Words beginning with I

422 words

• iconic — widely recognised as a symbol of something
• iconoclast — one who attacks cherished beliefs or established institutions
• ideal — a standard of perfection that is aimed at
• identical — exactly alike in every detail
• identify — to establish who or what someone or something is
• ideology — a system of ideas that guides political or economic policy
• idiom — a characteristic mode of expression; a set phrase
• idiosyncrasy — a peculiar habit or characteristic of an individual
• idle — not working or in use; without purpose
• idyllic — peaceful and picturesque
• ignite — to set alight; to trigger something suddenly
• ignoble — dishonourable, of low character or motive
• ignominious — deserving or causing public disgrace
• ignominy — public shame and disgrace
• ignorance — lack of knowledge or awareness
• ignore — to refuse to take notice of something
• illegal — forbidden by law
• illegible — impossible to read
• illegitimate — not authorised by law or by accepted rules
• illiberal — narrow-minded; opposed to freedoms
• illicit — forbidden by law or custom
• illiterate — unable to read or write
• illogical — contrary to reason; not following from the premises
• illusion — a false idea or deceptive appearance
• illusory — seeming real but not actually so
• illustrate — to make something clear by giving an example
• illustrious — well known and greatly admired for past achievements
• imbalance — a lack of proportion between two things
• imbibe — to absorb ideas or values
• imbroglio — a confused and embarrassing entanglement
• imitate — to copy the behaviour or style of another
• immaculate — perfectly clean and free from flaw
• immaterial — not relevant or important to the matter
• immature — not fully developed in judgement or growth
• immemorial — so old that it goes beyond memory or record
• immense — extremely large in size or degree
• immerse — to involve oneself deeply in an activity
• immigrant — a person who comes to live permanently in another country
• imminent — about to happen
• immobile — not able to move or be moved
• immoral — not conforming to accepted standards of right conduct
• immovable — that cannot be moved; of property, land and buildings
• immune — protected from something harmful, or exempt from a duty
• immunity — exemption from a liability or obligation; resistance to disease
• immutable — unchanging and unable to be changed
• impact — a strong effect or influence
• impair — to weaken or damage the working of something
• impartial — treating all sides equally
• impasse — a situation in which no progress is possible
• impassive — showing no emotion
• impeach — to charge a holder of high office with misconduct
• impeccable — without any fault
• impede — to slow down or block progress
• impediment — a hindrance or obstruction
• impending — about to happen very soon
• imperative — of the greatest importance, unavoidable
• imperceptible — too slight or gradual to be noticed
• imperfect — faulty or incomplete
• imperil — to put something in danger
• imperious — arrogantly commanding in manner
• impermissible — not allowed by the rules or the law
• impersonal — not showing any personal feeling
• impersonate — to pretend to be another person for gain
• impertinent — rude and not showing proper respect
• impervious — not allowing anything to pass through; not influenced by
• impetuous — acting hastily and without thought
• impetus — a force that makes something happen faster
• impinge — to have a noticeable effect on something, often adversely
• implacable — unable to be appeased or pacified
• implausible — not seeming reasonable or believable
• implement — to put a decision or plan into effect
• implicate — to show that someone is involved in a wrongdoing
• implication — a likely consequence, or something suggested without being stated
• implicit — suggested though not directly expressed
• implore — to beg someone earnestly
• imply — to suggest something without saying it directly
• import — to bring goods in from another country
• impose — to force a tax, duty or condition on someone
• imposing — grand and impressive in appearance
• imposition — the act of forcing something on others; an unfair burden
• impost — a tax or duty levied by the State
• impotent — powerless; unable to act effectively
• impound — to seize and hold property under legal authority
• impoverish — to make poor or to exhaust the quality of something
• impractical — not sensible or workable in reality
• impregnable — unable to be captured or broken into
• impression — an idea or opinion formed without full knowledge
• imprest — a fixed sum of cash held in advance for petty office expenses
• imprimatur — official approval to publish or to proceed
• imprison — to put in prison
• improbable — not likely to be true or to happen
• impromptu — done without preparation
• improper — not in accordance with accepted standards of conduct
• impropriety — improper conduct, especially by a person in office
• improvident — failing to provide for the future; wasteful
• improvise — to make do with whatever is available at the time
• imprudent — not showing care for the consequences
• impudent — boldly disrespectful
• impugn — to call into question the truth or integrity of something
• impulse — a sudden urge; a stimulus that drives something forward
• impulsive — acting suddenly without thinking
• impunity — freedom from punishment for a wrong
• impute — to attribute a fault or motive to someone
• inability — lack of the power or means to do something
• inaccessible — not able to be reached
• inaction — failure to act when action is due
• inactive — not functioning or no longer engaged
• inadequacy — the state of being insufficient for a purpose
• inadequate — not enough for the purpose
