Writing Enhancement: Astounding Adjectives
A list of more than 300 alluring adjectives to enhance both your writing skills and comprehension. While the words progress from simple to sophisticated, always remember that any and all adjectives offer value in a piece of writing!
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Explore the Words
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minuteinfinitely or immeasurably small
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galvanizingaffected by emotion as if by electricity; thrillingAn extremely inspiring book or movie may be described as being simply "galvanizing".
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opportunesuitable or advantageous especially for a particular purposeThat was the
opportune time to take advantage of the offer. -
engagingattracting or delightingEnglish class 🙂
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solemndignified and somber in manner or character
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intrinsicbelonging to a thing by its very nature
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tacitimplied by or inferred from actions or statements
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distinguishedstanding above others in character or attainment
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potenthaving or wielding force or authority
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sincereopen and genuine; not deceitful
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indifferentmarked by a lack of interest
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precisesharply exact or accurate or delimited
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sovereigna nation's ruler usually by hereditary right
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diffidentshowing modest reserve
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lucrativeproducing a sizeable profitX didn't prove to be a very
lucrative stock. -
amenabledisposed or willing to complyHe said he was
amenable to making the changes we requested. -
melancholya constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
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eloquentexpressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
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subservientcompliant and obedient to authority
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denigratingharmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malignDefamatory
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subtledifficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
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inferiorof or characteristic of low rank or importance
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exquisitedelicately beautiful
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perpetualcontinuing forever or indefinitely
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tensetaut or rigid; stretched tight
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effervescentmarked by high spirits or excitement
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obstinatemarked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
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coarserough to the touch
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impoverishedpoor enough to need help from others
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vulgarof or associated with the great masses of people
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bodaciousunrestrained by convention or propriety
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triumphantexperiencing victory
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tranquilfree from disturbance by heavy waves
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daintysomething considered choice to eat
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ardentcharacterized by intense emotion
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venerableprofoundly honoredSAT word!
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amiablediffusing warmth and friendliness
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benevolentshowing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
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haughtyhaving or showing arrogant superiority
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vehementmarked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
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vilemorally reprehensible
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meekhumble in spirit or manner
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illustriouswidely known and esteemed
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animatedhaving life or vigor or spirit
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refinedcultivated and genteel
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integralexisting as an essential constituent or characteristic
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convolutedhighly complex or intricateWashington is often accused of comprising convoluted politicians in office.
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exaltedof high moral or intellectual value
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disparagingexpressive of low opinion
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triflingnot worth considering
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scrupulouscharacterized by extreme care and great effort
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nebulouslacking definition or definite contentVague or unclear intentions may be described as "nebulous"
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spontaneoussaid or done without having been planned in advance
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eccentricconspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
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devoutdeeply religious
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vexedtroubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
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austereof a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
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orthodoxadhering to what is commonly accepted
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trivial(informal) small and of little importance
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contingentdetermined by conditions or circumstances that followThe agreement is
contingent upon your continuing to get good grades. -
barbarousable or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
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zealousmarked by active interest and enthusiasm
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forlornmarked by or showing hopelessness
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impartialfree from undue bias or preconceived opinions
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wantonindulgent in immoral or improper behaviorHe slept with her, too? How
wanton is he? -
monotonoussounded or spoken in a tone unvarying in pitchDragging on
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intricatehaving many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
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candidopenly straightforward and direct without secretiveness
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luminoussoftly bright or radiant
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homelycozy and comfortable
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incredulousnot disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
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conclusiveforming a decisive end or resolution
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suggestivetending to hint at something improper or indecentLook at that
suggestive dress she's wearing! -
aloofremote in manner
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intermediatearound the middle of a scale of evaluation
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shadysheltered from the sun's rays
