Define:
nonchalant
(non-shuh-lont)
adj. casually unconcerned
Lauren was nonchalant about being chosen as valedictorian; she simply didn't think it was a big deal.
Define:
oscillate
(oss-ih-lehyt)
v. to move or swing from side to side
v. to waver between conflicting positions
Her feelings towards her cynical commanding officer oscillated between admiration and disgust.
Define:
ostentatious
(oss-ten-tay-shuss)
adj. intended to impress
adj. characterized by pretension
She loves to show off that ostentatious ring her rich husband got for her.
Define:
overwrought
(oh-vur-rawt)
adj. deeply agitated or anxious
Everyone in the family was overwrought with the thought that the children might be in danger .
Define:
pacific
(puh-sif-ick)
adj. of a peaceful nature
adj. promoting peace and conflict resolution
The government decided to pursue a pacific policy and call back its troops on the border.
Define:
palatable
(pal-ih-tuh-bull)
adj. acceptable to one's taste or mind
Though clearly necessary to balance the budget, unpopular tax increases are not palatable to any political party.
Define:
perennial
(puh-ren-ee-ul)
adj. endless
adj. recurring over and over
Not being able to pay rent on time was a perennial problem for him.
Define:
perfidy
(per-fih-dee)
n. a betrayal of trust
The soldier was known for his loyalty, so his act of perfidy was particularly shocking to his superior officers.
Define:
perfunctory
(per-funk-tuh-ree)
adj. done as a formality, without attention to detail
Her apology was clearly only a perfunctory gesture and not truly heartfelt.
Define:
pernicious
(per-nish-us)
adj. harmful; hurtful, especially in a slow or subtle way
The pernicious effects of money in politics are hardly unique to this country.
Define:
perspicacity
(per-spih-kass-ih-tee)
n. sharp powers of observation
The writer's perspicacity made it easy for her to understand and write about human nature.
Define:
perturb
(purr-turb)
v. to disturb or cause disorder, esp. in one's mental state
Even her sleep was perturbed by her obsession over her credit card debt.
Define:
placate
(play-kate)
v. to ease another's anger
Lewis attempted to placate the angry woman whose car had been hit, but she continued screaming and pacing back and forth.
Define:
placid
(plass-id)
adj. free from disturbance
There currently reigns a placid atmosphere at City Hall, but don't expect it to last much longer.
Define:
pivotal
(piv-uh-tul)
adj. of crucial importance
The audience was enraged when the film reel broke during a pivotal scene in the movie.
Define:
pragmatic
(prag-mat-ick)
adj. guided by practical experience and observation
Her pragmatic attitude often put her at odds with her idealistic peers, whom she called unrealistic and naive.
Define:
predilection
(pred-ih-leck-shun)
n. preference; a strong liking for
He had a predilection for expensive cars that was hard on his wallet.
Define:
preside
(prih-zahyd)
v. to be in a position of authority over a group
The newly-elected president presided over the first meeting of the council in September.
Define:
prevaricate
(pruh-vair-ih-kate)
v. to be deliberately ambiguous in order to hide the truth; to lie
The guest chose to prevaricate by answering the host's questions with unrelated anecdotes.
