A A B B C C D C E E F F G G H H I I J J K K L L M M N N O O P P Q Q R R S S T T U U V V W W X X Y Y Z Z

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rabble mob; noisy crowd
rabid of or suffering rabies; like a fanatic; extremely zealous; furious; CF. rabies: hydrophobia
rabies disease passed on by the bite of an infected animal (causing madness and death)
raconteur story-teller; one who tells stories with wit and skill
raffle lottery; V: award as a prize in a raffle; Ex. raffle off a new car
rag scrap of cloth; ADJ. ragged: old and torn; seeming unfinished and imperfect; Ex. ragged debut/performance
ragamuffin dirty child in torn clothes; person wearing tattered clothes
rail complain bitterly; scold; rant; Ex. the weaker railing against injustices
raiment clothing; garments; Ex. I have no raiment fit to wear.
rake immoral or dissolute person
rakish jaunty; stylish; sporty; morally corrupt; dissolute; Ex. He wore his hat at a rakish and jaunty angle.
rally come or bring together; call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate (after illness or difficulty); N: act of rallying; mass gathering
ram male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
ramble wander aimlessly (physically or mentally); digress
ramification branching out; subdivision; one branch of a system; one of the results following from an action or decision; Ex. ramifications of a business/the decision
ramify branch out; divide into branches or subdivisions
ramp slope; inclined plane or roadway (connecting two levels)
rampant growing or spreading uncontrollably; growing in profusion; unrestrained; Ex. rampant lawlessness/weed
rampart defensive mound of earth
ramshackle (of a building or vehicle) poorly constructed; rickety; falling apart
rancid having the odor of stale or decomposing fat; rank
rancor long-lasting hatred; bitterness; Ex. negotiation without rancor; ADJ. rancorous
random without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard; Ex. random shots; Ex. chosen at random
rank offensive in odor or flavor
rankle irritate; fester; annoy
ransack search thoroughly; pillage (going through a place); Ex. Enemy soldiers ransacked the town.
rant speak violently or excitedly; rave; talk excitedly showing anger; scold; make a grandiloquent speech; Ex. The priest ranted about the devil.
rapacious voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds
rapport close relationship; emotional closeness; harmony
rapt engrossed; absorbed; enchanted; Ex. rapt listener
rapture great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
rare (of air) thin in density; rarefied; Ex. rare air of the mountains
rarefied made less dense (of a gas); V. rarefy: make less dense; N. rarefaction
rasp (of a sound) grate on (eg. nerves); make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect; rub with something rough; Ex. The cat’s tongue rasped my hand.
raspy making a harsh noise; grating; harsh
ratify approve formally; confirm; verify
ratiocination reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises; V. ratiocinate: reason logically
ration fixed portion; V: distribute as rations
rational (of a person) having reason; (of ideas) based on reason; logical
rationale fundamental reason or principle (on which a system or principle is based); fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action
rationalize make rational; devise false reasons for (one’s behavior); offer an excuse; give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable ones; N. rationalization
raucous (of voice) harsh and unpleasant; (of people) disorderly and boisterous; Ex. raucous shouts
ravage devastate; plunder; despoil; Ex. crops ravaged by storms
rave overwhelmingly favorable review; V: talk wildly as if mad; Ex. raving lunatic
ravel fall apart into tangles; entangle; unravel or untwist
ravenous extremely hungry; voracious
ravine narrow valley with steep sides; gorge; CF. gully, canyon

raze
destroy completely; Ex. raze the city to the ground

reactionary strongly opposed to social or political change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative; N. OP. radical
realm kingdom; field or sphere; Ex. not within the realms of possibility
reaper one who harvests grain; Ex. the Grim Reaper; V. reap: cut and gather (crop); harvest a crop
rebate return of part of a payment; discount; V.
rebuff reject bluntly; snub; beat back; Ex. She rebuffed his invitation; N.
rebuke scold harshly; criticize severely
rebus representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols; puzzle in which pictures or letters stand for words; Ex. “R U 18′’ is a rebus for “Are you 18′’.
rebuttal refutation; response with contrary evidence; V. rebut: refute; disprove
recalcitrant disobedient or resisting authority even after being punished; obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly; Ex. recalcitrant child
recant disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error; Ex. recant one’s faith/a statement
recapitulate summarize
recast reconstruct (a sentence, story, statue, etc.); fashion again
receptive quick or willing to receive (ideas, suggestions, etc.); Ex. receptive to the proposal
recess pause; temporary cessation; alcove; secret inner place; Ex. parliament in recess; V. CF. recessive
recession withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic activity
recidivism habitual return to crime (even after being punished); N. recidivist
recipient receiver
reciprocal mutual; given and received in return; exchangeable; interacting; Ex. reciprocal trade agreement
reciprocate do or give something in return; repay in kind; give or take mutually; interchange; move
recital act of reciting publicly; detailed account; performance of music or dance (by a solo performer)
recite repeat aloud (something learned); describe; Ex. recite his complaints; N. recitation

