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1062 Vocabulary Words
Robert Harris Version Date: October 7, 1999

Here is a list of practical vocabulary words that will enable you to read with better understanding and write with greater accuracy. Unlike lists that emphasize strange and impressive words that few people actually use, this list emphasizes words that are useful for your functional vocabulary.
abase abate abdicate aberration abet abeyance abhor abhorrent abjure abomination aboriginal abound abrade abridge abrogate abscond absolve abstemious abstinent abstruse abysmal accede accentuate accolade accrue acculturation acerbic acquiesce acquisitive acquit acrimonious acronym acumen acute adage adduce adherent adjunct admonish candid candor capacious capitulate capricious captivate carcinogenic cardinal careen cartel cartography cascade castigate catalyst caulk caustic celibacy censure charlatan chaste chasten chastise chimera chronic circumscribe circumspect circumvent clandestine clemency coagulate coalesce coda codicil coercion cogent cogitate cognizant cohesive cohort dispassionate disperse dispirit disproportionate disquiet dissemble disseminate dissent disservice dissident dissipate dissolution dissonance dissuade distend divergence divest divulge dogmatic dormant dross dubious ductility duplicity duress ebb ebullience eccentric echelon eclectic edification edifice effectual effervescent efficacious efficacy effluvia effrontery effulgent hegemony heinous heresy hermetic heterodox heterogeneous hiatus hindrance homage homogeneous hubris hyperbole hypocritical hypothetical iconoclast ideology idiom idiosyncrasy ignominious imbroglio imbue imminent immolate immutable impeccable impecunious impediment impervious impetuous implacable implicate implicit implore importunate imprecation impromptu impugn impunity inadvertent mordant morose motility multifarious multiplicity mundane munificence nadir narcissist nebulous nefarious nemesis neophyte nexus noisome notorious noxious nullify obdurate obfuscate oblique obliterate obscure obsequious obstinate obstreperous obtrusive obtuse obviate occlude officious ominous omniscient onerous ontology opaque opprobrium opulent orthodox rebut recalcitrant recant recidivist recluse recondite rectify redress redundant refractory refute relegate remuneration rend renounce replete replicate reprehensible reprobate repudiate repugnant rescind residual resilient resolute respite resplendent reticent retract retrospect revamp revulsion rife rotund rubric rudimentary sacrilege sagacious salient

adulation adulterate adumbrate adventitious advocate aesthetic affable affectation affidavit affinity affliction affront aftermath aggrandize aggrieve aghast alacrity alchemy alienate allege allegiance alleviate allocate allot alloy allusion altruism amalgamate amass ambiguous ambivalent ameliorate amenable amiable amid amnesty amoral amorphous anachronism anagram analogy anarchy anathema ancillary anecdote anhydrous animosity anomaly antecedent antedate anterior antipathy antiquity antithesis apathy aperture aphorism

commensurate commiserate commodious commodity compendium complement complicity comply comprise compunction concave concede concentric conceptual concerted conciliatory concise concoct concomitant concur concurrent condescend condone confederate confer configuration confluence confound congeal congruent conjecture conjoin connotation consternation construe contentious contiguous contingent contrite contumacious contumely conundrum conventional converge conversant convex convoluted copious corollary corporeal correlation corroborate corrosive corrugated countenance covert credulous

effusion egalitarian egregious elaborate elation elicit elocution eloquence elucidate elusive emaciate emanate emancipate embellish embody embroil embryonic eminence emollient empathy empirical emulate encroach endemic endemic enervate enfranchise engender enigma enmity ennui ensue entail entity entreat enumerate enunciate envision ephemeral epilogue epistemology epitome equanimity equipoise equivocate erratic erudite eschew esoteric estrange ethereal eulogy euphemism euphoria evanescent evince eviscerate

inalienable inane inaugurate incandescent incarcerate incarnation incendiary incensed inception incessant incidental incipient incisive incite incoherent incongruous incontrovertible incorrigible increment inculcate incursion indefatigable indelible indict indigenous indolent indomitable induce ineffable ineluctable inert inexorable infamous infer infested infiltrate infrastructure infringe ingenuous ingratiate inherent innate innocuous innuendo insatiable inscrutable insidious insipid insolvent insouciant instigate insular insurgent integral intelligible intemperate interim

oscillate osmosis ossify ostensibly ostentatious overwrought oxymoron pacify paean palatable palliate palpable pandemic panegyric paradigm paradox paragon parameter paranoia pariah parody parsimony partisan pathology pathos paucity pedagogy pedantic pedestrian pejorative pellucid penchant penury perfidious perfunctory peripheral permeate pernicious perpetrator perpetuate perplex perquisite persevere perspicacious pertinent perturbation peruse pervade pervasive petulant philanthropist phlegmatic piety pillory piquant pique placate

