Random Vocabulary Word Generator With Definitions and a Self-Test
Draw five study words, each with a meaning, two synonyms, an example sentence and a cover to test yourself.
Random Vocabulary Word Generator With Definitions and a Self-Test: how it works
This random vocabulary word generator draws from 500 study words: 190 nouns, 145 verbs, 145 adjectives and 20 adverbs. A chip on each card says how common the word is in books and scripts. For a self-test, open More options and press Hide all definitions.
What Common, Less common and Rare measure
Each word takes the better of its two ranks on Wiktionary's frequency lists for Project Gutenberg books (April 2006) and TV and film scripts (2006). Within 10,000 is Common (160 words), within 20,000 Less common (180), beyond or unlisted Rare (160). Quixotic, 20,213th in the books and absent from the scripts, misses Less common by 213 places.
Read the full guide
Two synonyms, and why they are not swaps
The Like line names two near-synonyms, 1,000 in all, each checked against the same part of speech: 597 share a meaning set with the word in Princeton WordNet 3.1, the rest stand in a Wiktionary entry. Near is the point: you mitigate a risk but ease a pain. Write one sentence where the synonym fits and one where only the drawn word does.
Tips
With the definitions hidden, the part of speech and band chips stay on each card as clues.
Verbs plus Rare, under More options, leaves 57 words such as obfuscate and jettison. Use each in your own sentence.
For a set weekly list, draw five and press Share: the link opens on those five words for everyone.
Questions and answers
Does this random vocab word generator follow a test or grade-level list?
No. No test maker's, publisher's or textbook's list was used, and the chips are not school grades. Common, Less common and Rare only count how often a spelling turns up in older books and in film and TV scripts.
Why is an old-fashioned word like thence marked Common?
The book list leans old. Project Gutenberg holds mostly public-domain books, which in 2006 meant books from before 1923. Thence ranks 2,393rd in them and is absent from the scripts. Of the 160 Common words, 144 earn the chip from the books alone.
How were the vocabulary words chosen?
By hand, then by script. Each word needed a Wiktionary entry, a WordNet listing and two synonyms that passed the check, so disingenuous and peripatetic fell out. No word repeats the adjective, verb, adverb, noun or funny word pages, so candid and meticulous are missing.
All 500 words
Nouns 190
abyss A hole or gap so deep it seems bottomless. Like: chasm, gulf. "The rope vanished into the abyss." accolade A sign of praise or special recognition. Like: award, honor. "The medal was a rare accolade." acumen Sharp, quick judgment. Like: shrewdness, keenness. "Her business acumen saved the shop." adage An old saying that people accept as true. Like: proverb, saw. "He quoted an old adage about haste." adversary Someone who fights or competes against you. Like: opponent, antagonist. "She shook hands with her adversary." affinity A natural liking for or pull toward something. Like: kinship, attraction. "He has an affinity for old maps." aficionado A keen, knowledgeable fan of something. Like: enthusiast, buff. "A jazz aficionado runs the shop." alacrity Cheerful speed and willingness. Like: briskness, eagerness. "He took the job with alacrity." allusion A brief, indirect mention of something. Like: reference, hint. "The title is an allusion to a myth." altruism Unselfish care for the good of others. Like: selflessness, philanthropy. "Pure altruism moved her to give." anomaly A thing that differs from the normal. Like: irregularity, exception. "A warm day in January is an anomaly." antidote A thing that counters a poison or a problem. Like: remedy, counterpoison. "Laughter is an antidote to gloom." antipathy A deep feeling of dislike. Like: aversion, distaste. "She felt antipathy toward gossip." apathy A lack of interest or feeling. Like: indifference, unconcern. "Voter apathy kept turnout low." aplomb Calm self-confidence under pressure. Like: poise, composure. "She handled the hecklers with aplomb." apprehension Worry that something bad may happen. Like: dread, misgiving. "She opened the letter with apprehension." archetype The original model that others follow. Like: original, model. "The wise old guide is a story archetype." ardor Warm, intense feeling or eagerness. Like: fervor, zeal. "He argued with youthful ardor." audacity Bold daring, sometimes to the point of rudeness. Like: boldness, nerve. "He had the audacity to ask twice." austerity A severe, no-frills way of living or spending. Like: strictness, plainness. "The monks lived in austerity." autonomy The right to govern or direct yourself. Like: liberty, self-direction. "Teens want more autonomy." avarice Extreme greed for money or wealth. Like: greed, cupidity. "Avarice cost the miser his friends." aversion A strong dislike that makes you avoid something. Like: distaste, antipathy. "He has an aversion to crowds." banter Light, playful teasing talk. Like: raillery, pleasantry. "The hosts traded banter."
