strenuous
requiring great physical or mental effort
Vocabulary directory
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surcharge
an extra charge added to the normal price
trespass
to enter land or a building without permission
burrow
a hole or tunnel dug by an animal for shelter
gust
a sudden strong rush of wind
lurk
to wait or move secretly, often with a harmful purpose
plunder
to steal goods from a place by force, especially during war
semblance
an appearance or impression of something, especially when incomplete
barricade
a barrier put up to block a road or entrance
dreary
dull, gloomy, and depressing
lull
a short quiet period in activity or noise
banish
to send someone away from a place as punishment
paraphrase
to express the same meaning using different words
brim
the edge of a hat or container
reimburse
to pay someone back for money spent
subdue
to bring someone or something under control by force
succumb
to stop resisting pressure, temptation, or illness
bacterium
a single microscopic organism, some kinds of which cause disease
barter
to exchange goods or services without using money
respiration
the process of breathing or releasing energy in living cells
ebb
to gradually become weaker or smaller
penicillin
an antibiotic medicine originally obtained from a mold
petal
one of the colored parts of a flower
tenacious
determined to continue despite difficulty
civility
polite behavior, especially during disagreement
preclude
to make something impossible or prevent it from happening
twig
a thin small branch of a tree or bush
apprehend
to arrest someone suspected of a crime
improvise
to make or do something without preparing it in advance
jolt
a sudden rough movement or shock
exorbitant
much higher than is reasonable, especially of a price
placid
calm and peaceful
narcotic
a drug that can cause sleep or reduce pain, often one with addictive effects
ephemeral
lasting for a very short time
forerunner
a person or thing that came before and influenced a later one
sustenance
food and drink needed to stay alive or healthy
caustic
able to burn or damage by chemical action
exuberant
full of energy and excitement
chisel
a metal tool with a sharp edge for cutting wood or stone
delirium
a state of severe confusion, often caused by illness
disarray
a state of disorder or confusion
profane
showing disrespect for sacred things
caress
to touch someone or something gently and affectionately
indemnity
money paid as compensation for loss or damage
oust
to force someone out of a position or place
tacit
understood without being stated directly
painstaking
done with great care and attention to detail
flaunt
to display something proudly in order to attract attention
plumb
to measure the depth of water
prodigious
remarkably great in size, amount, or ability
abrasion
an area where skin has been scraped, or the act of scraping
exterminate
to kill all members of a group of pests or living things
noxious
poisonous or harmful, especially to health
pungent
having a strong, sharp smell or taste
succinct
expressed briefly and clearly
wail
to make a long loud cry of grief or pain
tamper
to interfere with something improperly, often to change or damage it
annihilate
to destroy something completely
subside
to become less intense or severe
deft
skillful and quick in movement
detest
to dislike someone or something very strongly
preoccupation
a thought or concern that occupies much of someone's attention
combustible
able to catch fire and burn easily
publicize
to make information widely known
defraud
to obtain money or property from someone by deception
meddle
to interfere in affairs that do not concern you
nibble
to take small bites of food
plummet
to fall suddenly and steeply
smother
to cover something completely so that air cannot reach it
tarnish
to make metal dull or damage someone's reputation
vex
to annoy or worry someone
expedient
convenient and useful in the short term, sometimes at a cost
gush
to flow out rapidly and in large amounts
substantiate
to support a claim with evidence
trample
to step heavily on something, damaging it
wane
to gradually become weaker or less
dingy
dark, dirty, and in poor condition
extort
to obtain money or something else through threats or force
malleable
able to be shaped or bent without breaking
jumble
a confused mixture of things
chaste
simple and without excessive decoration
grumble
to complain quietly or repeatedly
perishable
likely to decay quickly, especially of food
throng
a large, tightly packed crowd
muddle
to mix things up or confuse them
propriety
behavior that is socially or morally appropriate
ruffle
to disturb a smooth surface or someone's calm
seep
to flow slowly through small openings
appreciable
large enough to be noticed or measured
precipitate
to cause something to happen suddenly or earlier than expected
decrepit
old and in poor condition
haphazard
lacking a clear plan or order
fester
to become worse over time because a problem is ignored
scrutinize
to examine something very carefully
waver
to become uncertain or unsteady
counterbalance
to offset the effect of something by an opposing force
scorch
to burn the surface of something slightly
genial
friendly and cheerful
flabby
soft and loose rather than firm
synchronize
to make things happen at the same time or rate