Words

Pronunciation

 (part of speech)

Word Charge

Word Group

Idealist

\iy DEEL est\ (n.)

= charge FLEXIBLE

someone that is unrealistic and impractical in their beliefs

Jon couldn’t work on the project with Danni anymore; she was an idealist who refused to acknowledge that her theories couldn’t be implemented.

Illegible

\ih LEJ ih bul\ (adj.)

– charge UNCLEAR

unreadable, undecipherable

Robert’s handwriting was completely illegible, so his teachers jokingly suggested he become a doctor.

Illuminate

\il LOOM ih nayt\ (v.)

= charge OPEN

to fill with light

Reba switched on the light bulb to illuminate the corridor.

Illusory

\ih LOOZ uh ree\ (adj.)

– charge UNCLEAR

unreal, deceptive

The desert explorer was devastated to discover that the lake he had seen in the distance was in fact illusory.

Illustrate

\IL us trayt\ (v.)

= charge CLEAR

provide an example, explain

In order to illustrate the benefits of his new technique, the lecturer invited two volunteers up to the podium for a demonstration.

Imaginative

\ih MAJ ih nu tiv\ (adj.)

+ charge INTELLIGENT

creative, clever, innovative

NASA engineers are hired to think up new and imaginative solutions to everyday problems.

Imitate

\im ih TAYT\ (v.)

= charge GROUPED

copy, impersonate

Jamie always made the class laugh by imitating teachers when they weren’t around.

Immoderate

\im MOD ih ret\ (adj.)

– charge PROUD

excessive

Her immoderate spending habits soon depleted her entire paycheck.

Immunity

\im MYOO ni tee\ (n.)

+ charge SAFETY

invulnerability, exemption

Many countries offer diplomats from other countries immunity from the law to prevent them from unfair prosecution.

Immutable

\im MYOOT uh bul\ (adj.)

= charge PERMANENT

unchangeable, invariable

The constant presence of the odor of sulphur was an immutable fact of life for the villagers, living as they did on the edge of a particularly pungent spring.

Impassioned

\im PASH und\ (adj.)

+ charge BOLD

with great feeling

The protestors made an impassioned plea for better working conditions and increased wages.

Impassive

\im PASS iv\ (adj.)

= charge PEACEABLE

showing no emotion

The team’s focus was complete, as they walked stone-faced and impassive onto the playing field.

Impenitent

\im PEN ih tent\ (adj.)

– charge RIGID

lacking appropriate remorse

David’s impenitent attitude outraged the teacher even more than his initial infraction.

Imperceptive

\im per SEP tiv\ (adj.)

– charge HIDDEN

unobservant, inattentive

Rachelle, characteristically imperceptive, failed to notice the schedule changes posted throughout the train station.

Implausible

\im PLAWS uh bul\ (adj.)

– charge FOOLISH

improbable, inconceivable

A skeptical man by nature, Max found his neighbor’s claim that he’d seen a UFO highly implausible.

Implement

\IMP luh ment\ (v.)

= charge ABLE

carry out, put into effect

Deciding on an appropriate course of action is often the easy part; the hard part is actually implementing it.

Impotent

\IMP uh tent\ (adj.)

– charge WEAK

powerless, ineffective, lacking strength

Though initially optimistic about his ability to reform the organization, the new president eventually realized he was impotent against such fundamental flaws in structure.

Impressionable

\im PRESH in uh bul\ (adj.)

– charge GROUPED

easily influenced or affected

After attending the rock concert, the impressionable young girl took on the dress and mannerisms of the lead singer.

Impugn

\im PYOON\ (v.)

– charge CRITICIZE

to call into question, attack verbally

Even as countless allegations surfaced which impugned his motives, his reputation for integrity remained intact.

Impute

\im PYOOT\ (v.)

= charge BLAME

to attribute; to credit

When we walked into our apartment, we imputed the water on the kitchen floor to leaky pipes under the sink.

Inaccessible

\in ak SES uh bul\ (adj.)

– charge HIDDEN

unreachable, unapproachable

My mother, fearing I might be inaccessible in the event of an emergency at home, bought me a new mobile phone.

Inaccurate

\in AK yur it\ (adj.)

– charge FALSE

mistaken, incorrect

Jean’s guesses at Lois’s age were completely inaccurate, so Lois finally told her the truth.

Inarticulate

\in ar TIK yoo lit\ (adj.)

– charge UNCLEAR

incomprehensible, unable to speak clearly

Carol was confident going into the debate because she knew her opponent was an inarticulate speaker.

