Barrons 333 - High Frequency Words

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1. abate: subside or moderate 41. burgeon: grow forth; send out buds
2. aberrant: abnormal or deviant 42. burnish: make shiny by rubbing; polish
3. abeyance: suspended action 43. buttress: support; prop up
4. abscond: depart secretly and hide 44. cacophonous: discordant; inharmonious
5. abstemious: sparing in eating and drinking; temperate 45. capricious: unpredictable; fickle
6. admonish: warn; reprove 46. castigation: punishment; severe criticism
7. adulterate: make impure by adding inferior or tainted 47. catalyst: agent that stimulates or precipitates a reaction,
substances development, or change
8. aesthetic: artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the 48. caustic: burning; sarcastically biting
beautiful 49. chicanery: trickery; deception
9. aggregate: gather; accumulate 50. coagulate: thicken; congeal; clot
10. alacrity: cheerful promptness; eagerness 51. coda: concluding section of a musical or literary composition;
11. alleviate: relieve something that summarizes
12. amalgamate: combine; unite in one body 52. cogent: convincing
13. ambiguous: unclear or doubtful in meaning 53. commensurate: corresponding in extent, degree, amount, etc.;
14. ambivalence: the state of having contradictory or conflicting proportionate
emotional attitudes 54. compendium: brief, comprehensive summary
15. ameliorate: improve 55. complaisant: trying to please; overly polite; obliging
16. anachronism: something or someone misplaced in time 56. compliant: yielding; conforming to requirements
17. analogous: comparable 57. conciliatory: reconciling; soothing
18. anarchy: absence of governing body; state of disorder 58. condone: overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
19. anomalous: abnormal; irregular 59. confound: confuse; puzzle
20. antipathy: aversion; dislike 60. connoisseur: person competent to act as a judge of art, etc.; a
21. apathy: lack of caring; indifference lover of an art

22. appease: pacify or soothe; relieve 61. contention: claim; thesis

23. apprise: inform 62. contentious: quarrelsome

24. approbation: approval 63. contrite: penitent

25. appropriate: acquire; take possession of for one's own use 64. conundrum: riddle; difficult problem

26. arduous: hard; strenuous 65. converge: approach; tend to meet; come together

27. artless: without guile; open and honest 66. convoluted: coiled around; involved; intricate

28. ascetic: practicing self-denial; austere 67. craven: cowardly

29. assiduous: diligent 68. daunt: intimidate; frighten

30. assuage: ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger) 69. decorum: propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners

31. attenuate: make thinner; weaken or lessen (in density, force, 70. default: failure to act
degree) 71. deference: courteous regard for another's wish
32. audacious: daring; bold 72. delineate: portray; depict; sketch
33. austere: forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented 73. denigrate: blacken
34. aver: assert confidently or declare; as used in law, state formally 74. deride: ridicule; make fun of
as a fact 75. derivative: unoriginal; obtained from another source
35. banal: hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality 76. desiccate: dry up
36. belie: contradict; give a false impression 77. desultory: aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
37. beneficent: kindly; doing good 78. deterrent: something that discourages; hindrance
38. bolster: support; reinforce 79. diatribe: bitter scolding; invective
39. bombastic: pompous; using inflated language 80. dichotomy: split; branching into two parts (especially
40. boorish: rude; insensitive contradictory ones)
81. diffidence: shyness 124. equivocate: lie, mislead; attempt to conceal the truth
82. diffuse: wordy; rambling; spread out (like a gas) 125. erudite: learned; scholarly
83. digression: wandering away from the subject 126. esoteric: hard to understand; known only to the chosen few
84. dirge: lament with music 127. eulogy: expression of praise, often on the occasion of
85. disabuse: correct a false impression; undeceive someone's death
86. discerning: mentally quick and observant; having insight 128. euphemism: mild expression in place of an unpleasant one

87. discordant: not harmonious; conflicting 129. exacerbate: worsen; embitter

88. discredit: defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve 130. exculpate: clear from blame

