2019 Words Flashcards
incredulity
noun
the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something.
“he stared down the street in incredulity”
synonyms:disbelief,incredulousness,lack of belief,
Lugubrious
adjective
looking or sounding sad and dismal.
“his face looked even more lugubrious than usual”
synonyms:mournful,gloomy,sad,unhappy,
titillation
noun
the arousal of interest or excitement, especially through sexually suggestive images or words.
syndication
noun
agroupofindividualsororganizationscombinedormakingajointefforttoundertakesomespecificdutyorcarryoutspecifictransactionsornegotiations:Thelocalfurniturestoreisindividuallyowned,butispartof abuyingsyndicate.
rhetoric
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the exploitation of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
“he is using a common figure of rhetoric, hyperbole”
synonyms:oratory,eloquence,power of speech,command of language,expression,way with words,delivery,diction
“he was considered to excel in this form of rhetoric”
imperceptibly
adverb
in a way that is so slight, gradual, or subtle as not to be perceived.
“the corners of her mouth rose almost imperceptibly”
im·per·cep·ti·ble
adjective
impossible to perceive.
“his head moved in an almost imperceptible nod”
synonyms:unnoticeable,undetectable,indistinguishable,indiscernible,unapparent,
em·blem·at·ic
adjective
serving as a symbol of a particular quality or concept; symbolic.
“this case isemblematic ofa larger problem”
synonyms:symbolic,representative,demonstrative,
quin·tes·sen·tial / quin·tes·sence
adjective
representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
“he was the quintessential tough guy—strong, silent, and self-contained”
synonyms:typical,prototypical,stereotypical,archetypal,classic,
noun
the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
om·nis·cient
adjective
adjective:omniscient
knowing everything.
“the story is told by an omniscient narrator”
jin·go·ism
noun
extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy.
“the popular jingoism that swept the lower–middle classes”
synonyms:extreme patriotism,blind patriotism,
vo·cif·er·ous·ly
adverb
in a loud and forceful manner.
“the country vociferously opposed the war”
crying out noisily
ca·pri·cious
adjective
adjective
subject to, led by, or indicative of a sudden, odd notion or unpredictable change; erratic:
He’s such a capricious boss I never know how he’ll react.
2 Obsolete . fanciful or witty.
trans·mog·ri·fy
verb
HUMOROUS
transform in a surprising or magical manner.
“the cucumbers that were ultimately transmogrified into pickles”
ped·a·gog·i·cal
adjective
relating to teaching.
“innovative pedagogical methods”
pros·e·lyt·ize
verb
convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another.
“the program did have a tremendous evangelical effect, proselytizing many”
synonyms:evangelize,convert,seek/make converts,bring to God/Christ,bring into the fold,
dis·sem·i·na·tion
noun
noun: dissemination; plural noun: disseminations
the action or fact of spreading something, especially information, widely.
“the dissemination of public information”
synonyms: spreading, circulation, distribution
pi·ous
adjective
devoutly religious.
synonyms: religious, devout, devoted, dedicated, reverent, God-fearing, churchgoing, spiritual,
pur·ports
verb
3rd person present: purports
falsely claim
appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely; profess.
“she is not the person she purports to be”
synonyms: claim, lay claim, profess, pretend
prog·nos·ti·ca·tion
noun
the action of foretelling or prophesying future events.
“an unprecedented amount of soul-searching and prognostication”
a prophecy.
plural noun: prognostications
in·ces·sant
adjective
(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing without pause or interruption.
“the incessant beat of the music”
synonyms: ceaseless, unceasing, constant, continual, unabating, interminable, endless, unending, never-ending, everlasting, eternal
pri·mor·di·al
adjective
existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval.
“the primordial oceans”
synonyms: ancient, earliest, first, prehistoric, antediluvian, antique, primeval, primitive, primal; More
(especially of a state or quality) basic and fundamental.
“the primordial needs of the masses”
for·tu·i·tous·ly
adverb
adverb: fortuitously
by chance rather than intention.
“he fortuitously ended up in Detroit when his car broke down”
by a lucky chance; fortunately.
“my arrival appears to be fortuitously timed”
ses·qui·pe·da·li·an
Definition of sesquipedalian 1 : having many syllables : LONG sesquipedalian terms 2 : given to or characterized by the use of long words a sesquipedalian television commentator
pro·di·gious
adjective
1.
remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree.
“the stove consumed a prodigious amount of fuel”
synonyms: enormous, huge, colossal, immense, vast, great, massive, gigantic, mammoth, tremendous, considerable, substantial, large, sizeable, inordinate, monumental, mighty, gargantuan; More
pir·ou·ette
verb
gerund or present participle: pirouetting
perform a pirouette.
