abolish

do away with
He abolished the football team, planting an organic garden on the playing field.

coherent
marked by an orderly and consistent relation of parts
I had so many questions it was useless to try to sort them into any coherent
order.

comprise
include or contain
"Each test will comprise English and Mathematics items.

domestic
of or involving the home or family
President Putin has both international and domestic concerns.

earnest
devout or heartfelt
Her singing is earnest and heartfelt and completely awful.

explicit
precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
The sign, placed by an unseen hand, made the unspoken rules of the cafeteria
explicit.

impede
be a hindrance or obstacle to
Because the mountains impeded north-south communication, it was much
easier to coordinate the flow of goods and services east to west.

instinctive
unthinking
Humans, like other animals, are born with an instinctive motivation to escape
pain.

nostalgic
unhappy about being away and longing for familiar things
They laughed together, and I grew nostalgic for my old life.

prevail
prove superior
Ms. G taught us that “Evil prevails when good people do nothing
 relevant
having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
We urge the public to contact us at the investigation hotline with any relevant
tips or information.

somber
serious and gloomy in character
He wasn’t smiling at first — his face was somber.

stagnant
not growing or changing; without force or vitality
Many in Russia say they are fed up with corruption, stagnant wages and rising
prices.
turmoil
violent agitation
The crowd was in a turmoil now, shouting, jeering, urging Janza on.
zeal
a feeling of strong eagerness
Hong Kong’s older protesters admire the bravery and tireless zeal of their
younger counterparts

agile
moving quickly and lightly
When you think of the Olympics you think of the fastest men on earth, the
runners, you think of the strongest men, the weightlifters, and you think of the
most agile, the gymnasts.
chronic
long-lasting or characterized by long suffering
They also reported poorer overall health and more chronic pain.
dwindle
become smaller or lose substance
What seemed like a lot of food now would dwindle to nothing in a matter of
weeks.
eccentric
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
They complain about him to Theo, calling him “ eccentric” and “strange.”
flounder
have difficulties; behave awkwardly
But like plenty of others, once at home, without a schedule and teachers to
monitor his progress, he floundered.
impose
inflict something unpleasant
And the old king, afraid the desperation would lead the people into disorder,
had imposed strict laws with harsh punishments.
lax
without rigor or strictness
His appointment indicated one thing: the government believed that discipline on
the island was too lax, and that a strong hand was needed to keep us in line.
lull
a pause during which things are calm
After an August lull, the debate resumed immediately this week.
meticulous
marked by extreme care in treatment of details
Again and again he came to her room, checking, making certain that she was
attentive to her job and would be meticulous in the work.
oblige
force somebody to do something
It doesn’t require its chief executive to speak French, but it does oblige the
airline to deliver services to the public in both languages.
take without referencing from someone's writing or speech
How could I become so desperate that I not only plagiarized a fellow student’s
work but on top of that deluded myself into thinking I had made up everything
myself
remnant
a small part remaining after the main part no longer exists
The remnants of her morning meal littered the table—sardine heads, olive pits,
chunks of flatbread.
sophisticated
having worldly knowledge and refinement
She was eighteen, a year older than I was, and much more sophisticated.
sustain
lengthen or extend in duration or space
He knows he's supposed to honor his country and his leaders, and that means to
obey, honor, and sustain its laws.
versatile
competent in many areas and able to adapt with ease
“We’re lucky we have versatile players, guys that can do a lot of different
things. That’s going to help us moving forward.

askew
turned or twisted to one side
He looked terrible—his clothes disheveled, his glasses bent and askew.
contemporary
belonging to the present time
The prize showcases new work submitted by contemporary photographers.
crude
belonging to an early stage of technical development
I myself had found ancient stone tools, very crude and primitive, that had
probably been used as hammers.
defiant
boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
“I’m not letting them stop me either,” Kaisha said, and she marched up to the
stairs, defiant.
fluctuate
be unstable
Sixteen percent of American workers’ schedules fluctuate based on their
employers’ needs.
haphazard
dependent upon or characterized by chance
Brown and black splotches are scattered across the canvas in a haphazard
design.
inconceivable
totally unlikely
Will and Lyra were both trembling and weak with fear, exhaustion, nausea, and
pain, but giving up was inconceivable.
jeer
laugh at with contempt and derision
She only lost control for an instant, but it was enough to make the crowd jeer
and cry out, “Coward!”
lenient
characterized by tolerance and mercy
"I ask the court to be lenient, in consideration of his age," says the attorney.
obliterate
do away with completely, without leaving a trace
She had tried to tear him to pieces, to wreck him, to obliterate him.
predicament
an unpleasant or difficult situation
It’s a predicament that hurts employers, too, as they struggle to keep people on
the job.
resilience
the ability to recover readily from adversity or change
According to grit’s advocates, persistence and resilience are far better
predictors of success, especially at school, than talent or IQ.
sprawl
sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
A boy around my age was sprawled across the floor, drawing on a large sheet
of paper.
tarnish
place under suspicion; make less respected
Oh, she’d keep their secrets; it would tarnish her reputation otherwise.
vigilant
carefully observant or attentive
I kept a vigilant watch, sometimes rising in the small hours of the night to gaze
out at the moonlit lanes and hedgerows.

