Adj. Section 5 Flashcards
sketchy
like a sketch; not thorough or detailed; imperfect, incomplete, slight, or superficial
sketchy information, reports
Some suspected that the models used to justify the flight ban were based on sketchy data and incomplete science.
sluggish
slow-moving or inactive; indisposed to action or exertion; lacking in energy; lazy; indolent
sluggish traffic; a sluggish economy; the sluggish black water of the canal; he felt very heavy and sluggish after the meal; the growth of the export market has helped to compensate for sluggish demand at home
smug
contentedly confident of one’s ability, superiority, or correctness; complacent
a smug expression, face, smile
She deserved her promotion, but I wish she was not so damned smug about it.
“Too much good fortune can make you smug and unaware,” thought Rachel Field, the children’s author. What she means is that successes are appreciated much more when they don’t come so often that you begin to feel entitled to them.
solvent
As an adjective, solvent describes someone who’s got cash on hand; able to pay one’s debts
As a noun, solvent is either a certain kind of chemical or an idea that solves a problem; having the power of dissolving
Many insurance companies are under pressure to increase premiums to stay solvent.
As for Social Security, its massive retirement program will remain solvent until 2034.
somatic
of the body, especially as distinct from the mind; bodily; physical
a somatic disorder that was once thought to be “all in the patient’s head”; All species make tradeoffs between reproductive and somatic investment.
You may be tired of hearing your great-grandfather’s somatic complaints, but give him a break - his body has been working for 80 years!
somber
shadowy; dimly lighted; gloomy, depressing, or dismal; dark or dull in color or tone
a somber sky; a man of somber character; a somber atmosphere, voice, face; the funeral was a somber occasion; I left them in a somber mood; he wore a somber black suit
sparing
scanty; limited
be sparing with the butter as we do not have much left; he is sparing with/in his praise(= praises people very little)
She was always careful in her dress and sparing of new clothes.
sparse
thinly scattered or distributed; scanty; meager
Higher up the mountain, houses became sparse.
Thinning hair is sparse, as is the population of an endangered species. Or a small and scattered crowd for an unpopular band.
specious
apparently good or right though lacking real merit; plausible, but actually wrong; pleasing to the eye but deceptive.
a specious claim; specious allegations, promises
An argument that seems correct only if you do not think about it very carefully is an example of a specious argument.
The argument that companies need yet more tax relief so they can create more jobs is a specious one.
spectacular
beautiful in a dramatic and eye-catching way
a spectacular view; he scored a spectacular goal in the second half; there was a spectacular sunset last night; we’ve had spectacular success with the product
sporadic
occasional; occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated
sporadic gunfire; a sporadic electricity supply
There have been sporadic attacks by both Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza amid a relative lull in the violence of recent weeks.
refer to something that happens or appears often, but not constantly or regularly. The mailman comes every day but the plumber visits are sporadic––he comes as needed
spurious
not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; not being what it purports to be; counterfeit
The quote may be spurious, but it contains a grain of truth.
A spurious claim is one that’s not backed up by the facts. A spurious argument relies on faulty reasoning — and maybe some lies.
stalwart
strongly and stoutly built; sturdy and robust; loyal, reliable, and hardworking; a description for someone who is loyal and strong or for something that is reliable and sturdy
she has been a stalwart supporter of the party for many years
Stalwart can describe someone who’s able to keep on going even when things get hard, like a marathon runner who doesn’t slow down, even after spraining an ankle, or your friend who remains a devoted fan of an actor she’s admired since childhood, even if that was the last time the guy made a decent movie.
stark
sheer, utter, downright, or complete: he gave a stark denial to the rumor
harsh, grim, or desolate, as a view, place: a stark landscape; The stark nighttime scenery immediately establishes a noir atmosphere.
stiff or rigid in substance, muscles: there the dead man lay, stark and stiff
An example of something that would be described as stark is a state of absolute poverty or a plain white room with no ornamentation.
