Letter S

Sabbath - day of rest
sabbatical - vacation
saber - sword
sabotage - treason, destruction
saccharine - sugary, overly sweet tone
sacerdotal - priestly
sack - pillage
sacrament - rite
sacred - cow idol, taboo
sacrilege - blasphemy
sacrosanct - sacred
saddle - encumber
sadist - one who takes pleasure in hurting others
safari - expedition
saga - story
sagacious - wise
sage - wise person
salacious - licentious
salient - prominent
saline - salty
sallow - sickly complected
sally - sortie, attack
salutary - good, wholesome
salutation - salute, greeting
salvation - redemption
salve - medicinal ointment
salvo - volley, gunfire
sanctify - consecrate
sanctimonious - self-righteous
sanction - approval
sanctuary - refuge
sang-froid - coolness under fire
sanguinary - gory, murderous
sanguine - cheerful
sans - without
sapid - interesting
sapient - wise
sarcophagus - stone coffin
scornful - scornful, sarcastic
sartorial - pertaining to clothes
satanic - pertaining to the Devil
satchel - bag
sate - satisfy fully
satiate - satisfy fully
satire - ridicule
saturate - soak
saturnine - gloomy
satyr - demigod, goat-man
saunter - stroll
savanna - grassland
savant - scholar
savoir-faire - tact, polish
savor - enjoy, relish
savory - appetizing
savvy - perceptive, shrewd
scabrous - difficult
scant - inadequate, meager
scapegoat - one who takes blame for others
scarify - criticize
scathe - injure, denounce
scepter - a rod, staff
scheme - plot, system, diagram
schism - rift
scintilla - speck
scintillate - sparkle
scion - offspring
scoff - jeer, dismiss
scone - biscuit
scorn - disdain, reject
scoundrel - unprincipled person
scour - clean by rubbing, search
scourge - affliction
scruples - misgivings
scrupulous - principled, fastidious
scrutinize - examine closely
scurf - dandruff
scurrilous - abusive, insulting
scurry - move quickly
scuttle - to sink (a ship)
scythe - long, curved blade
sear - burn
sebaceous - like fat
secede - withdraw
secluded - remote, isolated
seclusion - solitude
sectarian - denominational
secular - worldly, nonreligious
secure - make safe
sedation - state of calm
sedentary - stationary, inactive
sedition - treason, inciting rebellion
seduce - lure
sedulous - diligent
seedy - rundown, ramshackle
seemly - proper, attractive
seethe - fume, resent
seismic - pertaining to earthquakes
seismology - study of earthquakes
self-effacing - modest
semantics - study of word meanings
semblance - likeness
seminal - fundamental, decisive
semper - fidelis always loyal
senescence - old age
senescent - aging
seniority - privilege due to length of service
sensational - outstanding, startling
sensible - wise, prudent
sensory - relating to the senses
sensualist - epicure
sensuous - appealing to the senses,
enjoying - luxury
sententious - concise
sentient - conscious
sentinel - watchman
sepulcher - tomb
sequacious - dependent
sequel - continuation, epilogue
sequester - segregate
seraphic - angelic
serendipity - a knack for making fortunate discoveries
serene - peaceful
serpentine - winding and twisting
serried - saw-toothed
serum - vaccine
servile - slavish
servitude - forced labor
sessile - permanently attached
session - meeting
settee - seat, sofa
sever - cut in two
severance - division
shallot - onion
sham - pretense, imposter
shambles - disorder, mess
shard - sharp fragment of glass
sheen - luster
sheepish - shy, embarrassed
shibboleth - password
shirk - evade (work)
sliver - fragment, shaving
shoal - reef
shoring - supporting
shortcomings - personal deficiencies
shrew - virago
shrewd - clever, cunning
shrill - high-pitched
shun - avoid, spurn
shunt - turn aside
shyster - unethical lawyer
sibilant - a hissing sound
sibling - brother or sister
sickle - semicircular blade
sidereal - pertaining to the stars
sidle - move sideways, slither
siege - blockade
sierra - mountain range
sieve - strainer
signatory - signer
signet - a seal
silhouette - outline, profile
silo - storage tower
simian - monkey
simile - figure of speech
simper - smile, smirk
simulacrum - vague likeness
sinecure - position with little responsibility
sinewy - fibrous, stringy
singe - burn just the surface of something
singly - one by one, individually
singular - unique, extraordinary
sinister - evil, malicious
sinistral - left-handed
siphon - extract, tap
sire - forefather, to beget
siren - temptress
site - location
skeptical - doubtful
skinflint - miser
skirmish - a small battle
skittish - excitable, wary, jumpy
skulk - sneak about
skullduggery - trickery
slake - quench
slander - defame
slate - list of candidate
slaver - drivel, fawn
slay - kill
sleight - dexterity, skill
slew - an abundance
slither - slide, slink
slogan - motto
sloth - laziness
slovenly - sloppy
smattering - superficial knowledge
smelt - refine metal
smirk - smug look
smite - strike, afflict
smock - apron
snare - trap
snide - sarcastic, spiteful
snippet - morsel, small piece
snivel - whine, sniff
snub - ignore, slight
snuff - extinguish
sobriety - composed, abstinent, sober
sobriquet - nickname
socialite - one who is prominent in society
sociology - study of society