astride
with one leg on each side
Charlie rode bareback astride the plow horse, his brown heels dug into the
horse’s wide flanks
clamor
loud and persistent outcry from many people
There was a small clamor of questions, comments, pleas, and thanks from
children who had remained still as stones throughout the story.
converge
move or draw together at a certain location
As we walked, we were joined by more rats; at that time of day they converged
on the marketplace from all directions.
delegate
give an assignment to or assign a task to
Previously, the federal government delegated to the individual states how each
could organize its voting procedures.
elated
exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits
"We're so elated that you could join us in celebrating the birthday of our
beloved daughter
forsake
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
We shall not forsake our old alliance with Gondor, and while they fight we
shall aid them: so say I and all who hold with me
incorporate
unite or merge with something already in existence
Teachers began incorporating the school’s history into lesson plans.
jostle
make one's way by pushing or shoving
They pushed and jostled and snapped impatiently at each other.
lapse
a break or intermission in the occurrence of something
It was as though we had known one another for a long time, and had met again
after a lapse of years.
liable
likely to be or do something
A house that dry is liable to go up in flames.
oblivious
lacking conscious awareness of
He was fast asleep, snoring like a squirrel in midwinter, oblivious to all about
him.
rural
living in or characteristic of farming or country life
Also it was very much a country house, surrounded by fields and rural walks.
taut
pulled or drawn tight
The lead rope is so taut it looks like it’s going to snap.
veer
turn sharply; change direction abruptly
With surprising speed, the man changed his direction, turning sharply and
veering into the street.
vulnerable
capable of being wounded or hurt
I have this vulnerable feeling, like if I stand outside too long, something’s
going to gobble me u

benevolent
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
She was a warm, benevolent woman who tried to make this first day as easy as
possible.
blunt
characterized by directness in manner or speech
Let me be perfectly blunt: my purpose in writing this brief note is to suggest
that we meet.
censorship
deleting parts of publications or theatrical performances
China maintains a strict censorship regime that bans access to some foreign
news outlets, search engines and social media.
contract
become smaller or draw together
The tree trunks expand and contract as if they are breathing
diligent
characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks
He was known as a diligent worker, and his skill and leadership qualities were
plain to all his subordinates.
embellish
add details to
Then when she saw Teacher there looking so interested, she embellished the
story
endure
undergo or be subjected to
I had come so far, endured so much agony and suffering
fugitive
someone who is sought by law officers
My parents now lived the lives of perpetual fugitives, fleeing by day and fleeing
by night, making sure that they were never caught together under the same roof
as husband and wife.
inexplicable
incapable of being explained or accounted for
For some inexplicable reason I’m here, and none of it makes sense.
intrigue
cause to be interested or curious
One poem in particular, written before the storm, intrigued Ivy so much that
she read it twice.
obscure
not clearly understood or expressed
Our argument ended in a draw; we agreed that the passage was obscure and that
as it stood it could be explained either way.
prod
poke or thrust abruptly
When he prodded Wez with the toe of his boot, the boy sat up and rubbed his
eyes.
torrent
an overwhelming number or amount
The messages started coming in a trickle Friday afternoon, then a torrent by
Monday.
tranquil
not agitated
One moment everything was tranquil, and the next moment the geese were in a
panic.
warily
in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
I approached warily, certain that as I moved closer the horse would buck, or
rear, or charge.
 blemish
a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something
Every blemish disappeared, her skin turning flawlessly smooth.
colossal
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
Everything about Disney World is colossal — at 25,000 acres, it is nearly twice
the size of Manhattan — and the sports facility is no exception.
conscious
showing realization or recognition of something
I was conscious of the unfairness of accusing a man of hideous crimes when he
could not answer questions or defend himself.
discipline
punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience
It's not my place to scold or discipline him.
gingerly
in a manner marked by extreme care or delicacy
With each step she paused and gingerly padded her foot in front of her, feeling
around for solid ground.
infringe
go against, as of rules and laws
The new law violates the Voting Rights Act and infringes on Georgia voters’
constitutional rights, the lawsuit says.
judicial
relating to the administration of justice
Allowing the public to watch justice in action will help build trust in our
judicial system.
jut
extend out or project in space
We liked to sit on the log that jutted out across the brook and let our legs
dangle into the water.
lacking exceptional quality or ability
He was mediocre in English, social studies, French, and computer science, and
well below average in math and science.
ominous
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
Her tone was ominous, as though our next meeting would not be happy.
protrude
extend out or project in space
In the stump there was a hole, and out of the hole protruded something that
looked a little like a leaf, but was not.
sheepish
showing a sense of shame
I glance over at Pop and Dad and their eyes look small, their faces sheepish,
like they’re embarrassed for me.
stricken
affected by something overwhelming
Mr. Ray flopped back down on the couch, his face stricken, like he had seen a
ghost.
stupendous
so great in size, force, or extent as to elicit awe
They are stupendous hunters, able to bring in salmon or trout that are
sometimes two-to-three times as heavy as they are.
whim
a sudden desire
We change plans, go to plan B, interrupt conversations, go back on promises
depending on his moods, his whims, his needs
compatible
able to exist and perform in harmonious combination
Their parents already knew each other and felt their personalities would be
compatible.
convey
serve as a means for expressing something
I really want to convey the message that you are not alone.
disdain
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
The eyes of the other sailors are on me, and I can’t tell if their stares hold
approval or disdain.
entail
impose, involve, or imply as a necessary result
Renting a vacation home entails certain risks, but you can minimize or avoid
them by doing your research.
grueling
characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
After hours of grueling labor, I finally got the ramp made.n
ingenious
showing inventiveness and skill
Over the years I’ve interviewed scores of scientists, inventors, and
entrepreneurs, and I’m continually impressed by how ingenious humans are as
a species.
juvenile
displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
The older Nico got, the more juvenile Percy seemed to him, though Percy was
three years older
melancholy
characterized by or causing or expressing sadness
He tried to smile, but his eyes were downcast and melancholy.
oppress
come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
“We’d left a country that was broken, unsafe, unpredictable and oppressing its
own people for a country that allowed us to thrive.
rebellious
resisting control or authority
When I was a young teenager, I was uncontrollable, rebellious.
scorn
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
With a snarl that expressed hatred, rage, and scorn, the bear reached up with a
great claw and unhooked the chain that held his helmet in place.
smug
marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
The public conversation is so much better without name-calling and sneering
and smug superiority.
subside
wear off or die down
As the fever subsided, I began to feel better, but Grandma said I should stay
home a few more days to make sure I was completely well.
tumultuous
characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
After all those tumultuous months, filled with turbulent thoughts, anxiety
attacks, and headaches, it was finally settled
wispy
thin and weak
Her hair was wispy and thin on her ancient head.