Show all 500 words (476 more)
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Adverbs
Nouns, continued
behemoth Something huge and powerful. Like: giant, colossus. "The merger created a retail behemoth." boon Something helpful that comes at a good time. Like: blessing, benefit. "The rain was a boon to farmers." brevity Shortness in time or in words. Like: briefness, concision. "The speech won praise for its brevity." calamity An event that causes great harm or loss. Like: disaster, catastrophe. "The flood was a calamity for us all." camaraderie Warm trust among people in a group. Like: comradeship, chumminess. "The crew's camaraderie showed." candor Open honesty in what you say. Like: frankness, honesty. "I admire your candor." catalyst A thing that sets off or speeds change. Like: stimulus, accelerator. "The strike was a catalyst for reform." caveat A warning or limiting condition. Like: caution, proviso. "The offer came with one caveat." chagrin Annoyance mixed with embarrassment. Like: mortification, vexation. "To his chagrin, he lost to a beginner." charlatan A person who fakes skill or knowledge. Like: mountebank, swindler. "The healer was a charlatan." chasm A deep crack in the ground, or a wide gap. Like: gorge, abyss. "A rope bridge crossed the chasm." chicanery Clever deception, especially in law or politics. Like: trickery, guile. "Voters saw through the chicanery." clamor A loud, continued noise or outcry. Like: din, outcry. "A clamor rose from the crowd." clemency Mercy shown by someone with power to punish. Like: mercy, leniency. "The governor granted clemency." coercion Making someone act by force or threats. Like: compulsion, force. "He signed under coercion." complacency Smug ease that ignores danger. Like: self-satisfaction, complacence. "Complacency cost them the title." conjecture A guess made without full evidence. Like: guess, speculation. "That theory is pure conjecture." consternation Sudden alarm and confusion. Like: dismay, alarm. "The news caused consternation." conundrum A difficult problem or riddle. Like: puzzle, enigma. "Parking is a daily conundrum." cornucopia A rich, overflowing supply. Like: profusion, richness. "The market was a cornucopia of fruit." credence Trust that something is true. Like: acceptance, belief. "Few gave the rumor any credence." creed A set of beliefs that guides a person or group. Like: credo, doctrine. "Fair play was the team's creed." crux The central or deciding point. Like: core, heart. "The crux of the matter is cost." dearth A lack or short supply. Like: scarcity, shortage. "A dearth of rain ruined the crop." decorum Proper, polite behavior. Like: propriety, etiquette. "Keep some decorum in court." decree An official order that has the force of law. Like: edict, order. "The king issued a decree." deference Polite yielding to another's wishes. Like: respect, compliance. "He spoke with deference to the judge." deluge A great flood, or a flood of anything. Like: flood, torrent. "A deluge of mail followed." demeanor The way a person looks and behaves. Like: conduct, deportment. "His calm demeanor eased the room." demise The death or end of something. Like: death, end. "Cheap flights sped the demise of the ferry." derision Mocking laughter or scorn. Like: ridicule, mockery. "The idea met with derision." deterrent Something that discourages an act. Like: hindrance, impediment. "Bright lights are a deterrent to thieves." detriment Harm or damage. Like: harm, damage. "She worked late, to the detriment of her sleep." diatribe A long, bitter attack in words. Like: denunciation, fulmination. "His review was a diatribe." dichotomy A split into two opposed parts. Like: duality, division. "He rejects the dichotomy of art and science." discord Disagreement and conflict between people. Like: strife, dissension. "Money caused discord in the family." discrepancy A gap between things that should match. Like: inconsistency, variance. "The totals show a discrepancy." discretion Care in what you say or do. Like: prudence, circumspection. "Use discretion when you share news." disparity A great difference, often an unfair one. Like: difference, incongruity. "The pay disparity drew protests." dissent Open refusal to accept an official view. Like: objection, disagreement. "The ruling drew dissent." dissonance A clash of sounds or of ideas. Like: discord, disharmony. "The chord ended in dissonance." dogma A belief held as beyond question. Like: tenet, principle. "He questioned every dogma." duplicity Deliberate deceit in word or deed. Like: double-dealing, fraudulence. "The spy's duplicity fooled them all." edifice A large, impressive building. Like: building, structure. "The bank was a marble edifice." elation A feeling of great joy and pride. Like: glee, high spirits. "Elation swept the winning team." eloquence Fluent, persuasive speaking or writing. Like: fluency, smoothness. "Her eloquence won the debate." enigma A person or thing that is hard to understand. Like: mystery, riddle. "Her past is an enigma." enmity Deep, lasting hatred between people. Like: hostility, animosity. "Old enmity divided the clans." ennui Weary boredom. Like: boredom, tedium. "Ennui set in by the third week." epitome A perfect example of a quality or type. Like: exemplar, model. "He is the epitome of calm." epoch A long period of history marked by notable events. Like: era, age. "The moon landing opened a new epoch." equilibrium A state of balance between forces. Like: balance, stability. "The scales came to equilibrium." euphoria A rush of intense well-being. Like: joy, happiness. "Euphoria followed the final whistle." facade The front of a building, or a false front. Like: front, guise. "His cheer was only a facade." fallacy A mistaken belief or faulty argument. Like: false belief, deception. "His whole argument rests on a fallacy." fidelity Faithfulness to a person, cause or original. Like: loyalty, faithfulness. "The dog's fidelity never wavered." finesse Delicate skill in handling a situation. Like: delicacy, diplomacy. "She handled the row with finesse." foible A small, harmless flaw in character. Like: quirk, mannerism. "Lateness is his one foible." folly Foolish behavior or a foolish act. Like: foolishness, madness. "It was folly to sail in that storm." foresight The ability to plan for what may come. Like: prudence, prescience. "She had the foresight to pack a map." fortitude Courage shown through pain or hardship. Like: courage, grit. "He bore the loss with fortitude." fracas A noisy quarrel or fight. Like: altercation, brawl. "Police broke up the fracas." furor A wave of public anger or excitement. Like: uproar, commotion. "The ban caused a furor." gaffe An embarrassing public mistake. Like: blunder, slip. "The mayor's gaffe made the news." gambit An opening move made to gain an advantage. Like: ploy, stratagem. "Her opening gambit was a joke." gist The main point of something longer. Like: essence, core. "I got the gist of the talk." grievance A complaint about unfair treatment. Like: complaint, grudge. "Workers aired each grievance in turn." guile Sly cleverness used to trick. Like: cunning, craftiness. "He won by guile, not strength." hallmark A typical, distinguishing feature. Like: trademark, earmark. "Dry wit is the hallmark of her style." harbinger A sign that something is coming. Like: herald, forerunner. "Robins are a harbinger of spring." havoc Widespread damage or disorder. Like: mayhem, devastation. "The storm wreaked havoc on the coast." heresy A belief that goes against accepted teaching. Like: heterodoxy, unorthodoxy. "To them, doubt was heresy." hiatus A pause or break in something. Like: break, recess. "The show returns after a hiatus." hubris Excessive pride that invites a fall. Like: arrogance, presumption. "Hubris led the firm to ignore rivals." hyperbole Language that inflates things for effect. Like: exaggeration, overstatement. "That claim is pure hyperbole." hypocrisy Claiming beliefs you do not act on. Like: pretense, sham. "Voters punished the hypocrisy." iconoclast One who attacks cherished beliefs. Like: heretic, nonconformist. "The iconoclast mocked every tradition." impasse A point where no progress is possible. Like: deadlock, stalemate. "Talks reached an impasse." impetus A force that gets something moving. Like: impulse, stimulus. "The grant gave the project impetus." indignation Anger at something unfair. Like: outrage, anger. "The ruling stirred public indignation." ingenuity Cleverness at inventing or solving. Like: inventiveness, cleverness. "The fix showed real ingenuity." inkling A slight idea or