Fickle- like the taste 12-year-old girls have in friends and clothing: changeable, inconstant, and dramatic.
Facinorous- criminal or at least very, very wicked.
Facile- as easy as saying hello in your own language.
Forthright- outspoken or simple
Factious- like a person who talks mutiny on a starship, bringing about an internal conflict in what is usually a perfectly oiled military operations.
Fraudulent- like a confidence artist who lies about who he is.
Freudian- a cigar is not always just a cigar, apparently.
Feeble- the way people who don't get enough vitamins end up.
Fine- like a day full of sunshine or a spring without allergens.
Flirtatious- like a baby in the bus seat in front of you who peeks over its mother's shoulder just to bat its eyelashes at you and smile.
Flamboyant- like a flamingo.
Fungal- like the stuff growing on your feet to make them stink.
Furious- a little more angry than the giant who chased Jack after to recover his golden-egg-laying goose.
Funky
Free
Faux- the only type of humane fur.
Fabulous
Frank- more honest than any politician you will ever even hear about.
Furtive- like a dog about where he buries his bones: he'll never tell anyone.
Fortuitous- like the event that every gambler hopes for.
Elephantine- like an elephant: big, strong, kind of scary.
Egregious- remarkably bad.
Eponymous- named after a person.
Eclectic- originating from various sources, like an international teashop that gets a lot of its teas from different places all over the world.
Eccentric- off-center or just a little crazy.
Electric
Entropic- like the inevitable degradation of any social system or structure into chaos.
Empathetic- "I feel you, man."
Exhaustive
Eldritch- like the ancient mariner in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Eerie
Esoteric- only for a very particular segment of a larger group like an argot created to make sure as few people as possible understand a given subject.
Efficacious- capable of producing a desired effect.
Empirical- the only way to really know something.
Endogamous- marrying in your own clan, e.g., Klingons usually marry Klingons.
Effluent- flowing out of.
Elegiac- like a poem written in praise of or lament for the dead.
Effervescent- bubbly like Champaign.
Exotic- like something outside of your normal comfort zone, like a Mai-Tai.
Excellent- really, really, really good.
Idiotic - selling your friends bogus stocks in an attempt to make money to cover up bad investments
Immoral - see above
Indigenous - native to a certain area
Illogical
Irrelevant - not pertinent, like mentioning Pokemon during a golf game
Indigo - the color on the electromagnetic spectrum between 420 and 450 degrees in wavelength, placing it between purple and blue
Improper
Icy
Irreconcilable - differing beliefs that cannot be brought to agreement
Inferior - lower in rank
Impeccable
Intelligent
Inert - unable to move, like a rock right before it is thrown into a river
Incredible
Interesting
Infernal - like all things that are of the netherworld of the dead or hellish, like a small child howling in a nice restaurant.
Irate - describes someone who is really, really, really, mad
Ironic - meaning the opposite of what is expressed
Integral - something upon which all other components are based
Inconceivable - describes something that cannot be imagined by natural means.
7 Boisterous
Bookish
Bonkers- crazy
Bicameral- having two chambers, like the legislative branch of the US government.
Baffling
Bacterial
Blissful
Bracing
Brisk
Brittle
Bulimic- describing a person who suffers from a horrible eating disorder.
Bovine- like a cow.
Brackish- unpleasant or distasteful, like dirty river water mixed with dirty sea water.
Brash- reckless.
Beaming
Brilliant- really smart or really bright.
Bashful
Bodacious- simultaneous audacious and admirable.
Belligerent- argumentative.
Buxom- like Anna Nicole Smith when she did her Peta ads.
6 Heuristic - describes a mission of discovery, like that of the Captain Kirk's Enterprise, to discover strange new worlds.
Hebdomadal - describes publications like The New Yorker, or anything else that happens once a week.
Halcyon - calm and peaceful like a glass lake at dawn.
Hegemonic
Healthy - refers to something that seems sound. If you are healthy, you're doing all right.
Healthful - refers to something that is conducive to health. A healthful diet, like an apple a day, for example, will negate your need for a doctor; thus, an apple is healthful. Healthful and healthy are often confused for one another, and eventually, they will probably merge. Today, though, they are still distinct words with distinct meanings and should be afforded the dignity and respect they deserve while it lasts.
