Words starting with T | Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) for GRE PDF Download

table: a systematic list of details

The train schedule was set up as a table.

tacit: not voiced or expressed

The National Security Agency aide argued, in effect, that he had received the president's tacit approval for the arms-for-hostages deal.

taciturn: inclined to silence; speaking little; dour, stern

The man was so taciturn it was forgotten that he was there.

tantalize: to tempt; to torment

The desserts were tantalizing, but he was on a diet.

tarry: to go or move slowly; delay

She tarried too long, and therefore missed her train.

taut: stretched tightly

They knew a fish was biting, because the line suddenly became taut.

tawdry: tastelessly ornamented

The shop was full of tawdry jewelry.

tedious: wearisome, tiresome

Cleaning the house is a tedious chore for some people.
With so many new safety precautions instituted, flying has become a tedious affair.

teem: to be stocked to overflowing; to pour out; to empty

The new plant seemed to be teeming with insects.
It is healthier to teem the grease from the broth before serving it.

temerity: foolhardiness

Temerity can result in tragedy if the activity is dangerous.

temper: to moderate, as by mingling with something else; to bring to the proper condition by treatment

She drew a hot bath, but then realized she'd have to temper it with a little cool water or end up scalded.
The craftsman tempered the steel before being able to twist it to form a table leg.

temperament: one's customary frame of mind

The girl's temperament is usually very calm.

tenacious: holding; persistent

With a tenacious grip, the man was finally able to pull the nail from the wall.
After his tenacious pleas, she finally conceded.
His hold on his dreams is as tenacious as anyone I know.

tenet: a principle accepted as authoritative

The tenets of socialism were explained in the book.

tensile: undergoing or exerting tension

The pipeline was capable of flexing to withstand the tremendous tensile strain that might accompany an seismic movement.

tentative: not confirmed; indefinite

Not knowing if he'd be able to get the days off, Al went ahead anyway and made tentative vacation plans with his pal.

tenuous: thin, slim, delicate; weak

The hurricane force winds ripped the tenuous branches from the tree.
The spectators panicked as they watched the cement block dangle from one tenuous piece of twine.

tepid: lacking warmth, interest, enthusiasm; lukewarm

The tepid bath water was perfect for relaxing after a long day.

termagant: a constantly quarrelsome woman

Agreement with the termagant was an impossibility.

terrestrial: pertaining to the earth

Deer are terrestrial animals; fish are aquatic.

terse: concise; abrupt

She believed in getting to the point, so she always gave terse answers.
The terse speech contained only the essential comments.

tether: the range or limit of one's abilities; rope or chain used to keep a boat from drifting or an animal from wandering

My tether of playing basketball is shooting air balls.
The bulldog was tethered to his doghouse.

thrall: a slave

The worker was treated like a thrall, having to work many hours of overtime.

thrifty: frugal, careful with money

Being thrifty, the woman would not purchase the item without a coupon.
The thrifty couple saved money by taking the bus to work.

throe: spasm or pang; agony

A particularly violent throe knocked her off her feet.
The wounded soldier squirmed in throes of agony.

thwart: prevent from accomplishing a purpose; frustrate

Their attempt to take over the country was thwarted by the palace guard.

timbre: the quality of sound which distinguishes one from another

The timbre of guitar music is different from that of piano music.

timorous: lacking courage; timid

The timorous child hid behind his parents.
Hillary came to accept him as a timorous soul who needed succor.

torpid: being dormant; slow, sluggish

When we came upon the hibernating bear, it was in a torpid state.
A torpid animal does not act with energy.
The old, torpid dog spent most of his time sleeping.

tortuous: full of twists and turns; not straight forward; possibly deceitful

The suspect confessed after becoming confused by the tortuous questioning of the captain.

toxic: poisonous

It's best to store cleansing solutions out of children's reach because of their toxic contents.

tractable: easily managed (opposite: intractable)

The boat was so lightweight it was tractable by one person.
Having a tractable staff made her job a lot easier.

traduce: to defame or slander

His actions traduced his reputation.

tranquillity: peace; stillness; harmony

The tranquillity of the tropical island was reflected in its calm blue waters and warm sunny climate.

transmutation: a changed form

Somewhere in the network's entertainment division, the show underwent a transmutation from a half-hour sitcom into an hour-long drama.

transmute: to transform

Decorators transmute ordinary homes into interesting showcases.

transpire: to take place; come about

With all that's transpired today, I'm exhausted.

traumatic: causing a violent injury

It was a traumatic accident, leaving the driver with a broken vertebra, a smashed wrist, and a concussion.

travail: very hard work; intense pain or agony

The farmer was tired after the travail of plowing the fields.
The analgesic finally ended her travail.

trek: to make a journey

They had to trek through the dense forest to reach the nearest village.

trenchant: cutting; keen or incisive words

Without a trenchant tool, they would have to break the branches rather than cut them.
The trenchant words hurt the man deeply.

trepidation: apprehension; uneasiness

Her long absence caused more than a little trepidation.
With great trepidation, the boy entered the water for the first time.

tribunal: the seat of judge

The tribunal heard the case of the burglary.

tribute: expression of admiration

Her performance was a tribute to her retiring teacher.

trite: commonplace; overused

The committee was looking for something new, not the same trite ideas.
Eating tomato salads became trite after their excessive popularity.

trivial: unimportant; small; worthless

Although her mother felt otherwise, she considered her dish washing chore trivial.

troth: belief; faith; fidelity

The couple pledged troth to each other through their vows.

truculent: fierce, savage, cruel

Truculent fighting broke out in the war-torn country.
The truculent beast approached the crowd with wild eyes and sharpened claws.

truncate: to shorten by cutting

With the football game running over, the show scheduled to follow it had to be truncated.

tumid: swollen; pompous

The tumid river washed away the homes built on the shore.
After he earned his high-school diploma, he became insufferably tumid.
The tumid balloon floated, but the empty one did not.

tumult: a noisy commotion; disturbance

The tumult was caused by two boys wanting the same toy.
After the tumult, I found it difficult to resume my studies.

turbid: thick and dense; cloudy

The turbid green waters of the lake prevented them from seeing the bottom.

turbulence: condition of being physically agitated; disturbance

Everyone on the plane had to fasten their seat belts as the plane entered an area of turbulence.

turmoil: unrest; agitation

Before the country recovered after the war, they experienced a time of great turmoil.

turpitude: vileness

The turpitude of the action caused a rage among the people.

tutelage: the condition of being under a guardian or a tutor

Being under the tutelage of a master musician is a great honor.

tycoon: wealthy leader

The business tycoon prepared to buy his fifteenth company.

tyranny: absolute power; autocracy

The people were upset because they had no voice in the government that the king ran as a tyranny.