be sure to reference correctly too, when using quotes or paraphrasing someone else's words.

Adding information and flow

The flow of your essay is extremely important. You don’t want your reader to be confused by the rhythm of your writing and get distracted away from your argument, do you? No! So, we recommend using some of the following ‘flow’ words, which are guaranteed to help you articulate your ideas and arguments in a chronological and structured order.

4. Moreover; furthermore; in addition; what’s more

These types of academic phrases are perfect for expanding or adding to a point you’ve already made without interrupting the flow altogether. “Moreover”, “furthermore” and “in addition” are also great linking phrases to begin a new paragraph.

Here are some examples: The dissociation of tau protein from microtubules destabilises the latter resulting in changes to cell structure, and neuronal transport. Moreover, mitochondrial dysfunction leads to further oxidative stress causing increased levels of nitrous oxide, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidases.

On the data of this trial, no treatment recommendations should be made. The patients are suspected, but not confirmed, to suffer from pneumonia. Furthermore, five days is too short a follow up time to confirm clinical cure.

5. In order to; to that end; to this end

These are helpful academic phrases to introduce an explanation or state your aim. Oftentimes your essay will have to prove how you intend to achieve your goals. By using these sentences you can easily expand on points that will add clarity to the reader.

For example: My research entailed hours of listening and recording the sound of whales in order to understand how they communicate.

Dutch tech companies offer support in the fight against the virus. To this end, an online meeting took place on Wednesday...

Even though we recommend the use of these phrases, DO NOT use them too often. You may think you sound like a real academic but it can be a sign of overwriting!

6. In other words; to put it another way; that is; to put it more simply

Complement complex ideas with simple descriptions by using these sentences. These are excellent academic phrases to improve the continuity of your essay writing. They should be used to explain a point you’ve already made in a slightly different way. Don’t use them to repeat yourself, but rather to elaborate on a certain point that needs further explanation. Or, to succinctly round up what just came before.

For example: A null hypothesis is a statement that there is no relationship between phenomena. In other words, there is no treatment effect.

Nothing could come to be in this pre-world time, “because no part of such a time possesses, as compared with any other, a distinguishing condition of existence rather than non-existence.” That is, nothing exists in this pre-world time, and so there can be nothing that causes the world to come into existence.

7. Similarly; likewise; another key fact to remember; as well as; an equally significant aspect of

These essay words are a good choice to add a piece of information that agrees with an argument or fact you just mentioned. In academic writing, it is very relevant to include points of view that concur with your opinion. This will help you to situate your research within a research context.

Also , academic words and phrases like the above are also especially useful so as not to repeat the word ‘also’ too many times. (We did that on purpose to prove our point!) Your reader will be put off by the repetitive use of simple conjunctions. The quality of your essay will drastically improve just by using academic phrases and words such as ‘similarly’, ‘as well as’, etc. Here, let us show you what we mean:

In 1996, then-transport minister Steve Norris enthused about quadrupling cycling trips by 2012. Similarly, former prime minister David Cameron promised a “cycling revolution” in 2013…

Or Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) aims to bridge the gap of access to electricity across the continent (...). Another key fact to remember is that it must expand cost-efficient access to electricity to nearly 1 billion people.

The wording “not only… but also” is a useful way to elaborate on a similarity in your arguments but in a more striking way.

Comparing and contrasting information

Academic essays often include opposite opinions or information in order to prove a point. It is important to show all the aspects that are relevant to your research. Include facts and researchers’ views that disagree with a point of your essay to show your knowledge of your particular field of study. Below are a few words and ways of introducing alternative arguments.

8. Conversely; however; alternatively; on the contrary; on the other hand; whereas

Finding a seamless method to present an alternative perspective or theory can be hard work, but these terms and phrases can help you introduce the other side of the argument. Let's look at some examples:

89% of respondents living in joint families reported feeling financially secure. Conversely, only 64% of those who lived in nuclear families said they felt financially secure.

The first protagonist has a social role to fill in being a father to those around him, whereas the second protagonist relies on the security and knowledge offered to him by Chaplin.

“On the other hand” can also be used to make comparisons when worded together with “on the one hand.”

9. By contrast; in comparison; then again; that said; yet

These essay phrases show contrast, compare facts, and present uncertainty regarding a point in your research. “That said” and “yet” in particular will demonstrate your expertise on a topic by showing the conditions or limitations of your research area. For example:

All the tests were positive. That said, we must also consider the fact that some of them had inconclusive results.

10. Despite this; provided that; nonetheless

Use these phrases and essay words to demonstrate a positive aspect of your subject-matter regardless of lack of evidence, logic, coherence, or criticism. Again, this kind of information adds clarity and expertise to your academic writing.

A good example is:

Despite the criticism received by X, the popularity of X remains undiminished.

11. Importantly; significantly; notably; another key point

Another way to add contrast is by highlighting the relevance of a fact or opinion in the context of your research. These academic words help to introduce a sentence or paragraph that contains a very meaningful point in your essay.

Giving examples

A good piece of academic writing will always include examples. Illustrating your essay with examples will make your arguments stronger. Most of the time, examples are a way to clarify an explanation; they usually offer an image that the reader can recognise. The most common way to introduce an illustration is “for example.” However, in order not to repeat yourself here are a few other options.

12. For instance; to give an illustration of; to exemplify; to demonstrate; as evidence; to elucidate

The academic essays that are receiving top marks are the ones that back up every single point made. These academic phrases are a useful way to introduce an example. If you have a lot of examples, avoid repeating the same phrase to facilitate the readability of your essay.

Here’s an example:

‘High involvement shopping’, an experiential process described by Wu et al. (2015, p. 299) relies upon the development of an identity-based alliance between the customer and the brand. Celebrity status at Prada, for example, has created an alliance between the brand and a new generation of millennial customers.

Concluding your essay

Concluding words for essays are necessary to wrap up your argument. Your conclusion must include a brief summary of the ideas that you just exposed without being redundant. The way these ideas are expressed should lead to the final statement and core point you have arrived at in your present research.

13. In conclusion; to conclude; to summarise; in sum; in the final analysis; on close analysis

These are phrases for essays that will introduce your concluding paragraph. You can use them at the beginning of a sentence. They will show the reader that your essay is coming to an end:

On close analysis and appraisal, we see that the study by Cortis lacks essential features of the highest quality quantitative research.

14. Persuasive; compelling

Essay words like these ones can help you emphasize the most relevant arguments of your paper. Both are used in the same way: “the most persuasive/compelling argument is…”.

15. Therefore; this suggests that; it can be seen that; the consequence is

When you’re explaining the significance of the results of a piece of research, these phrases provide the perfect lead up to your explanation.

16. Above all; chiefly; especially; most significantly; it should be noted

Your summary should include the most relevant information or research factor that guided you to your conclusion. Contrary to words such as “persuasive” or “compelling”, these essay words are helpful to draw attention to an important point. For example:

The feasibility and effectiveness of my research has been proven chiefly in the last round of laboratory tests.

Film noir is, and will continue to be, highly debatable, controversial, and unmarketable – but above all, for audience members past, present and to come, extremely enjoyable as a form of screen media entertainment.

17. All things considered

This essay phrase is meant to articulate how you give reasons to your conclusions. It means that after you considered all the aspects related to your study, you have arrived to the conclusion you are demonstrating.

After mastering the use of these academic words and phrases, we guarantee you will see an immediate change in the quality of your essays. The structure will be easier to follow, and the reader’s experience will improve. You’ll also feel more confident articulating your ideas and using facts and examples. So jot them all down, and watch your essays go from ‘good’ to ‘great’!

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, expanding high-level vocabulary for essays.

I'm working on my college essays and I want to improve my vocab to make my writing stand out. Any suggestions on how to incorporate high-level vocabulary or resources to expand my lexicon?

Incorporating high-level vocabulary in your college essays is a great way to showcase your writing skills and stand out. Here are some suggestions on how to expand your lexicon and effectively use a sophisticated vocabulary in your essays:

1. Read widely: To expand your vocabulary, read a variety of materials including novels, newspapers, and even academic papers. This exposes you to new words and phrases that you can naturally incorporate into your own writing. Take note of unfamiliar words, look up their meanings, and try to use them in sentences for practice.

2. Use vocabulary-building tools: There are several resources available for vocabulary expansion, such as flashcard apps, websites like Vocabulary.com, and even classic books like "Word Power Made Easy" by Norman Lewis. These tools help you learn new words in a structured manner and provide exercises to reinforce your learning.

3. Keep a vocabulary journal: Whenever you encounter a new word, write it down in a journal along with its definition and an example sentence. Review your journal regularly to reinforce your learning and expose yourself to these words more frequently.

4. Revise selectively: Instead of trying to replace every simple word with a more complex one, focus on key phrases and descriptions where a higher-level word would add nuance or impact. Overstuffing your essay with complex vocabulary can make it difficult to read and may detract from your message. Aim for a balance of clarity and sophistication.

5. Use words in context: When incorporating new words into your essay, ensure their usage is contextually appropriate. Misusing a word can create confusion and cast doubt on your grasp of the language. It's always better to use a simpler word correctly than a complex one incorrectly.

6. Practice writing: Familiarize yourself with using high-level vocabulary by regularly writing essays, journal entries, or even fiction. Like any skill, the more you practice, the more natural it will become. Challenge yourself to incorporate new words in your writing to expand your active vocabulary.

7. Edit and revise: Once you have a draft of your essay, go through it to identify areas where you can improve your word choice. Use a thesaurus to find synonyms if needed, but remember that context matters – always double-check if the suggested synonyms fit the intended meaning.

Remember, while a high-level vocabulary can enhance your college essay, the most important aspects are still the quality of your storytelling and your ability to convey your thoughts and experiences effectively. Focusing on a clear, engaging narrative with well-structured sentences is the foundation upon which you can layer a sophisticated vocabulary. Good luck with your college essays!

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• The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples

The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.

Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type. 

In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test your skills in close reading and interpretation.

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Table of contents

Argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, textual analysis essays, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of essays.

An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement —a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations ) and analysis.

Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation.

The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:

• The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement
• The body presents your evidence and arguments
• The conclusion summarizes your argument and emphasizes its importance

The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well-organized view of the topic.

Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level.

The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented.

A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced.

Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing . Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay.

A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.

Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story.

Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing.

A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object.

Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.

On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.

My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to govern from the safety of the kitchen.

With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the insects it shelters…

Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.

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Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.

Rhetorical analysis

A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.

The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they have constructed it.

The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.

The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . Mouse over it to learn more.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

Literary analysis

A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.

Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.

The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach tells us about the text.

Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein , to learn more.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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The 50 Best Vocab Words for the ACT Essay

When taking the ACT essay section, students have 45 minutes to write a well-reasoned argumentative essay about a given prompt. The new ACT Essay prompts tend to be about “debate” topics — two sides of an issue are presented, with no obviously “right” side. Oftentimes, these subjects carry implications for broader issues such as freedom or morality. Test-takers are expected to convey some stance on the issue and support their argument with relevant facts and analysis.

In addition to some of the more obvious categories, like grammar and structure, students’ essays are also evaluated on their mastery of the English language. One way to demonstrate such mastery is through the correct usage of advanced vocabulary words. Below are 50 above-average vocabulary words sorted by the contexts in which they could most easily be worked into an ACT essay.

(Key: N = Noun, V= Verb, Adj. = Adjective)

Context 1: Factual Support For ACT Essay

These words can easily be used when stating facts and describing examples to support one’s argument. On ACT essays, common examples are trends or patterns of human behavior, current or past events, and large-scale laws or regulations.

1. Antecedent – a precursor, or preceding event for something – N

2. Bastion – an institution/place/person that strongly maintains particular principles, attitudes, or activities – N

3. Bellwether – something that indicates a trend – N

4. Burgeon – to begin to grow or increase rapidly – V

5. Catalyst – an agent that provokes or triggers change – N

6. Defunct – no longer in existence or functioning – Adj.

7. Entrenched – characterized by something that is firmly established and difficult to change – Adj.

8. Foster – to encourage the development of something – V

9. Galvanize – to shock or excite someone into taking action – V

10. Impetus – something that makes a process or activity happen or happen faster – N

11. Inadvertent – accidental or unintentional – Adj.

12. Incessant – never ending; continuing without pause – Adj.

13. Inflame – to provoke or intensify strong feelings in someone – V

14. Instill – to gradually but firmly establish an idea or attitude into a person’s mind – V

15. Lucrative – having a large reward, monetary or otherwise – Adj.

16. Myriad – countless or extremely large in number – Adj.

17. Precipitate – to cause something to happen suddenly or unexpectedly – V

18. Proponent – a person who advocates for something – N

19. Resurgence – an increase or revival after a period of limited activity – N

20. Revitalize – to give something new life and vitality – V

21. Ubiquitous – characterized by being everywhere; widespread – Adj.

22. Watershed – an event or period that marks a turning point – N

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Context 2: Analysis

These words can often be used when describing common patterns between examples or casting some form of opinion or judgement.

23. Anomaly  – deviation from the norm – N

24. Automaton – a mindless follower; someone who acts in a mechanical fashion – N

25. Belie – to fail to give a true impression of something – V

26. Cupidity – excessive greed – Adj.

27. Debacle – a powerful failure; a fiasco – N

28. Demagogue – a political leader or person who looks for support by appealing to prejudices instead of using rational arguments – N

29. Deter – to discourage someone from doing something by making them doubt or fear the consequences – V

30. Discredit – to harm the reputation or respect for someone – V

31. Draconian – characterized by strict laws, rules and punishments – Adj.

32. Duplicitous – deliberately deceitful in speech/behavior – Adj.

33. Egregious – conspicuously bad; extremely evil; monstrous and outrageous – Adj.

34. Exacerbate – to make a situation worse – V

35. Ignominious – deserving or causing public disgrace or shame – Adj.

36. Insidious – proceeding in a subtle way but with harmful effects – Adj.

37. Myopic – short-sighted; not considering the long run – Adj.

38. Pernicious – dangerous and harmful – Adj.

39. Renegade – a person who betrays an organization, country, or set of principles – N

40. Stigmatize – to describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or disapproval – V

41. Superfluous – unnecessary – Adj.

42. Venal – corrupt; susceptible to bribery – Adj.

43. Virulent – extremely severe or harmful in its effects – Adj.

44. Zealot – a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals – N

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C ontext 3: Thesis and Argument

These words are appropriate for taking a stance on controversial topics, placing greater weight on one or the other end of the spectrum, usually touching on abstract concepts, and/or related to human nature or societal issues.

45. Autonomy – independence or self governance; the right to make decisions for oneself – N

46. Conundrum – a difficult problem with no easy solution – N

47. Dichotomy – a division or contrast between two things that are presented as opposites or entirely different – N

48. Disparity – a great difference between things – N

49. Divisive – causing disagreement or hostility between people – Adj.

50. Egalitarian – favoring social equality and equal rights – Adj.

Although it’s true that vocabulary is one of the lesser criteria by which students’ ACT essays are graded, the small boost it may give to a student’s score could be the difference between a good score and a great score. For those who are already confident in their ability to create and support a well-reasoned argument but still want to go the extra mile, having a few general-purpose, impressive-sounding vocabulary words up one’s sleeve is a great way to tack on even more points.

How Does Your ACT Score Impact Your College Chances?

Selective colleges use a metric called the Academic Index (AI) to represent the strength of applicants’ grades and test scores. If your AI is too low, a school may not even review the rest of your application. 

We’ve made it easy to understand the impact of your ACT score by creating a free Admissions Chances Calculator . This calculator will let you know how your score stacks up against other applicants’, and give you tips on improving the rest of your profile, including grades and extracurriculars.

You can also search for schools based on preferences like location, major, cost, and more. Give it a try to get a jumpstart on your college strategy. 

To learn more about the ACT test, check out these CollegeVine posts:

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Which Section of the SAT and ACT Is Most Important?

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115 Advanced English Words (Advanced Vocabulary List)

Learning vocabulary is my hobby. It’s amazing how many meanings the word has, where it comes from, and what it represents in a cultural context . The more words you know, the more things and experiences you can name, which helps a lot if you want to become a writer.

“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”― Markus Zusak

115 Advanced Words in English

1. construe (verb).

Example: From her arguments, I construe she wants to turn the world into a place of chaos.

2. Peruse (verb)

a) read (something), typically thoroughly or carefully. b) examine carefully or at length.

3. Condone (verb)

Example: For the last time, she condoned their egregious mistake.

4. Latent (adjective)

5. acrimonious (adjective).

Example: She rejected his offer with an acrimonious sneer.

6. Indubitable (adjective)

7. propitious (adjective), 8. tremulous (adjective), 9. masquerade (noun/verb).

Example: The whole grand reception was a masquerade.

10. Salient (adjective)

11. embroil (verb).

Example: She was embroiled in the scheme and there was no way out.

12. Languish (verb)

13. aspersion (noun).

Example: They hurled aspersions as she came along.

14. Sedulous (adjective)

15. pertinacious (adjective), 16. encumber (verb).

restrict or impede (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult.

17. Effusion (noun)

a) an instance of giving off something such as a liquid or gas. b) an act of talking or writing in an unrestrained or heartfelt way.

18. Waffle (verb)

Example: Stop waffling about it or I’ll pull your tongue out!

19. Intrepid (adjective)

20. mores (noun), 21. disheveled (adjective).

untidy, disarranged

22. Sumptuous (adjective)

23. reciprocate (verb).

Example: The Moroccan trader gave him some tea, so he felt he had to reciprocate by buying something.

24. Infallible (adjective)

25. dissident (noun/adjective), 26. dispatch (verb/noun), 27. intransigence (noun), 28. pastoral (adjective/noun).

Example: The light pastoral depicted children strolling through meadows among the cattle.

29. Concede (verb)

30. manifold (adjective), 31. punitive (adjective).

inflicting or intended as punishment.

32. Nonplus (noun/verb)

33. salacious (adjective).

Example: The salacious dog had to be restrained.

34. Behoove (verb)

35. vulpine (adjective), 36. premise (noun).

a) a previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion.

37. Demise (noun)

38. megalomania (noun).

Example: Megalomania was the worst, among his many negative qualities.

39. Asinine (adjective)

40. surfeit (noun/verb), 41. reputable (adjective).

Example: I’ll give you a recommendation for a reputable psychologist.

42. Oblique (adjective)

43. jeopardize (verb).

Example: By divulging secret information, he jeopardized the whole operation.

44. Impudence (noun)

45. desolate (adjective/verb), 46. ballast (noun/verb).

a) heavy material, such as gravel, sand, or iron, placed in the bilge of a ship to ensure its stability. b) give stability to (a ship) by putting a heavy substance in its bilge.

47. Disperse (verb/adjective)

48. faze (verb).

Example: He wasn’t fazed by their threats.

49. Compunction (noun)

50. complacency (noun), 51. caliber (noun).

a) the quality of someone’s character or the level of their ability. b) the internal diameter or bore of a gun barrel.

52. Entreat (verb)

53. dissection (noun).

Example: He dissected the paragraph with such precision that even the distinguished professors were amazed.

54. Antiquated (adjective)

55. anguish (noun/verb), 56. effeminate (adjective).

(of a man) having characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; unmanly.

57. Enmity (noun)

58. epoch (noun).

Example: It was in the epoch of Socrates and Plato that ideas of the afterlife first took hold over the European psyche.

59. Intrinsic (adjective)

60. quotidian (adjective), 61. hazardous (adjective).

risky; dangerous.

62. Peregrination (noun)

63. attenuate (verb).

Example: Medical cannabis attenuated the pain of the cancer patient.

64. Unravel (verb)

65. behemoth (noun), 66. impeccable (adjective).

by the highest standards; faultless.

67. Jaded (adjective)

68. figurative (adjective).

Example: He was a master of pithy, figurative expressions.

69. Relic (noun)

70. wreak (verb), 71. utopia (noun).

an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.

72. Vegetate (verb)

73. infringe (verb).

Example: He infringed on their agreement by opting out just after twenty days into the contract.

74. Subtlety (noun)

75. epitaph (noun), 76. grisly (adjective).

causing horror or disgust.

77. Libido (noun)

78. epitome (noun).

Example: The president was an epitome of imbecility.

79. Topple (verb)

80. morose (adjective), 81. impalpable (adjective).

a) unable to be felt by touch. b) not easily comprehended.

82. Gratuitous (adjective)

83. opaque (adjective).

Example: He couldn’t see anything through the opaque glass of the jail cell.

84. Postmortem (noun)

85. eclectic (adjective/noun), 86. delve (verb).

reach inside a receptacle and search for something.

87. Studious (adjective)

88. impel (verb).

Example: He impelled the soldiers to face the enemy.

89. Mannered (adjective)

90. peevish (adjective), 91. stickler (noun).

a person who insists on a certain quality or type of behavior

92. Adulterate (verb)

93. deplete (verb).

Example: All our resources are being depleted.

94. Nadir (noun)

95. prelude (noun), 96. curtail (verb).

reduce in extent or quantity; restrict on.

97. Tacit (adjective)

98. abstruse (adjective).

Example: His philosophy was abstruse.

99. Placate (verb)

100. fathomless (adjective), 101. iconoclastic (adjective).

criticizing or attacking cherished beliefs or institutions.

102. Antithesis (noun)

103. magniloquent (adjective).

Example: His magniloquent speech didn’t impress anyone.

104. Deference (noun)

105. unwitting (adjective), 106. mutinous (adjective).

Example: The mutinous sailors threw the captain over the board.

107. Craven (adjective/noun)

108. luminary (noun), 109. homage (noun).

special honor or respect that is shown publicly.

110. Cupidity (noun)

111. syllogism (noun), 112. facetious (adjective).

treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.

113. Martinet (noun)

114. irksome (adjective), 115. defalcate (verb).

embezzle (funds with which one has been entrusted).

This is a part of the language and vocabulary series, which includes:

Parting words, rafal reyzer.

Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time entrepreneur building two companies, a digital marketer, and a content creator with 10+ years of experience. I started RafalReyzer.com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to become a proficient digital marketer and achieve freedom through online creativity. My site is a one-stop shop for digital marketers, and content enthusiasts who want to be independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things. Explore my journey here , and don't miss out on my AI Marketing Mastery online course.

Words to use in an essay

A good essay presents a strong central idea (thesis) and supports this idea through discussion. The key to strong essay writing is to learn the essay vocabulary that will connect your ideas to make sure your reader follows your train of thought.

Here are some good words to use in an essay. Many of these words have similar meanings and functions. A good way to improve your essay vocabulary is by studying the words in a sentence. Click on the essay vocab words below to see examples courtesy of the YouGlish tool.

Essay vocabulary

To add two ideas: Additionally , Also , Besides , Further , Furthermore , Likewise , Moreover , In addition , Similarly , What’s more

To clarify, elaborate, or summarize a point: In other words , To put it another way , To put it more simply

To make your idea stronger: As a matter of fact , In fact , Indeed

To show an idea is important: Importantly , Notably , Significantly

To give an example: For example, For instance

To say why something is true: As , Because , Insofar as , Since

To draw a conclusion: Accordingly , As a result , Because of this , Consequently , For this reason , Hence , In conclusion , In consequence , Therefore , Thus

To make a contrast between two ideas: However , In contrast , On the other hand , Yet , Then again

To make an unexpected contrast: Although , Despite the fact that , Despite this , Even though , In spite of the fact that, Nevertheless , Nonetheless , Notwithstanding , On the contrary , Regardless of the fact that

To express a condition (something that might be true) : As long as , Assuming that , Given that , If , In the event of , Provided that , So long as

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000 

The top 1,000 vocabulary words have been carefully chosen to represent difficult but common words that appear in everyday academic and business writing. These words are also the most likely to appear on the SAT, ACT, GRE, and ToEFL. To create this list, we started with the words that give our users the most trouble and then ranked them by how frequently they appear in our corpus of billions of words from edited sources. If you only have time to study one list of words, this is the list.

