261. CONSCIENTIOUS
261. CONSCIENTIOUS
thorough and careful*;
guided by your conscience
adj. <con-shee-EN-shuhs>
A conscientious employee always does the job right.
Synonyms: meticulous (92), scrupulous (364)
262. AMIABLE
262. AMIABLE
friendly
adj. <AY-mee-uh-buhl>
Always an amiable fellow, Amos treats everyone like a best
friend.
BFF
genial (218), amiable (262), affable (306), cordial (334),
camaraderie (358), amicable (421)
263. BELITTLE
v. <bi-LIT-it>
263. BELITTLE
to speak of in an insulting way
Even a little belittling can still hurt someone's feelings.
Trash Talk
disparage (42), denounce (66), deride (77), decry (204), belittle (263),
deprecate (440), vilify (485)
264. JOCULAR
264. JOCULAR
joking
adj. <JOCK-yuh-lur>
Bob has a jocular personality; he has a witty remark for every
situation and nothing he says is ever fully serious.
265. DECORUM
n. <di-KOHR-uhm>
265. DECORUM
correct or appropriate behavior
When at a wedding or a funeral, it is necessary to act with some
decorum.
Word Alert: To be decorous is to act with decorum.
266. DISGRUNTLED
266. DISGRUNTLED
unhappy
adj. <dis-GRUHN-tuld>
The disgruntled employee's grumbling grew louder and louder.
267. REPUDIATE
v.
267. REPUDIATE
to reject the validity of
<ri-PYOO-dee-ate>
John repudiated the accusation that he is stalking Amy; he says
he's just trying to be friendly.
Synonyms: refute (59), debunk (110)
268. O P A Q UE
268. OPAQUE
not clearly understood*;
impenetrable by light, dense
adj. <oh-PAKE>
His essay was so opaque that 1 wasn't even sure what it was
supposed to be about.
Word Alert; Opacity is the state of being opaque.
269. CAJOLE
v.
<kuh-JOHL>
269. CAJOLE
to persuade by flattery
Dave tried to cajole his boss into giving him a raise by
complimenting him on his generosity.
270. IMPASSIONED
adj. <im-PASH-uhnd>
270. IMPASSIONED
filled with passion
The general made an impassioned speech to his troops before
leading them into battle.
X-treme Intensity!
zealous (106), fervent (250), ardor (253), impassioned (270),
galvanize (332)
271. ENTICE
271. ENTICE
to lure or tempt
v. <cn-TICE>
Commercials try to entice you to buy their products by playing
on your fears and desires.
272. THWART
272. THWART
to stop or prevent
v. (rhymes with "wart")
The security system successfully thwarted the thief s attempt to
break into the house.
Road Block
inhibit (177), hinder (183), thwart (272), hamper (297),
encumbrance (301), impede (418)
273. DEMEAN
273. DEMEAN
to lower in status or worth
v. <di-MEEN>
You really demean yourself when you publicly suck up to your
boss like that, John.
274. COMPEL
v. <kuhm-PEL>
274. COMPEL
to exert a strong, irresistible force on
Her desperate cries of pain compelled me to help her.
275. COMPLICITY
n. <kuhm-PLIS-i-tee>
275. COMPLICITY
participation in a bad act or a crime
Since you drove the getaway car, your complicity in the robbery
is irrefutable.
276. ARCHAIC
276. ARCHAIC
outdated; really old
adj. <ar-KAY-ik>
The catapult is an archaic weapon; no one has used one in
centuries.
Old School
obsolete (62), archaic (276)
Word Alert: If -ology means study ofthen what would archeology mean?
277. OBTUSE
277. OBTUSE
lacking intellect
adj. <uhb-TOOS>
He's a bit obtuse; you have to explain things to him slowly.
278. LANGUID
278. LANGUID
lacking energy or spirit
adj. <LANG-gwid>
Feeling lazy and languid, I sat on the couch watching television
all day
Word Alert: Languor is the state of being languid.
279. CONCUR
279. CONCUR
to agree
v. <kuhn-KUR>
We all concur with the details of the contract
Like-Minded
conform (32), uniform (73), consensus (88), accord (180), concord (207),
concur (279)
280. SUPERFLUOUS
adj. <soo-PER-floo-us>
280. SUPERFLUOUS
extra, unnecessary
If you rid yourself of superfluous material things and live an
austere life, you will find inner peace.
Synonyms: gratuitous (414)