The Word Lover's Delight:

(adj.) ig-NOH-bul—of low ranking; inferior

Nathan quit his ill-paid and ignoble job to go back to school.

(adj.) ig-no-MIN-ee-uss—warranting disgrace or dishonor

The company was known for its ignominious nepotism.

(n.) il-EE-ist—a person who uses third person in referring to him- or herself

“Karl wants a cookie,” said the illeist child to his mother.

(n.) im-BROHL-yoh—an intricate misinterpretation or disagreement

The travelers found themselves in the midst of another imbroglio.

(v.) im-BROOT—to descend to the level of a brute

The Survivor contestants became more imbruted every day.

(adj.) ih-MEYN—enormous in character, ferocious

Attila the Hun’s immane presence struck fear into Barbarians and Romans alike.

(v.) IM-oh-leyt—to kill sacrificially, as by burning

Erin saw no reason to immolate herself—it was an honest error.

(v.) ih-MYOOR—to confine within walls, imprison

The detainees were immured in a makeshift prison.

(adj.) im-YOO-tah-bul—immune to variation

The scientist believed in the immutable laws of physics.

(adj.) im-pih-KYOO-nee-uss—lacking money; poor

He was impecunious until payday.

(n.) im-ped-ih-MEN-tah—the equipment transported by an army

The troops gathered their impedimenta and began the day’s march.

(adj.) im-PEER-ee-uhs—domineering in a conceited manner; overbearing

Winifred dismissed the waiter with an imperious wave.

(adj.) im-per-TUR-bah-bul—incapable of being upset

All the best billiards players are imperturbable.

(v.) IM-pi-treyt—to attain by request

The child impetrated another candy from his mother.

(adj.) im-PLAK-a-bul—incapable of pacification, relentless

The implacable boxer would not let his opponent rest.

(adj.) im-PON-der-a-bul—that cannot be evaluated or measured

The poet says true love is imponderable.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

—Martin Luther King Jr.

(v.) IM-prih-keyt—to curse or wish evil on

Ian imprecated his boss, who made him work late on Christmas Eve.

(n.) im-PWEE-suhnt—lacking strength; weak

The school bully only picked on impuissant students in the schoolyard.

(adv. & adj.) in-SIH-too—in the original location or placement

Seeing artifacts in situ helps to learn about a new place.

(n.) in-uh-NISH-uhn—the condition of emptiness

After skipping breakfast, Darlene’s inanition led to a decrease in work performance.

(adj.) in-KAHR-nah-dyn—dark red; crimson

The bandage will be incarnadine after it encases the severe wound.

(adj.) in-KOH-it—incomplete or lacking full development

The writer turned an inchoate idea into a four-hundred-page novel.

(adj.) in-KOH-uh-tiv—at the onset of, incipient

The plan was still in its inchoative stages.

(adj.) in-KONG-groo-us—not harmonious; inconsonant

The incongruous couple somehow stayed together for years.

(n.) IN-kyoo-bus—a demon that haunts people in nightmares

Donovan was not getting enough sleep because a recurring incubus was haunting his dreams.

(v.) in-KUHL-peyt—to accuse of a crime; incriminate

Joe said if they reported him, he would inculpate them, too.

(n.) in-kyoo-NAB-ya-lum—the early stages

The IT expert worked in the computer industry since its incunabulum.

(adj.) in-deh-FAT-i-guh-buhl—not giving in to fatigue; tireless

The coach thanked the players for their indefatigable work in the playoffs.

(adj.) in-dih-HIS-uhnt—not breaking open at maturity

I attacked the walnut’s indehiscent shell with a nutcracker.

(v.) in-DAYT—to compose

Jack Kerouac indited On the Road on one continuous scroll of paper.

(adj.) IN-doh-lint—persistently lethargic

He was called an indolent boy because he never cleaned his room.

(adj.) in-EF-uh-bul—incapable of description

The chef adored the ineffable aroma of the Italian white truffle.