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• consider deem to be At the moment, artemisinin-based therapies are considered the best treatment, but cost about $10 per dose - far too much for impoverished communities. Seattle Times (Feb 16, 2012)
• minute infinitely or immeasurably small The minute stain on the document was not visible to the naked eye.
• accord concurrence of opinion The committee worked in accord on the bill, and it eventually passed.
• evident clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment That confidence was certainly evident in the way Smith handled the winning play with 14 seconds left on the clock.
• practice a customary way of operation or behavior He directed and acted in plays every season and became known for exploring Elizabethan theatre practices .
• intend have in mind as a purpose “Lipstick, as a product intended for topical use with limited absorption, is ingested only in very small quantities,” the agency said on its website.
• concern something that interests you because it is important The scandal broke out in October after former chief executive Michael Woodford claimed he was fired for raising concerns about the company's accounting practices.
• commit perform an act, usually with a negative connotation In an unprecedented front page article in 2003 The Times reported that Mr. Blair, a young reporter on its staff, had committed journalistic fraud. New York Times (Feb 15, 2012)
• issue some situation or event that is thought about As a result, the privacy issues surrounding mobile computing are becoming ever-more complex.
• approach move towards Spain’s jobless rate for people ages 16 to 24 is approaching 50 percent. New York Times (Feb 15, 2012)
• establish set up or found A small French colony, Port Louis, was established on East Falkland in 1764 and handed to the Spanish three years later.
• utter without qualification No one can blame an honest mechanic for holding a wealthy snob in utter contempt. Ingersoll, Robert Green
• conduct direct the course of; manage or control Scientists have been conducting studies of individual genes for years.
• engage consume all of one's attention or time We had nearly two hundred passengers, who were seated about on the sofas, reading, or playing games, or engaged in conversation. Field, Henry M. (Henry Martyn)
• obtain come into possession of He delayed making the unclassified report public while awaiting an Army review, but Rolling Stone magazine obtained the report and posted it Friday night. New York Times (Feb 11, 2012)
• scarce deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand Meanwhile, heating oil could grow more scarce in the Northeast this winter, the Energy Department warned last month. New York Times (Jan 21, 2012)
• policy a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group Inflation has lagged behind the central bank’s 2 percent target, giving policy makers extra scope to cut rates.
• straight successive, without a break After three straight losing seasons, Hoosiers fans were just hoping for a winning record. Seattle Times (Feb 15, 2012)
• stock capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares In other words, Apple’s stock is cheap, and you should buy it. Forbes (Feb 16, 2012)
• apparent clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment But the elderly creak is beginning to become apparent in McCartney’s voice.
• property a basic or essential attribute shared by members of a class Owing to these magic properties , it was often planted near dwellings to keep away evil spirits. Parsons, Mary Elizabeth
• fancy imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind For a time, indeed, he had fancied that things were changed. Weyman, Stanley J.
• concept an abstract or general idea inferred from specific instances As a psychologist, I have always found the concept of speed dating fascinating. Scientific American (Feb 13, 2012)
• court an assembly to conduct judicial business When Brown pleaded not guilty to assaulting Rihanna, their violent past came out in court . Slate (Feb 16, 2012)
• appoint assign a duty, responsibility, or obligation to In 1863 he was appointed by the general assembly professor of oriental languages at New College. Various
• passage a section of text, particularly a section of medium length His interpretation of many obscure scriptural passages by means of native manners and customs and traditions is particularly helpful and informing. Sheets, Emily Churchill Thompson
• vain unproductive of success An attempt was made to ignore this brilliant and irregular book, but in vain ; it was read all over Europe. Various
• instance an occurrence of something In many instances large districts or towns would have fewer representatives than smaller ones, or perhaps none at all. Clarke, Helen Archibald
• coast the shore of a sea or ocean Martello towers must be built within short distances all round the coast . Wingfield, Lewis
• project a planned undertaking The funds are aimed at helping build public projects including mass transit, electricity networks, water utility and ports, it said.
• commission a special group delegated to consider some matter The developers are now seeking approval from the landmarks commission . New York Times (Feb 16, 2012)
• constant a quantity that does not vary In 1929, Hubble independently put forward and confirmed the same idea, and the parameter later became known as the Hubble constant . Nature (Nov 15, 2011)
• circumstances one's overall condition in life The circumstances leading up to the shootings was not immediately available.
• constitute compose or represent Oil and natural gas constituted almost 50 percent of Russian government revenue last year.
• level a relative position or degree of value in a graded group Only last month did the men’s and women’s unemployment rates reach the same level . New York Times (Feb 19, 2012)
• affect have an influence upon The central bank will start distributing low-interest loans in early March to individuals and small- and medium-sized companies affected by the flooding.
• institute set up or lay the groundwork for Corporations have to be more and more focused on instituting higher labor standards. Washington Post (Feb 7, 2012)
• render give an interpretation of But authorities had rendered the weapon and the explosive device inoperable, officials said. Chicago Tribune (Feb 17, 2012)
• appeal be attractive to To get traditional women’s accessories to appeal to men, some designers are giving them manly names and styles. New York Times (Feb 19, 2012)
• generate bring into existence Qualities such as these are not generated under bad working practices of any sort. Hungerford, Edward
• theory a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the world Testing that theory begins Saturday night, as the Capitals take on Tampa Bay in another important contest. Washington Post (Feb 18, 2012)
• range a variety of different things or activities Like American community colleges, admission at an open university is not competitive, but the schools offer a range of programs, including doctoral degrees.
• campaign a race between candidates for elective office At the same point in 2004 — as an incumbent facing re-election — Mr. Bush had taken in about $145.6 million for his campaign . New York Times (Feb 18, 2012)
• league an association of sports teams that organizes matches "When I broke into the big leagues until a month ago, Gary kept in touch," Mets third baseman David Wright said. Seattle Times (Feb 17, 2012)
• labor any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted More labor is entailed, more time is required, greater delay is occasioned in cleaning up, and the amount of water used is much greater. Hoskin, Arthur J.
• confer have a meeting in order to talk something over Ms. Stewart said Mrs. Bachmann conferred with her family and a few aides after her disappointing showing on Tuesday evening. New York Times (Jan 4, 2012)
• grant allow to have He had been granted entry into the White House only for the daily briefing, later that afternoon. New York Times (Feb 17, 2012)
• dwell think moodily or anxiously about something But it is hardly necessary to dwell on so normal an event. Vinogradoff, Paul
• entertain provide amusement for The first Super Bowl in 1967 featured college marching bands entertaining the crowds at halftime.
• contract a binding agreement that is enforceable by law Contracts with utilities will be signed starting next month, he said.
• earnest characterized by a firm, sincere belief in one's opinions Too much praise cannot be given to the earnest and efficient missionaries who founded and have maintained this mission. Miller, George A.
• yield give or supply It is a very important honey plant, as it yields an exceptionally pure nectar and remains in bloom a long time. Parsons, Mary Elizabeth
• wander move or cause to move in a sinuous or circular course While each animal wandered through the maze, its brain was working furiously. New York Times (Feb 16, 2012)
• insist be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge Interior Department officials insisted that they had conducted an extensive scientific inquiry before moving ahead with the spill response plan. New York Times (Feb 17, 2012)
• knight a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry The knight was gallant not only in war, but in love also. Crothers, Samuel McChord
• convince make realize the truth or validity of something But though he listened he was not convinced . Reade, Charles
• inspire serve as the inciting cause of His surprising performance inspired an outpouring of fan adoration that has been dubbed "Linsanity." Chicago Tribune (Feb 19, 2012)
• convention a large formal assembly Last year, the industry’s main trade convention , the Inside Self-Storage World Expo, organized workshops in Las Vegas focusing on lien laws and auction sales. New York Times (Feb 17, 2012)
• skill an ability that has been acquired by training He says many new drivers are terrified of motorway driving because they do not have the skills or confidence needed.
• harry annoy continually or chronically There’s something uplifting about hearing a string instrument when I’m feeling ragged or harried . New York Times (Feb 9, 2012)
• financial involving fiscal matters Meanwhile, universities have raised tuition every year, putting many students in a financial bind. New York Times (Feb 20, 2012)
• reflect show an image of Teens ranting over chores and whatnot can often reflect deeper feelings of alienation or perceived uncaring on the part of parents.
• novel an extended fictional work in prose Before Robert Barr publishes a novel he spends years in thinking the thing out. Anonymous
• furnish provide with objects or articles that make a room usable Instead, according to court documents, the money went toward furnishing mansions, flying in private jets, and retaining a $120,000-a-year personal hairstylist. BusinessWeek (Feb 1, 2012)
• compel force somebody to do something But the flames grew too large, compelling firefighters to call off the rescue. New York Times (Feb 18, 2012)
• venture proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers Clearly he would not venture to descend while his enemy moved. Strang, Herbert
• territory the geographical area under the jurisdiction of a state On Friday, West Africa regional group Ecowas condemned the rebels, urging them to end hostilities and surrender all occupied territory .
• temper a characteristic state of feeling Oscar Wilde, to do him justice, bore this sort of rebuff with astonishing good temper and sweetness. Anonymous
• bent fixed in your purpose The business-oriented constituency of the Republican Party, Jacobs said, has been weakened by a faction bent on lowering taxes and cutting spending.
• intimate marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity The female spider can choose when to cut off intimate relations by eating her partner, or kicking him out. Scientific American (Jan 31, 2012)
• undertake enter upon an activity or enterprise An autopsy has reportedly been undertaken but the results are not expected for several weeks.
• majority more than half of the votes in an election Republicans need just four seats in the Senate to take control as the majority party.
• assert declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true In your talk you asserted the pill's risks of blood clotting, lung artery blockage, heart attack and stroke are minimal.
• crew the people who work on a vehicle Several pilots and crew members would have to escape at once, while safety divers watched, ready to rescue anyone who became stuck. New York Times (Feb 6, 2012)
• chamber a natural or artificial enclosed space "Today," said the old man, "you must push through with me into my most solitary chamber , that we may not be disturbed." Carlyle, Thomas
• humble marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful “Challenging yourself, playing up against stronger, tougher, and overall better competition will keep you humble .” Washington Post (Jan 17, 2012)
• scheme an elaborate and systematic plan of action Some companies in the Globe District of Arizona have started extensive underground schemes for mining large tonnages very cheaply by "caving" methods. Hoskin, Arthur J.
• keen demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions Not one of his movements escaped her keen observation; she drank in every shiver. Wingfield, Lewis
• liberal having political views favoring reform and progress Romney’s actually done well in open primaries where fiscally conservative yet socially liberal independents have backed him over his opponents.
• despair a state in which all hope is lost or absent There were wounded love, and wounded pride, and despair , and coming madness, all in that piteous cry. Reade, Charles
• tide the periodic rise and fall of the sea level In the case of mobile connectivity, a rising tide does not lift all boats. Slate (Feb 9, 2012)
• attitude a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings "Behaviours have changed and attitudes have changed," Mr Taylor said.
• justify show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for He felt sure that if the circumstances justified it, the necessary proceedings could be taken.” Anonymous
• flag a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning and ordered flags flown at half staff. New York Times (Feb 16, 2012)
• merit any admirable or beneficial attribute Thus far in our inquiry extraordinary merits have been offset by extraordinary defects. Ayres, Harry Morgan
• manifest reveal its presence or make an appearance A too rapid transformation of existing conditions might very easily lead to an economic crisis, symptoms of which are already beginning to manifest themselves. Vay, P?ter
• notion a general inclusive concept Does that old notion that defense wins championships still hold up these days? Seattle Times (Jan 13, 2012)
• scale relative magnitude And there might not be much money, so fashion shows are done on a much smaller scale . Seattle Times (Feb 17, 2012)
• formal characteristic of or befitting a person in authority A formal decision to call off the search is likely on Wednesday, rescue officials said. New York Times (Jan 31, 2012)
• resource a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed “Economists assume that, under normal conditions, markets will allocate resources efficiently,” he added.
• persist continue to exist Old ideas, long after the conditions under which they were produced have passed away, often persist in surviving. Ingersoll, Robert Green
• contempt lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike And with his backhanded contempt for all things ordinary, Blake is making some of the catchiest, most difficult music in recent memory.
• tour a route all the way around a particular place or area He typed in “South Park” and took senior executives on a tour of Web sites offering pirated episodes. New York Times (Feb 8, 2012)
• plead enter a defendant's answer Aria pleaded not guilty, but he acknowledged that he had violated some laws. New York Times (Feb 18, 2012)
• weigh be oppressive or burdensome So far, the political turmoil has not appeared to have discouraged visitors, but prolonged strife could weigh on tourism. New York Times (Feb 11, 2012)
• mode how something is done or how it happens Speaking of science, he says, in language far in advance of his times: ‘There are two modes of knowing—by argument and by experiment. Adams, W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport)
• distinction a discrimination between things as different But such a distinction is quite external; at heart the men may be very much alike. Anonymous
• inclined at an angle to the horizontal or vertical position Such an inclined passage following a seam of coal is known as a slope. Hoskin, Arthur J.
• attribute a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity The authors found that when the available prospects varied more in attributes such as age, height, occupation and educational background, people made fewer dating proposals. Scientific American (Feb 13, 2012)
• exert make a great effort at a mental or physical task School boards may come to exert even greater influence over what students read. Forbes (Jan 23, 2012)
• oppress come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority Those who managed to survive were later oppressed by Poland's post-war communist authorities.
• contend compete for something But eight men, however bold and stout-hearted, could not long contend with an enemy at least four times their number. Strang, Herbert
• stake a strong wooden or metal post driven into the ground His remains were buried in Cannon Street, and a stake was driven through the body. Andrews, William
• toil work hard He toiled in the sweat of his brow, tilling the stubborn ground, taking out stones, building fences. Adler, Felix
• perish pass from physical life Simon Wiesenthal's parents are long since deceased, with his father dying in World War I and his mother perishing in the Holocaust.
• disposition your usual mood Melancholia — the state of mind — can hide behind seemingly sunny dispositions . Seattle Times (Dec 28, 2011)
• rail complain bitterly Mr. Gray railed against lengthy stage directions, saying he crossed them out in scripts before he would begin rehearsals with his actors. New York Times (Feb 7, 2012)
• cardinal one of a group of prominent bishops in the Sacred College Each time he names cardinals he puts his stamp on Roman Catholicism's future by choosing men who share his views. Chicago Tribune (Feb 18, 2012)
• boast talk about oneself with excessive pride or self-regard Mr. Estes was also well connected politically, boasting that the president of the United States took his calls. New York Times (Dec 10, 2011)
• advocate a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea Well, safety advocates , consumers and the government dragged the automobile industry toward including seat belts, air bags, more visible taillights and other safety features. New York Times (Feb 19, 2012)
• bestow present He bestowed public buildings and river improvements in return for votes. Gilbert, Clinton W. (Clinton Wallace)
• allege report or maintain It is being fired into enclosed areas and homes, the human rights group alleges .
• notwithstanding despite anything to the contrary He seems to have taken things easily enough, notwithstanding the sorrow and suffering that surrounded him on every side. Adams, W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport)
• lofty of imposing height; especially standing out above others He found himself in an enormous hall with a lofty ceiling. Blasco Ib??ez, Vicente
• multitude a large indefinite number Department store chains in general have been strained in recent years as a " multitude " of alternatives has emerged, all competing for customers. Chicago Tribune (Dec 28, 2011)
• steep having a sharp inclination It was narrow and very steep , and had precipices in all parts, so that they could not mount upward except one at a time. Various
• heed pay close attention to But Cain was already too far gone to heed the warning voice. Adler, Felix
• modest not large but sufficient in size or amount A healthy person living in an unfashionable city with no student loans to pay off can get by on a fairly modest income. Slate (Feb 17, 2012)
• partial being or affecting only a segment Generalizations of this sweeping order are apt to contain only partial truth. Clarke, Helen Archibald
• apt naturally disposed toward Another reason to display beds at an electronics show: consumers are apt to use high-tech devices while tucked in. New York Times (Jan 9, 2012)
• esteem the condition of being honored Despite being held in the highest esteem by his fellow poets, Redgrove never quite achieved the critical reception or readership he deserved.
• credible appearing to merit belief or acceptance Mike Mullen, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has acknowledged receiving the memo but said he ignored it as not credible . New York Times (Dec 19, 2011)
• provoke provide the needed stimulus for It provoked a bigger reaction than we could ever have anticipated.
• tread a step in walking or running The farmer went down, his clumsy boots making no sound on the uncarpeted stairway, so careful was his tread . Woolson, Constance Fenimore
• ascertain learn or discover with confidence Health care providers and manufacturers can ascertain alternative treatment more effectively by tackling predicted drug shortage incidences early in the process. Forbes (Feb 13, 2012)
• fare proceed, get along, or succeed A recent study breaks down how graduates with various college degrees are faring in today’s difficult job market. Washington Post (Feb 17, 2012)
• cede relinquish possession or control over Some militia chiefs say they will only cede command of their fighters once an organized military and security apparatus is in place.
• perpetual continuing forever or indefinitely The river is a perpetual enjoyment, always something going on. Waddington, Mary King
• decree a legally binding command or decision While the decree takes effect immediately, it requires Parliament’s approval within 60 days to remain in force.
• contrive make or work out a plan for; devise The wily Roc, never taken much by surprise, contrived to escape, but old Tributor and his men were all captured. Thornbury, Walter
• derived formed or developed from something else; not original Modern kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi are all members of the same species, derived from a single prehistoric plant variety. Slate (Feb 21, 2012)
• elaborate marked by complexity and richness of detail But the tobacco industry and owners of other convenience stores say tribal cigarette manufacturing is just an elaborate form of tax evasion. New York Times (Feb 22, 2012)
• substantial real; having a material or factual existence Defence lawyers said the large number of forensic tests which had been carried out had failed to find any substantial evidence linked to the accused.
• frontier a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country Adding to the precarious security situation, tribesmen kidnapped 18 Egyptian border guards along the frontier with Israel in Sinai Peninsula. New York Times (Feb 9, 2012)
• facile arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth As one teacher remarks about a troubled student, “There is no facile solution.” New York Times (Oct 11, 2011)
• cite make reference to The Federal Reserve has pledged low interest rates until late 2014, citing in part the weakness of the job market.
• warrant show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for In the United Kingdom and Europe the devices are not used unless the need is warranted by the patient's medical condition.
• sob weep convulsively He cried and trembled, sobbing , while they spoke, like the child he was. Weyman, Stanley J.
• rider a traveler who actively sits and travels on an animal In horseback riding, a rider will give commands by squeezing or lengthening the reins and altering the position of his legs.
• dense permitting little if any light to pass through Dense black smoke rose in the distance as demonstrators burned tires in Shiite villages.
• afflict cause physical pain or suffering in Melanoma globally afflicts nearly 160,000 new people each year.
• flourish grow vigorously His business had been all along steadily flourishing , his patrons had been of high social position, some most illustrious, others actually royal. Petherick, Horace William
• ordain invest with ministerial or priestly authority One of the present bishops was consecrated when quite a young boy, and deacons are often ordained at sixteen, and even much earlier. Bird, Isabella L. (Isabella Lucy)
• pious having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity Mother, you see, is a very pious woman, and she attributes it all to Providence, saying that it was the Divine interference in her behalf. Various
• vex disturb, especially by minor irritations There are vexing problems slowing the growth and the practical implementation of big data technologies. Forbes (Oct 21, 2011)
• gravity the force of attraction between all masses in the universe Once captured, the combined object will have a new center of gravity and may be spinning in an uncontrolled way.
• suspended supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy Frustrating enough at ground level, but can you imagine the agony about a stranded, ever-soggier Oreo being suspended 11 feet above the ground? Washington Post (Feb 21, 2012)
• conspicuous obvious to the eye or mind Its bright scarlet fruits are conspicuous in late autumn. Anonymous
• retort a quick reply to a question or remark Having put him in ill humour with this retort , she fled away rejoicing. Coster, Charles Th?odore Henri de
• jet an airplane powered by gas turbines Typhoon fighter jets , helicopters, two warships and bomb disposal experts will also be on duty to guard against security threats. Seattle Times (Feb 20, 2012)
• bolt run away The blare of bugles was heard, and a few seconds afterwards Jackson, still facing the enemy, shouted: "By Jupiter, they're bolting , sir." Strang, Herbert
• assent agree or express agreement His two companions readily assented , and the promise was mutually given and received. Keightley, Thomas
• purse a sum spoken of as the contents of a money container She watched over her husband, kept his accounts, held the family purse , managed all his affairs.  Shorter, Clement K.
• plus the arithmetic operation of summing The survey’s margin of error was plus or minus four percentage points.
• sanction give authority or permission to The Securities and Exchange Commission said last year it had sanctioned 39 senior officers for conduct related to the housing market meltdown.
• proceeding a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked Chu attended the special court-martial proceeding on Monday in Hawaii, Hill said.
• exalt praise, glorify, or honor Some exalt themselves by anonymously posting their own laudatory reviews. New York Times (Jan 26, 2012)
• siege an action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place Rebellion broke out, and finally the aged Caliph, after enduring a siege of several weeks, was murdered in his own house. Nicholson, Reynold
• malice the desire to see others suffer He viewed the moths with malice , their fluttering wings fanning his resentment. Lyman, Olin L.
• extravagant recklessly wasteful Advisers say new millionaires are prone to mistakes, like making extravagant purchases or risky deals with friends.
• wax increase in phase Carols had existed for centuries, though their popularity waxed and waned as different governments and religious movements periodically declared them sinful.
• throng press tightly together or cram Deafening cheers rent the air as he landed; hundreds thronged around him to clasp his hand. Strang, Herbert
• venerate regard with feelings of respect and reverence He venerated me like a being descended from an upper world. Blasco Ib??ez, Vicente
• assail attack someone physically or emotionally His campaign even issued a press release assailing other rivals for, in Mr. Paul’s view, taking Mr. Romney’s quote about firing people out of context. New York Times (Feb 16, 2012)
• sublime of high moral or intellectual value He was uneven, disproportioned, saying ordinary things on great occasions, and now and then, without the slightest provocation, uttering the sublimest and most beautiful thoughts. Ingersoll, Robert Green
• exploit draw from; make good use of As humans increasingly exploit the deep seas for fish, oil and mining, understanding how species are dispersed is crucial, Copley said. Scientific American (Jan 3, 2012)
• exertion use of physical or mental energy; hard work One day overcome by exertion , she fainted in the street. Ingersoll, Robert Green
• kindle catch fire Then a match was kindled and fire applied. Warner, Susan
• endow furnish with a capital fund The grammar school here, founded in 1533, is liberally endowed , with scholarships and exhibitions. Various
• imposed set forth authoritatively as obligatory The Arab League has already suspended Syria and imposed economic sanctions.
• humiliate cause to feel shame The letter claims pensioners are too often patronised, humiliated , denied privacy or even medical treatment.
• suffrage a legal right to vote There has been a great deal said in this country of late in regard to giving the right of suffrage to women. Ingersoll, Robert Green