89. discrepancy: lack of consistency; difference 131. exigency: urgent situation; pressing needs or demands; state of
requiring immediate attention
90. discrete: separate; unconnected; consisting of distinct parts
132. extrapolation: projection; superfluous
91. disingenuous: lacking genuine candor; insincere
133. facetious: joking (often inappropriately); humorous
92. disinterested: unprejudiced
134. facilitate: help bring about; make less difficult
93. disjointed: lacking coherence
135. fallacious: false; misleading
94. dismiss: eliminate from consideration; reject
136. fatuous: brainless; inane; foolish, yet smug
95. disparage: belittle
137. fawning: trying to please by behaving obsequiously, flattering
96. disparate: basically different; unrelated
or cringing
97. dissemble: disguise; pretend
138. felicitous: apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
98. disseminate: distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
139. fervor: glowing ardor; intensity of feeling
99. dissolution: disintegration; looseness in morals
140. flag: droop; grow feeble
100. dissonance: discord; opposite of harmony
141. fledgling: inexperienced
101. distend: expand; swell out
142. flout: reject; mock; show contempt for
102. distill: purify; refine; concentrate
143. foment: stir up; instigate
103. diverge: vary; go in different directions from the same point
144. forestall: prevent by taking action in advance
104. divest: strip; deprive
145. frugality: thrift; economy
105. document: provide written evidence
146. futile: useless; hopeless; ineffectual
106. dogmatic: opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal
147. gainsay: deny
107. dormant: sleeping; lethargic; latent
148. garrulous: loquacious; wordy; talkative
108. dupe: someone easily fooled
149. goad: urge on
109. ebullient: showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm
150. gouge: overcharge
110. eclectic: selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate
151. grandiloquent: pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding
sources
language
111. efficacy: power to produce desired effect
152. gregarious: sociable
112. effrontery: impudence; shameless boldness; sheer nerve;
153. guileless: without deceit
presumptuousness
154. gullible: easily deceived
113. elegy: poem or song expressing lamentation
155. harangue: long, passionate, and vehement speech
114. elicit: draw out by discussion
156. homogenous: of the same kind
115. embellish: adorn; ornament; enhance, as a story
157. hyperbole: exaggeration; overstatement
116. empirical: base on experience
158. iconoclast: attacking cherished traditions
117. emulate: imitate; rival
159. idolatry: worship of idols; excessive admiration
118. endemic: prevailing among a specific group of people or an
160. immutable: unchangeable
area
119. enervate: weaken 161. impair: injure; hurt

120. engender: cause; produce 162. impassive: without feeling; imperturbable; stoical

121. enhance: increase; improve 163. impede: hinder, block

122. ephemeral: short-lived; fleeting 164. impermeable: impervious; not permitting passage through its
substance
123. equanimity: calmness of temperament; composure
165. imperturbable: calm; placid 208. maverick: rebel; nonconformist
166. impervious: impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or 209. mendacious: lying; habitually dishonest
distressed 210. metamorphosis: change of form
167. implacable: incapable of being pacified 211. meticulous: excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous
168. implicit: understood but not stated 212. misanthrope: one who hates mankind
169. implode: burst inward 213. mitigate: lessen in intensity; moderate; appease
170. inadvertently: unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly 214. mollify: soothe
171. inchoate: recently begun; rudimentary; elementary 215. morose: ill-humored; sullen; melancholy
172. incongruity: lack of harmony; absurdity 216. mundane: worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday
173. inconsequential: insignificant; unimportant 217. negate: cancel out; nullify; deny
174. incorporate: introduce something into a larger whole; 218. neophyte: recent convert; beginner
combine; unite
219. obdurate: stubborn
175. indeterminate: uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
220. obsequious: slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic
176. indigence: poverty
221. obviate: make unnecessary; get rid of
177. indolent: lazy
222. occlude: shut; close
178. inert: inactive; lacking power to move
223. officious: meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's
179. ingenuous: naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated
services
180. inherent: firmly established by nature or habit 224. onerous: burdensome
181. innocuous: harmless 225. opprobium: infamy; vilification
182. insensible: unconscious; unresponsive 226. oscillate: vibrate pendulumlike; waver
183. insinuate: hint; imply; creep in 227. ostentatious: showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention
184. insipid: lacking in flavor; dull 228. paragon: model of perfection
185. insularity: narrow-mindedness; isolation 229. partisan: one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party
186. intractable: unruly; stubborn; unyielding 230. pathological: pertaining to disease
187. intransigence: refusal of any compromise; stubbornness 231. paucity: scarcity
188. inundate: overwhelm; flood; submerge 232. pedantic: showing off learning; bookish
189. inured: accustomed; hardened 233. penchant: strong inclination; liking
190. invective: abuse 234. penury: severe poverty; stinginess
191. irascible: irritable; easily angered 235. perennial: something long-lasting
192. irresolute: uncertain how to act; weak 236. perfidious: treacherous; disloyal
193. itinerary: plan of a trip 237. perfunctory: superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care,
194. laconic: brief and to the point or enthusiasm
195. lassitude: languor; weariness 238. permeable: penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass
196. latent: potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden through
197. laud: praise 239. pervasive: spread throughout