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turbulentcharacterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
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congenialsuitable to your needs
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erroneouscontaining or characterized by mistakes
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palpablecapable of being perceived
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magnanimousnoble and generous in spirit
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rancidhaving an offensive smell or taste
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prudentmarked by sound judgment
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malignantdangerous to health
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disinterestedunaffected by concern for one's own welfare
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staidcharacterized by dignity and propriety
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indulgentgiven to yielding to the wishes of someone
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whimsicaldetermined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
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brazenunrestrained by convention or propriety
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authoritativeof recognized power or excellence
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reflectivedeeply or seriously thoughtful
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pragmaticconcerned with practical matters
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economicalusing the minimum of time or resources for effectiveness
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invaluablehaving incalculable monetary or intellectual worth
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audaciousdisposed to venture or take risks
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compassionateshowing or having sympathy for another's suffering
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deplorableof very poor quality or condition
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tumultuouscharacterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
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affablediffusing warmth and friendliness
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unintelligiblenot clearly understood or expressedOften used as a synonym of unintelligent
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stolidhaving or revealing little emotion or sensibility
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ostensibleappearing as such but not necessarily so
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antecedentpreceding in time or order
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astoundingbewildering or striking dumb with wonder
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affluenthaving an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
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fastidiousgiving careful attention to detail
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aridlacking sufficient water or rainfall
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lamentablebad; unfortunate
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uncannysurpassing the ordinary or normal
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quotidianfound in the ordinary course of events
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reputableheld in high esteem and honor
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paltrycontemptibly small in amount or sizeThat's quite a
paltry dish you have there for a growing boy. -
ostentatiousintended to attract notice and impress others
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auspiciousindicating favorable circumstances and good luck
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amorousinclined toward or displaying love
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opulentrich and superior in quality
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bashfulself-consciously timid
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pretentiouscreating an appearance of importance or distinction
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angelichaving a sweet natureInnocent and pure
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licentiouslacking moral discipline...Certainly not angelic!
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fictitiousformed or conceived by the imagination
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culturedmarked by refinement in taste and manners
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alluringhighly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
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obliviouslacking conscious awareness of
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erraticliable to sudden unpredictable change
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intriguingcapable of arousing interest or curiosity
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astutemarked by practical hardheaded intelligence
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clairvoyantsomeone who can perceive things not present to the sensesShe had a
clairvoyant sense of the future... -
resplendenthaving great beauty
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obstreperousnoisily and stubbornly defiant
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incensedangered at something unjust or wrong
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discordantnot in agreement or harmony
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naivemarked by or showing unaffected simplicityI wouldn't call her crazy, but that decision nevertheless made her seem a bit
naive. -
prosaiclacking wit or imagination
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revoltinghighly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
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reminiscentserving to bring to mind
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nimblemoving quickly and lightly
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pungentstrong and sharp to the sense of taste or smellWhat is that
pungent smell? -
diabolicalshowing cunning or ingenuity or wickedness
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avidmarked by active interest and enthusiasmI'm an
avid fan of Vocabulary.com.Are you an avid fan of this list? -
adorablelovable especially in a childlike or naive way
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perplexinglacking clarity of meaning
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frigidextremely cold
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resentfulfull of or marked by indignant ill will
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woefulaffected by or full of grief or sadness
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insidiousworking or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
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opaquenot transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy
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deceptivedesigned to mislead either deliberately or inadvertently
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inordinatebeyond normal limits
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sardonicdisdainfully or ironically humorousHumorous or satyrical writing is often described as being sardonic.
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balmymild and pleasant
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jubilantfull of high-spirited delight
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rudimentarybeing in the earliest stages of development
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inestimablebeyond calculation or measure
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priorearlier in timeSimple alternative to "previous"
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promiscuouscasual and unrestrained in sexual behaviorNo one wants to see your Cleveland!