• inadmissible — not acceptable as evidence or as a claim
• inadvertent — done unintentionally, by oversight
• inalienable — unable to be taken away or transferred
• inane — silly and without meaning
• inanimate — not alive
• inaudible — unable to be heard
• inaugural — marking the beginning of an institution or a series
• inaugurate — to formally begin or open something
• inauspicious — not promising a good outcome
• incalculable — too great or uncertain to be measured
• incapable — lacking the ability or fitness to do something
• incapacitate — to deprive of strength or ability to function
• incarcerate — to imprison or confine
• incendiary — tending to stir up conflict or violence
• incentive — something that motivates a person to act
• inception — the beginning of an institution or activity
• incessant — continuing without pause
• inchoate — just begun and not yet fully formed
• incidence — the rate at which something occurs
• incidental — occurring as a minor accompaniment to something else
• incinerate — to burn something completely to ashes
• incipient — in an early stage and beginning to appear
• incisive — sharp, clear and to the point
• incite — to urge someone to violent or unlawful behaviour
• inclement — unpleasantly cold or stormy
• inclination — a natural tendency or preference
• inclusion — the act of bringing the excluded into the mainstream
• inclusive — covering everyone, especially those usually left out
• incoherent — not logically connected or clearly expressed
• incomparable — so good or great that nothing can be compared with it
• incompatible — unable to exist or work together
• incompetent — not having the necessary ability or legal authority
• incomplete — not finished or not containing all it should
• incomprehensible — impossible to understand
• inconceivable — not capable of being imagined
• inconclusive — not leading to a firm conclusion
• incongruous — out of place; not in harmony with the surroundings
• inconsequential — unimportant and of no real effect
• inconsiderate — thoughtless about the feelings or needs of others
• inconsistent — not in agreement with itself or with other facts
• inconspicuous — not easily noticed
• incontrovertible — impossible to deny or dispute
• inconvenience — trouble or difficulty caused to others
• incorporate — to include something as part of a whole; to register a company
• incorrigible — not able to be corrected or reformed
• incorruptible — incapable of being bribed or morally corrupted
• incredulous — unwilling or unable to believe something
• increment — a regular increase in salary or quantity
• incriminate — to make someone appear guilty of an offence
• incumbency — the holding of an office, and the period of that tenure
• incumbent — the current holder of an office; obligatory as a duty
• incur — to become subject to an expense, loss or penalty
• incursion — a sudden brief invasion into another’s territory
• indebted — owing money, or owing gratitude
• indecisive — unable to make a firm decision
• indefatigable — never tiring in effort
• indefinite — not fixed in extent or time
• indelible — impossible to remove or forget
• indemnify — to compensate for loss, or to secure against legal liability
• indemnity — security or compensation against loss
• indent — an official requisition placed for stores or supplies
• independence — freedom from the control of another
• indeterminate — not fixed or precisely known
• indexation — linking a payment or value to a price index
• indication — a sign that suggests something
• indict — to formally charge with a serious offence
• indifferent — showing no interest or concern; of mediocre quality
• indigenous — originating naturally in a particular place
• indigent — very poor and needy
• indignation — anger aroused by something unjust
• indignity — treatment that humiliates and offends dignity
• indirect — not straight or immediate; operating in a roundabout way
• indiscipline — lack of discipline in conduct or in an organisation
• indiscretion — an unwise or improper act, especially in speech
• indiscriminate — done without careful judgement or distinction
• indispensable — absolutely necessary
• indisputable — beyond doubt or argument
• indistinct — not clear or sharply defined
• indivisible — incapable of being divided or separated
• indoctrinate — to teach a set of beliefs uncritically
• indolent — habitually lazy
• indomitable — impossible to subdue or defeat
• induce — to persuade or bring about
• indulge — to allow oneself or another something excessive
• industrious — hard-working and diligent
• ineffective — not producing the intended result
• ineffectual — producing no useful result
• inefficient — wasting time, money or effort
• inelastic — showing little change in demand when the price changes
• ineligible — not qualified to receive or do something
• inept — clumsy and lacking skill
• inequality — an unfair difference in wealth, status or opportunity
• inequitable — unfair in the distribution of benefits or burdens
• inequity — a lack of fairness in the way people are treated
• inert — lacking the ability or will to move or act
• inertia — a tendency to remain unchanged or to do nothing
• inescapable — that cannot be avoided or denied
• inestimable — too valuable to be measured
• inevitable — certain to happen
• inexhaustible — available in such quantity that it cannot be used up
• inexorable — impossible to stop or prevent
• inexperienced — lacking practical knowledge of something
• inexplicable — unable to be explained or accounted for
• infallible — incapable of making mistakes
• infamous — well known for a bad quality or deed
• infancy — the earliest stage of a person’s life or of a development
• infer — to reach a conclusion from evidence rather than direct statement