Define:
probity
(pro-bih-tee)
n. honesty and decency
The group chose Eduardo to represent them, not only because he was the eldest, but because he had shown the most probity during their discussions.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. casually unconcerned
nonchalant
(non-shuh-lont)
synonyms: easygoing, careless
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to move or swing from side to side
v. to waver between conflicting positions
oscillate
(oss-ih-lehyt)
synonyms: dangle, sway; change, alternate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. intended to impress
adj. characterized by pretension
ostentatious
(oss-ten-tay-shuss)
synonyms: showy, flashy, pretentious
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. deeply agitated or anxious
overwrought
(oh-vur-rawt)
synonyms: frantic, wound up, nervous
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of a peaceful nature
adj. promoting peace and conflict resolution
pacific
(puh-sif-ick)
synonyms: soothing, peaceful, conciliatory
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. acceptable to one's taste or mind
palatable
(pal-ih-tuh-bull)
synonyms: delicious, agreeable, acceptable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. endless
adj. recurring over and over
perennial
(puh-ren-ee-ul)
synonyms: enduring, perpetual, ceaseless
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a betrayal of trust
perfidy
(per-fih-dee)
synonyms: treachery, betrayal, corruption
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. done as a formality, without attention to detail
perfunctory
(per-funk-tuh-ree)
synonyms: automatic, habitual, careless
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. harmful; hurtful
pernicious
(per-nish-us)
synonyms: damaging, devastating
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. acute perception
perspicacity
(per-spih-kass-ih-tee)
synonyms: insight, astuteness
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to disturb or cause disorder, esp. in one's mental state
perturb
(purr-turb)
synonyms: unsettle, alarm
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to ease another's anger
placate
(play-kate)
synonyms: soothe, pacify
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. free from disturbance
placid
(plass-id)
synonyms: composed, calm
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. of crucial importance
pivotal
(piv-uh-tul)
synonyms: critical, crucial
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. guided by practical experience and observation
pragmatic
(prag-mat-ick)
synonyms: businesslike, efficient, practical
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. preference; a strong liking for
predilection
(pred-ih-leck-shun)
synonyms: inclination, love, fondness
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to be in a position of authority over a group
preside
(prih-zahyd)
synonyms: administer, conduct, direct
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to be deliberately ambiguous in order to hide the truth; to lie
prevaricate
(pruh-vair-ih-kate)
synonyms: deceive, garble, misrepresent
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. honesty and decency
probity
(pro-bih-tee)
synonyms: goodness, honor
Define:
proclivity
(pro-kliv-ih-tee)
n. a natural inclination
Her proclivity for laziness is going to be a problem when we begin the new project.
Define:
prodigal
(prod-ih-guhl)
adj. lavishly wasteful
adj. being generous or giving abundantly
n. one who spends recklessly
The woman ended up regretting her prodigal lifestyle when she went bankrupt after a few years.
Define:
pugnacious
(pug-nehy-shuss)
adj. combative in nature
The pugnacious young man was eventually suspended for constantly fighting with other students.
Define:
quandary
(kwon-duh-ree)
n. a state of uncertainty, a dilemma
After receiving several great offers, I was in a quandary as to which I should accept.
Define:
quash
(kwash)
v. to forcibly suppress
v. to extinguish
The prosecution's star witness quashed any chance the defense had of winning the trial.
Define:
quibble
(kwib-ul)
v. to evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial objections
n. a trivial objection
The argument grew even more aggravating when my opponent began to quibble with me over semantics.
Define:
quiescent
(kwee-ess-unt)
adj. being quiet or still
The outlying region, usually a quiescent outpost of the empire, was the unlikely origin of the rebellion that would unseat the emperor.
Define:
rancor
(rang-kur)
n. a feeling of deep and bitter anger
Once the game ended there was no rancor between the opponents, despite the intensity of their match.
Define:
recalcitrant
(rih-kal-sih-trunt)
adj. stubborn and defiant of authority
Instead of obeying the police's instructions, the protesters became recalcitrant and refused to move.
Define:
recess
(ree-sess)
v. to suspend proceedings
n. a break from class or business
n. an indented or hollowed-out space
The legislative body will recess next week.
Define:
redoubtable
(rih-dow-tuh-bull)
adj. fearsome or awe-inspiring
I knew Mauricio would be a redoubtable opponent after hearing my own coach sing his praises.
Define:
sagacious
(suh-gehy-shuss)
adj. very insightful or shrewd
My best friend is quite sagacious, so I know I can always turn to her for wise advice.
Define:
salubrious
(suh-loo-bree-uss)
adj. healthy or health-promoting
My new exercise routine has had a salubrious impact on my life.
Define:
salutary
(sal-yuh-tare-ee)
adj. beneficial, esp. relating to health
Anti-pollution laws have salutary effects for humans and animals.
Define:
satiate
(sehy-she-ehyt)
v. to fill to satisfaction
Sasha knew that the small portions served in the cafeteria would not satiate him.
