Astute (adj): uh-stoot, uh-styoot
If you describe someone as astute, you think they show an understanding of behaviour and situations, and are skilful at using this knowledge to their own advantage= wise, shrewd, keen
Athwart (adj): uh-thwawrt
Across; in opposition
Atypical (adj): ey-tip-i-kuhl
Someone or something that is atypical is not typical of its kind = typical, not normal
Audacious (adj): aw-dey-shuhs
Someone who is audacious takes risks in order to achieve something = bold, daring
Auroral (adj): aw-rawr-uhl (105)
pertaining to the aurora borealis
Auspicious (adj): aw-spish-uhs
Something that is auspicious indicates that success is likely= favoring success
Austere (adj): aw-steer
If you describe something as austere, you approve of its plain and simple appearance= simple, stern
Authentic (adj): aw-then-tik
An authentic person, object, or emotion is genuine= real
Autonomous (adj): aw-ton-uh-muhs
An autonomous country, organization, or group governs or controls itself rather than being controlled by anyone else = self-governing
Auxiliary (adj): awg-zil-yuh-ree (110)
An auxiliary is a person who is employed to assist other people in their work Auxiliaries are often medical workers or members of the armed forces = ancillary, helper, additional or subsidiary
Averse (adj): uh-vurs
If you say that you are not averse to something, you mean that you quite like it or quite want to do it = reluctant
Avid (adj): av-id
You use avid to describe someone who is very enthusiastic about something that they do = greedy; eager for
Avuncular (adj): uh-vuhng-kyuh-ler
An avuncular man or a man with avuncular behaviour is friendly and helpful towards someone younger = like an uncle
Awry (adj): uh-rahy
If something goes awry, it does not happen in the way it was planned= distorted, crooked
Azure (adj): azh-er (115)
Azure is used to describe things that are bright blue
Bacchanalian (adj): bak-uh-ney-lee-uh
drunken
Baleful (adj): beyl-fuhl
Baleful means harmful, or expressing harmful intentions = deadly, omnious
Ballistic (adj): buh-lis-tik
to go ballistic is to suddenly become very angry
Balmy (adj): bah-mee
Balmy weather is fairly warm and pleasant = mild
Banal (adj): buh-nal, -nahl, beyn-l (120)
If you describe something as banal, you do not like it because you think that it is so ordinary that it is not at all effective or interesting= trite, commonplace
Bantering (adj): ban-ter
good-natured ridiculing
Banter is teasing or joking talk that is amusing and friendly
Baroque (adj): buh-rohK
Baroque architecture and art is an elaborate style of architecture and art that was popular in Europe in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries = highly ornate
Bawdy (adj): baw-dee
A bawdy story or joke contains humorous references to sex = indecent, obscene
Beatific (adj): bee-uh-tif-ik
A beatific expression shows or expresses great happiness and calmness = giving bliss, blissful
Beholden (adj): bih-hohl-duhn (125)
If you are beholden to someone, you are in debt to them in some way or you feel that you have a duty to them because they have helped you= obligated, indebted
Belated (adj): bih-ley-tid
A belated action happens later than it should have done = delayed
Bellicose (adj): bel-i-kohs
You use bellicose to refer to aggressive actions or behaviour that are likely to start an argument or a fight = warlike
Belligerent (adj): buh-lij-er-uhnt
A belligerent person is hostile and aggressive = quarrelsome
Beneficent (adj): buh-nef-uh-suhnt
A beneficent person or thing helps people or results in something good = kindly
Benevolent (adj): buh-nev-uh-luhnt (130)
Doing or inclined to do good = kind, charitable, generous
Benighted (adj): bih-nahy-tid
If you describe people or the place where they live as benighted, you think they are unfortunate or do not know anything = overcome by darkness
Benign (adj): bih-nahyn
You use benign to describe someone who is kind, gentle, and harmless= kindly, favorable
Bereft (adj): bih-reft
If a person or thing is bereft of something, they no longer have it = lacking, deprived of
Berserk (adj): ber-surk
Berserk means crazy and out of control = mad, frenzied
Bestial (adj): bes-chuhl, bees- (135)
If you describe behaviour or a situation as bestial, you mean that it is very unpleasant or disgusting= beastlike, brutal
Bestial (adj): bes-chuhl
If you describe behaviour or a situation as bestial, you mean that it is very unpleasant or disgusting = brutish, beastlike
Bibulous (adj): bib-yuh-luhs
Bibulous releates to absorbing quality = spongy
Bicameral (adj): bahy-kam-er-uhl
two-chambered, as a legislative body
Biennial (adj): bahy-en-ee-uhl
A biennial event happens or is done once every two years
Bilious (adj): bil-yuhs (140)
If someone describes the appearance of something as bilious, they mean that they think it looks unpleasant and rather disgusting = indigestion
Bizarre (adj): bih-zahr
Something that is bizarre is very odd and strange = weird, fantastic
Bland (adj): bland
If you describe someone or something as bland, you mean that they are rather dull and unexciting= dull, vapid, having little flavor