(adj.) in-i-LUHK-tuh-buhl—unavoidable

Jason feared that more layoffs were ineluctable, despite his best efforts to prevent them.

(adj.) in-ex-SPUHG-nuh-bul—capable of withstanding any attack

The fortress was deemed inexpugnable.

(adj.) IN-fruh-DIG—going against one’s dignity

Will considered washing the floor on his knees to be infra dig.

(n.) ING-guhl-nook—a secluded corner or spot near a fireplace

During the winter, Victor enjoyed curling up with a good book in his inglenook.

(adj.) in-gra-VES-ent—becoming increasingly harsh or serious

The older woman had ingravescent lower back pain that made it difficult to walk.

(v.) in-GUR-jit-eyt—to devour greedily; acting as a glutton

She scorned her husband for ingurgitating his dinner.

(adj.) ih-NIM-ih-kul—unfriendly; hostile

The inimical old man next door glared at neighbors who waved at him.

(v.) in-NUR-vayt—to supply with nervous energy; rouse

He innervated the crowd with a rousing speech.

(adj.) in-NOM-in-ut—nameless

The newborn remained innominate for a week as the parents argued over a name.

(n.) in-KWAY-i-tood—a feeling of restlessness

He felt an inquietude until the job was done.

(adj.) in-sah-LOO-bree-uss—unfavorable to health

Without efforts to reverse damage done, air quality will continue to become increasingly insalubrious.

(adj.) in-SOO-see-ahnt—free from worry; carefree

Overwhelmed by bills, work and everyday life, Olive yearned for the days of her insouciant youth.

(v.) in-SPIS-eyt—to produce density

Emeril Lagasse inspissated the Cajun sauce to perfection.

(n.) in-staw-REY-shuhn—renovation or revitalization

They collected donations for the instauration of the Baghdad museum.

(adj.) in-SOOP-er-ah-bul—impossible to exceed or outdo

Insuperable obstacles forced her to give up the chase.

(v.) in-TUR-kah-leyt—to interject between current layers

The chef intercalated an extra layer of chocolate into the cake.

(v.) IN-ter-dikt—to forbid or ban

Joe’s diet interdicted him from eating carbs.

(v.) in-ter-DIJ-i-teyt—to interlock the fingers of each hand

The old country road interdigitates with the woodland, winding around trees and streams.

(adj.) in-tuhr-NES-een—pertaining to discord among a group

Rock bands often split up over internecine.

(n.) in-tur-REG-num—a period of time between rulers

The interregnum between Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI lasted about two weeks.

(adj.) in-tur-STIS—an intervening space forming separation

There was a narrow interstice between the two buildings.

(adj.) in-TES-teyt—having made no will

The intestate mother was constantly pressured by her children to make a will.

Parents who expect change in themselves as well as in their children, who accept it and find in it the joy as well as the pains of growth, are likely to be the happiest and most confident parents.

(adj.) in-TRAK-tah-bul—difficult to manage; stubborn

The intractable child caused her mother grief.

(n.) IN-troh-it—the opening hymn of a religious service

Andrew arrived at church just in time to hear the introit.

(v.) in-YOOR—to acclimate to hardship

The sewer workers were inured to the foul stench.

(n.) in-VEK-tiv—an insulting expression

Barry’s invective consisted of many four-letter expletives.

(v.) in-VEY-guhl—to entice by flattery

The gossip columnist inveigled the actress into granting him an interview.

(adj.) in-VET-er-it—strongly established in a habit

The inveterate bus driver could practically drive the route with his eyes closed.

(adj.) in-VID-ee-uhs—intended to cause animosity

The celebrity’s invidious comments were splashed across the tabloids the next day.

(adj.) ay-REN-ik—usually promoting reconciliation or peace

The teacher’s irenic nature helped her quickly sort out schoolyard brawls.

(adj.) eer-ee-PROH-chuh-bul—impossible to find fault with

Her irreproachable conduct led to a promotion.