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facetiouscleverly amusing in tone
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contemplativedeeply or seriously thoughtful
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provocativeserving or tending to excite or stimulate
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conciliatorymaking or willing to make concessions
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nostalgicunhappy about being away and longing for familiar thingsWe felt rather
nostalgic after playing with a Koosh ball from our childhood! -
malevolentwishing or appearing to wish evil to others
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tempestuouscharacterized by violent emotions or behavior
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taciturnhabitually reserved and uncommunicative
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tautpulled or drawn tight
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immutablenot subject or susceptible to change or variation
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lustrousreflecting lightNot to be confused with "luscious".
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depraveddeviating from what is considered moral or right or proper
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obsequiousattempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
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clandestineconducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
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commendableworthy of high praiseTo commend someone for their work is to praise or appreciate them for what they've done.
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impromptuwith little or no preparation or forethought
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aromatichaving a strong pleasant odor
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disreputablelacking respectability in character, behavior or appearance
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vivaciousvigorous and animated
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meagerdeficient in amount or quality or extent
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exorbitantgreatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderationYou're not being rational if you're being exorbitant.
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antagonisticcharacterized by feelings of intense dislike or hostility
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unconventionalnot conforming to standards
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surreptitiousmarked by quiet and caution and secrecy
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complaisantshowing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
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incipientonly partly in existence; imperfectly formed
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refractorystubbornly resistant to authority or controlHis
refractory demeanor made him an unworthy candidate for the job. -
ubiquitousbeing present everywhere at onceCell phones have become a
ubiquitous aspect of society---nearly everyone has one! -
luscioushaving strong sexual appeal
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premeditatedcharacterized by deliberate purpose and a degree of planning
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outlandishnoticeably or extremely unconventional or unusual
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overtopen and observable; not secret or hidden
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fervidcharacterized by intense emotion
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flamboyanttending to attract attention; marked by ostentatious display
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mundanefound in the ordinary course of events
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incorrigibleimpervious to correction by punishment
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tantalizingarousing desire or expectation for something unattainable
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heinousextremely wicked or deeply criminalNever have I seen a crime quite so
heinous. -
indubitabletoo obvious to be doubted
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smugmarked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
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omniscientknowing, seeing, or understanding everything
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imperceptibleimpossible or difficult to sense
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convivialoccupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
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voraciousdevouring or craving food in great quantitiesI'm so voracious I could eat a horse!
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clarionloud and clear
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inanedevoid of intelligenceUnintelligible
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torpidin a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
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detrimentalcausing harm or injury
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tawdrytastelessly showy
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triterepeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
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colloquialcharacteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
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candescentglowing from great heat
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cogentpowerfully persuasive
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ravishingstunningly beautifulAlso used to describe extreme hunger. A person voracious enough to eat a horse may describe themselves as "ravishing" for food.
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intrusivetending to enter uninvited
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asperityharshness of manner
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outlandishnoticeably or extremely unconventional or unusualBarbara's purple house is somewhat
outlandish; personally, though, I like it. -
effulgentradiating or as if radiating light
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pristineimmaculately clean and unused
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torridcharacterized by intense emotionBe careful not to conflate this with "torpid"
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reprehensiblebringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
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fallaciouscontaining or based on incorrect reasoning
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forthrightcharacterized by directness in manner or speech
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inconspicuousnot prominent or readily noticeable
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nefariousextremely wicked
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fortuitouslucky; occurring by happy chance
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redolenthaving a strong pleasant odor
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indeterminatenot fixed or known in advance
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abhorrentoffensive to the mind
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cryptichaving a secret or hidden meaning
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enlighteningtending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance
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preeminentgreatest in importance, degree, or significance
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factiousdissenting with the majority opinion
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scurrilousexpressing offensive, insulting, or scandalous criticism
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calamitoushaving extremely unfortunate or dire consequences
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bona fidenot counterfeit or copied
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recalcitrantstubbornly resistant to authority or control
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egotisticalhaving an inflated idea of one's own importance
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lethargicdeficient in alertness or activity
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poignancya quality that arouses emotions, especially pity or sorrowMarley and Me was notorious for its
poignancy---eliciting tears in even the most macho of men.A moment is often described as being "poignant". -
brassyresembling the sound of a brass instrument
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altruisticshowing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
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somnolentinclined to or marked by drowsiness
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illusoryhaving the nature of something unreal or deceptive
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bombasticostentatiously lofty in style
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prosylacking wit or imagination
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neglectfulnot showing due care or attention
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malleableeasily influencedMalleable metal is metal that has been heated to be moved or shaped more easily. Likewise, malleable people are people easily influenced, shaped or changed by those around them. Most children begin very malleable and lose this malleability over time. In psychology, the phenomena is known as plasticity.
