English Common Adjectives

When the financial director started screaming and throwing food at his co-workers; the police had to come in to deal with his aberrant behavior.

Physics textbooks can seem so abstruse to the uninitiated that readers feel as though they are looking at hieroglyphics.

Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer blockbusters; often referring to them as garbage.

Civil rights icon Rosa Parks will forever be remembered for adamantly refusing to give up her seat on a public bus--even after the bus driver insisted; she remained rooted in place.

At the assembly; the high school vice-principal gave the students an admonitory speech; warning them of the many risks and dangers of prom night.

The director; not known for his aesthetic sensibilities; decided not to use costumes at all; and put on the play in everyday clothing.

"The coach told his team; ""Move towards that side of the field""; because he did not point; his directions were ambiguous; and the team had no idea to which side he was referring."

Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time; yet he was able to improve his analytical skills.

Even though she did not like the outdoors; Shirley was generally amenable and so her brother was able to persuade her to go camping.

His study plan for the GRE was at best amorphous; he would do questions from random pages in any one of seven test prep books.

According to those who do not believe in climate change; the extreme weather over the last five years is simply anomalous--average temps should return to average; they believe.

His deep emotional involvement with these ideas is; in fact; antithetical to the disattachment Buddhism preaches.

Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching math that even normally apathetic students took interest.

The web is notorious for sandwiching apocryphal stories between actual news.

One of the arbitrary decrees in place during the emperor's rule is that all citizens pay him weekly homage at his palace. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

Most college fraternities are known for arcane rituals that those hoping to the join the fraterntiy must learn.

In order to deal with the arduous cross-country journey; truck drivers often survive on a string of caffeinated drinks; staying awake for up to 30 hours at a time.

Bernie Madoff's artful Ponzi scheme stole billions of dollars from investors and is considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history.

His ascetic life is the main reason he inspired so many followers; especially since he gave up wealth and power to live in poverty.

As all of the other campers cowered in their tents; Bill; armed only with a flashlight; audaciously tracked down the bear that had raided their food.

Despite an auspicious beginning; Mike's road trip became a series of mishaps; and he was soon stranded and penniless; leaning against his wrecked automobile.

The principal of my elementary school was a cold; austere woman; I could never understand why she chose to work with children.

Since avaricious desire is similar to gluttony or lust--sins of excess--it was listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the Catholic church.

The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class either fell asleep from bordeom or stayed awake to complete his sentences and humor friends.

Tom said that he was arguing the matter purely for philosophical reasons; but his belligerent tone indicated an underlying anger about the issue.

Allen was often punished in school for blatantly disrespecting teachers

"Their large ""donations"" to the local police department gave the drug cartel the brazen confidence to do their business out in the open."

The noble families of England once owned vast expanses of beautiful; bucolic land.

Within a week of starting; the bumbling new waiter was unceremoniously fired.

Nearly every month our capricious CEO had a new plan to turn the company around; and none of them worked because we never gave them the time they needed to succeed.

The convicted felon's life sentence was commensurate to the heinousness of his crime.

American basketball players are always conspicuous when they go abroad--not only are they American; but some are over seven feet tall.

Whether the former world champions can win again this year is contingent upon none of its star players getting injured.

In midsummer; there are copious popiscle stands at the beach; in the winter; there are none.

Though the man could have at least alerted the police; he crouched cravenly in the corner as the old woman was mugged.

Since Sarah did not want her husband to guess the Christmas present she had bought him; she only answered cryptically when he would ask her questions about it.

It is incredible he remained decorous, when they started shouting at him.

Sally's parties are decorous affairs; and instead of the usual beer and music; there is tea and intellectual conversation.

If you ever have the chance to meet the president; stand up straight and be deferential.

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was deleterious to the fishing industry in the southern states.

Because the movies were utterly derivative of other popular movies; they did well at the box office. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

The coach was dictatorial in his approach

Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illyich is a didactic novel; instructing the reader on how to live a good life.

As a young girl she was diffident and reserved; but now as an adult; she is confident and assertive.

Lawyers use dilatory tactics so that it takes years before the case is actually decided.

After watching his superior take rations from the soliders; he quickly became disaffected and rebeled.

What was once known as Czechoslovakia has since split into two discrete; independent nations.

The potential juror knew the defendant; and therefore could not serve on the jury; which must consist only of disinterested members.

A good scientist should be dispassionate; focusing purely on what the evidence says; without personal attachment.

Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earth is flat; claiming that all pictures of a spherical earth are computer generated.

"Joey was known for his eclectic tastes in music; one moment dancing to disco the next ""air conducting"" along to Beethoven's 9th symphony."

Journalists favor an economical style of writing; in which no unnecessary words are used and every sentence is as short as possible.

I recently read an article in the Times about whether good literature is edifying or not; specifically; does reading more make a person more moral.

Since Maggie's cough syrup; which had expired five years back; was no longer efficacious; she coughed through the night.

The dictator's abuse of human rights was so egregious that many world leaders asked that he be tried in an international court for genocide.

Shakespeare is an eminent author in the English language; but I find his writing uninteresting and melodramatic.

By the time we reach 60-years old; most of our habits are so entrenched that it is difficult for us to change.

The lifespan of a mayfly is ephemeral; lasting from a few hours to a couple of days.

The findings of the study were equivocal--the two researchers had different opinions on what the results signified.

Before the Internet; the library was typically were you would find erudite readers.

Map collecting is an esoteric hobby to most; but to geography geeks it is a highly enjoyable pasttime.

Though his childhood piano teacher was so exacting; Max is thankful now; as a professional pianist.

Despite many bookstores closing; experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant generations from now.

The widespread belief that Eskimos have forty different words for snow is fallacious; based on one false report.

Whitney is fastidious about her shoes; arranging them on a shelf in a specific order; each pair evenly spaced.

After her third pet dog died; Marcia was simply forlorn: this time even the possibility of buying a new dog no longer held any joy.

As a husband; Larry was not forthcoming: if Jill didn't demand to know details; Larry would never share them with her.

While the real objects are vastly different sizes in space; the sun and the moon seem to have the same fortuitous size in the sky.

Compared to Juliet's passionate concern for human rights; Jake's non-stop concern about football seems somewhat frivolous.

Monte was no miser; but was simply frugal; wisely spending the little that he earned.

While at work; George and his boss Regina felt the need to be as furtive as possible about their romantic relationship.;

Lynne was garrulous: once; she had a fifteen minute conversation with a stranger before she realized the woman didn't speak English.

Sylvester says the most gauche things; such as telling a girl he liked that she was much prettier when she wore makeup.

The professor wanted to tell the jury in detail about his new book; but the lawyer said it wasn't germane to the charges in the cases.

The gossamer wings of a butterfly; which allow it to fly; are also a curse; so delicate that they are often damaged.

Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious; always in the middle of a large group of people; yet; as Mahatma Gandhi and many others have shown us; leaders can also be introverted.

At first I thought my niece was guileless; but I then found myself buying her ice cream every time we passed a shop.

"Cheryl rolled her eyes when she heard the lecturer's hackneyed advice to ""be true to yourself."""

Many golf courses are designed with great care; but the greens on the county golf course seem entirely haphazard.

With a team of new hires to train; Martha was constantly harried with little questions and could not focus on her projects.

The haughty manager didn't believe that any of his subordinates could ever have an insight as brilliant his own.

Until the Spanish Armada was defeated in 1587; Spain had hegemony over the seas; controlling waters stretching as far as the Americas.

Jackson Pollack was an iconoclastic artist; totally breaking with tradition by splashing paint on a blank canvas.

In the 1920s; the World Series was rigged--an ignoble act which baseball took decades to recover from.

Since the politician preached ethics and morality; his texting of revealing photographs was ignominious; bringing shame on both himself and his party.

Taxes are one of the immutable laws of the land; so there is no use arguing about paying them.

The judge was not impartial since he had been bribed by the witness's family.

Dexter; distraught over losing his pet dachshund; Madeline; found the police officer's questions impertinent--after all; he thought; did she have to pry into such details as to what Madeline's favorite snack was?

Win or lose; the coach was always implacable; never giving the athletes an easy practice or a break.

The teacher found it implausible that the student was late to school because he had been kidnapped by outlaws on horseback.

Hitler; like Napoleon; made the imprudent move of invading Russia in winter; suffering even more casualties than Napoleon had.

In an impudent move; the defendant spoke out of order to say terribly insulting things to the judge.

The lawyer had an incisive mind; able in a flash to dissect a hopelessly tangled issue and isolate the essential laws at play.

The vast economic inequality of modern society is incongruous with America's ideals.

Tom Sawyer seems like an incorrigible youth until Huck Finn enters the novel; even Sawyer can't match his fierce individual spirit.

