Sublime (adjective) So excellent, beautiful, or grand that it inspires awe.
Example: Standing at the canyon's rim at sunrise was a sublime experience none of them would ever forget.
Mnemonic: Sublime literally means 'up to the threshold' in Latin -- something sublime lifts you right up to the edge of the overwhelming or the divine.
Succinct (adjective) Expressed clearly in very few words, with nothing unnecessary included.
Example: Her succinct summary covered the entire quarterly report in three sentences.
Mnemonic: Succinct comes from Latin for 'girded up,' as one might tuck up a long robe to move faster -- succinct writing is tucked in tight with no loose fabric left dragging.
Superfluous (adjective) More than what is needed, to the point of being unnecessary or excessive.
Example: The editor cut every superfluous adjective from the article to tighten the prose.
Mnemonic: Superfluous combines 'super-' (over) with 'fluere' (to flow) -- picture a cup so overfilled that the extra liquid just flows uselessly over the rim.
Surreptitious (adjective) Done secretly and quickly in order to avoid being noticed.
Example: She took a surreptitious glance at her phone under the table during the meeting.
Mnemonic: Surreptitious comes from Latin 'surripere,' to snatch secretly -- think of someone surreptitiously grabbing a cookie the instant no one is looking.
Sycophant (noun) A person who flatters someone powerful purely to gain favor or advantage.
Example: The new manager surrounded herself with sycophants who agreed with everything she said.
Mnemonic: The Greek root literally means 'fig-shower' -- picture a sycophant constantly 'showing figs,' offering empty little gifts and compliments instead of an honest opinion.
Specious (adjective) Appearing to be reasonable or true at first glance, but actually false or misleading.
Example: The salesman's specious argument made the extended warranty sound essential, though it covered almost nothing.
Mnemonic: Specious comes from 'species,' meaning appearance -- a specious claim simply has a good-looking surface hiding a flawed inside.
Sanction (verb) To officially approve or authorize an action -- confusingly, the related noun can also mean a penalty imposed for breaking a rule.
Example: The athletic board voted to sanction the new training program for next season.
Mnemonic: Sanction comes from Latin 'sanctus,' holy or binding -- an official ruling can bless a plan by approving it, or bind an offender by punishing them, so always check the context.
Tacit (adjective) Understood or agreed upon without being directly stated in words.
Example: By continuing to show up for practice, the players gave their tacit agreement to the new coach's rules.
Mnemonic: Tacit comes from Latin 'tacere,' to be silent -- a tacit agreement is one sealed in silence rather than spoken aloud.
Taciturn (adjective) Habitually saying very little, often coming across as reserved or unfriendly.
Example: The taciturn shopkeeper answered every question with a single word.
Mnemonic: Taciturn shares the same 'tacere' (to be silent) root as tacit, but describes a whole personality rather than one moment -- a taciturn person is silent as a matter of habit.
Tangential (adjective) Only loosely connected to the main subject, drifting off to the side of the real point.
Example: The witness kept adding tangential details about the weather instead of answering the question.
Mnemonic: Picture a tangent line in geometry, which touches a circle at a single point and then veers away -- a tangential remark touches the topic briefly before heading off in its own direction.
Temerity (noun) Bold, reckless confidence that ignores danger or the risk of failure.
Example: She had the temerity to challenge her boss's decision in front of the entire board.
Mnemonic: Temerity comes from Latin 'temere,' meaning blindly or rashly -- picture someone charging straight ahead blindly, too bold to weigh the consequences.
Tenacious (adjective) Holding firmly to a goal, belief, or grip and refusing to let go despite difficulty.
Example: The tenacious reporter kept calling sources for months until someone finally confirmed the story.
Mnemonic: Tenacious comes from Latin 'tenere,' to hold -- think of a bulldog's tenacious jaw, which will not let go once it clamps down.
Tenuous (adjective) So thin, weak, or flimsy that it could easily fail or break under pressure.