startling
creating sudden alarm, surprise, or wonder; astonishing; so unexpected that it shocks or surprises you
a startling scandal; starting news; nobody made any response to his startling suggestion
A surprise party, if it’s planned right, is startling, and it can be startling the first time you meet your best friend’s identical twin sister. Alarm clocks, smoke alarms, and barking dogs can all be equally startling.
steep
(of a slope, flight of stairs, angle, ascent, etc.) rising or falling sharply; nearly perpendicular
a steep dive; an impassably steep mountain; a steep fall in market value
excessively demanding or ambitious: a steep demand, task
stereotyped
reproduced in or by stereotype plates; fixed or settled in form; hackneyed; conventional
stereotyped ways of doing business
The wines may even gradually change the country’s image abroad, by displacing stereotyped ideas about macho beer drinkers.
sterile
free from living germs or microorganisms: sterile bandages, water, needles
incapable of producing offspring; barren: he was sterile due to a childhood illness; An empty, white room with nothing in it is sterile; her sterile little office in the city; they wasted months in sterile legal debate
stern
firm, strict, or uncompromising; rigorous or austere
Only the stern spirits of yours can overcome the difficulties.
Journalists received a stern warning not to go anywhere near the battleship.
The president is facing the sternest test of his authority since he came to power five years ago.
stoic
Being stoic is being calm and almost without any emotion. When you’re stoic, you don’t show what you’re feeling and you also accept whatever is happening.
We knew she must be in pain, despite her stoic attitude.
He showed a stoic resignation towards his fate.
Local people were stoical about the damage caused by the hurricane.
striking
attracting attention by reason of being unusual, extreme, or prominent; attractive; impressive
He is quite good-looking, but he is not as striking as his brother.
noticeable; conspicuous
She bears a striking resemblance to her mother.
There is a striking contrast between what he does and what he says he does.
There are striking similarities between the two cases.
sturdy
the definition of sturdy is something that will not break, a strong person or something that is well-constructed; strongly built; stalwart; robust
sturdy walking boots; a sturdy table; they put up a sturdy defense of their proposal
Your grandmother is pushing 80, but she is still pretty sturdy if she can beat you at tennis.
Hopefully, you and your siblings have a sturdy relationship, so you can withstand all the bickering over who gets to ride shotgun in the car.
submissive
unresistingly or humbly obedient
His mother was a meek and submissive woman.
He was looking for a quiet, submissive wife who would obey his every word.
subtle
difficult to perceive or understand: there are subtle differences between the two versions; she has been dropping subtle hints about what she’d like as a present
fine or delicate in meaning or intent: the fragrance is a subtle blend of jasmine and sandalwood
requiring mental acuteness, penetration: a subtle plan; a subtle use of lighting in the play; I decided to try a more subtle approach; the job required a subtle mind
sullen
showing irritation or ill humor by a gloomy silence or reserve; bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy
sullen teenagers; a sullen grey sky
Bob looked pale and sullen.
She gave him a sullen glare.
sumptuous
splendid and expensive-looking
a sumptuous feast, banquet, dinner
It is a pricey, high quality thing that’s meant to be consumed or enjoyed. You wouldn’t use sumptuous to describe a tractor, even if has leather seats and cost more than your house.
superfluous
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough
Charlie gave him a look that made words superfluous.
They were superfluous to requirements(= not required).
superstitious
having or showing a belief in superstitions
I am superstitious about the number 13.
supple
bending and moving easily and gracefully; flexible
Her slim, supple body;
These exercises will help to keep you supple.
Moisturizing cream helps to keep your skin soft and supple.
The fluid and graceful movements of a dancer are an example of something that would be described as supple.
surly
bad-tempered and unfriendly, hostile; describing something that is threatening such as poor weather
We were served by a very surly waiter.
surreptitious
kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch.
An example of surreptitious behavior is sneaking cookies before dinner after you were told not to snack between meals.
You’ll see surreptitious applied mostly to actions, rather than to things or ideas. We do things surreptitiously.
I was very surreptitious in how I organized the surprise party: she never knew!
susceptible
likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing
Police officers here are very susceptible to corruption.
Children are particularly susceptible to the disease.
