This page contains words that begin with “A” to words that begin with “C”. The list is part of a project entitled, Say it better.
abhorrent – adj. inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant
abjure – v. solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim)
abnegate – v. deny, reject, renounce, abjure
acrimonious – adj. (typically of speech or discussion) angry and bitter
acumen – n. the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions
altruistic – adj. showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish
anathema – n. something or someone that one vehemently dislikes
antipathy – n. 1. a feeling of intense dislike 2. the object of a feeling of intense aversion; something to be avoided
apoplectic – adj. overcome with anger; extremely indignant
articulate – adj. having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently | v. pronounce (something) clearly and distinctly
asinine – adj. extremely foolish or stupid
atavistic – adj. relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral (synonym: throwback)
augment – v. make (something) greater by adding to it; increase
autarky/autarchy – n. economic independence or self-sufficiency
autodidact – n. a self-taught person
bedlam – n. a scene of uproar and confusion
bellicose – adj. demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
blithely – adv. – doing something in a way that shows a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper
brevity – n. concise and exact use of words in writing or speech
camp – adj. (of a man or his manner) ostentatiously and extravagantly effeminate; deliberately exaggerated and theatrical in style, typically for humorous effect
cantankerous – adj. bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative
capricious – adj. given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour
catharsis/cathartic – n. the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions | adj. providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis
causeway – n. a raised road or track across low or wet ground
caustic – adj. sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
caveat – n. a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations
centrifugal – adj. moving or tending to move away from a centre
churlish – adj. rude in a mean-spirited and surly way
cogent – adj. (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing
cognition/cognitive – n. the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses | adj. relating to cognition
cognitive dissonance – phr. excessive mental stress and discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time
commensurate – adj. corresponding in size or degree; in proportion
commiserate – v. express or feel sympathy or pity; sympathize
concomitant – adj. naturally accompanying or associated | n. a phenomenon that naturally accompanies or follows something
conflate – v. combine (two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, etc.) into one
conjecture – n. an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information
conspicuous – adj. clearly visible; attracting notice or attention
contrite – adj. feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong
contrived – adj. deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously; created or arranged in a way that seems artificial and unrealistic
contusion – n. a region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured; a bruise
convolute – adj. (especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow
coquettish – adj. behaving in such a way as to suggest a playful sexual attraction; flirtatious
coterie – n. a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people
crucible – n. a situation of severe trial, or in which different elements interact, leading to the creation of something new
A – C »» D – H »» I – M »» N – R »» S – Z
______________________