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redoubtable
If you describe someone as redoubtable, you have great respect for their power and strength; you may be afraid of them as well.
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rejuvenate
To rejuvenate someone is to make that person feel young and strong again; to rejuvenate something is to make it like new once more.
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repute
A person's repute is what others think of them; repute can also refer to someone's standing in society.
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renege
If you renege on a deal, agreement, or promise, you do not do what you promised or agreed to do.
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reprobate
A reprobate has a bad character and behaves in an immoral or improper way.
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requisite
If something is requisite for a purpose, it is needed, appropriate, or necessary for that specific purpose.
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recapitulate
When someone recapitulates, they summarize material or content of some kind by repeating the most important points.
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reprehensible
If you think a type of behavior or idea is reprehensible, you think that it is very bad, morally wrong, and deserves to be strongly criticized.
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reconnoiter
To reconnoiter an area is to go and get preliminary information about it, especially for military purposes.
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irrefutable
An irrefutable argument or statement cannot be proven wrong; therefore, it must be accepted because it is certain.
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refrain
If you refrain from doing something, you do not do it—even though you want to.
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revile
If something is reviled, it is intensely hated and criticized.
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recant
If you recant, you publicly announce that your once firmly held beliefs or statements were wrong and that you no longer agree with them.
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refractory
Refractory people deliberately don't obey someone in authority and so are difficult to deal with or control.
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remuneration
Someone's remuneration is the payment or other rewards they receive for work completed, goods provided, or services rendered.
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remonstrate
To remonstrate with someone is to tell that person that you strongly disapprove of something they have said or done.
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relegate
You relegate someone or something if you give that person or thing a less important position than before.
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raconteur
A raconteur is a person who tells stories with great skill.
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irreproachable
An irreproachable person is very honest and so morally upright that their behavior cannot be criticized.
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reductive
If you describe something as reductive, such as an explanation or a theory, you disapprove of it because it describes or explains something in such a simple way that it misses important details.
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reprisal
A reprisal is something violent or harmful that you do to punish someone for something bad or unpleasant that they did to you.
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recalcitrant
A recalcitrant animal or person is difficult to control and refuses to obey orders—even after stiff punishment.
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retribution
Retribution is severe punishment that someone deserves because they have done something very wrong; it especially refers to punishment or revenge that is carried out by someone other than official authorities.
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irrevocable
An irrevocable action or decision is impossible to change, reverse, or stop.
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resounding
A resounding success, victory, or defeat is very great or complete, whereas a noise of this kind is loud, powerful, and ringing.
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derelict
Something, such as a building, is derelict if it is empty, not used, and in bad condition or disrepair.
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revelry
Revelry is a festive celebration that includes wild, noisy, and happy dancing, eating, and drinking.
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respite
A respite is a short period of rest from work or something troubling.
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recognizance
A recognizance is a promise or formal bond made to a court that someone will attend all court hearings and will not engage in further illegal activity.
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rapprochement
Rapprochement is the development of greater understanding and friendliness between two countries or groups of people after a period of unfriendly relations.
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irreconcilable
Two irreconcilable opinions or points of view are so opposed to each other that it is not possible to accept both of them or reach a settlement between them.
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redress
If you redress a complaint or a bad situation, you correct or improve it for the person who has been wronged, usually by paying them money or offering an apology.
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rapport
If two people have established a good rapport, their connection is such that they have a good understanding of and can communicate well with one other.
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regale
If someone regales you, they tell you stories and jokes to entertain you— and they could also serve you a wonderful feast.
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unremitting
A thing or person that is unremitting is persistent and enduring in what is being done.
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restitution
Restitution is the formal act of giving something that was taken away back to the rightful owner—or paying them money for the loss of the object.
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unrequited
If you feel unrequited love for another, you love that person, but they don't love you in return.
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recoup
To recoup is to get back an amount of money you have lost or spent.
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resonate
If you say that something, such as an event or a message, resonates with you, you mean that it has an emotional effect or a special meaning for you that is significant.
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recluse
A recluse is someone who chooses to live alone and deliberately avoids other people.
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remiss
When you have been remiss, you have been careless because you did not do something that you should have done.
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refurbish
When you refurbish something, you repair it to improve its appearance or ability to function.
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repugnance
Repugnance is a strong feeling of dislike for something or someone you find horrible and offensive.
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recidivism
Recidivism is someone's falling back into an undesirable activity—especially crime—after they had temporarily refrained from committing such acts.
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recumbent
A recumbent figure or person is lying down.
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repudiate
If you repudiate something, you state that you do not accept or agree with it and no longer want to be connected with it in any way.
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retinue
A retinue is the group of people, such as friends or servants, who travel with someone important to help and support that person.
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rejoinder
A rejoinder is a quick answer to a reply or remark that can be rude, angry, clever, or defensive.
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retrench
If governments, companies, or other institutions retrench, they reduce costs and/or decrease the amount that they spend in order to save money.
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resilience
Something or someone that shows resilience is able to recover quickly and easily from unpleasant, difficult, and damaging situations or events.
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rebuff
If you rebuff someone, you give an unfriendly answer to a suggestion or offer of help; you hastily turn that person away.
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rescind
When someone in power rescinds a law or agreement, they officially end it and state that it is no longer valid.
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recompense
When you offer recompense to someone, you give them something, usually money, for the trouble or loss that you have caused them or as payment for their help.
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correlate
When you correlate two things, you compare, associate, or equate them together in some way.
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irrelevant
Irrelevant information is unrelated or unconnected to the situation at hand.
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rebuke
When you rebuke someone, you harshly scold or criticize them for something they've done.
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recrimination
A recrimination is a retaliatory accusation you make against someone who has accused you of something first.