Define:
scruple
(skrew-pull)
n. an ethical or moral concern
v. to hesitate on moral grounds
The man scrupled to tell a blatant lie, but eventually realized that he had no choice.
Define:
sedentary
(sed-en-tair-ee)
adj. sitting or seated
adj. tending to stay in the same place
Ming wanted to quit his sedentary job at the library and become a police officer.
Define:
sediment
(sed-ih-munt)
n. matter deposited by some natural process
n. settled matter at the bottom of a liquid
Kate refused to drink the water from the well when she noticed the sediment at the bottom of the bucket.
Define:
sordid
(sore-did)
adj. dirty or rundown
adj. immoral or unethical
During the divorce trial, the husband was asked to reveal the sordid details of his affair.
Define:
specious
(spee-shuss)
adj. plausible but false
adj. deceptively pleasing
After doing some research of my own, I realized that his argument was specious at best.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a natural inclination
proclivity
(pro-kliv-ih-tee)
synonyms: tendency, disposition, leaning
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. lavishly wasteful
adj. being generous or giving abundantly
adj. one who spends recklessly
prodigal
(prod-ih-guhl)
synonyms: excessive, luxurious, copious
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. combative in nature
pugnacious
(pug-nehy-shuss)
synonyms: hostile, belligerent
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a state of uncertainty, a dilemma
quandary
(kwon-duh-ree)
synonyms: dilemma, predicament
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to forcibly suppress
v. to extinguish
quash
(kwash)
synonyms: defeat, destroy, squash
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial objections
n. a trivial objection
quibble
(kwib-ul)
synonyms: split hairs; trifle, detail
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. being quiet or still
quiescent
(kwee-ess-unt)
synonyms: inactive, motionless, inert
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a feeling of deep and bitter anger
rancor
(rang-kur)
synonyms: antagonism, hatred
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. stubborn and defiant of authority
recalcitrant
(rih-kal-sih-trunt)
synonyms: disobedient, resistant, rebellious
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to suspend proceedings
n. a break from class or business
n. an indented or hollowed-out space
recess
(ree-sess)
synonyms: halt; breather; nook
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. fearsome or awe-inspiring
redoubtable
(rih-dow-tuh-bull)
synonyms: dreadful, admirable, worthy
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. very insightful or shrewd
sagacious
(suh-gehy-shuss)
synonyms: smart, acute, sensible
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. healthy or health-promoting
salubrious
(suh-loo-bree-uss)
synonyms: beneficial, good, hygienic
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. beneficial, esp. relating to health
salutary
(sal-yuh-tare-ee)
synonyms: aiding, restorative
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to fill to satisfaction
satiate
(sehy-she-ehyt)
synonyms: satisfy, stuff, gratify
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. an ethical or moral concern
v. to hesitate on moral grounds
scruple
(skrew-pull)
synonyms: conscience, qualm; to balk at
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sitting or seated
adj. tending to stay in the same place
sedentary
(sed-en-tair-ee)
synonyms: desk-bound, motionless, stationary
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. matter deposited by some natural process
n. settled matter at the bottom of a liquid
sediment
(sed-ih-munt)
synonyms: debris, deposit
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. dirty or rundown
adj. immoral or unethical
sordid
(sore-did)
synonyms: nasty, vile; corrupt
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. plausible but false
adj. deceptively pleasing
specious
(spee-shuss)
synonyms: misleading, deceptive, apparent
Define:
sporadic
(spuh-rad-ik)
adj. occurring occasionally and without pattern
Our vacation plans were ruined by sporadic rain that seemed to start every time we headed towards the beach.
Define:
spurious
(spure-ee-us)
adj. intending to deceive
adj. not valid or genuine
The tabloid writers made up spurious accusations against the young actor.
Define:
squalor
(skwol-er)
n. filth; poverty
The town's poorest inhabitants live in squalor due to their inability to access clean water.
Define:
stark
(stark)
adj. complete or extreme
adj. very simple
adj. bare or blunt
The expensive car that he parked outside stood in stark contrast to the impoverished neighborhood surrounding it.
