Redundant (adjective) More than what is needed, so that something becomes an unnecessary repetition.
Example: The editor cut the paragraph because it was redundant with a point made earlier in the essay.
Mnemonic: Comes from Latin redundare, 'to overflow' — picture a cup so full that it spills over with more than anyone actually needs.
Refute (verb) To prove that a statement or argument is false or mistaken by using evidence or logic.
Example: The scientist presented new data to refute the claim that the medication had no side effects.
Mnemonic: Picture a courtroom 're-fight' where new evidence knocks out the other side's argument entirely.
Relentless (adjective) Continuing with great intensity and refusing to stop, slow down, or ease up.
Example: The coach's relentless training schedule left no room for excuses or days off.
Mnemonic: A relentless force will not 'relent,' so it never lets up or takes a break.
Reprehensible (adjective) Deserving of strong criticism or blame because it is morally wrong.
Example: Leaving the injured driver at the scene was a reprehensible act that shocked the entire town.
Mnemonic: Hidden inside reprehensible is 'reprehend,' a cousin of 'apprehend' (to seize) -- behavior this bad deserves to be seized and condemned.
Rigorous (adjective) Extremely thorough, strict, and demanding in method or standards.
Example: The lab required a rigorous testing process before any new drug could move to human trials.
Mnemonic: Related to 'rigor,' as in rigor mortis — a rigorous process is so exacting and unbending it leaves no slack anywhere.
Ruminate (verb) To think about something slowly and carefully over a long period of time.
Example: After the interview, she spent the whole weekend ruminating over every answer she had given.
Mnemonic: Cows literally ruminate by chewing their cud again and again -- picture your mind chewing over the same thought the same slow way.
Recalcitrant (adjective) Stubbornly defiant of authority or guidance and resistant to being controlled or corrected.
Example: The recalcitrant toddler refused to put on his shoes no matter how many times his father asked.
Mnemonic: The word comes from the Latin 'calcitrare,' meaning 'to kick,' the way a mule kicks back at anyone who tries to lead it. A recalcitrant person is always kicking back against control.
Resilient (adjective) Able to recover quickly from difficulty, damage, or hardship.
Example: The small business proved resilient, bouncing back within months of the flood that destroyed its storefront.
Mnemonic: Like a rubber band, a resilient person or object 're-springs' back into shape after being stretched or stressed.
Rhetoric (noun) The art of using language persuasively and effectively, especially in speaking or writing.
Example: The candidate's rhetoric was stirring, but voters wanted specific policy details, not just fine phrases.
Mnemonic: Comes from the Greek rhetor, 'public speaker' — picture an ancient orator on a platform using rhetoric to sway the crowd.
Raucous (adjective) Loud, harsh-sounding, and disorderly, often in an unruly or rowdy way.
Example: The raucous crowd at the concert drowned out the opening band's first two songs.
Mnemonic: Raucous rhymes with 'rock us' — a raucous crowd makes enough noise to practically rock the whole building.
Rebuke (verb) To criticize someone sharply, usually because they have done something wrong.
Example: The referee rebuked the player for arguing every call during the match.
Mnemonic: Picture a stern coach 're-booking' a player straight into the penalty box with a sharp rebuke.
Reconcile (verb) To settle a disagreement or bring two conflicting ideas or people back into harmony.
Example: It took years, but the estranged brothers finally reconciled at their mother's funeral.
Mnemonic: Picture two feuding sides sitting down on a council to reconcile, or come back into agreement.
Relinquish (verb) To give up a right, position, or possession, often reluctantly.
Example: The aging king was finally forced to relinquish his throne to his daughter.
Mnemonic: Sounds like 're-link-quit' — you unlink your grip on something even though part of you still wishes you could keep it.
Reminisce (verb) To remember and talk fondly about past experiences.
Example: The old friends spent the reunion reminiscing about their disastrous first camping trip.
Mnemonic: Shares a root with 'memory' (Latin meminisse, to remember) — think of it as re-opening your mind's photo album.
Repugnant (adjective) So distasteful or offensive that it provokes strong dislike or disgust.
Example: Many viewers found the film's casual violence repugnant.
Mnemonic: Repugnant shares its root with 'pugnacious' (ready to fight) -- something repugnant makes you want to fight it off or recoil from it.
Requisite (adjective) Necessary or required for a particular purpose.
Example: She finally had the requisite experience to apply for the senior engineering position.
Mnemonic: Requisite shares a root with 'require' -- a requisite qualification is simply one the job requires.
Respite (noun) A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.
Example: The cool shade of the porch offered a brief respite from the afternoon heat.
Mnemonic: Sounds like 'rest, if' — as in 'a rest, if only for a moment,' which captures the short-lived nature of a respite.
Revere (verb) To feel and show deep respect or admiration for someone or something.
Example: Students at the university still revere the founder whose statue stands in the main courtyard.
Mnemonic: Sounds like 'reverend' — just as people show deep respect to a reverend, to revere someone is to hold them in that same high regard.
Rife (adjective) Occurring very frequently or existing in large amounts, usually said of something undesirable.
Example: The old neighborhood was rife with rumors after the mysterious house fire.
Mnemonic: Rhymes with 'life' — picture a rumor so widespread it seems to take on a life of its own, popping up everywhere.
Sagacious (adjective) Showing good judgment and keen insight, especially about practical matters.
Example: The company's founder was known for her sagacious investment decisions years before the trend caught on.
Mnemonic: Sagacious sounds like it should be tied to 'sage,' the wise elder of old stories, and that sound-alike link makes a handy hook -- a sagacious person judges situations with that same sage-like sharpness.
Sanguine (adjective) Cheerfully confident and optimistic that things will turn out well.
Example: Despite the delayed flight and lost luggage, she stayed remarkably sanguine about the trip.
Mnemonic: Sanguine comes from 'sanguis,' Latin for blood -- old medical theory held that a person with abundant blood was naturally cheerful and hopeful, unlike someone pale and gloomy.
Scrupulous (adjective) Extremely careful and thorough about doing what is right, down to the smallest detail.
Example: The accountant was scrupulous about documenting every expense, no matter how small.
Mnemonic: Scrupulous comes from 'scruple,' a tiny sharp pebble the Romans imagined as an uncomfortable weight on the conscience -- a scrupulous person feels every little pebble of doubt and deals with it.
Salient (adjective) Standing out as the most noticeable or important feature of something.
Example: The lawyer summarized the salient points of the contract before her client signed it.
Mnemonic: Salient comes from Latin 'salire,' to leap -- the salient detail is the one that leaps out at you first.
Sardonic (adjective) Mocking or scornful in a dry, biting way, often through sarcasm.
Example: He gave a sardonic smile and said, 'Wonderful, another meeting that could have been an email.'
Mnemonic: Legend traces sardonic to a bitter Sardinian plant said to twist the face into a grim, mocking smile as it poisoned you -- a sardonic grin still looks like that same twisted smirk.
Savor (verb) To enjoy or appreciate something slowly and fully, drawing out the pleasure of the experience.
Example: She closed her eyes to savor the first bite of her grandmother's pie.
Mnemonic: Shares a root with 'flavor' — to savor something is to slowly taste its rich flavor instead of gulping it down.