Heinous - an act or behavior that's really, really really, bad. If you've done something heinous, there's no amount apologizing that's going to make up for it. Something heinous is simply inexcusable.
Heteroclite - describes someone or something that's different from the boring normal. Heteroclite can also have a clinical meaning describing anything abnormal or anomolous.
Histrionic - like a drama queen, always bringing the drama.
Hircine - like a goat or lusty.
Hortative - "Good JOB!"
Horrific
Hedonistic - describes people who value individual pleasure over all else or an act whose purpose is such.
Hyperbolic - refers to a statement that is so exaggerated, no one should ever take it seriously.
Hebetudinous - describes something or someone who is obtuse, slow, or stupid.
7 zaftig - having a full, shapely figure: said of a woman See? Right off the bat, we’ve got a great adjective for describing a plump woman without any negative connotations, and here’s a fun fact about “zaftig:” It’s a Yiddish word that comes from the German “saftig,” which means juicy.
zany - comical in an extravagantly ludicrous or slapstick manner Like anything Chris Farley ever did, but particularly the scene in Tommy Boy when he’s trying to change clothes in the airplane bathroom.
zazzy - shiny or flashy Forget about “bling.” Zazzy is the upgraded version. It’s “snazzy” cranked up a notch.
zealous - full of, characterized by, or showing zeal; ardently devoted to a purpose; fervent; enthusiastic
zesty - full of zest, energetic, active
zibeline - of or having to do with sables You know, the animal. Really this word is just for you to use to impress your friends. Or perhaps to alienate and irritate them. Use with caution.
zigzag - having a series of short, sharp angles or turns in alternate directions, as in a line or course Remember, if you are being chased by a crocodile, you should run away from it in a zigzag pattern.
zinciferous -yielding or containing zinc Again, you will probably not find this word useful in everyday conversation, but should the need for it ever arise, at least now you know it.
zippy - full of vim and energy; brisk
zoetic - of or pertaining to life Both this word and the next come from the Greek word, “zoe,” which means life.
zoic - of or pertaining to animals or animal life
zonked - highly intoxicated or under the influence of a drug; completely tired out or exhausted Whether inebriated or enervated, “zonked” implies that one is incapacitated due to a weakening of body or the mind.
zoogenic - caused by or starting in animals, as a disease
zoological - of, pertaining to, or concerned with animals.
7 Jovial – joyful and playful. Someone who is jovial is generally happy and has a great sense of humor.
Jaunty – fashionable; stylish. You don’t have to always buy expensive designer labels to be jaunty.
Jocund – cheerful; high spirits. If you have a jocund personality, you usually have a lot of friends and love socializing.
Jazzy – lively and bright (can also mean flashy). Wearing a jazzy outfit is one way to get people’s attention.
Jingoistic – overly nationalistic or patriotic. Some people think that wearing an American flag pin is jingoistic.
Judicious – showing good judgment; wise. If you are considered judicious, people usually come to you for advice.
Jocose – humorous; joking. Jocose people are generally the life of the party and have people laughing at their jokes.
Jaded – tired or dulled by experience or overindulgence. Some people get jaded the older they get.
Jittery – very nervous. Speaking in front of people can make you feel jittery. Another adjective that is a synonym to jitter and begins with a /j// is “jumpy.”
Jinxed – having bad luck or misfortune. When a lot of bad things happen to you at the same time, you can feel like you are jinxed.
