Meaning: The act of refraining from voting or participating.

Part of speech: noun

Example: His abstention from the vote was noted.

Category: Politics › Voting

Synonyms:

• refraining
• withholding

Meaning: The practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, especially food or drink.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Abstinence from alcohol can improve health.

Category: Health › Lifestyle Choices

Synonyms:

• self-restraint
• self-denial

Meaning: Refraining from indulging in something, especially food or drink.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: He is abstinent and avoids sweets.

Category: Health › Lifestyle Choices

Synonyms:

• self-restrained
• moderate

Antonyms:

• indulgent
• excessive

Meaning: An art movement emphasizing spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Jackson Pollock is a famous abstract expressionism artist.

Category: Arts › Art Movements

Synonyms:

• art movement
• modern art

Meaning: The quality of dealing with ideas rather than events or objects.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Abstraction is key in many philosophical discussions.

Category: Arts › Philosophy

Synonyms:

• concept
• idea

Meaning: An artistic movement focused on abstract forms and ideas.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Abstractionism is often seen in modern art.

Category: Arts › Art Movements

Synonyms:

• abstract art
• modernism

Meaning: Difficult to understand; obscure.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The lecture was filled with abstruse concepts.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• complex
• enigmatic

Antonyms:

• simple
• clear

Meaning: A philosophy that emphasizes the absurdity of human existence.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Absurdism is explored in many of Camus's works.

Category: Philosophy › Existentialism

Synonyms: philosophy of the absurd

Meaning: Relating to the depths of the ocean.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: Abyssal creatures live in the darkest parts of the sea.

Category: Nature › Oceanography

Synonyms:

• deep-sea
• oceanic

Meaning: A member of an academy, especially one dedicated to the arts or sciences.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The academician presented his findings at the conference.

Category: Education

Meaning: A style of art or literature that emphasizes traditional forms and techniques.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The painting reflects the principles of academicism.

Category: Arts › Art Theory

Meaning: A person from Acadia, a region in Canada known for its French heritage.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The Acadian culture is rich in history.

Category: Culture › History

Meaning: A plant with spiny leaves, often used in decorative art.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The acanthus leaf is a common motif in classical architecture.

Category: Nature › Botany

Meaning: A gradual increase in tempo in music.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The piece ends with an accelerando.

Category: Arts › Music

Meaning: An instrument that measures acceleration.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The smartphone has an accelerometer for motion detection.

Category: Technology › Sensors

Meaning: The act of accepting or receiving something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The acceptation of the terms was necessary for the agreement.

Category: General

Meaning: The act of joining or becoming part of something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Her accession to the throne was celebrated.

Category: Politics

Synonyms:

• joining
• addition

Meaning: The study of inflection in grammar.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Accidence is an important part of learning a language.

Category: Language › Grammar

Meaning: Loud and enthusiastic approval.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The audience greeted the performer with acclamation.

Category: Arts › Performance

Synonyms:

• applause
• cheering

Antonyms:

• disapproval
• criticism

Meaning: An award or privilege granted as a special honor.

Part of speech: noun

Example: She received accolades for her outstanding performance.

Category: Arts › Recognition

Synonyms:

• award
• honor

Meaning: A musician who plays an instrument to support a singer or another musician.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The accompanist played beautifully during the performance.

Category: Arts › Music

Synonyms:

• supporting musician
• backup musician

Meaning: A person who helps another commit a crime.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The thief was caught along with his accomplice.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms:

• partner in crime
• accessory

Meaning: In agreement or conformity with something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The project was completed in accordance with the guidelines.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• conformity
• agreement

Antonyms:

• disagreement
• nonconformity

Meaning: To equip or outfit, especially for military purposes.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The soldiers were accoutred for battle.

Category: Military

Synonyms:

• equip
• furnish

Meaning: Additional items of dress or equipment.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He wore all the accoutrements of a soldier.

Category: Military

Synonyms:

• gear
• equipment

Meaning: The process of officially recognizing or certifying an institution or program.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The university received accreditation last year.

Category: Education

Synonyms:

• certification
• authorization

Meaning: The process of growth or increase by gradual accumulation.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The accretion of sediment formed a new island.

Category: Science › Geology

Synonyms:

• accumulation
• growth

Meaning: To adapt to a different culture, often by adopting its customs.

Part of speech: verb

Example: They began to acculturate after moving to a new country.

Category: Culture

Synonyms:

• adapt
• assimilate

Antonyms:

• resist
• reject

Meaning: Relating to or characterized by accumulation.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The accumulative effects of pollution are concerning.

Category: General

Synonyms:

• cumulative
• aggregative

Meaning: Not composed of cells.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: Acellular organisms do not have a cellular structure.

Category: Science › Biology

Synonyms: cell-free

Meaning: Sharp and forthright in tone or taste.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: Her acerbic comments often hurt people's feelings.

Category: Arts › Literature

Synonyms:

• sharp
• bitter

Antonyms: sweet

Meaning: A weakness despite overall strength.

Part of speech: noun

Example: His Achilles heel is his inability to manage stress.

Category: Medicine › Anatomy

Synonyms:

• weakness
• vulnerability

Antonyms: strength

Meaning: The tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He injured his Achilles tendon while running.

Category: Medicine › Anatomy

Synonyms: calcaneal tendon

Meaning: A definitive test to determine the quality or value of something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The acid test for the new product is its sales performance.

Category: Business › Marketing

Synonyms: true test

Meaning: Slightly acidic or sour in taste.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The acidulous flavor of the fruit was refreshing.

Category: Science › Chemistry

Synonyms:

• tart
• sour

Meaning: Anti-aircraft artillery fire.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The ack-ack guns were deployed during the air raid.

Category: Military › Artillery

Synonyms: anti-aircraft fire

Meaning: A poisonous plant also known as monkshood, used in traditional medicine.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Aconite is highly toxic and should be handled with care.

Category: Nature › Botany

Synonyms: monkshood

Meaning: A specialist in acoustics, the science of sound.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The acoustician designed the concert hall for optimal sound.

Category: Science › Acoustics

Synonyms: sound engineer

Meaning: A form of sexual assault involving someone known to the victim.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Acquaintance rape is a serious crime that often goes unreported.

Category: Law › Criminal Law

Synonyms: sexual assault

Meaning: To accept something reluctantly but without protest.

Part of speech: verb

Example: She acquiesced to his demands.

Category: Social › Relationships

Synonyms:

• agree
• yield

Antonyms: resist