9/22 Flashcards
Moribund
At the point of death
Ascendant
Rising in power or influence
Syn: rising, upward dominant
In her ascent to CEO, she became pedantic and officious.
Sated
Satisfy (to the full), supplying with as much as can be managed
I always leave meals from the Ritz feeling sated.
Defunct
No longer existing or functioning
I thought the USTA was defunct when another organization took over the US Open
Inveigling
Persuade to do something my means of deception of flattery
Brooke tried to inveigle me into face painting by telling me I was the best babysitter and saying she wouldn’t try to paint on my skin.
Opine
Hold and state as ones opinion
“Marsha is a genius” Jeff opined. “Gibbs is a genius” Christina opined.
Needle
To goad, provoke, or tease.
Katie, don’t needle Christina, you know she is irascible,
Fulminate
Express vehement protest OR develop suddenly/severely
I often fulminate when democratic ideals come up. Her fever fulminated oven a matter of two hours.
Malinger
Avoid duties or responsibilities by pretending to be ill
It was clear that she was malingering when I took her soup and she was taking a dance lesson.
Entropy
Steady deterioration of a system/ society
Allowing gay marriage would lead to entropy of the family system in the US.
Cerebration
Thinking/working of the brain
Fretful
Feeling or expressing stress or irritation
All this studying for the GRE is making me fret, argh!
Penitent
Feeling or showing sorrow or regret for having done wrong, remorse
I was feeling penitent after stealing the breasts cancer pen.
Ecumenical
Worldwide or general in extent, universal influence or application
And Christian unity.
Gandhi’s effect is has an ecumenical, it is virtually the same on every continent.
Obviate
Remove, avoid, prevent
GPS systems have obviated the need for paper maps.
Sap
Foolish and gullible person
I can be such a sap sometimes and it really pisses me off!
Avow
Assert or confess openly
She is an avowed liar, but she claims she is working on it
Libelous
Lying in print for the purpose of damaging a reputation
Libelous comments trying to get others put in jail may actually land you in jail!
Recidivism
Relapse into crime
Opulence
Luxury, wealth by sumptuous living
Recrimination
An accusation in response to one from someone else
My sister is known for recriminations, she always attacks an accusation with an acerbic/acrimonious response.
Decrepitude
Condition of being weakened, worn out, or impaired (by age, illness, or hard use)
The house and its tenants were in a state of decrepitude, both because of hard use, the weather for the house, and marathons for the tenants.
Bluster
Loud, aggressive or indignant talk with little effect
Her blusters were typically ignored because of her mental health issues.
Mien
A persons look or manner, indicating their character or mood
Look, countenance
Her mien on the way to the airport was was an ominous sign of how the vacation would go.
Illiberality
Narrow minded, strictness, or lack of generosity
My parents are pretty illiberal with regards to living together prior to marriage.
Truculent
Fierce, cruel, savage, belligerent
Christina is truculent when she drinks!
Maelstrom
Turbulent situation, chaotic,violent whirlpool
Christina used to cause maelstrom when she came home and was on drugs.
Abhor
Detest, regard with disgust
Upbraid
To find fault with, criticize or scold severely
Jeff upbraids everybody and everything.
Aesthetic
Concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste
Affectation
Fake behavior adopted to give a certain impression (speech or dress)
Abjure
Give up, renounce; repudiate, recent or shun (especially formally)
She abjured her rights as an American so could become a citizen of the UK. Lance abjured claims of doping.
Aggrandize
Make greater; exaggerate
Admonish
Mildly scold, caution, advise or remind to do something
Aggregate
Gather together, amount to; constituting a whole made up of parts
Alienate
Cause to become unfriendly, hostile or distant
Anarchy
Absence of law or government; chaos, disorder
Apathy
Not caring, absence of feeling, lack of interest or concern
Indolent
Wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
Syn: idle, sluggish, slothful, supine
Putative
Generally considered or reputed to be, commonly regarded as such
Syn: supposed, presumptive, reputed
The putative boss of a the mob.
Apocryphal
Of questionable authenticity, false
Antagonize
Make hostile or unfriendly
Arduous
Very difficult, strenuous, severe, hard to endure
Ascetic
Abstinent or austere in lifestyle (without many natural pleasures)
The pope lives a very ascetic lifestyle.
Assuage
Make milder, relieve, soothe, pacify or calm
Audacious
Very bold or brave often in a rude or reckless way OR extremely original, highly inventive (an audacious vision of the future)
Capricious
Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Syn: fickle
Corroborate
Confirm or give support to
Syn: confirm, affirm, support, certify
Debunk
Exposé the falseness or hollowness of, reduce the
Inflated reputation
Vehement
Sowing strong feeling, forceful, passionate
Bogus
Not genuine
Obsolete
No longer produced or used, out of date, antiquated
Copius
Abundant in supply
Acerbic
Sharp and forthright OR sour, bitter
Scathing
Scornful, severely critical
Syn: sharp, caustic, acrimonious, acrid, pungent
Meticulous
Showing great attention to detail, very careful and precise
Syn: scrupulous, precise, punctilious
Diffidence
Modest or shy because of lack of self confidence
Syn: shy, timid, bashful, coy
Miserly
A mean grasping person, especially one who is very stingy with money
Disquieting
Inducing feelings of anxiety or worry
Endorse
Declare ones public approval of
Intrinsic
Belonging naturally; essential
Syn: internal, inward
Intractable
Hard to control or deal with, difficult, stubborn
Prolixity
Tediously prolonged, wordy
Impetuous
Acting or done quickly without thought or care, impulsive
OR
moving forcefully or rapidly
Pelludicidity
Translucently clear, lucid in style or meaning; easily understood
Syn: clear, limpid, lucid, bright
Banal
Lacking in originality, as to be obvious and boring
Peripheral
Concerned with minor, irrelevant, or superficial aspects
Ruminate
Think deeply about something
Syn: muse, ponder, reflect
Prosaic
Dull, commonplace, unromantic, pedestrian
Hackneyed
Lacking significane through having been overused
Syn: trite, banal, platitudinous
Placid
Not easily upset or excited; calm, peaceful, with little movement or activity