Define:
stoic
(stow-ick)
adj. indifferent to pleasure or pain
n. one who is indifferent to pleasure or pain
The defendant remained stoic throughout the trial despite the harshness of the prosecution's questions.
Define:
stratum
(strat-um)
n. a horizontal layer of material
n. a level of society composed of people with similar social, cultural, or economic status
Friction between two social strata can often lead to political upheaval.
Define:
stria
(strahy-uh)
n. a linear mark, ridge, or groove, esp. one of a number of similar parallel features
We examined the striae on the rocks to see if they were really from the same underground cave.
Define:
strident
(strahyd-unt)
adj. unpleasantly loud and harsh
Her strident voice made me dread our weekly phone conversations.
Define:
stringent
(strin-djunt)
adj. strictly controlled or enforced
Since accidents on roller coasters can often be fatal, amusement parks must undergo stringent testing before being opened to the public.
Define:
stymie
(stahy-mee)
n. a situation that defies progress or resolution
v. to prevent or hinder the progress of something
The guard dogs managed to stymie the thief as he tried to break into the house.
Define:
succinct
(suck-singkt)
adj. brief
Since there were only a few minutes left in the meeting, the final speaker had to keep his comments succinct and to the point.
Define:
transient
(tran-zee-uhnt)
adj. not permanent
adj. moving from place to place
n. one who moves from place to place
The transient relied on the kindness of strangers whenever he arrived in a new town.
Define:
trepidation
(trep-ih-dehy-shun)
n. a feeling of fear or agitation
Janice had to face her trepidation about flying in order to make the trip to California.
Define:
turbid
(tur-bid)
adj. clouded due to sediment
adj. confused
I dropped my phone in the lake and couldn't find it in the turbid water.
Define:
ubiquitous
(you-bick-wih-tuss)
adj. present everywhere
In her neighborhood, Starbucks shops had become ubiquitous; she couldn't walk two blocks without passing one.
Define:
unfeigned
(un-feynd)
adj. sincerely felt or expressed
Although it seemed a ridiculous concern to us, Joyce's preoccupation with her little sister's sprained ankle was unfeigned.
Define:
unimpeachable
(un-im-pee-chuh-bull)
adj. beyond doubt or suspicion
To win the case, the defense would need an unimpeachable witness to prove their client's virtuous character.
Define:
untenable
(un-ten-ih-bull)
adj. impossible to maintain or defend, as of an opinion
Kate is argumentative enough to support even the most untenable positions.
Define:
vacillate
(vass-ih-lehyt)
v. to waver between conflicting positions
Both sides made such convincing arguments that the judge vacillated between them for days before coming to a decision.
Define:
vacuous
(vak-yoo-us)
adj. devoid of significance or matter; empty
adj. lacking serious purpose or occupation
I told him pointedly to stop wasting my time with his vacuous comments.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. occurring occasionally and without pattern
sporadic
(spuh-rad-ik)
synonyms: random, scattered, seldom
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. intending to deceive
adj. not valid or genuine
spurious
(spure-ee-us)
synonyms: deceitful, false, inaccurate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. filth; poverty
squalor
(skwol-er)
synonyms: dirtiness, destitution
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. complete or extreme
adj. very simple
adj. bare or blunt
stark
(stark)
synonyms: absolute, utter; austere; barren
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. indifferent to pleasure or pain
n. one who is indifferent to pleasure or pain
stoic
(stow-ick)
synonyms: apathetic, detached
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a horizontal layer of material
n. a level of society composed of people with similar social, cultural, or economic status
stratum
(strat-um)
synonyms: layer, gradation
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a linear mark, ridge, or groove, esp. one of a number of similar parallel features
stria
(strahy-uh)
synonyms: banding, groove, stripe
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. unpleasantly loud and harsh
strident
(strahyd-unt)
synonyms: grating, shrill
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. strictly controlled or enforced
stringent
(strin-djunt)
synonyms: binding, strict