Inauspicious

\in aw SPISH is\ (adj.)

– charge LUCK

unfavorable

Telemarketers always call at the most inauspicious times, like when we sit down for dinner or when our favorite television shows are on.

Incantation

\in kan TAY shun\ (n.)

= charge COMMUNICATION

a verbal spell

The magician muttered a few incantations before pulling the sheet off the table and revealing a live polar bear.

Incidental

\in sih DEN tul\ (adj.)

= charge UNIMPORTANT

minor, casual

Our trip to the coast will cost seven hundred dollars, not including incidental costs like admissions to parks and theatres.

Incisive

\in SY siv\ (adj.)

+ charge EXPERIENCED

perceptive, penetrating

In an incisive analysis of the text, the literary critic revealed some fundamental contradictions in the new novel.

Incompatible

\in kum PAT ih bul\ (adj.)

– charge ALONE

opposed in nature; incapable of living or working together

The salesman’s desire for a steady income seemed incompatible with his chosen line of work.

Incompetent

\in KOM puh tent\ (adj.)

– charge FOOLISH

unqualified, inept

Michelle’s lawyer was totally incompetent; he didn’t bother examining the witnesses or making any objections.

Incongruous

\in KONG roo us\ (adj.)

– charge INAPPROPRIATE

inappropriate, incompatible

His formal attire seemed incongruous with the casual dress of the other guests at the party.

Inconsequential

\in con se KWEN shul\ (adj.)

– charge UNIMPORTANT

unimportant, trivial

The king dismissed the concerns of his advisers as inconsequential, proceeding with his plans to vacation in the mic an insurgence.

Inconsistent

\in kon SIS tent\ (adj.)

– charge ALONE

contradictory

As their stories were inconsistent, Mom knew that one of the twins must be lying.

Inconspicuous

\in con SPIK yoo us\ (adj.)

= charge HIDDEN

not easily noticeable

Jason didn’t want his roommate to notice the new phone he had bought, so he placed it in as inconspicuous a corner a:

possible.

Incriminate

\in KRIM uh nayt\ (v.)

– charge DISAPPROVE

accuse with a crime, implicate

Although the crumbs on his collar seemed to incriminate him, my brother maintained his innocence when I asked whether he had eaten my sandwich.

Incumbent

\in KUM bent\ (adj.)

= charge STABLE

holding a specified office, often political

The inexperienced candidate will need to campaign vigorously if he expects to defeat the incumbent senator.

Indebted

\in DET id\ (adj.)

= charge DEPRIVED

obligated to someone else, beholden

Tommy was forever indebted to his neighbor for introducing him to his future wife.

Indecorous

\in DEK uh rus\ (adj.)

– charge INAPPROPRIATE

improper, lacking good taste

The couple was embarrassed by their son’s indecorous behavior at the dinner party.

Indefatigable

\in de FAT ih gu bul\ (adj.)

+ charge STRONG

never tired

Theresa seemed indefatigable, barely sweating after a ten-mile run.

Indefinite

\in DEF in it\ (adj.)

– charge UNCLEAR

vague, undecided, unclear

Instead of specifying exactly when the repairman would come, the telephone company expected us to wait for an indefinite amount of time.

Indeterminate

\in de TER mi net\ (adj.)

= charge UNCLEAR

vague, unknown, imprecise

Samuel looked forward to leaving school to face the indeterminate obstacles of the real world.

Indignant

\in DIG nent\ (adj.)

– charge DEPRIVED

angry, incensed, offended

The innocent passerby was indignant when the police treated him as a suspect in the crime.

Indiscernible

\in di SER nu bul\ (adj.)

= charge UNCLEAR

difficult to detect

Marsha’s new hair color is indiscernible from her old hair color; most people don’t even notice the change.

Indiscretion

\in dis KRESH un\ (n.)

– charge RECKLESS

la mistake ck of prudence,

Jerry’s indiscretion at the convention cost his company the new account.

Indiscriminately

\in dis KRIM uh nit\ (adj.)

– charge ORGANIZATION

not based on careful distinctions, chaotic

– The director chose his cast indiscriminately, utilizing the first twenty people to answer his audition call, regardless of their abilities or experience.

Indistinct

\in dis TINKT\ (adj.)

– charge UNCLEAR

vague, unclear

After years of living in Europe, Athena’s memories of home grew more and more indistinct.

Indomitable

\in DOM ih tu bul\ (adj.)

+ charge BRAVE

fearless, unconquerable

Samson was indomitable in battle until the treacherous Delilah cut off his hair, taking away his strength.