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referendum
A referendum is a suggested measure or other concern that is brought before the people for a vote.
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refulgent
Something refulgent is glowing, shining brightly, or brilliant.
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regression
Regression is the falling back or return to a previous state.
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regurgitate
When you regurgitate, you throw up or vomit; this word also refers to simply repeating what someone else has already said so you don't have to put in any thought.
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rehabilitate
When someone is rehabilitated, they are restored to a more normal way of life, such as returning to good health or a crime-free life.
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reimburse
When you reimburse someone, you pay back the money that you borrowed from them, or you repay them for damages or losses they have suffered because of you.
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reinstate
When you reinstate someone, you give back their job or position that they lost; this word also refers to restoring to use something that was no longer being used.
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reiterate
When you reiterate what you've just said, you repeat it or say it again.
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relinquish
When you relinquish something, you give it up or let it go.
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reminiscent
Something that is reminiscent of something else reminds you of it in some way.
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remission
When something, such as a disease or storm, is in remission, its force is lessening or decreasing.
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renounce
To renounce something, such as a position or practice, is to let go of it or reject it.
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renovate
When you renovate something, such as a home or other building, you modernize or make it like new again.
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repercussion
A repercussion of an act or event is the result or effect of it.
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replenish
When you replenish something, you refill or restock it.
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repose
If you are in a state of repose, your mind is at peace or your body is at rest.
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repository
A repository is a safe place, such as a chest or storage area, to keep possessions or other objects.
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reprieve
A reprieve is a temporary relief from or cancellation of a punishment; it can also be a relief from something, such as pain or trouble of some kind.
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reprimand
When you are given a reprimand, you are scolded, blamed, or given a talking-to by someone for something wrong that you did.
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repulsive
Something that is repulsive is offensive, highly unpleasant, or just plain disgusting.
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requiem
A requiem is a mass at a funeral or a piece of music written for the dead.
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residual
Something that is residual is the part that still stays or remains after the main part is taken away.
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resurgence
A resurgence is a rising again or comeback of something.
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retaliate
When you retaliate, you get back at or get even with someone for something that they did to you.
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retention
Retention is the act or condition of keeping or holding on to something, including the ability to remember things.
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retort
When you give a retort to what someone has said, you reply in a quick and witty fashion.
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reverberate
When a sound reverberates, it echoes or rebounds continuously from one place to another.
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reversion
A reversion is a turning back again to a previous state or condition.
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unrelenting
If you are unrelenting in your desire to do something, you stop at nothing until you've done it.
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unrestrained
Someone who is unrestrained is free to do as they please; they are not controlled by anyone but themself, which can lead to excessive behavior.
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revulsion
When you experience revulsion, you feel a great deal of disgust or extreme dislike for something.
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restore
When you restore something, you bring it back to its original condition.
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resignation
A feeling of resignation is one of accepting something that you really don't want to do.
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remorse
Someone who is feeling remorse feels bad or guilty about something they've done.
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reserved
Someone who is reserved is quiet, self-controlled, and keeps their thoughts mostly to themselves.
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irreversible
When an irreversible act is done, it cannot be undone or fixed in any way.
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revelation
A revelation is the uncovering or telling of once-secret information that is often surprising or valuable.
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reinforce
When you reinforce something, you make it stronger or give extra support to it.
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refuge
A refuge is a place to stay or live that offers shelter and protection.
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resume
When you resume an activity, you start it up again or return to it.
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reliquary
A reliquary is a receptacle or container that displays sacred relics—and keeps them safe.
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responsible
If you are responsible for something, you are the cause of it and so can be blamed for it.
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reveal
When you reveal something, you show or tell people about it who did not know about it before.
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resident
A resident of a place—such as a town, apartment building, or country—lives there on a long-term basis.
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retain
When you retain something, you keep it or have it for a long time.
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reverse
When something is reversed, it is changed to something completely different.
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reaction
A reaction to something is a person's response to it or how they act when it happens.
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report
When you report, you give information or tell about something.
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reject
When you reject something, you do not accept or agree with it.
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respect
When you have respect for someone, you value that person highly or believe in them; thus, you treat them in a fair and kind way.
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release
When you release something, such as a bird, you let it go or give it freedom.
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remove
When you remove something, you take it away from or off something else.
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recognize
If you recognize someone, you know them when you see them because you have seen, learned about, or met them in the past.
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reserve
When you reserve something, you keep it for yourself so that you are able to use it when you need to.
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reduce
When you reduce something, you make it smaller in size or amount.
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respond
When you respond to something that someone does or says, you act on it or reply to it.
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relax
If someone is relaxing, they are resting, not working, and being calm.
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recommend
When someone recommends something to you, they tell you about it because they think that it would be useful or good for you.
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relation
A relation is a link of some kind between things or people.
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reform
When something reforms, it changes in some way for the better.
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refer
When you refer to something, you mention or speak about it.
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recovery
When someone is in recovery, they are getting better and becoming healthy once again.
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revert
When something reverts, it turns back to a former state or condition.
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relate
When you relate two things, you show how they are linked to or like one another.
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resist
When you resist something, you try to stop it from happening by fighting or working against it.
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rearrangement
changing an arrangement
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recede
pull back or move away or backward
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reciprocal
concerning each of two or more persons or things
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redeem
save from sins
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reduction
the act of decreasing or reducing something
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reflect
manifest or bring back
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regenerative
able to give new life or vigor to
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reincarnate
be born anew in another body after death
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rejuvenation
the phenomenon of vitality and freshness being restored
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remit
send (money) in payment
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repeal
cancel officially
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repel
cause to move back by force or influence
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referent
having reference