GMAT Verbal – Vocabulary List (Page 3 of 4)
– Unlike for the GRE or the SAT Exam, you do not really need to cram the dictionary for the GMAT Verbal section. However, it is useful to get familiar with the list of words that usually appears in the GMAT Verbal section. GMAT Winners usually know more than 90% of these words.
(n.) one who smashes revered images; an attacker of cherished beliefs
Nietzche’s attacks on government, religion, and custom made him an iconoclast of grand dimension.
The iconoclast spoke against the traditions of the holiday.
ideology
(n.) speculation; representative way of thinking
His ideology proved to be faulty.
The ideology of business can be found in the new book.
He joined the religious group because he agreed with their ideology.
idiosyncrasy
(n.) any personal peculiarity, mannerism
Her tendency to bite her lip is an idiosyncrasy.
idyll
(n.) a written piece of work describing a peaceful rural scene
Reading the idyll made me think of the family farm.
igneous
(adj.) having the nature of fire; volcanic
When the sun shone upon it, the material took on an igneous quality.
ignoble
(adj.) ordinary; dishonorable;
The king was adamant about keeping his son from wedding an ignoble serf.
Consciously lying to someone is ignoble.
It was ignoble to disgrace the family in front of all of the townspeople.
ignominious
(adj.) contemptible; disgraced; degrading
The behavior was so ignominious he was ashamed to be associated with it.
She left him because of his ignominious treatment of her.
illuminate
(v.) make understandable
I asked a classmate to illuminate the professor’s far-ranging lecture for me.
illusive
(adj.) deceiving, misleading
It was as illusive as a mirage.
illusory
(adj.) unreal; false; deceptive
He was proven guilty when his alibi was found to be illusory.
imbue
(v.) to soak or stain; permeate
The wound will imbue the shirt in blood.
The new day imbued him with a sense of optimism.
immaculate
(adj.) perfectly clean; correct; pure
An immaculate house is free of dust or clutter.
imminent
(adj.) likely to happen without delay
The storm clouds warned of the imminent downpour.
immune
(adj.) exempt from or protected against something
Doesn’t everybody wish to be immune from the common cold?
immutable
(adj.) unchangeable; permanent
The ties that bind alumni to their university are immutable . The man’s immutable schedule soon became boring.
impale
(v.) pierce through with, or stick on; something pointed
The knight was impaled by the sharp lance.
impartial
(adj.) unbiased; fair
Exasperated by charges to the contrary, the judge reiterated that he had bent over backwards to be impartial in a case that crackled with emotion.
impasse
(n.) a situation that has no solution or escape
The workers and administration were at an impasse in their negotiations.
impassive
(adj.) showing no emotion
Even when his father died he gave an impassive response and walked out tearless.
Her expected announcement was met by an impassive facial expression.
impecunious
(adj.) poor; having no money
The Great Depression made family after family impecunious.
impede
(v.) to stop the progress of; obstruct
The rain impeded the work on the building.
impenitent
(adj.) without regret, shame, or remorse
It was obvious after his impenitent remark to the press that the defendant felt no remorse for his crime.
imperious
(adj.) arrogant; urgent
Her imperious manner cost her her two best friends.
It was imperious that the message reach the police chief.
imperturbable
(adj.) calm; not easily excited
The imperturbable West Point graduate made a fine negotiator.
impervious
(adj.) impenetrable; not allowing anything to pass through; unaffected
The vest that the policeman wears is impervious to bullets.The child was impervious to the actions of the adult.
impetuous
(adj.) moving with great force; done with little thought
The impetuous movement took the art community by storm.The impetuous teenager spent her money without considering what she needed the new purchase for.
Dagmar came to regret his impetuous actions, once he realized what he’d done.
The pirate’s men boarded the ship with impetuous matter-of-factness.
impiety
(n.) irreverence toward God; lack of respect
The bishop condemned the impiety of the celebrity’s assertions. Impiety is evident in the way many people commit rude actions.
implacable
(adj.) unwilling to be pacified or appeased
The baby was so implacable a warm bottle would not settle her.The two year old was an implacable child; he cried no matter what his parents did to comfort him.
implement
(v.; n.) to carry into effect; something used in a given activity
In case of emergency implement the evacuation plan immediately.The rack is an implement of torture.
implication
(n.) suggestion; inference
An implication was made that there might be trickery involved.
implicit
(adj.) understood but not plainly stated; without doubt
The child’s anger was implicit.
Implicit trust must be earned.
impolitic
(adj.) unwise; imprudent
If you are planning to invest your money, impolitic decisions may be costly.
imprecate
(v.) to pray for evil; to invoke a curse
A witch may imprecate an enemy with a curse of bad luck.
impromptu
(adj.) without preparation
Her impromptu speech was well-received, giving her new confidence in her ability to speak off the cuff.
improvident
(adj.) not providing for the future
An improvident person may end up destitute in latter life.
impudent
(adj.) disrespectful and shameless
Impudent actions caused him to be unpopular.
impugn
(v.) to attack with words; to question the truthfulness or integrity
The defense lawyer impugned the witness’s testimony, which set back the prosecution’s case.
If I believe the man is a fraud I will impugn his comments.
imputation
(n.) to charge, to attribute a fault or misconduct to another
The imputation of guilt was made by the judge.
inadvertent
(adj.) not on purpose; unintentional
It was an inadvertent error, to be sure, but nonetheless a mistake that required correction.
inanimate
(adj.) to be dull or spiritless; not animated, not endowed with life
The boy nagged his father for a real puppy, not some inanimate stuffed animal.
inarticulate
(adj.) speechless; unable to speak clearly
He was so inarticulate that he had trouble making himself understood.
inaudible
(adj.) not able to be heard
The signals were inaudible when the fans began to cheer.
incessant
(adj.) constant and unending
The mother gave in to the child after her incessant crying.
Incessant rain caused the river to flood over its banks.
inchoate
(adj.) not yet fully formed; rudimentary
The inchoate building appeared as if it would be a fast-food restaurant.The outline of the thesis was the inchoate form of a very complex theory.
incidental
(adj.) extraneous; unexpected
The defense lawyer argued that the whereabouts of the defendant’s sneakers were only incidental to the commission of the crime.
incisive
(adj.) getting to the heart of things; to the point His incisive questioning helped settle the matter quickly.
inclined
(adj.) apt to; likely; angled
The man’s ear for music indicated he was inclined toward learning an instrument.