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a situation that defies progress or resolution
v. to prevent or hinder the progress of something
stymie
(stahy-mee)
synonyms: confound, impede
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. brief
succinct
(suck-singkt)
synonyms: blunt, compact, brief
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. not permanent
adj. moving from place to place
n. one who moves from place to place
transient
(tran-zee-uhnt)
synonyms: passing, fleeting, ephemeral
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a feeling of fear or agitation
trepidation
(trep-ih-dehy-shun)
synonyms: anxiety, worry
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. clouded due to sediment
adj. confused
turbid
(tur-bid)
synonyms: cloudy, muddled, sedimentary
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. present everywhere
ubiquitous
(you-bick-wih-tuss)
synonyms: everywhere, omnipresent
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sincerely felt or expressed
unfeigned
(un-feynd)
synonyms: genuine, heartfelt
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. beyond doubt or suspicion
unimpeachable
(un-im-pee-chuh-bull)
synonyms: blameless, spotless, immaculate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. impossible to maintain or defend, as of an opinion
untenable
(un-ten-ih-bull)
synonyms: inexcusable, faulty
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to waver between conflicting positions
vacillate
(vass-ih-lehyt)
synonyms: fluctuate, hesitate, to be unsure
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. devoid of significance or matter; empty
adj. lacking serious purpose or occupation
vacuous
(vak-yoo-us)
synonyms: lacking, vacant
Define:
vociferous
(voe-siff-er-uss)
adj. loud and insistent, esp. to compel attention
The vociferous mob gathered outside the store and awakened its owner.
Define:
wanderlust
(wawn-der-lust)
n. the desire to travel
A sudden feeling of wanderlust encouraged me to pack my bags and head to Mexico.
Define:
wheedle
(weed-ul)
v. to coax or persuade
Eventually the ice-cream truck driver was wheedled into giving the sullen child a free scoop.
Define:
volatile
(voll-ih-tull)
adj. likely to change suddenly
adj. liable to lead to violence
adj. evaporating easily
The situation in the war-torn country soon became too volatile for most reporters and travelers to stay there safely.
Define:
zenith
(zee-nith)
n. the highest point or peak
n. the point directly above one's head
Climbing to the zenith of the mountain will be difficult, but it has been a dream of mine since childhood.
Define:
abjure
(ab-djoor)
v. to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant or avoid
The monks had to abjure all indulgences.
Define:
condign
(kon-dahyn)
adj. deserved, adequate
Though I believe I am compassionate, I will not hesitate to mete out a condign punishment to wrongdoers.
Define:
debonair
(deb-uh-nair)
adj. suave, urbane, affable, genial, charming,stylish
The ladies were all drawn to the debonair newcomer.
Define:
inveigle
(in-vey-guhl)
v. to obtain by deception or flattery
He inveigled the information from the president's wife.
Define:
philistine
(fil-uh-steen)
adj. barbaric; lacking culture
n. an individual guided by commonplace, rather than artistic or intellectual, values
Why, the philistine even declared that he hated the theater!
Define:
suffuse
(suh-fyooz)
v. to spread through or over something, as with liquid, color, or light
The sky was suffused with deep colors.
Define:
mettlesome
(met-uhl-sum)
adj. courageous, high-spirited
The mettlesome police officer saved the hostage.
Define:
compunction
(kuhm-punk-shun)
n. hesitation or unease at committing (or having committed) an act
A hardened criminal usually has no compunction about hurting bystanders in order to evade the police.
Define:
contravene
(kon-truh-veen)
v. to violate, or to conflict with a rule or principle
Until recently, Americans could not visit that country without contravening federal law.
Define:
limn
(lim)
v. to draw; to describe; to depict
Here, the philosopher limns a basic theory of just governance.
Define:
obloquy
(ob-luh-kwee)
n. abusive language; damage to one's reputation; disgrace
The president earned obloquy for his tax hikes.
Define:
abate
(uh-behyt)
v. to decrease in intensity
The ferocity of the fighting has started to abate, though the civilian population is still in great danger.