• inference — a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence
• inferior — lower in rank or quality
• infertile — not able to produce crops or offspring
• infiltrate — to enter a place or organisation secretly
• infiltration — secret or unauthorised entry, especially across a border
• infinite — without any limit
• infirmity — physical or mental weakness, usually from age or illness
• inflammable — easily set on fire
• inflammatory — likely to arouse anger or violence
• inflate — to increase a figure or claim beyond the truth
• inflation — a general rise in prices over time
• inflexible — unwilling to change; not able to be bent
• inflow — the movement of money or water into a place
• influence — the power to affect a person, a process or an outcome
• influential — having a strong effect on people or decisions
• influx — the arrival of a large number of people or things
• informal — relaxed and not governed by official rules
• informant — a person who gives information to an authority
• infrastructure — the basic physical facilities a society needs to function
• infringe — to violate a law, right or agreement
• infringement — a breach of a law, a right or an agreement
• infructuous — fruitless; of expenditure, yielding no benefit whatever
• infuriate — to make someone extremely angry
• infuse — to fill something with a quality
• ingenious — cleverly inventive
• ingenuous — innocent and unsuspecting
• ingrained — firmly fixed and difficult to change
• ingratiate — to bring oneself into favour by flattery
• inhabit — to live in a place
• inherent — existing as a natural and inseparable part of something
• inherit — to receive property or a quality from a predecessor
• inhibit — to restrain or hold back a process
• inhospitable — harsh and difficult to live in; unwelcoming
• inhuman — cruel and lacking ordinary compassion
• inimical — harmful or hostile to something
• inimitable — so distinctive that it cannot be copied
• iniquity — gross injustice or moral wrongdoing
• initial — occurring at the beginning; first in order
• initiate — to start a process or to admit someone into a body
• initiative — the ability to act independently; a fresh plan of action
• inject — to introduce funds or a substance into something
• injunction — a court order restraining a party from doing something
• injurious — causing or likely to cause harm
• injury — physical harm or legal damage suffered
• injustice — unfair treatment or an unjust act
• inkling — a slight hint or suspicion of something
• inland — situated in the interior, away from the sea
• innate — present from birth; not learnt
• innocuous — harmless and unlikely to cause offence
• innovation — a new method or idea put into practice
• innuendo — an indirect remark hinting at something bad
• innumerable — too many to be counted
• inoculate — to protect against a disease by administering a vaccine
• inoperative — no longer in force or no longer working
• inopportune — coming at an unsuitable or awkward time
• inordinate — unreasonably large or long
• inquest — an official inquiry into an unnatural death
• inquiry — a formal investigation into a matter
• inquisitive — eager to know or learn about things
• inroad — an advance or encroachment into new territory
• insatiable — impossible to satisfy
• inscribe — to write or carve words on a surface formally
• inscrutable — impossible to interpret or understand
• insecure — not safe, or lacking confidence
• insensitive — showing no awareness of others’ feelings
• inseparable — unable to be separated or treated apart
• insidious — proceeding gradually and with harmful effect
• insight — a deep and accurate understanding of something
• insignificant — too small or unimportant to matter
• insinuate — to suggest something unpleasant in an indirect way
• insipid — without flavour or interest
• insolent — rude and showing a lack of respect
• insolvency — inability to pay one’s debts when they fall due
• insolvent — unable to pay one’s debts
• inspect — to examine something carefully and officially
• inspire — to fill someone with the urge or ability to act
• instability — lack of steadiness in a system or an arrangement
• install — to place equipment in position ready for use
• instalment — one of several fixed payments spread over time
• instigate — to bring about an action, usually a bad one
• instil — to introduce an idea or attitude gradually
• instinct — an innate impulse or natural tendency to act
• institute — to establish something, or to initiate proceedings
• institution — an established organisation or settled practice
• instruct — to direct someone authoritatively; to teach
• instrument — a formal legal document; a means to an end
• instrumental — serving as the decisive means of bringing something about
• insubordination — refusal to obey a lawful order of a superior
• insufficient — not enough for the purpose at hand
• insular — narrow in outlook, cut off from outside influence
• insulate — to protect something from outside influence
• insurance — a contract providing compensation against a specified loss
• insurgency — an armed rebellion against an established authority
• insurmountable — too great to be overcome
• insurrection — a violent uprising against an established authority
• intact — undamaged and complete
• intake — the number or quantity admitted or taken in
• intangible — unable to be touched; hard to measure
• integral — necessary to make a whole complete
• integrate — to combine parts into a single working whole
• integrity — honesty and firm adherence to moral principles
• intellect — the power of reasoning and understanding
• intelligence — information of political or military value; mental ability
• intelligentsia — the intellectual and opinion-forming class of a society