The hillside was inclined just enough to make for a fairly serious climb.
incognito
(adj.) unidentified; disguised; concealed
The federal Witness Protection Program makes its charges permanently incognito.
incoherent
(adj.) illogical; rambling; disjointed
Following the accident, the woman went into shock and became incoherent as medics struggled to understand her.
incommodious
(adj.) inconvenient
The incommodious illness caused her to miss an important interview.
incompatible
(adj.) disagreeing; disharmonious not compatible
Being incompatible with each other, children were assigned to sit on opposite sides of the room.
incompetence
(n.) failing to meet necessary requirements
The alleged incompetence of the construction crew would later become the subject of a class-action suit.
inconclusive
(adj.) not final or of a definite result
The results being inconclusive, the doctors continued to look for a cause of the illness.
incorporeal
(adj.) not consisting of matter
The apparition appeared to be incorporeal.
incorrigible
(adj.) not capable of correction or improvement The mischievous boy was an incorrigible practical joker.
incredulous
(adj.) skeptical
The incredulous look on his face led me to believe he was not convinced of its importance.
The reporter was incredulous on hearing the computer executive’s UFO account.
inculcate
(v.) to impress upon the mind, as by insistent urging
I will inculcate the directions if people are unsure of them.
incursion
(n.) an entry into, especially when not desired
The incursion by enemy forces left the country shocked.
indecipherable
(adj.) illegible
The scribbling on the paper is indecipherable.
indelible
(adj.) that which cannot be blotted out or erased
The photograph of Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon made an indelible impression on all who saw it.
indemnify
(v.) to insure against or pay for loss or damage
It is important to indemnify your valuables with a reliable insurance company.
indict
(v.) charge with a crime
The grand jury indicted her and her husband for embezzlement and six other lesser counts.
indifferent
(adj.) unconcerned
There he lay, indifferent to all the excitement around him.
indigence
(n.) the condition of being poor
The family’s indigence was evident by the run-down house they lived in.
indigenous
(adj.) native to a region; inborn or innate
These plants are indigenous to all of the western states.
Piranha are indigenous to the tropics.
indignant
(adj.) expressing anger to an injustice
He was indignant over the way he was treated.
indolent
(adj.) lazy; inactive
If we find him goofing off one more time, we won’t be able to escape the fact that he’s indolent.
An indolent student slept all day.
indomitable
(adj.) not easily discouraged or defeated
The underdog candidate had an indomitable spirit.
indubitably
(adj.) unquestionably; surely
The officer was best indubitably the candidate for captain.
indulgent
(adj.) lenient; patient; permissive
He has indulgent tendencies to eat chocolate when he is happy.
ineluctable
(adj.) something inevitable
They were prepared for the ineluctable disaster.
inept
(adj.) incompetent; clumsy
She would rather update the budget book herself, since her assistant is so inept.
inert
(adj.) not reacting chemically; inactive
Inert gases like krypton and argon can enhance window insulation.
inevitable
(adj.) sure to happen; unavoidable
A confrontation between the disagreeing neighbors seemed inevitable.
infamous
(adj.) having a bad reputation; notorious
After producing machines that developed many problems, the production company became infamous for poor manufacturing. The infamous gang was known for robbery.
infamy
(n.) a bad reputation
The town had only 98 residents, so all it took was one bad apple to bring infamy on the whole place.
infer
(v.) form an opinion; conclude
From the broad outline he supplied it was easy to infer that the applicant knew a great deal about trains.
ingenious
(adj.) clever, resourceful
His ingenious idea made it possible to double production at no extra cost.
ingenue
(n.) an unworldly young woman
As an ingenue, Corky had no experience outside of her small town.
ingenuous
(adj.) noble; honorable; candid; also naive, simple, artless, without guile
The ingenuous doctor had a great bedside manner, especially when it came to laying out the full implications of an illness.
ingratiate
(v.) to bring into one’s good graces
The man was hoping to ingratiate himself with his wife by buying a bouquet of flowers and candy.
ingratitude
(n.) ungratefulness
When she failed to send a thank-you card, her friend took it as a sign of ingratitude .
inherent
(adj.) part of the essential character; intrinsic
A constant smile is inherent in pageant competitors. The inherent desire to do well is present throughout the family.
inimical
(adj.) hostile, unfriendly
The chess player directed an inimical stare at his opponent to knock him off his game.
iniquitous
(adj.) wicked; unjust
The verbal abuse towards the man was truly iniquitous.
initiate
(v.; n.) begin; admit into a group; a person who is in the process of being admitted into a group
He initiated the dinner discussion by asking his father to borrow the car. As an initiate to the Explorers, George was expected to have a taste for the outdoor life.
innate
(adj.) natural; inborn
Her talent is wondrous: it hardly matters whether it’s innate or acquired.
A lion’s hunting skills are innate.
innocuous
(adj.) harmless; dull; innocent
The remark was rude but innocuous.
He couldn’t bear to sit through another innocuous lecture. The teens engaged in an innocuous game of touch football.
innovate
(v.) introduce a change; depart from the old
She innovated a new product for the home construction market.
innuendo
(n.) an indirect remark; insinuation
The student made an innuendo referring to the professor.The office was rife with innuendo that a takeover was in the works.
inquisitive
(adj.) eager to ask questions in order to learn
An inquisitive youngster is likely to become a wise adult.
insinuate
(v.) to work into gradually and indirectly
He will insinuate his need for a vacation by saying how tired he has been lately.
insipid
(adj.) uninteresting, boring flat, dull
Many people left the insipid movie before it was finished. Declaring the offerings insipid, the critic grudgingly awarded the restaurant one star.
insolvent
(adj.) unable to pay debts
The insolvent state of his bank account kept him from writing any checks.
instigate
(v.) start; provoke
It was uncertain to the police as to which party instigated the riot.
insubordinate
(adj.) disobedient to authority
The boy’s insubordinate behavior was a constant source of tension between the school and his parents.
insular
(adj.) having the characteristics of an island; narrow-minded, provincial
After walking along the entire perimeter and seeing that the spit of land was actually insular, we realized it was time to build a boat.
His insular approach to education makes him a pariah among liberals.
insularity
(n.) having the characteristics of an island
The insularity of the country made it a great place to build a resort.
intangible
(adj.) incapable of being touched; immaterial
Intangible though it may be, sometimes just knowing that the work you do helps others is reward enough.
intercede
(v.) to plead on behalf of another; mediate
The superpowers were called on to intercede in the talks between the two warring nations.
intermittent
(adj.) periodic; occasional
Luckily, the snow was only intermittent, so the accumulation was slight. The intermittent blinking light was distracting.
intractable
(adj.) stubborn, obstinate; not easily taught or disciplined
Every teacher in the school became frustrated with the intractable student and sent him to the principal’s office. An intractable pet can be very frustrating..
intransigent
(adj.) uncompromising
With intransigent values, no amount of arguing could change her mind.