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inconsequentiallacking worth or importance
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scraggyhaving a sharply uneven surface or outlineAtop the
scraggy mountain even the most skilled of hikers may struggle. -
cantankerousstubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
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illusivebased on or having the nature of a fantasy
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quintessentialrepresenting the perfect example of a class or quality
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chipperhaving a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air
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machoused of men; markedly masculine in appearance or manner
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gargantuanof great mass; huge and bulky
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extemporaneouswith little or no preparation or forethoughtI extemporaneously created a list on Vocabulary.com.
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ambrosialworthy of the gods
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myopiclacking foresight or scope
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meretricioustastelessly showyA sports car is considered
meretricious by some. -
listlessmarked by low spirits; showing no enthusiasm
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idiosyncraticpeculiar to the individual
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sleazymorally degraded
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amnesicof or relating to or caused by amnesia
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archetypalof an original type after which other things are patterned
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nugatoryof no real valueA nugget of gold
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slumberousinclined to or marked by drowsiness
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euphonioushaving a pleasant sound
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euphoriccharacterized by a feeling of well-being or elation
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mesmerizingattracting and holding interest as if by a spell
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atypicalnot representative of a group, class, or typeSimple, yet effective in writing
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phantasmalresembling or characteristic of a phantom
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titillatingpleasantly and superficially exciting
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scrumptiousextremely pleasing to the sense of taste
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egocentriclimited to or caring only about yourself and your own needs
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incommodiousuncomfortably or inconveniently smallA bit of an old-fashioned word.
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cacophonoushaving an unpleasant sound
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scabrousrough to the touch, as if covered with scales or projections
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crepuscularlike or relating to twilight; dimDogs are known for being
crepuscular, being most active at sunrise and sunset. -
devianta person whose behavior does not conform to social norms
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empatheticshowing ready comprehension of others' statesSympathy is showing an understanding of another's emotions. Empathy is personally identifying with another's emotions (putting yourself in someone another's shoes).
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moronichaving a mental age of between eight and twelve years
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duplicitousmarked by deliberate deceptiveness
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limpidclear and bright
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tenebrousdark and gloomy
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luminescentemitting light not caused by heat
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somniferoussleep inducing
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persnicketycharacterized by excessive attention to trivial details
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delusorycausing one to believe what is not true or fail to believe what is true
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reputableheld in high esteem and honorJohn is a very
reputable surgeon --- he'll get the job done right. -
snoopyoffensively curious or inquisitiveDon't go snooping through my house!
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applaudableworthy of high praise
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pedanticmarked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
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loopyinformal or slang terms for mentally irregular
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languidlacking spirit or liveliness
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benignnot dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressiveThe tumor we once thought cancerous was found to be
benign. -
capriciousdetermined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
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laconicbrief and to the pointA
laconic individual isn't very talkative.Usually used to describe words (e.g. a laconic individual isn't very talkative). -
satyricalof or relating to or having the characteristics of a satyr
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quixoticnot sensible about practical mattersOne of the coolest words of all time (in my humble opinion) 🙂
Antonym of "pragmatic" -
frivolousnot serious in content, attitude, or behavior
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formidableextremely impressive in strength or excellence
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gregarioustemperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
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vapidlacking significance or liveliness or spirit or zestHe seemed a bit
vapid despite having won the game. -
keenintense or sharp
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arbitrarybased on or subject to individual discretion or preference
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inevitableincapable of being avoided or prevented
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sparsenot dense or plentiful
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ambiguoushaving more than one possible meaning
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spuriousplausible but false
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incandescentcharacterized by ardent emotion, intensity, or brilliance
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extrovertedat ease in talking to othersMy
extroverted husband does the schmoozing at parties.Antonym of "introverted". An introverted classmate may not talk to others around them. -
malicioushaving the nature of threatening evil
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nihilisticrelating to a complete rejection of moral values and beliefsJeffrey Dahmer was known for being a nihilist.
