| A | B |
|---|
| austere | rigourous, stern, severely simple |
| austerity | austere RW - implies harsh restraint and the absence of warmth, liveliness, or adornment |
| asceticism | austere RW - self-denial |
| sobriety | austere RW - serious, restrained, temperate living |
| rigor | austere RW - stiffness, implying strong discipline, from within or without |
| stringency | austere RW - strictness or tight controls |
| avid | eager, greedy |
| preference | avid RW - mild eagerness, hypothetical or mildly emotional |
| partiality | avid RW - a stronger preference, deliberate or unreasoning |
| keenness | avid RW - desire with a sharp edge and is thus mildly thrilling |
| ardor | avid RW - spirited or fiery eagerness |
| zeal | avid RW - warm, strong, energetic eagerness |
| zealousness | avid RW - warm, strong, energetic eagerness |
| rapacity | avid RW - a ruthless or even immoral eagerness which leads to the wrongful or violent seizure of that which one wants |
| covetousness | avid RW - rapacious eagerness for something that belongs to someone else |
| mania | avid RW - eagerness verving on madness and obsession |
| capricious | subject to whims, changeable |
| whimsical | capricious RW - droll or sensible behavior in a humorous, unexpected way |
| erratic | capricious RW - uneven or irregular behavior |
| spasmodic | capricious RW - sudden, irregular, and sometimes violent behavior because of strong changes in mood or emotion |
| competent | capable, skillful, well qualified |
| proficiency | competent RW - a high degree of mastery in some specific skill or field |
| dexterity | competent RW - primarily muscular skill and often speed |
| adroitness | competent RW - the ability to handle a situation or problem skillfully |
| finesse | competent RW - adroitness, gracefulness, smoothness in handling a situation |
| facility | competent RW - competence with ease as well as skill |
| diffident | shy, timid, unassertive |
| bashful | diffident RW |
| retiring | diffident RW |
| taciturn | diffident RW |
| demure | diffident RW - quietly charming |
| sedate | diffident RW - dignified and serious |
| modest | diffident RW - unassuming |
| diminutive | undersized, small |
| diminish | diminutive RW - to decrease |
| diminution | diminutive RW |
| formidable | hard to overcome, causing fear or dread |
| inexorable | unyielding, unrelenting |
| inflexible | inexorable RW |
| unalterable | inexorable RW |
| obstinate | inexorable RW |
| obdurate | inexorable RW |
| implacable | inexorable RW |
| irrevocable | inexorable RW |
| inscrutable | mysterious, unfathomable, beyond comprehension |
| scrutinize | inscrutable RW |
| inveterate | habitual, deeply established |
| chronic | inveterate RW - long-established and recurring condition |
| lugubrious | mournful, doleful, dismal |
| funereal | lugubrious RW |
| lachrymose | lugubrious RW - tear-producing or tearful |
| lamentable | lugubrious RW |
| grievous | lugubrious RW |
| morbid | lugubrious RW - gruesome, horrible |
| macabre | lugubrious RW |
| melancholy | gloomy, brooding, sadly thoughtful |
| melancholia | melancholy RW - a mental disorder characterized by exceedingly low spirits and severe depression |
| wistfulness | melancholy RW - slight, very gentle melancholy |
| depression | melancholy RW - a state of low spirits, not so deep as dejection and due more to physical or temporary conditions |
| dejection | melancholy RW - the state of being downcast, discouraged, lacking hope |
| despondency | melancholy RW - stresses lack or loss of hope that the situation will improve |
| disconsolateness | melancholy RW - the condition of being uncomforted, especially over a specific cause of grief |
| despair | melancholy RW - despondency at or beyond the breaking point, where one abandons hope and faith |
| meticulous | scrupulous about details |
| punctilious | meticulous RW - scrupulously exact about details, practices, customs, and schedules |
| punctual | meticulous RW - person who makes a habit of being on time |
| munificent | very generous, lavish |
| liberal | munificent RW - free, ample, more than enough giving |
| generous | munificent RW - spontaneous, unselfish, wholehearted giving |
| bounteous | munificent RW - abundant, unrestrained, more than merely liberal giving |
| opportune | timely, advantageous, seasonable |
| opportunism | opportune RW - act of seizing an unexpected chance an turning it to one's advantage |
| opportunistic | opportune RW - implies a lack of moral scruples |
| plebeian | common, ordinary, low-class |
| plebiscite | plebeian RW - vote by the people on a specific issue, especially a choice of sovereignty |
| precipitous | very steep |
| precipitate | precipitous RW (adj) - sudden, rash, too hasty |
| precipitant | precipitous RW - sudden, rash, too hasty |
| precipitate | precipitous RW (v) - hurl, to throw violently |
| impetuous | precipitous RW |
| precocious | ahead in development (especially mental); exhibiting exceptionally mature qualities |
| pugnacious | quarrelsome, inclined to fight |
| combative | pugnacious RW - a person who has a wary, pugnacious attitude of a soldier in combat |
| contentious | pugnacious RW - a person who keeps stirring up trouble |
| pugilistic | pugnacious RW - a person who is not necessarily pugnacious but has a connection with boxing |
| pugilist | pugnacious RW - a boxer or prizefighter |
| belligerent | pugnacious RW - a person who is very quarrelsome |
| bellicose | pugnacious RW - a person who is warlike |
| querulous | fretful, complaining |
| petulant | querulous RW - a peevish and irritable person, especially in the sense of being bad-tempered |
| peevish | querulous RW - a fretful and ill-humored person, especially in petty ways |