suspicion. Like: hunch, glimmer. "I had no inkling of the plan." jargon Special words used by one trade or group. Like: lingo, argot. "The manual is full of legal jargon." jeopardy Danger of loss, harm or failure. Like: danger, peril. "The delay put the deal in jeopardy." juncture A particular, often critical, point in time. Like: moment, crossroads. "At this juncture we must decide." lethargy A heavy lack of energy. Like: sluggishness, lassitude. "Heat brought on a deep lethargy." linchpin The central part that holds all together. Like: keystone, mainstay. "She is the linchpin of the team." malady A disease or a deep-seated problem. Like: illness, ailment. "Doctors could not name the malady." malaise A vague feeling of being unwell or uneasy. Like: unease, angst. "A malaise hung over the office." malice The wish to harm others. Like: spite, malevolence. "He spoke without malice." maverick One who thinks and acts independently. Like: rebel, individualist. "The maverick voted against her party." maxim A short saying that states a rule of conduct. Like: saying, axiom. "Her maxim was to waste nothing." mirth Laughter and good cheer. Like: glee, merriment. "The room rang with mirth." misgiving A feeling of doubt or worry about a plan. Like: qualm, doubt. "I had one misgiving about the route." mogul A rich, powerful business person. Like: magnate, tycoon. "A media mogul bought the paper." moratorium An official pause in an activity. Like: suspension, hiatus. "The town set a moratorium on building." morsel A small piece, especially of food. Like: bite, bit. "The dog begged for a morsel." nadir The lowest point. Like: trough, low-water mark. "Morale hit its nadir that winter." nemesis A rival or force that brings your downfall. Like: bane, archenemy. "The champion finally met her nemesis." nuance A small, subtle difference. Like: subtlety, shade. "He caught every nuance of tone." oblivion The state of being completely forgotten. Like: limbo, nothingness. "The band faded into oblivion." omen A sign of good or bad things to come. Like: portent, sign. "Dark clouds seemed a bad omen." onslaught A fierce attack. Like: attack, onrush. "The wall held against the onslaught." onus The duty or responsibility for something. Like: burden, load. "The onus is on the seller." opulence Great wealth on rich display. Like: luxury, wealth. "The palace dazzled with opulence." ordeal A painful or difficult experience. Like: trial, tribulation. "The climb was a six-hour ordeal." panacea A cure for every ill. Like: cure-all, nostrum. "Money is no panacea." paradigm A shared way of thinking that shapes a field. Like: pattern, framework. "The discovery shifted the paradigm." pariah A person shunned by a group. Like: outcast, castaway. "The scandal made him a pariah." peccadillo A minor sin or slip. Like: indiscretion, fault. "Tardiness was his only peccadillo." penchant A strong liking for something. Like: taste, preference. "He has a penchant for loud ties." platitude A remark used so often it means little. Like: banality, truism. "He offered a platitude, not advice." plethora An amount far greater than needed. Like: glut, surfeit. "A plethora of apps do the same job." plight A bad or difficult situation. Like: predicament, quandary. "The film shows the plight of refugees." poise Calm, balanced self-control. Like: aplomb, composure. "She answered with poise." precedent An earlier case used as a guide for later ones. Like: example, case in point. "The ruling set a precedent." precipice A very steep cliff face. Like: cliff, brink. "Goats stood at the edge of the precipice." pretext A false reason given to hide the real one. Like: guise, pretense. "He left on the pretext of a headache." proclivity A natural leaning, often toward something bad. Like: propensity, penchant. "He has a proclivity for gossip." prowess Great skill or ability. Like: mastery, expertise. "Her chess prowess is well known." proximity Nearness in space or time. Like: nearness, closeness. "The shop's proximity to school helps." prudence Good sense in practical matters. Like: caution, discretion. "Prudence told him to save." pundit One who gives opinions as an authority. Like: expert, savant. "Each pundit predicted a different result." quagmire A bog, or a mess that is hard to escape. Like: mire, morass. "The lawsuit became a quagmire." qualm A feeling of doubt about whether an act is right. Like: misgiving, scruple. "She felt a qualm about the lie." quirk An odd habit or feature. Like: oddity, idiosyncrasy. "Humming is one quirk of his." ramification A consequence that branches from an act. Like: complication, consequence. "Delay was one ramification." rancor Bitter ill will that lasts. Like: bitterness, resentment. "They parted without rancor." rapport A relationship of easy trust. Like: accord, resonance. "The coach built rapport with the team." recluse A person who lives alone and avoids others. Like: hermit, solitary. "The author became a recluse." recourse A source of help in trouble. Like: resort, refuge. "Her only recourse was the court." remnant A small part left over. Like: remainder, leftover. "A remnant of cloth lay on the table." remorse Deep regret for a wrong you did. Like: compunction, regret. "He felt remorse for the lie." renown Wide fame and honor. Like: fame, celebrity. "Her pies won local renown." repercussion An indirect, often unwelcome result. Like: consequence, aftereffect. "No one foresaw that repercussion." respite A short rest from something hard. Like: break, reprieve. "Rain gave a respite from the heat." reverie A pleasant daydream. Like: daydream, musing. "The bell broke his reverie." rhetoric Showy language meant to impress or persuade. Like: empty talk, hot air. "The speech was long on rhetoric." scapegoat One blamed for the faults of others. Like: whipping boy, patsy. "The coach became the scapegoat." scrutiny Close and careful examination. Like: examination, inspection. "The budget is under scrutiny." semblance An outward look that may not match reality. Like: appearance, illusion. "The room had a semblance of order." sentinel A guard who keeps watch. Like: sentry, guard. "A sentinel stood at the gate." serendipity Finding good things by happy accident. Like: chance, luck. "Serendipity led her to the old letters." skirmish A short fight between small groups. Like: clash, scrap. "A skirmish broke out at the border." solace Comfort in a time of sadness. Like: comfort, consolation. "She found solace in music." solitude The state of being alone. Like: isolation, seclusion. "He wrote best in solitude." stalemate A position where neither side can win. Like: deadlock, standstill. "The vote ended in a stalemate." stigma A mark of shame attached to something. Like: stain, brand. "There is no stigma in asking for help." stopgap A temporary fix until something better comes. Like: makeshift, make-do. "Tape was a stopgap for the leak." strife Bitter conflict. Like: conflict, discord. "Years of strife wore the country down." stupor A dazed, barely conscious state. Like: daze, stupefaction. "He sat in a stupor after the news." sycophant One who flatters the powerful to gain favor. Like: toady, lackey. "The king kept a sycophant at each elbow." tact Skill at saying things without giving offense. Like: diplomacy, tactfulness. "She declined with tact." tenacity Refusal to give up. Like: persistence, doggedness. "Her tenacity wore down the board." tirade A long, angry speech. Like: diatribe, broadside. "The coach launched into a tirade." trepidation Nervous fear about what may happen. Like: apprehension, worry. "She knocked with trepidation." truce An agreement to stop fighting for a time. Like: ceasefire, armistice. "The armies called a truce." turmoil A state of great confusion and upset. Like: upheaval, tumult. "The news threw the office into turmoil." tyranny Cruel and unjust use of power. Like: despotism, dictatorship. "The people rose against tyranny." valor Great courage in the face of danger. Like: bravery, heroism. "A medal honored her valor." vestige A small trace of something that is gone. Like: trace, sign. "Not a vestige of the wall is left." vicinity The area around a place. Like: neighborhood, locality. "No shops are in the vicinity." windfall An unexpected piece of good fortune. Like: godsend, bonanza. "The refund was a windfall." wrath Intense anger. Like: anger, ire. "He fled his father's wrath." zeal Eager enthusiasm for a cause or goal. Like: ardor, fervor. "She took up the task with zeal." zenith The highest point, in the sky or in a career. Like: apex, pinnacle. "The empire was at its zenith."