1. calamity

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

Windstorms, lightning fires, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and other

natural calamities knock down trees and open up the forest, or prevent
open country from turning into forestland.

2. casual

marked by a lack of concern

Liam tried to keep his voice casual, but his eyes had darkened, obviously
troubled.
3. chortle

laugh quietly or with restraint

I chortled delightedly as it came back to me.

4. cower

show submission or fear

The tiger roared furiously and the girl cowered.

5. curt

brief and to the point

His morning announcements were short and curt, and he didn’t say
anything about the scoreboard.

6. dormant

in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation

He had planted a seed, and though I let that seed lie dormant for a long
season, it eventually began to grow.

7. dubious

not convinced

I must have looked dubious, for he said: “Really, I do.

8. falter

speak haltingly

His voice faltered—like he wasn’t sure if he was saying it right this time.

9. idle

not in action or at work

His men were idle and dishonest, the fields were full of weeds, the
buildings wanted roofing, the hedges were neglected, and the animals
were underfed.keen
 demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

But in the meantime, I employed my keen powers of observation rather

than beastly force.

not sure if this is the def you wanted

10.lament

express grief verbally

He would scold her gently and lament, “Am I never to have a grandson?”

11.ornate

marked by complexity and richness of detail

The ornate lobby, with its marble columns and twisting staircases, leads
to a lush, domed auditorium with seating for about 650 and decorated
with a colorful timeline fresco detailing the country’s history.

12.perpetual

uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing

One side of the planet is in perpetual day time, and the other in
perpetual night — with a huge temperature difference between the two.

13.recede

become faint or more distant

Presently the voices began to recede again, and then they slowly faded
away.

14.relentless

never-ceasing

The sun was relentless and eternal: There was neither wisp of cloud nor
whiff of breeze for relief.

15.sociable
 inclined to or conducive to companionship with others

"He was very bubbly, outgoing, sociable and caring," she added.sullen

showing a brooding ill humor

After we told her that she couldn’t see Mayor anymore, Maribel grew
moody and sullen.

16.unfurl

unroll, unfold, or spread out

When everyone is seated, Miss Larsen pulls a loop on a string and a

colorful map of the world unfurls on the wall.waft

be driven or carried along, as by the air

The smell of the spices on the chicken wafted up, and a pang of hunger
hit Moss again.writhe

move in a twisting or contorted motion

But as the servant lifted the fish, it writhed and twisted, jumping out of
the servant's hands.