List 24

Assail

  • Pronunciation: uh-SAIL
  • Meaning: Attack physically or verbally
  • Mnemonic: “A SAIL of harsh words” flying toward someone
  • Example: The critic would assail the politician’s reputation

Benevolent

  • Pronunciation: buh-NEV-uh-luhnt
  • Meaning: Showing kindness or goodwill
  • Mnemonic: “BE NEVER VIOLENT” - kindness personified
  • Example: The benevolent donor supported many charities

Berate

  • Pronunciation: bih-RAYT
  • Meaning: Scold or criticize harshly
  • Mnemonic: “BE RATE angry” - intense verbal criticism
  • Example: The manager would berate employees for minor mistakes

Buoyant

  • Pronunciation: BOY-uhnt
  • Meaning: Lighthearted and lively; cheerful
  • Mnemonic: “BOY WANTS to float” - cheerful and uplifting
  • Example: Her buoyant personality brightened the room

Buttress

  • Pronunciation: BUHT-ruhs
  • Meaning: Support or reinforce
  • Mnemonic: “BUTT RESTS on a support” - providing strength
  • Example: Additional evidence would buttress his argument

Condone

  • Pronunciation: kuhn-DOHN
  • Meaning: Forgive, excuse, or overlook
  • Mnemonic: “CON-DONE” (turn a blind eye)
  • Example: The court would not condone such behavior

Contravene

  • Pronunciation: kon-truh-VEEN
  • Meaning: Go against or violate a rule, law, or convention
  • Mnemonic: “CONTRA-VENE” (against the vein of rules)
  • Example: His actions would contravene company policy

Denounce

  • Pronunciation: dih-NOUNS
  • Meaning: Criticize or speak out against
  • Mnemonic: “DE-NOUN” (strip away positive language)
  • Example: Activists would denounce the discriminatory policy

Despotic

  • Pronunciation: deh-SPOT-ik
  • Meaning: Of a ruler with absolute power; tyrannical
  • Mnemonic: “DESPOT-IC” (incredibly controlling)
  • Example: The despotic leader suppressed all opposition

Deviate

  • Pronunciation: DEE-vee-eyt
  • Meaning: Go off course from; stray from some norm
  • Mnemonic: “DE-VIA-TE” (take a different route)
  • Example: The project would deviate from its original plan

Disinterested

  • Pronunciation: dis-IN-truh-sted
  • Meaning: Unbiased
  • Mnemonic: “DICE-interested” (rolling a neutral dice)
  • Example: A disinterested judge ensures fair judgment

Escalate

  • Pronunciation: ES-kuh-leyt
  • Meaning: Increase or intensify
  • Mnemonic: “ESCAPE LATE” (situation getting worse)
  • Example: Tensions began to escalate during the argument

Exorcize

  • Pronunciation: EK-sor-size
  • Meaning: Drive out (such as an evil spirit)
  • Mnemonic: “EX-HORSE-IZE” (kick out a demonic horse)
  • Example: The priest would exorcize the haunted room

Finicky

  • Pronunciation: FIN-uh-kee
  • Meaning: Fussy or hard to please
  • Mnemonic: “FUSSY NICKY” (super picky person)
  • Example: The finicky chef rejected multiple dishes

Foil

  • Pronunciation: FOIL
  • Meaning: Prevent something from being accomplished
  • Mnemonic: “FOIL-ed again!” (cartoon villain moment)
  • Example: His plan was foiled at the last minute

Intertwined

  • Pronunciation: in-ter-TWYND
  • Meaning: Twisted or linked closely together
  • Mnemonic: “IN-TERROR-TWINED” (scary knot of connections)
  • Example: Their fates were deeply intertwined

Inundate

  • Pronunciation: IN-uhn-dayt
  • Meaning: Flood or overwhelm
  • Mnemonic: “IN-UNDATE” (drowning in information)
  • Example: Emails inundate his inbox daily

Ironclad

  • Pronunciation: AY-urn-klad
  • Meaning: Unbreakable or extremely strong
  • Mnemonic: “IRON CLAD-iator” (super tough warrior)
  • Example: An ironclad contract protects both parties

Jeopardize

  • Pronunciation: JEP-er-dize
  • Meaning: Put in danger; threaten
  • Mnemonic: “JEEP-HARD-EYES” (dangerous driving)
  • Example: Risky investments jeopardize financial stability

Mercurial

  • Pronunciation: mer-KYOOR-ee-uhl
  • Meaning: Having a volatile character; fickle
  • Mnemonic: “MERCURY-WILL” (mood changing like liquid metal)
  • Example: His mercurial temperament surprised everyone

Oblivious

  • Pronunciation: uh-BLIV-ee-uhs
  • Meaning: Not aware of or not noticing something
  • Mnemonic: “OH-BELIEVE-US” (totally unaware)
  • Example: She was oblivious to the chaos around her

Perpetrate

  • Pronunciation: PER-puh-trayt
  • Meaning: Commit something (often a crime); carry out
  • Mnemonic: “PERP-TRAIT” (criminal’s signature move)
  • Example: Criminals perpetrate sophisticated frauds

Plaintive

  • Pronunciation: PLAYN-tiv
  • Meaning: Expressing sorrow or melancholy
  • Mnemonic: “PLAIN-GIVE UP” (sad tone of voice)
  • Example: Her plaintive song touched everyone’s heart

Poignant

  • Pronunciation: POY-nyunt
  • Meaning: Emotionally moving
  • Mnemonic: “POI-GIANT” (giant emotional punch)
  • Example: The poignant movie scene brought tears

Quiescent

  • Pronunciation: kwee-ES-uhnt
  • Meaning: Being at rest; inactive or quiet
  • Mnemonic: “QUIET-ESCENT” (ultra-calm state)
  • Example: The volcano remained quiescent for years

Reiterate

  • Pronunciation: ree-IT-uh-rayt
  • Meaning: Say or do again, multiple times
  • Mnemonic: “RE-EAT-ERATE” (chewing same information)
  • Example: He would reiterate his point repeatedly

Subside

  • Pronunciation: sub-SYDE
  • Meaning: Become lower; decrease; become less intense
  • Mnemonic: “SUB-SLIDE” (sinking down slowly)
  • Example: The storm’s intensity began to subside

Subsume

  • Pronunciation: sub-SOOM
  • Meaning: Include or contain something else
  • Mnemonic: “SUB-ASSUME” (absorbing another concept)
  • Example: The new theory would subsume older explanations

Surmount

  • Pronunciation: ser-MOUNT
  • Meaning: Overcome something, typically a challenge
  • Mnemonic: “SURE-MOUNT” (conquering a mountain of problems)
  • Example: She would surmount every obstacle

Tangential

  • Pronunciation: tan-JEN-shul
  • Meaning: Only superficially relevant
  • Mnemonic: “TANGLE-ENTIAL” (barely connected idea)
  • Example: His tangential comments derailed the discussion