reckon
count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose

recline lie down
recluse hermit; loner; ADJ. reclusive
reconcile make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent (two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one’s political principles with one’s religious beliefs
recondite abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
reconnaissance survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)
recount narrate or tell (a story); count over again
recourse resorting to help when in trouble; Ex. without recourse to
recreant disloyal; cowardly; N: disloyal and cowardly person
recrimination countercharges; V. recriminate
rectify set right; correct; CF. rect-: right
rectitude moral correctness; moral uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment
recumbent reclining; lying down completely or in part
recuperate recover; return to health; regain; Ex. recuperate losses
recurrent occurring again and again
redolent odorous; fragrant; suggestive (of an odor); Ex. redolent of onions/mystery
redoubtable formidable; causing fear
redress remedy; compensation; Ex. seek redress for the damage to your car; V: put right; remedy or rectify (a wrong); make amends for
reduce diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction
redundant superfluous; more than is necessary; verbose; excessively wordy; repetitious
reek emit (an unpleasant odor or smoke); give off an unpleasant odor; give out smoke; Ex. reeking chimney; N: unpleasant odor; stench
refectory dining hall; room where meals are served (in a school)
referendum direct vote by all the people
refraction bending of a ray of light
refractory unmanageable; disobedient and stubborn; Ex. refractory horse
refrain abstain from; resist; forbear; N: chorus

refulgent
effulgent; brilliant; brightly shining; gleaming; Ex. refulgent moon

refurbish renovate; make clean, bright, or fresh (make new) again; make bright by polishing; Ex. refurbish an old theater; CF. furbish: polish
refuse anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash
refute disprove; prove to be false; N. refutation
regal royal; of a monarch; Ex. regal manner
regale entertain
regatta boat or yacht race
regeneration spiritual rebirth; Ex. regeneration of the prisoners; V. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
regent a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child; ADJ. Ex. the Prince regent
regicide murder of a king or queen
regime method of system or government
regimen prescribed course of diet or exercise; prescribed diet and habits; Ex. daily regimen of a dancer
regiment military unit; V: subject to strict order; Ex. regimented society
rehabilitate restore to proper condition (health or useful life); restore the former rank of
reimburse repay; pay back
reinstate restore to a previous condition or position
reiterate repeat

rejoinder
reply; retort; comeback; V. rejoin: say in reply

rejuvenate make young again
relapse return to a former state (esp. after improvement); N.
relegate put into a lower or worse place; banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign; Ex. relegate the old furniture to the children’s room; Ex. relegated to the second division
relent become less severe; give in(surrender); ADJ. relentless: unyielding; continuously severe
relevant having importance; pertinent; referring to the case in hand; N. relevance, relevancy
relic surviving remnant (from an extinct culture); memento; keepsake; relics: corpse; Ex. ancient relics; Ex. relics of his travel; Ex. His relics are buried at X.
religious of religion; (of a person) pious; having reverence for a deity
relinquish give up something (with reluctance); yield; release; Ex. relinquish power/the claim to the land/his hold on my arm
relish enjoy; savor; N: enjoyment; zest
remediable reparable
reminiscence recollection; V. reminisce: recollect the past
reminiscent suggestive of something (in the past); of reminiscence
remiss negligent; careless about a duty
remission temporary moderation (of disease symptoms); remitting of a debt or punishment; cancelation of a debt; pardon; Ex. The disease went into remission; Ex. Christians pray for the remission of sins.
remit transmit (money) in payment; free someone from a debt or punishment
remittance remitting of money; amount of money remitted
remnant remainder
remonstrate protest; objection; V. remonstrate: say in protest
remorse deep regret for wrongdoing; guilt; self-reproach

remunerative
(of work) compensating; rewarding; profitable; well-paid; V. remunerate: reward; pay (someone) for work or trouble