8 assimilate
to consume and incorporate; to become similar
cremation
the act of burning the dead
domesticate
to make something suitable for being in a home
folklore
traditional myths of a people transmitted orally
fossilize
to become preserved in clay or stone or ash after death, so that a natural record is left of the original organism; to become rigid and stuck in old ways
relic
something left from a long-ago culture, time period, or person
rite
a ceremony meant to achieve a certain purpose
ritually
as part of a traditional ceremony or habit
saga
a long story about important events long ago
vestige
a visible trace that something once existed
amend
to change for the better
biased
leaning unfairly in one direction
burden
something that is carried; a source of stress or worry
counter
to act in opposition to; to offer in response
de facto
truly doing a job, even if not officially
discriminate
to choose carefully among options
notion
a belief; a fanciful impulse
oppress
to keep down by force; to weigh heavily on
paradigm
a pattern or model; a set of assumptions
prejudiced
causing to judge prematurely and unfairly
curriculum
the courses of study offered by an educational institution
distinctly
clearly
erudite
highly educated
fortify
to strengthen
implicitly
without being stated; unquestioningly
parochial
restricted in outlook; relating to the local parish
rigor
strictness; difficult situations that come from following rules strictly
roster
a list, especially of names
secular
worldly rather than spiritual; not related to religion
suspend
to cause to stop for a period; to hang as to allow free movement
allegiance
loyalty
artillery
large guns that shoot powerful shells; army units that handle such guns
battle
to fight against
cease
stop
hierarchy
a system of levels that places people high or low according to their importance
in the trenches
in the middle of the hardest fighting or work
mobilize
to put members of a group into motion
rank
to put into a many-leveled order, depending on importance or achievement
ratio
the relationship of one number or amount to another
strategic
related to long-term plans for achieving a goal
annex
to make something (usually land) part of another unit
apex
the highest point
collapse
to fall down, usually because of weakness
conquest
a takeover by force or continued effort
devise
to find an original way to make an object or a plan
invasive
aggressively entering into someone else's territory
prevailing
strongest or most common
resist
to refuse to give in to a strong force or desire
severely
harshly; extremely
violation
an action that breaks a law or agreement; mistreatment of something that deserves respect
chronologically
in order according to time
coincide
happen or exist at the same time
consequence
a result, often one much later in time than the cause
core
an area or object at the center
deny
say that something is not true
diminish
make something smaller or weaker
longitude
a system of imaginary lines running from north to south along the Earth's surface, where each line is numbered from 0 to 180o west or east
milieu
general environment or surroundings
Orwellian
frightening and overcontrolled by a government that interferes in nearly every aspect of personal life
reconciliation
coming back together peacefully after having been enemies
Facinorous- criminal or at least very, very wicked.
Facile- as easy as saying hello in your own language.
Forthright- outspoken or simple
Factious- like a person who talks mutiny on a starship, bringing about an internal conflict in what is usually a perfectly oiled military operations.
Fraudulent- like a confidence artist who lies about who he is.
Freudian- a cigar is not always just a cigar, apparently.
Feeble- the way people who don't get enough vitamins end up.
Fine- like a day full of sunshine or a spring without allergens.
Flirtatious- like a baby in the bus seat in front of you who peeks over its mother's shoulder just to bat its eyelashes at you and smile.
Flamboyant- like a flamingo.
Fungal- like the stuff growing on your feet to make them stink.
Furious- a little more angry than the giant who chased Jack after to recover his golden-egg-laying goose.
Funky
Free
Faux- the only type of humane fur.
Fabulous
Frank- more honest than any politician you will ever even hear about.
Furtive- like a dog about where he buries his bones: he'll never tell anyone.
Fortuitous- like the event that every gambler hopes for.
Elephantine- like an elephant: big, strong, kind of scary.
Egregious- remarkably bad.
Eponymous- named after a person.
Eclectic- originating from various sources, like an international teashop that gets a lot of its teas from different places all over the world.
Eccentric- off-center or just a little crazy.
Electric
Entropic- like the inevitable degradation of any social system or structure into chaos.
Empathetic- "I feel you, man."
Exhaustive
Eldritch- like the ancient mariner in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Eerie
Esoteric- only for a very particular segment of a larger group like an argot created to make sure as few people as possible understand a given subject.
Efficacious- capable of producing a desired effect.
Empirical- the only way to really know something.
Endogamous- marrying in your own clan, e.g., Klingons usually marry Klingons.
Effluent- flowing out of.
Elegiac- like a poem written in praise of or lament for the dead.
Effervescent- bubbly like Champaign.
Exotic- like something outside of your normal comfort zone, like a Mai-Tai.
Excellent- really, really, really good.