Eating with elbows on the table is considered indecorous in refined circles.

The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology and culture.

Two-years in Manhattan had changed Jenna from an ingenuous girl from the suburbs to a jaded urbanite; unlikely to fall for any ruse; regardless of how elaborate.

Venus; with a surface temperature that would turn rubber to liquid; is inimical to any form of life.

Everyone found Nancy's banter innocuous--except for Mike; who felt like she was intentionally picking on him.

His speech was so dense and confusing that many in the audience found it inscrutable.

Plaque is insidious: we cannot see it; but each day it eats away at our enamel; causing cavities and other dental problems.

Lilian could not help herself from being insolent; commenting that the Queen's shoes were showing too much toe.

Despite many calls for mercy; the judge remained intransigent; citing strict legal precedence.

Captain Ahab was an intrepid captain whose reckless and fearless style ultimate leads to his downfall.

He is an inveterate smoker and has told his family and friends that there is no way he will ever quit.

The physics lecture became so involved that the undergraduate's eyes glazed over.

Once you enter your plea to the court; it is irrevocable so think carefully about what you will say.

Doctors used to be itinerant; traveling between patients' homes.

For someone who has just broken up you look quite jovial.

The political candidate and his supporters were jovial once it was clear that she had won.

My hardwork paid off; and I was jubilant to receive a perfect score on the GRE.

While Martha always swooned over the hunky; laconic types in romantic comedies; her boyfriends inevitably were very talkative--and not very hunky.

As the sun beat down and the temperature climbed higher; we spent a languid week lying around the house.

To say that Gandhi's actions were laudable is the greatest understatement; he overthrew an empire without violence.

He was a great sportsman: in defeat he was complementary and in victory he was magnanimous.

As a child she was quite maladroit; but as an adult; she has become an adept dancer. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

The film was incredibly mawkish; introducing highly likeable characters only to have them succumb to a devastating illnesses by the end of the movie.

The fact that Ella's moods were as mercurial as the weather was problematic for her relationships--it didn't help that she lived in Chicago.

The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in making his noodles and would never let another person take over the task.

Though we think of the pope as someone always dealing in holy matters; he is also concerned with mundane events; such as deciding when to set his alarm each morning.

Uncle Charley was known for his munificence; giving all seven of his nephews lavish Christmas presents each year.

The company ultimately went out of business because the myopic managers couldn't predict the changes in their industry. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

The GRE tests cumulative knowledge; so if you cram the night before it is; at best; likely to only have a negligible impact on your score.

Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscure actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

The obsequious waiter did not give the couple a moment's peace all through the meal; constantly returning to their table to refill their water glasses and to tell them what a handsome pair they made.

The meaning of the professor's new research was opaque to most people; so no one asked any questions. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

Matt wanted to buy stone lions for front of the house; but Cynthia convinced him that such a display would be too ostentatious for a modest house in an unassuming neighborhood.

"Jasmine was sad to admit it; but her fledgling relationship with Jacob did not work out because his culinary tastes were simply too parochial; ""After all;"" she quipped on her blog; ""he considered Chef Boyardee ethnic food."""

Katie is so parsimonious that she only buys a pair of socks if all of her other socks have holes in them.

Professor Thompson was regarded as an expert in his field, but his lectures were utterly pedantic; focused on rigorous details of the most trivial conventions in the field

While Nan was always engaged in philosophical speculation; her brother was occupied with far more pedestrian concerns: how to earn a salary and run a household. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

"Most psychologists object to the pejorative term ""shrink""; believing that they expand the human mind; not limit it. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE"

The most successful viruses are pernicious

When Ed first met Ruth; he didn't realize she was so petulant; but now that they are three months into their relationship; Ed feels a day doesn't go by in which she isn't whining about some minor issue.

After the Montagues and Capulets discover the dead bodies of Romeo and Juliet; in the play's most poignant moment; the two griefstricken familes agree to end their feud once and for all. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one f

Rather than make a philosophical appeal to the Congressmen; the Speaker decided to take a far more pragmatic approach; making small side-deals that would add votes to his bill.

"He was expecting a precipitous rise in the value of a ""hot"" tech stock; so he was disappointed when it only inched up a dollar or two each day."

Though only seven years old; she was a precocious chess prodigy; able to beat players twice her age.

Successful professional athletes who do not fall prey to prodigality seem to be the exception--most live decadent lives.

