waffle
speak equivocally about an issue; N.

He waffled during the meeting

waft
move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves

They saw leaves wafting past the window

waggish
humorous; mischievous; tricky

He narrated a waggish tale

wag
shake repeatedly from side to side

The dog wagged its tail

waif
homeless child or animal

The land has waifs and strays

waive
give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim

A document that waives a right or claim

wake
trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before

Hunger followed in the wake of the war

wallow
roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless

The buffaloes wallowed in the mud

wan
having a pale or sickly color; pallid

She wore wan colored clothes

wanderlust
strong longing to travel

They found in him a wanderlust

wane
decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end

The moon waxes and wanes every month

wangle
achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake

She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.

wiggle
wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting motions

The worm wiggled in the mud

wanton
unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous

As flies to wanton boys are we to gods

warble
(of a bird) sing; babble; N.

The baby bird warbled

warp
twist out of shape; N.

The kids warped the wire

warranted
justified; authorized

His explanation was warranted

warrant
justification; written order that serves as authorization (esp. a judicial writ); Ex. search/death warrant; V: justify; guarantee

The police came to arrest him with a warrant

warranty
guarantee; assurance by seller

The salesman gave a two years warranty to the product

warren
tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live

Rabbits live in warrens

wary
very cautious; watchful

He was wary in his approach

wastrel
waster; profligate

He is a wastrel

wax
increase gradually (as the moon); grow

The moon waxes

waylay
ambush; lie in wait for and attack

The army waylaid along the lanes

wean
accustom a baby not to nurse; accustom (the young of a mammal) to take nourishment other than by suckling; give up a cherished activity; cause to gradually leave (an interest or habit);

Wean oneself from cigarettes

weather
pass safely through (a storm or difficult period)

To endure the effects of weather or other forces

welt
raised mark from a beating or whipping

A welt on his forehead

welter
confusion; turmoil; confused mass; bewildering jumble

There lay a welter of data

welter
wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as in blood)

The victims weltered in their blood.

wheedle
deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax

He wheedled a promise out of her

whelp
young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family); young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.

She domesticated a whelp

whet
sharpen; stimulate

Whet someone’s appetite

whiff
puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); short-lasting smell; hint

She took a whiff of perfume

whimsical
capricious; fanciful; amusingly strange

His whimsical nature was hard to understand

whim
sudden capricious idea; fancy

They fell a prey to his whim

whimsy
whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely

A story full of whimsy

whinny
neigh like a horse; CF. neigh: make the sound which horses make

We heard a whinny sound

whit
small amount; smallest speck

He has not a whit of humor

whittle
pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in this way; reduce gradually; trim

The girl whittled the flower

whorl
ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement; Ex. whorls on the fingers

willful
wilful; intentional; headstrong

A willful behavior

wilt
loose freshness; droop

Flowers wilt

wily
crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem

He had a wily nature

wince
move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch

She winced as she touched the cold body

windfall
fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event

She never expected a windfall of events

winnow
sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad; CF. wind

The girl winnowed the flour

winsome
charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious; engaging

He’s a winsome young man

wispy
thin; slight; barely discernible

He has a wispy build

wisp
small bunch (of hair); faint streak (of smoke)

She held her hair in a wisp

wistful
sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing

He has a wistful nature

withdrawn
introverted; retiring; remote

She is usually found withdrawn into her own world

wither
(of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness; shrivel; decay

The pot has a withered plant

withhold
refuse to give; hold back;

The citizens were withholding tax

withstand
stand up against; resist successfully

It was hard to withstand his irony

witless
lacking intelligence or wit; foolish; idiotic

His speech is boring is witless

wizardry
sorcery; magic

He excels in wizardry

wizened
shriveled; withered;

She held a wizened apple

woe
great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering;

He was elucidating his financial woes

woeful
sad; (of something bad) deplorable; deplorably bad; Ex. woeful housing conditions

Their living condition was woeful

wont
(the stated person’s) habit or custom; habitual procedure; ADJ. wonted: customary

He was wont to rise at dawn

worldly
engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual; of the material world

He was engrossed in worldly affairs

wrangle
quarrel noisily; obtain through arguing; herd cattle; N.

The boys wrangled

wrath
anger; fury

His wrath made them to cower

wreak
inflict

Wreak one’s vengeance on

wrench
twist; pull; strain

He wrenched the gun out of her hands.

wrest
obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by violence

Wrest victory from their grasp

writ
written command issued by a court (telling someone to do or not to do something)

The court issued to him a writ

writhe
twist in coils; contort in pain

He writhed in pain

wry
(esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous twist (expressing displeasure)

She pulled a wry expression

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