78 words starting with R

• rally verb

  to come together to support a cause; to recover strength after a setback

  The team rallied in the second half and won the football match.

  Like gather, recover, regroup

• ramble verb

  to talk or write at length without a clear point; to walk for pleasure without a set route

  Grandfather rambled on about his school days until we all fell asleep.

  Like wander, digress, babble

• rampant adjective

  spreading or growing quickly and out of control

  Weeds were rampant in the garden after we left it alone all summer.

  Like unchecked, widespread, rife

• rancor noun

  deep, long-lasting bitterness and resentment

  The two teams shook hands after the game without any rancor.

  Like bitterness, resentment, animosity

• rapport noun

  a friendly relationship in which people understand each other well

  The new coach quickly built a good rapport with the players.

  Like connection, understanding, bond

• rapt adjective

  so interested that one gives complete attention

  The children listened with rapt attention as the guide described the stars.

  Like absorbed, engrossed, spellbound

• rash adjective

  acting too quickly without thinking about the results

  It was rash of him to buy the phone without checking the price elsewhere.

  Like hasty, impulsive, reckless

• ratify verb

  to formally approve an agreement and make it official

  The member countries ratified the treaty to protect the rare mountain birds.

  Like approve, endorse, confirm

• rationale noun

  the set of reasons behind a decision or action

  The principal explained the rationale for starting school earlier in summer.

  Like reasoning, justification, grounds

• rationalize verb

  to give reasonable-sounding excuses for behavior, often not the true reasons

  She rationalized eating the whole cake by saying she had skipped lunch.

  Like justify, excuse, explain away

• ravage verb

  to cause severe damage to something

  Floods ravaged the rice fields, washing away most of the crop.

  Like devastate, destroy, wreck

• rebuff verb

  to refuse an offer or friendly approach in an unkind way

  The cat rebuffed every attempt we made to pick it up.

  Like reject, snub, spurn

• rebuke verb

  to speak sharply to someone because they did something wrong

  The coach rebuked the players for arriving late to practice.

  Like scold, reprimand, reproach

• rebut verb

  to argue against a claim by giving reasons or evidence

  In the debate, Sita rebutted every point with clear facts and figures.

  Like refute, counter, contradict

• recede verb

  to move back or away; to become smaller or weaker

  The floodwater slowly receded, leaving mud across the village paths.

  Like retreat, withdraw, ebb

• reciprocal adjective

  given or done by each side to the other in equal measure

  The two schools have a reciprocal agreement to share their libraries.

  Like mutual, shared, two-way

• reciprocate verb

  to respond to a feeling or action by giving the same in return

  When the neighbors helped us move, we reciprocated by inviting them for dinner.

  Like return, repay, respond

• reckless adjective

  not caring about danger or the results of one’s actions

  The reckless driver overtook the bus on a sharp mountain bend.

  Like careless, rash, heedless

• reclusive adjective

  choosing to live alone and avoid other people

  The reclusive painter rarely left his small house in the hills.

  Like solitary, withdrawn, hermitic

• reconcile verb

  to make people friendly again after a disagreement; to make different ideas fit together

  The two brothers reconciled after their argument and played chess together.

  Like reunite, harmonize, settle

• rectify verb

  to correct something that is wrong

  The shop quickly rectified the mistake on our bill.

  Like correct, fix, remedy

• redeem verb

  to make up for earlier faults; to exchange a coupon or voucher for goods

  He redeemed himself by scoring the winning goal after missing two chances.

  Like make up for, exchange, cash in

• redundant adjective

  no longer needed or useful; repeating something unnecessarily

  The word “free” in “free gift” is redundant.

  Like unnecessary, superfluous, surplus

• refrain verb

  to stop yourself from doing something

  Please refrain from talking during the exam.

  Like abstain, avoid, desist

• refute verb

  to prove that a statement or idea is wrong

  The scientist refuted the old belief with careful measurements.

  Like disprove, rebut, discredit

• regal adjective

  fit for or like a king or queen; grand and dignified

  The tiger walked through the jungle with a regal calm.

