Suppositious (adj): suh-poz-i-tish-uhs
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
Surly (adj): sur-lee
Someone who is surly behaves in a rude bad-tempered way = rude, cross
Surreptitious (adj): sur-uhp-tish-uhs
A surreptitious action is done secretly = furtive
Sycophantic (adj): sik-uh-fuhnt
If you describe someone as sycophantic, you disapprove of them because they flatter people who are more important and powerful than they are in order to gain an advantage for themselves = servilely flattering
Sylvan (adj): sil-vuhn (1155)
Sylvan is used to describe things that have an association with woods and trees
Synchronous (adj): sing-kruh-nuhs
similarly timed; simultaneous with
Synthetic (adj): sin-thet-i
Synthetic products are made from chemicals or artificial substances rather than from natural ones = man-made, artificial
Tacit (adj): tas-it
If you refer to someone’s tacit agreement or approval, you mean they are agreeing to something or approving it without actually saying so, often because they are unwilling to admit to doing so = implied, understood
Taciturn (adj): tas-i-turn
A taciturn person does not say very much and can seem unfriendly = shy, talking less
Tactile (adj): tak-til, -tahyl (1160)
If you describe someone as tactile, you mean that they tend to touch other people a lot when talking to them= caress
Tainted (adj): teynt
If a person or thing is tainted by something bad or undesirable, their status or reputation is harmed because they are associated with it = contaminated, corrupt
Tangible (adj): tan-juh-buhl
If something is tangible, it is clear enough or definite enough to be easily seen, felt, or noticed = perceptable
Tantamount (adj): tan-tuh-mount
you say that one thing is tantamount to a second, more serious thing, you are emphasizing how bad, unacceptable, or unfortunate the first thing is by comparing it to the second = equal
Taut (adj): tawt
Something that is taut is stretched very tight = tight; ready
Tautological (adj): taw-tol-uh-jee (1165)
A tautological statement is needless and often repetitious = repetitious, wordy
Tawdry (adj): taw-dree
If you describe something such as clothes or decorations as tawdry, you mean that they are cheap and show a lack of taste= cheap
Taxing (adj): tak-sing
A taxing task or problem is one that requires a lot of mental or physical effort = demanding
Temporal (adj): tem-per-uhl
Temporal powers or matters relate to ordinary institutions and activities rather than to religious or spiritual ones = secular
Tenacious (adj): tuh-ney-shuhs
If you are tenacious, you are very determined and do not give up easily = stubborn, persistent, holding fast
Tendentious (adj): ten-den-shuhs
Something that is tendentious expresses a particular opinion or point of view very strongly, especially one that many people disagree with = controversial
Tenebrous (adj): ten-uh-bruhs (1170)
dark; gloomy
Tessellated (adj): tes-uh-ley-tid
inlaid; mosaic
Tensile (adj): ten-suhl
You use tensile when you are talking about the amount of stress that materials such as wire, rope, and concrete can take without breaking; a technical term in engineering = stretchable
Tentative (adj): ten-tuh-tiv
Tentative agreements, plans, or arrangements are not definite or certain, but have been made as a first step = provisional, firm
Tenuous (adj): ten-yoo-uhs
If you describe something such as a connection, a reason, or someone's position as tenuous, you mean that it is very uncertain or weak = thin, rare, slim, strong
Tepid (adj): tep-id (1175)
Water or another liquid that is tepid is slightly warm
= lukewarm
Terse (adj): turs
A terse statement or comment is brief and unfriendly = pithy, laconic
Terrestrial (adj): tuh-res-tree-uhl
Terrestrial means relating to the planet Earth rather than to some other part of the universe
Terse (adj): turs
A terse statement or comment is brief and unfriendly = pithy, concise
Tertiary (adj): tur-shee-er-ee
Tertiary means third in order, third in importance, or at a third stage of development = third
Testy (adj): tes-tee (1180)
If you describe someone as testy, you mean that they easily become impatient or angry = irritable, short-tempered
Therapeutic (adj): ther-uh-pyoo-tik
If something is therapeutic, it helps you to relax or to feel better about things, especially about a situation that made you unhappy = curative