• ensue take place or happen afterward or as a result An uproar ensued months after the approval, when opponents realized the online gambling measure had been slipped in. New York Times (Feb 16, 2012)
• brook a natural stream of water smaller than a river He walked across the little bridge over the brook and at once his mood changed. Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)
• gale a strong wind moving 34–40 knots The gale was accompanied, as usual, by incessant rain and thick weather, and a heavy confused sea kept our decks always flooded. Fitzroy, Robert
• muse reflect deeply on a subject Musing about the Big Picture may be a lot more gratifying than focusing on the details of the specific policies that aren’t working.
• satire witty language used to convey insults or scorn There’s plenty of humor on Russian television, though not much political satire ; Mr. Putin put a stop to that long ago. New York Times (Feb 13, 2012)
• intrigue cause to be interested or curious Designing and building models that intrigue and educate without overwhelming has been challenging. Science Magazine (Nov 24, 2011)
• indication something that serves to suggest Authorities said an autopsy found no indications of foul play or obvious signs of trauma on Houston. Seattle Times (Feb 15, 2012)
• dispatch send away towards a designated goal More than one assassin was dispatched by the Turkish authorities to murder Napoleon. Various
• cower crouch or curl up The knaves lowered their weapons and shrank back cowering before him. Weyman, Stanley J.
• wont an established custom He made his customary slick feeds to open teammates, but as is their wont , the Nets struggled at times to convert points on his passes. New York Times (Feb 20, 2012)
• tract a system of body parts that serves some specialized purpose When probiotics flourish in the digestive tract , nutrients are better absorbed and bad bugs are held at bay, research suggests. Seattle Times (Jan 10, 2012)
• canon a collection of books accepted as holy scripture For me, all novels of any consequence are literary, and they take their place, high and low, in the canon of English literature.
• impel cause to move forward with force Some power beyond his comprehension was impelling him toward the neighboring city. Blasco Ib??ez, Vicente
• latitude freedom from normal restraints in conduct Great employees often get more latitude to bring up controversial subjects in a group setting because their performance allows greater freedom.
• vacate leave behind empty; move out of Their number diminished sharply after Villaraigosa announced last week that he wanted protesters to vacate the grounds by Monday or be forcibly removed. Chicago Tribune (Nov 30, 2011)
• undertaking any piece of work that is attempted "Let my epitaph be, Here lies Joseph, who was unsuccessful in all his undertakings ." Marvin, Frederic Rowland
• slay kill intentionally and with premeditation "It were shame," said Lancelot, "for an armed to slay an unarmed man." Unknown
• predecessor one who goes before you in time Heller fills in the blanks about Taft, overshadowed by colorful predecessor Teddy Roosevelt. Seattle Times (Feb 22, 2012)
• delicacy the quality of being exquisitely fine in appearance This refinement appears in his works, which are full of artistic grace and dainty delicacy . Drake, Samuel Adams
• forsake leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch "I'm surprised," said Philip, cautiously opening fire, "that you were ever allowed to forsake your native land." Hay, Ian
• beseech ask for or request earnestly Utterly distraught, he ran up and down the bank, hunting for his clothes, calling, crying out, imploring, beseeching help from somewhere. Frank, Ulrich
• philosophical relating to the investigation of existence and knowledge His arguments, like Einstein’s, were qualitative, verging on highly philosophical . Scientific American (Jan 30, 2012)
• grove a small growth of trees without underbrush Soon after we came to Pasadena, father bought an orange grove of twenty-five acres. Chamberlain, James Franklin
• frustrate hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire Frustrated after two years of missed budget targets, finance chiefs demanded Greek officials put their verbal commitments into law.
• illustrious widely known and esteemed She will be joining an illustrious list of recipients that include Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II and Princess Diana.
• device an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose You’ve probably also noticed that the telephone and computer are no longer the only devices on your employees’ desks. Forbes (Feb 26, 2012)
• pomp cheap or pretentious or vain display Throughout U.S. history, Americans have been fascinated by royal pomp -- even on a movie screen.
• entreat ask for or request earnestly "Let me go now, please," she entreated , her eyes unable to meet his any longer. Hope, Anthony
• impart transmit, as knowledge or a skill Long before writing and books were in common use, proverbs were the principal means of imparting instruction. Preston, Thomas
• propriety correct behavior I felt a trifle doubtful about the propriety of taking a short cut across private grounds, and said as much. Sutphen, Van Tassel
• consecrate render holy by means of religious rites The building was consecrated as a Protestant Episcopal church in May, 1814. Faris, John T. (John Thomson)
• proceeds the income or profit arising from a transaction His own share in the proceeds was about a hundred thousand dollars. Stark, James H.
• fathom come to understand But after flying for so many years, the idea of hanging up his sparkling wings is hard for him to fathom . New York Times (Mar 17, 2012)
• objective the goal intended to be attained The objective was to mobilize students from 18 high schools across the city to provide community services and inspire others. New York Times (Feb 5, 2012)
• clad wearing or provided with clothing A few of the villagers came behind, clad in mourning robes, and bearing lighted tapers. Various
• partisan devoted to a cause or political group But given the bitter partisan divide in an election year, Democrats said they would never be able to get such legislation passed. Chicago Tribune (Mar 30, 2012)
• faction a dissenting clique One faction declared it would begin an armed struggle against the government of the United States. Slate (Feb 29, 2012)
• contrived artificially formal In lesser hands the story about a young man who discovers life among the dead could be impossibly cute and contrived . New York Times (Mar 25, 2012)
• venerable impressive by reason of age Thus, after much more than two hundred years, the venerable building looks almost as it did when the first students entered its doors. Faris, John T. (John Thomson)
• restrained not showy or obtrusive By contrast, Mr. Pei’s restrained design took time to claim my attention, particularly since it sat quietly next door to Saarinen’s concrete gull wings. New York Times (Oct 6, 2011)
• besiege harass, as with questions or requests He can’t trot down the street without being besieged by paparazzi. New York Times (Mar 18, 2012)
• manifestation a clear appearance Singing and dancing are manifestations of what many Syrians describe as a much broader cultural flowering. New York Times (Dec 19, 2011)
• rebuke an act or expression of criticism and censure Afterward, the leaders fought court orders to release records showing what they had done, drawing an uncommonly sharp rebuke from a federal judge. Washington Post (Mar 14, 2012)
• insurgent in opposition to a civil authority or government The Free Syrian Army, an insurgent group made of defecting soldiers and based in southern Turkey, claimed responsibility for both attacks. New York Times (Nov 20, 2011)
• rhetoric using language effectively to please or persuade His fiery rhetoric in support of limiting cuts to projected defense spending has surprised and impressed some of Obama's toughest Republican critics.
• scrupulous having ethical or moral principles The reason is that the vast majority of businesses are scrupulous and treat their employees well.
• ratify approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation Company officials at Safeway said those replacement workers will remain on standby until the agreement is ratified by union members. Washington Post (Mar 29, 2012)
• stump cause to be perplexed or confounded Though family members long suspected Evans, a local handyman who frequently hired local youths, the case stumped investigators for years. Washington Post (Aug 30, 2011)
• discreet marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint Sarkozy has attempted to tone down his image, becoming more discreet about his private life.
• imposing impressive in appearance These buildings were grand and stylized with intricate details and a bit of an imposing presence. Scientific American (Mar 5, 2012)
• wistful showing pensive sadness She turned toward him, her face troubled, her eyes most wistful . Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)
• mortify cause to feel shame Intensely mortified at this humiliation, the king fell sick, and henceforth his health failed rapidly. Various
• ripple stir up so as to form small waves That could precipitate higher interest rates that would ripple across the economy. Washington Post (Jul 27, 2011)
• premise a statement that is held to be true Success, real success, comes to the jack of all trades, a major premise handed down from pioneer days. Gilbert, Clinton W. (Clinton Wallace)
• subside wear off or die down Affliction is allayed, grief subsides , sorrow is soothed, distress is mitigated. Webster, Noah
• adverse contrary to your interests or welfare High doses can have adverse effects and even cause death. Seattle Times (Mar 26, 2012)
• caprice a sudden desire Nobody is really in charge, and decisions are made on whim and caprice .” New York Times (Apr 10, 2011)
• muster summon up, call forth, or bring together Yet Fox needed all the strength that he could muster . Rosebery, Archibald Phillip Primrose
• comprehensive broad in scope The United States Army developed a comprehensive plan to address problematic race relations in the 1970s, recognizing that they were hampering military effectiveness. New York Times (Feb 6, 2012)
• accede yield to another's wish or opinion Therefore he made up his mind to accede to his uncle's desire. Streckfuss, Adolph
• fervent characterized by intense emotion But, to fervent applause and scattered fist pumps from two sets of worshipers, he pledged to legally challenge the claims against him. New York Times (Sep 26, 2010)
• cohere cause to form a united, orderly, and consistent whole Two antagonistic values may cohere in the same object. Anderson, Benjamin M. (Benjamin McAlester)
• tribunal an assembly to conduct judicial business The military has historically been protected from civilian courts, with any crimes committed by soldiers being decided in closed military tribunals .
• austere severely simple A certain austere simplicity was noticeable all over Longfellow's house. Anonymous
• recovering returning to health after illness or debility “The recovering economy is bringing more people back into the market. Washington Post (Mar 22, 2012)
• stratum a group of people sharing similar wealth and status She belonged to the upper stratum of the profession, and, knowing it, could not sink. George, Walter Lionel
• conscientious characterized by extreme care and great effort A conscientious hostess would be very much mortified if she served chicken out of its proper course. Reed, Myrtle
• arbitrary based on or subject to individual discretion or preference Sandra Nurse, a member of Occupy's direct action working group, said police treated demonstrators roughly and made arbitrary arrests. Time (Mar 18, 2012)
• exasperate irritate Shopkeepers, exasperated at the impact of higher taxes and reduced consumer spending, are planning to close down for the day. New York Times (Feb 7, 2012)
• conjure summon into action or bring into existence Vacation homes typically conjure up dreams of blue skies, pristine sand and crystalline waters. Wall Street Journal (Feb 28, 2012)
• ominous threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments The Count's words were so ominous , so full of sinister meaning that for the moment he felt like crying out with fear. Hocking, Joseph
• edifice a structure that has a roof and walls They are here erecting a fine stone edifice for an Episcopal Church. Clark, John A.
• elude escape, either physically or mentally But despite racking up world titles, Olympic gold was eluding him.
• pervade spread or diffuse through An air of intense anticipation pervaded the General’s dining room. Burnett, Carolyn Judson
• foster promote the growth of Mr. Horne accused the district’s Mexican-American studies program of using an antiwhite curriculum to foster social activism. New York Times (Mar 19, 2012)
• admonish scold or reprimand; take to task "Children, children, stop quarrelling, right here in public!" admonished Mrs. Dering, in a low, shocked tone. Perry, Nora
• repeal cancel officially If Republicans repeal the law, Ms. Schakowsky said, they would be “taking away benefits that seniors are already getting.” New York Times (Mar 19, 2012)
• retiring not arrogant or presuming Foster was an extremely modest, unworldly, retiring gentleman. Rosenbach, A. S. W.
• incidental not of prime or central importance The models themselves are incidental on “Scouted,” merely empty planets around which revolve some fascinating characters and plenty more dull ones. New York Times (Nov 27, 2011)
• acquiesce agree or express agreement American officials initially tried to resist President Karzai’s moves but eventually acquiesced . New York Times (Mar 9, 2012)
• slew a large number or amount or extent In fact, intense focus may be one reason why so-called savants become so extraordinary at performing extensive calculations or remembering a slew of facts. Scientific American (Mar 3, 2012)
• usurp seize and take control without authority More than anything, though, officials expressed concern about reigniting longstanding Mexican concerns about the United States’ usurping Mexico’s authority. New York Times (Mar 15, 2011)
• sentinel a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event The prisoners undressed themselves as usual, and went to bed, observed by the sentinel . Drake, Samuel Adams
• precision the quality of being exact At this time, home ranges of small rodents can not be measured with great precision , therefore any such calculations are, at best, only approximations. Douglas, Charles L.
• depose force to leave an office Late Wednesday, Mr. Touré, the deposed president, spoke out from hiding for the first time. New York Times (Mar 30, 2012)
• wanton unprovoked or without motive or justification I am not a sentimentalist by any means, yet I abominate wanton cruelty. Stables, Gordon
• odium state of disgrace resulting from detestable behavior This was one of the men who bring odium on the whole class of prisoners, and prejudice society against them. Henderson, Frank
• precept a rule of personal conduct The law of nature has but one precept , "Be strong." Williams, C. M.
• deference a courteous expression of esteem or regard Other rules, as indicated in Mr. Collins' book, concerned deportment, and demanded constant deference to superiors. Faris, John T. (John Thomson)
• fray a noisy fight Armed rebels have joined the fray in recent months.
• candid openly straightforward and direct without secretiveness The actor was candid about his own difficult childhood growing up with alcoholic parents. Seattle Times (Feb 17, 2012)
• enduring unceasing What makes the galumphing hubby such an enduring stock character? Slate (Mar 26, 2012)
• impertinent improperly forward or bold Imagine calling a famous writer by his first name—it seemed impertinent , to say the least. Watkins, Shirley
• bland lacking stimulating characteristics; uninteresting Many critics were less than enamored with the kind of “easy listening” Mr. Williams embodied, deriding his approach as bland and unchallenging. New York Times (Oct 9, 2011)
• insinuate suggest in an indirect or covert way; give to understand "Good heavens, do you mean to insinuate that I did anything crooked?" said Bojo loudly, yet at the bottom ill at ease. Johnson, Owen
• nominal insignificantly small; a matter of form only He sought nominal damages of one dollar from each defendant.
• suppliant humbly entreating The colonists asked for nothing but what was clearly right and asked in the most respectful and even suppliant manner. Judson, L. Carroll
• languid lacking spirit or liveliness Many viewers, bored by the languid pace of the show, tuned out early. New York Times (Dec 30, 2011)
• rave praise enthusiastically I have heard lots of women simply rave about him. Kauffman, Reginald Wright
• monetary relating to or involving money A hundred years ago, monetary policy – control over interest rates and the availability of credit – was viewed as a highly contentious political issue. New York Times (Mar 29, 2012)
• headlong in a hasty and foolhardy manner “They may not be wishing to rush headlong back into the same sort of risks just yet.”
• infallible incapable of failure or error But conductors are no more infallible than other people, and once in a blue moon in going through a train they miss a passenger. Lynde, Francis
• coax influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging He used his most enticing manner and did his best to coax the little animal out again. Kay, Ross
• explicate elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses He urged judges to resist the rigid guidelines and to write opinions explicating their reasons for doing so. New York Times (Jan 22, 2010)
• gaunt very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold Gaunt , starved, and ragged, the men marched northwards, leaving the Touat country upon their left hand. Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)
• morbid suggesting the horror of death and decay Earlier in the day, however, his demise was watched by spectators with a morbid fascination. New York Times (Aug 16, 2010)
• ranging wandering freely His detective work is fascinating and wide ranging . Seattle Times (Feb 1, 2012)
• pacify ease the anger, agitation, or strong emotion of How they pacified him I don’t know, but at the end of two hours he had cooled off enough to let us go aboard. Quincy, Samuel M.
• pastoral idyllically rustic He made a considerable reputation as an accomplished painter of quiet pastoral subjects and carefully elaborated landscapes with cattle. Various
• dogged stubbornly unyielding Some analysts expect Mr. Falcone, who is known for his dogged determination, to just continue to limp along while slashing costs. New York Times (Feb 15, 2012)
• ebb fall away or decline Although Gardner’s competitive appetite ebbed after 2004, other cravings did not. New York Times (Jan 28, 2012)
• aide someone who acts as an assistant She later found work as a teacher’s aide in a Head Start program in Harlem. New York Times (Jan 12, 2012)
• appease cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of The king also has tried to appease public anger over corruption. New York Times (Feb 9, 2012)
• stipulate make an express demand or provision in an agreement The mayor has an executive order in place stipulating that all top officials, except those granted a waiver, live in the city. New York Times (Sep 22, 2011)
• recourse something or someone turned to for assistance or security Bargain hunters and holiday shoppers are bad guys’ favorite targets and have little or no recourse when shoddy or fake merchandise arrives. Forbes (Nov 22, 2011)
• constrained lacking spontaneity; not natural All his goodness, however, will be of a forced, constrained , artificial, and at bottom unreal character. Hyde, William De Witt
• bate moderate or restrain; lessen the force of “You called her ‘an interfering, disagreeable old woman’!” whispered Bertha with bated breath, glancing half fearfully at the door as she spoke. Vaizey, George de Horne, Mrs.
• aversion a feeling of intense dislike Already my passive dislike had grown into an active aversion . Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
• conceit an artistic device or effect An urban panorama is viewed from a high vantage point, a conceit used in topographic art to render vast perspectives. New York Times (Sep 30, 2011)
• loath strongly opposed Friends and political allies are loath to talk about her, knowing the family’s intense obsession with privacy. New York Times (Aug 14, 2011)
• rampart an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes The night was gloomy, dark, and wet; the soldiers, wearied with watching at the ramparts , dozed, leaning on their weapons. Sienkiewicz, Henryk
• extort obtain by coercion or intimidation The owners, in turn, have called the lawyers shakedown artists bent on ruining their good reputations to extort money. New York Times (Jan 27, 2012)
• tarry leave slowly and hesitantly For two days I tarried in Paris, settling my little property. Ford, Paul Leicester
• perpetrate perform an act, usually with a negative connotation Come on it’s just a cruel joke perpetrated by the airline industry.” Forbes (Dec 11, 2011)
• decorum propriety in manners and conduct Wishing to observe the rules of decorum she invited him to stay for supper, though absolutely nothing had been prepared for a guest. Sudermann, Hermann
• luxuriant produced or growing in extreme abundance Her luxuriant curly hair, restrained by no net, but held together simply by a flowering spray, waved over her shoulders in all its rich abundance. Elisabeth Burstenbinder (AKA E. Werner)
• cant insincere talk about religion or morals It was the familiar cant of the man rich enough to affect disdain for money, and Wade was not impressed. Day, Holman
• enjoin give instructions to or direct somebody to do something He turned to beckon the others forward with one hand, while laying the other over his mouth in a gesture enjoining silence. Breckenridge, Gerald
• avarice extreme greed for material wealth The old man's fears were assailed with threats, and his avarice was approached by bribes, and he very soon capitulated. Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
• edict a formal or authoritative proclamation An edict was issued by him forbidding any Christian to give instruction in Greek literature under any circumstances. Lightfoot, J. B.
• disconcert cause to lose one's composure Perplexed and disconcerted , I found no words to answer such an amazing sally. Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)
• symmetry balance among the parts of something Even the staging displays symmetry , with actors lined up on either side in formal precision. New York Times (Jan 24, 2011)
• capitulate surrender under agreed conditions "Alas, no," said Bergfeld, mournfully, "the day after the battle our brave soldiers were surrounded by overwhelming forces and obliged to capitulate ." Meding, Johann Ferdinand Martin Oskar
• arbitrate act between parties with a view to reconciling differences The Scottish throne was now disputed by many claimants, and the Scots asked Edward to arbitrate between them. Various
• cleave separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument Instead someone shouts "Go" and he is bearing down on me and almost cleaves my shield in two with his first blow.
• append add to the very end Some specimens will appear in the papers appended to this report. Various
• visage the human face An honest, quiet laugh often mantled his pale earnest visage . Turnbull, Robert
• horde a moving crowd Hordes of puzzled tourists, many with rolling suitcases attached, poured down the staircases. New York Times (Jan 1, 2012)
• parable a short moral story In most instances, I have closed my visits by reading some interesting story or parable . Frothingham, Octavius Brooks
• chastise scold or criticize severely She remembers an upsetting incident when a headmistress chastised her for working too much.
• foil hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire On March 1st, a Turkish newspaper reported that the country's intelligence service had foiled an attempt by Syrian agents to kidnap the colonel.
• veritable being truly so called; real or genuine The heavy rain had reduced this low-lying ground to a veritable quagmire, making progress very difficult even for one as unburdened as he was. Putnam Weale, B. L. (Bertram Lenox)
• grapple work hard to come to terms with or deal with something But, he said, all coastal communities will have to grapple with rising seas. New York Times (Mar 24, 2012)
• gentry the most powerful members of a society The mode of travel of the gentry was riding horses, but most people traveled by walking. Reilly, S. A.
• pall a sudden feeling of dread or gloominess Residents who fled in recent days spoke of the smell of death and piles of garbage drifting like snowbanks, casting a pall over the city. New York Times (Mar 7, 2012)
• maxim a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits The maxim "All is fair in love and war" was applied literally. Thomson, Basil
• projection a prediction made by extrapolating from past observations Volume is down 25 percent from five years ago, and projections show even further declines, said Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe. New York Times (Mar 22, 2012)
• prowess a superior skill learned by study and practice While our engineering prowess has advanced a great deal over the past sixty years, the principles of innovation largely have not.
• dingy thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot Though composed amid the unromantic surroundings of a dingy , dusty, and neglected back room, the speech has become a memorable document. Herndon, William H.
• semblance the outward or apparent appearance or form of something He was perceptibly older, in the way in which people look older all at once after having long kept the semblance of youth. King, Basil
• tout advertise in strongly positive terms Testing is being touted as the means of making the U.S. education system competitive, even world-class. Washington Post (Mar 23, 2012)
• fortitude strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity Leigh Hunt bore himself in his captivity with cheerful fortitude , suffering severely in health but flagging little in spirits or industry. Colvin, Sidney
• asunder into parts or pieces In 1854, as I have already remarked, Nicaragua was split asunder by civil war. Powell, E. Alexander (Edward Alexander)
• rout an overwhelming defeat It's how Seattle won Sunday's game in Chicago, scoring 31 consecutive second-half points as an impressive comeback became an overwhelming rout . Seattle Times (Dec 19, 2011)
• staid characterized by dignity and propriety He was prim and staid and liked to do things in an orderly fashion. Doyle, A. Conan
• beguile influence by slyness I can no longer remain silent in the presence of the schemers who seek to beguile you. Bolanden, Conrad von
• purport have the often misleading appearance of being or intending Of course, none of these purported medical benefits have any grounding in science. Scientific American (Jan 28, 2012)
• deprave corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality The people who make up this typical Gorky offering are drunkards, thieves, depraved creatures of every kind. Kilmer, Joyce
• bequeath leave or give, especially by will after one's death No matter how often she changed her will, she told me, that diamond pin was always bequeathed to me. Wells, Carolyn
• enigma something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained Tails are often an enigma ; many creatures have them, but scientists know little about their function, particularly for extinct species.
• assiduous marked by care and persistent effort He's an assiduous diary-keeper and regularly rereads ancient entries to check up on himself.
• vassal a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord And what was of still greater importance, he could only obtain taxes and soldiers from among the vassals , by the consent of their feudal lords. Freytag, Gustav
• quail draw back, as with fear or pain He quailed before me, and forgetting his new part in old habits, muttered an apology. Weyman, Stanley John
• outskirts area relatively far from the center, as of a city or town Ms. Waters talked about how she had spent the day at an organic farm on the outskirts of Beijing looking at vegetables for the dinner. New York Times (Nov 14, 2011)
• bulwark a protective structure of stone or concrete The cliffs are of imposing height, nearly three hundred feet: a formidable bulwark . White, Walter
• swerve an erratic turn from an intended course However, I was not going to swerve from my word. Johnstone, James Johnstone, chevalier de
• gird prepare oneself for action or a confrontation Protesters are girding for another police raid as several City Council members have called on protesters to leave. Washington Post (Nov 11, 2011)
• betrothed pledged to be married We are not betrothed '—her eyes filled with tears,—'he can never marry me; and he and my father have quarrelled. Fleming, George
• prospective of or concerned with or related to the future Most prospective homesteaders make the same mistake I did in buying horses, unless they are experienced. Micheaux, Oscar
• advert make reference to In the family circle it was rarely adverted to, and never except when some allusion to the approaching separation had to be made. Werner, E. T. C. (Edward Theodore Chalmers)