The baseball owners and players remained intransigent, so a deal was never struck.
intrepid
(adj.) fearless, bold
The intrepid photographer flew on some of the fiercest bombing raids of the war.
Her intrepid actions deserved a medal.
inundate
(v.) to flood; to overwhelm with a large amount of
The broken water main inundated the business district with water. Surfing the Internet can inundate you with information: That’s why a web browser comes in handy.
inured
(adj.) accustomed to pain
Beekeepers eventually become inured to bee stings.
inveterate
(adj.) a practice settled on over a long period of time
The inveterate induction ceremony bespoke one of the school’s great traditions.
invoke
(v.) ask for; call upon
The parishioners invoked divine help for their troubles.
iota
(n.) a very small piece
There wasn’t one iota of evidence to suggest a conspiracy.
irascible
(adj.) prone to anger
The irascible teenager was known to cause fights when upset. Knowing that the king was irascible, the servants decided not to tell him about the broken crystal.
ironic
(adj.) contradictory, inconsistent; sarcastic
Is it not ironic that Americans will toss out leftover French fries while people around the globe continue to starve?
irrational
(adj.) not logical
It would be irrational to climb Mt. Everest without some very warm clothing.
irreparable
(adj.) that which cannot be repaired or regained
The damage to the house after the flood was irreparable.The head-on collision left the car
irreparable.
irreproachable
(adj.) without blame or faults
The honesty of the priest made him irreproachable.
itinerary
(n.) travel plan; schedule; course
Their trip’s itinerary was disrupted by an unexpected snow storm.
jaded
(adj.) worn-out
A person may become jaded if forced to work too many hours.
jargon
(n.) incoherent speech; specialized vocabulary in certain fields
The conversation was nothing but jargon, but then the speakers were nothing but cartoon characters who specialize in an oddly bracing form of gibberish.
The engineers’ jargon is indecipherable to a layperson.
jeopardy
(n.) danger; peril
The campers realized they were in potential jeopardy when the bears surrounded their camp.
jester
(n.) a person employed to amuse
The jester tried all of his tricks to get the girl to laugh.
jettison
(v.) to throw overboard goods to lighten a vehicle; to discard
To raise the balloon above the storm clouds, they had to jettison the ballast.
jocund
(adj.) happy, cheerful, genial, gay
The puppy kept a smile on the jocund boy’s face.
The jocund atmosphere was due to the team’s victory in the playoffs.
jollity
(n.) being fun or jolly
The jollity of the crowd was seen in the cheering and laughing.
jovial
(adj.) cheery; jolly; playful
She was a jovial person, always pleasant and fun to be with.
judicious
(adj.) to have or show sound judgment
Because the elder was judicious, the tough decisions were left to him.
Putting money away for a rainy day is a judicious decision.
juncture
(n.) critical point; meeting
When the gas changed into a liquid, they sensed that they’d come to a critical juncture in their experimentation.
juxtapose
(v.) place side-by-side
The author decided to juxtapose the two sentences since they each strengthened the meaning of the other.
ken
(v.; n.) to recognize; one’s understanding
It was difficult to ken exactly what she had in mind.
My ken of the situation proved to be incorrect.
kindle
(v.) ignite; arouse
Being around children kindled her interest in educational psychology.
kinship
(n.) family relationship; affinity
Living in close proximity increased the kinship of the family.
kith
(n.) relatives and acquaintances
Our kith will meet at the family reunion.
knavery
(n.) a dishonest act
An act of knavery is cause for loss of trust.
The teacher refused to have knavery in his classroom.
knead
(v.) mix; massage
After mixing the ingredients, they kneaded the dough and set it aside to rise.
knotty
(adj.) to be puzzling or hard to explain
The mystery was knotty.
labyrinth
(n.) maze
Be careful not to get lost in the labyrinth of vegetation.
lacerate
(v.) to tear or mangle; to wound or hurt
Sharp knives may lacerate the skin of an unsuspecting user.
Her rejection will lacerate my self-esteem.
laconic
(adj.) sparing of words; terse, pithy
After a laconic introduction the program began. The people enjoyed the public addresses of the laconic queen.
laggard
(n.; adj.) a person who has fallen behind; moving slowly
The laggard child was lost in the crowd.
The train was laggard.
Anything can happen in a swim meet: Last year’s leader can become this year’s laggard.
lambaste
(v.) to scold or beat harshly
If the boy broke the lamp his father will surely lambaste him.
lambent
(adj.) traveling gently over surface; flickering
The lambent flame lit the dark room as the breeze wafted in.
lament
(v.; n.) to mourn or grieve; expression of grief or sorrow The boy is lamenting the loss of his pet.
Pedro’s only lament was that his wife didn’t outlive him.
languid
(adj.) lacking vitality; indifferent
The languid student was always late to class.
I have studied so much that I have grown languid to the subject.
During her illness she was so languid she could not leave her bed.
larceny
(n.) theft; stealing
After robbing the liquor store, she was found guilty of larceny.
lascivious
(adj.) indecent; immoral; involves lust
He said it was a harmless pin-up poster, but his mother called it lascivious.
Known as a skirt-chaser, his lascivious ways seemed to all but preclude a stable marriage.
lassitude
(n.) a state of being tired or listless
Lassitude was evident in the nurses who had been working for 24 hours straight.
Ten days of continual work caused a feeling of lassitude for the worker.
latency
(n.) a period of inactivity
Its latency was small solace for the girl who feared that the cancer would
re-emerge fiercer than ever.
laud
(v.) praise
He lauded his daughter for winning the trophy.
lax
(adj.) careless; irresponsible
She was lax in everything she did and therefore could not be trusted with important tasks.
lecherous
(adj.) impure in thought and act
The lecherous Humbert Humbert is Nabokov’s protagonist in Lolita, a novel that sparked great controversy because of Humbert’s romantic attachment to a young girl.
The lecherous man lurked on the corner.
lethargic
(adj.) lazy; passive
Feeling very lethargic, he watched television or slept the whole day.
levee
(n.) a landing on the edge of a river or field
The swimmer came ashore on the levee.
levity
(n.) lack of seriousness; instability
The levity with which he faced the destruction hampered the rescue effort.
Levity characterized the first months of his administration.
Levity is a necessary trait for a comedian.
lewd
(adj.) lustful; wicked
The comment was so lewd it could not be repeated in front of children.
liaison
(n.) connection; link
The student council served as a liaison between the faculty and the student body.
liberalism
(n.) believing in personal freedom (favoring reform or progress)
If you believe in liberalism, the First Amendment is sacrosanct.
libertine
(n.) one who indulges his desires without restraint For the libertine, missing his child’s birthday was not as significant as missing a football game.
licentious
(adj.) morally lacking in restraint
The people of Sodom and Gomorra were known for their licentious lifestyle.
ligneous
(adj.) having the composition of wood
The ligneous material appeared to be pure maple.
limber
(adj.) flexible; pliant
The dancers must be limber to do their ballet steps.
lithe
(adj.) easily bent; pliable; supple
It is best to use a lithe material when constructing a curved object.