198. lethargic: drowsy; dull 240. phlegmatic: calm; not easily disturbed

199. levee: earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding 241. piety: devoutness; reverence for God

200. levity: lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity 242. placate: pacify; conciliate

201. log: record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities 243. plasticity: ability to be molded

202. loquacious: talkative 244. platitude: trite remark; commonplace statement

203. lucid: easily understood; clear; intelligible 245. plethora: excess; overabundance

204. luminous: shining; issuing light 246. plummet: fall sharply

205. magnanimity: generosity 247. porous: full of pores; like a sieve

206. malingerer: one who feigns illness to escape duty 248. pragmatic: practical (as opposed to idealistic)

207. malleable: capable of being shaped by pounding; 249. preamble: introductory statement
impressionable 250. precarious: uncertain; risky
251. precipitate: rash; premature; hasty; sudden 293. shard: fragment; generally of pottery
252. precursor: forerunner; harbinger 294. skeptic: doubter; person who suspends judgment until having
253. presumptuous: arrogant; taking liberties examined the evidence supporting a point of view
254. prevaricate: lie 295. solicious: worried, concerned

255. pristine: characteristic of earlier times; primitive; unspoiled 296. soporific: sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness

256. probity: uprightness; incorruptibility 297. specious: seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading
(often intentional)
257. problematic: doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing
298. spectrum: colored band produced when a beam of light passes
258. prodigal: wasteful; reckless with money
through a prism
259. profound: deep; not superficial; complete
299. sporadic: occurring irregularly
260. prohibitive: inclined to prevent or forbid
300. stigma: token of disgrace; brand
261. proliferate: grow rapidly; spread; multiply
301. stint: be thrifty; set limits
262. propensity: natural inclination
302. stipulate: make express conditions, specify
263. propitiate: appease
303. stolid: dull; impassive
264. propriety: fitness; correct conduct
304. striated: marked with parallel bands; grooved
265. proscribe: ostracize; banish; outlaw
305. strut: supporting bar
266. pungent: stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic
306. strut: pompous walk
267. qualified: limited; restricted
307. subpoena: writ summoning a witness to appear
268. quibble: minor objection or complaint
308. subside: settle down; descend; grow quiet
269. quiescent: at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive
309. substantiate: establish by evidence; verify; support
270. rarefied: made less dense (of a gas)
310. supersede: cause to be set aside; replace; make obsolete
271. recalcitrant: obstinately stubborn; determined to resist
311. supposition: hypothesis; surmise
authority; unruly
312. tacit: understood; not put into words
272. recant: disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement;
313. tangential: peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing
openly confess error
273. recluse: hermit; loner 314. tenuous: thin; rare; slim

274. recondite: abstruse; profound; secret 315. tirade: extended scolding; denunciation; harangue

275. refractory: stubborn; unmanageable 316. torpor: lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy

276. refute: disprove 317. tortuous: winding; full of curves

277. relegate: banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign 318. tractable: docile; easily managed

278. reproach: express disapproval or disappointment 319. transgression: violation of a law; sin

279. reprobate: person hardened by sin, devoid of a sense of 320. truculence: aggressiveness; ferocity
decency 321. vacillate: waver; fluctuate
280. repudiate: disown; disavow 322. venerate: revere
281. rescind: cancel 323. veracious: truthful
282. resolution: determination 324. verbose: wordy
283. resolve: determination; firmness of purpose 325. viable: practical or workable; capable of maintaining life
284. reticent: reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence 326. viscous: sticky, gluey
285. reverent: respectful; worshipful 327. vituperative: abusive; scolding
286. sage: person celebrated for wisdom 328. volatile: changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly
287. salubrious: healthful 329. warranted: justified; authorized
288. sanction: approve; ratify 330. wary: very cautious
289. satiate: satisfy fully 331. welter: turmoil; bewildering jumble
290. saturate: soak thoroughly 332. whimsical: capricious; fanciful
291. savor: enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality 333. zealot: fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal
292. secrete: hide away or cache; produce and release a substance
into an organism