Induce

\in DOOS\ (v.)

= charge ENCOURAGE

to persuade; bring about

Tom attempted to induce his girlfriend to go skydiving with him, but she refused.

Industrious

\in DUS tree us\ (adj.)

+ charge PRODUCTIVE

hard-working, diligent

After years of living with his industrious father, Ron became equally careful about his own work habits.

Ineffable

\in EF uh bul\ (adj.)

= charge COMMUNICATION

indescribable, inexpressible

Marie’s first visit to the Louvre left her speechless; the ineffable beauty of the paintings silenced her for hours afterward.

Inefficient

\in ih FISH ent\ (adj.)

– charge WASTEFUL

wasteful of resources, time, or energy

The chef scolded his inefficient staff for spending all of their time and most of their budget on the dessert course.

Inept

\in EPT\ (adj.)

– charge CLUMSY

clumsy, awkward; incapable; foolish, nonsensical

While capable of designing elegant clothing on paper, he was inept when it came to the real work of cutting the fabric and stitching the garments.

Inevitable

\in EV ih tu bul\ (adj.)

= charge TIME

certain, unavoidable

With an active effort to cut costs and raise productivity, bankruptcy is far from inevitable.

Inexorable

\in EK sur uh bul\ (adj.)

– charge STUBBORN

inflexible, unyielding

Undeterred by their opponents’ efforts, the invading hordes kept trudging forward, like an inexorable force of

Infinite

\IN fu nit\ (adj.)

= charge TIME

unlimited, boundless

Possessing seemingly infinite patience, the instructor calmly explained the relatively simple procedure for the fourth time.

Inflammatory

\in FLAM uh tor ee\ (adj.)

– charge HOSTILE

arousing passion, usually anger

I found the politician’s remarks largely inflammatory, as he seems to prefer inciting his supporters into a rage than informing them of the crucial issues.

Inflation

\in FLAY shun\ (n.)

– charge SIZE

undue amplification

With inflation across the world lowering the value of the dollar, companies who depend on imported goods need to revise their business models.

Inflexible

\in FLEK su bul\ (adj.)

– charge STUBBORN

rigid, unbending

George remained inflexible in his decision not to eat broccoli.

Infusion

\in FYOO zhin\ (n.)

= charge ADD

the introduction of, the addition of

The United States is known as the great “melting pot” because, instead of retaining one cultural perspective, it continually adapts to the infusion of new ideas and practices of its immigrant populations.

Inhibit

\in HIB it\ (v.)

– charge CAUTIOUS

to hold back, prevent, restrain

John’s harsh criticism inhibited the free exchange of ideas on the project.

Innumerable

\ih NOOM ur uh bul\ (adj.)

= charge SIZE

too many to be counted

There are innumerable stars in the universe.

Inordinate

\in OR di net\ (adj.)

– charge SIZE

excessive, immoderate

The group was deluged by an inordinate number of emails complaining about their newest products.

Inscription

\in SKRIP shun\ (n.)

= charge COMMUNICATION

engraving

The sword’s authenticity was confirmed by the small inscription at the base of the blade, the signature of a well-known craftsman.

Insidious

\in SID ee us\ (adj.)

– charge WORSEN

subtly spreading harm; beguiling; alluring

Coleman’s career was eventually destroyed by the insidious rumors that he had falsified data in his groundbreaking experiments.

Insightful

\in SIYT ful\ (adj.)

+ charge INTELLIGENT

clever, perceptive; intuitive

I never submit an article before giving it to my roommate to edit, since he always offers insightful advice.

Insinuate

\in SIN yoo ayt\ (v.)

– charge COMMUNICATION

to suggest, say indirectly, imply

Feeling that an outright accusation would be tactless, Brenda instead insinuated that Deirdre’s brother had stolen her watch.

Insolence

\IN su luns\ (n.)

– charge INAPPROPRIATE

rudeness, impertinence

Mark’s superiors refused to promote him because his constant insolence insulted them.

Inspire

\in SPIYR\ (v.)

+ charge ENCOURAGE

motivate, affect

Classical poets claimed to have a muse that inspired them to write great works of art.

Instantaneous

\in sten TAY nee us\ (adj.)

= charge TIME

immediate, without delay

The new computer system was designed to offer instantaneous feedback to the user’s questions.

Insular

\INS yu lar\ (adj.)

– charge ALONE

isolated, provincial

The new internet café piqued the curiosity of the insular little village’s inhabitants.

