
baleful
baleful
/ˈbeɪɫfəɫ/
adjective*** having a harmful effect
Examples

cardinal
cardinal
/ˈkɑɹdənəɫ/, /ˈkɑɹdɪnəɫ/
adjectiveserving as an essential component
Examples

concomitant
concomitant
/ˌkɑnˈkɑmətənt/, /ˌkɑnkəˈmɪtənt/
adjectiveoccurring with or following as a consequence
Examples

counterproductive
counterproductive
/ˈkaʊntɝpɹəˌdəktɪv/
adjectivetending to hinder the achievement of a goal
Examples

feckless
feckless
/ˈfɛkɫɪs/
adjectivegenerally incompetent and ineffectual
Examples

immaterial
immaterial
/ˌɪməˈtɪɹiəɫ/
adjectiveof no importance or relevance especially to a law case
Examples
inchoate
inchoate
/ˌɪnˈkoʊət/
adjectiveonly partly in existence; imperfectly formed
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Examples
What is "inchoate"?

inconsequential
inconsequential
/ˌɪŋˌkɑnsəˈkwɛntʃəɫ/
adjectivelacking worth or importance
Examples

transitory
transitory
/ˈtɹænzəˌtɔɹi/
adjectivelasting a very short time
Examples

trifling
trifling
/ˈtɹaɪfɫɪŋ/
adjectivenot worth considering
Examples

plastic
plastic
/ˈpɫæstɪk/
adjectivecapable of being influenced or formed
Examples

portentous
portentous
/pɔɹˈtɛntəs/
adjectiveof momentous or ominous significance
Examples

retrospective
retrospective
/ˌɹɛtɹəˈspɛktɪv/
adjectiveconcerned with or related to the past
Examples

to aggrandize
to aggrandize
/əˈɡɹænˌdaɪz/
verb*** to make great or greater
Examples

to appease
to appease
/əˈpiz/
verbcause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
Examples

to attenuate
to attenuate
/əˈtɛnjuˌeɪt/
verb*** to lessen the amount, force, magnitude, or value of
Examples
to burgeon
to burgeon
/ˈbɝdʒən/
verbgrow and flourish
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Examples
Each Eternal has watched civilizations burgeon and die from their domain of Olympia.
Britain touted its burgeoning piano industry at the Great Exhibition in 1851.

to constrict
to constrict
/kənˈstɹɪkt/
verb*** to limit what somebody is able to do
Examples

to culminate
to culminate
/ˈkəɫmɪˌneɪt/
verbreach the highest or most decisive point
Examples

to deflect
to deflect
/dɪˈfɫɛkt/
verbprevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
Examples

to elevate
to elevate
/ˈɛɫəˌveɪt/
verbto provide a person or thing with a better position or higher rank, often undeservingly
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to exacerbate
to exacerbate
/ɪɡˈzæsɝˌbeɪt/
verbmake worse
Examples

to foment
to foment
/ˈfoʊmɛnt/
verb*** to promote the growth or development of
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to galvanize
to galvanize
/ˈɡæɫvəˌnaɪz/
verbto stimulate to action
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to lull
to lull
/ˈɫəɫ/
verbmake calm or still
Examples

to wax
to wax
/ˈwæks/
verbto increase in size, intensity, strength, etc.
Examples

to misattribute
to misattribute
verb
*** to incorrectly indicate the cause, origin, or creator of something; to attribute wrongly
Examples
to obtain
to obtain
/əbˈteɪn/
verbbe valid, applicable, or true
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Examples
Rain filled lakes and rivers where they could obtain water to drink and catch fish to eat.
The heat obtained from the mirrors is used to boil water.
Ferris finally obtained Burnham's approval in December 1892 and began construction immediately.

to oscillate
to oscillate
/ˈɑsəˌɫeɪt/
verbbe undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
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to overshadow
to overshadow
/ˈoʊvɝˈʃædoʊ/
verbto cause someone or something to seem less important
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to permeate
to permeate
/ˈpɝmiˌeɪt/
verbspread or diffuse through
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to proliferate
to proliferate
/pɹoʊˈɫɪfɝˌeɪt/
verbto cause something to rapidly increase in numbers or grow in size
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to squelch
to squelch
/ˈskwɛɫtʃ/
verbsuppress or crush completely
Examples
to supersede
to supersede
/ˌsupɝˈsid/
verbtake the place or move into the position of
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Examples
Today, Harryhausen's stop-motion animation technique has been superseded by more sophisticated computer-generated imaging and performance-capture animations.

deterrent
deterrent
/dɪˈtɝɹənt/
nounsomething that makes people decide not to do something because of its consequences
Examples

nadir
nadir
/ˈneɪdɝ/
nounan extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything
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precursor
precursor
/pɹiˈkɝsɝ/
nounsomething that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
Examples

status quo
status quo
/stˈæɾəs kwˈoʊ/
nounthe existing state of affairs
Examples

to check
to check
/ˈtʃɛk/
verbto keep something bad under control in order to prevent deterioration or to slow down its spread or development
Examples