Verbs 145
abate To become less strong. Like: diminish, ease. "The storm began to abate." abhor To hate deeply. Like: loathe, detest. "I abhor cruelty." abscond To leave secretly to avoid trouble. Like: flee, bolt. "The clerk tried to abscond with the cash." abstain To choose not to do something. Like: refrain, forbear. "I will abstain from voting." accentuate To make more noticeable. Like: stress, emphasize. "Dark frames accentuate her eyes." acclimate To get used to a new place or climate. Like: acclimatize, adjust. "Climbers pause to acclimate." acquiesce To accept without protest. Like: assent, yield. "He will acquiesce to the plan." admonish To warn or scold gently but firmly. Like: caution, reprove. "Coaches admonish players who loaf." adorn To make more beautiful with decoration. Like: decorate, embellish. "Flowers adorn the hall." allay To calm a fear or worry. Like: ease, soothe. "The vet tried to allay our fears." ameliorate To make a bad situation better. Like: improve, better. "New lights ameliorate the problem." appease To calm someone by giving what they demand. Like: pacify, placate. "A snack will appease the toddler." appraise To judge the value of. Like: evaluate, assess. "Experts appraise the painting." ascertain To find out for certain. Like: determine, discover. "Police must ascertain the cause." avert To stop something bad from happening. Like: forestall, deflect. "Quick thinking can avert a crash." banish To send away and forbid return. Like: ban, expel. "They banish all phones from the table." beguile To enchant, sometimes in order to trick. Like: charm, hoodwink. "Do not let ads beguile you." belittle To make someone or something seem small. Like: minimize, disparage. "Bullies belittle others to feel big." berate To scold angrily and at length. Like: rebuke, chide. "Do not berate the referee." beseech To beg earnestly. Like: entreat, implore. "I beseech you to stay." bestow To give as a gift or honor. Like: confer, impart. "The town will bestow a medal on her." bolster To prop up or strengthen. Like: reinforce, brace. "Facts bolster her case." burgeon To grow or spread quickly. Like: expand, blossom. "Startups burgeon near the campus." cajole To persuade with flattery or gentle urging. Like: coax, wheedle. "We can cajole him into singing." castigate To criticize or punish severely. Like: chastise, reprimand. "Editors castigate sloppy work." censure To criticize harshly and officially. Like: reprimand, rebuke. "The board voted to censure him." chastise To scold or punish severely. Like: castigate, chasten. "She will chastise the late arrivals." circumvent To find a way around a rule or obstacle. Like: evade, bypass. "Hackers circumvent weak locks." commend To praise formally. Like: laud, extol. "I commend you for your honesty." compile To put together from many sources. Like: collect, accumulate. "We compile the scores weekly." concoct To make up a mixture, plan or story. Like: contrive, brew. "They concoct a wild excuse." concur To share the same opinion. Like: agree, coincide. "I concur with the judge." condone To treat a wrong as acceptable. Like: excuse, overlook. "We do not condone cheating." confer To discuss together; also to grant. Like: consult, bestow. "The judges will confer before scoring." conflate To merge two things, often by mistake. Like: blend, merge. "Do not conflate price with value." corroborate To support with more evidence. Like: confirm, substantiate. "Two witnesses corroborate her story." culminate To reach a final or highest point. Like: climax, peak. "The tour will culminate in Rome." curtail To cut short or reduce. Like: restrict, shorten. "Rain may curtail the parade." debilitate To sap the strength of. Like: weaken, enfeeble. "Long illnesses debilitate the body." debunk To show that a belief is false. Like: expose, refute. "Tests debunk the myth." decry To speak out strongly against. Like: condemn, denounce. "Critics decry the new fee." delve To search deep into a subject. Like: dig, research. "Let us delve into the data." deplete To use up a supply. Like: exhaust, consume. "Droughts deplete the reservoir." deplore To disapprove of strongly. Like: condemn, lament. "We deplore the waste." devise To think up a plan or tool. Like: invent, contrive. "We must devise a better plan." digress To leave the main subject for a while. Like: stray, wander. "Forgive me if I digress." disparage To speak of as having little worth. Like: belittle, denigrate. "Do not disparage his effort." dispel To drive away a doubt or feeling. Like: disperse, dissipate. "Facts dispel rumors." disseminate To spread widely. Like: circulate, propagate. "Schools disseminate the guidance." divulge To make a secret known. Like: disclose, reveal. "I cannot divulge the winner." dwindle To become smaller little by little. Like: shrink, decrease. "Supplies dwindle by the day." elicit To draw out a response. Like: evoke, extract. "Jokes elicit groans." elude To slip away from, or to slip the mind. Like: evade, escape. "The name eludes me." embellish To add detail or decoration, true or not. Like: embroider, adorn. "Anglers embellish their stories." emulate To try to equal by imitating. Like: imitate, copy. "Young players emulate their heroes." equivocate To speak vaguely to avoid a plain answer. Like: prevaricate, evade. "Asked about cost, they equivocate." eradicate To wipe out completely. Like: eliminate, uproot. "The town set out to eradicate litter." erode To wear away slowly. Like: corrode, eat away. "Waves erode the cliff." exacerbate To make a bad thing worse. Like: worsen, aggravate. "Salt will exacerbate the sting." exasperate To annoy to the point of anger. Like: infuriate, irk. "Slow queues exasperate him." exonerate To clear of blame. Like: acquit, absolve. "New evidence may exonerate her." expedite To speed up a process. Like: hasten, accelerate. "Pay extra to expedite shipping." extol To praise with enthusiasm. Like: laud, exalt. "Guides extol the view." extrapolate To estimate the unknown from known facts. Like: infer, generalize. "We extrapolate from ten years of data." exude To give off slowly; to display strongly. Like: ooze, discharge. "Pines exude resin." fabricate To make up something false; to build. Like: invent, manufacture. "Do not fabricate quotes." falter To lose strength or hesitate. Like: waver, stumble. "Her voice began to falter." feign To put on a false show of. Like: pretend, simulate. "He tried to feign surprise at the party." fester To become infected, or to grow bitter over time. Like: rot, decay. "Old grudges fester." flaunt To display proudly so others notice. Like: show off, parade. "He likes to flaunt his new watch." flourish To grow or do very well. Like: thrive, prosper. "Ferns flourish in shade." foment To encourage trouble or unrest. Like: incite, instigate. "Agents foment unrest." forfeit To lose something as a penalty. Like: forgo, surrender. "Late teams forfeit the match." foster To help something grow or develop. Like: nurture, promote. "Good coaches foster trust." galvanize To shock into action. Like: electrify, animate. "The speech may galvanize voters." garner To collect or win over time. Like: earn, gather. "The film may garner awards." glean To gather bit by bit. Like: collect, extract. "I could glean little from the report." gloat To show smug joy at a win or at another's loss. Like: crow, triumph. "Winners should not gloat." heed To pay careful attention to. Like: mind, listen. "Heed the warning signs." hinder To make progress slow or difficult. Like: impede, hamper. "Mud will hinder the trucks." implore To ask urgently and with feeling. Like: beg, beseech. "I implore you to reconsider." incite To stir up action, often violent. Like: instigate, prod. "Rumors incite panic." induce To lead someone to act, or to bring about. Like: prompt, cause. "Nothing could induce him to sing." inundate To flood or overwhelm. Like: deluge, swamp. "Fans inundate the office with mail." jettison To throw away what is no longer wanted. Like: discard, dump. "The crew had to jettison cargo." languish To grow weak or be neglected. Like: fade, waste. "Bills languish in committee." laud To praise highly. Like: glorify, exalt. "Critics laud the film." meander To follow a winding path. Like: wind, wander. "Streams meander through the valley." mesmerize To hold someone's full attention. Like: spellbind, fascinate. "Fireflies mesmerize the children." mitigate To make less severe. Like: alleviate, ease. "Trees mitigate summer heat." mollify To calm someone who is angry. Like: soothe, appease. "A refund may mollify her." muster To gather or summon up. Like: rally, summon. "She tried to muster her courage." negate To cancel out or deny. Like: nullify, contradict. "One goal can negate a lead." nullify To cancel the force or effect of. Like: annul, invalidate. "One error can nullify the contract." obfuscate To make unclear on purpose. Like: confuse, obscure. "Long words obfuscate the point." ostracize To shut out from a group. Like: shun, cast out. "Cliques ostracize newcomers." perpetuate To keep something going for a long time. Like: continue, preserve. "Myths perpetuate fear." peruse To go through a text carefully. Like: read, examine. "Peruse the contract before signing." plunder To rob a place by force. Like: loot, sack. "Pirates plunder the coast." preclude To make impossible in advance. Like: prevent, rule out. "Rain does not preclude a picnic." proliferate To increase fast in number. Like: multiply, spread. "Weeds proliferate after rain." quell To put an end to, often by force. Like: subdue, suppress. "Tea may quell your nerves." rankle To cause lasting annoyance. Like: irritate, embitter. "The snub still rankles." ransack To search a place roughly, leaving a mess. Like: comb, pillage. "Raccoons ransack the bins." rebuke To scold sharply. Like: reprimand, reprove. "The judge will rebuke the lawyer." recoup To get back money lost or spent. Like: recover, recuperate. "We hope to recoup our costs." rectify To put right. Like: correct, remedy. "We will rectify the error today." refrain To hold yourself back from doing something. Like: abstain, desist. "Please refrain from talking." reiterate To say again for emphasis. Like: repeat, restate. "Let me reiterate the rules." rejuvenate To make fresh or young again. Like: restore, regenerate. "Naps rejuvenate me." relegate To move to a lower rank or place. Like: demote, banish. "They relegate old toys to the attic." relish To take great pleasure in. Like: enjoy, savor. "I relish a good argument." renounce To give up formally. Like: relinquish, repudiate. "He will renounce his claim." reproach To express disappointment in someone. Like: upbraid, rebuke. "Do not reproach yourself." rescind To cancel officially. Like: revoke, annul. "The board may rescind the offer." revamp To give a new and improved form. Like: overhaul, renovate. "We plan to revamp the menu." revere To respect deeply. Like: venerate, esteem. "Fans revere the old coach." ruminate To think something over slowly. Like: ponder, meditate. "I like to ruminate on long walks." salvage To recover something from wreck or ruin. Like: save, rescue. "Divers salvage the cargo." scoff To speak about with scorn. Like: jeer, sneer. "Do not scoff at small savings." shirk To dodge a duty. Like: avoid, evade. "He would never shirk a chore." shun To keep away from on purpose. Like: avoid, eschew. "He tends to shun crowds." squander To spend or use up foolishly. Like: waste, splurge. "Do not squander your lead." stifle To hold back; to choke off. Like: smother, repress. "She tried to stifle a yawn." stymie To block or puzzle. Like: block, thwart. "Red tape can stymie a project." subdue To bring under control. Like: conquer, overcome. "Guards subdue the intruder." substantiate To back up with proof. Like: confirm, corroborate. "Can you substantiate the claim?" succumb To lose the fight against a stronger force. Like: yield, give in. "Do not succumb to pressure." suppress To put down by force, or to hold back. Like: repress, quash. "She could not suppress a grin." surmise To guess from slight evidence. Like: suspect, conjecture. "I surmise that he forgot." tantalize To torment with something just out of reach. Like: tease, taunt. "Bakery smells tantalize commuters." teem To be full of moving things. Like: swarm, abound. "Tide pools teem with life." thwart To stop a plan from succeeding. Like: foil, frustrate. "Guards thwart the escape." trounce To defeat heavily. Like: rout, thrash. "The visitors trounce the home side." truncate To make shorter by cutting off the end. Like: shorten, cut short. "Editors truncate long quotes." underscore To draw attention to. Like: underline, emphasize. "The delays underscore the need for staff." usurp To take power or a position without right. Like: seize, take over. "Nobles plot to usurp the throne." vacillate To swing between choices. Like: fluctuate, oscillate. "Buyers vacillate between models." vanquish To win a total victory over. Like: defeat, crush. "Heroes vanquish the dragon." vilify To say cruel, damaging things about. Like: revile, denounce. "Rivals vilify each other in ads." vindicate To clear of blame or prove right. Like: justify, exonerate. "The results vindicate her method." wane To grow smaller or weaker. Like: decline, go down. "Interest began to wane." waver To be unsure or unsteady. Like: hesitate, vacillate. "Do not waver now." whittle To carve with a knife, or to cut down bit by bit. Like: pare, reduce. "We whittle the list to five." yearn To want something deeply. Like: long, hanker. "Sailors yearn for home."
