180 Most Pop Vocab Flashcards
Pragmatic
Practical as opposed to idealistic
Anomaly
Deviation from what’s normal
Occlude
To stop up; to prevent the passage of
Cogent
Convincing and well-reasoned
Dilate
To make larger, expand
Fanatical
Acting excessively enthusiastic, filled with extreme, unquestioned devotion
Aggrandize
To increase in power, influence and reputation
Equivocate
To use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
Advocate
To speak in favor of
Bombastic
Pompous in speech and manner
Disparate
Fundamentally different; entirely unlike
Propriety
Correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
Satiate
To satisfy fully or overindulge
Ambiguous
Doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
Proliferate
To increase in number quickly
Paradox
A contradiction or dilemma
Diffident
Lacking self confidence
Attenuate
To reduce in force or degree; to weaken
Alleviate
To make more bearable
Euphemism
Use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
Vacillate
To sway physically; to be indecisive
Intransigent
Uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
Plethora
Excess
Plastic
Able to molded, altered or bent
Propriety
Correct behavior; obedience to rules and customs
Esoteric
Known or understood by only a few
Abstain
To choose not to do something
Garrulous
Tending to talk a lot
Austere
Severe or stern in appearance, undecorated
Sublime
Lofty or grand
Rarefy
To make thinner or sparser
Archaic
Ancient, old fashioned
Candid
Impartial and honest in speech
Stigma
A mark of shame or discredit
Lament
To express sorrow; to grieve
Amalgamate
To combine, to mix together
Elegy
A sorrowful poem or speech
Dilatory
Intended to delay
Dogmatic
Dictatorial in ones opinions
Precipitate
To throw violently or bring about abruptly; lacking deliberation
Perfidious
Willing to betray one’s trust
Naive
Lacking sophistication or experience
Transitory
Temporary, lasting a brief time
Capricious
Changing ones mind quickly and often
Chauvinist
Someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
Enigma
A puzzle; mystery
Deference
Respect, courtesy
Dogma
A firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
Malinger
To evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
Eclectic
Selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
Credulous
Too trusting; gullible
Efficacy
Effectiveness
Aesthetic
Concerning the appreciation of beauty
Arbitrate
To judge a dispute between two opposing parties
Vex
To annoy
Ostentation
Excessive showiness
Impetuous
Quick to act without thinking
Ephemeral
Lasting a short time
Waver
To fluctuate between choices
Paragon
Model of excellence or perfection
Imperturbable
Not capable of being disturbed
Philanthropy
Charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness
Malleable
Capable of being shaped
Corroborate
To provide supporting evidence
Gregarious
Outgoing, social
Anachronism
Something out of place in time
Desiccate
To dry out thoroughly
Fawn
To grovel
Iconoclast
One who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
Metaphor
A figure of speech comparing two different things; a symbol
Exacerbate
To make worse
Erratic
Wandering and unpredictable
Soporific
Causing sleep or lethargy
Zeal
Passion, excitement
Deride
To speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
Gullible
Easily deceived
Estimable
Admirable
Taciturn
Silent, not talkative
Abate
To reduce in amount, degree or severity
Explicit
Clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
Crescendo
Steadily increasing in volume or force
Enumerate
To count, list, or itemize
Chaos
Great disorder or confusion
Luminous
Bright, brilliant, glowing
Obviate
To prevent; to make unnecessary
Dilettante
Someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
Abscond
To leave secretly
Guile
Deceit or trickery
Obstinate
Stubborn, unyielding
Mitigate
To soften, to lessen
Loquacious
Talkative
Obdurate
Hardened to feeling, resistant to persuasion
Fervid
Intensely emotional; feverish
Antagonize
To annoy or provoke to anger
Perfunctory
Done in a routine way; indifferent
Convoluted
Intricate and complicated
Diatribe
An abusive, condemnatory speech
Articulate
Able to speak clearly and expressively
Impervious
Impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected
Abyss
An extremely deep hole
Stolid
Unemotional; lacking sensitivity
Eloquent
Persuasive and moving, especially in speech
Volatile
Easily aroused or changeable, lively or explosive
Ardor
Intense and passionate feeling
Prudence
Wisdom, caution, or restraint
Chicanery
Deception by means of craft or guile
Implacable
Unable to be calmed down or made peaceful
Exonerate
To clear of blame
Prevaricate
To lie or deviate from the truth
Analogous
Similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
Propitiate
To conciliate; to appease
Erudite
Learned, scholarly, bookish
Engender
To produce, cause or bring about
Venerate
To respect deeply
Onerous
Troublesome and oppressive, burdensome
Specious
Deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious
Cacophony
Harsh, jarring noise
Florid
Excessively decorated or embellished
Repudiate
To reject the validity of
Enervate
To reduce in strength
Laconic
Using few words
Dirge
A funeral hymn or mournful speech
Ameliorate
To make better; improve
Obsequious
Overly submissive and eager to please
Innocuous
Harmless
Discern
To perceive; to recognize
Permeate
To penetrate
Dissonance
A harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
Inimical
Hostile, unfriendly
Misanthrope
A person who dislikes others
Mollify
To calm or make less severe
Condone
To overlook, pardon, disregard
Dissemble
To prevent a false appearance; to disguise one’s real intentions or character
Eulogy
Speech in praise of someone
Pungent
Sharp and irritating to the senses
Torpor
Extreme mental and physical sluggishness
Veracity
Truthfulness; accuracy
Inchoate
Not fully formed, disorganized
Homogenous
Of a similar kind
Audacious
Fearless and daring
Foment
To arouse or incite
Exculpate
To clear from blame; prove innocent
Ingenuous
Showing innocence or childlike simplicity
Dupe
To deceive; a person who is easily deceived
Irascible
Easily made angry
Laud
To give praise, to glorify
Whimsical
Acting in a fanciful or capricious manner
Prodigal
Lavish, wasteful
Tacit
Done without using words
Antipathy
Extreme dislike
Assuage
To make something unpleasant less severe
Banal
Predictable, boring
Opprobrium
Public disgrace
Insipid
Lacking interest or flavor
Reticent
Silent, reserved
Pedant
Someone who shows off learning
Placate
To soothe or pacify
Castigate
To punish or criticize harshly
Monotony
Lack of variation
Rhetoric
Effective writing or speaking
Emulate
To copy; to try to equal or excel
Bolster
To support; to prop up
Exigent
Urgent; requiring immediate action
Catalyst
Something that brings about a change in something else
Tirade
Long, harsh speech or verbal attack
Frugality
A tendency to be thrifty or cheap
Verbose
Wordy
Meticulous
Extremely careful about details
Decorum
Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
Apathy
Lack of interest or emotion
Inundate
To overwhelm; to cover with water
Adulterate
To make impure
Quiescent
Motionless
Caustic
Biting in wit
Pristine
Fresh and clean, incorrupted
Desultory
Jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
Disabuse
To set right; to free from error