Word Pronunciation Audio Definition
abject [ˈab-ˌjekt] A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a castaway; outcast.
stricken [ˈstri-kən] suffering severely from the effects of something unpleasant.
stingy [ˈstin-jē] Unwilling to spend, give, or share; ungenerous; mean
niggardly [ˈni-gərd-lē] Withholding for the sake of meanness; stingy, miserly.
sparing [ˈsper-iŋ] using very little of something.
frugality [frü-ˈga-lə-tē] The quality of being frugal; prudent economy; thrift.
forgo [fȯr-ˈgō] to not have or do something enjoyable.
undergo [ˌən-dər-ˈgō] to experience something that is unpleasant or something that involves a change.
verge [ˈvərj] the edge or border of something.
straiten [ˈstrā-tᵊn] A straitened situation is difficult because there is much less money available to you than there was in the past.
downright [ˈdau̇n-ˌrīt] (especially of something bad) extremely or very great.
expenditure [ik-ˈspen-di-chər] Act of expending or paying out.
ostentatious [ˌä-stən-ˈtā-shəs] too obviously showing your money, possessions, or power, in an attempt to make other people notice and admire you.
estate [i-ˈstāt] a large area of land in the country that is owned by a family or an organization and is often used for growing crops or raising animals.
corps [ˈkȯr] a group of people who are connected because they are involved in a particular activity.
majordomo [ˌmā-jər-ˈdō-(ˌ)mō] The head servant or official in a royal Spanish or Italian household; later, any head servant in a wealthy household in a foreign country; a leading servant or butler.
yacht [ˈyät] A slick and light ship for making pleasure trips or racing on water, having sails but often motor-powered. At times used as a residence offshore on a dock.
embroider [im-ˈbrȯi-dər] to make a story more entertaining by adding imaginary details to it.
spigot [ˈspi-gət] a device used to control the flow of liquid from something such as a barrel.
furious [ˈfyu̇r-ē-əs] Feeling great anger; raging; violent.
fatigue [fə-ˈtēg] A weariness caused by exertion; exhaustion.
bender [ˈben-dər] a period during which a large amount of alcohol is drunk.
giddy [ˈgi-dē] To make dizzy or unsteady.
intoxication [in-ˌtäk-sə-ˈkā-shən] the state of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
agony [ˈa-gə-nē] Extreme pain.
torment [ˈtȯr-ˌment] great mental suffering and unhappiness, or great physical pain.
dull [ˈdəl] not interesting or exciting in any way.
colorless [ˈkə-lər-ləs] not exciting or not interesting.
scarcely [ˈskers-lē] (modal) Probably not.
outlast [ˌau̇t-ˈlast] To live, last or remain longer than.
convalesce [ˌkän-və-ˈles] To recover health and strength gradually after sickness or weakness.
putrescent [pyü-ˈtre-sᵊnt] Becoming putrid; putrefying.
putrid [ˈpyü-trəd] Rotting, rotten, being in a state of putrefaction.
obsolescence [ˌäb-sə-ˈle-sᵊn(t)s] The state of being obsolete—no longer in use; gone into disuse; disused or neglected.
lilt [ˈlilt] a gentle and pleasant rising and falling sound in a person's voice.
buoyancy [ˈbȯi-ən(t)-sē] a happy, positive quality, especially in spite of problems.
inflict [in-ˈflikt] To thrust upon; to impose.
frivolous [ˈfri-və-ləs] Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner.
derisive [di-ˈrī-siv] unkind and showing that you think somebody/something is silly.
contempt [kən-ˈtem(p)t] The state or act of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
threadbare [ˈthred-ˌber] A threadbare excuse, argument, or idea is not strong and no longer persuades people because it is old or has been used too much.
unsung [ˌən-ˈsəŋ] Which has not been lauded or appreciated.
trite [ˈtrīt] Often in reference to a word or phrase: used so many times that it is commonplace, or no longer interesting or effective; worn out, hackneyed.
perspicacity [ˌpər-spə-ˈka-sə-tē] Acute discernment or understanding; insight.
sneer [ˈsnir] A facial expression where one slightly raises one corner of the upper lip, generally indicating scorn.
novelty [ˈnä-vəl-tē] The state of being new or novel; newness.
allay [a-ˈlā] Alleviation; abatement; check.
prosperity [prä-ˈsper-ə-tē] The condition of being prosperous, of having good fortune
sedative [ˈse-də-tiv] An agent or drug that sedates, having a calming or soothing effect, or inducing sleep.
platter [ˈpla-tər] A tray for serving foods.
platypus [ˈpla-ti-pəs] A semi-aquatic, egg-laying monotreme mammal with a bill resembling that of a duck, that has a mole-like body, a tail resembling that of a beaver, a waterproof pelt, and flat webbed feet — males have poisonous spurs on the inside of the back legs; Ornithorhynchus anatinus
tiptop [ˈtip-ˈtäp] excellent.
tightfisted [ˈtīt-ˈfi-stəd] Reluctant to spend money; miserly or stingy
stilted [ˈstil-təd] (of a person's behaviour or way of speaking or writing) too formal and not smooth or natural.
miser [ˈmī-zər] A person who hoards money rather than spending it; one who is cheap or extremely parsimonious.
exploit [ˈek-ˌsplȯit] A heroic or extraordinary deed.
liberal [ˈli-b(ə-)rəl] One with liberal views, supporting individual liberty (see Wikipedia's article on Liberalism).
facetious [fə-ˈsē-shəs] Treating serious issues with (often deliberately) inappropriate humour; flippant.
laudatory [ˈlȯ-də-ˌtȯr-ē] Of or pertaining to praise, or the expression of praise.