Adjectives 145
abject Sunk to a very low, miserable state. Like: wretched, miserable. "They lived in abject poverty." acerbic Sharp and harsh in tone or taste. Like: acid, acrimonious. "Her acerbic column won few friends." adamant Refusing to change your mind. Like: unyielding, determined. "She was adamant that we leave early." adroit Quick and clever in action or thought. Like: deft, dexterous. "An adroit reply ended the quarrel." adverse Working against you; unfavorable. Like: contrary, hostile. "Adverse winds slowed the ship." aghast Filled with sudden horror. Like: appalled, dismayed. "She stood aghast at the mess." amenable Willing to accept a suggestion. Like: agreeable, compliant. "She was amenable to a later start." amiable Friendly and easy to like. Like: likable, good-humored. "An amiable guide led the tour." ancillary Giving support to a main activity. Like: auxiliary, accessory. "The hospital hired ancillary staff." arcane Known or understood by very few. Like: obscure, mysterious. "He studies the arcane rules of heraldry." arduous Needing great effort. Like: strenuous, hard. "It was an arduous climb." auspicious Suggesting future success. Like: promising, favorable. "It was an auspicious start." avid Very eager and keen. Like: keen, eager. "She is an avid birdwatcher." avuncular Kind and friendly, like an uncle. Like: kind, genial. "The avuncular coach knew every name." banal So ordinary that it bores. Like: commonplace, mundane. "The speech was full of banal remarks." bellicose Eager to fight or argue. Like: combative, belligerent. "His bellicose tone alarmed the room." benign Gentle and doing no harm. Like: kind, mild. "The old dog had a benign face." bleak Bare, cold and without hope. Like: stark, dismal. "The moor looked bleak in winter." boisterous Noisy, lively and rough. Like: rambunctious, unruly. "A boisterous crowd filled the hall." brazen Bold and without shame. Like: audacious, barefaced. "It was a brazen lie." brusque Short and rude in speech or manner. Like: curt, abrupt. "His brusque reply stung." bucolic Of pleasant country life. Like: pastoral, rustic. "The inn has a bucolic view of farms." caustic Bitterly sarcastic; also able to burn. Like: biting, bitter. "His caustic wit made enemies." cogent Clear, logical and convincing. Like: convincing, weighty. "She made a cogent case for the change." congenial Pleasant and well suited to you. Like: friendly, sociable. "She found the office congenial." contrite Sorry for a wrong you have done. Like: remorseful, apologetic. "The contrite boy mended the fence." convoluted Too twisting and complex to follow easily. Like: tangled, intricate. "The plot was convoluted." cordial Warm and polite. Like: genial, affable. "We got a cordial welcome." covert Not openly shown or done. Like: secret, concealed. "It was a covert mission." cumbersome Heavy or awkward to carry or use. Like: awkward, unwieldy. "The old camera was cumbersome." decrepit Worn out by age or long use. Like: run-down, rickety. "A decrepit barn leaned in the field." desolate Empty, bare and lonely. Like: barren, forsaken. "The desolate island had no trees." destitute Without money or the basics of life. Like: impoverished, needy. "The fire left them destitute." diffident Shy from a lack of self-confidence. Like: shy, timid. "The diffident boy spoke softly." dire Extremely serious or urgent. Like: desperate, acute. "The town is in dire need of rain." dispassionate Not swayed by feeling or bias. Like: impartial, unemotional. "A judge must stay dispassionate." docile Easy to teach, lead or control. Like: meek, manageable. "The docile horse suited beginners." draconian Extremely harsh and severe. Like: severe, harsh. "The school dropped its draconian rules." ebullient Bubbling with enthusiasm. Like: exuberant, high-spirited. "The ebullient host hugged every guest." egregious Shockingly bad. Like: flagrant, glaring. "The report had an egregious error." eminent Famous and respected in a field. Like: distinguished, prominent. "An eminent surgeon led the team." endemic Native to, or regularly found in, one place. Like: native, indigenous. "The bird is endemic to the island." erudite Having deep knowledge from study. Like: learned, scholarly. "An erudite guide led the tour." esoteric Understood by only a few with special knowledge. Like: arcane, abstruse. "The talk was too esoteric for us." extraneous Not belonging or not needed. Like: superfluous, immaterial. "Cut the extraneous details." facetious Joking when you should be serious. Like: flippant, tongue-in-cheek. "Her facetious answer annoyed the coach." fastidious Very careful about small details. Like: exacting, meticulous. "He is fastidious about his desk." feckless Weak, careless and ineffective. Like: inept, ineffectual. "The feckless manager lost the files." feral Wild, especially after escaping from captivity. Like: savage, untamed. "Feral cats roam the docks." forlorn Sad and abandoned. Like: lonesome, forsaken. "A forlorn puppy sat in the rain." fortuitous Happening by chance, often a lucky one. Like: accidental, fortunate. "A fortuitous meeting led to the job." fractious Irritable and hard to control. Like: peevish, unruly. "The fractious toddler refused a nap." gallant Brave and courteous. Like: chivalrous, valiant. "A gallant knight led the charge." garrulous Talking too much, often about little. Like: talkative, chatty. "A garrulous neighbor kept us at the gate." germane Closely related to the subject. Like: pertinent, apt. "That point is not germane to the case." glib Smooth in speech but shallow. Like: slick, facile. "The glib answer fooled no one." gratuitous Done without good reason. Like: needless, unjustified. "The film cut its gratuitous chase scene." hackneyed Used so often it has lost its force. Like: trite, banal. "The plot rests on a hackneyed twist." haggard Looking worn out from worry or lost sleep. Like: careworn, drawn. "He looked haggard after the night shift." hapless Having no luck. Like: unfortunate, unlucky. "The hapless goalkeeper slipped twice." idiosyncratic Peculiar to one person. Like: