English Vocabulary R–Z

 

R

ramification n. a consequence, complication, development

rampant adj. unrestrained, widespread, spreading quickly

rancor n. deep, bitter resentment

rarefied adj. lofty, refined, elevated

rash adj. hasty, incautious

raucous adj. loud, harsh, boisterous

raze v. to demolish, level

rebuke v. to scold, criticize

recalcitrant adj. defiant, unapologetic

recidivist adj. tending to relapse into a bad habit or behavior

reciprocate v. to give in return

reclusive adj. solitary, shunning society

recompense n. payment in return for something

reconcile v. 1. to return to harmony; 2. to make consistent with existing ideas

rectitude n. righteousness, correctness, uprightness

redact v. to edit or revise for publication

redoubtable adj. 1. formidable; 2. commanding respect

redundant adj. unnecessarily repetitive

refract v. to distort, change

refurbish v. to restore, clean up

refute v. to prove wrong

regale v. to entertain, amuse, give a feast for

relentless adj. persistent, incessant, unforgiving

relish v. to enjoy, savor

reluctant adj. hesitating, unwilling, disinclined

remedial adj. basic; intended to repair gaps in a student’s basic knowledge

reminiscent adj. tending to recall or bring to mind something

rendezvous n. 1. a prearranged meeting; 2. a meeting place

renounce v. to reject, especially by public announcement

reparation n. 1. the act of repairing or making amends; 2. something done or given in order to make amends

replete adj. full, abundant

reprehensible adj. deserving severe criticism or rebuke

reprobate adj. evil, unprincipled

reprove v. to scold, rebuke

repudiate v. to reject, refuse to accept

reputable adj. of good reputation

requisition n. a formal request for a good or service

rescind v. to take back, repeal

resilient adj. able to recover from misfortune; able to withstand adversity

resolute adj. firm, determined

resolve v. 1. to find a solution; 2. to decide firmly

restitution n. restoration to the rightful owner

restive adj. resistant, stubborn, impatient

revel v. to enjoy intensely

revere v. to esteem, show deference, venerate

rhapsodize v. to be overly enthusiastic about something

ribald adj. coarsely, crudely humorous

rife adj. prevalent, widespread, overabundant

robust adj. able to withstand adversity, hardy

ruminate v. to think over, reflect upon

ruse n. a tricky or deceptive strategy or maneuver

 

S

sacrosanct adj. seen as holy or above criticism

sadistic adj. deriving pleasure from cruelty toward others

sagacious adj. shrewd, perceptive, keen

salacious adj. bawdy, lewdly sexual

salient adj. prominent, notable, conspicuous

salve n. a soothing balm; v. to soothe

sanctimonious adj. giving a hypocritical appearance of piety

sanction v. to endorse, approve; n. 1. permission, approval; 2. an economic or political penalty

sanctum n. a sacred or private place

sanguine adj. optimistic, cheery

sartorial adj. of or relating to clothes or tailoring

satiate v. to satisfy a desire or appetite fully or excessively

scabrous adj. 1. rough, scaly; 2. scandalous, indecent

schadenfreude n. pleasure or satisfaction derived from the troubles or misfortunes of others

scrupulous adj. painstaking, careful

scrutiny n. close or careful examination, inspection

scurrilous adj. vulgar, coarse

segue v. to transition smoothly from one thing to another

semaphore n. a visual signal

serendipity n. 1. luck, good fortune; 2. a fortunate discovery

serene adj. calm, untroubled

servile adj. subservient, submissive, slavish

sibilant adj. making a hissing sound

slander n. speech that falsely damages a person’s reputation

smite v. to strike, attack, afflict

sobriquet n. a nickname, especially an affectionate one

solicitous adj. concerned, attentive

soliloquy n. a dramatic monologue given alone onstage

solipsistic adj. believing that oneself is all that exists

soluble adj. able to dissolve

solvent n. a substance that can dissolve other substances; adj. able to pay debts

somnolent adj. sleepy, drowsy

sophisticated adj. 1. refined, worldly, aware; 2. complex

sophistry n. seemingly valid but ultimately empty argument

sophomoric adj. immature, childish, uninformed

spartan adj. 1. self-disciplined; 2. simple, unadorned

specious adj. appearing true or correct but actually false

spurious adj. false but designed to seem plausible

stagnate v. to become or stay inactive, not develop, not flow

staid adj. sedate, serious, self-restrained

stentorian adj. very loud

stoic adj. unaffected by passion or feeling

stolid adj. expressing little or no emotion or sensibility

strident adj. harshly or irritatingly loud, shrill

stupefy v. to astonish, make insensible

subjugate v. to bring under control, subdue

submissive adj. easily yielding to authority

succinct adj. marked by compact precision

sunder v. to tear or break apart, often violently

sundry adj. various, miscellaneous, assorted

superfluous adj. redundant, exceeding what is necessary

supplant v. to replace, undermine, overthrow

surfeit n. an overabundant supply or indulgence

surmise v. to infer with little evidence

surreptitious adj. stealthy

sycophant n. one who flatters for personal gain

sylvan adj. of or relating to woods or forests

 