I find swimming very therapeutic
Thermal (adj): thur-muhl
Thermal means relating to or caused by heat or by changes in temperature = pertaining to heat
Thrifty (adj): thrif-tee
If you say that someone is thrifty, you are praising them for saving money, not buying unnecessary things, and not wasting things = frugal
Timorous (adj): tim-er-uhs
If you describe someone as timorous, you mean that they are frightened and nervous of other people and situations = timid, fearful
Titanic (adj): tahy-tan-ik (1185)
If you describe something as titanic, you mean that it is very big or important, and usually that it involves very powerful forces = monumental, gigantic
Titular (adj): tich-uh-ler
A titular job or position has a name that makes it seem important, although the person who has it is not really important or powerful = nominal
Torpid (adj): tawr-pid
If you are torpid, you are mentally or physically inactive, especially because you are feeling lazy or sleepy = dormant, dull, lethargic
Torturous (adj): tawr-cher-uhs
Something that is torturous is extremely painful and causes great suffering = painful
Touchy (adj): tuhch-ee
If you describe someone as touchy, you mean that they are easily upset, offended, or irritated = sensitive, irascible
Toxic (adj): tok-sik (1190)
A toxic substance is poisonous = poisonous
Tractable (adj): trak-tuh-buhl
If you say that a person, problem, or device is tractable, you mean that they can be easily controlled or dealt with = managable
Transient (adj): tran-shuhnt
Transient is used to describe a situation that lasts only a short time or is constantly changing = fleeting, quickly passing
Transitory (adj): tran-si-tawr-ee
If you say that something is transitory, you mean that it lasts only for a short time = fleeting, ephemeral
Translucent (adj): trans-loo-suhnt
If a material is translucent, some light can pass through it = partly transparent
Transparent (adj): trans-pair-uhnt (1195)
If an object or substance is transparent, you can see through it = easily detected
Traumatic (adj): truh-mat-ik
A traumatic experience is very shocking and upsetting, and may cause psychological damage
Tremulous (adj): trem-yuh-luhs
If someone's voice, smile, or actions are tremulous, they are unsteady because the person is uncertain, afraid, or upset = trembling, wavering
Trenchant (adj): tren-chuhnt
You can use trenchant to describe something such as a criticism or comment that is very clear, effective, and forceful = cutting, sharp, incisive
Trite (adj): trahyt
If you say that something such as an idea, remark, or story is trite, you mean that it is dull and boring because it has been said or told too many times = dull and boring
Truculent (adj): truhk-yuh-luhnt (1200)
If you say that someone is truculent, you mean that they are bad-tempered and aggressive = belligerent, aggressive, savage
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
The judge, in his judgement, pointed out that most of the evidence was purely suppositious
Surly (adj): sur-lee
Someone who is surly behaves in a rude bad-tempered way = rude, cross
He became surly and rude towards me
Surreptitious (adj): sur-uhp-tish-uhs
A surreptitious action is done secretly = furtive
He made a surreptitious entrance to the club through the little door in the brick wall
Sycophantic (adj): sik-uh-fuhnt
If you describe someone as sycophantic, you disapprove of them because they flatter people who are more important and powerful than they are in order to gain an advantage for themselves = servilely flattering
His clique of sycophantic friends is always a trouble for me
Sylvan is used to describe things that have an association with woods and trees
City - dwellers around the world are attracted by the sylvan charm of countryside
Synchronous (adj): sing-kruh-nuhs
similarly timed; simultaneous with
The software supports most synchronous communications cards
Synthetic (adj): sin-thet-i
Synthetic products are made from chemicals or artificial substances rather than from natural ones = man-made, artificial
The jacket is made of synthetic materials
Tacit (adj): tas-it
If you refer to someone’s tacit agreement or approval, you mean they are agreeing to something or approving it without actually saying so, often because they are unwilling to admit to doing so = implied, understood
