1. ameliorate

1. 1. ameliorate A hot meal can ameliorate the discomforts of even the coldest day.

2. 1. ameliorate (v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming Synonyms: amend, improve

3. 2. aplomb Considering the family’s tense mood, you handled the situation with aplomb.

4. 2. aplomb (n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence Synonyms: composure, self-possession, levelheadedness

5. 3. bombastic He delivered a bombastic speech that did not even address our problems.

6. 3. bombastic (adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas Synonyms: inflated, pretentious

7. 4. callow They entered the army as callow recruits and left as seasoned veterans.

8. 4. callow (adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers Synonyms: green, raw, inexperienced

9. 5. drivel (can be used as a noun or verb) To me, my dream made perfect sense, but when I told it to my friend, it sounded like drivel. Knowing that his time was nearly up, we kept silent and let him drivel on.

10. 5. drivel (n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense (v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly Synonyms: nonsense, slobber, dribble

11. 6. epitome Admitting when you have been fairly defeated is the epitome of good sportsmanship.

12. 6. epitome (n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality Synonyms: abstract, model

13. 7. exhort With dramatic gestures, our fans vigorously exhorted the team to play harder.

14. 7. exhort (V.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly Synonyms: urge, advise

15. 8. ex officio The president is the ex officio commander-in-chief of the armed forces in time of war.

16. 8. ex officio (adj., adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office

17. 9. infringe If you continue to infringe on my responsibilities, will you take the blame for my mistakes?

18. 9. infringe (v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds Synonyms: encroach, intrude

19. 10. ingratiate It is not a good idea to ingratiate oneself by paying sweet compliments.

20. 10. ingratiate (v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense) Synonyms: to cozy up to

21. 11. interloper The crowd was so eager to see the band perform that they resented the opening singer as an interloper.

22. 11. interloper (n.) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder Synonyms: trespasser, meddler

23. 12. intrinsic It had been my father’s favorite book when he was my age, but for me it held little intrinsic interest.

24. 12. intrinsic (adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part Synonyms: internal, inward

25. 13. inveigh You should not inveigh against the plan with quite so much vigor until you have read it.

26. 13. inveigh (v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval Synonyms: abuse, rail

27. 14. lassitude On some days I am overcome by lassitude at the thought of so many more years of schooling.

28. 14. lassitude (n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy Synonyms: fatigue, lethargy

29. 15. millennium In 1999 an argument raged over whether 2000 or 2001 would mark the beginning of the new millennium.

30. 15. millennium (n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy Synonyms: golden age, prosperity, peace

31. 16. occult One does not need to rely on occult knowledge to grasp why things disappear in a house where two cats live.

32. 16. occult (adj.) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means Synonyms: supernatural, mysterious, mystic

33. 17. permeate The rain permeated all of my clothing and reduced the map in my pocket to a pulpy mass.

34. 17. permeate (v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through Synonyms: pervade, infiltrate

35. 18. precipitate (can be used as a verb, adjective, or noun) Scholars often disagree over which event or events precipitate a historic moment. I admit that my outburst was precipitate. Too many eggs in this particular pudding will leave a messy precipitate in the baking pan.

36. 18. precipitate (v.) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to (adj.) characterized by excessive haste (n.) moisture; the product of an action or process Synonyms: (v.) provoke, produce (adj.) reckless

37. 19. stringent Some argue that the more stringent laws against speeding will make our streets safer.

38. 19. stringent (adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste Synonyms: stern, rigorous, tough, urgent, imperative

39. 20. surmise (can be used as a verb or a noun) I cannot be sure, but I surmise that she would not accept my apology even if I made it on my knees. The police had no proof, nothing to go on but a suspicion, a mere surmise.

40. 20. surmise (v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof Synonyms: infer, gather