Blasé (adj): blah-zey
If you describe someone as blasé, you mean that they are not easily impressed, excited, or worried by things, usually because they have seen or experienced them before
Blasphemous (adj): blas-fuh-muhs
You can describe someone who shows disrespect for God or a religion as blasphemous You can also describe what they are saying or doing as blasphemous = profane, impious
Blatant (adj): bleyt-nt (145)
You use blatant to describe something bad that is done in an open or very obvious way = obvious
Blithe (adj): blahyth, blahyth
You use blithe to indicate that something is done casually, without serious or careful thought = gay, joyous
Bleak (adj): bleek
If a situation is bleak, it is bad, and seems unlikely to improve = gloomy, cheerless
Bleary (adj): bleer-ee
If your eyes are bleary, they look dull or tired, as if you have not had enough sleep or have drunk too much alcohol
Bloated (adj): bloh-tid
If someone's body or a part of their body is bloated, it is much larger than normal, usually because it has a lot of liquid or gas inside it = swollen
Bogus (adj): boh-guh (150)
If you describe something as bogus, you mean that it is not genuine = phoney, counterfeit, not authentic
If you describe someone as astute, you think they show an understanding of behaviour and situations, and are skilful at using this knowledge to their own advantage= wise, shrewd, keen
YSR is an astute politician
Athwart (adj): uh-thwawrt
Across; in opposition
Atypical (adj): ey-tip-i-kuhl
Someone or something that is atypical is not typical of its kind = typical, not normal
Their housing situation is not atypical, even for this affluent suburb
Audacious (adj): aw-dey-shuhs
Someone who is audacious takes risks in order to achieve something = bold, daring
It was an audacious decision to implement mid day meal scheme
Auroral (adj): aw-rawr-uhl (105)
pertaining to the aurora borealis
Auspicious (adj): aw-spish-uhs
Something that is auspicious indicates that success is likely= favoring success
The tennis player considered the sunny forecast an auspicious sign that she would win her match
Austere (adj): aw-steer
If you describe something as austere, you approve of its plain and simple appearance= simple, stern
Her father is a very austere man
Authentic (adj): aw-then-tik
An authentic person, object, or emotion is genuine= real
The experts confirmed it was an authentic signature
Autonomous (adj): aw-ton-uh-muhs
An autonomous country, organization, or group governs or controls itself rather than being controlled by anyone else = self-governing
PR government college is an autonomous college
Auxiliary (adj): awg-zil-yuh-ree (110)
An auxiliary is a person who is employed to assist other people in their work Auxiliaries are often medical workers or members of the armed forces = ancillary, helper, additional or subsidiary
Nursing auxiliaries provide basic care, but are not qualified nurses
Averse (adj): uh-vurs
If you say that you are not averse to something, you mean that you quite like it or quite want to do it = reluctant
He's not averse to publicity, of the right kind
Avid (adj): av-id
You use avid to describe someone who is very enthusiastic about something that they do = greedy; eager for
He misses not having enough books because he's an avid reader
Avuncular (adj): uh-vuhng-kyuh-ler
An avuncular man or a man with avuncular behaviour is friendly and helpful towards someone younger = like an uncle
He began to talk in his most gentle and avuncular manner
Awry (adj): uh-rahy
If something goes awry, it does not happen in the way it was planned= distorted, crooked
Unfortunately, however, good intentions sometimes go awry
Azure (adj): azh-er (115)
Azure is used to describe things that are bright blue
Azure skies are indicative of good weather
Bacchanalian (adj): bak-uh-ney-lee-uh
drunken
Baleful (adj): beyl-fuhl
Baleful means harmful, or expressing harmful intentions = deadly, omnious
He disappeared into the night with a red nose and a baleful look
Ballistic (adj): buh-lis-tik
to go ballistic is to suddenly become very angry
I couldn't believe it! She went ballistic just because there were peas in her pasta
Balmy (adj): bah-mee
Balmy weather is fairly warm and pleasant = mild
A balmy summer evening is very pleasant
Banal (adj): buh-nal, -nahl, beyn-l (120)
If you describe something as banal, you do not like it because you think that it is so ordinary that it is not at all effective or interesting= trite, commonplace
Conversations about the most banal subjects are going in the classroom
Bantering (adj): ban-ter
good-natured ridiculing
Banter is teasing or joking talk that is amusing and friendly
She heard Tom exchanging good-natured banter with Jane
Baroque (adj): buh-rohK
Baroque architecture and art is an elaborate style of architecture and art that was popular in Europe in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries = highly ornate
They found the baroque architecture amusing
Bawdy (adj): baw-dee
A bawdy story or joke contains humorous references to sex = indecent, obscene
We got arrested once, for singing bawdy songs in a cemetery
