Adverse: Contrary to your interests or welfare |
Her adverse circumstances made her more determined to fight. |
Advocate: Push for something |
The doctor advocated a ban on smoking in the whole hospital. |
Asset: A useful or valuable quality |
His perseverance proved a valuable asset in getting the contract. |
Desist: Choose not to consume |
He desisted from eating red meat. |
Elusive: Difficult to describe |
An elusive fragrance emanated from the flowers. |
Frustrate: Hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of |
She felt frustrated when her efforts yielded no result. |
Ineffectual: Not producing an intended effect |
The water therapy proved ineffectual. |
Interject: To insert between other elements |
She interjected clever remarks in her conversation. |
Respite: A (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort |
In spite of the sun shine there was no respite from the cold. |
Scrutinize: To look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail |
He scrutinized the documents carefully before replying. |
Solicit: To seek to obtain by persuasion, entreaty |
The priest keeps soliciting money for various charities. |
Venom: Toxin/poison secreted by animals |
Snake venom is very poisonous. |
Amicable: Characterized by friendship and good will |
An amicable settlement was reached at between the two parties. |
Entourage: The group following and attending to some important person |
The minister’s entourage included a lot of policemen. |
Excruciating: Extremely painful |
She had an excruciating pain in her knees. |
Extortion: An exorbitant charge |
The fees charged by the school mounted to extortion. |
Fretful: Nervous and unable to relax |
Due to the thunder there was a fretful stamping of hooves by the horses. |
Inclement: (of weather or climate) severe |
The inclement weather caused a lot of deaths. |
Loath: Unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom |
He was loath to attend the function. |
Obsess: Haunt like a ghost; pursue |
She is obsessed about her weight. |
Pertinent: Having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand |
The lawyer asked for a list of articles pertinent to the discussion. |
Premonition: A feeling of evil to come |
He had a premonition about the bad times ahead. |
Reverberating: Characterized by resonance |
Her mother’s warning reverberated in her mind continuously. |
Spew: Expel or eject from the mouth |
The paper spewed dishonourable words about the presidential candidate. |
Succumb: Consent reluctantly |
He finally succumbed to the pressure of his parents. |
Symptomatic: Characteristic or indicative of a disease |
He had a rash symptomatic of scarlet fever. |
Astute: Having insight or acumen |
An astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease. |
Bigot: A person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion |
Political bigotry is very common. |
Blatant: Completely obvious |
He was blatantly rude to his seniors. |
Doleful: Filled with or evoking sadness |
The child’s doleful expression moved him to pity. |
Histrionics: A deliberate display of emotion for effect |
She indulged in histrionics when no-one paid attention to her. |
Impresario: A sponsor who books and stages public entertainments |
The efforts of the impresario were praised by the public on hearing the violinist. |
Malady: Any unwholesome or desperate condition |
The malady could be cured only by patience. |
Mastiff: An old breed of powerful deep-chested smooth-coated dog used mainly as a watchdog and guard dog |
The mastiff sadly bled to death, but a week later the German shepherd is still thriving and well on its way to grow into something big. |
Nefarious: Extremely wicked |
He escaped narrowly from the nefarious schemes of the agent. |
Peruse: Examine or consider with attention and in detail |
He perused the report at his leisure. |
Recoil: Spring back, as from a forceful thrust |
He recoiled on seeing the snake. |
Vexatious: Causing irritation or annoyance |
The vexatious child caused a ruckus. |
Virulent: Extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom |
A virulent virus spread in the city. |
Wan: (of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble |
Her wan face flushed on receiving her appointment letter. |