T

tacit adj. expressed without words, implied

taciturn adj. habitually silent or untalkative

tantalize v. to torment or tease by making one aware of something desirable but keeping it always out of reach

tantamount adj. equivalent in value or significance

tautology n. 1. a redundancy; 2. a logically true but meaningless statement (e.g., “It will rain or it will not rain.”)

temerity n. audacity, recklessness

tempestuous adj. stormy, turbulent, tumultuous

tenable adj. able to be defended or maintained

tenuous adj. having little substance or strength

terse adj. concise, succinct, to the point

threshold n. 1. a boundary, border; 2. a dawning, beginning

timorous adj. timid, fearful

tirade n. a lengthy, angry speech or denunciation

toady n. one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors

torpid adj. dull, lethargic, lacking energy

torrid adj. 1. hot, scorching; 2. passionate; 3. rapid

tortuous adj. 1. winding, twisting; 2. devious, complex

tractable adj. easily controlled

traipse v. to walk about carelessly or aimlessly

transgress v. to violate, go over a limit

transient adj. passing through briefly; passing into and out of existence

translucent adj. partly but not completely transparent

transmute v. to change or alter in form

travesty n. a grossly inferior imitation

tremulous adj. fearful, trembling

trenchant adj. effective, articulate, clear-cut

trite adj. unoriginal, overused

trivial adj. 1. ordinary; 2. insignificant, unimportant

truant adj. 1. absent without permission; 2. lazy, idle

truculent adj. 1. cruel, ferocious; 2. belligerent, aggressive

tumult n. disorder, commotion, agitation

turbid adj. muddy, muddled, opaque

turgid adj. 1. swollen, distended, bloated; 2. excessively embellished in style or language

turpitude n. depravity, moral corruption

 

U

ubiquitous adj. existing seemingly everywhere at once

ululate v. to howl, wail

umbrage n. resentment, offense

unabashed adj. shameless, unapologetic, unembarrassed

unctuous adj. 1. oily, smooth, or greasy in texture, appearance, or manner; 2. insincere or ingratiating

undulate v. to move in waves

upbraid v. to criticize or scold severely

urbane adj. refined, courteous, elegant

usurp v. to seize by force, take possession of without right

usury n. the loaning of money for interest, usually a high rate

utilitarian adj. practical, relating to or aiming at usefulness

utopia n. an imaginary and remote place of perfection

 

V

vacillate v. to fluctuate, hesitate

vacuous adj. lack of content or ideas, stupid

vagary n. an erratic, random, unpredictable notion or action

vagrant n. a wanderer, homeless person; adj. wandering

validate v. to confirm, support, corroborate

vapid adj. lacking liveliness, dull

variegated adj. diversified, distinctly marked

vehement adj. powerful, impassioned, ardent

veneer n. a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, façade

venerable adj. deserving of respect because of age or achievement

venerate v. to regard with respect, honor

veracity n. truthfulness, accuracy

verbose adj. wordy, impaired by wordiness

verdant adj. green in tint or color

vertiginous adj. 1. spinning, whirling; 2. dizzy

verve n. energy, vigor, liveliness

vestige n. a mark or trace of something lost or vanished

vex v. to confuse or annoy

vicarious adj. experiencing through another

vicissitude n. 1. changeability; 2. an event that occurs by chance

vigilant adj. watchful, alert

vilify v. to defame, make slanderous statements about

vindicate v. to avenge; to free from allegation; to set free

vindictive adj. vengeful, spiteful

virile adj. 1. vigorous, energetic; 2. having masculine strength or power

virtuoso n. a person with great technical skill in musical performance or the arts; adj. masterful

viscous adj. syrupy, thick, sticky, not fl owing freely

vitriolic adj. harsh, bitter, scathing

vituperate v. to criticize harshly, berate

vivacious adj. spirited, vigorous, animated

vixen n. a fierce-tempered woman

vocation n. a profession, occupation, calling

vociferous adj. loud, boisterous

 

W

wan adj. pale, sickly

wane v. to diminish, decline, or abate gradually

wanton adj. undisciplined, lewd, lustful

whimsical adj. fanciful, capricious, erratic

winsome adj. charming, pleasing

wistful adj. full of yearning; musingly sad

wizened adj. dry, shrunken, wrinkled

wrack v. to ruin, wreck

wrath n. strong vengeful anger, punishment

wreak v. to cause, bring about, inflict

wry adj. characterized by dry or sarcastic humor

 

X

xenophobia n. a fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers

 

Y

yawning adj. gaping, wide open

yoke n. a burden or oppression; v. to join, link

 

Z

zealous adj. fervent, in eager pursuit of something

zeitgeist n. the spirit of a specific generation or time period

zenith n. the highest or culminating point of something

zephyr n. a gentle breeze