“she pirouetted and made a bow”
synonyms: spin round, twirl, whirl, turn round, gyrate, revolve, pivot
“she pirouetted before the wardrobe mirror”
e·lic·it
verb
past tense: elicited; past participle: elicited
evoke or draw out (a response, answer, or fact) from someone in reaction to one’s own actions or questions.
“they invariably elicit exclamations of approval from guests”
synonyms: obtain, bring out, draw out, extract, evoke, bring about, bring forth, induce, excite, give rise to, call forth, prompt, generate, engender, spark off, trigger, kindle
mo·dus op·e·ran·di
noun
a particular way or method of doing something, especially one that is characteristic or well-established.
“the volunteers were instructed to buy specific systems using our usual modus operandi—anonymously and with cash”
synonyms: method of working, method, way, MO, manner, technique
in·ces·sant
adjective
(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing without pause or interruption.
“the incessant beat of the music”
synonyms: ceaseless, unceasing, constant, continual, unabating, interminable, endless, unending
at·tri·tion
noun
1. the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure.
“the council is trying to wear down the opposition by attrition”
synonyms: wearing down, wearing away, weakening, debilitation, enfeebling, sapping,
fas·tid·i·ous
adjective
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
“he chooses his words with fastidious care”
synonyms:scrupulous,punctilious,painstaking,
austerity
noun
sternness or severity of manner or attitude.
“he was noted for his austerity and his authoritarianism”
cog·ni·zance
noun
1.
FORMAL
knowledge, awareness, or notice.
“he was deputed to bring the affair to the cognizance of the board”
synonyms: awareness, notice, knowledge, consciousness, apprehension, perception, realization, recognition, appreciation
“he brought the affair to the cognizance of the court”
2.
HERALDRY
a distinctive device or mark, especially an emblem or badge formerly worn by retainers of a noble house.
ad·vent
noun
the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.
“the advent of television”
synonyms: arrival, appearance, emergence, materialization, surfacing, occurrence, dawn, origin, birth, rise, development; More
vo·ra·cious
adjective
wanting or devouring great quantities of food.
“he had a voracious appetite”
synonyms:insatiable,unquenchable,unappeasable,prodigious,uncontrollable,uncontrolled,omnivorous,compulsive,gluttonous,greedy,rapacious;More
having a very eager approach to an activity.
“his voracious reading of literature”
incalcitrant
Adjective:
Stubbornlyresistanttoauthorityorcontrol
-fractious,refractory,recalcitrant
Markedbystubbornresistancetoauthority
“the Universitysuspendedthe most incalcitrantdemonstrators”;
-recalcitrant
con·tri·tion
noun
the state of feeling remorseful and penitent.
synonyms:remorse,remorsefulness,repentance,penitence,sorrow,sorrowfulness,regret,contriteness,ruefulness,pangs of conscience,prickings of conscience;More
(in the Roman Catholic Church) the repentance of past sins during or after confession.
a·kin
adjective
of similar character.
“somethingakin togratitude overwhelmed her”
synonyms:similar,related,close,near,corresponding,comparable,parallel,equivalent;More
related by blood.
flip·pant
adjective
not showing a serious or respectful attitude.
“a flippant remark”
synonyms:frivolous,superficial,shallow,glib,thoughtless,carefree,irresponsible
im·plic·it
adjective
1.
implied though not plainly expressed.
“comments seen as implicit criticism of the policies”
synonyms:implied,indirect,inferred,understood,hinted,suggested,deducible;More
2.
essentially or very closely connected with; always to be found in.
“the values implicit in the school ethos”
pro·lif·er·a·tion
noun
noun:proliferation
rapid increase in numbers.
“a continuing threat of nuclear proliferation”
rapid reproduction of a cell, part, or organism.
“we attempted to measure cell proliferation”
synonyms:rapid increase,growth,multiplication,spread,escalation,expansion,buildup,buildout,burgeoning,snowballing,mushrooming
“the proliferation of missiles and missile technology”
antonyms:decrease
a large number of something.
pro·cliv·i·ty
noun
a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing.
“aproclivity forhard work”
synonyms:liking,inclination,tendency,leaning,disposition,propensity,bent,bias,penchant,predisposition,predilection,partiality,preference,taste,fondness,weakness,proneness;
rarevelleity
“his sexual proclivities are none of your business”
sac·ro·sanct
adjective
(especially of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with.
“the individual’s right to work has been upheld as sacrosanct”
synonyms:sacred,hallowed,respected,inviolable,inviolate,unimpeachable,unchallengeable,invulnerable,untouchable,inalienable,set apart,protected,defended,secure,safe,unthreatened
“the rights of parents are sacrosanct for this government”