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liberalshowing or characterized by broad-mindedness
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conservativeresistant to change
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conscientiouscharacterized by extreme care and great effort
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hypotheticala conjectural possibility or circumstance
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garrulousfull of trivial conversationMy conversation with Sam about the weather was
garrulous.Small talk. -
ulteriorlying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed
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wistfulshowing pensive sadness
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pensivedeeply or seriously thoughtful
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esotericunderstandable only by an enlightened inner circle
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xenophobichaving abnormal fear or hatred of foreigners
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zanyludicrous or foolishEccentric yet humorous (e.g. a clown).
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obsoleteno longer in useHardcover dictionaries are becoming
obsolete with the rise of websites like vocabulary.com. -
obscurenot clearly understood or expressed
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onerousburdensome or difficult to endure
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freneticfast and energetic in an uncontrolled or wild wayLove this word!
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eclecticselecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
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resilientrecovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
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disdainfulshowing arrogant superiority to those one views as unworthy
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variegatedhaving an assortment of colors
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imperativerequiring attention or action
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loquaciousfull of trivial conversation
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banalrepeated too often; overfamiliar through overuseThe word "plethora" has become quite
banal among writers.
See "hackneyed" -
analogoussimilar or equivalent in some respectsYou've probably heard the word "analogy". Dog is to mammal as eagle is to bird. Boy is to girl as man is to woman. An analogy is a likening of two sets of items that would otherwise remain unconnected. Analogous items are items somehow linked together in a fashion similar to that of an analogy.
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jauntyhaving a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air
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tyrannicalcharacteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule
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cynicalbelieving the worst of human nature and motivesNot to sound
cynical, but I think the show will be a flop. -
etherealcharacterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
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ferventcharacterized by intense emotionA
fervent speech was delivered to Congress by the President with regard to the new Bill in works. -
ominousthreatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
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jadedexhaustedI'm still a bit
jaded from work but I'll try my best to help....after a long day of learning vocab! -
feralwild and menacingThat
feral beast is going to eat me! -
tangibleperceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
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exasperatedgreatly annoyed; out of patience
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liablesubject to legal action
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hackneyedrepeated too often; overfamiliar through overuseSee "banal"
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hastyexcessively quick
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salientconspicuous, prominent, or important
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unanimousin complete agreement
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impetuouscharacterized by undue haste and lack of thought
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qualitativeinvolving distinguishing attributes
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quaintattractively old-fashioned
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rationalconsistent with or based on or using reasonLet's not jump to any conclusions and do something irrational now...
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nascentbeing born or beginning
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latentpotentially existing but not presently evident or realized
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miscellaneousconsisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
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mischievousnaughtily or annoyingly playful
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moroseshowing a brooding ill humor
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judiciousmarked by the exercise of common sense in practical matters
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pompouspuffed up with vanitySee egocentric
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vainhaving an exaggerated sense of self-importance
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stoicseeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassiveHe was quite
stoic in his answers to police. -
earnestdevout or heartfelt
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retroactiveaffecting things past
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shrewdmarked by practical hardheaded intelligenceShrewd often has a negative connotation. Crafty, sly and even manipulative are often used interchangeably with "shrewd"
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shallownot deep or strong; not affecting one deeplyShallow people are often harsh, cold or indifferent toward others' emotions.
Created on March 24, 2012
(updated October 15, 2012)
(updated October 15, 2012)