  Like royal, majestic, stately

• regress verb

  to return to an earlier and usually worse condition

  Without practice, his piano playing regressed over the long holiday.

  Like revert, relapse, backslide

• reiterate verb

  to say something again for emphasis or clarity

  The teacher reiterated that phones must stay in our bags during class.

  Like repeat, restate

• rejuvenate verb

  to make someone or something feel or look younger and fresher

  A week in the quiet village rejuvenated my tired parents.

  Like refresh, revitalize, renew

• relegate verb

  to move someone or something to a lower or less important position

  The old computer was relegated to a corner of the storeroom.

  Like demote, downgrade, consign

• relentless adjective

  continuing without stopping or easing, often harshly

  The relentless rain kept us indoors for the whole weekend.

  Like unrelenting, persistent, unceasing

• relinquish verb

  to give up control, a right, or a possession, often unwillingly

  The captain relinquished the armband to a younger player.

  Like surrender, give up, yield

• relish verb

  to enjoy something greatly

  My brother relishes every bite of momo at the festival.

  Like savor, enjoy, delight in

• reminisce verb

  to talk or think with pleasure about past experiences

  My grandparents love to reminisce about their first trip to Lumbini.

  Like recollect, remember, look back

• remorse noun

  deep regret for having done something wrong

  He felt remorse after breaking his friend’s bicycle and offered to repair it.

  Like regret, guilt, contrition

• remuneration noun

  money paid to someone for work or a service

  The guides receive fair remuneration for leading treks in the Annapurna region.

  Like payment, pay, compensation

• renounce verb

  to formally give up a claim, belief, or right

  The prince renounced the throne to become a monk.

  Like give up, abandon, forswear

• renown noun

  the state of being widely known and admired

  The climber won renown for reaching the summit without extra oxygen.

  Like fame, acclaim, prestige

• renowned adjective

  known and admired by many people

  Nepal is renowned for its high mountains and friendly people.

  Like famous, celebrated, acclaimed

• reparation noun

  something given to make up for a wrong or damage done

  The company paid reparations to the farmers whose fields it had polluted.

  Like compensation, amends, restitution

• repel verb

  to drive or push something away; to cause disgust

  The two north poles of the magnets repel each other.

  Like repulse, ward off, disgust

• repercussion noun

  an unintended, usually bad, effect of an action that appears later

  Cutting down the forest had repercussions for the village water supply.

  Like consequence, effect, fallout

• replenish verb

  to fill something up again after it has been used

  We replenished our water bottles at a spring halfway up the trail.

  Like refill, restock, top up

• replete adjective

  well supplied or full of something

  The museum is replete with old coins, tools, and statues.

  Like full, filled, packed

• reprehensible adjective

  deserving strong blame or disapproval

  Copying a classmate’s homework and calling it your own is reprehensible.

  Like shameful, disgraceful, blameworthy

• repress verb

  to hold back or keep down feelings or actions

  She repressed a laugh when the teacher’s chair squeaked loudly.

  Like suppress, hold back, restrain

• reprimand verb

  to tell someone officially and formally that they did wrong

  The referee reprimanded the player for arguing about the penalty.

  Like scold, rebuke, censure

• reproach verb

  to express disappointment in someone for what they did

  Mother reproached me gently for forgetting my sister’s birthday.

  Like criticize, blame, chide

• reprove verb

  to correct someone mildly for a fault

  The librarian reproved the boys for talking loudly in the reading room.

  Like chide, admonish, scold

• repugnant adjective

  causing strong dislike or disgust

  The smell from the blocked drain was repugnant to everyone on the street.

  Like disgusting, revolting, offensive

• reputable adjective

  having a good name and trusted by people

  Always buy medicine from a reputable pharmacy.

  Like respected, trustworthy, reliable

• resent verb

  to feel bitter or angry about something felt to be unfair

  He resented being left out of the school play.

  Like begrudge, mind, take offense at

• resentment noun

  bitter anger at having been treated unfairly

  There was some resentment when only one class got a trip to the zoo.