A gymnast needs to be lithe in order to do a split.
litigate
(v.) to involve a lawsuit
A number of the state attorneys-general are litigating against the tobacco companies.
livid
(adj.) discolored, as if bruised; extremely angry; furious
After the fall, her arm was livid. She became livid when she heard the news.
When she found out she had been robbed, the woman was livid.
loiter
(v.) to spend time aimlessly
Many teenagers loiter around the mall when there is nothing else to do.
loquacious
(adj.) very talkative; garrulous
She was having difficulty ending the conversation with her loquacious neighbor.
The staff knew the meeting would be long because the administrator was in a loquacious mood.
lucent
(adj.) shining; translucent
The flowing garment gave the woman a lucent quality when standing in the spotlight.
lucid
(adj.) shiny; clear minded
He chose a shimmering, lucid fabric for his curtains.
When lucid, the man spoke of vivid memories.
lucrative
(adj.) profitable; gainful
She entered the pharmaceutical industry in the belief that it would be lucrative.
br> (adj.) full of sorrow; mournful
The man’s lugubrious heart kept him from enjoying the special occasion.
luminous
(adj.) emitting light; shining; also enlightened or intelligent
The luminous quality of the precious stone made it look like a fallen star.They found their way through the darkness by heading toward the luminous object in the distance.
lunge
(v.) to move suddenly
The owl will lunge at its prey in order to take it off guard.
lurid
(adj.) glowing through haze; shocking, sensational
A lurid sun shone upon them as they watched the sun set on the beach.The tabloid specialized in lurid stories about celebrities’ indiscretions.
lustrous
(adj.) bright; radiant; shining
Surrounded by rubies, the lustrous diamond looked magnificent.
luxuriant
(adj.) to grow with energy and in great abundance
The luxuriant flowers grew in every available space.
macerate
(v.) to soften by steeping in liquid
It was necessary to macerate the food before the elderly man could eat it.
They placed her foot in the solvent to macerate the cement she had stepped in.
maculate
(adj.; v.) spotted,blotched; hence defiled, impure (opposite: immaculate); to stain, spot, defile
The maculate rug could not be cleaned.
Grape juice maculated the carpet.
magnanimity
(n.; adj.) a quality of nobleness of mind, disdain of meanness or revenge; forgiving; unselfish
Being full of magnanimity he asked the thief only for an apology and set him free.
The magnanimous store owner did not press charges once an apology was given.
The magnanimity of the professor overcame the rage of the student.
malediction
(n.) putting a curse on someone; talking negatively about another
With the threat of a malediction, the man left the fortuneteller’s house. Never having a nice word to say about anyone, her conversations are full of malediction.
malefactor
(n.) an evil person
The malefactor ordered everyone to work over the holidays.
The prison contains malefactors of all ages.
malevolent
(adj.) wishing evil (opposite: benevolent)
The man threatened his opponent with threats and malevolent words.
She had malevolent feelings toward her sister.
malicious
(adj.) spiteful; vindictive
The malicious employee slashed her tires for revenge.
malign
(v.; adj.) to speak evil of; having an evil disposition toward others (opposite: benign)
In her statement to the judge she maligned her soon-to-be ex-husband. She had such a malign personality that no one even tried to approach her, mostly out of fear.
malinger
(v.) to pretend to be ill in order to escape work
He will malinger on Friday so he can go to the movies. The soldier will malinger to avoid fighting.
malleable
(adj.) easy to shape or bend; pliable
The malleable material was formed into a U shape.
The sculptor uses malleable substances to create complex masterpieces.
mandate
(n.) order; charge
The new manager wrote a mandate declaring that smoking was now prohibited in the office.
manifest
(v.; adj.) to show clearly; to appear; obvious, clear
The image should manifest itself as the building when the fog lifts. When the missing document suddenly manifested, the search for the person that buried it began.
America’s manifest destiny was to acquire all of the land between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
mar
(v.) damage
The statue was marred by the ravages of time.
marauder
(n.) plunderer or raider
The marauder had been traveling for two months searching for the large stash.
materialism
(n.) the belief that everything in the universe is explained in terms of matter; the belief that worldly possessions are the be-all and end- all in life
Spiritualists will tell you that materialism is only half the story. Some said that the prince’s profligacy gave materialism a bad name.
maudlin
(adj.) foolishly and tearfully sentimental
The maudlin affair consisted of three speeches in honor of the benefactor.
maverick
(n.) a person who does not conform to the norm
The maverick drove a large truck as others were purchasing compact cars.
meander
(v.; adj.) wind, wander; winding, wandering aimlessly
The stream meanders through the valley.
Because we took a long, meandering walk, we arrived home well after dark.
They meandered through the woods for the afternoon.
melancholy
(n.) depression; gloom
The funeral parlor was filled with the melancholy of mourning.
mellifluous
(adj.) having a sweet sound
The flute had a beautifully mellifluous sound.
melodious
(adj.) pleasing to hear
The melodious sounds of the band attracted many onlookers.
menagerie
(n.) a place to keep or a collection of wild or strange animals
Little Ryan couldn’t wait to visit the zoo to see the menagerie of wild boars.
mendacious
(adj.) not truthful; lying
The couple was swindled out of their life’s savings by the mendacious con men.
mentor
(n.) teacher; wise and faithful advisor
Alan consulted his mentor when he needed critical advice.
mercenary
(adj.; n.) working or done for payment only; hired (soldier)
Lila was suspicious that Joe had jumped at the chance only for mercenary reasons.
A mercenary was hired for a hundred dollars a month, good money in those days even if you had to fight a war to get it.
mercurial
(adj.) quick, changeable, fickle
The mercurial youth changed outfits six times before deciding what to wear.
meretricious
(adj.) deceptive beauty – alluring by attractive appearance
A cubic zirconia is a meretricious way of impressing others.
mesmerize
(v.) hypnotize
The swaying motion of the swing mesmerized the baby into a deep sleep.
metamorphosis
(n.) change of form
A metamorphosis caused the caterpillar to become a beautiful butterfly.
meticulous
(adj.) exacting; precise
The lab technicians must be meticulous in their measurements to obtain exact results.
mettle
(n.) spirit, courage, ardor
He proved he had the mettle to make it through basic training.
mien
(n.) appearance, being or manner
Her mien was typically one of distress, especially after the mishap.
mimicry
(n.) imitation
The comedian’s mimicry of the president’s gestures had the audience rolling in the aisles.
minatory
(adj.) threatening
The minatory stance of the dog warned the thief of an attack.
minute
(adj.) extremely small, tiny
Being on a sodium-restricted diet, he uses only a minute amount of salt in his dishes.
mire
(v.) to cause to get stuck in wet, soggy ground
The car became mired in the mud.
misanthrope
(n.) a person who distrusts everything; a hater of mankind
After the man swindled all of the woman’s savings, she became a misanthrope.