Your silence on the marriage proposal may be taken to mean tacit agreement
Taciturn (adj): tas-i-turn
A taciturn person does not say very much and can seem unfriendly = shy, talking less
He used to be a reserved taciturn boy in his childhood
Tactile (adj): tak-til, -tahyl (1160)
If you describe someone as tactile, you mean that they tend to touch other people a lot when talking to them= caress
Babies who sleep with their parents receive much more tactile stimulating than babies who sleep in a cot
Tainted (adj): teynt
If a person or thing is tainted by something bad or undesirable, their status or reputation is harmed because they are associated with it = contaminated, corrupt
The human disease occurred after people ate tainted beef products
Tangible (adj): tan-juh-buhl
If something is tangible, it is clear enough or definite enough to be easily seen, felt, or noticed = perceptable
We cannot accept his findings without tangible evidence
Tantamount (adj): tan-tuh-mount
you say that one thing is tantamount to a second, more serious thing, you are emphasizing how bad, unacceptable, or unfortunate the first thing is by comparing it to the second = equal
His resignation was a tantamount to an admission of guilt
Taut (adj): tawt
Something that is taut is stretched very tight = tight; ready
He tightened the strings of the guitar until they were taut
Tautological (adj): taw-tol-uh-jee (1165)
A tautological statement is needless and often repetitious = repetitious, wordy
I don’t wish to enter a tautological debate with you on this topic
Tawdry (adj): taw-dree
If you describe something such as clothes or decorations as tawdry, you mean that they are cheap and show a lack of taste= cheap
He bought a few tawdry clothes in Lucknow
Taxing (adj): tak-sing
A taxing task or problem is one that requires a lot of mental or physical effort = demanding
The job turned out to be more taxing than I’d expected
Temporal (adj): tem-per-uhl
Temporal powers or matters relate to ordinary institutions and activities rather than to religious or spiritual ones = secular
He is more interested in temporal power and wealth than in divinity
Tenacious (adj): tuh-ney-shuhs
If you are tenacious, you are very determined and do not give up easily = stubborn, persistent, holding fast
He was very tenacious and work hard to achieve his goals
Tendentious (adj): ten-den-shuhs
Something that is tendentious expresses a particular opinion or point of view very strongly, especially one that many people disagree with = controversial
The editorials in this newspapers are tendentious rather than truth-seeking
Tenebrous (adj): ten-uh-bruhs (1170)
dark; gloomy
Tessellated (adj): tes-uh-ley-tid
inlaid; mosaic
Normally, the whole of a floor is tessellated
Tensile (adj): ten-suhl
You use tensile when you are talking about the amount of stress that materials such as wire, rope, and concrete can take without breaking; a technical term in engineering = stretchable
Certain materials can be manufactured with a high tensile strength
Tentative (adj): ten-tuh-tiv
Tentative agreements, plans, or arrangements are not definite or certain, but have been made as a first step = provisional, firm
The governments is taking tentative steps towards tackling the economic problems
Tenuous (adj): ten-yoo-uhs
If you describe something such as a connection, a reason, or someone's position as tenuous, you mean that it is very uncertain or weak = thin, rare, slim, strong
I found an excuse to phone her, but it was rather tenuous
Tepid (adj): tep-id (1175)
Water or another liquid that is tepid is slightly warm
= lukewarm
The play was greeted with tepid applause
A terse statement or comment is brief and unfriendly = pithy, laconic
The President issued a terse statement denying the charges
Terrestrial (adj): tuh-res-tree-uhl
Terrestrial means relating to the planet Earth rather than to some other part of the universe
We have been able to explore the terrestrial regions much more thoroughly than the aquatic or celestial regions
Terse (adj): turs
A terse statement or comment is brief and unfriendly = pithy, concise
I admire his terse style of writing; he comes directly to the point
Tertiary (adj): tur-shee-er-ee
Tertiary means third in order, third in importance, or at a third stage of development = third