  Like bitterness, indignation, grudge

• reserved adjective

  slow to share feelings or opinions; quiet with others

  My cousin is reserved at first but very funny once you know her.

  Like shy, quiet, reticent

• resignation noun

  the act of formally leaving a job; calm acceptance of something that cannot be changed

  The coach handed in his resignation after ten years with the team.

  Like departure, acceptance, submission

• resilience noun

  the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or return to shape after bending

  The farmers showed great resilience, replanting their fields soon after the storm.

  Like toughness, hardiness, flexibility

• resilient adjective

  able to recover quickly from difficulties or damage

  Bamboo is resilient, bending in strong winds without breaking.

  Like tough, hardy, adaptable

• resolute adjective

  firmly decided and not willing to change one’s purpose

  She was resolute in her plan to finish the marathon despite the heat.

  Like determined, steadfast, unwavering

• resonate verb

  to produce or continue a deep, echoing sound; to seem meaningful to someone

  The bells of the temple resonated across the valley at dawn.

  Like echo, reverberate, strike a chord

• respite noun

  a short break from something difficult or unpleasant

  The cool evening gave us a welcome respite from the summer heat.

  Like break, rest, relief

• restitution noun

  the return of something stolen or lost to its owner, or payment for damage

  The museum made restitution by returning the old statue to its temple.

  Like return, compensation, reparation

• restraint noun

  calm control over one’s feelings or actions

  The players showed great restraint when the crowd shouted at them.

  Like self-control, moderation, discipline

• resurgence noun

  a return of activity or popularity after a quiet period

  There has been a resurgence of interest in traditional Newari crafts.

  Like revival, comeback, renewal

• retaliate verb

  to do something harmful in return for harm done to you

  When his little sister splashed him, he retaliated with a bucket of water.

  Like strike back, hit back, get even

• reticent adjective

  unwilling to speak openly about oneself or one’s feelings

  He was reticent about his prize and never mentioned it at home.

  Like reserved, quiet, uncommunicative

• retract verb

  to take back something said or offered; to pull something back in

  The newspaper retracted its story after learning the facts were wrong.

  Like withdraw, take back, recant

• retribution noun

  punishment given in return for a wrong

  The hero of the old legend seeks retribution against the greedy king.

  Like punishment, revenge, vengeance

• retrospect noun

  looking back on past events with what one knows now

  In retrospect, we should have started the project a week earlier.

  Like hindsight, reflection

• revere verb

  to deeply respect and admire someone or something

  Many people in Nepal revere the Buddha as a great teacher.

  Like venerate, honor, worship

• reverence noun

  a feeling of deep respect, often mixed with awe

  The pilgrims walked around the stupa with quiet reverence.

  Like respect, awe, veneration

• revoke verb

  to officially cancel a law, permission, or right

  The driver’s license was revoked after too many speeding fines.

  Like cancel, withdraw, annul

• rhetorical adjective

  (of a question) asked for effect, not to get an answer; relating to persuasive speaking or writing

  “Who doesn’t love holidays?” is a rhetorical question.

  Like oratorical, persuasive

• rigor noun

  great care and strictness in doing something thoroughly

  Science experiments need rigor so that others can repeat them.

  Like thoroughness, precision, strictness

• rigorous adjective

  very thorough, careful, and strict

  The new medicine went through rigorous testing before it was sold.

  Like thorough, meticulous, strict

• robust adjective

  strong and healthy; well made and unlikely to break or fail

  This robust backpack has survived three treks in the Himalaya.

  Like sturdy, strong, durable

• rote noun

  mechanical repetition used to memorize something, without real understanding

  We learned the multiplication tables by rote in Grade 2.

  Like repetition, memorization

• rudimentary adjective

  basic and not fully developed

  I have only a rudimentary knowledge of French, enough to say hello.

  Like basic, elementary, primitive

• ruthless adjective

  without pity or mercy for others

  The ruthless king in the story took the farmers’ land without care.

  Like merciless, pitiless, cruel