• intelligible — able to be understood
• intemperate — showing a lack of self-control, especially in speech
• intensify — to increase in degree or strength
• intensive — thorough, concentrated and done with great effort
• intent — a fixed purpose behind an act
• intention — the purpose with which something is done
• intercede — to intervene on behalf of another
• intercept — to stop or catch something while it is in transit
• interdependence — a relationship in which each side depends on the other
• interdict — to prohibit something by an authoritative order
• interfere — to intrude in a matter and obstruct its course
• interim — in place for the time being, until a final arrangement
• interlink — to connect two or more things to one another
• interlocutor — a person appointed to hold talks with another party
• interlocutory — of a court order, provisional and made during the pendency of a case
• intermediary — a person who acts as a link between two parties
• interminable — endless and tiresomely long
• intermittent — occurring at irregular intervals
• internecine — mutually destructive, especially within one group
• interplay — the way two or more factors act upon each other
• interpolate — to insert matter into a text, often spuriously
• interpret — to explain the meaning of something
• interregnum — a gap between two regimes, when normal authority is suspended
• interrogate — to question someone formally and at length
• interstate — existing or carried on between two or more states
• intervene — to come between so as to change the course of events
• intervention — a deliberate step taken to alter an outcome
• intestate — having died without leaving a valid will
• intimate — to make something known indirectly or formally
• intimation — a formal notification given to a party
• intimidate — to frighten someone into doing what one wants
• intolerable — too bad or painful to be endured
• intolerance — unwillingness to accept views different from one’s own
• intoxicant — a substance that produces intoxication
• intractable — hard to control or resolve
• intransigent — refusing to compromise
• intrepid — fearless in the face of danger
• intricate — very complicated and detailed
• intrigue — secret plotting; to arouse curiosity
• intrinsic — belonging naturally to something
• introspection — the examination of one’s own thoughts and conduct
• intrude — to enter without invitation or right
• intrusion — an unwelcome entry into a place or a private sphere
• intuition — immediate understanding arrived at without conscious reasoning
• inundate — to flood, or to overwhelm with a large quantity
• inure — to take legal effect for the benefit of someone; to harden by habit
• invalid — not legally recognised or logically sound
• invalidate — to make legally void or deprive of force
• invaluable — extremely useful; too valuable to be measured
• invariably — in every case, without exception
• invasion — a hostile entry into a territory by armed force
• invective — abusive and violent language
• inventory — a complete list of goods or property in stock
• invest — to put money or effort into something for future return
• investigate — to carry out a systematic inquiry
• investiture — the formal ceremony of conferring an office or an honour
• investment — the commitment of money to an asset expected to yield a return
• inveterate — having a long-established and unshakeable habit
• invidious — likely to cause resentment because it seems unfair
• invigilate — to supervise candidates during an examination
• invigorate — to give fresh energy to something
• invincible — too strong to be defeated
• inviolable — never to be broken or dishonoured
• invisible — not able to be seen; not recorded in visible trade
• invoice — an itemised bill for goods supplied or services rendered
• invoke — to cite a law or authority in support of an action
• involuntary — done without conscious intention
• inward — coming in or directed towards the inside
• iota — an extremely small amount
• irascible — easily provoked to anger
• irate — extremely angry
• irk — to irritate or annoy
• ironic — expressing the opposite of what is meant; oddly contrary to expectation
• irrational — not based on reason or logic
• irreconcilable — impossible to bring into agreement
• irrecoverable — impossible to get back or realise
• irredeemable — beyond remedy or recovery
• irrefutable — impossible to disprove
• irregular — not according to rule, or not at even intervals
• irregularity — a departure from the prescribed rule or procedure
• irrelevant — not connected with the matter under consideration
• irreparable — impossible to repair or make good
• irrepressible — impossible to hold back or control
• irresistible — too tempting or powerful to be resisted
• irresolute — unable to decide what to do
• irrespective — without regard to a particular circumstance
• irresponsible — not showing a proper sense of duty
• irretrievable — impossible to recover
• irreverent — showing a lack of respect for things generally taken seriously
• irrevocable — not able to be changed or undone
• irrigate — to supply land with water for crops
• irrigation — the artificial supply of water to land for growing crops
• irritable — easily annoyed
• isolate — to keep something or someone separate from others
• isolation — the state of being kept apart from others
• issuance — the act of officially giving out or promulgating something
• issue — a matter in dispute that has to be decided
• isthmus — a narrow strip of land joining two larger landmasses
• itemise — to set out particulars one by one
• iterate — to repeat a process, refining it at each round
• itinerant — travelling from place to place for work
• itinerary — a planned route or schedule of a journey