peculiar, eccentric. "Her idiosyncratic filing system baffled us." illustrious Famous and much admired. Like: celebrated, famed. "She had an illustrious career." imperious Proud and commanding. Like: domineering, overbearing. "He gave an imperious wave." impertinent Rude in a bold, disrespectful way. Like: impudent, insolent. "That was an impertinent question." impetuous Acting fast without thinking. Like: impulsive, rash. "An impetuous buyer regrets it later." inadvertent Not done on purpose. Like: accidental, unintended. "An inadvertent click deleted the file." inchoate Just begun and not yet fully formed. Like: incipient, embryonic. "Her inchoate idea became a book." indolent Avoiding work or effort by habit. Like: lazy, slothful. "An indolent cat slept all day." infallible Never wrong or failing. Like: faultless, perfect. "He thought his memory was infallible." inherent Existing as a natural part of something. Like: built-in, ingrained. "Risk is inherent in sport." innate Present from birth. Like: inborn, natural. "She has an innate sense of rhythm." innocuous Not harmful or offensive. Like: harmless, inoffensive. "It was an innocuous remark." insipid Lacking flavor or interest. Like: bland, flavorless. "The soup was insipid." insouciant Cheerfully unworried. Like: carefree, nonchalant. "She gave an insouciant wave and left." intransigent Refusing to compromise. Like: stubborn, adamant. "Both sides stayed intransigent." irascible Easily made angry. Like: hot-tempered, cranky. "The irascible cook threw a spoon." irrevocable Impossible to take back or undo. Like: irreversible, final. "The decision is irrevocable." lackluster Dull and without energy or shine. Like: dull, lusterless. "The team gave a lackluster performance." lavish Rich, generous and costly. Like: profuse, extravagant. "They threw a lavish party." ludicrous So silly it is laughable. Like: ridiculous, absurd. "The price was ludicrous." macabre Gruesome and concerned with death. Like: ghastly, grisly. "The museum has a macabre plague exhibit." malleable Easy to shape or to influence. Like: pliable, ductile. "Gold is a malleable metal." mellifluous Sweet and smooth to hear. Like: dulcet, honeyed. "Her mellifluous voice filled the hall." mendacious Given to lying; untrue. Like: untruthful, dishonest. "The mendacious ad promised instant riches." mercurial Changing mood quickly and often. Like: fickle, erratic. "The mercurial coach cheered, then scowled." myopic Nearsighted; lacking foresight. Like: shortsighted, nearsighted. "Cutting research was a myopic choice." nebulous Vague and without clear form. Like: hazy, vague. "The plan is still nebulous." nefarious Wicked or criminal. Like: villainous, wicked. "The villain hatched a nefarious plot." nonchalant Calm and seeming not to care. Like: casual, unconcerned. "He gave a nonchalant shrug." obsequious Too eager to please or obey. Like: fawning, servile. "An obsequious waiter hovered nearby." obtuse Slow to understand. Like: dense, slow. "He was too obtuse to take the hint." ostentatious Meant to impress or attract notice. Like: pretentious, showy. "He wore an ostentatious gold watch." overt Done in the open, not hidden. Like: open, unconcealed. "There was no overt sign of anger." overwrought Far too upset or excited. Like: distraught, agitated. "The overwrought fans wept at the gate." pallid Pale, often from illness. Like: wan, ashen. "His face was pallid with fear." paltry Very small or worthless. Like: trifling, measly. "He left a paltry tip." pedantic Too concerned with small rules and details. Like: fussy, nit-picky. "A pedantic note corrected one comma." pensive Deep in serious thought. Like: brooding, meditative. "She fell into a pensive mood." perfunctory Done quickly as a duty, without care. Like: cursory, mechanical. "He gave a perfunctory nod." pernicious Harmful in a slow, hidden way. Like: insidious, deadly. "Gossip has a pernicious effect." pious Deeply religious. Like: devout, reverent. "Her pious aunt prays each dawn." pithy Short and full of meaning. Like: succinct, concise. "Her pithy speech took one minute." placid Calm and not easily upset. Like: tranquil, serene. "The lake was placid at dawn." plaintive Sounding sad. Like: mournful, sorrowful. "The owl gave a plaintive cry." poignant Causing a sharp feeling of sadness. Like: touching, moving. "The film ends on a poignant note." ponderous Slow and clumsy because of great weight. Like: heavy, lumbering. "The ox had a ponderous walk." potent Able to produce a big effect. Like: powerful, strong. "Garlic has a potent smell." pristine In perfect, original condition. Like: unspoiled, immaculate. "Snow lay pristine on the field." prodigious Amazingly large or great. Like: colossal, enormous. "He has a prodigious memory." prosaic Ordinary and lacking imagination. Like: humdrum, pedestrian. "He had a prosaic job counting boxes." quixotic Nobly idealistic but not practical. Like: idealistic, romantic. "He made a quixotic bid to save the mill." quotidian Happening every day; ordinary. Like: everyday, routine. "He wrote about quotidian chores." resplendent Shining and splendid to look at. Like: splendid, dazzling. "The hall was resplendent with flags." sacrosanct Too important to be changed or questioned. Like: inviolable, sacred. "Sunday lunch was sacrosanct at home." salient Standing out as most important. Like: prominent, striking. "List the salient points first." sanguine Cheerfully hopeful. Like: optimistic, buoyant. "She is sanguine about the vote." sardonic Mocking in a grim or scornful way. Like: sarcastic, sneering. "She gave a sardonic smile." scant Barely enough. Like: meager, sparse. "He paid scant attention." scathing Harshly critical. Like: searing, vitriolic. "The critic wrote a scathing review." shrewd Clever in practical matters. Like: astute, sharp. "A shrewd buyer waits for sales." skittish Easily scared or startled. Like: nervous, jumpy. "The skittish colt shied at a bag." slovenly Untidy and careless. Like: unkempt, sloppy. "His slovenly desk hid the phone." solemn Serious and formal. Like: grave, earnest. "The hall fell