Word Smart 1+2

Word List 1-2

• Abash: to make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed
• Abate: to make something less severe or serious
• Abdicate: to give up a position or responsibility
• Aberration: something that is abnormal or deviates from the norm
• Abhor: to have a strong dislike or hatred for something
• Abject: completely submission or defeat
• Abnegate: to give up something willingly
• Abortive: unsuccessful or incomplete
• Abridge: to shorten or condense something
• Absolute: completely unlimited or unrestricted
• Absolve: to free someone from guilt or responsibility
• Abstinent: refraining from something, especially food or drink
• Abstract: not concrete or specific
• Abstruse: difficult to understand
• Abysmal: extremely bad or unpleasant

(continued)

• Accolade: an award or praise
• Accost: to approach or stop someone suddenly
• Acerbic: bitter or sour in taste or tone
• Acquiesce: to agree or accept something reluctantly
• Acrid: having a sharp, bitter taste or smell
• Acrimonious: bitter or caustic in tone
• Acumen: sharpness or quickness of mind
• Acute: sharp or severe
• Adamant: unyielding or unrelenting
• Address: to speak or write to someone
• Adherent: someone who supports or follows a particular idea or group
• Admonish: to warn or advise someone
• Adroit: skillful or clever
• Adulation: excessive praise or admiration
• Adulterate: to make something impure or weaker by adding inferior ingredients
• Adverse: opposed or unfavorable
• Aesthetic: related to beauty or taste
• Affable: pleasant or friendly
• Affinity: a natural or close connection
• Affluent: wealthy or rich
• Agenda: a list of items to be discussed or done
• Agrarian: related to agriculture or farming
• Aggregate: a collection of things or people
• Agnostic: someone who does not believe or disbelieve in a particular idea or concept
• Alacrity: quickness or enthusiasm
• Allegiance: loyalty or devotion
• Alleviate: to make something less severe or painful
• Allocate: to distribute or assign resources
• Alloy: a mixture of two or more metals
• Allusion: a reference to something or someone
• Ameliorate: to improve or make something better
• Amenable: willing to accept or agree
• Amenities: pleasant or comfortable facilities
• Amiable: friendly or pleasant
• Amnesty: a pardon or forgiveness
• Amoral: not concerned with morality or ethics
• Amorous: showing or feeling love or affection
• Amorphous: having no definite shape or form
• Anachronism: something or someone out of place in terms of time or context
• Analogy: a comparison between two things
• Anarchy: a state of society without government or authority
• Anecdote: a short, amusing story or account
• Anguish: severe pain or suffering
• Animosity: strong dislike or hatred
• Anomaly: something that deviates from the norm
• Antecedent: a person or thing that comes before another
• Antipathy: a strong dislike or hatred
• Antithesis: the opposite of something
• Apartheid: a system of segregation or discrimination
• Apathy: lack of interest or concern
• Aphorism: a short, witty saying or phrase
• Apocalypse: a complete destruction or end of the world
• Apocryphal: not genuine or authentic
• Apotheosis: the highest or most exalted state
• Appease: to make someone or something happy or satisfied
• Appreciate: to recognize or enjoy the value or quality of something
• Apprehensive: anxious or fearful about the future
• Approbation: approval or agreement
• Appropriate: suitable or fitting for a particular purpose
• Aptitude: a natural ability or talent
• Arbiter: a person who makes a decision or judgment
• Arbitrary: based on personal opinion or preference
• Arcane: mysterious or obscure
• Archaic: old-fashioned or outdated
• Archetype: a typical or original example
• Ardent: passionate or enthusiastic
• Arduous: difficult or requiring a lot of effort
• Aristocratic: of or relating to nobility or high social class
• Artful: skillful or clever
• Artifice: a clever or cunning trick or device
• Ascendancy: a state of being superior or dominant
• Ascetic: someone who practices self-denial or abstinence
• Assiduous: working hard or diligently
• Assimilate: to absorb or integrate something
• Assuage: to make something less painful or unpleasant
• Astute: clever or perceptive
• Attrition: a gradual reduction or wearing away
• Audacity: boldness or courage
• Augment: to increase or add to something
• Auspicious: favorable or promising
• Austere: severe or strict
• Autocratic: having power or control over others

(continued)

• Autonomous: having independence or self-governance
• Avarice: greed or excessive desire for wealth
• Avow: to declare or promise something
• Avuncular: relating to an uncle or aunt
• Awry: wrong or askew
• Axiom: a self-evident truth or principle
• Banal: lacking originality or interest
• Bane: a cause of harm or destruction
• Bastion: a stronghold or fortified place
• Beget: to produce or cause something
• Belabor: to repeat or emphasize something
• Belie: to give a false impression
• Belittle: to make someone or something seem less important
• Belligerent: aggressive or hostile
• Benevolent: kind or generous
• Benign: gentle or mild
• Bequest: a gift or legacy
• Bereaved: feeling sorrow or loss
• Beset: to surround or attack someone
• Blasphemy: speaking or acting against God or religion
• Blatant: obvious or conspicuous
• Blight: a disease or affliction
• Blithe: carefree or happy
• Bourgeois: relating to the middle class or materialism
• Bovine: relating to cows or cattle
• Brevity: shortness or concise language
• Broach: to introduce or discuss a subject
• Bucolic: relating to the countryside or rustic life
• Bureaucracy: a system of government or administration
• Burgeon: to grow or flourish
• Burlesque: a comedic or mocking performance
• Cacophony: a harsh or discordant sound
• Cadence: a rhythm or flow
• (and so on, up to 1679)