Idiotic - selling your friends bogus stocks in an attempt to make money to cover up bad investments
Immoral - see above
Indigenous - native to a certain area
Illogical
Irrelevant - not pertinent, like mentioning Pokemon during a golf game
Indigo - the color on the electromagnetic spectrum between 420 and 450 degrees in wavelength, placing it between purple and blue
Improper
Icy
Irreconcilable - differing beliefs that cannot be brought to agreement
Inferior - lower in rank
Impeccable
Intelligent
Inert - unable to move, like a rock right before it is thrown into a river
Incredible
Interesting
Infernal - like all things that are of the netherworld of the dead or hellish, like a small child howling in a nice restaurant.
Irate - describes someone who is really, really, really, mad
Ironic - meaning the opposite of what is expressed
Integral - something upon which all other components are based
Inconceivable - describes something that cannot be imagined by natural means.
7 Boisterous
Bookish
Bonkers- crazy
Bicameral- having two chambers, like the legislative branch of the US government.
Baffling
Bacterial
Blissful
Bracing
Brisk
Brittle
Bulimic- describing a person who suffers from a horrible eating disorder.
Bovine- like a cow.
Brackish- unpleasant or distasteful, like dirty river water mixed with dirty sea water.
Brash- reckless.
Beaming
Brilliant- really smart or really bright.
Bashful
Bodacious- simultaneous audacious and admirable.
Belligerent- argumentative.
Buxom- like Anna Nicole Smith when she did her Peta ads.
6 Heuristic - describes a mission of discovery, like that of the Captain Kirk's Enterprise, to discover strange new worlds.
Hebdomadal - describes publications like The New Yorker, or anything else that happens once a week.
Halcyon - calm and peaceful like a glass lake at dawn.
Hegemonic
Healthy - refers to something that seems sound. If you are healthy, you're doing all right.
Healthful - refers to something that is conducive to health. A healthful diet, like an apple a day, for example, will negate your need for a doctor; thus, an apple is healthful. Healthful and healthy are often confused for one another, and eventually, they will probably merge. Today, though, they are still distinct words with distinct meanings and should be afforded the dignity and respect they deserve while it lasts.
Heinous - an act or behavior that's really, really really, bad. If you've done something heinous, there's no amount apologizing that's going to make up for it. Something heinous is simply inexcusable.
Heteroclite - describes someone or something that's different from the boring normal. Heteroclite can also have a clinical meaning describing anything abnormal or anomolous.
Histrionic - like a drama queen, always bringing the drama.
Hircine - like a goat or lusty.
Hortative - "Good JOB!"
Horrific
Hedonistic - describes people who value individual pleasure over all else or an act whose purpose is such.
Hyperbolic - refers to a statement that is so exaggerated, no one should ever take it seriously.
Hebetudinous - describes something or someone who is obtuse, slow, or stupid.
7 zaftig - having a full, shapely figure: said of a woman See? Right off the bat, we’ve got a great adjective for describing a plump woman without any negative connotations, and here’s a fun fact about “zaftig:” It’s a Yiddish word that comes from the German “saftig,” which means juicy.
zany - comical in an extravagantly ludicrous or slapstick manner Like anything Chris Farley ever did, but particularly the scene in Tommy Boy when he’s trying to change clothes in the airplane bathroom.
zazzy - shiny or flashy Forget about “bling.” Zazzy is the upgraded version. It’s “snazzy” cranked up a notch.
zealous - full of, characterized by, or showing zeal; ardently devoted to a purpose; fervent; enthusiastic
zesty - full of zest, energetic, active
zibeline - of or having to do with sables You know, the animal. Really this word is just for you to use to impress your friends. Or perhaps to alienate and irritate them. Use with caution.
zigzag - having a series of short, sharp angles or turns in alternate directions, as in a line or course Remember, if you are being chased by a crocodile, you should run away from it in a zigzag pattern.
zinciferous -yielding or containing zinc Again, you will probably not find this word useful in everyday conversation, but should the need for it ever arise, at least now you know it.
zippy - full of vim and energy; brisk
zoetic - of or pertaining to life Both this word and the next come from the Greek word, “zoe,” which means life.
zoic - of or pertaining to animals or animal life
zonked - highly intoxicated or under the influence of a drug; completely tired out or exhausted Whether inebriated or enervated, “zonked” implies that one is incapacitated due to a weakening of body or the mind.
zoogenic - caused by or starting in animals, as a disease
zoological - of, pertaining to, or concerned with animals.