He’s highly susceptible to flattery.
If people can trick you easily, this is an example of when you are susceptible to being tricked.
suspicious
having or showing a cautious distrust of someone or something
a suspicious character, nature; there’s something suspicious about it
swift
happening quickly or promptly; moving at high speed
Ellen made a remarkably swift recovery.
The current was swift and dangerous.
Deciding to borrow a parent’s car without permission could result in swift punishment.
synoptic
forming a general summary or synopsis, a general survey of something; The definition of synoptic is something that makes up a brief summary or shortened version.
a synoptic presentation of a physical theory
Sometimes you need to take a more synoptic view, and look at genes in their broader context.
An example of synoptic is an outline of a scientific research paper that gives key points; a synoptic outline.
syntactical
relating to or conforming to the rules of syntax
syntactical rules, structures
tacit
understood without being openly expressed; implied
tacit approval, consent, support
These raids are sometimes conducted with the tacit approval of the police.
Now this would not be, as the protesters and their tacit supporters must reckon, a victory for the poor or for the human spirit.
An example of tacit is a boy who has his father’s approval to do something even though they have never talked about it.
taciturn
inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation
a taciturn and serious young man
Ridgway, however taciturn in temperament, was also courageous and fair-minded.
An example of taciturn is a person who sits quietly at the edge of the room and only responds in short sentences when spoken to.
tame
(of an animal) not dangerous or frightened of people; domesticated
The bird became so tame that it was impossible to release it back into the wild.
lacking in excitement; dull
You will find life here pretty tame after New York.
tractable, docile, or submissive, as a person or the disposition
I have a tame doctor who will always give me a sick note when I want a day off.
tangential
being or moving in the direction of a tangent; merely touching; slightly connected; divergent or digressive
tangential information; arguments tangential to the main point; their romance is tangential to the book’s main plot
The conventional wisdom has been that the arts are frivolous, that they’re tangential to what’s important in society
People can feel tangential – as though they’re inessential and not relevant to a larger group.
tangible
perceptible by touch; real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary
tangible assets(= a company’s buildings, machinery); tangible benefits, improvements, results
We cannot accept his findings without tangible evidence.
The tension between them was almost tangible.
tantamount
virtually the same as; equivalent, as in value, force, effect, or signification
If he resigned it would be tantamount to admitting that he was guilty.
Missing your finals is tantamount to dropping out of college.
tedious
long and tiresome
a tedious job
The trouble is I find most forms of exercise so tedious.
The process may sound elementary, but it’s extremely tedious and labor-intensive.
temporal
enduring for a time only; temporary; transitory; pertaining to or concerned with the present life or this world; worldly
a universe which has spatial and temporal dimensions
Then he pointed to the parietal cortex and the temporal lobes, regions that are also involved in deliberative decision-making.
An example of temporal used as an adjective is temporal happiness which means happiness of this world, not happiness in the afterlife.
tenacious
tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely; not easily letting go or giving up
a tenacious grip; a tenacious illness
She is a tenacious woman. She never gives up.
The party has kept its tenacious hold on power for more than twenty years.
As a fruit for preserves, the blueberry is tenacious.
tendentious
showing a definite tendency, bias, or purpose
This review can only be described as tendentious, biased, and misleading.
promoting a specific, and controversial, point of view
If you are writing a report on climate change, and ignore evidence that the earth is warming, the paper might be called tendentious.
tentative
done as a trial, experiment, or attempt; experimental; not certain or fixed; provisional
We made a tentative arrangement to meet on Friday.
I’m taking a tentative steps towards fitness.
On Monday, you can make tentative plans for the weekend, but it’s too early to commit to one party or another.
tenuous
thin or slender in form, as a thread; very weak or slight; flimsy; shaky
a tenuous hold on life; the tenuous thread of a spider’s web
His links with the organization turned out to be, at best, tenuous.
Something can be physically tenuous, like a spiderweb or ice on a pond. We more often use it in a metaphorical sense, to talk about weak ideas. Tenuous arguments won’t win any debate tournaments.