Beatific (adj): bee-uh-tif-ik
A beatific expression shows or expresses great happiness and calmness = giving bliss, blissful
She had almost beatific expression on her pretty face
Beholden (adj): bih-hohl-duhn (125)
If you are beholden to someone, you are in debt to them in some way or you feel that you have a duty to them because they have helped you= obligated, indebted
He is a man beholden to no one
Belated (adj): bih-ley-tid
A belated action happens later than it should have done = delayed
The statement was a belated acknowledgement that the project had not been a success
Bellicose (adj): bel-i-kohs
You use bellicose to refer to aggressive actions or behaviour that are likely to start an argument or a fight = warlike
He was disliked because of his bellicose behaviour
Belligerent (adj): buh-lij-er-uhnt
A belligerent person is hostile and aggressive = quarrelsome
He is always very belligerent towards me
Beneficent (adj): buh-nef-uh-suhnt
A beneficent person or thing helps people or results in something good = kindly
The beneficent properties of natural remedies cannot be ignored
Benevolent (adj): buh-nev-uh-luhnt (130)
Doing or inclined to do good = kind, charitable, generous
No one doubts the benevolent intentions of the program for community improvement, but it was ruined by mismanagement
Benighted (adj): bih-nahy-tid
If you describe people or the place where they live as benighted, you think they are unfortunate or do not know anything = overcome by darkness
The benighted people need a guilding spirit in their moment of crisis
Benign (adj): bih-nahyn
You use benign to describe someone who is kind, gentle, and harmless= kindly, favorable
You would never have guessed his intentions from the benign gestures he makes
Bereft (adj): bih-reft
If a person or thing is bereft of something, they no longer have it = lacking, deprived of
The shock of his departure had left her feeling alone and bereft
Berserk (adj): ber-surk
Berserk means crazy and out of control = mad, frenzied
My sister will go berserk when she finds out that I have ruined her best dress
Bestial (adj): bes-chuhl, bees- (135)
If you describe behaviour or a situation as bestial, you mean that it is very unpleasant or disgusting= beastlike, brutal
We must suppress our bestial desires and work for peaceful and civilized ends
Bestial (adj): bes-chuhl
If you describe behaviour or a situation as bestial, you mean that it is very unpleasant or disgusting = brutish, beastlike
The soldiers were accused of bestial and barbaric acts by the locals
Bibulous (adj): bib-yuh-luhs
Bibulous releates to absorbing quality = spongy
The bibulous blotting paper was excellent for drying the excess moisture
Bicameral (adj): bahy-kam-er-uhl
two-chambered, as a legislative body
Biennial (adj): bahy-en-ee-uhl
A biennial event happens or is done once every two years
The group held biennial meeting instead of annual ones
Bilious (adj): bil-yuhs (140)
If someone describes the appearance of something as bilious, they mean that they think it looks unpleasant and rather disgusting = indigestion
I felt a little bilious after last night’s dinner
Bizarre (adj): bih-zahr
Something that is bizarre is very odd and strange = weird, fantastic
His behavior became more and more bizarre with age
Bland (adj): bland
If you describe someone or something as bland, you mean that they are rather dull and unexciting= dull, vapid, having little flavor
It tasted blnd and insipid, like warmed cardboard
Blasé (adj): blah-zey
If you describe someone as blasé, you mean that they are not easily impressed, excited, or worried by things, usually because they have seen or experienced them before
Kids have become blase about violence on television
Blasphemous (adj): blas-fuh-muhs
You can describe someone who shows disrespect for God or a religion as blasphemous You can also describe what they are saying or doing as blasphemous = profane, impious
The people in the room were shocked by his blasphemous language
Blatant (adj): bleyt-nt (145)
You use blatant to describe something bad that is done in an open or very obvious way = obvious
I regard your remarks as blatant and ill-mannered
Blithe (adj): blahyth, blahyth
You use blithe to indicate that something is done casually, without serious or careful thought = gay, joyous
Mary spoke with blithe certainity about her future
Bleak (adj): bleek
If a situation is bleak, it is bad, and seems unlikely to improve = gloomy, cheerless
Many predicted a bleak future
Bleary (adj): bleer-ee
If your eyes are bleary, they look dull or tired, as if you have not had enough sleep or have drunk too much alcohol
Having studied till the wee hours of the morning, most students walked into the exam hall bleary - eyed
Bloated (adj): bloh-tid
If someone's body or a part of their body is bloated, it is much larger than normal, usually because it has a lot of liquid or gas inside it = swollen
His face was bloated
Bogus (adj): boh-guh (150)
If you describe something as bogus, you mean that it is not genuine = phoney, counterfeit, not authentic
He said these figures were bogus and totally inaccurate