He must have come to know those philosophers through secondary or tertiary sources
Testy (adj): tes-tee (1180)
If you describe someone as testy, you mean that they easily become impatient or angry = irritable, short-tempered
Ben's getting a little testy in his old age
Therapeutic (adj): ther-uh-pyoo-tik
If something is therapeutic, it helps you to relax or to feel better about things, especially about a situation that made you unhappy = curative
I find swimming very therapeutic
Thermal (adj): thur-muhl
Thermal means relating to or caused by heat or by changes in temperature = pertaining to heat
It's time to get your thermal vest on, never mind skates
Thrifty (adj): thrif-tee
If you say that someone is thrifty, you are praising them for saving money, not buying unnecessary things, and not wasting things = frugal
He was brought up to be thrifty and never to get into debt
Timorous (adj): tim-er-uhs
If you describe someone as timorous, you mean that they are frightened and nervous of other people and situations = timid, fearful
The world-stage is not for timorous, you have to come up and perform
Titanic (adj): tahy-tan-ik (1185)
If you describe something as titanic, you mean that it is very big or important, and usually that it involves very powerful forces = monumental, gigantic
The world had witnessed a titanic struggle between two visions of the future
Titular (adj): tich-uh-ler
A titular job or position has a name that makes it seem important, although the person who has it is not really important or powerful = nominal
He is a titular head, and merely signs letter occassionally
Torpid (adj): tawr-pid
If you are torpid, you are mentally or physically inactive, especially because you are feeling lazy or sleepy = dormant, dull, lethargic
I felt torpid after heavy lunch
Torturous (adj): tawr-cher-uhs
Something that is torturous is extremely painful and causes great suffering = painful
This is a torturous, agonizing way to kill someone
Touchy (adj): tuhch-ee
If you describe someone as touchy, you mean that they are easily upset, offended, or irritated = sensitive, irascible
She is very touchy about her past
Toxic (adj): tok-sik (1190)
A toxic substance is poisonous = poisonous
We must seek an antidote for whatever toxic substance he has eaten
Tractable (adj): trak-tuh-buhl
If you say that a person, problem, or device is tractable, you mean that they can be easily controlled or dealt with = managable
This approach helps to make the issues more tractable
Transient (adj): tran-shuhnt
Transient is used to describe a situation that lasts only a short time or is constantly changing = fleeting, quickly passing
The winter we only had a transient cold spell
Transitory (adj): tran-si-tawr-ee
If you say that something is transitory, you mean that it lasts only for a short time = fleeting, ephemeral
Most teenage romances are transitory
Translucent (adj): trans-loo-suhnt
If a material is translucent, some light can pass through it = partly transparent
The building is roofed entirely with translucent corrugated plastic
Transparent (adj): trans-pair-uhnt (1195)
If an object or substance is transparent, you can see through it = easily detected
The way the system works will be transparent to the user
Traumatic (adj): truh-mat-ik
A traumatic experience is very shocking and upsetting, and may cause psychological damage
His son's death was the most traumatic event in Stan's life
Tremulous (adj): trem-yuh-luhs
If someone's voice, smile, or actions are tremulous, they are unsteady because the person is uncertain, afraid, or upset = trembling, wavering
She fidgeted in her chair as she took a deep, tremulous breath
Trenchant (adj): tren-chuhnt
You can use trenchant to describe something such as a criticism or comment that is very clear, effective, and forceful = cutting, sharp, incisive
His trenchant views on the subject are well known
Trite (adj): trahyt
If you say that something such as an idea, remark, or story is trite, you mean that it is dull and boring because it has been said or told too many times = dull and boring
The movie is teeming with obvious and trite ideas
Truculent (adj): truhk-yuh-luhnt (1200)
If you say that someone is truculent, you mean that they are bad-tempered and aggressive = belligerent, aggressive, savage
He was in a very truculent mood throughout the meeting