• peremptory not allowing contradiction or refusal This time it was not a request but a peremptory order to go at once to Cuba and undertake the work. Johnson, Willis Fletcher
• rudiment the elementary stage of any subject He retraced his steps, and came to Cape Girardeau, in Missouri, where he remained some time, acquiring the rudiments of the English language. Anonymous
• deduce reason from the general to the particular They then used models of global wind circulation to deduce which dust sources have become stronger and which weaker.
• halting proceeding in a fragmentary, hesitant, or ineffective way “I so much love cricket,” he said, shyly, in halting English. New York Times (Feb 22, 2012)
• ignominy a state of dishonor After all, we love nothing better than seeing the powerful and formerly smug dragged across the front pages in ignominy .
• ideology an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group Bill O’Reilly and others picked up on the theme, summing up left-wing ideology as “San Francisco values.” Slate (Jan 19, 2012)
• pallid lacking in vitality or interest or effectiveness But too often the music sounded thin and pallid . New York Times (Apr 25, 2010)
• chagrin strong feelings of embarrassment But he was feeling deeply chagrined and mortified over his last escapade. White, Fred M. (Fred Merrick)
• obtrude thrust oneself in as if by force She had no right to obtrude herself into his life and to disturb it. Packard, Frank L. (Frank Lucius)
• audacious disposed to venture or take risks In an audacious operation that unfolded like a Hollywood thriller, the Navy Seals executed a daring raid deep into Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden. New York Times (Sep 4, 2011)
• construe make sense of; assign a meaning to But nothing that was said Tuesday can be construed as good news. Washington Post (Sep 14, 2011)
• ford cross a river where it's shallow Sometimes they drive their teams through unsettled country, without roads, swimming and fording streams, clearing away obstructions, and camping where night overtakes them. Folsom, William Henry Carman
• repast the food served and eaten at one time Fragrant coffee, light rolls, fresh butter, ham and eggs, fried crocuses and soft crabs, formed the repast . Reid, Mayne
• stint an unbroken period of time during which you do something He found his unionized warehouse job after a stint working for his father, an accountant. New York Times (Mar 21, 2012)
• fresco a mural done with watercolors on wet plaster The little church has an ancient fresco of St. Christopher, placed, as usual, opposite the entrance. Conybeare, Edward
• dutiful willingly obedient out of a sense of respect Perhaps he thinks an engaged young lady should be demure and dutiful , having no eyes or ears for any one except her betrothed. Harland, Marion
• hew make or shape as with an axe They bought a log chain, and lumber for a door; the window frames were hewed from logs. Daughters of the American Revolution. Nebraska
• parity functional equality How many of the world’s problems would be solved, or at least greatly reduced, if women had true parity with men? New York Times (Dec 15, 2011)
• affable diffusing warmth and friendliness He was well liked and respected in these islands, for his affable manners had obtained for him much popularity. Various
• interminable tiresomely long; seemingly without end All was going well, but slowly, the time taken for the last few feet seeming to be interminable . Cumberland, Barlow
• pillage steal goods; take as spoils In addition great material losses were inflicted: seven hundred houses were destroyed, six hundred stores pillaged , and thousands of families utterly ruined. Straus, Oscar S.
• foreboding a feeling of evil to come Mr. Harding had strong forebodings that the trouble, so far from being ended, was only just beginning. Marsh, Richard
• rend tear or be torn violently In the distance heavy artillery was growling, and high explosive shells were bursting with a violence that seemed to rend the sky. Tracy, Louis
• livelihood the financial means whereby one supports oneself With businesses shut, fields untended and fishing abandoned many have lost their livelihoods as well as their homes, our correspondent says.
• deign do something that one considers to be below one's dignity To Mr. Gompers' courteous letter Czar Gary did not deign to reply. Foster, William Z.
• capricious determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity Her admirers were capricious , returning to her at times, and then holding aloof again; and as for suitors, they entirely disappeared. Schubin, Ossip
• stupendous so great in size, force, or extent as to elicit awe The fact was so stupendous that Terry felt almost frightened over the great good fortune. Sabin, Edwin L. (Edwin Legrand)
• chaff material consisting of seed coverings and pieces of stem The wheat, being heavy, falls, while the chaff is blown away. Starr, Frederick
• innate not established by conditioning or learning In other words, one of our most essential abilities as humans--reading--is the product of a combination of innate and learned traits.
• reverie an abstracted state of absorption He stood still, seemingly lost in reverie , and quite oblivious to the group about him. Frey, Hildegard G. (Hildegard Gertrude)
• wrangle quarrel noisily, angrily, or disruptively Here were many fierce and bitter wrangles over vexed questions, turbulent scenes, displays of sectional feelings. Raymond, Evelyn
• crevice a long narrow opening The disruptive power of tree roots, growing in the crevices of rocks, is well known. Various
• ostensible appearing as such but not necessarily so This already-exhaustive book is studded with diary entries, academic papers and other ostensible evidence that its fictitious stories of destruction are true. New York Times (Jun 6, 2010)
• craven lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful Was it for them to follow the craven footsteps of a cowardly generation? Robinson, Victor
• vestige an indication that something has been present Now, there was no vestige of vegetation; no living thing. Hopkins, William John
• plumb examine thoroughly and in great depth Tellingly, Ms. Liao said she had great difficulty finding three actors willing to plumb their own personalities. New York Times (Jun 1, 2011)
• reticent not inclined to talk or provide information No questions were asked, and few indeed were the words spoken, his reticent manner preventing any undue familiarity. Maclean, John
• propensity an inclination to do something A longtime colleague, Gate Theatre director Michael Colgan, noted Kelly's old-school charms, punctuated by his propensity for bow ties and smart suits. Seattle Times (Feb 15, 2012)
• chide scold or reprimand severely or angrily He chided reporters as having “stalked” family members, demanding that his relatives be left alone. New York Times (Nov 8, 2011)
• espouse choose and follow a theory, idea, policy, etc. He said Islam should not be equated with terrorism or the kind of violence espoused by Bin Laden.
• raiment especially fine or decorative clothing Clothed in fine raiment and faring sumptuously every day, he soon developed into a handsome lad. Oxley, J. Macdonald (James Macdonald)
• intrepid invulnerable to fear or intimidation There are some very courageous and intrepid reporters in Afghanistan, including some who work for American media outlets.
• seemly according with custom or propriety The Baron was less conscientious, for he ate more beefsteak than was seemly , and talked a great deal of stupid nonsense, as was his wont. Hoffmann, Ernst Theordor Wilhelm
• allay lessen the intensity of or calm Our boy was scared and confused; we tried to allay his fears. New York Times (Mar 30, 2012)
• fitful occurring in spells and often abruptly She had lost her composure, her breath came in fitful , uneven gasps, and as she sat there she pressed one hand over her heart. Davis, Owen
• erode become ground down or deteriorate Another report today showed home prices fell more than forecast in November, eroding the wealth of families as they seek to rebuild savings.
• unaffected free of artificiality; sincere and genuine His conversation was unaffectedly simple and frank; his language natural; always abounding in curious anecdotes. Conway, Moncure Daniel
• canto a major division of a long poem Folengo’s next production was the Orlandino, an Italian poem of eight cantos , written in rhymed octaves. Various
• docile easily handled or managed Time and again humans have domesticated wild , producing tame individuals with softer appearances and more docile temperaments, such as dogs and guinea pigs. Scientific American (Jan 25, 2012)
• patronize treat condescendingly Ms. Paul herself noted that “glib talk about appreciating dyslexia as a ‘gift’ is unhelpful at best and patronizing at worst.” New York Times (Feb 6, 2012)
• teem be full of or abuzz with The coast, once teeming with traffic, is now lonely and deserted. Mahaffy, J. P.
• estrange arouse hostility or indifference in An atmosphere of distrust, suspicion and fear can cause workers to feel estranged from one another, Dr. Wright has written. New York Times (Jan 28, 2012)
• spat a quarrel about petty points Public spats are rare in the asset-management industry, where companies typically resolve disputes behind closed doors.
• warble sing or play with trills Meadow larks, as you have undoubtedly noticed, warble many different songs. Barrett, R. E.
• mien a person's appearance, manner, or demeanor Nevertheless, before going to meet Samuel, she assumed a calm and dignified mien . Kraszewski, Jo?zef Ignacy
• sate fill to contentment His appetite was not sated by any means, but he knew the danger of overloading his stomach, so he stopped. Dewey, Edward Hooker
• constituency the body of voters who elect a representative for their area Each posited that the blue-collar Democratic constituency rooted in the New Deal had grown increasingly conservative, alienated from “big government.” New York Times (Jan 14, 2012)
• patrician characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy Respectable ladies, long resident, wearing black poke bonnets and camel's-hair shawls, lifted their patrician eyebrows with disapproval. Brooks, Charles Stephen
• parry avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing The boys asked a few guarded questions, but gained no information whatever, their questions being parried in every instance. Mears, James R.
• practitioner someone who carries out a learned profession In particular, modern medical practitioners are coming around to the idea that certain illnesses cannot be reduced to one isolatable, treatable cause. Nature (Dec 21, 2011)
• ravel disentangle or separate out Overcasting is done by taking loose stitches over the raw edge of the cloth, to keep it from ravelling or fraying. Ontario. Ministry of Education
• infest occupy in large numbers or live on a host Many lived in dilapidated apartments with leaky pipes, broken windows, rooms full of mold, and walls infested with cockroaches and rats. New York Times (Jul 28, 2011)
• actuate give an incentive for doing something He knew that men were actuated by other motives, good and bad, than self-interest. Blease, Walter Lyon
• surly unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation But Blake, being surly and quarrelsome even when sober, gave the lapel a savage jerk, and reached out with his other hand. Chisholm, A. M. (Arthur Murray)
• convalesce get over an illness or shock Patients convalescing from pneumonia were evacuated to England or given Base Duty. Jahns, Lewis E.
• demoralize lower someone's spirits; make downhearted The storm clobbered many communities still recovering from the flooding two months ago caused by Hurricane Irene, leaving weary homeowners exhausted and demoralized . Washington Post (Nov 1, 2011)
• devolve grow worse As the rhetoric heated up inside, the violence outside devolved into chaos.
• alacrity liveliness and eagerness Every one exerted himself not only without murmuring and discontent, but even with an alacrity which almost approached to cheerfulness. Kippis, Andrew
• waive do without or cease to hold or adhere to Low rates have also led retail brokerages to waive fees on money market funds to avoid negative returns for their clients.
• unwonted out of the ordinary He must rush off to see his people, who no doubt were quite confounded by his unwonted energy. Speed, Nell
• seethe be in an agitated emotional state Outwardly quite calm and matter-of-fact, his mind was in a seething turmoil. Douglas, Hudson
• scrutinize look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail Fans and commentators are scrutinizing every blemish: his turnovers, his weak left hand, his jump shot. New York Times (Mar 5, 2012)
• diffident lacking self-confidence Shyly diffident in the presence of strangers, her head was lowered. Packard, Frank L. (Frank Lucius)
• execrate curse or declare to be evil or anathema When all Great Britain was execrating Napoleon, picturing him as a devil with horns and hoofs, Byron looked upon him as the world's hero. Hubbard, Elbert
• implacable incapable of being appeased or pacified This man was a savage in his implacable desire for revenge. Kelly, Florence Finch
• pique a sudden outburst of anger A talented youngster who smashes his guitar in a fit of pique finds it magically reassembled just in time for a crucial concert.
• mite a slight but appreciable amount I never saw anybody so pleased with monkeys as she is, and not one mite afraid. Raymond, Evelyn
• encumber hold back, impede, or weigh down Two others were making slower progress for the reason that each was encumbered by supporting a disabled man. Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)
• uncouth lacking refinement or cultivation or taste He had not stopped to consider her rough speech and uncouth manners. Johnston, Annie F. (Annie Fellows)
• petulant easily irritated or annoyed The black eyes emitted an angry flash, the voice that answered was sharp and petulant . Fleming, May Agnes
• expiate make amends for Wulphere was absolved on condition that he should expiate his crime by founding churches and monasteries all over his kingdom. Clifton, A. B.
• cavalier showing a lack of concern or seriousness Some would have given Nicklaus a cavalier response: polite nod while thinking, “Yeah, whatever.” New York Times (Jun 18, 2011)
• banter light teasing repartee Our easy banter had suddenly been replaced by strained and awkward interaction. Slate (Feb 15, 2012)
• bluster act in an arrogant, overly self-assured, or conceited manner Slade, despite his swaggers and blustering , was at heart a coward. Landon, Herman
• debase corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality Long oppression had not, on the whole, either blunted their intellects or debased their morals. Adler, Felix
• retainer a person working in the service of another This faithful and trusted retainer is greatly valued by his employers. Black, Helen C.
• subjugate make subservient; force to submit or subdue The Confederacy was led by thoroughgoing racists who wanted to keep blacks subjugated for all time because of the color of their skin. Slate (Apr 7, 2010)
• extol praise, glorify, or honor How I praised the duck at that first dinner, and extolled Madame's skill in cookery! Warren, Arthur
• fraught filled with or attended with But the ocean remains an unpredictable place, fraught with hazards. Scientific American (Apr 5, 2012)
• august profoundly honored At all times reserved in his manner and his bearing full of dignity, never before had she realized the majesty of General Washington’s august presence. Madison, Lucy Foster
• fissure a long narrow depression in a surface The brown bark is not very rough, though its numerous fissures and cracks give it a rugged appearance. Step, Edward
• knoll a small natural mound Opened in 2008, the park serves as a true public space; elderly couples stroll around the artificial lake as toddlers roll down grassy knolls . New York Times (May 7, 2010)
• callous emotionally hardened Outwardly merry and good-humoured, he was by nature coldly fierce, calculating, callous . Wingfield, Lewis
• inculcate teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions But instruction in history has been for a long time systematically used to inculcate certain political sentiments in the pupils. Liebknecht, Karl Paul August Friedrich
• nettle disturb, especially by minor irritations Lincoln began these remarks by good-humored but nettling chaffing of his opponent. Various
• blanch turn pale, as if in fear He is silent, as if struck dumb, his face showing blanched and bloodless, while she utters a shriek, half terrified, half in frenzied anger. Reid, Mayne
• inscrutable difficult or impossible to understand The fashion industry is notoriously opaque and often inscrutable for outsiders, even ones as well connected as him. Seattle Times (Oct 1, 2011)
• tenacious stubbornly unyielding She was a tenacious woman, one who would even hold fast a thing which she no longer valued, simply because it belonged to her. Morris, Clara
• thrall the state of being under the control of another person Then Kiss commenced in earnest, and quickly held his audience in thrall . Farjeon, Benjamin Leopold
• exigency a pressing or urgent situation The exigency of the situation roused Mr. Popkiss' sluggish faculties into prompt action. Magnay, William
• disconsolate sad beyond comforting; incapable of being soothed Was there a bereaved mother or disconsolate sister weeping over their dead? Steward, T. G. (Theophilus Gould)
• impetus a force that makes something happen Critics say it has known mixed success at best, although supporters hope the U.S. drawdown could provide just the impetus it needs to thrive.
• imposition an uncalled-for burden On that far-away day he had considered the little, lost girl a nuisance and an imposition . Chisholm, A. M. (Arthur Murray)
• auspices kindly endorsement and guidance In March 2009, negotiations between Israel and Hamas were held in Cairo, under the auspices of the Egyptian intelligence agency. New York Times (Nov 9, 2011)
• sonorous full and loud and deep His voice rang out firmly now, a deep and sonorous bass. Bedford-Jones, H.
• exploitation an act that victimizes someone In a scathing report released last year, Amnesty International found there was widespread exploitation of migrants in Malaysia.
• bane something causing misery or death Knee pain is the bane of many runners, sometimes causing them to give up altogether. Seattle Times (Jun 7, 2010)
• dint force or effort If only certain puzzles could be solved by dint of sheer hard thinking! Marsh, Richard
• ignominious deserving or bringing disgrace or shame The great Ottawa chief saw his partially accomplished scheme withering into ignominious failure. Rudd, John
• amicable characterized by friendship and good will After a short colloquy the two men evidently came to an amicable understanding, for they shook hands. Kraszewski, Jo?zef Ignacy
• onset the beginning or early stages Thousands of families are living in makeshift camps as temperatures fall to freezing with the onset of winter. New York Times (Nov 10, 2011)
• conservatory a schoolhouse with special facilities for fine arts The young instrumental talent that is coming out of local music schools and conservatories is as amazingly good as you are going to find anywhere.
• zenith the highest point of something In other words it never reaches the zenith , a point directly overhead. George H. Lowery.
• voluble marked by a ready flow of speech I find him charming: shy – yet easy to talk to – voluble and funny once he gets going.
• yeoman a free man who cultivates his own land On one extreme was the well-to-do yeoman farmer farming his own land. Reilly, S. A.
• levity a manner lacking seriousness The same balance of seriousness and levity runs through her plays, which put an absurdist spin on everyday problems. New York Times (May 7, 2010)
• rapt feeling great delight and interest She was watching the development of the investigation with rapt , eager attention. Mitford, Bertram
• sultry characterized by oppressive heat and humidity New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics arrive just as school sports ramp up in sultry August temperatures. Washington Post (Aug 9, 2011)
• pinion restrain or bind The prisoners having dismounted, were placed in a line on the ground facing the guillotine, their arms pinioned . Various
• axiom a proposition that is not susceptible of proof or disproof The fundamental axiom of scientific thought is that there is not, never has been, and never will be, any disorder in nature. Huxley, Thomas H.
• descry catch sight of Looking off seaward, I could descry no sails. Drake, Samuel Adams
• retinue the group following and attending to some important person Despite his retinue of security personnel, Atambaev had been poisoned during his short tenure as prime minister.
• functionary a worker who holds or is invested with an office He was the functionary of the assize court, impaneling its juries, bringing accused men before it, and carrying out its penalties. Reilly, S. A.
• imbibe take in liquids "We're cornered at last," he said suddenly, as the old man set the bottle down after having imbibed the best half of its contents. Douglas, Hudson
• diversified having variety of character or form or components Funds in both categories tend to be highly diversified , typically with 100 or more stocks across at least 10 industries. Wall Street Journal (Feb 24, 2012)
• maraud raid and rove in search of plunder Its reporter says armed gangs and looters are marauding the streets.
• grudging petty or reluctant in giving or spending Expect delays, scattered outages and surly, grudging customer service in the interim.
• partiality a predisposition to like something She still showed a partiality for bright colors, by her gown of deep crimson. Sage, William
• philology the humanistic study of language and literature I had determined to study philology , chiefly Greek and Latin, but the fare spread out by the professors was much too tempting. Müller, F. Max (Friedrich Max)
• wry humorously sarcastic or mocking She also has a very understated but very wry sense of humour; watch out for it.
• caucus meet to select a candidate or promote a policy Representative Ron Paul of Texas isn’t campaigning in Florida, instead focusing on Maine, which will caucus in late February.
• permeate spread or diffuse through Florida’s summertime heat permeates almost every scene, becoming something like a character. New York Times (Mar 13, 2012)
• propitious presenting favorable circumstances With the Athens stock market down nearly 30 percent so far this year, it would not seem a propitious time for initial public offerings. New York Times (Jun 2, 2010)
• salient conspicuous, prominent, or important Bullying has become an increasingly salient problem for school-age children, and in rare cases has ended tragically with victims committing suicide.
• propitiate make peace with King Edward, having subdued the Welsh, “endeavoured to propitiate his newly acquired subjects by becoming a resident in the conquered country. Frith, William Powell
• excise remove by cutting Wielding a razor, Jefferson excised all passages containing supernaturalistic elements from the gospels, extracting what he took to be Jesus's pure ethical teachings.
• betoken be a signal for or a symptom of The haggard face and sombre eyes betokened considerable mental anguish. Young, F.E. Mills
• palatable acceptable to the taste or mind If nicely cooked in this way, cabbage is as palatable and as digestible as cauliflower. Ronald, Mary
• upbraid express criticism towards When Kahn warned of a serious economic "depression", he was upbraided by the White House for using such language.
• renegade someone who rebels and becomes an outlaw If he went off to another people he lost all standing among the Sioux and was thereafter treated as an outlaw and a renegade . Robinson, Doane
• hoary ancient The device of the trapped young person saved by books is a hoary one, but Ms. Winterson makes it seem new, and sulfurous. New York Times (Mar 8, 2012)
• pedantic marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning The reader is treated to pedantic little footnotes, and given a good deal of information which is either gratuitous or uninteresting. Hay, Ian
• coy showing marked and often playful evasiveness or reluctance It was funny watching such a solid person, based in faith and education, grow a trifle coy about the year of his birth. New York Times (Jul 11, 2010)
• troth a solemn pledge of fidelity She had pledged to him her troth , and she would not attempt to go back from her pledge at the first appearance of a difficulty. Trollope, Anthony
• encroachment entry to another's property without right or permission The move may mark yet another attempt by France to rein in what it sees as the encroachment of online services on the country's culture. BusinessWeek (Jan 8, 2010)
• belie be in contradiction with "It is a fine morning," he said, taken aback by my sudden movement, but affecting an indifference which the sparkle in his eye belied . Weyman, Stanley John
• armada a large fleet An armada of three hundred ships manned by eighteen thousand marines assembled in the bay on their way to the conquest of Algiers. Douglas, Frances
• succor assistance in time of difficulty Given his health woes, succession worries and persistent isolation, Mr. Kim may simply be seeking succor from what may be his last friend on earth. New York Times (May 5, 2010)
• imperturbable marked by extreme calm and composure Ordinarily imperturbable , even in the face of unexpected situations, he was now visibly agitated. Griggs, Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert)
• irresolute uncertain how to act or proceed I stood for a moment before I entered on my arduous undertaking, irresolute and hesitating, swayed by two conflicting impulses. Waugh, Joseph Laing
• knack a special way of doing something He had a special knack of hunting out farm houses, engaging madame in conversation, and coming away with bread, eggs, or cheese in his knapsack. Price, Lucien
• unseemly not in keeping with accepted standards of what is proper The square mile's upbeat mood may strike some as unseemly at a time of national gloom.
• accentuate stress or single out as important This sparkling marvel lies modestly nestled among the law courts, whose plainer modern buildings serve but to accentuate its wonderful beauty. Sherrill, Charles Hitchcock
• divulge make known to the public information previously kept secret She hectors her children not to divulge personal information like phone numbers online. Seattle Times (Nov 15, 2011)
• brawn the trait of possessing muscular strength He believes Hollywood has often have had an over-reliance on physical brawn as the deciding factor for portraying a strong man.
• burnish polish and make shiny Great cleanliness is enforced in all that belongs to a lighthouse, the reflectors and lenses being constantly burnished , polished, and cleansed. Whymper, Frederick
• palpitate beat rapidly After supper my heart started racing, palpitating like a tick. Isaacson, Lauren Ann
• promiscuous not selective of a single class or person A promiscuous assembly had gathered there—men of all creeds and opinions—and an "open-air" meeting was in progress. Whitney, Orson F.
• dissemble make believe with the intent to deceive Pictures have always dissembled – there are millions of snaps of miserable families grinning bravely – but now they directly lie.
• flotilla a fleet of small craft She was guarded by a flotilla of boats equipped with satellites, Global Positioning System devices, advanced navigation systems and shark shields. New York Times (Aug 11, 2011)
• invective abusive language used to express blame or censure There's much more name-calling, shouting and personal invective in American life than anywhere I've ever traveled outside the United States. Washington Post (Jan 15, 2011)
• hermitage the abode of a recluse All the rest of their time is passed in solitude in their hermitages , which are built quite separate from one another. Various
• despoil destroy and strip of its possession Wherever his lordship's army went, plantations were despoiled , and private houses plundered. Campbell, Charles
• sully make dirty or spotty Why sully the reputation of an otherwise fascinating online community with really deeply questionable, troubling content? Forbes (Feb 13, 2012)
• malevolent having or exerting a malignant influence So you don’t believe in evil, as an actual malevolent force? New York Times (Oct 28, 2011)
• irksome tedious or irritating It was pretty irksome passing the time in his enforced prison, and finally Andy went to sleep. Webster, Frank V.
• prattle speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly She prattled on about the gossip of the town until Penny and her father were thoroughly bored. Clark, Joan
• subaltern inferior in rank or status The careful commanding officer of a regiment discourages his young subalterns from taking leave to Hill Stations. Casserly, Gordon
• welt a raised mark on the skin But red, itchy welts typically appear within 24 to 48 hours of being bitten.
• wreak cause to happen or to occur as a consequence The burden of paying for college is wreaking havoc on the finances of an unexpected demographic: senior citizens. Washington Post (Apr 1, 2012)
• tenable based on sound reasoning or evidence First, it is no longer really tenable – and in fact a bit disrespectful – to call a country like China an emerging economy.