The misanthrope lived alone in the forest.
miscreant
(adj.; n.) evil; an evil person; villain
Her miscreant actions shocked and surprised her family.
The miscreant thought nothing of taking others’ money and belongings.
miser
(n.) penny pincher, stingy person
The miser made no donations and loved counting his money every night.
mite
(n.) a very small sum of money; very small creature
The mite they pay me is hardly worth the aggravation.The baseball team was made up of such small children they were nicknamed the “Mites”.
mitigate
(v.) alleviate; lessen; soothe
She tried to mitigate the loss of his pet by buying him a kitten.
The lawyer will attempt to mitigate the sentence probation.
modulate
(v.) to regulate or adjust; to vary the pitch
He modulated the color knob on the television set until the picture was perfect.
A trained singer knows how to modulate her voice to the desired pitches.
mollify
(v.) to soften; to make less intense
We used our hands to mollify the sound of our giggling.
molten
(adj.) melted
Steel becomes molten after heating it to thousands of degrees.
moot
(adj.) subject to or open for discussion or debate
The discussion of extending the girl’s curfew was a moot point.
mordant
(adj.) cutting; sarcastic
Her mordant remark made me feel unqualified and useless.
morose
(adj.) moody, despondent
He was very morose over the death of his pet.
After the team lost the fans were morose.
motif
(n.) theme
Although the college students lived in Alaska, they decided on a tropical motif for their dorm room.
The decorations include a rose motif.
motility
(n.) spontaneous motion
The motility of the car caused the driver to lunge for the brake.
mundane
(adj.) ordinary; commonplace
The small town was very mundane.
Going food shopping soon became mundane, losing all of its excitement.
munificent
(adj.) giving generously
The civic group made a munificent donation to the homeless shelter.
muse
(v.) to think or speak meditatively
I expect I’ll have to muse on that question for a while.
myriad
(n.) a large number
Buying an old house often necessitates fixing a myriad of problems. Gazing up on the clear, dark midnight sky, the astronomer saw a myriad of stars.
narcissistic
(adj.) egotistical; self-centered; self-love, excessive interest in ones appearance, comfort, abilities, etc.
The narcissistic actor was difficult to get along with.
nascent
(adj.) starting to grow or develop
The nascent rage of in-line skating began on the West Coast.
nautical
(adj.) of the sea; having to do with sailors, ships, or navigation
The coastal New England town had a charming nautical influence.
nebulous
(adj.) unclear or vague
The ten page directions were a collection of nebulous words and figures.
nefarious
(adj.) morally bad; wicked
The nefarious criminal was the scourge of the local police force.
nefariousness
(adj.) being villainous or wicked
The nefariousness of the ruler was apparent when he hoarded all of the food.
negligence
(n.) carelessness
Negligence contributed to the accident: She was traveling too fast for the icy conditions.
nemesis
(n.) a person who inflicts just punishment; retribution; a rival
The criminal was killed by his nemesis, the brother of the man he murdered.
The football team plays its nemesis on Saturday.
neologism
(n.) giving a new meaning to an old word
Bad is a neologism for good.
neophyte
(n.) beginner; newcomer
Critics applauded the neophyte’s success and speculated how much better he would get with age and experience. The neophyte dancer was overcome by the fast tempo and exotic rhythms.
nettle
(v.) annoy; irritate
The younger brother nettled his older sister until she slapped him.
The boy will nettle the father into agreeing.
neutral
(adj.) impartial; unbiased
The mother remained neutral regarding the argument between her two children.
nexus
(n.) a connection
The nexus between the shuttle and the space station was successful.
noisome
(adj.) harmful to health; having a foul odor
The noisome food was the cause of their illness. The family was forced from the home by a noisome odor.
nostalgic
(adj.) longing for the past; filled with bittersweet memories
She loved her new life, but became nostalgic when she met with her old friends.
nostrum
(n.) a questionable remedy for difficulties
The doctor’s prescription was so unusual that it could be seen as a nostrum.
The nostrum of pine leaves and water did not seem to cure the illness.
notorious
(adj.) infamous; renowned; having an unfavorable connotation
Discovering that her new neighbor was notorious for thievery, she decided to purchase an alarm system for her home.The criminal had a notorious reputation.
novel
(adj.) new
It was a novel idea for the rock group to play classical music.
noxious
(adj.) harmful to one’s health
The noxious fumes caused the person to become ill.
nugatory
(adj.) trifling; futile; insignificant
Because the problem was nugatory it was not addressed immediately.
nullify
(v.) cancel; invalidate
Drinking alcohol excessively will nullify the positive benefits of eating well and exercising daily.
oaf
(n.) a clumsy, dumb person
The waiter has been called an oaf ever since he dropped the tray.
obdurate
(adj.) stubborn
The obdurate child refused to go to school.
The obdurate youngster refused to eat the Brussels sprouts.
obeisance
(n.) a gesture of respect or reverence
As an obeisance, the man took off his hat as the funeral procession drove past him.
obfuscate
(v.) to darken, confuse, bewilder
The lunar eclipse will obfuscate the light of the sun.
objective
(adj.; n.) open-minded; impartial; goal
It’s hard to set aside your biases and be objective.The law student decided that her primary objective after graduation was to pass the Bar examination.
objurgate
(v.) to chide vehemently
The girls disliked those boys who objurgated the group.
obligatory
(adj.) mandatory; necessary; legally or morally binding
In order to provide a reliable source of revenue for the government, it is obligatory for each citizen to pay taxes.
obliterate
(v.) destroy completely
Poaching nearly obliterated the world’s whale population.
obloquy
(n.) widespread condemnation or abuse; disgrace or infamy resulting from this.
The child suffered quite an obloquy at the hands of his classmates. Lawyers must face frequent obloquy with their reputation as “ambulance chasers.”
obscure
(adj.) not easily understood; dark
The orchestra enjoys performing obscure American works, hoping to bring them to a wider audience.
obsequious
(adj.) servilely attentive; fawning
The man’s attraction to the woman would be obvious if his obsequious behavior could be noted.