rend split; tear apart; N. rent; CF. heartrending: causing deep sorrow
render give; deliver; provide; represent in verbal or artistic form; depict; perform; make; translate; Ex. render the song beautifully
rendezvous meeting place; meeting at a set time or place; V.
rendition rendering; translation; artistic interpretation of a song, etc
renegade deserter; traitor; ADJ.
renege break a promise; deny; go back on; Ex. renege on the contract/paying off the debt
renounce abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown; repudiate; Ex. renounce one’s claim to the property/one’s religion; N. renunciation
renovate restore to good condition; renew
renown fame; ADJ. renowned
rent tear made by rending; rip; split
reparable capable of being repaired
reparation compensation (for loss or wrong); amends; Ex. make reparation for the damage; CF. repair
repartee quick clever reply
repast meal; feast; banquet
repeal revoke; annul
repel drive away; disgust; Ex. repel the attack/moisture; Ex. repelled by the dirty room; CF. repulsion
repellent driving away; disgusting; offensive; repulsive; unattractive; N.
repercussion rebound; reaction; reverberation; Ex. serious repercussion
repertoire list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present; CF. repertory
repine fret; complain; be annoyed; Ex. repine over the undone work
replenish fill up again
replete fully filled; filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied; Ex. report replete with errors
replica copy
replicate reproduce; duplicate
repose resting; state of being at rest; calmness; V: lie at rest; relax; put or place; Ex. repose our hopes in a single man
repository storehouse
reprehensible deserving blame; blameworthy; V. reprehend: blame
representational (of a style of art) showing things as they actually appear in real life
repress hold back (the natural expression of); restrain; crush; oppress; Ex. repressed child; Ex. repress a laugh/rebellion
reprieve postponement or cancelation of a punishment; temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of
reprimand reprove severely; rebuke; N.
reprisal retaliation
reprise musical repetition; repeating of a piece of music; repeat performance; recurrent action; Ex. reprise in the finale; Ex. constant reprises
reproach blame (not angrily but sadly); express disapproval or disappointment; N. ADJ. reproachful
reprobate morally disapproved person; person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of decency; CF. disapproved by God ?
reprobation severe disapproval; CF. approbation
reprove censure; rebuke; N. reproof
repudiate disown; disavow; deny
repugnance disgust; strong dislike; loathing; ADJ. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive
repulse reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion
repulsion distaste; disgust; act of driving back; ADJ. repulsive: causing disgust; tending to drive away; V. repel (not `repulse’)
reputable respectable; having a good reputation
reputed supposed; Ex. reputed father of the child; V. repute: consider; N. repute: reputation; esteem
requiem mass for the dead; dirge

