126-250 Flashcards
1
Q
deference
A
yielding to an opinion, desire, or position to another out of respect
2
Q
salient
A
important, prominent, most noticeable
3
Q
unseemly
A
not decent or proper
4
Q
remorse
A
sadness or regret for what one has done
5
Q
mercenary
A
greedy; motivated by desire for money
6
Q
fetid
A
having a bad odor
7
Q
drab
A
dull or dreary; monotonous
8
Q
prodigal
A
exceedingly or recklessly wasteful
9
Q
patronize
A
to sponsor or support; to be kind or helpful in a snobbish way, as if dealing with an inferior
10
Q
plausible
A
appearing worthy of belief or trust
11
Q
allure
A
the power to attract with something desirable
12
Q
lenient
A
inclined not to be strict
13
Q
pertinent
A
relevant
14
Q
serene
A
calm and peaceful
15
Q
indubitable
A
certain; indisputable (literally “not doubtable)
16
Q
inaugurate
A
to formally bring into office at the beginning of a term
17
Q
covert
A
concealed or disguised; not openly practiced
18
Q
solace
A
comfort in time of distress
19
Q
insidious
A
subtly harmful; stealthy; sneaky
20
Q
atrophy
A
wasting away, esp. of body tissue
21
Q
altercation
A
a heated or noisy argument
22
Q
foment
A
to stir up negative feelings, esp. those that lead to violent action
23
Q
purloin
A
to steal, oft. in violation of a trust
24
Q
caesura
A
a break or pause
25
acquiesce
to agree without protest
26
conscientious
showing care and precision; painstaking
27
crass
dull-witted; unrefined
28
impart
to give a portion of; to make known
29
spendthrift
one who spends money wastefully
30
tabulate
to count
31
adroit
naturally skillful, esp. dealing with difficult circumstances
32
dexterous
skillful with the hands or mind
33
redolent
aromatic, fragrant, suggestive
34
foreboding
a sense of impending evil, esp. one without definite cause
35
denouement
conclusion; resolution; the falling action of a story after its climax
36
subsidy
monetary assistance
37
prevalent
dominant, widespread
38
incumbent
necessary or obligatory; n. a person who currently holds a particular position
39
mimic
to copy closely, esp. with intent to ridicule
40
beacon
a signaling light; a source of guidance or inspiration
41
supplant
to take the place of
42
scythe
a long-handled, bladed instrument used for harvesting crops
43
shard
a fragment of a brittle substance, e.g., glass or pottery; a small piece of something
44
wayward
stubbornly going against what is expected or required in order to satisfy one's own desires
45
effrontery
bold or insulting behavior
46
vagary
an erratic notion or action
47
agile
quick and easy in movement; mentally alert
48
glut
an oversupply
49
cursory
superficially done; performed rapidly
50
spurn
to push or drive away contemptuously with or as with the foot
51
comply
to yield or act in accordance with requests, conditions, etc.
52
peccadillo
a minor sin
53
incendiary
causing or capable of causing fire; stirring up trouble
54
impunity
exemption from punishment or harm
55
proficient
very skillful, esp. through training
56
precede
to go before
57
benefactor
one who helps and supports others
58
flout
to intentionally and obviously disobey
59
erode
to wear away slowly
60
spate
a large number or amount of something, esp. in a brief time
61
imbue
to inspire; to permeate; to fill with a mood or tone
62
credulous
tending to believe too easily
63
bravura
a showy display
64
omniscient
all-knowing
65
untenable
indefensible, or impossible to maintain
66
veneer
an attractive, ultimately misleading outward show; a thin layer
67
legible
capable of being read or deciphered
68
recount
to tell in detail
69
prevaricate
to speak or write evasively in order to avoid telling the truth
70
sedentary
sitting down most of the time
71
veracious
honest, truthful
72
venerate
to look upon with respect and honor
73
raconteur
one who tells stories with skill
74
leaning
a preference or inclination
75
premature
happening, done, arriving, or existing before the proper time
76
vicarious
felt as if one were taking part in the experiences of another
77
pique
to arouse (interest, curiosity, etc.); to irritate
78
abate
to lessen in amount, intensity, or strength
79
maternal
characteristic of a mother
80
decorum
polite behavior
81
pretentious
claiming dignity or importance, esp. when undeserved
82
unwieldy
hard to handle or manage, esp. because of size or weight
83
homely
unattractive, plain-looking
84
impromptu
without preparation
85
visceral
instinctive; relating to the internal organs
86
staccato
composed of abrupt, disconnect parts or sounds
87
rue
to regret
88
meritocracy
a system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement
89
inveigle
to obtain by flattery
90
behoove
to be necessary or proper for
91
austere
stern or severe in appearance; without luxury
92
inert
unable to move or respond; sluggish
93
mnemonic
pertaining to or assisting the memory
94
censor
to prevent from becoming known or circulated; an official editor of material
95
imposing
impressive by virtue of size, power, or manner
96
hectic
characterized by intense activity
97
sully
to dirty or tarnish, esp. by disgracing
98
insipid
uninteresting; having no flavor
99
anachronism
something not belonging to a certain time period
100
malady
a disease; illness; sickness
101
antithesis
direct contrast; opposition
102
camaraderie
loyalty; a warm, friendly feeling among members of a group
103
undermine
to weaken
104
figurative
based on figure of speech, not literal
105
exact
to demand and obtain by force or authority
106
terminate
to end
107
apex
the highest point
108
inclement
harsh; severe (usually of weather)
109
vehement
forceful; furious
110
rotund
rounded in figure; plump
111
attest
to give evidence that something is true or genuine
112
eddy
a current, as or water or air, moving contrary to the direction of the main current, esp. in a circular motion
113
hamper
to keep from moving or acting freely
114
momentous
of extreme importance
115
ramification
a development or consequence resulting from a course of action
116
antediluvian
very old, outdated
117
precarious
dangerously insecure or unstable
118
jar
to make a harsh sound; to shake by sudden impact
119
subjugate
to bring under control; to conquer
120
diligent
painstaking and steady
121
coalesce
to grow together; to merge into a single body
122
draconian
extremely harsh and severe
123
burnish
to polish
124
vernacular
informal speech; native language
125
redundant
repeating unnecessarily