• inimitable matchless Leave aside Spain, where Barcelona breeds its own, inimitable style, and the answer might be that we are rushing toward uniformity. New York Times (Sep 26, 2010)
• depredation a destructive action Wild elephants abound and commit many depredations , entering villages in large herds, and consuming everything suitable to their tastes. Various
• amalgamate bring or combine together or with something else Where two weak tribes amalgamated into one, there it exceptionally happened that two closely related dialects were simultaneously spoken in the same tribe. Engels, Friedrich
• immutable not subject or susceptible to change or variation We are mistaken to imagine a work of literature is or should be immutable , sculpted in marble and similarly impervious to change.
• proxy a person authorized to act for another Ideally, everybody over 18 should execute a living will and select a health care proxy — someone to represent you in medical matters. New York Times (Jan 17, 2011)
• dote shower with love; show excessive affection for He doted on him, just dearly loved him, and thought he could do no wrong,” Kredell said. Washington Post (Oct 17, 2011)
• reactionary extremely conservative or resistant to change Old people are often accused of being too conservative, and even reactionary . Chinard, Gilbert
• rationalism the doctrine that reason is the basis for regulating conduct Offering a religious rationale for policy goals threatens what for many has become the cherished principle of secular rationalism in public life.
• endue give qualities or abilities to To say the least of it, he was endued with sufficient intelligence to acquire an ordinary knowledge of such matters. Various
• discriminating showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment Jobs’ Apple specializes in delighting the most discriminating , hard-to-please customers. Forbes (Oct 12, 2011)
• brooch a decorative pin Upon her breast she wore a brooch of gold set with many precious stones. Butler, Pierce
• pert characterized by a lightly saucy or impudent quality Her pert , lively manner said she hadn't taken any wooden nickels lately. Schoenherr, John
• disembark exit from a ship, vehicle, or aircraft The immigrants disembarked from their ships tired and underfed—generally in poor health. Hughes, Thomas Proctor
• aria an elaborate song for solo voice Ms. Netrebko sang an elegantly sad aria with lustrous warmth, aching vulnerability and floating high notes. New York Times (Sep 27, 2011)
• trappings ornaments; embellishments to or characteristic signs of They were caparisoned in Indian fashion with gay colors and fancy trappings . Roy, Lillian Elizabeth
• abet assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing "Since YouTube, digital culture has aided and enhanced -- or maybe the better word is abetted -- the celebrity meltdown," said Wired magazine senior editor Nancy Miller.
• clandestine conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods For Jordan, this is a clandestine relationship it would much prefer to have kept secret. BBC (Jan 5, 2010)
• distend swell from or as if from internal pressure Some kids said LaNiyah's distended abdomen looked like she was carrying a baby. Seattle Times (Apr 7, 2011)
• glib having only superficial plausibility The other sort of engineer understands that glib comparisons between computers and humans don't do justice to the complexities of either.
• pucker gather something into small wrinkles or folds Godmother,' she went on, puckering her forehead again in perplexity, 'it almost feels like feathers. Molesworth, Mrs. (Mary Louisa)
• rejoinder a quick reply to a question or remark "Not at all!" was Aunt Susannah's brisk rejoinder . Various
• spangle adornment consisting of a small piece of shiny material Magdalen's garments are rich with spangles ; her mantle is scarlet; she has flowers in her luxuriant tresses, and looks a vain creature. O'Shea, John Augustus
• blighted affected by something that prevents growth or prosperity Hudec, whose career has been blighted by knee injuries and operations, won for the first time in more than four years. New York Times (Feb 4, 2012)
• nicety conformity with some standard of correctness or propriety They accepted the invitation; but Mrs. Rowlandson did not appreciate the niceties of Indian etiquette. Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
• aggrieve infringe on the rights of Some fallout appears evident in donations from Wall Street executives, who feel particularly aggrieved by Mr. Obama’s criticisms and policies. New York Times (Feb 20, 2012)
• vestment a gown worn by the clergy And then a priest, arrayed in all his vestments , came in at the open door, and the prince and princess exchanged rings, and were married. Glinski, A. J.
• urbane showing a high degree of refinement Polished, urbane and gentlemanly—his manners were calculated to refine all around him. Judson, L. Carroll
• defray bear the expenses of The legislation also calls for $1.6 billion in spending cuts to help defray the disaster costs. Washington Post (Sep 26, 2011)
• spectral resembling or characteristic of a phantom Hawthorne’s figures are somewhat spectral ; they lack flesh and blood. Merwin, Henry Childs
• munificent very generous They have shown themselves very loving and generous lately, in making a quite munificent provision for his traveling. Carlyle, Thomas
• dictum an authoritative declaration In other words, they seemed fully subscribed to Andy Warhol’s dictum that business art is the best art. New York Times (Dec 10, 2011)
• fad an interest followed with exaggerated zeal According to Chinese media, the hottest new fad in China involves selling small live-animal key chains. Time (Apr 5, 2011)
• scabbard a sheath for a sword or dagger or bayonet Drawing his own sabre from its scabbard , he pointed to a stain on it, saying, "This is the blood of an Englishman." Reed, Helen Leah
• adulterate make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance Shady dealers along the supply chain frequently adulterate olive oil with low-grade vegetable oils and add artificial coloring. New York Times (Dec 7, 2011)
• beleaguer annoy persistently Rock concert ticket sales dropped sharply last year, sounding another sour note for the beleaguered music industry.
• gripe complain If America is going to gripe about the yuan’s rate, then China will complain about the dollar’s role.
• remission an abatement in intensity or degree After a few hours there is a remission of the pain, slight perspiration takes place, and the patient may fall asleep. Various
• exorbitant greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation Soon, stories began trickling across the Atlantic of crazed fans paying exorbitant sums to get into London gigs. Slate (Oct 10, 2011)
• invocation the act of appealing for help These dances are prayers or invocations for rain, the crowning blessing in this dry land. Roosevelt, Theodore
• cajole influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering Hamilton, however, was not to be cajoled into friendliness by superficial compliment. Fisher, Harrison
• inclusive encompassing much or everything We are going to adhere to our basic programing strategy of nonpartisan information inclusive of all different points of view.
• interdict command against Failing to satisfy his examiners, he was interdicted from practice, but ignored the prohibition, and suffered more than one imprisonment in consequence. Worley, George
• abase cause to feel shame Ashamed, abased , degraded in his own eyes, he turned away his head. Caine, Hall, Sir
• obviate do away with Comfortable sleeping-cars obviate the necessity of stopping by the way for bodily rest, provided the traveller be physically strong and in good health. Ballou, Maturin Murray
• hurtle move with or as if with a rushing sound The hurricane was expected to hit Washington in the early hours of Sunday before hurtling toward New York City.
• unanimity everyone being of one mind On all other points of colonial policy, Mackenzie declared, people would be found to differ, but as regards the post office there was absolute unanimity . Smith, William, Sir
• mettle the courage to carry on The deployment will also test the emotional mettle of soldiers and their families. New York Times (Jun 26, 2010)
• interpolate insert words into texts, often falsifying it thereby Most scholars agree that these lines are interpolated , since they do not fit in with the rest of the poem. Various
• surreptitious marked by quiet and caution and secrecy He noticed that the peddler was eying the bag Scotty had picked up, and was trying to be surreptitious about it. Goodwin, Harold L. (Harold Leland)
• dissimulate hide feelings from other people From infancy these people have been schooled to dissimulate and hide emotion, and ordinarily their faces are as opaque as those of veteran poker players. Kephart, Horace
• ruse a deceptive maneuver, especially to avoid capture Overseas criminals use elaborate ruses , including phony websites, to trick job-seekers into helping transfer stolen funds. BusinessWeek (Aug 4, 2011)
• specious plausible but false You might be tempted to think of the biggest airline as the one with the most aircraft, but capacity differences make this reasoning specious .
• revulsion intense aversion After a first instinctive cry of horrified revulsion , the men reached down under water with their hands and drew out—a corpse. Livingston, Arthur
• hale exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health From a hearty, hale , corn-fed boy, he has become pale, lean, and wan. Adams, Abigail
• palliate lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of Divisions and inequalities persist, but government can palliate their effects with hard cash.
• obtuse lacking in insight or discernment The affair had been mentioned so plainly that it was impossible for the most dense and obtuse person not to have understood the allusion. Brazil, Angela
• querulous habitually complaining He was, at times, as querulous as a complaining old man. Williams, Ben Ames
• vagary an unexpected and inexplicable change in something Today such acquisitions are more likely to stay put, destined to survive both market fluctuations and the vagaries of style. New York Times (Sep 29, 2010)
• incipient only partly in existence; imperfectly formed Above all, medical teams will need to establish quick surveillance to identify health needs and pinpoint incipient outbreaks before they explode. Time (Jan 13, 2010)
• obdurate stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing Several appeared deeply affected, with tears of repentance standing in their eyes, others sullen and obdurate . Huth, Alexander
• grovel show submission or fear The two young men who drove them had fallen flat and were grovelling and wailing for mercy. Mitford, Bertram
• refractory stubbornly resistant to authority or control Beyond them the gardener struggled with a refractory horse that refused to draw his load of brush and dead leaves. Bacon, Josephine Dodge Daskam
• dregs sediment that has settled at the bottom of a liquid "Right got to go," Ali says, draining the dregs of his beer.
• ascendancy the state when one person or group has power over another But in a few days he had secured an almost incredible ascendancy over the sullen, starved, half-clothed army. Various
• supercilious having or showing arrogant superiority A supercilious , patronizing person—son of a wretched country parson—used to loll against the wall of your salon—with his nose in the air. Pinero, Arthur Wing, Sir
• pundit someone who has been admitted to membership in a field Pundits of agricultural science explore the sheds, I believe, the barns, stables, machine-rooms, and so forth, before inspecting the crops. Boyle, Frederick
• commiserate feel or express sympathy or compassion We had spent countless hours together drinking wine and commiserating about child-rearing, long Wisconsin winters and interrupted sleep. New York Times (Mar 24, 2011)
• alcove a small recess opening off a large room or garden They showed him where he would sleep, in a little closet-like alcove screened from the big room by a gay curtain. Wilson, Harry Leon
• assay make an effort or attempt He decided to assay one last project before giving up. New York Times (Mar 30, 2012)
• parochial narrowly restricted in outlook or scope But Republicans in Pennsylvania also have narrower and more parochial things to worry about. New York Times (Sep 17, 2011)
• conjugal relating to the relationship between a wife and husband They even had conjugal visits for prisoners — five hours in a private room every three months with your wife. New York Times (Nov 23, 2010)
• abjure formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief The caste abstain from liquor, and some of them have abjured all flesh food while others partake of it. Russell, R. V. (Robert Vane)
• frieze an ornament consisting of a horizontal sculptured band All the doorways mentioned above have cornices, and in those at Palmyra and Baalbec richly carved friezes with side corbels. Various
• ornate marked by complexity and richness of detail Unlike his literary icon, Herman Melville, he doesn’t adorn his writing with ornate flourishes or complicated scaffolding. Scientific American (Dec 20, 2011)
• inflammatory inciting action or rebellion We don't know whether inflammatory language or images can incite the mentally ill to commit acts of violence. Time (Jan 13, 2011)
• machination a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends He was continued a member of Congress until 1777 when his enemies succeeded in their long nursed machinations against him. Judson, L. Carroll
• mendicant a pauper who lives by begging In others are the broken-down mendicants who live on soup-kitchens and begging.  Ritchie, J. Ewing (James Ewing)
• meander move or cause to move in a winding or curving course They paused beside one of the low stone walls that meandered in a meaningless fashion this way and that over the uplands. Vance, Louis Joseph
• bullion gold or silver in bars or ingots In times of economic turmoil, more people tend to invest in bullion gold. Washington Post (Mar 30, 2012)
• diffidence lack of self-assurance His grave diffidence and continued hesitation in offering an opinion confirmed me in my own. Froude, James Anthony
• makeshift done or made using whatever is available The house was still under construction, so he climbed up a ladder being used as a makeshift stairway, fell and injured his leg. New York Times (Apr 12, 2012)
• husbandry the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock The U.S. can take a lesson from Denmark, which has efficiently raised livestock without hurting farmers, by using better animal husbandry practices. Scientific American (Mar 22, 2011)
• podium a platform raised above the surrounding level Leyva beamed as he stood atop the podium , nodding as the American flag was raised and “The Star-Spangled Banner” played in his honor. New York Times (Oct 22, 2011)
• dearth an insufficient quantity or number A continuing dearth of snow in many U.S. spots usually buried by this time of year has turned life upside down. Washington Post (Jan 5, 2012)
• granary a storehouse for threshed grain or animal feed Here is where he does his husking, and the "clear corn" produced is stored away in some underground granary till It is needed. Seton, Ernest Thompson
• whet make keen or more acute While he described the fishing as “pretty good,” the silver salmon running in the creek only whetted his appetite to return to Alaska. Washington Post (Aug 17, 2011)
• imposture pretending to be another person He got somebody to prosecute him for false pretences and imposture , on the ground that Madame was a man.  Leland, Charles Godfrey
• diadem an ornamental jeweled headdress signifying sovereignty I dethrone monarchs and the people rejoicing crown me instead, showering diadems upon my head. Tilney, Frederick Colin
• fallow undeveloped but potentially useful Several new prostate cancer drugs have been approved in the last couple of years, after a long fallow period, and others are in advanced development. New York Times (Nov 3, 2011)
• hubbub loud confused noise from many sources There was some good-humoured pushing and thrusting, the drum beating and the church bells jangling bravely above the hubbub . Weyman, Stanley J.
• dispassionate unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice The commission sitting by, judicial, dispassionate , presided with cold dignity over the sacrifice, and pronounced it good. Candee, Helen Churchill Hungerford, Mrs.
• harrowing causing extreme distress Belgium found itself in turmoil as hundreds of people came forward to offer harrowing accounts of abuse over several decades. New York Times (Jan 16, 2012)
• askance with suspicion or disapproval A secret marriage in these days would be looked upon askance by most people. Wood, Mrs. Henry
• lancet a surgical knife with a pointed double-edged blade His left arm was held by the second physician, while the chief surgeon bent over it, lancet in hand. Hay, Marie, Hon. (Agnes Blanche Marie)
• rankle make resentful or angry He was feeling more like himself now, though the memory of the bully’s sneering words rankled . Chadwick, Lester
• ramify have or develop complicating consequences Cometary science has ramified in unexpected ways during the last hundred years. Various
• gainsay take exception to That Whitman entertained a genuine affection for men and women is, of course, too obvious to be gainsaid .  Rickett, Arthur
• polity a governmentally organized unit China needs a polity that can address its increasingly sophisticated society, and to achieve that there must be political reform, Mr. Sun said. New York Times (Mar 21, 2012)
• credence the mental attitude that something is believable "Well-known brand names that promote new products receive more credence than newcomers that people don't know about."
• indemnify make amends for; pay compensation for She put her affairs in order and left instructions that those whom she had unwittingly wronged should be indemnified out of her private fortune. Butler, Pierce
• ingratiate gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts He became kindly and coaxing, leaning across the table with an ingratiating smile. King, Basil
• declivity a downward slope or bend In this frightful condition, the hunter grappled with the raging beast, and, struggling for life, they rolled together down a steep declivity . Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
• importunate making persistent or urgent requests The young man was then passionately importunate in the protestations of his love. Barr, Amelia Edith Huddleston
• passe out of fashion My friend is very keen on the new crowd; everything else he declares is " passe ." Holliday, Robert Cortes
• whittle cut small bits or pare shavings from Tad followed, whittling on a stick with his knife and kicking at the shavings as they fell. Kjelgaard, James Arthur
• repine express discontent Those poor fellows above, accustomed to the wild freshness and freedom of the sea, how they must mourn and repine ! O'Shea, John Augustus
• flay strip the skin off Once at the moose and hastily flaying the hide from the steaming meat my attention became centered on the task. Sinclair, Bertrand W.
• larder a small storeroom for storing foods or wines Mr. Goncalves’s larder holds staples like beefsteak, salt cod, sardines, olives, artichokes, hot and sweet peppers and plenty of garlic. New York Times (Feb 18, 2011)
• threadbare thin and tattered with age They were all poor folk, wrapped in threadbare cloaks or tattered leather. Brackett, Leigh Douglass
• grisly shockingly repellent; inspiring horror Television video showed a heavily damaged building and a grisly scene inside, with clothing and prayer mats scattered across a blood-splattered floor. New York Times (Aug 19, 2011)
• untoward not in keeping with accepted standards of what is proper Responding to criticism that cash payments are a classic means of tax evasion, he said he had done nothing untoward . New York Times (Aug 2, 2011)
• idiosyncrasy a behavioral attribute peculiar to an individual One of his well-known idiosyncrasies was that he would never allow himself to be photographed. Le Queux, William
• quip make jokes or witty remarks "I could have joined the FBI in a shorter period of time and with less documentation than it took to get that mortgage," she quipped .
• blatant without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious There was no blatant display of wealth, and every article of furniture bore signs of long though careful use. Bull, Charles Livingston
• stanch stop the flow of a liquid She did not attempt to stanch her tears, but sat looking at him with a smiling mouth, while the heavy drops fell down her cheeks. Stockley, Cynthia
• incongruity the quality of disagreeing Hanging out wet clothes and an American flag at the North Pole seemed an amusing incongruity . Cook, Frederick A.
• perfidious tending to betray The perfidious Italian at length confessed that it was his intention to murder his master, and then rob the house. Billinghurst, Percy J.
• platitude a trite or obvious remark But details are fuzzy and rebel leaders often resort to platitudes when dismissing suggestions of discord, saying simply that "Libya is one tribe." Wall Street Journal (Jun 20, 2011)
• revelry unrestrained merrymaking But all this revelry — dancing, drinks, exuberant youth — can be hard to manage. New York Times (Jun 3, 2010)
• delve turn up, loosen, or remove earth So she did what any reporter would do: she delved into the scientific literature and talked to investigators. New York Times (Dec 27, 2010)
• extenuate lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or degree of Prosecutors often spend time weighing mitigating and extenuating circumstances before deciding to seek the death penalty. Washington Post (Oct 15, 2011)
• polemic a verbal or written attack, especially of a belief or dogma Would it be a polemic that denounced Western imperialism for using cinema to undermine emerging nations like Kazakhstan? New York Times (Oct 4, 2010)
• enrapture hold spellbound I was delighted, enraptured , beside myself--the world had disappeared in an instant. Spielhagen, Friedrich
• virtuoso someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field Each of the seven instrumentalists was a virtuoso in his own right and had ample opportunity to prove it, often in long, soulful solos. New York Times (May 3, 2010)
• glower look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval A moment later he would collapse, sit glowering in his chair, looking angrily at the carpet. Hecht, Ben
• mundane found in the ordinary course of events Now, it would seem, that the Chinese are getting back to their everyday concerns, paying attention to events more mundane and less cataclysmic. New York Times (Mar 20, 2012)
• fatuous devoid of intelligence They're too stupid, for one thing; they go on burning houses and breaking windows in their old fatuous way. McKenna, Stephen
• incorrigible impervious to correction by punishment She scolded and lectured her sister in vain; Cynthia was incorrigible . Various
• postulate maintain or assert In fact, when Einstein formulated his cosmological vision, based on his theory of gravitation, he postulated that the universe was finite. Scientific American (Jul 26, 2011)
• gist the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work The syntax was a little off, even comical at times, but I got the gist of what was going on. Time (May 6, 2010)
• vociferous conspicuously and offensively loud The complaints grew so loud and vociferous that even President Obama was forced to address the backlash from Lisbon on Saturday. New York Times (Nov 23, 2010)
• purvey supply with provisions And we will agree also to purvey food for these horses and people during nine months. Villehardouin, Geoffroi de
• baleful deadly or sinister “But he is dead,” put in Fanning, wondering at the baleful expression of hatred that had come into the man’s face. Burnham, Margaret
• gibe laugh at with contempt and derision So much did their taunts prey upon him that he ran away from school to escape their gibes . Hubbard, Elbert
• dyspeptic irritable as if suffering from indigestion One may begin with heroic renunciations and end in undignified envy and dyspeptic comments outside the door one has slammed on one's self. Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)
• prude a person excessively concerned about propriety and decorum Criticising high-profile programmes about teenage sex education often means risking being written off as a prude .
• luminary a celebrity who is an inspiration to others Founded in 1947, the group's members have included such luminaries as Walt Disney, Spencer Tracy and another American president, Ronald Reagan. Seattle Times (Apr 11, 2011)
• amenable disposed or willing to comply He, Jean Boulot, being so amenable to sensible argument, would at once fall in with his views. Wingfield, Lewis
• willful habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition I crossed my arms like a willful child. New York Times (Aug 18, 2011)
• overbearing having or showing arrogant superiority "True; but——" "Just so," interrupted Mr. Fauntleroy, in his decisive and rather overbearing manner. Wood, Mrs. Henry
• dais a platform raised above the surrounding level The throne was elevated on a dais of silver steps. Tracy, Louis
• automate operate or make run by machines rather than human action And because leap seconds are needed irregularly their insertion cannot be automated , which means that fallible humans must insert them by hand.
• enervate weaken physically, mentally, or morally The reviewers have enervated men’s minds, and made them indolent; few think for themselves. Rossetti, William Michael
• wheedle influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering On one level, I expected incessant flattery in attempts to wheedle equipment or even money from American forces. New York Times (Aug 16, 2010)
• gusto vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment The audience, surprisingly large given the inclement weather, responded with gusto , applauding each song, including those within the Shostakovich cycle. New York Times (Mar 2, 2010)
• bouillon a clear seasoned broth The meat soups are called broths, bouillon , or consommé, according to their richness. Ronald, Mary
• omniscient knowing, seeing, or understanding everything Robbe-Grillet responds that his work is in fact far less objective than the godlike, omniscient narrator who presides over so many traditional novels.
• apostate not faithful to religion or party or cause They are atheist conservatives — Mr. Khan an apostate to his family’s Islamic faith, Ms. Mac Donald to her left-wing education. New York Times (Feb 18, 2011)
• carrion the dead and rotting body of an animal; unfit for human food Habitually his diet is not carnivorous, but he will eat at times either carrion or living flesh. Reid, Mayne
• emolument compensation received by virtue of holding an office As the TUC has pointed out, those incomes – except for senior executives, whose emoluments seem to know few bounds – are rising more slowly than prices.
• ungainly lacking grace in movement or posture Thomas looked up furtively and saw that an ungainly human figure with crooked legs was being led into the church. Gogol, Nikolai Vasilievich
• impiety unrighteousness by virtue of lacking respect for a god That, however, is unbelief, extreme impiety , and a denial of the most high God. Bente, F. (Friedrich)
• decadence the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities But there are people who really do not want to import what they regard as Western decadence , especially public drunkenness. BBC (Jun 11, 2011)
• homily a sermon on a moral or religious topic In his New Year's homily , the pope said "words were not enough" to bring about peace, particularly in the Middle East.
• avocation an auxiliary activity Unlike many retired doctors, whom he says often have no life outside their profession, he always knew sailing would become his avocation . Newsweek (Nov 17, 2010)
• circumvent avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing Mr. Bloomberg said he would take several steps to circumvent obstacles to his proposals posed by city labor unions. New York Times (Jan 12, 2012)
• syllogism reasoning in which a conclusion is derived from two premises The conclusions arrived at by means of syllogisms are irresistible, provided the form be correct and the premises be true. Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)
• collation assembling in proper numerical or logical sequence In the case of early printed books or manuscripts, which are often not paged, special knowledge is needed for their collation . Rooke, Noel
• haggle wrangle, as over a price or terms of an agreement Obama said while officials can haggle over the makeup of spending cuts, the policy issues have no place in the measure.
• waylay wait in hiding to attack Sir Samuel Clithering was not, of course, a member of it; but he lurked about outside and waylaid us as we went in. Birmingham, George A.
• savant a learned person Frank had studied something of almost everything and imagined himself a savant . Roussel, John
• cohort a group of people having approximately the same age The current cohort of college students is, as many have pointed out, the first truly digital generation. Washington Post (Dec 1, 2011)
• unction excessive but superficial compliments with affected charm "You couldn't ask too much of me," he returned, with no unction of flattery, but the cheerfully frank expression of an ingenuous heart. Ogden, George W. (George Washington)