Example: The prosecution's case rested on a tenuous link between the defendant and the crime scene.
Mnemonic: Tenuous comes from Latin 'tenuis,' meaning thin -- picture a tenuous argument as a spider's thread, delicate enough to snap the moment real weight is placed on it.
Terse (adjective) Using very few words, often in a way that feels blunt or curt.
Example: His terse reply, 'Handled,' left the whole team wondering exactly what had happened.
Mnemonic: Terse rhymes with 'curse' and sounds just as clipped and short as the speech it describes.
Timorous (adjective) Easily frightened, showing fear or a lack of confidence in the face of a challenge.
Example: The timorous new intern hesitated at the doorway before finally knocking.
Mnemonic: Timorous comes from Latin 'timor,' fear -- the same root behind 'timid,' so a timorous person is really just a more formal cousin of timid.
Torpor (noun) A state of mental or physical sluggishness and lack of energy or activity.
Example: The heavy lunch left the whole office in a torpor for the rest of the afternoon.
Mnemonic: Torpor is the root behind 'torpedo,' the electric ray once thought to numb anyone who touched it -- torpor is that same numbing, sluggish feeling spreading through your whole body.
Tractable (adjective) Easy to control, manage, or guide because of a cooperative nature.
Example: The new puppy turned out to be far more tractable than its stubborn older brother.
Mnemonic: Tractable shares a root with 'tractor,' a machine built to be pulled and steered exactly where you direct it -- a tractable person is just as easy to steer.
Transient (adjective) Lasting only a short time before passing or moving on.
Example: The pain from the shot was transient, fading within just a few seconds.
Mnemonic: Transient comes from 'transire,' to go across -- like a transient guest who is only passing across your doorstep on the way somewhere else.
Trepidation (noun) A feeling of fear or nervous uncertainty about something about to happen.
Example: She walked into the interview room with more trepidation than she wanted to admit.
Mnemonic: Trepidation comes from Latin 'trepidare,' to tremble -- it is that trembling feeling in your stomach right before something uncertain begins.
Trite (adjective) Overused to the point of feeling stale, unoriginal, or predictable.
Example: The greeting card was full of trite phrases like 'time heals all wounds.'
Mnemonic: Trite comes from Latin 'tritus,' worn down by rubbing -- a trite phrase has literally been rubbed smooth from overuse, like a coin worn featureless from too much handling.
Truculent (adjective) Fierce, aggressive, and quick to argue or fight.
Example: The truculent customer shouted at the cashier over a two-dollar price difference.
Mnemonic: Truculent comes from Latin 'trux,' fierce or savage -- picture a truculent bull snorting and ready to charge at the smallest provocation.
Tantamount (adjective) Equivalent in effect or value to something else, even if not identical in form.
Example: Refusing to answer the question was tantamount to admitting he had made the mistake.
Mnemonic: Break the word into 'tant' (as much) plus 'amount' -- something tantamount amounts to exactly the same thing as whatever it is being compared to.
Travesty (noun) A version of something so distorted or poorly done that it mocks or betrays the real thing.
Example: Critics called the rushed sequel a travesty of the beloved original film.
Mnemonic: Travesty comes from a root meaning to dress across, or in disguise, like an ill-fitting costume -- a travesty dresses something up so badly that it becomes a mocking imitation of the original.
Unctuous (adjective) Excessively smooth, flattering, and insincere in a way that feels oily or slick.
Example: The unctuous salesman kept complimenting her taste while steering her toward the priciest option.
Mnemonic: Unctuous shares a root with 'unguent,' an oily ointment -- an unctuous person's flattery feels just as greasy and slippery as oil on skin.
Unequivocal (adjective) Completely clear and leaving no room for doubt or more than one interpretation.
Example: The CEO's unequivocal denial ended all speculation about the merger.
Mnemonic: Break down 'un-' (not) and 'equivocal' (open to more than one meaning, from roots for 'equal' and 'call') -- an unequivocal statement can only be called one way.