"After the relatively small homerun totals in the ""dead ball"" era; Babe Ruth's homerun totals were truly prodigious: every year; he set a new all-time record."

Schubert was the most prolific composer; producing hundreds of hours of music before he died at the age of 31.

The child's heartbeat is still weak; but I am seeing many propitious signs and I think that she may be healing.

Maggie's enthusiasm about her high school teams seemed provincial to her college classmates; all of whom were following a nationally ranked college team.

If James had made more than $50;000 last year; then he wouldn't have qualified for the low-income scholarship.

The querulous old woman was begining to wear down even the happier members of the staff with her ceaseless complaining.

Phil gets so involved thinking about Aristotle's arguments that he totally forgets quotidian concerns; such as exercising and eating regularly.

John didn't each much at all during the week he had the flu; so now that he is regaining his health; it's not surpring that he has a ravenous appetite.

I found Ulysses recondite and never finished the book; waiting instead to read it with someone else so we could penetrate its meaning together.

Used to studious high school students; Martha was unprepared for the refractory Kindgergarteners who neither sat still nor listened to a single word she said. This word has other definitions but this is the most important one for the GRE

The crowd grew restive as the comedian's opening jokes fell flat.

The team sank to fourth place in June; but is now resurgent and about to win the division.

When asked about her father, Helen lost her outward enthusiasm and became rather reticent.

The professor could speak objectively about the other composers; but he always lectured about Brahms with a particularly reverent air; unable to offer a single criticism of his compositions.

I would love to be able to present a fully polished proposal to the board; but right now; our plans for the product are still in the most rudimentary stages.

The vacation cabin had no electricity and no indoor plumbing; but despite these inconveniences; Nigel adored its rustic charm.

Everyone trusted what he said and followed his example because he was scrupulous and honest.

Although the professor is brilliant; his bland monotone gives his lectures a soporific effect.

He made a career out of specious arguments and fictional lab results; but lost his job and reputation when his lies were exposed by an article in The New York Times.

The signals were at first sporadic; but now we detect a clear; consistent pattern of electromagnetic radiation eminating from deep space.

When listening to a politician speak; it is hard to distinguish the spurious claims from the authentic ones.

No longer a staunch supporter of the movement; Todd now will openly question whether its goals are worthwhile.

Most of the students disliked the teacher because of his stringent homework policy; but many students would later thank him for demanding so much from them.

The ruling political party has begun a campaign to shut down subversive websites that it deems as a threat to "national safety."

Herbert took board games too seriously; often appearing sullen after losing.

Everything in this closet is superfluous and can be given to charity.

While the CEO enthusiastically shares his plans and agenda with all who will listen; the CFO is far more taciturn; rarely revealing his perspective.

In many situations; remaining silent is tantamount to admitting guilt; so speak to prove your innocence.

The wide-eyed optimism of her youth was now tempered after she had worked many years in the criminal justice system.

Even the most tenacious advocates for gun ownership must admit some of the dangers that firearms present.

Since this was her first time debating on stage and before an audience; Di's voice was timorous and quiet for the first 10 minutes.

Because the logic behind McMahon's side of the debate was so tortuous; his audience came out either completely confused or; worse; feeling they'd been tricked.

Compared to middle school students; who have an untamed wildness about them; high school students are somewhat more tractable.

The unpredictable and transient nature of deja vu makes it a very difficult phenomenon to study properly.

The bridge built from twine and vine is treacherous to walk across; and so I think I will stay put right here.

Many style guides recommend not using idioms in writing because these trite expressions are uninteresting and show a lack of imagination on the part of the writer.

The student undermined the teacher's authority by questioning the teacher's judgment on numerous occasions.

The President's first statement on the subject was vague and open to competing interpretations; so when he spoke to Congress about the same subject later; he was cafeful to make his position completely unequivocal.

In the courtroom; the lawyer was unscrupulous; using every manner of deceit and manipulation to secure a victory for himself.

While the other employees responded to the bad news in a measured way; Andrew responded in a vehement manner; tipping over his desk and shouting at the top of his lungs.

While we elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be veracious; history has shown that such a hope is naive.

In giving Marcia a particular vociferous response; Paul caused people at every other table in the restaurant to turn around an look at them angrily.

She did not think her vocabulary was wanting; yet there were so many words that inevitably she found a few she didn't know.

The winsome painting reminded me of my childhood days.

She was winsome by nature; and many people were drawn to this free and playful spirit.