into solemn silence." spurious Not genuine, though it seems so. Like: fake, bogus. "The site made spurious claims." staid Serious, settled and a little dull. Like: sedate, steady. "He wore a staid gray suit." stalwart Strong and steady in support. Like: loyal, dependable. "She is a stalwart friend of the library." stately Grand in size or manner. Like: imposing, noble. "A stately oak shades the lawn." sumptuous Rich and costly. Like: luxurious, opulent. "The hotel served a sumptuous breakfast." surreptitious Done in secret to avoid notice. Like: clandestine, furtive. "She took a surreptitious photo." tacit Understood without being said. Like: implied, understood. "They had a tacit agreement not to ask." taciturn Saying very little by nature. Like: reticent, untalkative. "The taciturn farmer nodded hello." tangential Only slightly connected to the topic. Like: digressive, incidental. "Skip the tangential details." tenuous Very weak or slight. Like: flimsy, slight. "The link between the two cases is tenuous." terse Using very few words, sometimes rudely so. Like: laconic, crisp. "His terse text said only no." uncouth Rough and lacking manners. Like: coarse, crude. "His uncouth jokes fell flat." unflappable Staying calm in a crisis. Like: imperturbable, collected. "The unflappable pilot landed in fog." unsung Not praised though deserving it. Like: unappreciated, unhonored. "Stagehands are a play's unsung heroes." vacuous Showing no thought or intelligence. Like: empty, mindless. "He wore a vacuous grin." vehement Expressed with great force of feeling. Like: fierce, passionate. "She made a vehement protest." venerable Respected because of age or character. Like: august, revered. "A venerable professor gave the toast." visceral Felt deep in the body, not reasoned. Like: intuitive, nonrational. "She had a visceral dislike of snakes." vociferous Loud and forceful in voicing opinions. Like: noisy, clamorous. "Vociferous fans booed the call." wary Watchful for danger or tricks. Like: cautious, guarded. "Be wary of offers by phone." wily Clever at getting your way by tricks. Like: crafty, cunning. "The wily fox slipped the trap." wistful Thinking sadly of something you miss. Like: pensive, longing. "He gave the old house a wistful look."
Adverbs 20
amiss In a wrong or faulty way. Like: awry, wrongly. "Something has gone amiss with the order." askance With a look of doubt or disapproval. Like: skeptically, suspiciously. "The cat looked askance at the puppy." blithely In a carefree way that ignores any risk. Like: carelessly, indifferently. "He blithely ignored the warning." concisely In few words. Like: briefly, summarily. "State your point concisely." doggedly With stubborn persistence. Like: tenaciously, stubbornly. "She doggedly chased every lead." duly In the proper way or at the proper time. Like: suitably, properly. "The form was duly signed." emphatically With force and no room for doubt. Like: decidedly, definitely. "He emphatically refused the offer." erratically In an uneven, unpredictable way. Like: unpredictably, unsteadily. "The old clock ran erratically." haphazardly In a random, unplanned way. Like: randomly, arbitrarily. "Books were stacked haphazardly." hereafter From this time on. Like: henceforth, henceforward. "Hereafter, the gate stays locked at night." inexorably In a way that cannot be stopped. Like: relentlessly, unrelentingly. "The tide rose inexorably." nigh Almost; close to. Like: nearly, almost. "The task was nigh impossible." ostensibly As it appears or is claimed, but maybe not truly. Like: apparently, seemingly. "He came ostensibly to help." profusely In large amounts. Like: abundantly, copiously. "She thanked us profusely." scrupulously With great care to be exact or honest. Like: conscientiously, carefully. "She scrupulously logged each cent." sparingly In small amounts. Like: sparsely, meagerly. "Use salt sparingly." steadfastly Firmly and without wavering. Like: firmly, resolutely. "He steadfastly refused to sell the farm." sullenly In a gloomy, silent, resentful way. Like: glumly, dourly. "He sullenly kicked at the gravel." thence From that place. Like: therefrom, hence. "We drove to the coast and thence home." unequivocally In a way that leaves no doubt. Like: unambiguously, expressly. "She unequivocally denied the rumor."
How this list was compiled: Chosen, defined and given an example sentence for this site; every meaning and example is our own wording, in American spelling. All checks ran by script on 2026-09-19. Part of speech: each of the 500 words has an English entry on Wiktionary with the part of speech on its card as a heading (read through https://en.wiktionary.org/w/api.php ) and is listed under that part of speech in Princeton WordNet 3.1 (https://wordnet.princeton.edu/ ). Synonyms: each of the 1,000 synonyms was checked against the same part of speech. 597 share a WordNet 3.1 synset with the word. 393 stand in the word's own Wiktionary entry, in a definition line, a synonym line or the Synonyms section. For the other 10 the check ran the other way round: the word stands in the synonym's Wiktionary entry. A synonym that passed none of the three was replaced. Common, Less common and Rare come from two frequency lists kept on Wiktionary, fetched 2026-09-19 through the same API: Project Gutenberg, April 2006 (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Frequency_lists/English/Project_Gutenberg , ranks 1 to 36,663) and TV and film scripts, 2006 (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Frequency_lists/English/TV_and_Movie_Scripts_(2006 ), ranks 1 to 41,284). A word takes the better of its two ranks: up to 10,000 is Common, up to 20,000 is Less common, and beyond that or on neither list is Rare. 17 words are on neither list. The Gutenberg texts are mostly books published before 1923, so old-fashioned words such as zeal, alacrity and thence rank Common. The ranks are of spelled forms, not of word families. No test maker's, publisher's or textbook's word list was used. A word for which two synonyms could not be verified was left out. Licence: own work