salutary sanction sanguine satire saturnine savory scant schism scrupulous scrutiny seamless sedentary sedulous seminal sententious sequester serene serpentine servile shard simile sinuous sloth slough solemn solicit somber soporific spacious spate spate specious spectrum splenetic spontaneous sporadic spurious squalid stagnant staid static stigma stipulate stoic stratagem stratify stupor subjugate subliminal subside subsidize substantiate substantive subterfuge subtle succinct suffice

apocryphal apostasy apotheosis appalling appendage apportion apposite appraise apprise approbation appurtenance apropos aptitude arbitrary arcane archetype archives arduous arid aristocratic armistice arraign arsenal articulate artifact artifice ascendancy ascertain ascetic ascribe askance aspersion assail assert assiduous assimilate assuage astringent astute atomistic atrophy attenuation attest attribute attrition audacious augment auspices auspicious austere autonomy auxiliary avarice aversion avid axiom banal

criterion critique cryptic cull culminate culpable cupidity cursory daunt dearth debacle debase debilitate debunk decimate decorum deduce deem deference defunct degenerate delectable deleterious delineate delusion delve demeanor demise demographics demur demystify denotation denouement deplete deploy depravity deprecate derelict derision derivative derogatory desecrate desiccate desist despondent despotic destitute desultory deter detrimental diaphanous diatribe dichotomy didactic diffidence diffuse dilate

evoke exacerbate excise excoriate exculpate exemplary exemplify exhume exigent exonerate exorbitant expedient expiate explicate explicit exposition expostulate expunge extant extenuate extirpate extol extort extraneous extrapolate extricate extrinsic faade facet facetious fallacy fanatic fastidious fatuous fecund felicitous fervent fester fiat flagrant fledgling florid flourish flout flux foment foray forebode forensic forestall fortuitous frenetic frivolous frugal fruition fulminate fulsome

interloper interlude intermittent intersperse interstices intervene intractable intransigent intrepid intrinsic introspective inundate inured invective inveigh inveterate invidious invincible irascible iridescent ironic irresolute irreverence juxtapose kindle kinetic labyrinth laconic lascivious lassitude latent latitude laudatory lavish legacy legitimate lethargic levity liaison libel licentious lionize litany litigate livid loath loquacious lucid ludicrous lugubrious luminous luster magnanimous malapropism malevolent malice malignant

placebo platitude plausible plethora pliable pluralism polarize polemic ponderous porous posthumous postulate pragmatic precarious precede precedent precept precipitous preclude precocious precursor predecessor predilection predominant preemptive preponderance prescience presumptuous presuppose pretense prevail prevaricate proactive probity proclivity procrustean procure prodigal prodigious profligate profuse proliferate prolific prolix promulgate propagate propensity propinquity propitiate propitious propound prosaic proscribe protean protocol protrude provincial

suffuse sullen sumptuous sunder superficial superfluous superlative supersede suppress surfeit surmise surreptitious susceptible sycophant synchronize synopsis syntax synthesis systemic tacit taciturn tangential tangible taut tawdry tedium teem temerity tenacious tendentious tenuous tepid terse timorous tirade torpid tortuous tractable transcend transient transitory translucent transparent transpire trenchant trepidation truculence turbid turbulence turgid turpitude ubiquitous ulterior unilateral uninterested unkempt unobtrusive

bane barrage belated benevolent benign bequeath bestow bilateral bipolar bland blandishment blasphemy blatant blueprint brandish brazen brevity brink bureaucracy burnish cajole callous calumny canard

dilatory dilemma diminution disabuse disambiguate disarray discernment disclaimer disconcerting discordant discrepancy discrete discriminate disdain disgruntle disinclination disinformation disingenuous disinterested dismal dismay disparage disparate disparity

furtive futile gainsay gambit gamut garble garrulous genre germane germinate gratis gratuitous grave gregarious grovel guile guise gullible hackneyed haphazard hapless harbinger haughty hedonistic

malleable marginal meager meander mediocrity melee mellifluous menagerie mendicant mentor meretricious metamorphosis metaphor metaphysical meticulous minion misanthropy miserly misinformation misogyny mitigate mnemonic monolithic moratorium

prowess proximity prudent pundit pungent punitive purported putative qualm quandary quasi quell querulous quiescent quintessential quixotic ramification rampant rapacious rapport rational rationale raucous rebuff

untoward upbraid utopian vacillate vacuity vacuous vapid vehement veneer venerate verdant verity viable vicarious vilify virtuoso virulent vituperation vociferous volatile voluble voracious warrant zeal

VirtualSalt Home Copyright 1999 by Robert Harris | How to cite this page w w w . v irt uals alt . c om About the author: Robert Harris is a writer and educator with more than 25 years of teaching experience at the college and university level. RHarris@virtualsalt.com