Integrate

\IN tih grayt\ (v.)

= charge GROUPED

to incorporate, unite

When we learned of the new computer capabilities, we tried to find a way to integrate the new technology into our course.

Integrity

\in TEG rih tee\ (n.)

+ charge APPROPRIATE

decency, honesty, wholeness

Though running on promises of returning integrity to the office, the candidate was hesitant to provide details of her past.

Intellectual

\in te LEK shoo ul\ (adj.)

+ charge INTELLIGENT

intelligent, scholarly

Max enjoyed the intellectual aspects of football, analyzing videotapes of his opponents to discern their strengths and weaknesses.

Intemperate

\in TEM per ut\ (adj.)

– charge SIZE

immoderate, extreme

The intemperate climate in the Sahara Desert makes survival difficult for many plant and animal species.

Interlocutor

\in ter LOK yu tur\ (n.)

= charge PEOPLE

someone taking part in a dialogue

Our undercover officer has tape-recorded a conversation with an unknown interlocutor, who appears to be suspect.

Interlude

\IN ter lood\ (n.)

= charge TIME

an intervening period of time

Willy was happy to get up and stretch his legs during the brief interlude between meetings.

Interminable

\in TER mi nu bul\ (adj.)

– charge SIZE

endless

By the time the interminable play ended, the last train home had already left.

Intransigent

\in TRAN zu jent\ (adj.)

= charge STUBBORN

uncompromising, refusing to be reconciled

The professor was intransigent on the deadline, insisting on collecting all papers at the end of Friday’s lecture.

Intrepid

\in TREP id\ (adj.)

+ charge BRAVE

fearless

The intrepid explorer entered the ominous-looking cave without a moment’s hesitation.

Intricate

\IN tri kit\ (adj.)

+ charge DETAILED

elaborate, complex

The designer, though best-known for her intricate designs, was likewise capable of a simpler approach when appropriate to the project.

Intruder

\in TROO der\ (n.)

– charge HARMFUL

a trespasser

My uncle just bought a new watchdog to chase away any intruders.

Intrusion

\in TROO zhin\ (n.)

– charge HOSTILE

trespass, invasion of another’s privacy

The constant intrusion of the hotel staff kept Mr. Smith from sleeping soundly.

Inundate

\IN un dayt\ (v.)

– charge INCREASE

to cover with water, to overwhelm

After the press inundated her with requests for interviews, the author withdrew to the tranquility of her summer cottage.

Invariable

\in VAR ee uh bul\ (adj.)

= charge STABLE

constant, unchanging

To protect the integrity of the chemical, we must keep it in a sealed room with invariable temperature.

Inventory

\IN vin tohr ee\ (n.)

= charge COLLECTED

the quantity of goods on hand

Some business ventures are risky because they require a large inventory of goods that may never sell.

Investigate

\in VEST ih gayt\ (v.)

= charge INTELLIGENT

examine, look into

Insurance companies hire agents to check claims and investigate their validity.

Investment

\in VEST mint\ (n.)

= charge MONEY

a commitment of time, support, or money

After working so intensely on the initial research and proposal, Adrian felt that he had already made a significant investment in the project’s success.

Inviolable

\in VY uh lu bul\ (adj.)

+ charge STRONG

safe from violation or assault

The relieved refugee, inviolable under the embassy’s protection, finally settled into a deep sleep.

Iridescent

\ih ri DES ent\ (adj.)

= charge ATTRACTIVE

showing many lustrous colors

The tourists, used to the dull colors of home, marveled at the iridescent tropical butterfly.

Irony

\IY ur nee\ (n.)

= charge COMMUNICATION

incongruity between expectations and actualities

Joe was struck by the irony of his situation, when jobs became available in his hometown shortly after he had moved across the country to find work.

Irrational

\ih RASH ih null\ (adj.)

– charge FOOLISH

illogical, nonsensical, unreasonable

Rachel had an irrational fear of chickens, perhaps because of an unfortunate incident in her childhood on the family farm.

Irresolute

\ih REZ uh loot\ (adj.)

– charge CHANGING

undecided; indecisive, fickle

Gabriel, irresolute from the outset, called and cancelled at the last minute.

Irreverent

\ir REV er nt\ (adj.)

– charge INAPPROPRIATE

disrespectful, gently or humorously mocking

Kevin’s irreverent attitude at the museum angered the tour guide.

Isolated

\IY suh lay tid\ (adj.)

– charge ALONE

solitary, singular

Though it is tempting to link the three crimes, the authorities continue to view them as isolated incidents.