Define:
abdicate
(ab-dih-kate)
v. to willingly let go of; to relinquish
The king abdicated the throne rather than expose his nation to a potentially crippling civil war.
Define:
aberrant
(ab-buh-runt)
adj. abnormal, deviating from the norm
The aberrant accounting numbers led officials to conclude that a crime had been committed.
Define:
abrade
(uh-brehyd)
v. to erode or rub away
The statue's hand was abraded from all of the tourists rubbing it for luck.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. loud and insistent, esp. to compel attention
vociferous
(voe-siff-er-uss)
synonyms: clamorous, noisy, distracting
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the desire to travel
wanderlust
(wawn-der-lust)
synonyms: journey, wayfaring, excursion
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to coax or persuade
wheedle
(weed-ul)
synonyms: to influence through flattery, to entice
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. likely to change suddenly
adj. liable to lead to violence
adj. evaporating easily
volatile
(voll-ih-tull)
synonyms: explosive, changeable, inconsistent; vaporizable
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the highest point or peak
n. the point directly above one's head
zenith
(zee-nith)
synonyms: acme, summit, pinnacle
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to renounce or reject solemnly; to recant or avoid
abjure
(ab-joor)
synonyms: forswear, abandon
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. deserved, adequate
condign
(kon-dahyn)
synonyms: appropriate, proper, fair
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. suave, urbane, affable, genial, charming
debonair
(deb-uh-nair)
synonyms: refined, well-bred, sophisticated
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to obtain by deception or flattery
inveigle
(in-vey-guhl)
synonyms: manipulate, cajole, ensnare
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. barbaric; lacking culture
n. an individual guided by commonplace, rather than artistic or intellectual, values
philistine
(fil-uh-steen)
synonyms: coarse, crass; barbarian, boor
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to spread through or over something, as with liquid, color, or light
suffuse
(suh-fyooz)
synonyms: bathe, cover, saturate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. courageous, high-spirited
mettlesome
(met-uhl-sum)
synonyms: plucky, spirited, valiant
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. hesitation or unease at committing (or having committed) an act
compunction
(kuhm-punk-shun)
synonyms: regret, sorrow, qualm
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to violate, or to conflict with a rule or principle
contravene
(kon-truh-veen)
synonyms: breach, break, defy
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to draw; to describe; to depict
limn
(lim)
synonyms: characterize, chart
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. abusive language; damage to one's reputation; disgrace
obloquy
(ob-luh-kwee)
synonyms: defamation, slander, disgrace
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to decrease in intensity
abate
(uh-behyt)
synonyms: lessen, moderate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to willingly let go of; to relinquish
abdicate
(ab-dih-kate)
synonyms: abandon, leave
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. abnormal, deviating from the norm
aberrant
(ab-buh-runt)
synonyms: atypical, bizarre
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to erode or rub away
abrade
(uh-brehyd)
synonyms: rub, chafe, wear down
Define:
abridge
(uh-bridge)
v. to condense; to shorten
The author threw a fit when his editor suggested that he abridge his novel in order to make it more accessible.
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abscond
(ab-skond)
v. to run away secretly and hide
The guilty man absconded during the night and was never heard from again.
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abstruse
(ab-strewss)
adj. difficult to comprehend
That film has been praised as a visionary masterpiece, but I found it more abstruse than enlightening.
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accolade
(ack-uh-lehyd)
n. recognition for an accomplishment
Cindy received accolades in the media for her breathtaking performance.
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acerbic
(uh-sir-bick)
adj. sour or bitter tasting, or of a bitter temperament
My friends' acerbic reaction to bringing my boyfriend to the game led me to believe that they didn't care much for him.
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acumen
(ack-cue-men)
n. insightfulness
Kofi was known for his acumen in literary analysis.
Define:
adhesion
(ad-hee-zhun)
n. the state of being physically attached
n. the state of belonging to an organization
Adhesion to the regional economic union became a popular cause among the elites of the recession-weary nation.
Define:
admonish
(ad-mon-ish)
v. to warn, to gently reprimand
The pilot admonished the passengers to remain seated during take off.