The princess only seemed to encourage the obsequious behavior of her court to enhance her own feeling of superiority.
obsolete
(adj.) out of date; pass’
Computers have made many formerly manual tasks obsolete.
obstinate
(adj.) stubborn
Her father would not allow her to stay out past midnight; she thought he was obstinate because he would not change his mind.
obtrude
(v.) to force oneself or one’s ideas upon another; to thrust forward; to eject
The inquisitive coworker obtrudes into the conversation often.
obtuse
(adj.) dull; greater than 90± but less than 180±; slow to understand or perceive
The man was so obtuse, he even made the dog yawn. The textbook problem asks the reader to solve for the obtuse angle.
He’s obtuse when it comes to abstract art.
obviate
(v.) to make unnecessary
The invention of cars has obviated the use of horse and carriage. A cure for the common cold would obviate the need for shelf after shelf of cold remedies.
occult
(adj.) hidden; beyond human understanding; mystical; mysterious
The occult meaning of the message was one of dislike for the authorities. Some spend years pursuing the occult, only to find themselves no closer to the answer.
Relating to the occult world means entering a new realm.
odious
(adj.) hateful; disgusting
Having to chaperone her brother was an odious chore for the girl.
odium
(n.) a hate; the disgrace from a hateful action
Odium could be felt for the man who destroyed the school.
oligarchy
(n.) form of government in which the supreme power is placed in the hands of a small, exclusive group.
The oligarchy took control after the king was overthrown.
ominous
(adj.) threatening
Seeing ominous clouds on the horizon, the street fair organizers decided to fold up their tent and go home.
omniscient
(adj.) having knowledge of all things
The future can be told by the omniscient woman.
opalescent
(adj.) iridescent
Her new nail polish was opalescent making her finger tips look like pearls.
opaque
(adj.) dull; cloudy; non-transparent
Not having been washed for years, the once beautiful windows of the Victorian home became opaque.
They chose an opaque shade of green for their bathroom walls.
opprobrious
(adj.) abusive
Nobody liked working for him because he was so opprobrious.
optimist
(n.) person who hopes for the best; sees the good side He’s ever the optimist, always seeing the glass as half full.
opulence
(n.) wealth; fortune
A 40-room mansion on 65 wooded acres is only the most visible sign of her opulence.
ornate
(adj.) elaborate; lavish; decorated
The courthouse was framed by ornate friezes.
orthodox
(adj.) traditional; accepted
The gifted child’s parents concluded that orthodox methods of education would not do their son any good, so they decided to teach him at home.
oscillate
(v.) to move back and forth; to have a wavering opinion
The oscillating sprinkler system covered the entire lawn.
The couple often oscillates between going out and staying home.
ossify
(v.) to turn to bone; to harden
Over time, the plant matter has ossified.
The tablet will ossify when left in the sun.
ostensible
(adj.) apparent
The ostensible reason for choosing the girl was for her beauty.
ostentatious
(adj.) being showy
Sure he’d won the lottery, but coming to work in a stretch limo seemed a bit ostentatious .
ostracize
(v.) to exclude
The students tend to ostracize the children they dislike from their games.
oust
(v.) drive out; eject
The dictator was ousted in a coup detat.
p
(adj.) mocking; cynical
He has a wry sense of humor which sometimes hurts people’s feelings.
paean
(n.) a song of praise or triumph
A paean was written in honor of the victorious warrior.
pagan
(adj.) polytheistic
Moses, distraught over some of his people’s continuing pagan ways, smashed the stone tablets bearing the Ten Commandments.
painstaking
(adj.) thorough, careful, precise
Helga’s painstaking research paid off with a top grade on her essay.
palatial
(adj.) large and ornate, like a palace
The new palatial home contained two pools and an indoor track for jogging.
palindrome
(n.) a word or phrase which reads the same backwards and forwards Bob, “Dad,” and “Madam” are examples of palindromes.
palliate
(v.) to alleviate or ease pain but not cure; to make appear less serious The medication will help palliate the pain.
The lawyer attempted to palliate the offense to the jury.
pallid
(adj.) pale in color
The visitor left the hospital room with a pallid face.
pallor
(n.) lack of facial color
The more vivid the testimony grew, the more the witness seemed to take on a ghostly pallor.
palpable
(adj.) touchable; clear, obvious
The palpable decision was to discontinue the use of drugs. On a flight that had included a sudden 5,000-foot drop, the passengers’ relief upon landing was palpable .
panegyric
(n.) high praise
Upon his retirement, he received a great panegyric from many of his associates.
His panegyric to his opponent stood in sharp contrast to the harsh tenor of the campaign.
paradigm
(n.) model, prototype; pattern
The machine could no longer be produced after the paradigm was destroyed.
The Massachusetts gubernatorial race was considered a paradigm of campaign civility.
paradox
(n.) a tenet seemingly contradictory or false, but actually true
The paradox seemed so unlikely though it was true. At first blush,the company’s results were a paradox: Sales were down, yet profits were up.
parapet
(n.) a wall for protection; a low wall or railing
The parapet protected the kingdom from the raging army. The parapet kept the child from falling into the river.
paraphernalia
(n.) equipment; accessories
She looked guilty since the drug paraphernalia was found in her apartment.
pariah
(n.) an outcast
The pariah of the group sat by himself under the tree.
parity
(n.) state of being the same in power, value, or rank
When the younger brother was promoted to co-president with the elder son, it established parity between the two.
parley
(v.) to speak with another; to discourse
I will parley the information to the appropriate person.
parochial
(adj.) religious; narrow-minded
Devout Christians, the Chesterfields enrolled their children in a parochial school.
Governor Kean urged Republicans to rise above parochial interests and be the party of inclusion.
parody
(n.) a piece of work imitating another in a satirical manner; a poor imitation
The play was a parody of the Prince and Princess’s marital difficulties. Ugh! This is a parody of a fashionable dress!
parry
(v.) to avoid; to ward off
I dislike talking to the woman so I will attempt to parry her by ducking around the corner.
parse
(v.) to separate (a sentence) into parts and describe the function of each
An English teacher may ask a student to parse a sentence.
parsimonious
(adj.) very frugal; unwilling to spend
The owner was so parsimonious he refused to purchase new curtains when the old ones fell off the window.
