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macerate (v) : to soften or break down into parts, usually by soaking in a liquid
machinations (n) : secret plots or schemes, usually with evil intent
madrigal (n) : a short, poetic song for 2-3 voices, with no music
maelstrom (n) : a large whirlpool or a confused or disorderly state of things
magnate (n) : an influential person in a specific field, especially in business
malapropism (n) : a comical or embarrassing misuse of words
malcontent (adj) : someone who is discontented or rebellious
malediction (n) : a curse, cruel words
malefactor (n) : someone who does harm, a bad person, like a criminal
malevolent (adj) : wishing harm to someone, showing ill will or mean-spirited
malfeasance (n) : wrongdoing or misconduct, specially by a public figure
malicious (adj) : having or showing ill will, wicked
malleable (adj) : able to be hammered, pounded, or pressed into shapes without breaking
mandate (n) : an authoritative command or order
manifest (v) : to make clear or evident, to reveal, or to appear
manifesto (n) : a public declaration of motives and intentions by a government, person, or group
manumit (v) : to set free, as from slavery
marginal (adj) : being on the outer or lower limits, borderline
marquee (n) : word marquee refers to the area that hangs over the entrance of a theater
martinet (n) : someone who is strict or who sticks to the rules
masochist (adj) : one who receives pleasure from being dominated, mistreated, or hurt physically
matriarch (n) : a woman who rules her family or tribe; it can also mean a highly respected elderly woman
maudlin (adj) : overly emotional, sappy
maul (v) : to injure by beating or tearing
maverick (n) : someone who takes an independent stand; it can also mean a wild, unbranded animal that has strayed
mawkish (adj) : emotional to the point of being unpleasant
meander (v) : to take a winding or aimless course
meddlesome (adj) : being inclined to interfere or tamper with something or someone
medley (n) : a diverse mix, a jumble of things
meek (adj) : submissive, lacking initiatives; mild in nature
melancholy (adj) : causing sadness or feeling of depression
melee (n) : a fight involving several people, a chaotic battle or brawl
mellifluous (adj) : like honey, sweet and smooth
menagerie (n) : a collection of wild or exotic animals kept for exhibition; or an unusual and varied group
mendicant (n) : a person who lives by begging
menial (adj) : fit for servants, basic, or low
mephitic (adj) : sickening smell, stinky, or poisonous
mercenary (adj) : working for payment only or motivated by a desire for money, especially a soldier paid to serve in a foreign military
mercurial (adj) : changeable, volatile or unstable; it can also mean animated, clever, or shrewd
mesmerize (v) : to hypnotize, captivate, or spellbind
metaphor (n) : a word or phrase that draws a comparison between two unlike things
metaphysical (adj) : abstract or related to philosophical discussions around reality, truth and being etc
metaphysics (n) : the branch of philosophy that seeks to explain the nature of being or reality
meticulous (adj) : extremely or excessively careful about details
mettle (n) : an inherent quality of character or courage
miasma (n) : a poisonous atmosphere, sickening air or something like it
microcosm (n) : a little world, miniature
migratory (adj) : word migratory relates to animals or other creatures that move from place to place
milieu (n) : cultural and social surroundings, environment
minion (n) : an employee, hireling, or subordinate
minutiae (n) : small or relatively unimportant details
mirth (n) : joyfulness or merriment, especially when characterized by laughter
misanthrope (n) : someone who hates other people
misapprehension (n) : the wrong idea, a false impression, or misunderstanding
miscellany (n) : a miscellaneous collection or assortment
misdemeanor (n) : any minor offense for which the punishment is typically a fine or short imprisonment
mite (n) : a small insect; a small bit
modicum (n) : a small amount, a bit
modulate (v) : to change or to tone down
molt (v) : to shed an outer covering, such as skin, feathers, etc
momentous (adj) : extremely important or significant
monastic (adj) : secluded and simple, often monk-like
monolithic (adj) : massive, solid and uniform in appearance
montage (n) : combining several elements (especially images) into one composition
moratorium (n) : an authorized suspension or stopping of some specific activity
morbid (adj) : gruesome or preoccupied with death. it can also mean extremely unhealthy
mores (n) : actions, behaviors, or manners that are socially accepted without question
moribund (adj) : dying or coming to an end
morose (adj) : miserable, sad or gloomy
mortician (n) : someone who works with dead bodies and prepares them for burial or cremation
mortify (v) : to degrade or to cause to feel shame or humiliation
mosaic (n) : art made with small bits of material like stone or glass to form a larger image
mote (n) : a small speck, usually of dirt or dust, a fragment
motif (n) : a theme or subject that appears in an artistic work
motley (adj) : containing a great variety such as being multi-colored
mottled (adj) : spotted
multiform (adj) : having different shapes or different kinds, diverse
munificent (adj) : willing to give, feeling selfless and generous
musty (adj) : a stale smell or being outdated
myriad (n) : variety, a great number of things
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
GRE and SAT Vocabulary Words