• adjure command solemnly “I adjure thee,” she said, “swear to me that you will never go near those Christians again or read their books.” Pennell, T. L. (Theodore Leighton)
• acrimony a rough and bitter manner Relations with India have been slowly improving, although talks ended in acrimony last July with the two sides indulging in a public spat over Kashmir.
• clarion loud and clear “He has been the single, clarion voice for commuter rail in central Florida for 20 years,” said Mayor Ken Bradley of Winter Park. New York Times (Jun 27, 2011)
• turbid clouded as with sediment The thick turbid sea rolled in, casting up mire and dirt from its depths. Reynolds, Mrs. Baillie
• cupidity extreme greed for material wealth Well educated, but very corrupt at heart, he found in his insatiable cupidity many ways of gaining money. Kraszewski, Jozef Ignacy
• disaffected discontented as toward authority The financial crisis, largely caused by banker incompetence, has created legions of disaffected customers. Forbes (Sep 15, 2011)
• preternatural surpassing the ordinary or normal In fact, they regarded the Spaniards as superior beings endowed with preternatural gifts. Gilson, Jewett Castello
• eschew avoid and stay away from deliberately Morrissey is among those seniors who are eschewing nursing homes in favor of independent living. Washington Post (Mar 23, 2012)
• expatiate add details to clarify an idea He then expatiated on his own miseries, which he detailed at full length. Manzoni, Alessandro
• didactic instructive, especially excessively Let us have a book so full of good illustrations that didactic instruction shall not be needed. Various
• sinuous curved or curving in and out In origami parlance, Mr. Joisel was a wet-folder, dampening his paper so that he could coax it into sinuous curves. New York Times (Oct 20, 2010)
• rancor a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will The current session of Parliament has so far produced only rancor , as opposition parties have shut down proceedings with angry, theatrical protests against corruption. New York Times (Aug 14, 2011)
• puissant powerful The ship was not fighting now, but yielding—a complacent leviathan held captive by a most puissant and ruthless enemy. Tracy, Louis
• homespun characteristic of country life His rural, homespun demeanor ordinarily might elicit snickers from India’s urban elite. New York Times (Aug 18, 2011)
• embroil force into some kind of situation or course of action But Mr. Marbury, often embroiled in controversy during his N.B.A. days, seems to have found some measure of peace in China. New York Times (Apr 1, 2012)
• pathological caused by or evidencing a mentally disturbed condition "Fixated individuals" — mentally ill people with a pathological focus on someone, often a stranger — make up the first group.
• resonant characterized by a loud deep sound His eyes were piercing but sad, his voice grand and resonant , suiting well the wrathful, impassioned Calvinism of his sermons. Barr, Amelia Edith Huddleston
• libretto the words of an opera or musical play In many great operas, composers have had to whittle down an epic literary work into a suitable libretto . New York Times (Mar 6, 2010)
• flail thrash about Exercise is prescribed, but when she joins an aqua aerobics class, she flails embarrassingly. New York Times (Apr 12, 2012)
• bandy discuss lightly Hillary Clinton’s name has been bandied about, but she’s made it clear she’s not interested.
• gratis costing nothing "Would you admit them gratis ?" asked Mr. Castlemaine with a smile, "or would they have to pay, like ordinary residents in an hotel?" Hocking, Joseph
• upshot a phenomenon that is caused by some previous phenomenon The inevitable upshot of their growing social power was that brands wanted an expanded visual presence.
• aphorism a short pithy instructive saying General Sherman's famous aphorism that "War is Hell," has become classic. Fletcher, Samuel H.
• redoubtable worthy of respect or honor Captain Miles Standish was a redoubtable soldier, small in person, but of great activity and courage. Mann, Henry
• corpulent excessively large Obesity is very common, but chiefly among the women, who while still quite young often become enormously corpulent . D'Anvers, N.
• benighted lacking enlightenment or knowledge or culture I alone was magnificently and absurdly aware—everyone else was benightedly out of it. James, Henry
• sententious abounding in or given to pompous or aphoristic moralizing He is the village wise man; very sententious ; and full of profound remarks on shallow subjects. Irving, Washington
• cabal a clique that seeks power usually through intrigue Supposedly, see, there's this global cabal of scientists conspiring to bring about socialist one-world government.
• paraphernalia equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles It's outfitted with cricket bats and other antique sports paraphernalia . Seattle Times (Sep 27, 2011)
• vitiate make imperfect His talent in writing is vitiated by his affectation and other faults. Blair, Emma Helen
• adulation exaggerated flattery or praise And celebrities get all this adulation for something that is not about character, it's about talent.
• quaff swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught Meanwhile the officers under the tree had got served, and, cups in hand, were quaffing joyously. Reid, Mayne
• unassuming not arrogant Parr's conduct after his most heroic actions was thoroughly modest and unassuming . Greely, Adolphus W.
• libertine a dissolute person Still, Mr. Awlaki was neither among the most conservative Muslim students nor among the libertines who tossed aside religious restrictions on drinking and sex. New York Times (May 8, 2010)
• maul injure badly Hundreds of concert goers were mauled as they left by what The New York Times called “bands of roving youths.” New York Times (Aug 17, 2011)
• adage a condensed but memorable saying embodying an important fact So he focuses on the fans and embraces the adage , “Living well is the best revenge.” New York Times (Mar 25, 2011)
• expostulation the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest He even believed he saw visions with his own bodily eyes, and no expostulations of his friends could drive this belief out of his head. Hoffmann, E. T. A. (Ernst Theodor Amadeus)
• tawdry tastelessly showy It was a tawdry affair, all Cupids and cornucopias, like a third-rate wedding cake. Wilde, Oscar
• trite repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse The subject—a deathbed scene—might seem at first sight to be a trite and common one. Lancey, Magdalene de
• hireling a person who works only for money Why should I?—a mere police detective, who had been hired to do a service and paid for it like any other hireling . Hanshew, Thomas W.
• ensconce fix firmly Though she is firmly ensconced in a writing career, Ms. Freud, 48, said that in the early days she missed acting terribly. New York Times (Oct 30, 2011)
• egregious conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible “These offenses are very serious, even egregious ,” the judge said. Washington Post (Sep 12, 2011)
• cogent powerfully persuasive His thesis was too cogent , and appealed too powerfully to all classes of the Upper Canada community, to be anything but irresistible. Morison, J. L. (John Lyle)
• incisive demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions A half-hour of informed and incisive questioning by Mr. Russert would have demolished Mr. Trump. New York Times (May 1, 2011)
• errant straying from the right course or from accepted standards As the crowd voiced its displeasure, the referees made sure Wisconsin got the ball, but pass was errant and rolled out of bounds at midcourt. Seattle Times (Feb 28, 2012)
• sedulous marked by care and persistent effort Sedulous attention and painstaking industry always mark the true worker. Calhoon, Major A.R.
• incandescent characterized by ardent emotion, intensity, or brilliance Kirkwood's anger cooled apace; at worst it had been a flare of passion— incandescent . Vance, Louis Joseph
• derelict in deplorable condition Others are clustered under a tin awning by a derelict railway station or in similarly run-down school buildings.
• entomology the branch of zoology that studies insects From the department of entomology you expect to learn something about the troublesome insects, which are so universal an annoyance. Latham, A. W.
• execrable unequivocally detestable But minds were so overexcited at the time that the parties mutually accused each other, on all occasions, of the most execrable crimes. Imbert de Saint-Amand, Arthur Léon, baron
• sluice pour as if from a conduit that carries a rapid flow of water At 4:15 p.m., as the rain was sluicing off roofs in sheets, the firemen moved the trucks to higher ground. New York Times (Aug 31, 2011)
• moot of no legal significance, as having been previously decided The statement from Hermitage said even in the Soviet period no defendant had been tried after death, when charges were generally considered moot . New York Times (Feb 7, 2012)
• evanescent short-lived; tending to vanish or disappear Time seems stopped but it is moving on, and every glimmer of light is evanescent , flitting.
• vat a large open vessel for holding or storing liquids The cream remains in the large vat about twenty-four hours before it is churned. Chamberlain, James Franklin
• dapper marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners Thoroughly dapper , he took off his black-and-white pinstriped suit jacket — with its pocket-square flair — and weaved in and out among them, his voice ever rising. New York Times (Jan 22, 2011)
• asperity harshness of manner All this proceeds from the old man, whose proper character it is to be angry and bitter, and to exhibit rancor and asperity . Arndt, Johann
• flair a natural talent In fact, while Lamarr qualified as an inventive genius for her artistic flair , she fell somewhat short on her scientific acumen. Slate (Nov 28, 2011)
• mote a tiny piece of anything He took his discharge out of his pocket, brushed every mote of dust from the table, and spread the document before their eyes. Auerbach, Berthold
• circumspect careful to consider potential consequences and avoid risk Obama administration officials argue that new regulations are forcing insurers to be more circumspect about raising rates. New York Times (Sep 27, 2011)
• inimical tending to obstruct or cause harm The Hindu idea is that so long as justice and equity characterise a king’s rule, even beasts naturally inimical are disposed to live in friendship. Kingscote, Mrs. Howard
• apropos of a suitable, fitting, or pertinent nature I found myself thinking vaguely about things that were not at all apropos to the situation. Stockley, Cynthia
• gruel a thin porridge He says, keep them on just two pints of Indian-meal gruel —by which he appears to mean thin hasty pudding—a day, and no more. Alcott, William A. (William Andrus)
• gentility elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression This was no rough bully of the seas; Carew's bearing and dandified apparel bespoke gentility . Springer, Norman
• disapprobation an expression of strong disapproval Mr Ruthven shook his head and declared that he regarded the conduct of her persecutors with grave moral disapprobation . Wheeler, E.J.
• cameo engraving or carving in low relief on a stone The trinket was a small round cameo cut out of mother-of-pearl and set in gold; it represented St. George and the dragon. J?kai, M?r
• gouge swindle; obtain by coercion Shortages also have raised concerns about higher prices and gouging by wholesale drug companies that obtain supplies of hard-to-get drugs and jack up the costs. Seattle Times (Jan 20, 2012)
• oratorio a musical composition for voices and orchestra Mendelssohn had no sooner completed his first oratorio , "St. Paul," than he began to think about setting another Bible story to music. Edwards, Frederick George
• inclement severe, of weather Be prepared for inclement weather and possible ice and snow on park roads. Seattle Times (Oct 16, 2011)
• scintilla a tiny or scarcely detectable amount Gardner "never expressed one scintilla of remorse for his attack upon the victim" despite overwhelming evidence, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo.
• confluence a flowing together And indeed, before the 13th century, there was an extraordinary confluence of genius and innovation, particularly around Baghdad. New York Times (Dec 28, 2010)
• squalor sordid dirtiness What can be expected of human beings, crowded in such miserable habitations, living in filth and squalor , and often pinched with hunger? Field, Henry M. (Henry Martyn)
• stricture severe criticism While gratefully accepting the generous praises of our friends, we must briefly reply to some strictures by our critics. Stanton, Elizabeth Cady
• emblazon decorate with heraldic arms His coat of arms was emblazoned on the cover. Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)
• augury an event indicating important things to come This is always an encouraging sign, and an augury of success. Alger, Horatio
• abut lie adjacent to another or share a boundary It depicts a mountain landscape near Kingston, a historic town abutting the Hudson River. New York Times (Jan 8, 2010)
• banal repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse Highly dramatic incidents are juxtaposed with comparatively banal ones; particular attention is given to tales of doomed love affairs. New York Times (Dec 4, 2011)
• congeal solidify, thicken, or come together Boil down the syrup to half its original quantity, but take care that it does not boil long enough to congeal or become thick. Baru?, Sulpice
• pilfer make off with belongings of others Many young people scavenge for reusable garbage, living on proceeds from pilfered construction material and other recyclables. Seattle Times (Feb 8, 2012)
• malcontent a person who is unsatisfied or disgusted Now, unfortunately, some malcontents among the hands here have spread their ideas, and a strike has been called. Maitland, Robert
• sublimate direct energy or urges into useful activities They might instead have passionate friendships, or sublimate their urges into other pursuits. New York Times (Jun 4, 2010)
• eugenic causing improvement in the offspring produced Eugenics was aimed at creating a better society by filtering out people considered undesirable, ranging from criminals to those imprecisely designated as “feeble-minded.” Washington Post (Aug 1, 2011)
• lineament the characteristic parts of a person's face The tears stood in Muriel's eyes, and her face was very pale, but serenity marked every lineament . Davidson, John
• firebrand someone who deliberately foments trouble But Hassan is not some teenage firebrand hurling rocks; he’s a slight, graying scholar committed to peace. New York Times (Jun 9, 2011)
• fiasco a complete failure or collapse The Stuttgart protests became a national fiasco in late September, when protesters clashed with police wielding batons and water cannons. Newsweek (Dec 14, 2010)
• foolhardy marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences Many mistakes—extravagant purchases, foolhardy investments—are made in the first months after a windfall. Wall Street Journal (Feb 24, 2012)
• retrench tighten one's belt; use resources carefully But there was only one way open to me at present—and that was to retrench my expenses. Caine, Hall, Sir
• ulterior lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed Shop window displays may help prettify shopping thoroughfares, but any savvy retailer has the ulterior motive of self promotion. BBC (Feb 3, 2010)
• equable not varying His must have been that calm, equable temperament not easily ruffled, which goes with the self-respecting nature. Hurll, Estelle M. (Estelle May)
• inured made tough by habitual exposure But he had become inured to the rush and whirr of missiles, and now paid no heed whatever to them. Mitford, Bertram
• invidious containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice "After an old-fashioned, all-round team performance … it might seem invidious to single out one player," admits the paper before singling out one player.
• unmitigated not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity In order to be well directed, sympathy must consider all men, and not the individual alone; only then is it an unmitigated good. Williams, C. M.
• concomitant an event or situation that happens at the same time The conclusion must be drawn that every epidemic of bubonic plague is caused by the concomitant rat plague. Scientific American (Jan 21, 2011)
• cozen cheat or trick Dicing-houses, where cheaters meet, and cozen young men out of their money. Various
• phlegmatic showing little emotion Humanity, when surfeited with emotion, becomes calm, almost phlegmatic . Tracy, Louis
• dormer a gabled extension built out from a sloping roof Other features, such as the front French doors and two roof dormers with curved-top windows and operable shutters, give this home a pleasing, well-balanced presence. Southern Living (Apr 14, 2010)
• pontifical denoting or governed by or relating to a bishop or bishops The high priest made no resistance, but went forth in his pontifical robes, followed by the people in white garments, to meet the mighty warrior. Lord, John
• disport occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion Straightway the glade in which they sat was filled with knights, ladies, maidens, and esquires, who danced and disported themselves right joyously. Spence, Lewis
• apologist a person who argues to defend some policy or institution Tories, and apologists for Great Britain, have written much about a justification for this action, but there is no real justification. Barce, Elmore
• abeyance temporary cessation or suspension My feelings of home-sickness had returned with redoubled strength after being long in abeyance . Boldrewood, Rolf
• enclave an enclosed territory that is culturally distinct And its suburban schools, rather than being exclusive enclaves , include children whose parents can't afford a house in the neighborhood. Washington Post (Jan 11, 2011)
• improvident not supplying something useful for the future He was industrious but improvident ; he made money and he lost it. Hubbard, Elbert
• disquisition an elaborate analytical or explanatory essay or discussion Cumulatively, what emerges from To Kill a Mockingbird is a thoughtful disquisition that encompasses – and goes beyond – the question of racial bias at its worst.
• categorical not modified or restricted by reservations "European leaders were united, categorical and crystal clear: Gaddafi must go," British Prime Minister David Cameron said.
• placate cause to be more favorably inclined The East India Company was placated by the concession of further exemptions in its favour. Smith, A. D.
• redolent serving to bring to mind Here, however, are congregated a vast number of curious and interesting objects, while the place is redolent of vivid historical associations. Ballou, Maturin Murray
• felicitous exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style The first book is the finest, sparkling with felicitous expressions and rising frequently to true poetry. Dennis, John
• gusty blowing in puffs or short intermittent blasts Winds could get gusty , occasionally blowing at more than 30 miles per hour.
• natty marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners He wore a checked suit, very natty , and was more than usually tall and fine-looking. Green, Anna Katharine
• pacifist opposed to war He was, furthermore, a real pacifist , believing that war is debasing morally and disastrous economically. Seymour, Charles
• buxom healthily plump and vigorous Mrs. Connelly—a round, rosy, buxom Irishwoman, with a mellow voice, laughing eye, and artist-red hair—was very much taken with their plan. Douglas, Amanda Minnie
• heyday the period of greatest prosperity or productivity Playboy's most popular years are well behind it - the magazine enjoyed its heyday in the 1970s. Washington Post (Jan 10, 2011)
• herculean displaying superhuman strength or power He made herculean efforts to get on terms with his examination subjects, and worked harder than he had ever done in his life before. Marshall, Archibald
• burgeon grow and flourish Brooklyn's burgeoning dining scene has even developed a following among Manhattan food lovers.
• crone an ugly, evil-looking old woman The aged crone wrinkled her forehead and lifted her grizzled eyebrows, still without looking at him. Myrick, Frank
• prognosticate make a prediction about; tell in advance How strange it is that our dreams often prognosticate coming events! Huth, Alexander
• lout an awkward, foolish person But this question was beyond the poor lout 's intelligence; he could only blubber and fend off possible chastisement. Williams, J. Scott (John Scott)
• simper smile in an insincere, unnatural, or coy way Mrs. Barnett's mouth simpered at the implied flattery; but her eyes, always looking calculatingly for substantial results, were studying Reedy Jenkins. Hamby, William H. (William Henry)
• iniquitous characterized by injustice or wickedness This was some piece of wickedness concocted by the venomous brain of the iniquitous Vicar, more abominable than all his other wickednesses. Trollope, Anthony
• rile disturb, especially by minor irritations The prospect of seeing Ms. Palin tour Alaska’s wild habitats may rile some people who oppose her opinions about climate change. New York Times (Mar 25, 2010)
• sentient endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness The money fluttered from his hand to the floor, where it lay like a sentient thing, staring back as if mocking him. Hitchcock, Lucius W.
• garish tastelessly showy With its opulently garish sets and knee-jerk realism, the production dwarfed the cast, no matter what stars were singing. New York Times (Jan 2, 2011)
• readjustment the act of correcting again While earpieces are not uncomfortable, they do sometimes come loose, requiring readjustment . Slate (Apr 17, 2012)
• erstwhile belonging to some prior time Sony, whose erstwhile dominance in consumer electronics has been eroded by the likes of Samsung, could beat rivals to a potentially new generation of devices.
• aquiline curved down like an eagle's beak The nose slightly aquiline , curving at the nostril; while luxuriant hair, in broad plaits, fell far below her waist. Various
• bilious irritable as if suffering from indigestion But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious , irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room. Garnett, Constance
• vilify spread negative information about The trial was televised and the victim's identity became known, resulting in her being vilified by almost the entire town.
• nuance a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude By working so hard to simplify things, we lose any nuance or ability to deal with folks’ individual circumstances. Washington Post (Oct 3, 2011)
• gawk look with amazement He speaks mainly of his humiliation at lying on the sidewalk as hipsters gawked . New York Times (Apr 9, 2012)
• refectory a communal dining-hall, usually in a monastery Meanwhile, the soup was getting cold in the refectory , so that the assembled brotherhood at last fell to, without waiting any longer for the Abbot. Scheffel, Joseph Victor von
• palatial suitable for or like a large and stately residence The house was very large; its rooms almost palatial in size, had been finished in richly carved hardwood panels and wainscoting, mostly polished mahogany. Hitchcock, Frederick L. (Frederick Lyman)
• mincing affectedly dainty or refined She went, carrying her little head very high indeed, and taking dainty, mincing steps. Banks, Nancy Huston
• trenchant having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought They are written in a serio-comic tone, and for sparkling wit, trenchant sarcasm, and dramatic dialectics surpass anything ever penned by Lessing. Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim
• emboss raise in a relief Requests may also be made of the stationer to use an embossed plate so that the letters stand out in relief. Eichler, Lillian
• proletarian a member of the working class As yet, the true proletarian wage-earner, uprooted from his native village and broken away from the organization of Indian society, is but insignificant. Stoddard, Lothrop
• careen pitching dangerously to one side I turned the steering wheel all the way to one side, and found myself careening backward in a violent arc. Vogel, Nancy
• debacle a sound defeat The Broncos are coming off their worst season in franchise history, a 4-12 debacle that included issues on and off the field. Newsweek (Jan 9, 2011)
• sycophant a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage The people around the king are sycophants who are looking after their own personal advantage. Coffin, Charles Carleton
• crabbed annoyed and irritable He grew crabbed and soured, his temper flashing out on small provocation. Weyman, Stanley J.
• archetype something that serves as a model Newport, R.I., looks like a perfect archetype of a small, seaside New England town.
• cryptic of an obscure nature The authorities, beyond some cryptic language about the death being sudden but not suspicious, have released no details. New York Times (Aug 24, 2011)
• penchant a strong liking or preference But sometimes, old Wall Street habits — including a penchant for expensive luxuries — are hard to break. New York Times (Mar 31, 2012)
• bauble cheap showy jewelry or ornament But men were buying Valentine's baubles for their honeys long before the first Zales ever opened its doors in a suburban shopping mall. Slate (Feb 14, 2012)
• mountebank a flamboyant deceiver They are singularly clever, these Indian mountebanks , especially in sleight of hand tricks. Ballou, Maturin Murray
• fawning attempting to win favor by flattery “As any cult leader, he was extremely good at milking the rich, at flattering and fawning ,” Ms. Gordon said. New York Times (Apr 16, 2010)
• hummock a small natural mound Captain Bill leaned back on a hummock of earth, his arms folded behind his head. Grayson, J. J.
• apotheosis model of excellence or perfection of a kind Contrary to popular belief, however, she said Ms. Deen’s fat-laden cooking does not in fact represent the apotheosis of Southern cuisine. New York Times (Jan 17, 2012)
• discretionary not earmarked; available for use as needed Steeper prices for basic necessities have forced many to cut back on more discretionary purchases. Washington Post (Oct 19, 2011)
• pithy concise and full of meaning As Moore isolated finer points of the passing game, Keller in neat penmanship jotted down pithy phrases and punchy quotes, basic ideas and specific concepts. New York Times (Dec 10, 2011)
• comport behave in a certain manner Ironically, the one man on stage who did comport himself with dignity, John Huntsman, is now being dismissed as having not made an impact.
• checkered marked by changeable fortune Both restaurants have checkered histories with the health department; they were temporarily shut down for sanitary violations that included evidence of rodents. New York Times (Aug 22, 2010)
• ambrosia the food and drink of the gods "Frieda represents the lovely goddess, Hebe, who served nectar and ambrosia to the high gods on Mount Olympus," she explained. Vandercook, Margaret
• factious dissenting with the majority opinion Will it be answered that we are factious , discontented spirits, striving to disturb the public order, and tear up the old fastnesses of society? Stanton, Elizabeth Cady
• disgorge cause or allow to flow or run out or over There are telephone poles and cinder blocks and living room chairs and large trash bins, overturned and disgorging their soggy contents. New York Times (Oct 28, 2011)
• filch make off with belongings of others Then, in place of the real site, it displays a fake site created  to filch account numbers, login names and passwords. New York Times (Jul 13, 2010)
• wraith a ghostly figure, especially one seen shortly before death Whichever way he turns there loom past wraiths , restless as ghosts of unburied Grecian slain. Lee, Carson Jay
• demonstrable capable of being proved The linkage between deposits and trade is definite, causal, positive, statistically demonstrable . Anderson, Benjamin M.
• pertinacious stubbornly unyielding His temper, though yielding and easy in appearance, was in reality most obstinate and pertinacious . Kavanagh, Julia
• emend make corrections to The following were identified as spelling or typographic errors and have been emended as noted. Hopper, James
• laggard someone who takes more time than necessary Corporate data centers are the slowpoke laggards of information technology. New York Times (Apr 10, 2012)
• waffle pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness A few days of waffling back and forth and I ended up going out to a mediocre bistro with my parents. Scientific American (Feb 8, 2011)
• loquacious full of trivial conversation Pan soon found it needful to make conversation, in order to keep the loquacious old stage driver from talking too much. Grey, Zane
• venial easily excused or forgiven The confidence of ignorance, however venial in youth, is not altogether so excusable, in full grown men. School, A Sexton of the Old
• peon a laborer who is obliged to do menial work For the most part, the men were wiry peons , some toiling half naked, but there were a number who looked like prosperous citizens. Bindloss, Harold
