1. conventional (100) based on accepted practice; traditional; customary;
normal; ordinary; orthodox (convention,
unconventional)
2. undermine (99) to hurt, weaken, or destroy, often in an
underhanded or sneaky way
3. dismissive (90) rejecting another’s thoughts or ideas, usually as not
worthy of consideration; condescending (dismiss)
4. aesthetic (86) relating to what is beautiful; beautiful; pleasing
(aesthetics, aesthete, unaesthetic)
5. objective (77) based on facts rather than personal feelings;
unbiased; not personal; not subjective; true
(objectivity)
6. reconcile (75) to adjust the differences between things; to reach
an agreement, especially after an argument; to
make up; to overcome discord; to try to be inclusive
(reconciliation, conciliatory, irreconcilable)
7. speculative (74) taking a chance; risky; uncertain; cannot be
confirmed (speculate, speculation)
8. accessible (71) being able to enter or approach a place;
approachable; friendly; genial; gregarious (access,
inaccessible)
9. decorum (68) proper; correct behavior or etiquette; good
manners; refinement (decorous, indecorous)
10. impulsive (67) tending to act on impulse and without thought;
rash; impetuous; unrestrained; capricious
(impulses)
11. deride (67) to ridicule something; to laugh at something as
ridiculous; to mock; to satirize (derision, derisory,
risible)
12. suppress (67) to stop something from rising or coming out by

27. rational (57) based on reason rather than emotions; logical;
sensible (irrational, rationale, rationalize)
28. abstract (57) based on general ideas; not solid or concrete; vague;
hypothetical (abstraction)
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29. distinct (57) clearly separate from others; not identical;
different; clear; conspicuous; lucid (distinction,
distinctive, indistinct)
30. felicitous (56) well-chosen; especially appropriate; pleasing
(felicity, infelicity)
31. resolute (56) determined to succeed; not easily discouraged;
persistent; tenacious (resolution, irresolute,
resolve, unresolved)
32. diverse (55) varying; something composed of distinct or unlike
elements or qualities (diversity, diversify)
33. trivial (53) unimportant; insignificant; negligible;
inconsequential (trivialize, triviality)
34. discern (53) to notice; to see clearly; to distinguish; to
discriminate (discerning, discernment,
indiscernible)
35. enhance (53) to strengthen; to improve (enhancement)
36. redundant (52) extra, so not needed; extraneous (redundancy)
37. tempered (52) mild; not severe or extreme; controlled; moderate;
restrained (temperate, temperance, intemperate)
38. dubious (52) doubtful, and probably untrue; implausible
39. depict (51) to represent in words or pictures; to describe a
scene or situation; to show; to convey (depiction)
40. compelling (51) to arouse a feeling irresistibly; forceful; incisive;
provocative; engaging (compel, compulsion,
compulsory)

55. vindicate (47) to prove someone right in the end; to free him or
her from blame; to exonerate (vindication)
56. exemplary (46) showing by being great example; outstanding
(exemplar, exemplify)
57. inhibit (46) to block; to hold back; to impede or suppress
(inhibition)
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58. discredit (46) to harm someone’s reputation; to show something
should not be trusted or believed (credit)
59. contemporary (46) occurring at the present time; occurring at the
same time in history; modern (contemporaries,
contemporaneous)
60. provoke (45) to arouse strong feelings in someone; to anger
(provocative, provocation)
61. solicitous (45) eager to help; asking if one can help; sympathetic
(solicit, solicitude)
62. daunting (45) discouraging; intimidating; scary (undaunted)
63. skepticism (44) doubt (skeptical, skeptic)
64. coherent (44) sticking together in a unified whole; orderly;
logically understandable; lucid (incoherent)
65. autonomy (44) independence; self-government (autonomous)
66. comprehensive (44) all-inclusive; thorough; complete; encompassing a
great deal
67. ambiguous (44) unclear; capable of being interpreted in more than
one way; uncertain; doubtful; dubious; not
definitive (ambiguity, unambiguous)
68. pretentious (43) believing oneself to better than others; boastful;
affected; not modest or reserved (pretense,
pretension)
69. rhetoric (43) impressive sounding, though sometimes empty,

84. diffident (40) lacking confidence; shy; reserved; apprehensive;
wary (diffidence)
85. subtle (40) so slight as to be hard to notice; hard to
distinguish or discern (subtlety)
86. transient (40) passing through a place quickly; not lasting; short-
lived; transitory; ephemeral; evanescent
(transience)
87. serene (40) not disturbed; peaceful; quiet; tranquil (serenity)
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88. inconsequential (40) not worth noticing; unimportant; so insignificant
as to have no consequences; negligible; trivial; trite
(consequence)
89. scrutinize (40) to examine something closely and completely,
especially with an aim to finding faults (scrutiny,
inscrutable)
90. assert (40) to state a belief positively; to claim, often without
proof (assertion, assertive)
91. foster (40) to promote; to encourage; to contribute to
something’s growth
92. perplex (40) to confuse; to mystify (perplexing, perplexity)
93. narrative (40) an account, story, or history about something
(narrate, narrator, narration)
94. prosaic (39) ordinary; matter-of-fact; lacking imagination;
uninspired; hackneyed; mundane; banal (prose)
95. substantiate (39) to offer supporting evidence; to help prove; to
corroborate (unsubstantiated, substantive,
substantial; insubstantial)
96. optimistic (39) hopeful; looking on the bright side; expecting the
best; sanguine (optimism, optimist)
97. tranquil (39) calm; peaceful; quiet; relaxing; serene (tranquility)