sodality - companionship
sodden - soaked
sojourn - trip, stopover
solace - consolation, comfort
solder - fuse, weld
solecism - ungrammatical construction
solemn - serious, somber
solemnity - seriousness
solicit - request
solicitous - considerate, concerned
soliloquy - monologue
solstice - furthest point
soluble - dissolvable
solvent - financially sound
somatic - pertaining to the body
somber - gloomy, solemn
somnambulist - sleepwalker
somnolent - sleepy
sonnet - short poem
sonorous - resonant, majestic
sop - morsel, compensation, offering
sophistry - specious reasoning
soporific - sleep inducing
soprano - high female voice
sordid - foul, ignoble
sorority - sisterhood
soubrette - actress, ingenue
souse - a drunk
sovereign - monarch
spar - fight
spasmodic - intermittent, fitful
spate - sudden outpouring
spawn - produce
specimen - sample
specious - false but plausible reasoning
spectacle - public display
spectral - ghostly
spectrum - range, gamut
speculate - conjecture
speleologist - one who studies caves
spew - eject
spindle - shaft
spindly - tall and thin
spinster - old maid
spire - pinnacle
spirited - lively
spirituous - alcohol, intoxicating
spite - malice, grudge
spittle - spit
splay - spread apart
spleen - resentment, wrath
splenetic - peevish
splurge - indulge
spontaneous - extemporaneous
sporadic - occurring irregularly
sportive - playful
spry - nimble
spume - foam, froth
spurious - false, counterfeit
spurn - to reject a person with scorn
squalid - filthy
squall - rain storm
squander - waste
squelch - crush, stifle
stagnant - stale, motionless
staid - demure, sedate
stalwart - pillar, strong, loyal
stamina - vigor, endurance
stanch - loyal
stanchion - prop, foundation
stanza - division of a poem
stark - desolate
startle - surprise
stately - impressive, noble
static - inactive, immobile
statue - regulation
staunch - loyal
stave - ward off
steadfast - loyal
stealth - secrecy, covertness
steeped - soaked, infused
stenography - shorthand
stentorian - loud or declamatory in tone
sterling - high quality
stern - strict
stevedore - longshoreman
stifle - suppress
stigma - mark of disgrace
stiletto - dagger
stilted - formal, stiff
stimulate - excite
stint - limit, assignment
stipend - payment
stipulate - specify, arrange
stodgy - stuffy, pompous
stoic - indifferent to pain or pleasure
stoke - prod, fuel
stole - long scarf
stolid - impassive
stout - stocky
strait - distress
stratagem - trick, military tactic
stratify - form into layers
stratum - layer
striate - to mark with stripes
stricture - censure, restriction
strife - conflict
striking - impressive, attractive
stringent - severe, strict
strive - endeavor
studious - diligent
stultify - inhibit, enfeeble
stunted - arrested development
stupefy - deaden, dumfound
stupendous - astounding
stupor - lethargy
stylize - formalize, artificial artistic style
stymie - hinder, thwart
suave - smooth, charming
sub - rosa in secret
subcutaneous - beneath the skin
subdue - conquer
subjugate - suppress
sublet - subcontract
sublimate - to redirect forbidden impulses (usually sexual) into socially accepted activities
sublime - lofty, excellent
sublunary - earthly
submit - yield, acquiesce
subordinate - lower in rank
subsequent - succeeding, following
subservient - servile, submissive
subside - diminish
subsidiary - subordinate
subsidize - financial assistance
substantiate - verify
substantive - substantial
subterfuge - cunning, ruse
subterranean - underground
subvert - undermine
succor - help, comfort
succulent - juicy, delicious
succumb - yield, submit
suffice - adequate
suffrage - vote
suffuse - pervade, permeate
suggestive - thought-provoking, risqué
sullen - sulky, sour
sully - stain
sultry - sweltering
summon - call for, arraign
sumptuous - opulent, luscious
sunder - split
sundry - various
superb - excellent
supercilious - arrogant
supererogatory - wanton, superfluous
superfluous - overabundant
superimpose - cover, place on top of
superintend - supervise
superlative - superior
supernumerary - subordinate
supersede - supplant
supervene - ensue, follow
supervise - oversee
supine - lying on the back
supplant - replace
supplication - prayer
suppress - subdue
surfeit - overabundance
surly - rude, crass
surmise - to guess
surmount - overcome
surname - family name
surpass - exceed, excel
surreal - dreamlike
surreptitious - secretive
surrogate - substitute
surveillance - close watch
susceptible - vulnerable
suspend - stop temporarily
sustenance - food
susurrant - whispering
suture - surgical stitch
svelte - slender
swank - fashionable
swarthy - dark (as in complexion)
swatch - strip of fabric
sweltering - hot
swivel - a pivot
sybarite - pleasure-seeker
sycophant - flatterer, flunky
syllabicate - divide into syllables
syllabus - schedule
sylph - a slim, graceful girl
sylvan - rustic
symbiotic - cooperative, working in close association
symmetry - harmony, congruence
symposium - panel (discussion)
symptomatic - indicative
synagogue - temple
syndicate - cartel
syndrome - set of symptoms
synod - council
synopsis - brief summary
synthesis - combination
systole - heart contraction