The Verbose Insomniacs
Group 1
Alacrity: eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness
Burgeon: grow; flourish; put forth new shoots
Deleterious: harmful
Euphemism: a polite phrase to cover something unpleasant
Hypocritical: insincere
Lethargic: tired; without energy
Ogle: stare at; observe in an obvious manner
Postulate: hypothesize; propose
Robust: strong; healthy; tough
Tractable: obedient; dutiful; polite
Group 2
Alchemy: medieval chemistry; attempt to change base metal into gold
Burnish: polish
Deliberate: to think over deeply
Euphony: pleasant sounds
Iconoclast: person who opposes orthodoxy
Levity: flippancy; joking about serious matters
Olfactory: concerned with the sense of smell
Potable: suitable for drinking
Rotund: round
Tranquil: peaceful
Group 4
Allay: to lessen
Byline: the line that tells you who wrote an article
Demur: hesitate; refuse
Exacerbate: make worse
Ignominious: shameful
Liniment: soothing lotion
Omnipotent: all-powerful
Pragmatic: practical
Ruse: trick; stratagem
Transgress: go astray; disobey; commit a sin
Group 9
Ambiguity: uncertainty; vagueness
Candid: frank; honest
Deprecate: criticize; denounce
Exegesis: scholarly explanation or interpretation
Immutable: unchanging; permanent
Longevity: long life
Opulent: wealthy; rich; magnificent
Precept: guiding principle
Salacious: lecherous; erotic
Trite: unoriginal; dull
Group 10
Ambiguous: unclear in meaning; can be interpreted in different ways
Candor: frankness; openness
Deride: ridicule; make fun of; mock
Exemplary: outstandingly good; setting a fine example
Impartial: unbiased; neutral
Loquacious: talkative
Ordain: 1. destine; 2. confer holy orders on a priest
Precinct: district of a city
Sallow: yellowish
Trivial: unimportant
Group 7
Altruism: putting others first; being self-sacrificing
Caldron: huge cooking pot
Deplore: regret
Exculpate: free someone from blame; pardon; acquit
Illusory: deceptive; false; misleading
Lobbyist: person who tries to persuade someone to support a particular cause
Onus: burden
Precarious: unstable; risky
Sagacious: wise
Trepidation: fear
Group 6
Aloof: distant; detached; cold
Cajole: coax
Deplete: use up; lessen
Exceptionable: very bad (something which we should object to)
Illuminate: to light up or make clear
Livid: very angry
Onerous: burdensome; hard to undertake
Preamble: introductory material
Sacrosanct: very holy; inviolable
Traverse: to move across
Group 8
Amass: accumulate
Callow: immature
Depravity: moral corruption
Execrable: very, very bad
Immoderate: excessive; extreme
Lofty: snooty; arrogant; haughty
Opaque: does not let light through
Precedent: a previous occurrence used as a guide
Sage: a wise person
Trinket: something of little value; knick-knack
Group 5
Alleviate: make less severe
Cacophony: discordant loud noises
Denounce: condemn; speak out against
Exasperated: frustrated; annoyed
Ignominy: shame [ignominious (a) = shameful]
Lithe: flexible; supple
Omniscient: all-knowing
Pragmatist: practical person; one who is concerned with usefulness
Saccharin: falsely sweet
Transient: short-lived; ephemeral
Group 3
Alibi: an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene
Buttress: strengthen; support
Delineation: demarcation; explanation; definition; outlining
Evacuate: vacate; empty; abandon
Idiosyncrasy: a personal peculiarity; something unique to an individual
Libertarian: someone who opposes tyranny
Ominous: threatening
Potent: powerful; compelling; strong
Ruminate: think over something; ponder
Transcribe: copy