• effulgence the quality of being bright and sending out rays of light Then, all at once, in a way that seemed to frighten her, the sunshine had burst the clouds, and dazzled her with its effulgence . Fenn, George Manville
• lode a deposit of valuable ore Such local perturbations are regularly used in Sweden for tracing out the position of underground lodes of iron ore. Gilbert, William
• fanfare a gaudy outward display It opened a month ago to considerable fanfare , with television cameras trailing government officials meandering proudly around the bright new stores filled with imported goods. New York Times (Aug 22, 2010)
• dilettante showing frivolous or superficial interest; amateurish They dabbled in politics and art in the same dilettante fashion. Cannan, Gilbert
• pusillanimous lacking in courage, strength, and resolution He was described by his friends as pusillanimous to an incredible extent, timid from excess of riches, afraid of his own shadow. Motley, John Lothrop
• ingrained deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held The narrow prejudices of his country were ingrained too deeply in his character to be disturbed by any change of surroundings. Fuller, Robert H.
• quagmire a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot The heavy rain had reduced this low-lying ground to a veritable quagmire , making progress very difficult even for one as unburdened as he was. Putnam Weale, B. L. (Bertram Lenox)
• reprobation severe disapproval Mr. Conway denounced this scheme as "utterly and flagrantly unconstitutional, as radically revolutionary in character and deserving the reprobation of every loyal citizen." Blaine, James Gillespie
• mannered having unnatural behavioral attributes Nothing was mannered or pretentious; the texts came through with utter naturalness. New York Times (May 29, 2011)
• squeamish easily disturbed or disgusted by unpleasant things But please note that this gunfire-fueled film is for mature audiences; given its content, young and/or squeamish viewers should avoid this one. Washington Post (Aug 6, 2010)
• proclivity a natural inclination She received, under her father's supervision, a very careful education, and developed her proclivities for literary composition at an early age. Adams, W. H. Davenport
• miserly characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity Now, my uncle seemed so miserly that I was struck dumb by this sudden generosity, and could find no words in which to thank him. Stevenson, Robert Louis
• vapid lacking significance or liveliness or spirit or zest How vapid was the talk of my remaining fellow-passengers; how slow of understanding, and how preoccupied with petty things they seemed! Dawson, A. J. (Alec John)
• mercurial liable to sudden unpredictable change Wind energy is notoriously mercurial , with patterns shifting drastically over the course of years, days, even minutes. Scientific American (Jan 4, 2012)
• perspicuous transparently clear; easily understandable The statements are plain and simple, a perfect model of perspicuous narrative. Smith, Uriah
• nonplus be a mystery or bewildering to I shook my head and rushed from his presence, completely nonplussed , bewildered, frantic. Cole, E. W. (Edward William)
• enamor attract Young Indian audiences are so enamored with reality television that they will not watch the soap operas and dramas that their parents or grandparents watch. New York Times (Jan 9, 2011)
• hackneyed repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse Many speakers become so addicted to certain hackneyed phrases that those used to hearing them speak can see them coming sentences away. Lewis, Arthur M. (Arthur Morrow)
• spate a large number or amount or extent French authorities are already reporting a rising spate of calls to emergency services by homeowners whose once-frozen water mains have now burst.
• pedagogue someone who educates young people His old pedagogue , Mr. Brownell, had been unable to teach him mathematics. Pierce, H. Winthrop
• acme the highest level or degree attainable Scientifically speaking, it is the acme of absurdity to talk of a man defying the law of gravitation when he lifts his arm. Huxley, Thomas H.
• masticate bite and grind with the teeth Food should be masticated quietly, and with the lips closed. Cooke, Maud C.
• sinecure a job that involves minimal duties He would have repudiated the notion that he was looking for a sinecure , but no doubt considered that the duties would be easy and light. Trollope, Anthony
• indite produce a literary work She indited religious poems which were the admiration of the age. Brittain, Alfred
• emetic a medicine that induces nausea and vomiting The juice of this herb, taken in ale, is esteemed a gentle and very good emetic , bringing on vomiting without any great irritation or pain. Smith, John Thomas
• temporize draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time So he temporized and beat about the bush, and did not touch first on that which was nearest his heart. Erskine, Payne
• unimpeachable beyond doubt or reproach Whether we agree with the conclusions of these writers or not, the method of critical investigation which they adopt is unimpeachable . Huxley, Thomas H.
• genesis a coming into being He found himself speculating on the genesis of the moral sense, how it developed in difficulties rather than in ease. Miller, Alice Duer
• mordant harshly ironic or sinister Even Morgan himself, intrepid as he was, shrank from the awful menace of the mordant words. Crawford, Will
• smattering a small number or amount Only a smattering of fans remained for all four ghastly quarters. Washington Post (Sep 24, 2011)
• suavity the quality of being charming and gracious in manner His combativeness was harnessed to his suavity , and he could be forcible and at the same time persuasive. Windsor, William
• stentorian very loud or booming If a hundred voices shouted in opposition, his stentorian tones still made themselves heard above the uproar. J?kai, M?r
• junket a trip taken by an official at public expense Mr. Abramoff arranged for junkets , including foreign golfing destinations, for the members of Congress he was trying to influence. New York Times (Feb 26, 2010)
• appurtenance a supplementary component that improves capability In the center of this space stood a large frame building whose courtyard, stables, and other appurtenances proclaimed it an inn. Madison, Lucy Foster
• nostrum patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable Just here a native "medicine man" dispenses nostrums of doubtful efficacy, and in front a quantity of red Moorish pottery is exposed for sale. Meakin, Budgett
• immure lock up or confine, in or as in a jail Political prisoners, numbering as many as three or four hundred at a time, have been immured within its massive walls. Boyd, Mary Stuart
• astringent acidic or bitter in taste or smell There was something sharply astringent about her then, like biting inadvertently into a green banana. McFee, William
• unfaltering marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable Still unfaltering , the procession commenced to trudge back, the littlest boy and girl bearing themselves bravely, with lips tight pressed. Sabin, Edwin L. (Edwin Legrand)
• tutelage attention and management implying responsibility for safety It will do so under German leadership that grows less hesitant with each crisis, and without the American tutelage it enjoyed for so many decades. Newsweek (Jan 23, 2011)
• testator a person who makes a will This will was drawn up by me some years since at the request of the testator , who was in good health, mentally and bodily. Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
• elysian of such excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods Life seemed an elysian dream, from which care and sorrow must be for ever banished. Hentz, Caroline Lee
• fulminate criticize severely But with people looking for almost any excuse to fulminate against airlines these days, there's a certain risk of embellishment.
• fractious easily irritated or annoyed He was a fractious invalid, and spared his wife neither time nor trouble in attending to his wants. Brazil, Angela
• pummel strike, usually with the fist Another, with rubber bands wrapped tightly around his face, is pummelled by a plastic boxing kangaroo.
• manumit free from slavery or servitude Moreover, manumitted slaves enjoyed the same rights, privileges and immunities that were enjoyed by those born free. Various
• unexceptionable completely acceptable; not open to reproach All cowboys are from necessity good cooks, and the fluffy, golden brown biscuits and fragrant coffee of Red's making were unexceptionable . Mayer, Frank
• triumvirate a group of three people responsible for civil authority This triumvirate approach has real benefits in terms of shared wisdom, and we will continue to discuss the big decisions among the three of us.
• sybarite a person addicted to luxury and pleasures of the senses He was not used to travelling on omnibuses, being something of a sybarite who spared nothing to ensure his own comfort. Wallace, Edgar
• jibe be compatible, similar, or consistent Contemporary art has never quite jibed with mainstream media.
• magisterial offensively self-assured or exercising unwarranted power “Now look here,” he said, making believe to take down my words and shaking his pencil at me in a magisterial way. Fenn, George Manville
• roseate of something having a dusty purplish pink color Behind the trees rough, lichened rock and stony slopes ran up to a bare ridge, silhouetted against the roseate glow of the morning sky. Bindloss, Harold
• obloquy abusive, malicious, and condemnatory language This is the real history of a transaction which, by frequent misrepresentation, has brought undeserved obloquy upon a generous man. Purchas, H. T. (Henry Thomas)
• hoodwink influence by slyness The stories of the saints he regarded as preposterous fables invented to hoodwink a gullible and illiterate populace.
• striate mark with stripes of contrasting color The body is striated with clearly defined, often depressed lines, which run longitudinally and sometimes spirally. Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)
• arrogate seize and take control without authority Japanese manufacturers were accused of arrogating American technologies to churn out low-cost electronics. New York Times (May 25, 2010)
• rarefied of high moral or intellectual value The debate over climate science has involved very complex physical models and rarefied areas of scientific knowledge. New York Times (Apr 9, 2011)
• chary characterized by great caution There was no independent verification of the figure; the authorities have been chary of releasing death tolls for fear of inflaming further violence. New York Times (Apr 24, 2011)
• credo any system of principles or beliefs She preferred to hang out with everyone but was best friends with no one, holding to the credo : “You should be nice to people.” New York Times (Jan 21, 2011)
• superannuated too old to be useful Civil servants are superannuated at fifty-five years of age and are sent home on a pension, seldom enjoying life longer than two years afterward. Hunt, Eleonora
• impolitic lacking tact, shrewdness, or prudence Bill Maher has always been a vocal critic of Islam, even at times making impolitic statements about the religion.
• aspersion a disparaging remark Lord Sanquhar then proceeded to deny the aspersion that he was an ill-natured fellow, ever revengeful, and delighting in blood. Thornbury, Walter
• abysmal exceptionally bad or displeasing After all, many Americans regard this Congress as dysfunctional, with abysmal approval ratings. New York Times (Dec 28, 2011)
• poignancy a quality that arouses emotions, especially pity or sorrow They were curious about the “near loss” experience—specifically the feelings of poignancy that occur when what we cherish disappears. Scientific American (Jan 17, 2011)
• stilted artificially formal or stiff But thanks to the stilted writing and stiff acting, the characters still feel very much like one-dimensional figures from a dutiful fable. New York Times (Jul 12, 2011)
• effete excessively self-indulgent, affected, or decadent John Bull was an effete old plutocrat whose sons and daughters were given up to sport and amusement. Moffett, Cleveland
• provender food for domestic livestock "Fools!" she cried, looking in her magic crystal, "he was in the big sycamore under which you stopped to give your horses provender !" Housman, Laurence
• endemic of a disease constantly present in a particular locality Mean-spirited chants and songs are also endemic in British soccer. New York Times (Jan 27, 2012)
• jocund full of or showing high-spirited merriment Her jocund laugh and merry voice, indeed, first attracted my attention. Lever, Charles James
• procedural of or relating to processes In other words, the rejection was a bureaucratic/ procedural decision. Scientific American (Feb 1, 2012)
• rakish marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness She wore her red cap in a rakish manner on the side of her head, its tassel falling down over her forehead between her eyes. Sage, William
• skittish unpredictably excitable, especially of horses That combined with his calm and reassuring tone made me think of an animal trainer trying to woo skittish wild animals.
• peroration a flowery and highly rhetorical address He had little hope that Gallagher, once embarked on a peroration , would stop until he had used up all the words at his command. Birmingham, George A.
• nonentity a person of no influence Was he such a nonentity in every way that she could remain unconcerned as to any fear of danger from him? Woolson, Constance Fenimore
• abstemious marked by temperance in indulgence Raw, boozy, untethered performances are heralded as real; the abstemious professional is yawned off the stage.
• viscid having the sticky properties of an adhesive Roads were quagmires where travellers slipped and laboured through viscid mud and over icy fords. Buck, Charles Neville
• doggerel a comic verse of irregular measure He sang, with accompanying action, some dozen verses of doggerel , remarkable for obscenity and imbecility.  Ritchie, J. Ewing (James Ewing)
• sleight adroitness in using the hands The trick was performed Tuesday by Russell Fitzgerald, an amateur magician known to open meetings with a little sleight of hand. Washington Post (Sep 29, 2011)
• rubric category name Ms. Moss took issue, not surprisingly, with the notion that grouping the performances under the rubric of spirituality was a marketing ploy. New York Times (Nov 22, 2010)
• plenitude a full supply Of course at that season, amid the plenitude of seeds, nuts, and berries, they were as plump as partridges. Reid, Mayne
• rebus a puzzle consisting of pictures representing words They wrote at times with pictures standing for sounds, as we now write in rebus puzzles. Park, Robert Ezra
• wizened lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness Kim Jong Il may be increasingly wizened and frail, with fingernails white from kidney disease, but his propaganda apparatus is as vigorous as ever. Wall Street Journal (Mar 26, 2010)
• whorl a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles The flowers are waxy, tubular, fragrant, turning their yellow petals backward in a whorl . Rogers, Julia Ellen
• fracas a noisy quarrel Other cops were battling each other, going after the kids and clutching empty air, cursing and screaming unheard orders in the fracas . Freas, Kelly
• iconoclast someone who attacks cherished ideas or institutions Jobs is a classic iconoclast , one who aggressively seeks out, attacks, and overthrows conventional ideas. BusinessWeek (Oct 12, 2010)
• saturnine bitter or scornful Only when Bill Lightfoot spoke did he look up, and then with a set sneer, growing daily more saturnine . Dixon, Maynard
• madrigal an unaccompanied partsong for several voices Nevertheless we learn from Malvezzi's publication that the pieces were all written in the madrigal style, frequently in numerous voice parts. Henderson, W. J. (William James)
• discursive tending to cover a wide range of subjects “Tabloid,” like his previous films, consists largely of long, discursive conversations — in effect monologues directed at an unseen, mostly unheard interlocutor. New York Times (Jul 22, 2011)
• zealot a fervent and even militant proponent of something "The public is going to just think of us as these zealots who want to ban smoking everywhere," he said. Seattle Times (Feb 20, 2011)
• moribund not growing or changing; without force or vitality The entertainment sector there is booming, while Pakistan's is moribund . Seattle Times (Dec 3, 2011)
• modicum a small or moderate or token amount He volunteered a modicum of advice, limited in quantity, but valuable. Bolderwood, Rolf
• connotation an idea that is implied or suggested In Arabic, the word “bayt” translates literally as house, but its connotations resonate beyond rooms and walls, summoning longings gathered about family and home. New York Times (Feb 18, 2012)
• adventitious associated by chance and not an integral part The derivation of the word thus appears to be merely accidental and adventitious . Stace, W. T. (Walter Terence)
• recondite difficult to understand The mystery of verse is like other abstruse and recondite mysteries—it strikes the ordinary fleshly man as absurd. Gosse, Edmund
• zephyr a slight wind The dwellings and public buildings throughout Cuba are planned to give free passage to every zephyr that wafts relief from the oppressive heat. Various
• countermand cancel officially In the midst of executing this order, he got another order countermanding it, and proceeding directly from his direct superior. Belloc, Hilaire
• captious tending to find and call attention to faults Miss Burton had been very irritable and captious in class, more so even than usual, and most of her anger was vented upon Gerry. Chaundler, Christine
• cognate having the same ancestral language The synonyms are also given in the cognate dialects of Welsh, Armoric, Irish, Gaelic, and Manx, showing at one view the connection between them.  Jenner, Henry
• forebear a person from whom you are descended His forebears were Greek immigrants who opened a small sandwich shop in Brooklyn, then moved, one after another, to Providence, to sell distinct, delectable wieners. New York Times (Sep 24, 2010)
• cadaverous very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold He looked gaunt and cadaverous , and much of his old reckless joyousness had left him, though he brightened up wonderfully on seeing an old friend. Doyle, A. Conan
• foist force onto another Mr. Knoll added that the 3-D “Star Wars” movies are not “going to be foisted on anybody against their will.” New York Times (Sep 29, 2010)
• dotage mental infirmity as a consequence of old age He is, as you say, a senile old man in his dotage . Wilcox, Ella Wheeler
• nexus a connected series or group Numerous innovators are also worrying away at this nexus of problems.
• choleric characterized by anger Jonathan, choleric with indignation, stood by his desk, clenching his hands. Mills, Weymer Jay
• garble distort or make false by mutilation or addition But the fact remains that the contradictory and inconsistent things said do reach the public, and usually in garbled and distorted form. Unknown
• bucolic idyllically rustic Forty-four years ago, Bill Sievers moved into his neo-Colonial house in Douglaston, Queens, on bucolic Poplar Street, lined with stately trees and equally stately homes. New York Times (Mar 26, 2012)
• denouement the outcome of a complex sequence of events Suppose the truly apocalyptic denouement happens -- no deal is reached, and taxes rise for everyone.
• animus a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility The youthful savages had each an armful of snowballs, and they were pelting the child with more animus than seemed befitting. Murray, David Christie
• overweening unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings He had overweening ambitions even then, along with a highly developed sense of his own importance. New York Times (Apr 19, 2010)
• tyro someone new to a field or activity As yet he was merely a tyro , gaining practical experience under a veteran Zeppelin commander. Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)
• preen dress or groom with elaborate care He preened on fight nights in a tuxedo, a bow tie and no shirt, and he favored showy rings and bracelets. New York Times (Jul 24, 2011)
• largesse liberality in bestowing gifts After being saved by government largesse , they say, big banks then moved to thwart reforms aimed at preventing future meltdowns caused by excessive risk-taking. New York Times (Jul 14, 2011)
• retentive good at remembering The child was very sharp, and her memory was extremely retentive . Rowlands, Effie Adelaide
• unconscionable greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation For generations in the New York City public schools, this has become the norm with devastating consequences rooted in unconscionable levels of student failure. New York Times (Nov 4, 2011)
• badinage frivolous banter It was preposterous to talk to her of serious things, and nothing but an airy badinage seemed possible in her company. Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset)
• insensate devoid of feeling and consciousness and animation Men also are those brutal soldiers, alike stupidly ready, at the word of command, to drive the nail through quivering flesh or insensate wood. Stowe, Harriet Beecher
• sherbet a frozen dessert made primarily of fruit juice and sugar "One person said it looks like a big lime sherbet ice cream cone!" Southern Living (Apr 28, 2010)
• beatific resembling or befitting an angel or saint She dozed at last, her face serene and beatific . Beach, Rex Ellingwood
• bemuse cause to be confused emotionally They were marching in the middle of the street, chanting and singing and disrupting traffic while countless New Yorkers looked on, some bemused , others applauding.
• microcosm a miniature model of something The building, he said, is "a microcosm of what Shanghai was all about." Wall Street Journal (Apr 30, 2010)
• factitious not produced by natural forces; artificial or fake Indeed, the Chinese make a factitious cheese out of peas, which it is difficult to discriminate from the article of animal origin. Cameron, Charles Alexander, Sir
• gestate develop in the mind; have the idea for Mr. Lucas’s most recent project, still gestating , is a collaboration with Cuban musicians. New York Times (May 9, 2011)
• traduce speak unfavorably about For Grover Cleveland there were no longer enemies to traduce and vilify. Straus, Oscar S.
• sextant an instrument for measuring angular distance For example, a sextant could be used to sight the sun at high noon in order to determine one’s latitude. Scientific American (Mar 8, 2012)
• coiffure the arrangement of the hair They sat down, and Saint-Clair noticed his friend's coiffure ; a single rose was in her hair. M?rim?e, Prosper
• malleable easily influenced “The Americans are seen as naïve malleable tools in the hands of the Brits.” New York Times (Nov 30, 2011)
• rococo having excessive asymmetrical ornamentation The upper part of the case is decorated with elaborately carved and gilt rococo motifs. Bedini, Silvio A.
• fructify become productive or fruitful Thence they grow, expand, fructify , and the result is Progress. Stanton, Elizabeth Cady
• nihilist someone who rejects all theories of morality “He’s a loner nihilist who believes in nothing,” Mr. Lu said. New York Times (Nov 6, 2011)
• ellipsis a mark indicating that words have been omitted He speaks in ellipses , often leaving sentences hanging, and fiddles apologetically with his BlackBerry.
• accolade a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction The Nobel Prize, considered one of the highest accolades in literature, is given only to living writers. Seattle Times (Oct 6, 2011)
• codicil a supplement to a will The codicil to her will, which she had spoken of with so much composure, left three hundred pounds to Stella and me. Fothergill, Jessie
• roil be agitated Like thousands of fellow students, he was roiled with emotions, struggling to come to grips with an inescapable reality. New York Times (Nov 26, 2011)
• grandiloquent lofty in style A large part of his duties will be to strut about on the stage, and mouth more or less unintelligible sentences in a grandiloquent tone. Smith, Arthur H.
• inconsequential lacking worth or importance But as the months went by, Mr. Kimura had an unexpected epiphany: His business, which he thought was inconsequential , mattered to a lot of people.
• effervescence the property of giving off bubbles Both were in the very sparkle and effervescence of that fanciful glee which bubbles up from the golden, untried fountains of early childhood. Stowe, Harriet Beecher
• stultify deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless Far from being engines of economic growth, Egypt's leading cities are stultified .
• tureen large deep serving dish with a cover Soups are presented in big tureens and can be quite good. New York Times (Apr 13, 2012)
• pellucid transparently clear; easily understandable Caribou Island is a scant 300 pages, and written in prose as pellucid as the rivers he used to fish as a boy.
• euphony any pleasing and harmonious sounds It depends somewhat on usage and on euphony or agreeableness of sound. Hamilton, Frederick W. (Frederick William)
• apocryphal being of questionable authenticity We're reminded of the story, possibly apocryphal , that they used to play the Beach Boys' Smiley Smile in psychiatric wards to calm patients.
• veracious precisely accurate For proof, we cite the following veracious narrative, which bears within it every internal mark of truth, and matter for grave and serious reflection. Roby, John
• pendulous hanging loosely or bending downward And all around, far out of reach, the trees of the forest were swaying restlessly, their long, pendulous branches, like tentacles, lashing out hungrily. Bates, Harry
• exegesis an explanation or critical interpretation Its musical significance has been presented with illuminating exegesis by more than one commentator. Forkel, Johann Nikolaus
• effluvium a foul-smelling outflow or vapor However, acting on my best judgment, I struck a downward course, and then suddenly a horrible effluvium was wafted to my nostrils. Mitford, Bertram
• apposite being of striking appropriateness and pertinence He was quite capable of meaningful, apposite phrases about the game, even though distant sports editors did not encourage them enough.
• viscous having the sticky properties of an adhesive Sluggish, blind crawling things like three-foot slugs flowed across their path and among the tree trunks, leaving viscous trails of slime behind them. Various
• misanthrope someone who dislikes people in general And shaking his head like a misanthrope , disgusted, if not with life, at least with men, Patout led the horse to the stable. Dumas père, Alexandre
• vintner someone who makes wine The question remains, he said, whether established vintners will change their winemaking practices or “continue to sell their schlock.” New York Times (Oct 27, 2010)
• halcyon idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquility He now seemed to have entered on a halcyon period of life—congenial society, romantic and interesting surroundings. Kennard, Nina H.
• anthropomorphic suggesting human features for animals or inanimate things The same anthropomorphic fallacy that accords human attributes to giant corporations like BP distorts clear thinking about how to limit their political influence.
• turgid ostentatiously lofty in style His waspish wit can make him entertaining company at a party, but there is little evidence of that in his largely turgid prose.
• malaise a feeling of mild sickness or depression Initially, many doctors discounted sufferers’ feelings of generalized malaise as nothing more than stress or normal fatigue.
• polemical of or involving dispute or controversy His works include several dogmatic and polemical treatises, but the most important are the historical. Various
• gadfly a persistently annoying person Mr. Phelps is regarded here as the ultimate example of an irritating local gadfly . New York Times (Oct 9, 2010)
• atavism a reappearance of an earlier characteristic Criminal atavism might be defined as the sporadic reversion to savagery in certain individuals. Symonds, John Addington
• contusion an injury in which the skin is not broken My falling companion, being a much stouter man than myself did not fare so well, as his right shoulder received a severe contusion . Bevan, A. Beckford
• parsimonious excessively unwilling to spend Pill-splitting is catching on among parsimonious prescription-takers who want to lower costs.
• dulcet pleasing to the ear Ever and anon the dulcet murmur of gurgling streams broke gently on the ear. Madison, Lucy Foster
• reprise a repetition of a short musical passage The live set reprises material from this remarkable group's earlier Aurora CD.
• anodyne capable of relieving pain But philosophy failed, as it will probably fail till some far-off age, to find an anodyne for the spiritual distresses of the mass of men. Dill, Samuel
• bemused perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements They were marching in the middle of the street, chanting and singing and disrupting traffic while countless New Yorkers looked on, some bemused , others applauding.

