4/26 Vocab

Question 1

attenuate

Answer 1

reduce, weaken force/effect/value of

“The Bill of Rights ATTENUATED the traditional power of governments to change laws at will.”

Question 2

banal

Answer 2

predictable, cliched, boring

“He used BANAL phrases like ‘Have a nice day’, or ‘Another day, another dollar.’”

Question 3

dilettante

Answer 3

amateur, dabbler (w/ superficial interest)

“Jerry’s friends were such DILETTANTES that they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week.”

Question 4

guile

Answer 4

deceit, trickery, sly, cunning
“Since he was not fast enough to catch the roadrunner on foot, the coyote resorted to GUILE in an effort to trap his enemy.”

Question 5

impervious

Answer 5

impenetrable, impermeable, resistant

“A good raincoat will be IMPERVIOUS to moisture.”

Question 6

misanthrope

Answer 6

hater of mankind, cynic
“The character of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol is such a MISANTHROPE that even the sight of children singing makes him angry.”

Question 7

paragon

Answer 7

model of excellence/perfection

“She is the PARAGON of what a judge should be: honest, intelligent, hardworking, and just.”

Question 8

specious

Answer 8

deceptively attractive; superficially plausible (but wrong)
“The student’s SPECIOUS excuse for being late sounded legitimate but was proved otherwise when her teacher called her home.”

Question 9

venerate

Answer 9

respect deeply, revere

“In a traditional Confucian society, the young VENERATE their elders, deferring to the elders’ wisdom and experience.”

Question 10

sublime

Answer 10

lofty, grand

“The music was so SUBLIME that it transformed the rude surroundings into a special place.”

Question 11

prudence

Answer 11

wisdom, caution, restraint
“The college student exhibited PRUDENCE by obtaining practical experience along with her studies, which greatly strengthened her resume.”

Question 12

repudiate

Answer 12

reject, renounce, disown, abandon
“The old woman’s claim that she was Russian royalty was REPUDIATED when DNA tests showed she was of no relation to them.”

Question 13

malinger

Answer 13

fake illness (to evade responsibility)
"A common way to avoid the draft was by MALINGERING - pretending to be mentally or physically ill so as to avoid being taken by the Army."

Question 14

irascible

Answer 14

irritable, quick-tempered, testy

“Attila the Hun’s IRASCIBLE and violent nature made all who dealt with him fear for their lives.”

Question 15

opprobrium

Answer 15

public disgrace, condemnation, vilification, vituperation, criticism, defamation, derogation
“After the scheme to embezzle the elderly was made public, the treasurer resigned in utter OPPROBRIUM.”