Letter M

macabre - gruesome
Machiavellian - politically crafty, cunning
machination - plot
macrobiosis - longevity
macroscopic - visibly large
maelstrom - whirlpool
magisterial - arbitrary, dictatorial
magnanimous - generous, kindhearted
magnate - a powerful, successful person
magnitude - size
magnum - opus masterpiece
maim - injure, disfigure
maladjusted - disturbed
maladroit - clumsy
malady - illness
malaise - uneasiness, weariness
malapropism - comical misuse of a
word
malcontent - one who is forever
dissatisfied
malediction - curse
malefactor - evildoer
malevolence - bad intent, malice
malfeasance - wrong doing (especially
by an official of government)
malice - spite
malign - defame
malignant - virulent, pernicious
malinger - shirk
malleable - moldable, tractable
malodorous - fetid
mammoth - huge
manacle - shackle
mandate - command
mandatory - obligatory
mandrill - baboon
mania - madness, obsession
manifest - obvious, evident
manifesto - proclamation
manifold - multiple, diverse
manslaughter - killing another
person without malice
manumit - set free
manuscript - unpublished book
mar - damage
marauder - plunderer
marginal - insignificant
marionette - puppet
maroon - abandon
marshal - array, mobilize
martial - warlike
martinet - disciplinarian
martyr - sacrifice, symbol
masochist - one who enjoys pain
masticate - chew
mastiff - large dog
mastodon - extinct elephant
maternal - motherly
maternity - motherhood
matriarch - matron
matriculate - enroll (usually in school)
matrix - array
matutinal - early, morning
maudlin - weepy, sentimental
maul - rough up
mausoleum - tomb
maverick - a rebel, individualist
mawkish - sickeningly sentimental
mayhem - mutilation, chaos
mea - culpa my fault
meager - scanty
meander - roam, ramble
median - middle
mediocre - average
medley - mixture
megalith - ancient stone monument
melancholy - reflective, gloomy
melee - riot
mellifluous - sweet sounding
melodious - melodic
memento - souvenir
memoir - autobiography
memorabilia - things worth
remembering
memorandum - note
menagerie - zoo
mendacity - untruth
mendicant - beggar
menial - humble, degrading
mentor - teacher
mercantile - commercial
mercenary - calculating, venal
mercurial - changeable, volatile
metamorphosis - a change in form
mete - distribute
meteoric - swift, dazzling
meteorology - science of weather
methodical - systematic, careful
meticulous - extremely careful, precise
metier - occupation
metonymy - the substitution of a
phrase for the name itself
mettle - courage, capacity for bravery
miasma - toxin fumes
mien - appearance, bearing
migrate - travel
milieu - environment
militant - combative, activist
militate - work against
milk - extract
millennium - thousand-year period
minatory - threatening
mince - chop, moderate
minion - subordinate
minstrel - troubadour
minuscule - small
minute - very small
minutiae - trivia
mirage - illusion
mire - marsh, a situation that is difficult
to escape from
mirth - jollity
misanthrope - hater of mankind
misappropriation - use dishonestly
misbegotten - illegitimate, obtained
by dishonest means
miscarry - abort
miscegenation - intermarriage between races
miscellany - mixture of items
misconstrue - misinterpret
miscreant - evildoer
misgiving - doubt, hesitation
misnomer - wrongly named
misogyny - hatred of women
misshapen - deformed
missive - letter
mitigate - lessen the severity
mnemonics - that which aids the memory
mobilize - assemble for action
mobocracy - rule by mob
modicum - pittance
modish - chic
module - unit
mogul - powerful person
molest - bother, sexually assault
mollify - appease
molten - melted
momentous - of great importance
monocle - eyeglass
monolithic - large and uniform
monologue - long speech
monstrosity - distorted, abnormal
form
moot - disputable, no longer relevant
moral - ethical
morale - spirit, confidence
morass - swamp, difficult situation
moratorium - postponement
mordant - biting, sarcastic
mores - moral standards
moribund - near death
morose - sullen
morphine - painkilling drug
morsel - bite, piece
mortify - humiliate
mosque - temple
mote - speck
motif - artistic theme
motive - reason for doing something
motley - diverse
mottled - spotted
motto - slogan, saying
mountebank - charlatan
mousy - drab, colorless
muckraker - reformer
muffle - stifle, quiet
mulct - defraud
multifarious - diverse, many-sided
multitude - throng
mundane - ordinary
munificent - generous
murmur - mutter, mumble
muse - ponder
muster - to gather one’s forces
mutability - able to change
mute - silent
mutilate - maim
mutiny - rebellion
mutter - murmur, grumble
muzzle - restrain, stifle
myopic - narrow-minded
myriad - innumerable
myrmidons - loyal followers
mystique - mystery, aura
mythical - fictitious