The parsimonious individual argued that twenty-five cents was much too expensive for a pack of gum.
parsimony
(n.) to be unreasonably careful when spending
The parsimony of the wealthy woman was uncalled for.
partisan
(n.; adj.) supporter; follower; biased; one-sided
The union president is a partisan of minimum-wage legislation. A partisan for the incumbent mayor will not support the challenger.
passive
(adj.) submissive; unassertive
He is so passive that others walk all over him.
paucity
(n.) scarcity
The described feast was actually a buffet with a paucity of food.
pavilion
(n.) a large tent or covered area, usually used for entertainment
The wedding pavilion was not only beautifully decorated, but also served as welcome protection from a sudden downpour.
peccadillo
(n.) a slight fault or offense
The child was embarrassed when he was caught committing the peccadillo of eating chocolate before dinner.
pecuniary
(adj.) pertaining to money
The retiring employee was delighted when he received a pecuniary gift.
pedagogue
(n.) a teacher
Seeing the way she worked with children there was no doubt she was a true pedagogue.
pedantic
(adj.) emphasizing
minutiae or form in scholarship or teaching Professor Jones’s lectures were so pedantic that his students sometimes had a tough time understanding the big picture.It is important to understand pedantic terminology before beginning a lecture.
pedestrian
(adj.) mediocre; ordinary
We expected the meal to be exceptional, but it was just pedestrian.
pejorative
(adj.) making things worse
The pejorative comment deepened the dislike between the two families.
pellucid
(adj.) transparent
The pellucid material was not an adequate shield from the sun.
penchant
(n.) a liking for
I have a penchant for all flavors of ice cream.
penitent
(adj.) feeling sorry for what one has done
The burglar expressed his penitent feelings during his confession.
pensive
(adj.) reflective; contemplative
She was in a pensive mood, just wanting to be alone to think. My hours alone are often more pensive than the time I spend with friends.
The pensive mood was broken by a witty joke.
penurious
(adj.) stingy, miserly
The penurious man had millions of dollars, but lived in a cottage to save money.
Charles Dickens’ Scrooge is the most penurious character in any of his tales.
perceptive
(adj.) full of insight; aware
The perceptive detective discovered that the murder weapon was hidden in a safe under the floor.
percussion
(n.) striking one object against another
The loud percussion of the hunter’s gunshot startled the birds.
perdition
(n.) ruination
The perdition of the building was caused by the strong quake.
peremptory
(adj.) barring future action; that cannot be denied, changed, etc.
The peremptory means of defense was satisfactory to keep out the intruders.
The wildcat strike was a peremptory move on the part of the workers.
perfidious
(adj.) faithless; treacherous
The trust between the business associates was broken after the perfidious actions by one of the partners.
perfunctory
(adj.) done in a routine, mechanical way, without interest
Change in career is a good cure for someone who has become bored with their occupation and is currently performing their duties in a perfunctory fashion.
The girl will not improve unless she changes her perfunctory attitude.
peripheral
(adj.) marginal; outer
Those are peripheral problems; let’s look at the central challenge.
The peripheral shrubs were used to create a fence-like blockade.He thought he was my best friend, when in fact, he was a peripheral acquaintance.
perjury
(n.) the practice of lying
The already sensational trial of a star athlete turned all the more so when it turned out that a police detective had committed perjury.Lying while on the witness stand is perjury.
permeable
(adj.) porous; allowing to pass through
Because the material was permeable, the water was able to drain.
pernicious
(adj.) dangerous; harmful
Standing oil combined with a fresh rain on the asphalt can have a pernicious impact on a driver’s control of the road.The pernicious fire engulfed four blocks of homes.
perpetual
(adj.) never ceasing; continuous
Perpetual pain keeps the woman from walking.
perquisite
(n.) extra payment; a tip
After working overtime, I had enough money to make a perquisite on my loan.
pertinent
(adj.) related to the matter at hand
During a trial everyone should concentrate on the same subject, stating only pertinent information.
peruse
(v.) to read carefully; to study
A vast majority of time was spent perusing the possible solution to the dilemma.
pervade
(v.) to occupy the whole of
Her perfume was so strong that it pervaded the whole room.
pervasive
(adj.) spreading throughout
The home was filled with the pervasive aroma of baking bread.
pessimism
(n.) seeing only the gloomy side;hopelessness
After endless years of drought, pessimism grew in the hearts of even the most dedicated farmer.
petty
(adj.) unimportant; of subordinate standing
With all of the crime in the world, stealing bubble gum is considered petty theft.
petulant
(adj.) peevish; cranky; rude
The long illness put the boy in a petulant mood.The tone of his voice and the things that he says become quite petulant when he has not gotten enough sleep.
phenomenon
(n.) exceptional person; unusual occurrence
Not for nothing do they call Yankee Stadium “The House that Ruth Built”-the Babe was a phenomenon.
The northern lights are a rare phenomenon for those not living near the Arctic Circle.
philanthropy
(n.) charity; unselfishness
After years of donating time and money to the children’s hospital, Mrs. Elderwood was commended for her philanthropy.
phlegmatic
(adj.) without emotion or interest; sluggish and dull
The playwright had hoped his story would take theatergoers on an emotional roller coaster, but on opening night they just sat there, stonefaced and phlegmatic.
The phlegmatic child rarely went outside to play.
phobia
(n.) morbid fear
Fear of heights is a not uncommon phobia.
pied
(adj.) colored, blotched together
The extreme heat caused the colors to become pied.
pinioned
(adj.) bound fast
The two rafts were pinioned by steel wire.
pious
(adj.) religious; devout; dedicated
The religious couple believed that their pious method of worship would bring them eternal life.
The statues of the saints have pious symbolism. Many people think of this land as pious territory.
pique
(n.; v.) resentment at being slighted; to provoke Being passed over for the promotion aroused his pique.The more he piqued her, the redder she grew.
pithy
(adj.) terse and full of meaning
Columnist William Safire, a former presidential speech writer, has a way with words that often yields pithy comments.
pittance
(n.) a small amount
The reward money was only a pittance compared to the money lost.
The little girl received a pittance every week for keeping her room clean.
placate
(v.) to appease or pacify
The entire family attempted to placate the stubborn child.
With a soothing voice and the promise of a juicy steak, the trainer placated the escaped lion so that he wouldn’t hurt anyone.
placid
(adj.) undisturbed and calm
The placid lake’s water was completely motionless.
plaintive
(adj.) being mournful or sad
His wife’s death made Sam plaintive.
platonic
(adj.) idealistic or impractical; not amorous or sensual
The platonic advice of the doctor was to stay away from all odors.
Our relationship is platonic now, but I hope it will someday be otherwise.
plausible
(adj.) probable; feasible
After weeks of trying to determine what or who was raiding the chicken coop, the farmer came up with a plausible explanation.
After scrimping and saving for a decade, it was now plausible to send his daughter to college.
plenary
(adj.) full; entire; complete
A plenary class of students staged the protest.
plethora
(n.) a superabundance
There was a plethora of food at the royal feast.
plumb
(adj.; v.) perfectly straight down; to solve
The two walls met plumb at the corner.