7 Jovial – joyful and playful. Someone who is jovial is generally happy and has a great sense of humor.
Jaunty – fashionable; stylish. You don’t have to always buy expensive designer labels to be jaunty.
Jocund – cheerful; high spirits. If you have a jocund personality, you usually have a lot of friends and love socializing.
Jazzy – lively and bright (can also mean flashy). Wearing a jazzy outfit is one way to get people’s attention.
Jingoistic – overly nationalistic or patriotic. Some people think that wearing an American flag pin is jingoistic.
Judicious – showing good judgment; wise. If you are considered judicious, people usually come to you for advice.
Jocose – humorous; joking. Jocose people are generally the life of the party and have people laughing at their jokes.
Jaded – tired or dulled by experience or overindulgence. Some people get jaded the older they get.
Jittery – very nervous. Speaking in front of people can make you feel jittery. Another adjective that is a synonym to jitter and begins with a /j// is “jumpy.”
Jinxed – having bad luck or misfortune. When a lot of bad things happen to you at the same time, you can feel like you are jinxed.
8 assimilate
to consume and incorporate; to become similar
cremation
the act of burning the dead
domesticate
to make something suitable for being in a home
folklore
traditional myths of a people transmitted orally
fossilize
to become preserved in clay or stone or ash after death, so that a natural record is left of the original organism; to become rigid and stuck in old ways
relic
something left from a long-ago culture, time period, or person
rite
a ceremony meant to achieve a certain purpose
ritually
as part of a traditional ceremony or habit
saga
a long story about important events long ago
vestige
a visible trace that something once existed
amend
to change for the better
biased
leaning unfairly in one direction
burden
something that is carried; a source of stress or worry
counter
to act in opposition to; to offer in response
de facto
truly doing a job, even if not officially
discriminate
to choose carefully among options
notion
a belief; a fanciful impulse
oppress
to keep down by force; to weigh heavily on
paradigm
a pattern or model; a set of assumptions
prejudiced
causing to judge prematurely and unfairly
curriculum
the courses of study offered by an educational institution
distinctly
clearly
erudite
highly educated
fortify
to strengthen
implicitly
without being stated; unquestioningly
parochial
restricted in outlook; relating to the local parish
rigor
strictness; difficult situations that come from following rules strictly
roster
a list, especially of names
secular
worldly rather than spiritual; not related to religion
suspend
to cause to stop for a period; to hang as to allow free movement
allegiance
loyalty
artillery
large guns that shoot powerful shells; army units that handle such guns
battle
to fight against
cease
stop
hierarchy
a system of levels that places people high or low according to their importance
in the trenches
in the middle of the hardest fighting or work
mobilize
to put members of a group into motion
rank
to put into a many-leveled order, depending on importance or achievement
ratio
the relationship of one number or amount to another
strategic
related to long-term plans for achieving a goal
annex
to make something (usually land) part of another unit
apex
the highest point
collapse
to fall down, usually because of weakness
conquest
a takeover by force or continued effort
devise
to find an original way to make an object or a plan
invasive
aggressively entering into someone else's territory
prevailing
strongest or most common
resist
to refuse to give in to a strong force or desire
severely
harshly; extremely
violation
an action that breaks a law or agreement; mistreatment of something that deserves respect
chronologically
in order according to time
coincide
happen or exist at the same time
consequence
a result, often one much later in time than the cause
core
an area or object at the center
deny
say that something is not true
diminish
make something smaller or weaker
longitude
a system of imaginary lines running from north to south along the Earth's surface, where each line is numbered from 0 to 180o west or east
milieu
general environment or surroundings
Orwellian
frightening and overcontrolled by a government that interferes in nearly every aspect of personal life
reconciliation
coming back together peacefully after having been enemies