requisite
necessary requirement; something required; ADJ: required; necessary

requisition formal demand or request; Ex. requisition for more computing equipment; V.
requite make return for; repay; reciprocate; revenge; N. requittal
rescind repeal; annul; cancel (a law, decision, or agreement)
resentment indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent: feel anger about
reserve self-control; self-restraint; formal but distant manner; reticence; Ex. without reserve: freely and openly; ADJ. reserved: shy and uncommunicative
residual remaining; left over; of a residue; N: residue
residue remainder; balance
resign give up (a position, right, or claim); submit (oneself) passively
resignation patiently submissiveness; statement that one is quitting a job; ADJ. resigned: acquiescent
resilient elastic; having the power of springing back; able to recover quickly (as from misfortune)
resolution determination; resoluteness; ADJ. resolute: firm or determined in purpose
resolve decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined decision; N. resolution
resonant (of a sound) echoing; resounding(sounding loudly); deep and full in sound; producing resonance; Ex. resonant voice; N. resonance
resort turn to for help; Ex. resort to violence; N.
resound (of a place) be filled with sound; (of a sound) sound loudly; sound back; echo; Ex. hall resounded with laughter
resourceful clever and imaginative (in dealing with difficult situations); N. resource, resourcefulness
respiration breathing; exhalation; ADJ. respiratory
respite time for rest; interval of relief; delay in punishment; reprieve
resplendent brilliant; splendid in appearance; dazzling; glorious
responsiveness state of reacting readily to appeals, orders, etc.; ADJ. responsive: readily reacting; Ex. responsive to treatment
restitution returning something (lost or stolen) to the rightful owner; reparation; indemnification; compensation for loss, damage, or injury
restive impatiently restless (induced by external coercion or restriction); restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control; Ex. restive horses because of wolves; CF. not a general synonym for `restless’
restraint moderation or self-control; controlling force; restriction
resumption taking up again; recommencement; V. resume: begin or take up again; take or occupy again; Ex. Kindly resume your seats.
resurge rise again; flow to and fro; N. resurgence; ADJ. resurgent: (of ideas or beliefs) experiencing revival; surging again
resurrect revive
resuscitate revive; bring back to life or consciousness; Ex. resuscitate the drowned child
retain keep; maintain possession of; employ (esp. a lawyer or advisor); N. retainer: servant; fee paid to retain an advisor
retaliate repay in kind (usually for bad treatment); V. retaliate
retard delay (in development); ADJ. retarded: (as of a child) slower in development
retentive holding; able to retain things (esp. facts in the mind); having a good memory
reticent inclined to silence; uncommunicative; reserved; Ex. He was reticent about the reasons; N. reticence
retinue following; attendants
retiring shy and reserved (of a person); modest; Ex. her retiring personality
retort quick sharp reply; V.
retract withdraw; take back; draw back; Ex. retract a statement/an offer/claws; N. retraction; CF. retractile
retrench cut down; cut down expenses; economize
retribution deserved punishment for wrongdoing; punishment for offenses; compensation; vengeance; CF. pay back
retrieve recover; put right; find and bring in; regain; Ex. retrieve the situation
retroactive taking effect before its enactment (as a law) or imposition (as a tax); (of a law) having effect on the past as well as the future
retrograde go backwards; recede; degenerate; deteriorate; ADJ.
retrospective looking back on the past; N. retrospection; V. retrospect
revelry boisterous merrymaking; V. revel: engage boisterous festivities; enjoy greatly; N: boisterous festivity or celebration
reverberate echo repeatedly; resound; Ex. The thunder reverberated across the valley.
reverend deserving reverence; N: priest
reverent respectful; worshipful; V. revere: regard with reverence; N. reverence: profound respect
reverie daydream; abstracted musing
revert relapse; backslide; turn back to; return to the former owner; N. reversion
revile attack with abusive language; vilify(slander)
revoke cancel; retract; CF. irrevocable
revulsion sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction; Ex. revulsion from the scenes of torture
rhapsodize speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner; Ex. rhapsodize over the beauty of the scenery
rhapsody excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)
rhetoric art of effective communication; art of using language effectively and persuasively; style of speaking or writing; grandiloquent language; Ex. political rhetoric; ADJ. rhetorical; CF. rhetorical question: question to which no answer is expected as
ribald marked by vulgar lewd humor; wanton; profane; N. ribaldry: ribald language or joke
rickety (of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets; CF. rickets; CF. vitamin D
riddle pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; Ex. The gunman riddled the car with bullets; Ex. The whole report is riddled with errors; N. large sieve (separating earth from stone)
rider amendment or clause added to a legislative bill
rife (of something bad) widespread; abundant; current
rift narrow opening in a large mass; break in a friendly relation; Ex. through a rift in the clouds; OP. reconcilation
rig arrangement of masts and sails; V: equip (a ship) with rigging; ADJ. rigging: ropes that hold up a ship’s sails
righteous morally upright; just
rightful legally correct; Ex. rightful owner
rigid hard and unbending; stiff and unyielding; fixed in behavior or views; strict; rigorous; Ex. rigid rule
rigor severity; Ex. rigors of the Russian winter
rile irritate; vex; muddy
rip tear or be torn quickly and violently; Ex. The sail ripped under the force of the wind; N.

rivet
metal pin used for fastening metal plates together; V: fasten with a rivet; engross

riveting holding one’s attention; absorbing; engrossing
rivulet small stream; CF. rill < rivulet < river
robust strong; vigorous
rococo ornate; highly decorated; N. CF. 18th century
roil make liquids murky by stirring up sediment; disturb
rolling (of land) rising and falling in long gentle slopes; happening continuously by stages; Ex. rolling devolution of power to local governments
romp play or frolic boisterously; gambol; N.
rooster cock; adult male chicken
roseate rosy; optimistic; Ex. roseate views
roster list (of names)
rostrum raised platform for speech-making; pulpit
rote repetition; memorization through repetition without understanding; Ex. learn poetry by rote
rotund (of a person) fat and round
rotunda circular building or hall covered with a dome
rotundity roundness; sonorousness of speech
rou\'e lecherous man
rousing lively; inducing excitement; stirring; V. rouse: waken; arouse from sleep or depression; excite; stir up
rout put to rout; stampede; drive out; N: complete defeat and disorderly retreat
rubble fragments (esp. from a destroyed building)
rubric title or heading (in red print); directions for religious ceremony; protocol
ruddy reddish; (of the face) reddish and healthy-looking
rudimentary elementary; not developed; crude; N. rudiment: fundamental element or principle; Ex. rudiments of the language
rue regret; lament; mourn; Ex. He will rue the day; N. ADJ. rueful
ruffian violent scoundrel; bully
rumble make or move with a deep rolling sound (as thunder or stomach)
ruminant animal that ruminates; ADJ.
ruminate chew over and over (mentally or, like cows, physically); mull over(ponder)
rummage ransack; thoroughly search
run-down (of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a person) weak or exhausted
runic mysterious; set down in an ancient alphabet; N. rune: one of the letters of an alphabet used by ancient Germanic peoples (cut on stone or wood); magic charm
ruse trick to deceive; stratagem
rustic pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person
rusticate banish to the country; dwell in the country
rustle make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together
ruthless pitiless; merciless; cruel

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