I was able to plumb the riddle in a few seconds.
polemic
(adj.) controversial
The polemic decision caused a stir in the community.
polemicist
(n.) a person skilled in argument
The polemicist could debate any case skillfully.
pommel
(n.) the rounded, upward-projecting front of a saddle
The woman was so nervous about being on the horse she would not let go of the pommel.
ponderous
(adj.) unwieldy from weight; dull or labored
The ponderous piano posed a serious challenge to having it pulled up to the 16th floor.
As if being grainy wasn’t bad enough, the film’s ponderous story made it tough to get through.
portend
(v.) to be an omen of; signify
The distant roll of thunder portends of an oncoming storm.
potable
(adj.; n.) drinkable; a beverage that is drinkable
The liquid was not potable, but rather poisonous.
Sea water isn’t potable.
potent
(adj.) having great power or physical strength
He took very potent medication and felt better immediately.
pragmatic
(adj.) matter-of-fact; practical
Since they were saving money to buy a new home, the pragmatic married couple decided not to go on an expensive vacation.
A pragmatic solution to the car’s continual repairs would be to purchase a new car.
prate
(v.) talking foolishly; chatter
It is not uncommon for people to prate when they become nervous about speaking to a superior.
prattle
(n.; v.) childish babble; to babble while speaking
I’ve listened to his prattle for far too long.
The toddler does more prattling than talking.
precarious
(adj.) depending upon another; risky, uncertain
The precarious plans fell through when the second couple changed their plans.
My position in the negotiations was precarious at best.
precept
(n.) a rule or direction of moral conduct
The organization believed their members should abide by certain precepts.
precipitate
(v.; adj.) to cause to happen; happening quickly
A rude comment may precipitate an argument.
The precipitating flood caught the village off- guard.
preclude
(v.) inhibit; make impossible
A healthy diet and lifestyle will not preclude you from getting ill, although it improves your immune system.
Exercise may help to preclude heart disease.
precocious
(adj.) developed or matured earlier than usual
The precocious eight year-old wanted to read the romance novel.
predecessor
(n.) one who has occupied an office before another
Although her predecessor did not accomplish any goals that would help the poor, the new mayor was confident that she could finally help those in need.
prefatory
(adj.) coming before
The prefatory comments informed the audience of what was to come.
premise
(n.) the basis for an argument
The prosecutor claimed that the defense lawyer’s premise was shaky, and thus his whole argument was suspect.
preponderate
(adj.) to outweigh; to be superior in amount, weight, etc.
His positive qualities are the preponderate ones over his occasional rudeness.
presage
(n.) an omen; a foreshadowing characteristic
They considered the rainbow at their wedding a presage for a happy life.
Bright sun in the morning was a good presage that it was going to be a good day.
prescience
(n.) knowing about something before it happens
The morning of the big game I had a prescience that we would win.
prescriptive
(adj.) done by custom; unbending
At the heart of the Australian aborigines’ prescriptive coming-of-age rite for men is a walkabout.
prevalent
(adj.) generally occurring
Rain is usually more prevalent than snow during April.
prevaricate
(v.) to speak equivocally or evasively, i.e., to lie
The mayor’s desperate attempt to prevaricate about the scandal was transparent to the voters.
His mother knew no one else could have done it, but the child foolishly prevaricated about the stain on the rug.
pristine
(adj.) primitive, pure, uncorrupted
The pristine lake had not been marred by pollution. She had such a pristine look about her, you could have thought she was an angel.
privy
(adj.) private; confidential
He was one of a handful of people privy to the news of the pending merger.
Only the woman’s best friend was privy to her secret.
probity
(n.) honesty
The young man’s probity was reassuring to the fearful parent.
problematic
(adj.) being hard to deal with; unsolved situation
The constant squeak of the door was problematic.
The tense political struggle remains problematic.
prodigal
(adj.) wasteful; lavish
The actor’s prodigal lifestyle ultimately led to his undoing.
Spending his rent money on your birthday present was more than generous, it was prodigal.
The prodigal gift by the poor woman was truly a thoughtful gesture.
prodigious
(adj.) wonderful; enormous
The prodigious festivities lasted until the wee hours of the morning.
The Empire State Building required a prodigious amount of steel to erect.
profound
(adj.) deep; knowledgeable; thorough
It was with profound regret and sorrow that the family had to leave their homeland for a more prosperous country.
profusion
(n.) great wastefulness; a large abundance of
The profusion of the food-fight was unforgivable considering the worldwide hunger problem.
The profusion of uneaten food was sent to the shelter.
The wet winter brought about a profusion of mosquitoes.
progeny
(n.) children; offspring
It is through his progeny that his name shall live on. The princes were the progeny of royalty.
program
(n.) the partsof entertainment; a plan for dealing with a matter; coded instructions
The free-form music program on Sunday nights is virtually unique in commercial radio.
The program for better health is to eat more vegetables and fruits.
The store’s computer program allows saleinformation to prompt at the register for certain items at certain hours.
proliferate
(v.) to reproduce quickly
Gerbils are known to proliferate quickly.
prolific
(adj.) fruitful
The merger resulted in a prolific business which became an asset to the community.
promontory
(n.) a piece of land jutting into a body of water The boat hit the rocky promontory, splitting the bow.
propagate
(v.) to reproduce or multiply
Rabbits and gerbils are said to propagate quickly.
propensity
(n.) a natural tendency towards; bias
I have a propensity to talk too fast.
She has a propensity to hire men over women.
propinquity
(n.) closeness in time or place; closeness of relationship
The propinquity of the disasters put the community in chaos. The propinquity of the two stories was the basis of the teacher’s lesson.
propitiate
(v.) to win the goodwill of
If I try my best I will hopefully propitiate my new supervisor.
prosaic
(adj.) tiresome; ordinary
He wanted to do something new; he was tired of the prosaic activities his parents suggested each day.
The only entertainment would be a prosaic game of cards.
proselytize
(v.) to convert from one belief or religion to another
The preacher often attempts to proselytize wayward travelers.
protocol
(n.) an original draft or record of a document The protocol was given to the president once it was completed.
proverbial
(adj.) well-known because it is commonly referred to
King Solomon’s proverbial wisdom has been admired through the ages.
provident
(adj.) prudent; economical
It was provident, in his opinion, to wait and buy the new car when he was financially secure.
provincial
(adj.) regional; unsophisticated
After living in the city for five years, he found that his family back home on the farm was too provincial for his cultured ways.
proviso
(n.) A clause stating a condition or stipulation
The governor began the conference with a proviso stating the disastrous results of the flood.
provocative
(adj.) tempting; irritating
In the movie Roger Rabbit, the animated Jessica Rabbit demurs when she’s told she’s provocative, saying that she’s only drawn that way. The U.S. considered the invasion of Kuwait a provocative action.
provoke
(v.) to stir action or feeling; arouse
By calling him names, he was provoking a fight.