Define:
adroit
(ad-royt)
adj. skillful, competent
The boy scout was an adroit survivalist and so managed to cling to life until a rescue team arrived.
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adulate
(adge-uh-lehyt)
v. to give excessive praise
Rather than adulate his superiors, Moncef preferred to show his regard by emulating them.
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affable
(aff-uh-buhl)
adj. gentle, friendly, or of a kind nature
Stacy was an affable acquaintance to many but a real friend to few.
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affluent
(aff-loo-uhnt)
adj. wealthy
Membership in the private club was only open to affluent members of society.
Define:
aggrandize
(uh-gran-dahyz)
v. to exaggerate; to increase the scope of or to make greater
Luke had aggrandized his credentials so much that he was fired on the spot when it was discovered that he was just a novice.
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affront
(uh-front)
n. an offensive act or statement
v. to insult openly
Lucia's ingratitude was an affront to all of us who had supported her.
Define:
agrarian
(uh-grair-ee-uhn)
adj. pertaining to farming or land matters
The farmer switched from his habitual agrarian routine to that of a high-powered business CEO in just a few years.
Define:
alacrity
(uh-lack-ruh-tee)
n. enthusiasm; speed
Children approach their homework with more alacrity if they know that a reward awaits them when they finish.
Define:
vug
(vuhg)
n. a small cavity in a rock
She hid her trinkets in the vug for safekeeping.
Define:
petrous
(pet-ruhss)
adj. rock-hard; stony
The skull of the fetus has not yet become petrous; in fact, it is still translucent to x-rays at this stage.
Define:
tautology
(tawt-aw-luh-djee)
n. a statement that is trivially true; unnecessary repetition
It is no help to anybody when you spout tautologies like "Whatever will be will be".
Define:
gambol
(gam-buhl)
v. to skip playfully, to frolic
The youngsters went gamboling through the fields.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to condense; to shorten
abridge
(uh-bridge)
synonyms: reduce, refine, abbreviate
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to run away secretly and hide
abscond
(ab-skond)
synonyms: depart, escape, flee
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. difficult to comprehend
abstruse
(ab-strewss)
synonyms: abstract, enigmatic, incomprehensible
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. recognition for an accomplishment
accolade
(ack-uh-leyhd)
synonyms: acclaim, kudos
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. sour or bitter tasting or with bitter temperament
acerbic
(uh-sir-bick)
synonyms: acrid, caustic
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. insightfulness
acumen
(ack-cue-men)
synonyms: acuteness, intelligence
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. the state of being physically attached
n. the state of belonging to an organization
adhesion
(ad-hee-zhun)
synonyms: adherence, membership
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to warn, to gently reprimand
admonish
(ad-mon-ish)
synonyms: check, counsel, scold, notice
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. skillful, competent
adroit
(ad-royt)
synonyms: adept, apt, expert
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to give excessive praise
adulate
(adge-uh-lehyt)
synonyms: fawn, acclaim, laud
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. gentle, friendly, or of a kind nature
affable
(aff-uh-buhl)
synonyms: cordial, pleasant, friendly
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. wealthy
affluent
(aff-loo-uhnt)
synonyms: rich, prosperous
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to exaggerate; to increase the scope of
aggrandize
(uh-gran-dahyz)
synonyms: enlarge, glorify, augment
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. an offensive act or statement
v. to insult openly
affront
(uh-front)
synonyms: criticize, antagonize
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. pertaining to farming or land matters
agrarian
(uh-grair-ee-un)
synonyms: agricultural, country
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. enthusiasm; speed
alacrity
(uh-lack-rih-tee)
synonyms: liveliness, fervor
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a small cavity in a rock
vug
(vuhg)
synonyms: cavity, depression
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
adj. rock-hard; stony
petrous
(pet-ruhss)
synonyms: rugged, rocky, petrified
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. a statement that is trivially true; unnecessary repetition
tautology
(tawt-aw-luh-djee)
synonyms: equivalence, redundancy
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to skip playfully, to frolic
gambol
(gam-buhl)
synonyms: cavort, skip, rollick