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Using Basic or Advanced Vocabulary in Your Writing

This blog post will review what basic and advanced vocabulary entails and when to use which.

Quick Summary on Using Basic or Advanced Vocabulary in Your Writing

• The difference between basic and advanced vocabulary is usually found in the complexity of the word. For example, use and utilize are synonyms, but use is considered basic, whereas utilize is the more advanced alternative.
• Using basic or advanced vocabulary depends on what you’re writing and who your audience is. For instance, you wouldn’t use advanced scientific terminology in a commercial intended for the general population.

Basic vs. Advanced Vocabulary

Different types of writing require different types of vocabulary. For instance, professional and academic texts (or any other that are written in formal language), are typically comprised of advanced vocabulary. Basic vocabulary is commonly reserved for settings in which the writer wants to be understood by as many people as possible, regardless of their proficiency in English. Consider the following examples:

Dogs are direct descendants of wolves .

Canis familiaris are direct descendants of canis lupus .

Which one is easier to understand?

Both sentences state the same thing using different words. The first sentence, which uses basic vocabulary, would be found in a more casual setting, perhaps in an advertisement for dog food. The second sentence, which uses advanced vocabulary, would probably be found in a scientific paper.

You may be wondering why you would want to include basic vocabulary in your writing. When you’re writing for a general audience, using easier language improves simplicity, making your writing more comprehensible for all types of readers.

LanguageTool’s paraphrasing tool ensures optimal word choice, regardless of what you're writing.

Examples of Basic vs. Advanced Vocabulary

Below, you can find more examples of basic and advanced vocabulary.

1. Need/Require

Basic: The company needs proper documentation in order to proceed.

Advanced: The company requires proper documentation in order to proceed.

2. Use/Utilize

Basic: The team will use all the resources they need.

Advanced: The team will utilize all the resources they need.

3. Job/Occupation

Basic: What is your current job ?

Advanced: What is your current occupation?

4. Ask/Inquire

Basic: Thomas asked about the promotion.

Advanced: Thomas inquired about the promotion.

5. Show/Exhibit

Basic: Did the gallery show your artwork?

Advanced: Did the gallery exhibit your artwork?

6. Scary/Petrifying

Basic: The movie was scary .

Advanced: The movie was petrifying .

7. Tell/Inform

Basic: Did the representatives tell you about the upcoming project?

Advanced: Did the representatives inform you about the upcoming project?

8. Check/Verify

Basic: Please check that all the information is correct .

Advanced: Please verify that all the information is correct .

9. Buy/Purchase

Basic: Jonathan wanted to buy as many stocks as possible.

Advanced: Jonathan wanted to purchase as many stocks as possible .

10. Find/Discover

Basic: The department needed to find what was causing the rise in crime.

Advanced: The department needed to discover what was causing the rise in crime.

When To Use Basic vs. Advanced Vocabulary

Using basic or advanced vocabulary goes hand in hand with formal and informal writing . In other words, advanced vocabulary is usually found in formal writing and basic vocabulary is commonly found in informal writing. However, this isn’t a definitive rule. As a writer, it is ultimately up to you which words to use that will help you clearly get your message across in a way your readers understand.

The most important aspect of choosing basic or advanced vocabulary is correct spelling and usage. LanguageTool’s advanced editing and proofreading technology can ensure that your writing is error-free, regardless of what type of vocabulary you use.

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How to Structure an Essay

Essay writing is a fundamental skill, a basic task, that is expected of those who choose to pursue their undergraduate and master’s degrees. It constitutes a key requirement for students to complete a given course credit. However, many students and early career researchers find themselves struggling with the challenge of organizing their thoughts into a coherent, engaging structure. This article is especially for those who see essay writing as a daunting task and face problems in presenting their work in an impactful way.  

Table of Contents

• Writing an essay: basic elements and some key principles  
• Essay structure template 
• Chronological structure 
• Problem-methods-solutions structure 
• Compare and contrast structures 
• Frequently asked questions on essay structure 

Read on as we delve into the basic elements of essay writing, outline key principles for organizing information, and cover some foundational features of writing essays.  

Writing an essay: basic elements and some key principles

Essays are written in a flowing and continuous pattern but with a structure of its own. An introduction, body and conclusion are integral to it. The key is to balance the amount and kind of information to be presented in each part. Various disciplines may have their own conventions or guidelines on the information to be provided in the introduction.  

A clear articulation of the context and background of the study is important, as is the definition of key terms and an outline of specific models or theories used. Readers also need to know the significance of the study and its implications for further research. Most importantly, the thesis or the main proposition should be clearly presented.  

The body of the essay is therefore organized into paragraphs that hold the main ideas and arguments and is presented and analyzed in a logical manner. Ideally, each paragraph of the body focuses on one main point or a distinct topic and must be supported by evidence and analysis. The concluding paragraph should bring back to the reader the key arguments, its significance and food for thought. It is best not to re-state all the points of the essay or introduce a new concept here. 

In other words, certain general guidelines help structure the information in the essay. The information must flow logically with the context or the background information presented in the introductory part of the essay. The arguments are built organically where each paragraph in the body of the essay deals with a different point, yet closely linked to the para preceding and following it. Importantly, when writing essays, early career researchers must be careful in ensuring that each piece of information relates to the main thesis and is a building block to the arguments. 

Essay structure template

• Introduction 
• Provide the context and share significance of the study 
• Clearly articulate the thesis statement 
• Body  
• Paragraph 1 consisting of the first main point, followed by supporting evidence and an analysis of the findings. Transitional words and phrases can be used to move to the next main point. 
• There can be as many paragraphs with the above-mentioned elements as there are points and arguments to support your thesis. 
• Conclusion  
• Bring in key ideas and discuss their significance and relevance 
• Call for action 
• References 

Essay structures

The structure of an essay can be determined by the kind of essay that is required.  

Chronological structure

Also known as the cause-and-effect approach, this is a straightforward way to structure an essay. In such essays, events are discussed sequentially, as they occurred from the earliest to the latest. A chronological structure is useful for discussing a series of events or processes such as historical analyses or narratives of events. The introduction should have the topic sentence. The body of the essay should follow a chorological progression with each para discussing a major aspect of that event with supporting evidence. It ends with a summarizing of the results of the events.  

Problem-methods-solutions structure

Where the essay focuses on a specific problem, the problem-methods-solutions structure can be used to organize the essay. This structure is ideal for essays that address complex issues. It starts with presenting the problem, the context, and thesis statement as introduction to the essay. The major part of the discussion which forms the body of the essay focuses on stating the problem and its significance, the author’s approach or methods adopted to address the problem along with its relevance, and accordingly proposing solution(s) to the identified problem. The concluding part offers a recap of the research problem, methods, and proposed solutions, emphasizing their significance and potential impact. 

Compare and contrast structures

This structure of essay writing is ideally used when two or more key subjects require a comparison of ideas, theories, or phenomena. The three crucial elements, introduction, body, and conclusion, remain the same. The introduction presents the context and the thesis statement. The body of the essay seeks to focus on and highlight differences between the subjects, supported by evidence and analysis. The conclusion is used to summarize the key points of comparison and contrast, offering insights into the significance of the analysis.  

Depending on how the subjects will be discussed, the body of the essay can be organized according to the block method or the alternating method. In the block method, one para discusses one subject and the next para the other subject. In the alternative method, both subjects are discussed in one para based on a particular topic or issue followed by the next para on another issue and so on.  

Frequently asked questions on essay structure

An essay structure serves as a framework for presenting ideas coherently and logically. It comprises three crucial elements: an introduction that communicates the context, topic, and thesis statement; the body focusing on the main points and arguments supported with appropriate evidence followed by its analysis; and a conclusion that ties together the main points and its importance .  

An essay structure well-defined essay structure enhances clarity, coherence, and readability, and is crucial for organizing ideas and arguments to effectively communicate key aspects of a chosen topic. It allows readers to better understand arguments presented and demonstrates the author’s ability to organize and present information systematically. 

Yes, while expert recommend following an essay structure, early career researchers may choose how best to adapt standard essay structures to communicate and share their research in an impactful and engaging way. However, do keep in mind that deviating too far from established structures can hinder comprehension and weaken the overall effectiveness of the essay,  By understanding the basic elements of essay writing and employing appropriate structures such as chronological, problem-methods-solutions, or compare and contrast, researchers can effectively organize their ideas and communicate their findings with clarity and precision. 

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Why the basic vocabulary in college essays?

<p>I’ve been reading college essay samples that were acclaimed by admissions as good or stellar essays. The thing is that all of them used exceptionally basic vocabulary. I understand that colleges don’t want to read essays where it sounds like I ate my thesaurus, but wouldn’t colleges also want to see evidence of strong literary ability? Although many of the essays I read were for schools like Stanford and Yale, the vocabulary displayed in them made them seem more like middle schoolers than soon-to-be college students. I’m confused. Why would such gifted students be writing with such a juvenile vocabulary? If I tuned in an essay to my AP Lit teacher with that weak of diction, I would receive a C or B. Also, is there benefit in seeming so immature? Many of these “acclaimed” essays were also written about immature themes, like how the applicant’s experience as a small child pretending to be a CIA agent shows their adventurous side, or their love of cross words keeps them up at night. I get that they want to be creative and individual, but most of what I read seemed unoriginal and clich</p>

<p>The essay US supposed to be in a conversational tone and the average person doesn’t use a particularly varied vocabulary in common speak.</p>

<p>Just write your essays in a style that feels comfortable to you . If that’s different than what you’ve read, that’s fine.</p>

<p>The evidence of your strong literary ability is in your test scores and GPA. The essay is to personalize you and tell your story. For you, if your world consists of people chatting to each other in SAT words, then that may be unique – at least in terms of what admissions officers think (I happen to agree). </p>

<p>It’s their opportunity to have a peek into your mind and “character” not have you preen your best knowledge</p>

<p>It is my question too but I might be able to answer your question.</p>

<p>How many students use “plethora” “juggernaut” in their daily life? A college applicant isn’t writing an essay to win noble prize for literature. It is used for corroborating the personal qualities which teacher recommendation, counselor recommendation letters reveal.</p>

<p>Many students fail write a great essay because they think they must impress the admission committee. there are many admission officers in a university. Who can say what they want to hear? just say what you want to say. It doesn’t matter if you use words from first grade. because the words you say from heart, won’t be nearly good as the words which are artificial and arcane to you.</p>

<p>Write the first draft in own voice. after that, you can always use synonyms to make sure that there is common words in every paragraph. It is as simple as that. and you can use a word to express a phrase. It is as simple as that.</p>

<p>I’m a high school senior. In some ways I think the college admissions essay is basically just an exercise in narcissism and we’d be better off without it. Reading someone’s over-edited half-ghostwritten essay doesn’t really help you get to know them as a person anyway, but I don’t know what alternative system we could use.</p>

<p>I don’t know where you get the idea that you have to use unnatural words to show literary ability. I would argue that you show your literary ability best when you use the simplest language possible to convey the idea you want. A big word is better than a small word only when it would convey more meaning, nuance, or beauty. If more “obscure” words come naturally to you in your speech, it’s more likely that they’d be okay to use because you’d know the connotations and you’d be using them correctly. (There are few true synonyms…every word has different connotations, and part of being fluent in a language is being aware of this.)</p>

<p>But if you find yourself looking up synonyms that “sound better” or something like that…stop. If you try to use words you don’t really know how to use, you’ll just end up sounding like an asshat. </p>

<p>Read the writing of an actual middle-school student and you’ll see the difference. Maturity is more about the way you put words together than the specific words you choose. </p>

<p>Example: In one of my essays, I was originally using the word “rivulets” until I decided to say “little rivers” instead. They mean pretty much the same thing, but “little rivers” sounds more natural and it creates more of a picture in my mind.</p>

<p>I agree that a lot of the “acclaimed” essays are pretty bad, but it’s not because of the diction. </p>

<p>More than I’d like, because “plethora” is trendy now for some reason. Please, for the love of God, don’t use it in your essays. (Same with myriad, cacophony, and arcane.)</p>

<p>I got an A on every single pretentious piece of trash I turned in to my AP Lit teacher, and it doesn’t mean a thing. High school teachers reward BS in ways that colleges won’t.</p>

<p>Out of curiosity, what would you consider to be a mature theme?</p>

<p>I guess it’s telling lies in order to make oneself look like a prodigy.</p>

<p>Hmmm… I can understand your pessimism Halcyon. May I share my experience? I’m a 1st generation chinese immigrant. Parents were restaurant workers. Never knew a single person who attended a “prestigious” school. Went to a magnet school of a large urban school district. Did well academically and rose to a top leadership/influence position in my predominantly black HS. Had been accepted in Oct by my public flagship school that was tossing $ at me – this school was and is a coveted destination for many. Some buddies suggested I look “out east” just to see if anything would interest me. A few Ivies got my attn and got my applications. I also applied to 3 other engineering schools, just to see if their FinAid offers could best the one I had already. </p>

<p>When it came time to write my essays for the Ivies, I had never been coached before, never read a “college essay” book, didn’t have in-class assignments to practice write an entrance essay. Never showed them to any teacher, any adult or any peer. None. Nada. Zip. </p>

<p>I looked at the 2 prompts which were the same for all the Ivies at the time. A few yrs ago, i ran across my old essays.</p>

<p>The first topic: “Share about an EC” I wrote about a day when I had gone to a ensemble competition. We failed miserably. Reading it, I could definitely tell it was a 17 yr old telling a story. In the end, I’d say it was “meh”. Not terrible but nothing of note, IMHO.</p>

<p>The 2nd topic was completely open. Write about anything. I chose to write about something very important to who I was at that time. I had betrayed the trust of my best friend by revealing his sexual orientation. I wrote about how I felt about it and my journey to make amends. that was all. Looking at it decades later, I honestly was extremely proud of my words on that paper. Of all the things, THIS was the most important thing that I wanted to say about myself. There were no flowery words, no grand revelations, no AHA moments to propel me forward. It was a 17 year old, making connections with his bias and his heart to change and grow.</p>

<p>And I didn’t give a darn if people who read it liked it or not. There was no narcissism then for me. I grant you that for some, this becomes another brick in the wall. I think essay readers are looking for the sincere ones. I know I would be.</p>

<p>Ideally, a student’s essay should show the depth and complexity of his or her thoughts with examples, stories, concepts or ideas. The flow and tone of the piece should be engaging and it should hold the reader’s interest. It matters far less whether the essayist’s vocabulary is at a college level than it does that the student demonstrates specific qualities for which the adcom is looking.</p>

<p>I’ve gotta comment-</p>

<p>Heather, if I were a college admissions officer I’d love a kid who could use both the words “halcyon” and “asshat” without skipping a beat! ;)</p>

<p>When I applied to college a friend wrote a peer recommendation for me and used the word “persons” twice. While it was technically used correctly it sounded stilted and called attention to the recommendation itself as a piece of writing instead of showcasing me as the stellar applicant I was (ahem, slight sarcasm alert here). When she changed it to “people” the letter flowed much better. </p>

<p>As Halcyonheather notes, the use of more complex vocabulary can add nuance to an essay, and if a word is used naturally (for instance, “censorious” in the OP’s post) it can add, not detract from the writer’s work, but if the words used are too esoteric or the writing verbose it can be off-putting. There’s nothing more painful to read than an essay in which the author has strung together a series of five syllable words simply for the sake of wishing to appear erudite.</p>

<p>T264E- I’d love to read that essay. I’d bet it was wonderful.</p>

<p>To the OP: there is a difference between the writing level of a middle-school student and the reading level of such a student. I’m guessing that most adolescents could appreciate and understand a well-written college essay, but very few could write that well.</p>

Oh, halcyonheather, if only you had been one of my students, I might never have given up teaching English!</p>

<p>(But I learned…shhh…teaching math is easier! It’s easier to prepare. It’s easier to write lesson plans. And even though it isn’t nearly as easy to grade as people think–no, it is not “just right or wrong”!–it beats the heck out of marking a whole stack of tenth-grade papers about Macbeth .)</p>

<p>This, for example, is a perfect use of the rather uncomplicated word asshat .</p>

<p>And now, I’m feeling a little sad to realize that I said these things for years, and virtually the only teen I’ve ever encountered who understands them was never even in my class! ;)</p>

<p>"How many students use “plethora” “juggernaut” in their daily life? "</p>

<p>All the ones that play Call of Duty Zombies ;)</p>

<p>Ovid may have said it best: little things please little minds. Language is a vehicle for communicating meaning, not an end in itself. If all you get from a piece of writing are a bunch of words and a childish plot, either there’s no meaning to be found or you simply missed it.</p>

<p>Wait, so we don’t have to use simple vocab? I just started my essays recently and found that I was going out of my way not to use words that I would normally write for an English/ Social Studies paper. If I can incorporate words naturally into my essay, then does it matter if they are sort of long? They aren’t words that any college reader would have to look up.</p>

<p>As I wrote that post I think my question was answered. I’ll try to err on the side of simplicity</p>

<p>This one seemed to me like a “mature theme,” as they say on late-night cable TV. Not that I’m recommending it…<br> <a href=“ http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1408615-mentioning-having-sex-college-supplement-short-answer-question.html?highlight=essay+sex[/url] ”> http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1408615-mentioning-having-sex-college-supplement-short-answer-question.html?highlight=essay+sex&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt ;

<p>^about the linked thread:</p>

<p>If there is a kid <18 in the admission room , then “oh my god, it’s 18+ essay.”</p>

<p>I think it makes a lot of sense that colleges can recognize those who are gifted writers vs. those who used a thesaurus to try and insert big words into sentences. Usually the result comes out clumsy and even when words have the same definition, they can’t always be used interchangeably as mentioned above.</p>

<p>Write your essay in your own style and toss the thesaurus in the trash.</p>

<p>An example would help. It might not be as natural as you think. </p>

<p>Just because no one has to look up the word doesn’t mean it’s necessarily okay to use. Be more conscious of your speech for a week or so…if at some point the word you want to use comes out of your mouth spontaneously and no one thinks it’s weird, it’s probably okay to use in your essay.</p>

<p>A good writer can convey their thoughts with simple words.</p>

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FACT SHEET: President   Biden Announces New Actions to Keep Families   Together

Since his first day in office, President Biden has called on Congress to secure our border and address our broken immigration system. As Congressional Republicans have continued to put partisan politics ahead of national security – twice voting against the toughest and fairest set of reforms in decades – the President and his Administration have taken actions to secure the border, including:

• Implementing executive actions to bar migrants who cross our Southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum when encounters are high;
• Deploying record numbers of law enforcement personnel, infrastructure, and technology to the Southern border;
• Seizing record amounts of fentanyl at our ports of entry;
• Revoking the visas of CEOs and government officials outside the U.S. who profit from migrants coming to the U.S. unlawfully; and
• Expanding efforts to dismantle human smuggling networks and prosecuting individuals who violate immigration laws.

President Biden believes that securing the border is essential. He also believes in expanding lawful pathways and keeping families together, and that immigrants who have been in the United States for decades, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, are part of the social fabric of our country. The Day One immigration reform plan that the President sent to Congress reflects both the need for a secure border and protections for the long-term undocumented. While Congress has failed to act on these reforms, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to strengthen our lawful immigration system. In addition to vigorously defending the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood arrivals) policy, the Administration has extended Affordable Care Act coverage to DACA recipients and streamlined, expanded, and instituted new reunification programs so that families can stay together while they complete the immigration process.  Still, there is more that we can do to bring peace of mind and stability to Americans living in mixed-status families as well as young people educated in this country, including Dreamers. That is why today, President Biden announced new actions for people who have been here many years to keep American families together and allow more young people to contribute to our economy.   Keeping American Families Together

• Today, President Biden is announcing that the Department of Homeland Security will take action to ensure that U.S. citizens with noncitizen spouses and children can keep their families together.
• This new process will help certain noncitizen spouses and children apply for lawful permanent residence – status that they are already eligible for – without leaving the country.
• These actions will promote family unity and strengthen our economy, providing a significant benefit to the country and helping U.S. citizens and their noncitizen family members stay together.
• In order to be eligible, noncitizens must – as of June 17, 2024 – have resided in the United States for 10 or more years and be legally married to a U.S. citizen, while satisfying all applicable legal requirements. On average, those who are eligible for this process have resided in the U.S. for 23 years.
• Those who are approved after DHS’s case-by-case assessment of their application will be afforded a three-year period to apply for permanent residency. They will be allowed to remain with their families in the United States and be eligible for work authorization for up to three years. This will apply to all married couples who are eligible.  
• This action will protect approximately half a million spouses of U.S. citizens, and approximately 50,000 noncitizen children under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen.

Easing the Visa Process for U.S. College Graduates, Including Dreamers

• President Obama and then-Vice President Biden established the DACA policy to allow young people who were brought here as children to come out of the shadows and contribute to our country in significant ways. Twelve years later, DACA recipients who started as high school and college students are now building successful careers and establishing families of their own.
• Today’s announcement will allow individuals, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers, who have earned a degree at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education in the United States, and who have received an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree, to more quickly receive work visas.
• Recognizing that it is in our national interest to ensure that individuals who are educated in the U.S. are able to use their skills and education to benefit our country, the Administration is taking action to facilitate the employment visa process for those who have graduated from college and have a high-skilled job offer, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers. 

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Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels on Social Media Platforms

Dr. Vivek Murthy said he would urge Congress to require a warning that social media use can harm teenagers’ mental health.

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By Ellen Barry and Cecilia Kang

The U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, announced on Monday that he would push for a warning label on social media platforms advising parents that using the platforms might damage adolescents’ mental health.

Warning labels — like those that appear on tobacco and alcohol products — are one of the most powerful tools available to the nation’s top health official, but Dr. Murthy cannot unilaterally require them; the action requires approval by Congress.

The proposal builds on several years of escalating warnings from the surgeon general. In a May 2023 advisory, he recommended that parents immediately set limits on phone use, and urged Congress to swiftly develop health and safety standards for technology platforms.

He also called on tech companies to make changes: to share internal data on the health impact of their products; to allow independent safety audits; and restrict features like push notifications, autoplay and infinite scroll, which he says “prey on developing brains and contribute to excessive use.”

In an interview, Dr. Murthy said he had been deeply frustrated by the platforms’ reluctance to do so.

“I don’t think we can solely rely on the hope that the platforms can fix this problem on their own,” he said. “They’ve had 20 years.”

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